MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2025, 6:00 PM
KENT HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS - CITY HALL CAMPUS - 111 W SANTA ANA ST, OJAI, CA Mayor Gilman called the Regular Meeting of the Ojai City Council to order on December 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.
Also present in the Kent Hall Council Chambers: City Manager Harvey, City Attorney Burgess, 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 Mayor Pro Tem Lang, to approve the Agenda of the December 9, 2025, Regular Meeting, and to re-order Item 15 before Item 14.
Council Action:
Unanimous consent reached through the Mayor.
PRESENTATIONS
1. Service Recognition Award to City Attorney Matthew Summers for 10 Years of Service
2. Introduction of Incoming Ojai Police Chief Tyler Abbott
COMMISSION REPORTS
Arts Commission Chair West provided an update on the Commission.
CITY MANAGER’S REPORT
PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS
Public Communications is the time set aside during the meeting for members of the public to address the City Council on items of City business other than scheduled agenda items.
Matters raised at this time may be briefly discussed by the Council, and will generally be referred to staff and/or placed on a subsequent agenda. Under State law, other than for emergency items, no action can be taken.
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.
3. City of Ojai Warrants for November 3, 2025 - November 16, 2025 RECOMMENDATION: Receive and file.
Administrative Report - Warrant Report
Attachment A - Warrant Report Register
Warrant Cover Letter
4. Treasurer's Monthly Report of Cash and Investments for the City of Ojai as of October 31, 2025
RECOMMENDATION: Receive and file.
Administrative Report - Treasurers Report Oct 2025
Attachment A - Treasurer's Monthly Report Oct 2025
Exhibit A - Cash & Investment Summary Oct 2025
5. Minutes of the City Council
RECOMMENDATION: Approve.
Minutes - Special Meeting December 2, 2025
6. Minutes of the Planning Commission
RECOMMENDATION: Receive and file.
Minutes - PC August 20, 2025
Minutes - PC September 3, 2025
Minutes - PC October 1, 2025
7. Minutes of the Historic Preservation Commission
RECOMMENDATION: Receive and file.
Minutes - HPC August 14, 2025
8. Minutes of the Arts Commission
RECOMMENDATION: Receive and file.
Minutes - Arts Commission October 16, 2025
9. Reappointment of Area Housing Authority Commissioner RECOMMENDATION: Reappoint Mr. Steve Mason to serve a four-year term as the
City of Ojai’s representative on the Ventura County Area Housing Authority Board.
Administrative Report - Area Housing Authority ReappointmentAttachment A - Application and Information
10. Ratify Appointment to Fill Mid-Term Vacancy on the Historic Preservation Commission
RECOMMENDATION: Review and ratify nomination of applicant Catalina Niessen as Historic Preservation Commissioner to fill a mid-term vacancy on the Historic Preservation Commission.
Administrative Report - Historic Preservation Commissioner Ratification Attachment A - Commissioner Application Form - C.
Niessen
11. Adoption of a Resolution to Amend the City's 457 Deferred Compensation Plan RECOMMENDATION: That the City Council adopt a resolution to amend the City's MissionSquare 457 Deferred Compensation Plan to include Roth Contribution provisions, options under the SECURE 2.0 Act, loan provisions, and deferral of leave
cash-outs.
Administrative Report - Amend 457 Deferred Compensation Plan Attachment A - Resolution Amending the 457 Deferred Compensation Plan Attachment B - 457 Governmental Plan and Trust Optional Provisions Election Form Attachment C - Request for SECURE 2.0 and Other Plan Changes Checklist Attachment D - MissionSquare Retirement Gov 457 Deferred Compensation Model Plan
12. Approval of MOU with HELP of Ojai for Care Pod
RECOMMENDATION: That the City Council authorize the City Manager to execute a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the City and HELP of Ojai regarding
the operation of Care Pod.
Administrative Report - Help of Ojai MOU
Attachment A - MOU Carepod and Help of Ojai
13. SECOND READING | Adoption of Ordinance No 969 Adopting the 2025 California Building Codes
RECOMMENDATION: Conduct second reading, waiving the reading of the full text, and adopt Ordinance No. 969 adopting the 2025 California Building Codes, by reading of the title as stated below.
