CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING
TUESDAY, MAY 13, 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 May 13, 2025, at 6:08 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 Mayor Gilman, to approve the Agenda of the May 13, 2025, Regular Meeting.
Council Action:
Unanimous consent reached through the Mayor, with five (5) in favor and zero (0) against.
Tuesday, May 13, 2025 Ojai City Council Regular Meeting Minutes 2 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 31, 2025 – April 27, 2025 RECOMMENDATION: Receive and file.
c) Minutes of the Ojai City Council from the April 22, 2025, Special Meeting for Closed Session and the April 22, 2025, Regular Meeting RECOMMENDATION: Approve.
d) Approval of the Preliminary Engineer’s Report and set the Public Hearing to consider annual assessments within the Landscape and Lighting District No. 1, Plaza Maintenance Assessment District No. 2, and Landscape and Lighting District No. 3 with no increase in assessments. Authorize hiring a consultant to prepare a fiscal assessment to determine the need for an increase to the annual assessments.
RECOMMENDATION: Read by title only, waive further reading and adopt:
1) Resolution No. 25-XX initiating proceedings for the annual levy of assessments for the Landscape and Lighting District No. 1, Plaza Maintenance Assessment District No. 2, and Landscape and Lighting District No. 3; and
2) Resolution No. 25-XX declaring the Council’s intent to levy and collect assessments within the Landscape and Lighting District No. 1, Plaza Maintenance Assessment District No. 2, and Landscape and Lighting District No. 3 without an increase and setting a time and place for the Public Hearing; and
3) Resolution No. 25-XX approving the FY 2025/2026 Preliminary Engineer’s Report for the Landscape and Lighting District No. 1, Plaza Maintenance Assessment District No. 2, and Landscape and Lighting District No. 3.
e) Authorize the County of Ventura to Collect a Special Library Tax for Fiscal Year 2025-2026
Tuesday, May 13, 2025 Ojai City Council Regular Meeting Minutes 3 RECOMMENDATION: Adopt a Resolution authorizing the County of Ventura to Collect on Behalf of the City the Special Library Tax According to Ordinance 713 with Tax Revenues to be used for Supplemental Library Services for Fiscal Year 2025-2026.
f) Twenty Ninth Amendment to the Agreement for Additional Library Services Purchased with Library Parcel Tax Money
RECOMMENDATION: Approve the Twenty-Ninth Amendment to the Agreement for the County of Ventura to provide additional library services to the City of Ojai for the period commencing July 1, 2025, and ending June 30, 2026, and authorize the Mayor to execute this agreement on behalf of the City.
g) Agreement for Purchase and Installation of 2 EV Charging Stations (4 ports total) at Sarzotti Park.
RECOMMENDATION: Authorize the City Manager to execute an agreement with SitelogIQ Inc. for the purchase and installation of 2 ChargePoint CT4021 dual port pedestal-mounted electric vehicle (EV) charging stations (4 ports total) at Sarzotti Park located at 510 Park Road. h) Ratify Appointment to the Parks and Recreation Commission RECOMMENDATION: Ratify nomination of applicant Bradley Tabach-Bank as Parks and Recreation Commissioner to a four-year term on the City of Ojai Parks and Recreation Commission (PRC) by majority vote. i) Two Council Member Request: Second Reading and Adoption of an Ordinance Modifying Ojai Municipal Code Section 2-4.102(a) to Allow for a Change in the Parks and Recreation Commission Member Composition
RECOMMENDATION: Conduct a Second Reading and adopt 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.
Mayor Gilman pulled Item 1.i for discussion.
Council Member Whitman pulled Item 1.h for discussion.
Motion:
It was moved by Mayor Pro Tem Lang, with a second by Council Member Whitman, to approve the Consent Calendar of the April 22, 2025, Regular Meeting (excluding pulled Items 1.i and 1.h).
