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MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING
TUESDAY, MARCH 10, 2026, 6:00 PM
KENT HALL - CITY HALL CAMPUS - 111 W SANTA ANA ST, OJAI, CA Mayor Gilman called the meeting to order at 6:11 p.m.
ROLL CALL
The following members were present: Mayor Gilman, Mayor Pro Tem Mang, and Council Members Rule, Lang, and Whitman.
Also present: City Manager Harvey, City Attorney Burgess, Assistant to the City Manager Cervantes, Community Development Director Seibert, Public Works Director Palmer, Finance Director Cho (via zoom), Human Resources Manager Holman, 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 Rule, to approve the agenda.
The motion carried unanimously.
PRESENTATIONS
1. City Hall Campus Master Plan Update - Ojai Valley Green Coalition COMMISSION REPORTS - None
CITY MANAGER'S REPORT
City Manager Harvey provided an oral report.
Assistant to the City Manager provided an update on the Trolley and the next Outlook Newsletter goes out March 23, 2026
PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS
The Council received comments from the public.
Regular Meeting Minutes - March 10, 2026 Page 1 of 4
CONSENT CALENDAR
2. Minutes - City Council Meetings held February 24, 2026 RECOMMENDATION: Approve.
3. City of Ojai Warrants for February 9, 2026 - February 22, 2026 RECOMMENDATION: Receive and file.
4. Adoption of Ordinance No. 972 Amending Title 3 of the Ojai Municipal Code to Add a New Chapter 9 Establishing a Public Safety Commission (City Council Direction)
RECOMMENDATION: Conduct second reading, waiving the reading of the full text, and adopt Ordinance No. 972 amending the Municipal Code to establish a Public Safety Commission, by reading of the title as stated below:
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF OJAI, CALIFORNIA, 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.
5. Minutes - Planning Commission Meeting held January 21, 2026 RECOMMENDATION: Receive and file.
MOTION: It was moved by Council Member Lang, seconded by Mayor Gilman, to approve Items 2 and 5.
The motion carried unanimously.
MOTION: It was moved by Council Member Whitman, seconded by Council Member Lang, to approve Item 3 with a monthly update on DignityMoves and the Permanent Supportive Housing project going back to the point the City gave DignityMoves the $5.5 million.
The motion carried 4-0-1 (Rule abstaining).
MOTION: It was moved by Council Member Rule, seconded by Mayor Gilman, to approve Item 4 with the amendment that Mayor Gilman be removed from the rotation for the commission and only have a rotating Council Member.
The motion carried 3-2 (Mang and Whitman dissenting).
DISCUSSION
6. 2025 Annual Citywide Pavement Rehab Project (ST-3006) - Award of Contracts (City Council Direction)
MOTION: It was moved by Mayor Gilman, seconded by Council Member Whitman, to:
1. Authorize the City Manager to execute Public Works Contract No. 2026-02 with J&H Engineering General Constractors, Inc. (J&H) for the construction of ST-3006 in an amount not-to-exceed $3,419,491.50, and authorize a contingency in the amount of $513,000 (approximately 15%) for a total authorized expenditure of Regular Meeting Minutes - March 10, 2026 Page 2 of 4
$3,932,491.50; and authorize the City Manager to execute future contract change orders to the contract for unforeseen additional work up to the authorized contingency amount; and
Authorize the City Manager to execute Public Works Professional Services Agreement No. 2026-03 with Phoenix Civil Engineering, Inc. (Phoenix), for the construction management of ST-3006 in an amount not to exceed $390,068 and authorize a contingency in the amount of $39,000 (approximately 10%) for a total authorized expenditure of $429,068; and
3. Authorize the City Manager to execute Amendment No. 2 to Public Works Professional Services Agreement No. 2024-10 with Phoenix for paving design services for the 2026 Pavement Rehabilitation Project, to extend the term for the second, one-year extension period and to increase the not-to-exceed amount by $385,552 for a new not-to-exceed amount of $639,090; and
4. Accept the determination by staff that the project is categorically exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
The motion carried unanimously.
7. Consider Approval of the Purchase of a Single Family Residential Property abutting City Hall Campus Located at 503 South Ventura Street; Accessor Parcel Number 023-0-090-040; General Plan Designation - Medium Residential; Zoning Designation - R-1 (City Council Direction) MOTION: It was moved by Mayor Gilman, seconded by Council Member Rule, to adopt Resolution No. 2026-6 and to add a low-cost low commitment feasibility study performed by a third party.
The motion failed 2-3 (Lang, Mang and Whitman dissenting).
ALTERNATE MOTION: It was moved by Mayor Gilman, seconded by Council Member Rule, to adopt Resolution No. 2026-6 authorizing the City Manager to move forward with the purchase of the single-family residential property located at 503 South Ventura Street; for the price of $850,000, on an as-is basis, subject to negotiation of a Purchase and Sale Agreement in a form approved by the City and direct staff to perform the feasibility study with an outside consultant not to exceed $10,000.00
The motion carried 3-2 (Mang and Whitman dissenting).
8. Mid-Year Budget Adjustment - City Attorney/Legal Services Budget (City Council Direction)
MOTION: It was moved by Council Member Whitman, seconded by Mayor Gilman, to approve a mid-year budget adjustment to the City Attorney/Legal Services budget in the amount of $541,978 for Fiscal Year 2025/2026.
The motion carried unanimously.
9. Green Coalition Proposal - City Hall Campus (Requested by Rule and Gilman)
MOTION: It was moved by Mayor Gilman, seconded by Council Member Rule, to approve the Ojai Valley Green Coalition (OVGC) request for $41,352 in supplementary funding to support public programming, site restoration activities, and site activation Regular Meeting Minutes - March 10, 2026 Page 3 of 4
efforts at the City Hall Campus (Eco Center) from March 11 through June 30, 2026; approve a budget adjustment and appropriation allocating $41,352 from General Fund unprogrammed reserves to fund this proposal; and authorize the City Manage to execute a Professional Services Agreement with the OVGC in a form approved by the City Attorney.
The motion carried unanimously.
10. Council Member Town Hall and Panel Policy (Requested by Gilman and Rule) MOTION: It was moved by Council Member Whitman, seconded by Mayor Gilman, to bring Item 10 back on March 24, 2026, and to allow Council Member Rule to present her idea for her Town Hall at that meeting.
The motion carried unanimously.
COUNCIL MEMBER'S REPORTS
Council Member Mang would like to have an evacuation plan for Council Meetings.
FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS - None
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Gilman adjourned the meeting at 10:00 p.m.
Bridget Mara, Acting Deputy City Clerk
Approved: March 24, 2026
Regular Meeting Minutes - March 10, 2026 Page 4 of 4