CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING
TUESDAY, MARCH 11, 2025, 7:00 PM
IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING 5:00 PM CLOSED SESSION
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 March 11, 2025, at 7:16 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, Public Works Director Palmer, Community Development Director Seibert, and Chief Deputy City Clerk Montgomery.
ABSENCES
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Chief Deputy City Clerk Montgomery led the Pledge of Allegiance.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Motion:
Tuesday, March 11, 2025 Ojai City Council Regular Meeting Minutes ojai.ca.gov
2 It was moved by Mayor Pro Tem Lang, with a second by Council Member Whitman, to approve the Agenda of the March 11, 2025, Regular Meeting, with Item 2 pulled from the agenda for discussion.
Roll Call:
On the call of the roll, the vote was four (4) in favor and one (0) against.
Ayes: Lang, Mang, Gilman, Whitman
Noes: Rule
Abstain: None
Absent: None
MOTION PASSES
COMMISSION REPORTS
PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS
CONSENT CALENDAR (Items 1.a – 1.g)
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 February 3, 2025 – February 16, 2025 RECOMMENDATION: Receive and file.
c) Minutes of the Ojai City Council from the: February 11, 2025 Regular Meeting; February 25, 2025 Special Meeting Closed Session; and February 25, 2025 Regular Meeting
RECOMMENDATION: Approve.
d) Minutes of the Historic Preservation Commission from the December, 12, 2024 Regular Meeting
RECOMMENDATION: Receive and file.
e) Amendment to the Professional Services Agreement with Municipal Resource Group, LLC for Human Resources Consulting Services through June 30, 2025 in an amount not to exceed $50,000.
RECOMMENDATION: Approve Amendment No. 1 to the Professional Services Agreement with Municipal Resource Group, LLC (“MRG”) allocating an additional $20,000 for amount not to exceed $50,000 and extending the contract term by 5 months to June 30, 2025.
Tuesday, March 11, 2025 Ojai City Council Regular Meeting Minutes ojai.ca.gov
3 f) Second Reading - Adoption of Proposed Moratorium on Roadway Pavement Cuts Ordinance
RECOMMENDATION: Adopt the proposed Ordinance amending Section 7-
1.102(d) and adding Title 7, Chapter 1, Article 4 (Moratorium on Roadway Pavement Cuts) to the Ojai Municipal Code to restrict roadway pavement cuts or trenches in City streets within a defined, reasonable time after the pavement is resurfaced or reconstructed.
g) Second Reading - Adoption of Proposed Ordinance amending Sections of the Ojai Municipal Code to reflect increased bidding monetary limits under Uniform Public Construction Cost Account Act (“UPCCAA”) and allowing automatic updates to monetary thresholds with future amendments
RECOMMENDATION: Adopt the proposed ordinance amending Sections 7-4.01, 7-4.04, 7-4.05, 7-4.06(f), and 7-4.08 of the Ojai Municipal Code (“Informal Bid Procedures”) to:
1. Update bidding thresholds to align with thresholds allowed by UPCCAA;
2. Allow future updates of the UPCCAA bidding thresholds to update automatically; and
3. Update the Ojai Municipal Code’s definition of a “public project” to define the term per its definition in the Public Contract Code.
Motion:
It was moved by Mayor Pro Tem Lang, with a second by Council Member Whitman, to approve March 11, 2025, Regular Meeting Consent Calendar, as recommended.
Roll Call:
On the call of the roll, the vote was five (5) in favor and zero (0) against.
Ayes: Mang, Lang, Gilman, Whitman, Rule
Noes: None
Abstain: None
Absent: None
MOTION PASSES
DISCUSSION
2. Request for Defense and Indemnification by Councilmember Rule and Consideration of Other Closed Session Matters
RECOMMENDATION: That the City Council consider the request from Councilmember Leslie Rule to defend and indemnify Councilmember Leslie Rule under Government Code Section 825 and Section 995 in the Byrne et al. v. Rule et al. lawsuit, Ventura County Superior Court Case No. 2023CUMC008352, Second District Court of Appeal Case No. B332962 and decide among the following options:
1. Agree to pay Council Member Rule’s defense costs, and decide timing of the payment(s);
Tuesday, March 11, 2025 Ojai City Council Regular Meeting Minutes ojai.ca.gov
4 2. Decline to pay Council Member Rule’s defense costs;
3. Defer decision until there is a final non-appealable decision in Byrne v. Rule;
4. Take other action as desired.
Separately and additionally, the City Council may choose to consider any agenda items from today’s closed session in open session, as follows:
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 and 2/28/25)
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
Conference with Legal Counsel; Initiation of Litigation (Gov. Code § 54956.9(d)(4))
Number of Potential Cases: 2
Item 2 was pulled from the March 11, 2025, Regular Meeting agenda by previous Council Action to approve the agenda.
