MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2025, 6:00 PM
KENT HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS - CITY HALL CAMPUS - 111 W SANTA ANA ST, OJAI,
CA, ADDITIONAL TELECONFERENCE MEETING LOCATION AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC
TO ACCOMMODATE TELECONFERENCING COUNCIL MEMBER LESLIE RULE, PER CALIFORNIA GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 54953(B)(3): 6 SALTOUN RD., LONDON, ENGLAND SW2 1EP
OJAI CITY COUNCIL
ANDY GILMAN, MAYOR
DISTRICT 1 - LESLIE RULE DISTRICT 3 - ANDREW WHITMAN
DISTRICT 2 - RACHEL LANG 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 September 9, 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. (TELECONFERENCING COUNCIL MEMBER LESLIE RULE, PER CALIFORNIA GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 54953(B)(3): 6 SALTOUN RD., LONDON, ENGLAND SW2 1EP)
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 September 9, 2025, Regular Meeting.
Roll Call:
On the call of the roll, the vote was five (5) in favor and zero (0) against.
Ayes: Rule, Lang, Whitman, Mang, Gilman
Noes: None
Abstain: None
Absent: None
MOTION PASSES
PRESENTATIONS
1. The Gold Coast Transit District (GCTD) to provided a presentation on the District's Annual Update
COMMISSION REPORTS
CITY MANAGER’S REPORT
City Manager Harvey provided an oral report.
PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS
CONSENT CALENDAR
All matters listed on the Consent Calendar are to be considered routine and will be enacted by one motion in the form listed. There will be no discussion of these items unless, before the vote on the motion to adopt, specific items are removed from the Consent Calendar for separate motions.
2. Minutes
RECOMMENDATION: Approve draft minutes from the August 26, 2025 City Council Regular Meeting; August 26, 2025, City Council Special Meeting for Closed Session; August 12, 2025 Special Meeting for Closed Session; August 12, 2025 Special Meeting for Presentations; and August 5, 2025, Special Meeting. 08 26 25 City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
08 26 25 City Council Special Meeting for Closed Session Minutes 08 12 25 City Council Special Meeting for Closed Session Minutes 08 12 25 City Council Special Meeting for Presentations Minutes. 08 05 25 City Council Special Meeting Minutes
3. City of Ojai Warrants for August 11, 2025 – August 24, 2025 RECOMMENDATION: Receive and file.
Administrative Report - Warrants August 11-24, 2025
Attachment A - Check Register
4. Authorize 1st Amendment with MV Cheng & Associates, Inc. for Accounting Support Services
RECOMMENDATION:
1. Authorize the City Manager to execute the first amendment to Professional Services Agreement with MV Cheng & Associates, Inc. (MVC) to increase the not-to-exceed amount to $75,000 for accounting support services; and
2. Authorize transferring appropriations within the Finance Department Budget of $70,000 from Salaries & Benefits to Contract Services; and
3. Ratify Expenses from May 1, 2025 – September 9, 2025, in the amount of $43,813.
Administrative Report - PSA Amendment No 1 - MV Cheng Assoc Inc Attachment A - PSA Amemdment No 1 MV Cheng Assoc Inc
5. Award Public Works Agreement to Ventura Regional Sanitary District for Storm Drain Cleaning and Video Inspections
RECOMMENDATION: That the City Council authorizes the City Manager to enter into PW Agreement No. 2025-31 with Ventura Regional Sanitary District (VRSD, a special district) for storm drain cleaning and video inspection in the amount of $57,848.00 and authorize a contingency of $ 11,570.00 (approximately 20%) for unforeseen change orders that may be required for a total authorized expenditure of $69,418.00.
Administrative Report - Public Works Agreement with Ventura Regional Sanitary District Attachment A - Public Works Agreement 2025-31
6. Pavement Rehabilitation Project No. ST-3005 - Resolution Accepting Improvements and Authorizing Filing of a Notice of Completion RECOMMENDATION: Adopt a resolution accepting improvements and authorizing the Mayor to sign the Notice of Completion for the 2024 Pavement Rehabilitation Project (ST-3005).
Administrative Report - ST-3005 Notice of Completion
Attachment A - Resolution ST-3005
Attachment B - Notice of Completion ST-3005
Council Member Whitman pulled Item 6 for discussion.
Council Member Mang pulled Item 5 for discussion.
