MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING
TUESDAY, JANUARY 13, 2026, 6:00 PM
KENT HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS - CITY HALL CAMPUS - 111 W SANTA ANA ST, OJAI, CA AGENDA UPDATED SATURDAY, JANUARY 10, 2026, 12:00PM
Agenda updated to include Item 14, in compliance with the Brown Act's 72-hour posting requirement (Gov. Code Section 54954.2(a)(1)).
Mayor Pro Tem Lang called the Regular Meeting of the Ojai City Council to order on January 13, 2026, at 6:00 p.m.
ROLL CALL
On the call of the roll, the following were present in the Kent Hall Council Chambers: 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
Mayor Gilman
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 Mang, to approve the Agenda of the January 13, 2026, Regular Meeting, and to consider the Discussion Items in the following order: 12, 14, 11, and 13.
Roll Call:
On the call of the roll, the vote was four (4) in favor, zero (0) against, and one (1) absent.
Ayes: Whitman, Rule, Mang, Lang
Noes: None
Abstain: None
Absent: Gilman
MOTION PASSES
PRESENTATION
1. Chief Jenkins Report Out of Service as Ojai Police Chief
2. Presentation of the Annual Historic Preservation Commission Award Recipients
COMMISSION REPORTS
CITY MANAGER’S REPORT
City Manager Harvey provided and 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.
3. City of Ojai Warrants for November 17, 2025 - November 30, 2025 RECOMMENDATION: Receive and file.
Administrative Report - Warrant Report
Attachment A - Warrant Report Register
Attachment B - Disbursement by Category
Warrant Cover Letter
4. Treasurer's Monthly Report of Cash and Investments for the City of Ojai as of November 30, 2025
RECOMMENDATION: Receive and file.
Administrative Report -Treasurer's Report Nov 2025
Attachment A -Treasurer's Monthly Report Nov 2025
Exhibit A - Cash & Investment Summary Nov 2025
5. Minutes of the City Council
RECOMMENDATION: Approve.
Minutes - 12-09-25 Special Meeting
Minutes - 12-09-25 Regular Meeting
6. Minutes - Planning Commission Meetings held November 5, 2025, and December 3, 2025
RECOMMENDATION: Receive and file.
Minutes - 11-05-25 PC Regular Meeting
Minutes - 12-03-25 PC Regular Meeting
7. Amendment No. 2 to Professional Services Agreement with MV Cheng & Associates Inc.
RECOMMENDATION: Authorize the City Manager to execute Amendment No. 2 to Professional Services Agreement with MV Cheng & Associates Inc. (MVC) to increase the not-to-exceed amount from $75,000 to $160,000.
Administrative Report - MV Cheng Associates
Attachment A - Original Agreement - MV Cheng
Attachment B - Amendment 1 - MV Cheng
Attachment C - Amendment 2 - MV Cheng
Attachment D - Summary of Finance Staff - Consultant Costs
8. First Amendment with Olivarez Madruga Law Organization, LLP, for specialized legal counsel services related to a Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) and administrative hearings for the hotel Casa Ojai RECOMMENDATION:
1. Approve the First Amendment to the contract with Olivarez Madruga Law Organization, LLP, for outside specialized legal services related to a Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) administrative hearing for Casa Ojai Hotel for an amount not-to-exceed $60,000; and
2. Authorize the City Manager to execute the amended agreement on behalf of the City.
Administrative Report - First Amendment OMLO - Casa Ojai Hotel Attachment A - Master Agreement OMLO - Casa Ojai
Hotel Attachment B - First Amendment OMLO - Casa Ojai
Hotel
9. First Amendment with Olivarez Madruga Law Organization, LLP, for specialized legal counsel services related to a Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) and administrative hearing for the Su Nido Inn
RECOMMENDATION:
1. Approve the First Amendment to the original contract to Olivarez Madruga Law Organization, LLP, for outside specialized legal service agreement related to a Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) related to an administrative hearing for Su Nido Inn for an amount not-to-exceed $60,000; and
