MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2026, 6:00 PM
KENT HALL - CITY HALL CAMPUS - 111 W SANTA ANA ST, OJAI, CA Mayor Gilman called the meeting to order at 6:10 p.m.
ROLL CALL
The following members were present: Mayor Gilman, Mayor Pro Tem Mang, and Council Members Rule, Lang, and Whitman.
Also present in the Kent Hall Council Chambers: City Manager Harvey, City Attorney Burgess, Assistant to the City Manager Cervantes, Community Development Director Seibert, Finance Director Cho (via zoom), Human Resources Manager Holman, Recreation Manager Rivera, and Acting Deputy City Clerk Mara.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Acting Deputy City Clerk Mara led the Pledge of Allegiance.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
MOTION: It was moved by Council Member Lang, seconded by Council Member Whitman, to approve the Agenda. Mayor Gilman moved Item 11 up after Item 7, followed by Items 12 and 13.
The motion carried unanimously.
PRESENTATIONS
1. Ojai Valley Fire Safe Council
COMMISSION REPORTS - None
CITY MANAGER'S REPORT
City Manager Harvey provided an oral report.
Assistant to the City Manager provided an update on the General Plan Survey for Economic Diversification.
Regular Meeting Minutes - February 24, 2026 Page 1 of 4
PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS
The Council received comments from the public.
CONSENT CALENDAR
Minutes of the City Council
RECOMMENDATION: Approve Minutes of the February 10, 2026, Special and Regular Meetings.
3. City of Ojai Warrants for January 26, 2026 - February 8, 2026 RECOMMENDATION: Receive and file.
4. Treasurer's Monthly Report of Cash and Investments for the City of Ojai as of January 31, 2026
RECOMMENDATION: Receive and file.
5. Adoption of Ordinance No. 971 Requiring the Electronic Filing of Campaign Disclosure Statements and Statements of Economic Interests RECOMMENDATION: Conduct second reading, waiving the reading of the full text, and adopt Ordinance No. 971 amending the Municipal Code to require Electronic Filing of Campaign Disclosure Statement and Statements of Economic Interests, by reading of the title as stated below:
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF OJAI, CALIFORNIA, AMENDING CHAPTER 2-1 OF TITLE 2 OF THE OJAI MUNICIPAL CODE TO ADD A NEW ARTICLE 5 REQUIRING ELECTRONIC FILING OF
CAMPAIGNDISCLOSURE STATEMENTS AND STATEMENTS OF ECONOMIC INTERESTS.
6. Confirm Appointment to Fill Mid-Term Vacancy on the Arts Commission RECOMMENDATION: Confirm nomination of applicant Carolyn Wagner as Arts Commissioner to fill a mid-term vacancy (term ending May 2026).
Council Member Lang pulled Item 6 and Council Member Mang pulled Item 3.
MOTION: It was moved by Council Member Lang, seconded by Mayor Gilman, to approve Items 2, 4, and 5.
The motion carried unanimously.
MOTION: It was moved by Mayor Gilman, seconded by Council Member Lang, to approve Item 3.
The motion carried 4-0-1 (Rule abstaining).
MOTION: It was moved by Council Member Lang, seconded by Mayor Gilman, to approve Item 6.
The motion carried unanimously.
DISCUSSION
7. City Council Goal Tactics Cost Estimates & Updates (City Council Direction) City Council reviewed the Goals and Tactics, provided feedback, and directed staff to bring the item back on a future agenda to consider first and second tiers.
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11. Community Pool Options (City Council Direction)
MOTION: It was moved by Mayor Gilman, seconded by Council Member Rule, to authorize staff to move forward with the proposal with Ojai Union School District and to come back with a salary schedule, sponsorship schedule for salary schedule modification, fee schedule update scholarship program update including the Ojai Valley as a one-year pilot program, and by adding the YMCA for swim lessons for the first year to transition into the Parks and Recreation Department in the following year.
The motion carried unanimously.
12. Letters of Opposition to Federal Oil and Gas Leasing Proposals Affecting Los Padres National Forest and Central California Public Lands (Requested by Mayor Gilman)
MOTION: It was moved by Council Member Lang, seconded by Mayor Gilman, to approve staff's recommendation to:
1. Approve the attached Letter Related to the United States Forest Service's proposed Amendment to the Los Padres National Forest Land Management Plan Opposing New Oil and Gas Leases within the Los Padres National Forest;
2. Approve the attached Letter of Opposition to the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to the Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) within the Bakersfield Field Office planning area;
3. Authorize the Mayor to sign the letters on behalf of the City Council; and
4. Direct staff to submit the letters to:
a. USDA Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management, respectively b. U.S. Senators Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff
c. U.S. Representatives Salud Carbajal and Julia Brownley d. Jayson Braude, Kiley & Associates
e. Ventura County Board of Supervisors
The motion carried unanimously.
13. Upgrade Microsoft 365 License from G3 to G5 to Enhance Audit Logging per Kroll Report Recommendation (Operational Need)
MOTION: It was moved by Council Member Rule, seconded by Mayor Gilman, to approve staff's recommendation to authorize the City Manager to approve renewal of the City's existing Microsoft 365 G3 licenses as Microsoft 365 G5 licenses fulfilling the Kroll Report recommendation that the City upgrade its Microsoft 365 licensing.
The motion carried unanimously.
8. City of Ojai Style Guide and Branding Elements (City Council Direction) MOTION: It was moved by Mayor Gilman, seconded by Council Member Lang, to approve logo 2A teal without moon and font X Calunna.
The motion carried 3-2 (Mang and Whitman dissenting).
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9. Amendment No. 1 to Tripepi Smith Contract - Expanded Scope and Budget (City Council Direction)
MOTION: It was moved by Mayor Gilman, seconded by Council Member Lang, to approve ongoing work on the city logo and budget book as proposed and to put out a 30-day RFP to have local artists submit a proposal to do the State of the City video and pull from Tripepi Smith.
The motion carried unanimously.
10. Introduction of Ordinance No. 972 which would Establish a Public Safety Commission (City Council Direction)
MOTION: It was moved by Council Member Rule, seconded by Mayor Gilman, to approve staff's recommendation to:
1. Introduce, for first reading by title only with further reading waived, Ordinance No. 972 amending Title 3 of the Ojai Municipal Code to add a new Chapter 9 establishing a Public Safety Commission and providing for nomination and initial terms of members to the Public Safety Commission, and providing organizational requirements and roles and responsibilities of the Public Safety Commission, with direction to staff to review Section 3-9.05 and revise the language to ensure the Commission can meet as needed.
2. Direct staff to return to the City Council for second reading and adoption of the Ordinance.
The motion carried 3-2 (Whitman and Mang dissenting).
COUNCIL MEMBER'S REPORTS
None
FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
None
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Gilman adjourned the meeting at 9:00 p.m.
Bridget Mara, Acting Deputy City Clerk
Approved: March 10, 2026
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