Motion:
It was moved by Council Member Whitman, with a second by Council Member Mang, to approve the Consent Calendar of the September 9, 2025, Regular Meeting, except for pulled Item 5 an Item 6.
Roll Call:
On the call of the roll, the vote was five (5) in favor and zero (0) against.
Ayes: Mang, Rule, Lang, Whitman, Gilman
Noes: None
Abstain: None
Absent: None
MOTION PASSES
Motion:
It was moved by Mayor Pro Tem Lang, with a second by Council Member Mang, to approve Item 5 an Item 6.
Roll Call:
On the call of the roll, the vote was five (5) in favor and zero (0) against.
Ayes: Gilman, Mang, Rule, Whitman, Lang
Noes: None
Abstain: None
Absent: None
MOTION PASSES
DISCUSSION
7. DignityMoves Development Budget and Schedule
RECOMMENDATION: Receive and file the DignityMoves Development Budget and Schedule for the Ojai Permanent Supportive Housing Project (OPSHP).
Adminstrative Report - DignityMoves Budget
Attachment A - OPSHP - Development Budget
Attachment B - OPSHP - Development Schedule
Motion:
It was moved by Council Member Whitman, with a second by Council Member Rule, to not receive and file the DignityMoves Development Budget and Schedule for the Ojai Permanent Supportive Housing Project (OPSHP), and to direct staff and DignityMoves to return in the second Regular Meeting of October with a detailed review of project plans.
Roll Call:
On the call of the roll, the vote was three (3) in favor and two (2) against.
Ayes: Whitman, Mang, Rule
Noes: Lang, Gilman
Abstain: None
Absent: None
MOTION PASSES
Motion:
It was moved by Mayor Gilman, with a second by Mayor Pro Tem Lang, to receive and file the DignityMoves Development Budget and Schedule for the Ojai Permanent Supportive Housing Project (OPSHP).
NO ROLL CALL – MOTION FAILS DUE TO SUBSTITUTE MOTION CARRYING
8. Concept Review: Allocation of $100,000 in General Funds to HELP of Ojai for Rental Assistance Program and Authorization to Execute Agreement RECOMMENDATION: Discuss and, if appropriate, allocate $100,000 in General Funds to HELP of Ojai to support rental assistance for Ojai residents through Help of Ojai’s existing Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Rehousing (HPRR) program; and authorize City Manager to execute agreement regarding the same.
Adminstrative Report - Help of Ojai Rental Assistance
Attachment A - Help of Ojai Rental Assistance Info
Motion:
It was moved by Mayor Gilman, with a second by Mayor Pro Tem Lang, to approve the concept review as recommended, and additionally not requiring a social security number for participants to receive assistance and placing priority in city limits, and directing staff to return with contract/professional services agreement for approval.
Roll Call:
On the call of the roll, the vote was five (5) in favor and zero (0) against.
Ayes: Gilman, Mang, Rule, Lang, Whitman
Noes: None
Abstain: None
Absent: None
MOTION PASSES
9. General Plan Update Progress Report | Climate Action Plan (CAP) and Economic Diversification and Other General Plan Update Efforts RECOMMENDATION: Receive and file this report on recent adjustments to the General Plan Update process, including the shift from focus groups to broader community-wide engagement strategies for the Climate Action Plan (CAP) and the Economic Diversification Element as well as other General Plan Update progress.
Administrative Report - General Plan Update Progress Report Unanimous consent reached through the Mayor, for staff to return with General Plan public survey questions for review.
10. City Council Goals
RECOMMENDATION: Discuss and adopt the City Council goals and corresponding tactics for staff analysis, along with estimates of additional resources (monetary, human, or both) needed for each prioritized tactic.
Administrative Report - City Council Goals and Tactics
Attachment A - City Council Goals and Tactics with Staff Cost Estimates Item 10 was continued to a future agenda.
COUNCIL MEMBER'S REPORTS
FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
Council Members Whitman and Mang requested zero zone enforcement and flammable fences/structures prohibiting items, going beyond State law.
Mayor Pro Tem Lang, with unanimous approval, requested a reschedule of a future agenda item in observance of Rosh Hashanah.
Council Members Rule and Whitman requested a feasibility study on Honor Farm.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Gilman adjourned the September 9, 2025, Regular Meeting at 10:00 p.m., until the September 23, 2025 Regular Meeting at 6:00 p.m.
Prepared by: Weston Montgomery, Chief Deputy City Clerk