Council Action:
Unanimous consent reached through the Mayor, with five (5) in favor and zero (0) against.
Tuesday, May 13, 2025 Ojai City Council Regular Meeting Minutes 4 Motion:
It was moved by Council Member Rule, with a second by Mayor Gilman to approve the Consent Calendar Items 1.i and 1.h of the May 13, 2025, Regular Meeting.
Council Action:
Unanimous consent reached through the Mayor, with five (5) in favor and zero (0) against.
PUBLIC HEARING
2. Well Permit Application Approval for Ojai Valley Inn, 905 Country Club Road – Five Monitoring Wells to Assess the Efficiency of Irrigation and Possible Water Saving Programs; and Evaluate Surface Water and Ground Water Interactions.
RECOMMENDATION:
1. Receive the administrative report outlining the well permit application; and
2. Open the public hearing for public comment; and
3. Approve a well permit application for five monitoring wells at 905 Country Club Road submitted by the Ojai Valley Inn; and
4. Authorize the City Manager to take all necessary actions to implement City Council's approval.
Mayor Gilman opened the Public Hearing, accepted public comments, and closed the Public Hearing.
Motion:
It was moved by Mayor Gilman, with a second by Council Member Whitman, to approve Item 2, 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, Whitman, Lang
Noes: None
Abstain: None
Absent: None
MOTION PASSES
DISCUSSION
3. City Council Goals and Tactics
RECOMMENDATION: Review the attached proposed draft City Council goals and corresponding tactics, and advise staff of any desired changes from what is presented for adoption.
City Council provided direction to staff and directed that a Special Meeting be held for a City Council Goals workshop.
4. Concept Review: City Council Protocols
RECOMMENDATION: That the City Council discuss whether to direct staff, in Tuesday, May 13, 2025 Ojai City Council Regular Meeting Minutes 5 consultation with the City Manager and City Attorney, to amend the City Council Protocols.
Motion:
It was moved by Mayor Pro Tem Lang, with a second by Mayor Gilman, to direct staff to return with a future Discussion Item (first meeting in June) and amend the Council Protocols to (1) make clear who can call a special meeting and (2) to require a discussion at the beginning of a closed session for Council to be briefed as to basis for the closed session to allow the City Council to vote whether to continue Roll Call:
On the call of the roll, the vote was five (5) in favor and zero (0) against.
Ayes: Whitman, Lang, Mang, Rule, Gilman
Noes: None
Abstain: None
Absent: None
MOTION PASSES
5. Outdoor Artisan Night Market Research Results
RECOMMENDATION: Direct the City Manager to continue to uphold the Ojai Municipal Code while working with the Ojai Valley Chamber of Commerce towards a potential not-for-profit market events in the evening.
Motion:
It was moved by Mayor Gilman, with a second by Council Member Whitman, to approve Item 5, as recommended.
Roll Call:
On the call of the roll, the vote was four (4) in favor and one (1) against.
Ayes: Mang, Lang, Gilman, Whitman
Noes: Rule
Abstain: None
Absent: None
MOTION PASSES
COUNCIL MEMBER’S REPORTS
Mayor Pro Tem Lang requested to present renderings for the upcoming Fourth of July City Council float at next meeting.
Mayor Gilman reported on the upcoming Youth Council meeting featuring Interim Recreation Manager Rivera and also reported on a meeting with the Commander at Vandenburg Air Force Base regarding the effect of sonic booms in Ojai.
CITY MANAGER’S REPORT
FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
Council Member Mang requested a discussion item to renegotiate a Ventura Tuesday, May 13, 2025 Ojai City Council Regular Meeting Minutes 6 County Behavioral Health contract after knowledge of grant funds received by the County.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Gilman adjourned the May 13, 2025, Regular Meeting at 10:25 p.m., until the May 27, 2025, Regular Meeting at 6:00 p.m.
Prepared by: Weston Montgomery, Chief Deputy City Clerk