CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING
TUESDAY, JULY 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 July 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 Attorney Anderson, 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 Gilman with a second by Council Member Whitman, to approve the Agenda of the July 8, 2025, Regular Meeting, and to reorder Item 6 to occur after Item 2 in the agenda order.
Tuesday, July 8, 2025 Ojai City Council Regular Meeting Minutes 2 Council Action:
Unanimous consent reached through the Mayor, with five (5) in favor and zero (0) against.
CITY MANAGER’S REPORT
City Manager Harvey provided an oral report.
PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS
CONSENT CALENDAR (Items 1.a – 1.d)
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 June 09, 2025 – June 22, 2025 RECOMMENDATION: Receive and file.
c) Minutes of the Ojai City Council from the June 24, 2025, Special Meeting and the June 24, 2025, Regular Meeting
RECOMMENDATION: Approve.
d) Professional Services Agreement with Eide Bailly LLP for Accounting and Financial Management Services
RECOMMENDATION: That the City Council authorizes the City Manager to enter into a Professional Services Agreement with Eide Bailly LLP for accounting and financial management services in an amount not to exceed $75,000.
Motion:
It was moved by Council Member Whitman with a second by Mayor Pro Tem Lang, to approve the Consent Calendar of the July 8, 2025, Regular Meeting.
Roll Call:
On the call of the roll, the vote was five (5) in favor and zero (0) against.
Ayes: Lang, Mang, Rule, Gilman, Whitman
Noes: None
Abstain: None
Absent: None
MOTION PASSES
Tuesday, July 8, 2025 Ojai City Council Regular Meeting Minutes 3 DISCUSSION
2. TWO COUNCIL MEMBER REQUEST (LANG AND RULE): Adoption of a Resolution Approving the Ojai Values Act of 2025
RECOMMENDATION:
1. Adopt a Resolution approving the “Ojai Values Act of 2025” and related programming; and
2. Direct the City Manager return with a fiscal impact analysis of the requested programming to implement these provisions that that exceed existing departmental capacities: education and training, development of materials, enforcement and independent review mechanism, a policy for whistleblowers, and annual reporting; and
3. Direct the City Manager to update the City’s website with "Know Your Rights” resources for the community.
Motion:
It was moved by Mayor Pro Tem Lang, with a second by Mayor Gilman, to approve Item 1.i, with modification of title to “CARE Policy” and modification of language identified.
Roll Call:
On the call of the roll, the vote was five (5) in favor and zero (0) against.
Ayes: Gilman, Mang, Whitman, Lang, Rule
Noes: None
Abstain: None
Absent: None
MOTION PASSES
3. Consider Adoption of a Resolution Amending the Salary Schedule to update Salary Ranges for City Employees for Fiscal Year 2025-26 to include either a 1.8% or a 2.5% Cost of Living Adjustment and Adding the Classifications of Assistant to the City Manager and Deputy City Manager, effective July 7, 2025
RECOMMENDATION: That the City Council adopt Resolution No 25-____, Amending the Salary Schedule to update Salary Ranges for City employees for Fiscal Year 2025-26 to include either a 1.8% or a 2.5% Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) and adding the classifications of Assistant to the City Manager and Deputy City Manager, effective July 7, 2025.
Motion:
It was moved by Mayor Gilman, with a second by Mayor Pro Tem Lang, 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, Gilman, Rule, Whitman, Lang
Noes: None
Abstain: None
Tuesday, July 8, 2025 Ojai City Council Regular Meeting Minutes 4 Absent: None
MOTION PASSES
4. Professional Services Agreement – Ojai Valley Chamber of Commerce RECOMMENDATION: Authorize the City Manager to enter into a professional services agreement with the Ojai Valley Chamber of Commerce for business and economic development and consultancy services over a three-month trial period in an amount not to exceed $27,300.
Motion:
It was moved by Mayor Gilman, with a second by Council Member Rule, to approve Item 4, as recommended.
Roll Call:
On the call of the roll, the vote was five (5) in favor and zero (0) against.
Ayes: Rule, Lang, Whitman, Gilman, Mang
Noes: None
Abstain: None
Absent: None
MOTION PASSES
5. City Council Goals
RECOMMENDATION: Discuss the proposed City Council goals and corresponding tactics determined to date, and revise as needed.
Item 5 was continued to a future meeting.
6. TWO COUNCIL MEMBER REQUEST (MANG AND WHITMAN): Acquisition and Development of 914, 915 and 917 Bryant Place as a Homeless Shelter/Facility
RECOMMENDATION: That the City Council consider the acquisition and development of 914, 915 and 917 Bryant Place as a homeless shelter/facility, as outlined in Attachment A.
Motion:
It was moved by Mayor Pro Tem Lang, with a second by Mayor Gilman, to pause and continue Item 6 to a future discussion.
Roll Call:
On the call of the roll, the vote was three (3) in favor and two (2) against.
Ayes: Lang, Rule, Gilman
Noes: Mang, Whitman
Abstain: None
Absent: None
MOTION PASSES
COUNCIL MEMBER’S REPORTS
Tuesday, July 8, 2025 Ojai City Council Regular Meeting Minutes 5 FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
Council Member Mang ang Mayor Gilman requested a future item to discuss how items could be allowed to be passed out to the public during the Fourth of July Parade
Mayor Gilman and Council Member Rule requested an item regarding Help of Ojai and rental assistance for detained or deported individuals.
Mayor Pro Tem Land and Council Member Whitman requested a special meeting on July 29 to discuss the proposal from the Ojai Valley Fire Safe Council.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Gilman adjourned the July 8, 2025, Regular Meeting at 10:00 p.m., until the August 12, 2025 Regular Meeting at 6:00 p.m.
Prepared by: Weston Montgomery, Chief Deputy City Clerk