CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING
TUESDAY, APRIL 8, 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 April 8, 2025, at 6:00 p.m.
ROLL CALL
On the call of the roll, the following were present in the Kent Hall Council Chambers: Mayor Gilman, Mayor Pro Tem Lang, and Council Members Rule, Whitman, and Mang.
Also present in the Kent Hall Council Chambers: City Manager Harvey, Assistant City Manager Alameda, City Attorney Summers, Chief Deputy City Clerk Montgomery.
ABSENCES
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Chief Deputy City Clerk Montgomery led the Pledge of Allegiance.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Council Member Whitman pulled Items 3 and 5 from the agenda, with consent through the Mayor.
Staff pulled Item 1.e from the agenda, with consent through the Mayor.
Tuesday, April 8, 2025 Ojai City Council Regular Meeting Minutes ojai.ca.gov
2 Motion:
It was moved by Mayor Pro Tem Lang, with a second by Mayor Gilman, to approve the Agenda of the April 8, 2025, Regular Meeting, as modified.
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
PRESENTATION
Ojai Chief of Police Newman provided a presentation on the 2024 Year-End Crime Statistics for the City of Ojai.
COMMISSION REPORTS
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 March 3, 2025 – March 16, 2025 RECOMMENDATION: Receive and file.
c) Purchase of Two Trolleys
RECOMMENDATION: Authorize the City Manager to execute the purchase agreement with Specialty Vehicles, up to $235,000 with an additional $15,000 for contingencies for the purchase of two (2) used trolleys. d) Amendment to the Professional Services Agreement with Tripepi Smith for Social Media Management
RECOMMENDATION: Approve Amendment No. 1 to the Professional Services Agreement with Tripepi Smith, allocating an additional $11,000.00 through June 30, 2025, for a total contract amount not to exceed $33,000.00.
Tuesday, April 8, 2025 Ojai City Council Regular Meeting Minutes ojai.ca.gov
3 e) General Plan Update | Climate Action Plan (CAP) and Economic Diversification Focus Staff Advisory Groups
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) Adoption of an Official City of Ojai Style Guide
RECOMMENDATION: Adopt the proposed City of Ojai Style Guide.
Council Member Whitman pulled Items 1.c and 1.f for discussion.
Motion:
It was moved by Council Member Rule, with a second by Mayor Pro Tem Lang, to approve the April 8, 2025, Regular Meeting Consent Calendar (except pulled Items 1.c, 1.f, 1.e), as recommended.
Council Action:
Unanimous consent reached through the Mayor, with five (5) in favor and zero (0) against.
Motion:
It was moved by Council Member Rule, with a second by Mayor Gilman, to approve Item 1.c, as recommended.
Council Action:
Unanimous consent reached through the Mayor, with five (5) in favor and zero (0) against.
Council Action:
Item 1.f – Consent reached through the Mayor, directing staff to return in May with additional style guide options, and approve potential for two Council Members to provide input in an informal working-group setting, not subcommittee.
DISCUSSION
2. Annual Schedule for Joint City Council/City Commission Joint Meetings RECOMMENDATION: Establish the annual schedule for City Commissions (Planning, Arts, Parks and Recreation, and Historic Preservation) to engage in one (1) quarterly Joint Meeting with the City Council, beginning second-quarter 2025 and set to repeat:
Second-quarter 2025 - Planning Commission;
Third-quarter 2025 - Arts Commission;
Fourth-quarter 2025 - Parks and Recreation Commission; and First-quarter 2026 - Historic Preservation Commission.
Tuesday, April 8, 2025 Ojai City Council Regular Meeting Minutes ojai.ca.gov
4 Motion:
It was moved by Mayor Pro Tem Lang, with a second by Council Member Whitman, to approve Item 2, as recommended.
Council Action:
Unanimous consent reached through the Mayor, with five (5) in favor and zero (0) against.
3. Finance and Budget Committee – Appointment of Two (2) Ojai City Resident Committee Vacancies
RECOMMENDATION:
1. Appoint two (2) applicants to fill the two (2) Ojai City Resident vacancies, and
2. Direct Committee and Staff to schedule the annual meeting requirement along with the FY 2025-26 Budget adoption process.
Item 3 was pulled from the agenda by previous Council action.
4. Adoption of a Resolution amending the Salary Schedule to add the classification of Human Resources/Risk Manager; and authorize Specialty Pay for USA Gymnastics certifications for Fiscal Year 2024-25, to be effective April 14, 2025
RECOMMENDATION: Adopt Resolution No 25-__, amending the Salary Schedule to add the classification of Human Resources/Risk Manager; and authorize Specialty Pay for USA Gymnastics certifications for Fiscal Year 2024- 25, to be effective April 14, 2025.
Motion:
It was moved by Council Member Rule, with a second by Mayor Gilman, to approve Item 4, as recommended.
Council Action:
Unanimous consent reached through the Mayor, with five (5) in favor and zero (0) against.
5. Adoption of Updated City Council Protocols
RECOMMENDATION: Adopt a resolution updating the City Council Protocols.
Item 5 was pulled from the agenda by previous Council action.
PUBLIC HEARING
6. Ordinance (TA 23-002) adding and repealing certain sections of the Ojai Municipal Code Related to Regulations for Movable Tiny Houses RECOMMENDATION:
1. Receive the information from staff and ask clarifying questions;
2. Take public comments; and
3. Introduce the attached ordinance repealing Section 10-2.1709(m) and adding Section 10-2.1712 of the Ojai Municipal Code to revise and relocate Tuesday, April 8, 2025 Ojai City Council Regular Meeting Minutes ojai.ca.gov
5 regulations for movable tiny houses.
Motion:
It was moved by Mayor Gilman, with a second by Council Member Rule, to approve Item 6, as recommended, and 1) direct staff to provide a public workshop for input before returning for a second reading and adoption of the ordinance, (2) including minor modifications in the ordinance for the compostable toilet as an option, and to not allow the septic tank option, (3) place a 20-unit limit on the first calendar year of ordinance adoption, and (4) return to Council in May for the Workshop and the first Regular Meeting in June for the Second Reading.
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
COUNCIL MEMBER’S REPORTS
Council Member Mang reported she would be assisting Mayor Pro Tem Lang by covering City Commission liaison schedule duties.
CITY MANAGER’S REPORT
FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
Council Member Rule requested a future item regarding the request for defense and indemnification.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Gilman adjourned the April 8, 2025, Regular Meeting at 8:15 p.m., until the April 22, 2025, Regular Meeting at 6:00 p.m.
Prepared by: Weston Montgomery, Chief Deputy City Clerk