CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2025, 6:00 PM
KENT HALL – CITY HALL CAMPUS – 111 W SANTA ANA ST, OJAI, CA
ANDY GILMAN, MAYOR
COUNCIL MEMBERS:
DISTRICT 1 – LESLIE RULE DISTRICT 3 – ANDREW WHITMAN
DISTRICT 2 – RACHEL LANG, MAYOR PRO TEM DISTRICT 4 – KIM MANG
BEN HARVEY MATTHEW SUMMERS WESTON MONTGOMERY
CITY MANAGER CITY ATTORNEY CHIEF DEPUTY CITY CLERK
Mayor Gilman called the Regular Meeting of the Ojai City Council to order on February 11, 2025, at 6:00 p.m.
ROLL CALL
On the call of the roll, the following were present in the Council Chambers: Mayor Gilman, Mayor Pro Tem Lang, and Council Members Rule, Whitman, and Mang.
Also present in the Kent Hall Chambers: City Manager Harvey, Assistant City Manager Alameda, City Attorney Summers, and Chief Deputy City Clerk Montgomery.
ABSENCES
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Chief Deputy City Clerk Montgomery led the Pledge of Allegiance.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Motion:
It was moved by Mayor Pro Tem Lang, with a second by Council Member Rule, to approve the Agenda of the February 11, 2025, Regular Meeting.
Council Action:
Unanimous consent reached through the Mayor, five (5) in favor and zero (0) Tuesday, February 11, 2025 Ojai City Council Regular Meeting Minutes ojai.ca.gov
2 against.
PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS
CONSENT CALENDAR (Items 1.a – 1.f)
All matters listed on the Consent Calendar are to be considered routine by the governing bodies and will be enacted by one motion in the form listed. There will be no discussion of these items unless, before the governing body votes on the motion to adopt, specific items are removed from the Consent Calendar for separate motions.
1. a) Waiver of Reading in Full of Any and All Ordinances Listed on this Agenda and Provide that they be Read by Title Only and Directing the Clerk to Assign an Ordinance Number Upon Successful Introduction b) City of Ojai Warrants for January 6, 2025 – January 19, 2025 RECOMMENDATION: Receive and file.
c) Minutes of the Ojai City Council from the January 28, 2025, Special Meeting
RECOMMENDATION: Approve.
d) Amendment to the Professional Services Agreement with Eide Bailly, LLP for Financial Software Implementation Services Through June 30, 2025 in an Amount not to Exceed $75,000
RECOMMENDATION: Approve Amendment No. 1 to the Professional Services Agreement with Eide Bailly, LLP allocating an additional $45,000 for amount not to exceed $75,000.
e) General Plan Update | Climate Action Plan (CAP) Staff Advisory Group and Economic Diversification Focus Staff Advisory Group RECOMMENDATION: Receive and file report regarding the Climate Action Plan and Economic Diversification portions of the General Plan Update, including the creation of staff advisory groups - the Climate Action Plan (CAP) Advisory Group and the Economic Diversification Focus Group. f) Authorize the City Manager to Execute an Exclusive Negotiating Agreement with Habitat for Humanity for Proposed Tiny Home Project at 408-410 N. Montgomery Street
RECOMMENDATION: Authorize the City Manager to enter into an Exclusive Negotiating Agreement with Habitat for Humanity concerning its proposed middle-income tiny home housing development at 408-410 N Montgomery Street.
Tuesday, February 11, 2025 Ojai City Council Regular Meeting Minutes ojai.ca.gov
3 Council Member Rule pulled Items 1.b and 1.e for discussion.
Item 1.b Council Action:
Consent reached through the Mayor providing direction to staff to provide legal bills of all outside counsel, including up to February 2025 in the date range, included in the current request from two council members for outside counsel legal bills (prioritizing Meyers Nave firm).
Item 1.e Motion:
It was moved by Council Member Rule, with a second by Mayor Gilman, directing staff to promote the public opening of the advisory committees, encouraging a wide range of applicants, and authorizing staff to coordinate the formation of the advisory committees.
Roll Call:
On the call of the roll, the vote was five (5) in favor and zero (0) against.
Ayes: Whitman, Gilman, Rule, Mang, Lang
Noes: None
Abstain: None
Absent: None
MOTION PASSES
Motion:
It was moved by Mayor Pro Tem Lang, with a second by Council Member Whitman, to approve the remainder of the February 11, 2025, Consent Calendar, as recommended.
Roll Call:
On the call of the roll, the vote was four (4) in favor and one (1) against.
Ayes: Mang, Lang, Whitman, Gilman
Noes: Rule
Abstain: None
Absent: None
MOTION PASSES
DISCUSSION
2. City of Ojai Traffic Motor Officer FY 2024-25
RECOMMENDATION: Direct the City Manager to:
1. Enter into an agreement on behalf of the City to purchase a fully-equipped, used motorcycle from the City of Thousand Oaks at a reduced rate; and
2. Enter into an agreement with the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office to deploy a full-time (40 hours per week with no backfill) Deputy Sheriff serving in the capacity as a full-time traffic motor officer within the City of Ojai.
Tuesday, February 11, 2025 Ojai City Council Regular Meeting Minutes ojai.ca.gov
4 Motion:
It was moved by Mayor Gilman, with a second by Council Member Rule, to approve the item as recommended, for a one-year agreement.
Roll Call:
On the call of the roll, the vote was five (5) in favor and zero (0) against.
Ayes: Rule, Mang, Lang, Gilman, Whitman
Noes: None
Abstain: None
Absent: None
MOTION PASSES
3. 2024-25 Arts Grant Award
RECOMMENDATION: Ratify the City of Ojai Arts Commission funding recommendations for the 2024-25 Art Grants program.
Motion:
It was moved by Mayor Gilman with a second by Mayor Pro Tem Lang, to ratify the Arts Commission’s recommendations as submitted.
Roll Call:
On the call of the roll, the vote was four (4) in favor and one (1) recused.
Ayes: Lang, Rule, Gilman, Mang,
Noes: None
Abstain: None
Absent: None
Recused: Whitman
MOTION PASSES
4. Fiscal Year 2024-25 Mid-Year Budget Review
RECOMMENDATION: Adopt adjustments to the Fiscal Year 2024-25 Annual Budget, as identified.
Motion:
It was moved by Mayor Pro Tem Lang, with a second by Mayor Gilman, to return with the item in 30 days, for Council to analyze and develop questions for staff.
Roll Call:
On the call of the roll, the vote was five (5) in favor and zero (0) against.
Ayes: Whitman, Lang, Gilman, Rule, Mang
Noes: None
Abstain: None
Absent: None
MOTION PASSES
Tuesday, February 11, 2025 Ojai City Council Regular Meeting Minutes ojai.ca.gov
5 5. Adoption of Resolution Establishing a General Fund Reserve Policy RECOMMENDATION: Approve the attached Resolution establishing a General Fund Reserve Policy.
Item 5 continued to a future meeting.
COUNCIL MEMBER’S REPORTS
CITY MANAGER’S REPORT
FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Gilman adjourned the February 11, 2025, Regular Meeting at 10:25 p.m., until the February 25, 2025, Regular Meeting at 6:00 p.m.
Prepared by: Weston Montgomery, Chief Deputy City Clerk