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF OJAI ADOPTING BY REFERENCE, PURSUANT TO GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 50022.2, CALIFORNIA CODE OF REGULATIONS – TITLE 24, THE 2025 CALIFORNIA BUILDING STANDARDS CODE, INCLUDING (1) CALIFORNIA BUILDING CODE, VOLUMES 1 & 2, 2025 EDITION; WITH APPENDICES I AND J; (2) CALIFORNIA ELECTRICAL CODE, 2025 EDITION; (3) CALIFORNIA PLUMBING CODE, 2025
EDITION, WITH APPENDICES H AND L; (4) CALIFORNIA MECHANICAL CODE, 2025 EDITION; (5) CALIFORNIA ADMINISTRATIVE CODE, 2025 EDITION; (6) CALIFORNIA ENERGY CODE, 2025 EDITION; (7) CALIFORNIA REFERENCE STANDARDS, 2025 EDITION; (8) CALIFORNIA EXISTING BUILDING CODE, 2022
EDITION; (9) CALIFORNIA RESIDENTIAL CODE, 2022 EDITION, WITH APPENDIX AH; (10) CALIFORNIA GREEN BUILDING STANDARDS CODE, 2025 EDITION; (11) CALIFORNIA FIRE CODE, 2025 EDITION;(12)
CALIFORNIA WILD
LAND INTERFACE CODE 2025 AND ADOPTING LOCAL AMENDMENTS
THERETO IN ACCORDANCE WITH CALIFORNIA HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE SECTIONS 17922, 17958, 17958.5, 17958.7, AND 18941.5 AND FINDING
THAT THE ADOPTION OF THIS AMENDMENT IS EXEMPT FROM THE
CALIFORNIAENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT
Administrative Report - Building Code Update
Attachment A - Ordinance No. 969
Council Member Mang to pulled Items 11 and 12 for discussion.
Council Member Rule pulled Item 3 for discussion.
Council Member Whitman pulled Item 13 for discussion.
Motion:
It was moved by Mayor Pro Tem Lang, with a second by Council Member Rule, to approve the Consent Calendar, except pulled Items 3, 11, 12 and, 13.
Roll Call:
On the call of the roll, the vote was five (5) in favor and zero (0) against.
Ayes: Rule, Whitman, Lang, Gilman, Mang
Noes: None
Abstain: None
Absent: None
MOTION PASSES
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: Whitman, Gilman, Mang, Lang, Rule
Noes: None
Abstain: None
Absent: None
MOTION PASSES
Motion:
It was moved by Mayor Gilman, with a second by Council Member Whitman, to approve Item 11, as recommended.
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
Motion:
It was moved by Mayor Gilman, with a second by Council Member Whitman, to approve Item 12, as recommended.
Roll Call:
On the call of the roll, the vote was five (5) in favor and zero (0) against.
Ayes: Lang, Whitman, Rule, Mang, Gilman
Noes: None
Abstain: None
Absent: None
MOTION PASSES
Motion:
It was moved by Council Member Whitman, with a second by Mayor Gilman, to approve Item 13, as recommended, and direct staff to report back by 2nd quarter of 2026 with a concept review to assess ordinance modifications related to climate, geology, topography, and AB 130 as potential options.
Roll Call:
On the call of the roll, the vote was five (5) in favor and zero (0) against.
Ayes: Rule, Mang, Lang, Gilman, Whitman
Noes: None
Abstain: None
Absent: None
MOTION PASSES
DISCUSSION
14. Furnished by Owner and Installed by Owner (FOIO) Items | Ojai Permanent Supportive Housing Project (OPSHP) 611 South Montgomery Street and Policy for Commemorative Naming and Donations
RECOMMENDATION:
1. Receive DignityMoves’ Furnished by Owner and Installed by Owner (FOIO) items list; and
2. Review and adopt the Policy for Commemorative Naming and Donations.
Administrative Report - FOIO Donation Policy
Attachment A - FOIO List
Attachment B - Naming and Donations Policy
Staff received feedback to return for future policy.
No Council Action
15. Ratification of Arts Commission Recommendations – 2026 Arts Grants RECOMMENDATION: Ratify the Arts Commission’s recommendations for the 2026
Arts Grants Program.
Administrative Report - Arts Grants Awards Ratification Attachment A - 2026 Arts Grants AD HOC
Recommendations Attachment B - 2026 Grants Scoring
Motion:
It was moved by Mayor Pro Tem Lang, with a second by Mayor Gilman, to approve Item 15, as recommended.
Roll Call:
On the call of the roll, the vote was five (5) in favor, zero (0) against, and (1) abstain.
Ayes: Rule, Gilman, Mang, Lang
Noes: None
Abstain: Whitman
Absent: None
MOTION PASSES
COUNCIL MEMBER'S REPORTS
FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Gilman adjourned the December 9, 2025, Regular Meeting at 8:59 p.m., until the January 13, 2026, Regular Meeting.
WRITTEN PUBLIC COMMENTS
Written Public Comments - December 9 Special Meeting
Prepared by: Weston Montgomery, Chief Deputy City Clerk