2. Authorize the City Manager to execute the amended agreement on behalf of the City.
Administrative Report - First Amendment OMLO - Su Nido
Inn Attachment A - Master Agreement OMLO - Su Nido
Inn Attachment B - First Amendment OMLO - Su Nido Inn
10. Amendment No. 1 to the Professional Services Agreement with Eide Bailly, LLP
RECOMMENDATION: Authorize the City Manager to execute Amendment No. 1 to the Professional Services Agreement with Eide Bailly, LLP, to increase the not-toexceed amount from $75,000 to $167,000.
Administrative Report - Eide Bailly, LLP, Amendment
Attachment A - Original Agreement - Eide Bailly, LLP
Attachment B - Amendment No 1 - Eide Bailly, LLP
Attachment C - Summary of Finance Staff - Consultant
Costs
Council Member Whitman pulled Items 7, 8, 9, and 10 for discussion.
Motion:
It was moved by Council Member Rule, with a second by Council Member Whitman, to approve the Consent Calendar, except pulled Items 7, 8, 9, and 10.
Roll Call:
On the call of the roll, the vote was four (4) in favor, zero (0) against, and one (1) absent.
Ayes: Lang, Rule, Mang, Whitman
Noes: None
Abstain: None
Absent: Gilman
MOTION PASSES
Motion:
It was moved by Council Member Whitman, with a second by Mayor Pro Tem, to approve Item 7, as recommended, with the condition that the salary for the Accountant position be addressed at the earliest possible opportunity.
Roll Call:
On the call of the roll, the vote was four (4) in favor, zero (0) against, and one (1) absent.
Ayes: Whitman, Mang, Rule, Lang
Noes: None
Abstain: None
Absent: Gilman
MOTION PASSES
Motion:
It was moved by Council Member Whitman, with a second by Council Member Rule, to approve Items 8 and 9, as recommended.
Roll Call:
On the call of the roll, the vote was four (4) in favor, zero (0) against, and one (1) absent.
Ayes: Mang, Whitman, Lang, Rule
Noes: None
Abstain: None
Absent: Gilman
MOTION PASSES
Motion:
It was moved by Council Member Whitman, with a second by Mayor Pro Tem, to approve Item 10, as recommended, and direct the Finance and Budget Committee make recommendations on the focus and scope of Eide Bailly contract and return with the item during the FY 25-26 Midyear Budget Amendments.
Roll Call:
On the call of the roll, the vote was two (2) in favor, one (1) against, one abstain (1) and one (1) absent.
Ayes: Lang, Whitman
Noes: Mang
Abstain: Rule
Absent: Gilman
MOTION FAILS
Motion:
It was moved by Council Member Rule, with a second by Council Member Whitman, to approve Item 10, as an amendment to the existing contract increasing the not-toexceed amount to $167,000 with modifications to limit additional expenditures to services related to Finance Department’s trial balance year-end efforts and the accounts payable module implementation.
Roll Call:
On the call of the roll, the vote was four (4) in favor, zero (0) against, and one (1) absent.
Ayes: Lang, Rule, Whitman, Mang
Noes: None
Abstain: None
Absent: Gilman
MOTION PASSES
DISCUSSION
Council Action allowed Items 12 and 14 to be discussed first.
11. Concept Review: Community Survey (Requested by Council Members Mang and Rule)
RECOMMENDATION:
1. Review and provide feedback on the draft Community Feedback Survey;
2. Consider incorporating Parks and Recreation Commission survey suggestions into the survey; and
3. Confirm the proposed dissemination plan for the survey.
Administrative Report - Community Survey
Attachment A - Draft Community Feedback Survey
Attachment B - Parks and Recreation Commission
Survey
Motion:
It was moved by Council Member Mang, with a second by Council Member Rule, to move forward with the Parks and Recreation survey, with “none of the above” added to Question 11, and to table indefinitely the Community Feedback Survey.
