CITY COUNCIL AGENDA
REGULAR MEETING
TUESDAY, AUGUST 26, 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 August 26, 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 August 26, 2025, Regular Meeting, and to reorder and switch Items 7 and 9 in the agenda order.
Council Action:
Unanimous consent reached through the Mayor, with five (5) in favor and Tuesday, August 26, 2025 Ojai City Council Regular Meeting Minutes 2 zero (0) against.
COMMISSION REPORTS
Arts Commission Chair West provided an oral report.
CITY MANAGER’S REPORT
City Manager Harvey provided an oral report.
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 July 28, 2025 – August 10, 2025 RECOMMENDATION: Receive and file.
c) July 31, 2025 Treasurer’s Monthly Report of Cash and Investments for the City of Ojai
RECOMMENDATION: Receive and file.
d) Minutes of the Finance and Budget Committee from the June 5, 2025 Meeting
RECOMMENDATION: Receive and file.
e) Minutes of the Historic Preservation Commission from the July 10, 2025 Regular Meeting
RECOMMENDATION: Receive and file.
f) Minutes of the City Council from the July 8, 2025, Regular Meeting RECOMMENDATION: Approve.
g) Adoption of Ordinance [Second Reading] Amending and Restating Section 9-1.1001 and adding Section 9-1.701(g) of the Ojai Municipal Code | Establish efficiency requirements for single-family homeowners for major renovations and additions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the City of Ojai
RECOMMENDATION: That the City Council adopt the proposed ordinance (Attachment A) amending and restating Section 9-1.1001 and adding Tuesday, August 26, 2025 Ojai City Council Regular Meeting Minutes 3 Section 9-1.701(g) of the Ojai Municipal Code to establish efficiency requirements for single-family homeowners for major renovations and additions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the City of Ojai.
Council Member Mang pulled Item 1.b for discussion.
Motion:
It was moved by Mayor Pro Tem Lang with a second by Council Member Mang, to approve the Consent Calendar of the August 26, 2025, Regular Meeting.
Roll Call:
On the call of the roll, the vote was four (4) in favor and one (1) abstain.
Ayes: Gilman, Lang, Whitman, Mang
Noes: None
Abstain: Rule
Absent: None
MOTION PASSES
Motion:
It was moved by Mayor Pro Tem Lang with a second by Mayor Gilman, to approve Item 1.b.
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
DISCUSSION
2. Wildfire Safety and Risk Mitigation Services - Revised Ojai Valley Fire Safe Proposal
RECOMMENDATION:
1. Review and consider approval of the revised proposal submitted by the Ojai Valley Fire Safe Council (OVFSC), limiting the scope of wildfire safety and risk mitigation services to (1) Community Outreach and Education and (2) Structural Hardening, Parcel & Community-Level Mitigation; and
2. If it so desires, authorize the City Manager to enter into a professional services agreement with OVFSC for the revised scope in an amount not to exceed $386,025;
3. Approve appropriation of $386,025, from the available Measure C Fund Balance to the Capital and Special Project Fund to fund the agreement with the OVFSC; or
4. Provide alternate direction to the City Manager related to wildfire safety and risk mitigation services.
Tuesday, August 26, 2025 Ojai City Council Regular Meeting Minutes 4 Motion:
It was moved by Mayor Gilman, with a second by Council Member Rule, to approve Item 2, as recommended.
Roll Call:
On the call of the roll, the vote was three (3) in favor and two (2) against.
Ayes: Rule, Lang, Gilman
Noes: Mang, Whitman
Abstain: None
Absent: None
MOTION PASSES
3. City of Ojai / Ojai Unified School District 2:2 Committee and Request for City Special Housing Counsel
RECOMMENDATION:
1. Appoint two City Council Members for a proposed 2:2 (two on two) committee with two Members of the Ojai Unified School District (OUSD) Board for the purpose of discussing matters of mutual interest between the City and OUSD; and
2. Authorize the City Manager to enter into an agreement to retain Sunny Soltani, Managing Partner of Aleshire & Wynder, to serve as Special Housing Counsel to the City.
Motion:
It was moved by Council Member Whitman, with a second by Mayor Gilman, to (1) appoint Mayor Gilman and Council Member Whitman to an ad hoc committee for housing related topics with the Ojai Unified School District; (2) appoint Council Member Rule and Council Member Mang to an ad hoc committee for student involvement in City Council goals with the Ojai Unified School District; (3) that the ad hoc committees be obligated to provide periodic reports to the City Council; (4) that the ad hoc time period be established at 6 months; and (5) to pause efforts needing special housing counsel.
