CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
SPECIAL MEETING FOR CLOSED SESSION
TUESDAY, MARCH 11, 2025, 5:00 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 Special Meeting of the Ojai City Council to order on March 11, 2025, at 5:05 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 Whitman, to approve the Agenda of the March 11, 2025, Special Meeting.
Council Action:
Unanimous consent reached through the Mayor, with five (5) in favor and zero (0) against.
Tuesday, March 11, 2025 Ojai City Council Special Meeting Minutes ojai.ca.gov
2 CLOSED SESSION
1. Conference with Legal Counsel; Anticipated Litigation (Gov. Code Section 54956.9(d)(2) & (d)(3))
A point has been reached where, in the opinion of the City Council on the advice of its legal counsel, based on the below-described existing facts and circumstances, there is a significant exposure to litigation against the City:
The following facts and circumstances known to plaintiff or plaintiffs regarding a Transactional Occurrence Request for Defense and Indemnity by Leslie Rule in the case of Byrne, et al. v. Rule, et al., Ventura County Superior Court Case No. 2023CUMC008352, Second District Court of Appeal Case No. B332962. (Gov.
Code Section 54956.9(e)(2)
Receipt of Claim pursuant to Tort Claims Act or other written communication threatening litigation (copy available for public inspection in City Clerk’s office). (Gov. Code § 54956.9(e)(3))
Name of Person or Entity Threatening Litigation – Leslie Rule on (12/01/23 and 05/03/23) and John Drucker as legal counsel for Leslie Rule (2/17/25) Statement made by in an open and public meeting threatening litigation on a specific matter within the responsibility of the legislative body (Gov. Code § 54956.9(e)(4)):
Leslie Rule, John Drucker, and Steven Johnson at Regular Council Meeting on February 11, 2025
2. Conference with Legal Counsel; Initiation of Litigation (Gov. Code § 54956.9(d)(4))
Number of Potential Cases: 2
RECONVENE OPEN SESSION AND ANNOUNCE ANY REPORTABLE ACTION City Attorney Summers reported out of closed session that no reportable action was taken, and that closed session discussion did not occur on the noticed Item 2.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Gilman adjourned the March 11, 2025, Special Meeting at 7:16 p.m., until the March 11, 2025, Regular Meeting immediately following.
Prepared by: Weston Montgomery, Chief Deputy City Clerk Tuesday, March 11, 2025 Ojai City Council Special Meeting Minutes ojai.ca.gov
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