CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
SPECIAL MEETING FOR CLOSED SESSION
TUESDAY, MAY 13, 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 May 13, 2025, at 5:00 p.m.
ROLL CALL
On the call of the roll, the following were present in the Kent Hall Chambers:
Mayor Gilman, Mayor Pro Tem Lang, and Council Members Whitman, Rule, and Mang.
Also present in the Kent Hall 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, Special Meeting.
Council Action:
Consent reached through the Mayor, with five (5) in favor and zero (0) against.
Tuesday, May 13, 2025 Ojai City Council Special Meeting Minutes ojai.ca.gov
2 CLOSED SESSION
1. Public Employee Performance Evaluation (Gov. Code Section 54957) Position Title: City Attorney
2. Conference with Legal Counsel; Initiation of Litigation (Gov. Code § 54956.9(d)(4))
Number of Potential Cases: 1
3. Conference with Legal Counsel; Anticipated Litigation (Gov. Code § 54956.9(d)(2) & (d)(3))
Based on the below-described existing facts and circumstances, the City Council is meeting only to decide whether a closed session is authorized.
The following facts and circumstances known to plaintiff or plaintiffs regarding (Gov. Code § 54956.9(e)(2))
Transactional occurrence; Code enforcement at 1117 Sunset Place Number of Potential Cases: 1
City Attorney Summers recited the Closed Session language and Mayor Gilman adjourned into Closed Session.
RECONVENE OPEN SESSION AND ANNOUNCE ANY REPORTABLE ACTION Regarding Item 1, City Manager Harvey reported that the City Council Directed staff to post a Request for Proposals (RFQ) for City Attorney services. City Manager Harvey continued by stating that the City’s current firm is invited and encouraged to participate and public information will be provided. City Manager Harvey concluded by reporting that the RFQ will have a 45-day submittal period, results will be reviewed by the City Council following submittal period, and that all submissions will be reviewed and a select number will be invited to interview with the full City Council.
Regarding Items 2 and 3, City Attorney Summers reported that the City Council provided direction to staff and counsel, directing staff to renew efforts of pursuing a solution to the code enforcement cases at the listed property.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Gilman adjourned the May 13, 2025, Special Meeting at 6:08 p.m., until the May 13, 2025, Regular Meeting immediately following.
Prepared by: Weston Montgomery, Chief Deputy City Clerk