Roll Call:
On the call of the roll, the vote was five (5) in favor and zero (0) against.
Ayes: Whitman, Gilman, Lang, Rule, Mang
Noes: None
Abstain: None
Absent: None
MOTION PASSES
4. Ojai Tent Town Expenses
RECOMMENDATION: Receive the report regarding Ojai Tent Town expenses from Fiscal Year 2023-24 to June 30, 2025 unaudited.
Tuesday, August 26, 2025 Ojai City Council Regular Meeting Minutes 5 Received and filed.
5. Rincon Consultants Phase II ESA Contract Amendment | PSA in an additional amount not to exceed $51,133 to Implement Remedial Action Plan Under Guidance of The Department of Toxic Substance Control, Located at 611 South Montgomery Street, Ojai Permanent Supportive Housing Project
RECOMMENDATION: That the City Council considers the proposal from Rincon Consultants to amend the existing Professional Services Agreement (PSA) contract between the City and Rincon for an additional amount not to exceed $51,133 and continue their guidance through the remedial excavation of onsite dirt consistent with the remedial action plan and under the guidance of the Department of Toxic Substance Control, consistent with the Phase II Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) findings.
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 three (3) in favor and two (2) against.
Ayes: Gilman, Rule, Lang
Noes: Mang, Whitman
Abstain: None
Absent: None
MOTION PASSES
6. Resolution Reinstating the Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU)/Second Unit Compliance Program Guidelines and Removing the Application Deadline RECOMMENDATION: That the City Council consider adopting a resolution (Attachment A) reinstating the program and removing the deadline for submitting applications for the Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU)/Second Unit Compliance Program.
Motion:
It was moved by Mayor Gilman, with a second by Council Member Rule, to approve Item 6, 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
7. Concept Review | Alternatives to Building Appeals Board Tuesday, August 26, 2025 Ojai City Council Regular Meeting Minutes 6 RECOMMENDATION: That the City Council discuss and provide direction, if appropriate, on the City's current building code and building permit appeals process, including potential alternatives to the existing Building Appeals Board.
Item 7 was continued to a future agenda.
8. Community Aquatics Center Programming and Facilities RECOMMENDATION:
1. Direct staff to initiate discussions with Ojai Unified School District (OUSD) and Channel Islands YMCA regarding City involvement and support for community programming to commence in the Fall of 2025 at the new Nordhoff High School aquatics center; and
2. Discuss and determine whether City Council consensus exists for a proposed community aquatics center at Soule Park, and if so, direct staff to conduct preliminary feasibility discussions with the County of Ventura; and
3. Return to the City Council with feedback and decision points from any discussions held for City Council review and consideration.
Motion:
It was moved by Council Member Whitman, with a second by Mayor Pro Tem Lang, to direct staff to initiate discussion with the Ojai Unified School District and non-profit group of interest, to analyze partnership agreement examples, to analyze lifeguard staffing needs, and to return with a future agenda item for the inclusion of a “splash pad” style water feature.
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
Absent: None
MOTION PASSES
9. Request for Reimbursement of International Conference Travel Expense for Council Member Rule
RECOMMENDATION: Authorize reimbursement of Council Member Rule for up to $1,990.00 for incurred and anticipated international conference travel expenses.
Motion:
It was moved by Mayor Gilman, with a second by Mayor Pro Tem Lang, to approve Item 9, as recommended.
Roll Call:
On the call of the roll, the vote was four (4) in favor and one (1) abstain.
Ayes: Lang, Mang, Rule, Gilman
Noes: None
Tuesday, August 26, 2025 Ojai City Council Regular Meeting Minutes 7 Abstain: Whitman
Absent: None
MOTION PASSES
COUNCIL MEMBER’S REPORTS
FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
Council Member Whitman, with Council Member Mang, requested a Concept Review item for Contract Services Categories and Listings for Review, and for which areas to study for contractor vs. City employee.
Mayor Gilman requested (1) a City Council policy on technology use at the dais; (2) Nitrous Oxide product sales in the City; (3) City Council travel policy; and (4) a Ojai Community Farmers Market interim assistance and relocation discussion item.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Gilman adjourned the August 26, 2025, Regular Meeting at 10:15 p.m., until the September 9, 2025 Regular Meeting at 6:00 p.m.
Prepared by: Weston Montgomery, Chief Deputy City Clerk