CITY COUNCIL AGENDA
REGULAR MEETING
TUESDAY, MAY 27, 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 27, 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, 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 27, 2025, Regular Meeting.
Council Action:
Unanimous consent reached through the Mayor, with five (5) in favor and zero (0) against.
Tuesday, May 27, 2025 Ojai City Council Regular Meeting Minutes 2 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 April 28, 2025 – May 11, 2025 RECOMMENDATION: Receive and file.
c) April 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 May 13, 2025, Special Meeting for Closed Session and the May 13, 2025, Regular Meeting.
RECOMMENDATION: Approve.
e) Minutes of the Planning Commission from the: February 5, 2025 Regular Meeting; February 19, 2025, Regular Meeting; April 2, 2025, Regular Meeting; and April 16, 2025, Regular Meeting.
RECOMMENDATION: Receive and file.
f) Minutes of the Historic Preservation Commission from the March 13, 2025, Regular Meeting
RECOMMENDATION: Receive and file.
g) Agreement for Purchase of Network Switches
RECOMMENDATION: Authorize the City Manager to execute an agreement with AllConnected for the purchase of 10 Cisco Catalyst 9200L Network Switches in the amount of $33,753.05; the same terms and conditions afforded to the National Cooperative Purchasing Alliance.
Motion:
It was moved by Council Member Mang, with a second by Mayor Gilman, to approve the Consent Calendar 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, May 27, 2025 Ojai City Council Regular Meeting Minutes 3 PUBLIC HEARING
2. Design Review Permit (DRP 24-006) | Regarding a proposed permanent supportive housing project located at 408 South Signal Street [Current Use = Public Works Yard], consisting of approximately 30 single-story units, onsite parking and other onsite modifications; Assessor’s Parcel Number (APN): 023-0-120-020; Zoning Classification is Public/QuasiPublic (P-L); General Plan Land Use Designation is Public (P); Property Approval of sole source Development Management Agreement with DignityMoves, a California nonprofit corporation for development of the Cabin Village Project. Owner: City of Ojai; Applicants: City of Ojai and DignityMoves; Representatives: Joanne Price and Jeff Gaddess, President & Vice President of DignityMoves.
RECOMMENDATION:
1. Approve the proposed Lower Public Works Yard project site as the location for the Cabin Village Project (Project); and
2. Adopt a resolution determining that the Project is exempt from CEQA pursuant to the Class 32 Categorical Exemption, and the Statutory Exemptions set forth in Pubic Resources Code, section 21159.23, 21080.10 and 14 CCR 15194 and approving the sole source Development Management Agreement with DignityMoves, a California nonprofit corporation, for development of the Cabin Village Project and approving the Design Review Permit (DRP-24-006) for the Project; and
3. Authorize the City Manager to execute the Development Management Agreement with DignityMoves.
Motion:
It was moved by Council Member Rule, with a second by Mayor Pro Tem Lang, to approve Item 2, as recommended, and to return with an update on a donor plaque and naming rights option for the project, and to return with a budget narrative reporting on expenditures and reimbursements of the Ojai Tent Town beginning at the start of 2024.
Roll Call:
On the call of the roll, the vote was three (3) in favor and two (2) against.
Ayes: Lang, Rule, Gilman
Noes: Whitman, Mang
Abstain: None
Absent: None
MOTION PASSES
DISCUSSION
3. Finance and Budget Committee – Recommendations
RECOMMENDATION:
1. Consider the membership and appointment/nomination process of any resident members of the Finance and Budget Committee, including staff’s recommendation regarding the membership of the committee: and
2. Provide staff with direction, if any, to return with a revised resolution Tuesday, May 27, 2025 Ojai City Council Regular Meeting Minutes 4 regarding the Finance and Budget Committee
Motion:
It was moved by Council Member Rule, with a second by Mayor Gilman, to reaffirm the present Budget Committee Resolution 24-42 and to appoint the two applicants to the resident seats.
Roll Call:
On the call of the roll, the vote was five (5) in favor and zero (0) against.
Ayes: Mang, Rule, Lang, Gilman, Whitman
Noes: None
Abstain: None
Absent: None
MOTION PASSES
4. City Council and Historic Preservation Commission Joint Subcommittee Regarding the Historic Preservation Commission’s Role
RECOMMENDATION: Select two City Council members to participate in an ad hoc subcommittee with two Historic Preservation Commissioners and the Community Development Staff Liaison to discuss the role of the Historic Preservation Commission.
Motion:
It was moved by Mayor Gilman, with a second by Mayor Pro Tem Lang, to select Council Member Mang and Council Member Rule to participate in an ad hoc subcommittee with two Historic Preservation Commissioners and the Community Development Staff Liaison to discuss the role of the Historic Preservation Commission.
Roll Call:
On the call of the roll, the vote was five (5) in favor and zero (0) against.
Ayes: Rule Lang, Gilman, Mang, Whitman
Noes: None
Abstain: None
Absent: None
MOTION PASSES
5. Five-Year Proposed Capital Improvement Program
RECOMMENDATION: Receive a presentation on the current and proposed Capital Improvement Program and provide feedback and direction to be incorporated in the FY25/26 approved budget.
Council provided feedback and direction to staff.
Tuesday, May 27, 2025 Ojai City Council Regular Meeting Minutes 5 CLOSED SESSION
6. Public Employee Performance Evaluation (Gov. Code Section 54957) Position Title: City Manager
COUNCIL MEMBER’S REPORTS
Council Member Whitman reported on attending a Local Heroes Presentation by the Turtle Conservancy.
Mayor Gilman reported on the meeting of the Student Council.
Mayor Pro Tem Lang reported on attending a transportation roundtable with the Ventura County Transportation Commission.
CITY MANAGER’S REPORT
FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
Council Member Mang and Mayor Gilman recommended future discussion on potential community outreach opportunities and forums.
ADJOURNMENT
City Attorney Summers recited the Item 6 Closed Session language.
Mayor Gilman adjourned the May 27, 2025, Regular Meeting into Closed Session, and until the June 10, 2025, Regular Meeting at 6:00 p.m.
Prepared by: Weston Montgomery, Chief Deputy City Clerk