MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2025, 4:00 PM
KENT HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS - CITY HALL CAMPUS - 111 W SANTA ANA ST, OJAI, CA Mayor Gilman called the Special Meeting of the Ojai City Council to order on December 9, 2025, at 4:00 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, Assistant to the City Manager Cervantes, 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 Mayor Pro Tem Lang, with a second by Council Member Mang, to approve the Agenda of the December 9, 2025, Special Meeting, Council Action:
Unanimous consent reached through the Mayor.
CLOSED SESSION - 4:00 PM
1. Conferences with Real Property Negotiators (Government Code Section 54956.8) pertaining to two separate properties:
Property No. 1: 503 S. Ventura Street, Ojai, CA 93023-3250 Agency Negotiators: Ben Harvey, Lucas Seibert, Bethany Burgess Negotiating Parties: Ronald R. McCrea, Trust and Jessica McCrea, Trustee Under Negotiation: Price and terms of payment
Property No. 2: 601 Pearl Street, Ojai, CA 93023-3338
Agency Negotiators: Ben Harvey, Lucas Seibert, Bethany Burgess Negotiating Parties: Pearl Street Associates, Armen Vartian, Candice Foss Under Negotiation: Price and terms of payment
CLOSED SESSION REPORT
City Attorney Burgess reported out of Closed Session that Council provided direction to staff, to bring additional information back to Council in order to negotiate pricing and payment terms for one (1) of the noticed properties.
PRESENTATIONS - 5:00 PM
2. Kroll, LLC - Sherine Ebadi, Managing Director of Investigations, Disputes and Compliance will present the results of the City's targeted forensic review
3. Eide Bailly LLC - Bradford Rockabrand, Partner, will present the Operational and Policy Assessment Status
4. California Municipal Treasurer Association (CMTA) - Dan Chandler, CMTA Division Board member, South, and Chief Investment Officer for the County of Santa Barbara will present the CMTA Investment Policy Certification on behalf of the California Municipal Treasurer Association
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Gilman adjourned the December 9, 2025, Special Meeting at 6:00 p.m., until the December 9, 2025 Regular Meeting immediately following.
WRITTEN PUBLIC COMMENTS
None received.
Prepared by: Weston Montgomery, Chief Deputy City Clerk