CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING
TUESDAY, APRIL 22, 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 22, 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
Motion:
It was moved by Mayor Pro Tem Lang, with a second by Council Member Whitman, to approve the Agenda of the April 22, 2025, Regular Meeting.
Council Action:
Unanimous consent reached through the Mayor, with five (5) in favor and zero (0) against.
Tuesday, April 22, 2025 Ojai City Council Regular Meeting Minutes ojai.ca.gov
2 PRESENTATION
Ventura County Fire Marshall Joe Marelli provided a presentation on the release of the Ventura County Fire Department’s Local Responsibility Area Map.
COMMISSION REPORTS
PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS
CONSENT CALENDAR (Items 1.a – 1.i)
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 17, 2025 – March 30, 2025 RECOMMENDATION: Receive and file.
c) March 2025 Treasurer’s Monthly Report of Cash and Investments for the City of Ojai
RECOMMENDATION: Receive and file.
d) Minutes of the Ojai City Council from the: March 25, 2025, Special Meeting, Joint Meeting with the Historic Preservation Commission; March 25, 2025, Regular Meeting; April 8, 2025 Special Meeting, Closed Session; and April 8, 2025, Regular Meeting
RECOMMENDATION: Approve.
e) Minutes of the Ojai Planning Commission from the March 5, 2025 Regular Meeting
RECOMMENDATION: Receive and file.
f) FY 2025/26 List of Road Maintenance and Rehabilitation Projects Required by State Senate Bill 1 (SB1)
RECOMMENDATION: Adopt a resolution to provide the list of road maintenance and rehabilitation projects to the California Transportation Commission (CTC) as required by California State Senate Bill 1 (SB1) to secure access to State grant funds for these projects in Fiscal Year 2025/26.
Tuesday, April 22, 2025 Ojai City Council Regular Meeting Minutes ojai.ca.gov
3 g) FY Amendment to the Professional Services Agreement with Eide Bailly, LLP for Finance Process Improvement Implementation Services through June 30, 2025 in an Amount not to Exceed $90,000 RECOMMENDATION: Authorize the City Manager to execute Amendment No. 2 to the Professional Services Agreement with Eide Bailly, LLP allocating an additional $25,000 for an amount not to exceed $90,000. h) Ratify Appointment to the Parks and Recreation Commission RECOMMENDATION: Ratify nomination of applicant Brenda Lear as Parks and Recreation Commissioner to a four-year term on the City of Ojai Parks and Recreation Commission (PRC) by majority vote.
i) Letter of Support for the Ojai Valley Land Conservancy’s Proposed Rewild Ojai: Native Plant Nursery Expansion and Business Development Building (Phase II Implementation).
RECOMMENDATION: Authorize Mayor Gilman to sign the attached letter of support on behalf of the City of Ojai for the Ojai Valley Land Conservancy’s grant application.
Council Member Whitman pulled Item 1.h for discussion.
Motion:
It was moved by Council Member Rule, with a second by Council Member Whitman, to approve the Consent Calendar (except pulled Item 1.h) of the April 22, 2025, Regular Meeting.
Council Action:
Unanimous consent reached through the Mayor, with five (5) in favor and zero (0) against.
Motion:
It was moved by Council Member Whitman, with a second by Mayor Pro Tem Lang, to approve the Consent Calendar Item 1.h of the April 22, 2025, Regular Meeting.
Council Action:
Unanimous consent reached through the Mayor, with five (5) in favor and zero (0) against.
DISCUSSION
2. City Council Goals and Tactics
RECOMMENDATION:
1. Review the attached proposed draft City Council goals and corresponding tactics, and advise staff of any desired changes from what is presented for adoption;
OR
Tuesday, April 22, 2025 Ojai City Council Regular Meeting Minutes ojai.ca.gov
4 2. Appoint a City Council subcommittee to meet with the City Manager to review the proposed draft City Council goals and corresponding tactics, returning with a final version for adoption at a May 2025 City Council meeting.
Council Direction received for Staff to obtain more Tactics information and return at the May 13 City Council Regular Meeting for a continued discussion item.
3. Mid-Year Budget Update and Fiscal Year 2024/25 Budget Amendments; Auditor and General Fund Balance Policy Updates; and Approval of Audit Services Agreement with Rogers Anderson Malody & Scott LLP RECOMMENDATION:
1. Amend the Fiscal Year 2024/25 City of Ojai (City) Budget, as shown in Attachment “A”;
2. Adopt a Resolution establishing a General Fund Balance Policy;
3. Adopt a Resolution establishing an Auditor Rotation Policy; and
4. Authorize the City Manager to execute a Professional Services Agreement with Rogers Anderson Malody & Scott, LLP, for annual financial services through fiscal year ending June 30, 2027 in an amount not to exceed $187,875, with an option to extend for two additional fiscal years through June 30, 2029.
Motion:
It was moved by Mayor Pro Tem Lang, with a second by Council Member Rule, to approve Item 3, as recommended.
Roll Call:
On the call of the roll, the vote was five (5) in favor and zero (0) against.
Ayes: Mang, Rule, Lang, Whitman, Gilman
Noes: None
Abstain: None
Absent: None
MOTION PASSES
4. Contract with Ventura County Behavioral Health for Intensive Services Coordinator
RECOMMENDATION: Authorize the City Manager to enter into an agreement with the County Behavioral Health to provide an Intensive Service Coordinator for certain non-emergent mental health and case management services to all unhoused individuals in the City in the amount of $194,308 from May 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026, with the option to renew for two (2) additional one (1) year terms.
Motion:
It was moved by Council Member Rule, with a second by Mayor Pro Tem Lang, to approve Item 4, as recommended.
Roll Call:
On the call of the roll, the vote was three (3) in favor and two (2) against.
Tuesday, April 22, 2025 Ojai City Council Regular Meeting Minutes ojai.ca.gov
5 Ayes: Lang, Gilman, Rule
Noes: Whitman, Mang
Abstain: None
Absent: None
MOTION PASSES
5. Two Council Member Request: Introduce Ordinance Modifying Ojai Municipal Code Section 2-4.102(a) to Allow for a Change in the Parks and Recreation Commission Member Composition
RECOMMENDATION: Introduce the attached ordinance modifying the Ojai Municipal Code to allow for a change in the City Council’s ability to modify the commission member composition, giving the option for the Parks and Recreation Commission (PRC) to be established as 7-members or less, as may be appointed by the City Council.
Motion:
It was moved by Mayor Gilman, with a second by Mayor Pro Tem Lang, to approve Item 5, as recommended.
Roll Call:
On the call of the roll, the vote was five (5) in favor and zero (0) against.
Ayes: Rule, Mang, Gilman, Lang, Whitman
Noes: None
Abstain: None
Absent: None
MOTION PASSES
COUNCIL MEMBER’S REPORTS
CITY MANAGER’S REPORT
FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
Mayor Pro Tem Lang, with a second from Council Member Rule, requested a speed hump policy.
Council Member Mang, with a second from Mayor Pro Tem Lang, requested the City look into the possibility of participating in the Fourth of July Parade with a vehicle float.
Council Member Rule, with a second from Mayor Pro Tem Lang, requested a future agenda item regarding an “ember screen” fire hardening discussion.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Gilman adjourned the April 22, 2025, Regular Meeting at 10:05 p.m., until the May 13, 2025, Regular Meeting at 6:00 p.m.
Prepared by: Weston Montgomery, Chief Deputy City Clerk