Tuesday, March 11, 2025 Ojai City Council Regular Meeting Minutes ojai.ca.gov
5 3. City Council Goals
RECOMMENDATION:
1. Discuss and determine proposed City Council Goals and corresponding tactics;
2. From the results achieved at this meeting, direct the City Manager to work with City staff to contemplate the City Council’s proposed goals, offering additions and/or revisions to proposed tactics; and
3. Return with a proposed final draft of City Council goals and tactics at a nearterm City Council meeting for review and adoption.
Council Direction received and the City Council Goals continued discussion will be returning at a future meeting.
4. Adoption of a Resolution Approving the Employment Agreement for Interim Finance Director
RECOMMENDATION: Adopt Resolution No 25-XX, Approving the Employment Agreement for Christy Billings, as Interim Finance Director.
Motion:
It was moved by Mayor Gilman, with a second by Mayor Pro Tem Lang, to approve Item 4 as recommended, adopting the resolution.
Roll Call:
On the call of the roll, the vote was five (5) in favor and zero (0) against.
Ayes: Lang, Mang, Gilman, Whitman, Rule
Noes: None
Abstain: None
Absent: None
MOTION PASSES
5. Pickleball 90-Day Update/Return
RECOMMENDATION: Receive the update regarding the City's pickleball courts.
Report received.
6. Resolution No. 25-XX of the City Council of the City of Ojai, California Repealing and Replacing the City’s Boards, Committees and Commissions Handbook
RECOMMENDATION: Receive public comment and consider adoption of Resolution No. 25-XX of the City Council of the City of Ojai, California Repealing the Boards, Committees and Commissions Handbook as Revised March 2016 and Replacing Same with the Updated Boards, Committees and Commissions Handbook as Revised March 2025.
Motion:
It was moved by Mayor Gilman, with a second by Mayor Pro Tem Lang, to approve Item 6 as recommended, adopting the resolution.
Tuesday, March 11, 2025 Ojai City Council Regular Meeting Minutes ojai.ca.gov
6 Roll Call:
On the call of the roll, the vote was five (5) in favor and zero (0) against.
Ayes: Gilman, Lang, Rule, Whitman, Mang
Noes: None
Abstain: None
Absent: None
MOTION PASSES
7. Two Council Member Request - Consider Amending Commission Appointment Rules for All Commissions OR Appoint a New Chair of the Parks and Recreation Commission
RECOMMENDATION: Consider whether to:
1. Direct staff to return with ordinances for the City’s five commissions to, at a minimum, remove the Chair from participating in the nomination committee and selection processes of commissioners; or
2. Appoint a new Chair of the Parks and Recreation Commission and remove the current Chair.
Motion:
It was moved by Council Member Rule, with a second by Mayor Gilman, to appoint the current Vice Chair as the new Chair of the Parks and Recreation Commission and remove the current Chair, from the Chair role.
Roll Call:
On the call of the roll, the vote was four (4) in favor and one (1) against.
Ayes: Gilman, Whitman, Lang, Rule
Noes: Mang
Abstain: None
Absent: None
MOTION PASSES
PUBLIC HEARING
8. Resolution Placing Lien on Real Property for Non-Payment of Administrative Citation Regarding the Advertising for Unlawful ShortTerm, Transient, or Vacation Rental in Violation of Ojai Municipal Code Section 4-24.01, et seq. Property Address 414-A, 414-B & 414-C Buena Vista Drive; Accessor Parcel Number: 022-0-024-020; Property Owner:
Peyman Rahpeymaei; Zoning Classification: R-2; General Plan Land Use Designation: Medium High Density; City Initiated.
RECOMMENDATION: Consider adopting a resolution authorizing the City Clerk to record a lien with the County Recorder against real property (414 Buena Vista Drive, Ojai CA 93023) for unpaid administrative penalties related to violations of the short-term rental rules in Title 4, Chapter 24 of the Ojai Municipal Code.
Mayor Gilman opened the public hearing, took public comment, and closed the public hearing at 10:35 p.m.
Tuesday, March 11, 2025 Ojai City Council Regular Meeting Minutes ojai.ca.gov
7 Motion:
It was moved by Council Member Rule, with a second by Mayor Gilman, to approve the item as recommended, adopting a resolution modifying and imposing a lien in the amount of $69,699, modifying recommendation for a 12-month payment period, and directing the City Attorney to apply or remove the lien as appropriate.
Roll Call:
On the call of the roll, the vote was five (5) in favor and zero (0) against.
Ayes: Gilman, Whitman, Lang, Mang, Rule
Noes: None
Abstain: None
Absent: None
MOTION PASSES
COUNCIL MEMBER’S REPORTS
CITY MANAGER’S REPORT
FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Gilman adjourned the March 11, 2025, Regular Meeting at 10:35 p.m., until the March 25, 2025, Regular Meeting at 6:00 p.m.
Prepared by: Weston Montgomery, Chief Deputy City Clerk