AGENDA
CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2025, 5:00 PM
KENT HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS - CITY HALL CAMPUS - 111 W SANTA ANA ST,
OJAI, CA
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 Special Meeting of the Ojai City Council to order on September 16, 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, and Mang.
Council Member Rule was absent.
Also present in the Kent Hall Chambers: City Manager Harvey, Assistant City Attorney Anderson, and 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 Council Member Whitman, with a second by Council Member Rule, to approve the Agenda of the September 16, 2025, Special Meeting.
Council Action:
Consent reached through the Mayor, with five (5) in favor and zero (0) against.
CLOSED SESSION - 5:00 PM
1. 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
Assistant City Attorney Anderson reported out of Closed Session, that staff has been given direction – with no reportable action.
HEARING - 6:00 PM
Motion:
It was moved by Mayor Gilman, with a second by Mayor Pro Tem Lang, to postpone both Item 2 and 3 Appeal Hearings to a future date and to provide hearing procedures including a new time frame for agenda noticing and posting, and a 10- day deadline for materials to be submitted to the City Council prior to the hearing.
Roll Call:
On the call of the roll, the vote was four (4) in favor and one (1) absent.
Ayes: Gilman, Lang, Whitman, Mang
Noes: None
Abstain: None
Absent: Rule
MOTION PASSES
2. Appeal Hearing to Uphold or Overturn the Tax Collector’s Determination dated April 8, 2025 Enforcing Assessed Transient Occupancy Tax (“TOT”) and Penalties from Audit Findings (June 30, 2020 – March 31, 2023) Against Cameron Larner, business owner of Casa Ojai Inn, managed by B&W Inns LLC (“Appellant”)
RECOMMENDATION:
1. That the City Council hear the evidence and testimony presented by the Appellant and The City of Ojai (“City”); and
2. Pursuant to procedures outlined in Ojai Municipal Code (“OMC”) Sections 8-
1.429 through 8-1.432, decide whether to uphold or overturn the Tax Collector’s April 8, 2025 hearing determination (“Hearing Determination”) that the audit findings concerning the Transient Occupancy Tax (“TOT”) for the period of June 30, 2020 to March 31, 2023, and penalties, collectively $11,423.37, should be assessed against the Appellant; and
3. If the City Council overturns the hearing determination, decide the amount of TOT tax, penalties, and interest owed by the Appellant, if any Administrative Report - Casa Ojai TOT Appeal
Casa Ojai TOT Appeal Exhibits Combined
3. Appeal Hearing to Uphold or Overturn the Tax Collector’s Determination dated April 8, 2025 Enforcing Assessed Transient Occupancy Tax (“TOT”) and Penalties from Audit Findings (January 1, 2021 – March 31, 2024) against Cameron Larner business owner of Su Nido Inn, managed by B&W Inns LLC (“Appellant”)
RECOMMENDATION:
1. That the City Council hear the evidence and testimony presented by the Appellant and The City of Ojai (“City”); and
2. Pursuant to procedures outlined in Ojai Municipal Code (“OMC”) Sections 8-
1.429 through 8-1.432, decide whether to uphold or overturn the Tax Collector’s April 8, 2025 hearing determination (“Hearing Determination”) that the audit findings concerning the Transient Occupancy Tax (“TOT”) for the period of January 1, 2021 to March 31, 2024, and penalties, collectively $1,630.67, should be assessed against the Appellant; and
3. If the City Council overturns the hearing determination, decide the amount of TOT tax, penalties, and interest owed by the Appellant, if any.
Administrative Report - Su Nido Inn TOT Appeal
Su Nido Inn TOT Appeal Exhibits Combined
DISCUSSION
4. Extension of Three Month Pilot Program with Ojai Valley Chamber of Commerce and Establishment of 2:2 Committee
RECOMMENDATION:
1. Authorize the City Manager to execute an amendment between the City of Ojai and the Ojai Valley Chamber of Commerce to extend the three-month pilot program to a new term of October 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026; and
2. Establish a 2:2 committee comprised of two (2) City Council Members to be designated and two (2) Ojai Valley Chamber of Commerce Board Members; and
3. Appropriate funding from the unprogrammed general fund balance for the extended contract at the monthly rate of pay identified in the pilot proposal, totaling $81,900 for the remainder of the fiscal year (FY 25-26), extending the agreement from October through the end of June, 2026.
Administrative Report - Chamber Agreement and 2 by 2 Committee Chamber of Commerce - Exhibit A - Amended
Motion:
It was moved by Mayor Pro Tem Lang, with a second by Council Member Mang, to establish a 2:2 committee comprised of two (2) City Council Members to be designated and two (2) Ojai Valley Chamber of Commerce Board Members – assigning Mayor Gilman and Mayor Pro Tem Lang to serve – and assigning time limit of ad hoc committee to coincide with the terms of the current contract with the Chamber of Commerce.
Roll Call:
On the call of the roll, the vote was four (4) in favor and one (1) absent.
Ayes: Mang, Lang, Gilman, Whitman
Noes: None
Abstain: None
Absent: Rule
MOTION PASSES
Motion:
It was moved by Mayor Gilman, with a second by Mayor Pro Tem Lang, to approve Recommendations 1 and 3, authorizing the contract extension with funding.
Roll Call:
On the call of the roll, the vote was four (4) in favor and one (1) absent.
Ayes: Whitman, Mang, Gilman, Lang
Noes: None
Abstain: None
Absent: Rule
MOTION PASSES
5. Resolution in Support of the Roadless Rule and H.R. 3930 (Rep. Carbajal) S. 2042 (Sen. Cantell) and Opposition of United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) 2025 Rescission of the Roadless Area Conservation Rule RECOMMENDATION: Adopt a resolution:
1. Opposing the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) 2025 rescission of the Roadless Area Conservation Rule; and
2. Supporting H.R. 3930, introduced by Representative Salud Carbajal, and S.2042, introduced by Sen. Maria Cantwell, to permanently protect roadless areas and wild forest lands.
Administrative Report - Roadless Rule Comment Period
Attachment A - Roadless Rule Resolution
Motion:
It was moved by Mayor Pro Tem Lang, with a second by Mayor Gilman, to approve Item 5, adopting the resolutions with language additions, distributing the letter in the comment period and sending to Representative Salud Carbajal.
Roll Call:
On the call of the roll, the vote was four (4) in favor and one (1) absent.
Ayes: Whitman, Lang, Mang, Gilman
Noes: None
Abstain: None
Absent: Rule
MOTION PASSES
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Gilman adjourned the September 16, 2025, Special Meeting at 8:40 p.m., until the September 30, 2025, Special Meeting.
Prepared by: Weston Montgomery, Chief Deputy City Clerk