Roll Call:
On the call of the roll, the vote was four (4) in favor, zero (0) against, and one (1) absent.
Ayes: Whitman, Mang, Lang, Rule
Noes: None
Abstain: None
Absent: Gilman
MOTION PASSES
12. Introduction, for First Reading by Title Only with Further Reading Waived, of Ordinance No. 970 Adopting the 2025 Citywide Engineering and Traffic Survey and Retaining, Establishing, or Decreasing Posted Speed Limits on Certain Streets (City Council Direction)
RECOMMENDATION:
1. That the City Council introduce, for first reading by title only with further reading waived, Ordinance No. 970 adopting the 2025 Citywide Engineering and Traffic Survey and retaining, establishing or decreasing posted speed limits on certain streets within the City of Ojai; and
2. Direct staff to return the Ordinance to the City Council for a second reading and
adoption at a future meeting.
Administrative Report - Ordinance Adopting Speed
Limits Attachment A - Engineering and Traffic Study
Report Attachment B - Proposed Ordinance
Motion:
It was moved by Council Member Whitman, with a second by Council Member Rule, to approve Item 12, introducing the ordinance.
Roll Call:
On the call of the roll, the vote was four (4) in favor, zero (0) against, and one (1) absent.
Ayes: Lang, Mang, Rule, Whitman
Noes: None
Abstain: None
Absent: Gilman
MOTION PASSES
13. GENERAL PLAN UPDATE | Revised Survey Questions Regarding the Economic Diversification Element (City Council Direction) RECOMMENDATION: Receive and file.
Administrative Report - General Plan Update
Attachment A - Survey Questions Redline
Attachment B - Survey Questions Clean
Motion:
It was moved by Council Member Whitman, with a second by Council Member Rule, to approve the feedback provided to staff.
Roll Call:
On the call of the roll, the vote was four (4) in favor, zero (0) against, and one (1) absent.
Ayes: Rule, Whitman, Lang, Mang
Noes: None
Abstain: None
Absent: Gilman
MOTION PASSES
14. Resolution: Protecting the California Coast and Public Lands from Oil and Gas Drilling and Exploration (Requested by Mayor Gilman) RECOMMENDATION:
1. Adopt a Resolution opposing new offshore and onshore oil and gas drilling and exploration leases off the coast of California and on California public lands; and
2. Direct staff to transmit the adopted Resolution to the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), designated/relevant federal representatives, and other government officials.
Administrative Report - Resolution Opposing CA Offshore and Public Lands Drilling Attachment A - Resolution
Motion:
It was moved by Council Member Whitman, with a second by Council Member Rule, to approve Item 14, as recommended.
Roll Call:
On the call of the roll, the vote was four (4) in favor, zero (0) against, and one (1) absent.
Ayes: Rule, Whitman, Mang, Lang
Noes: None
Abstain: None
Absent: Gilman
MOTION PASSES
COUNCIL MEMBER'S REPORTS
FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
Council Member Whitman and Mayor Pro Tem Lang request a cabin village contracting report on alleged irregularities, contract compliance, and the City’s cost commitment
Council Member Whitman and Council Member Mang request a report on the Accountant position and contract versus staff comparison.
Council Member Whitman and Council Member Mang request a report on compoundstyle property purchases of multiple parcels and potential regulations.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Pro Tem Lang adjourned the January 13, 2026, Regular Meeting at 9:50 p.m., until the January 27, 2026, Regular Meeting.
WRITTEN PUBLIC COMMENTS
All Written Public Comments will be published here for public access. Please see "Public Comment Options" below for detailed instructions on how to submit.
Please access through the link:
Written Public Comments - January 13, 2026 Regular Meeting Prepared by: Weston Montgomery, Chief Deputy City Clerk