I FOR
MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING
TUESDAY, MARCH 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 6:08 p.m.
ROLL CALL
The following members were present: Mayor Gilman, Mayor Pro Tern 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, Finance Director Cho, 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 Mayor Gilman, to approve the Agenda.
The motion carried unanimously.
PRESENTATIONS
Spark the Night - Proclamation Recognizing World Parkinson's Day April 11, 2026
Johnny Johnston accepted the proclamation in honor of Spark the Night.
COMMISSION REPORTS - None
CITY MANAGER'S REPORT
Assistant to the City Manager Cervantes presented a Claymation video promoting the City's My Ojai application.
Regular Meeting Minutes - March 24, 2026 Page 1 of 4
PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS
The Council received comments from the public.
CONSENT CALENDAR
2. Minutes - City Council Meetings of March 10, 2026
RECOMMENDATION: Approve minutes.
3. City of Ojai Warrants for February 23, 2026 - March 8, 2026 RECOMMENDATION: Receive and file.
4. Treasurer's Monthly Report of Cash and Investments for the City of Ojai as of February 28, 2026
RECOMMENDATION: Receive and file.
General Plan Annual Progress Report - 2025 (City Council Direction) RECOMMENDATION: Receive the General Plan Annual Progress Report and direct staff to file the General Plan Annual Progress Report with the Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation, and the Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD).
6. Housing Element Annual Progress Report - 2025 (City Council Direction) RECOMMENDATION: Receive the General Plan Annual Progress Report and direct staff to file the General Plan Annual Progress Report with the Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation, and the Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD).
Council Member Rule pulled Item No. 3.
MOTION: It was moved by Council Member Lang, seconded by Mayor Gilman, to approve Item Nos. 2, 4, 5 & 6.
The motion carried unanimously.
MOTION: It was moved by Mayor Gilman, seconded by Council Member Lang, to approve Item No. 3
The motion carried 4-0-1 (Rule abstaining).
PUBLIC HEARING
7. Design Review Permit (DRP 24-007) and Tentative Tract Map (TTM 24-001) | Consider Approving the Proposed Five-Unit Single-Story Deed-Restricted 100% Affordable Housing Project Located at 408-410 North Montgomery Street; Assessor's Parcel Number: 021-0-092-010; Zoning Classification is Multi-Family Residential (R-2) — Site No. 23 of the Housing Element; General Plan Land Use Designation is Medium High-Density Residential (MHR) and includes a Special Housing Overlay designation (SPL overlay); Property Owner: City of Ojai; Applicant: Linda Blackbern, RRM Design Group; Representative: Habitat for Humanity of Ventura County (City Council Direction)
Regular Meeting Minutes - March 24, 2026 Page 2 of 4
Following a staff report by Director Seibert, a presentation by Habitat for Humanity and Council discussion, the Mayor opened the public hearing and received public comments.
MOTION: It was moved by Mayor Gilman, seconded by Council Member Rule, to continue the Public Hearing to April 16, 2026, Special Meeting 1. to define land use agreement to be a lease or gift 2. including priority residency to Ojai residents/workers 3. examples of CC & R's, draft homeowner agreement provided ahead of meeting and 4. staff to bring back preliminary stop sign determination The motion carried unanimously.
DISCUSSION
Mayor Gilman moved Item Nos. 10, 11 and 12 up for discussion first.
10. Feasibility Review for Proposed Ojai Permanent Supportive Housing Project at 503 S. Ventura Street (City Council Direction)
Item was informational only; no action taken.
11. Ojai Permanent Support Housing Project/Dignity Moves Project Expenditures Review (City Council Direction)
Item was informational only; no action taken.
12. Ojai Permanent Supportive Housing Project - Development Management Agreement Review (Operational Need)
Item 12 was deferred to a future agenda
8. Council Member Town Hall and Panel Policy (Requested by Gilman and Rule)
This item was deferred to a future agenda
9. Proposed Community Town Hall: Local Law Enforcement and ICE - Theory and Practice (Requested by Council Member Rule)
MOTION: It was moved by Mayor Gilman, seconded by Council Member Lang, to approve Council Member Rule's request to host a City-sponsored community town hall on local law enforcement interactions with federal immigration agencies, authorize the use of Kent Hall and City support for televising the event, and direct staff to assist with coordination.
The motion carried 4-1 (Mang dissenting).
13. Remedial Soil Excavation Located at 611 South Montgomery Street - Award of Contract (City Council Direction)
MOTION: It was moved by Council Member Lang, seconded by Mayor Gilman, to:
1. Authorize the City Manager to execute the Community Development Specification No. 25-CDD-03 with Pacific Petroleum California, Inc., for the Remedial Soil Excavation in an amount not-to-exceed $123,146 located at 611 South Regular Meeting Minutes - March 24, 2026 Page 3 of 4
Montgomery Street; and
Authorize the City Manager to execute the Community Development Agreement for the monitoring of work performed at the subject site in a not-to-exceed amount of $39,161.
The motion carried 4-0-1 (Whitman abstaining).
14. Professional Services Agreement Amendment No. 2 with Eide Bailly LLP to Expand the Scope of Services (Operational Need)
MOTION: It was moved by Mayor Gilman, seconded by Council Member Whitman, to authorize the City Manager to execute Professional Services Agreement Amendment No. 2 with Eide Bailly LLP to expand the scope of services to include accounting services support for the current fiscal year.
The motion carried unanimously.
COUNCIL MEMBER'S REPORTS - None
FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
Mayor Gilman - At Large Voting.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Gilman adjourned the meeting at 11:06 p.m
lara, Acting Deputy City Clerk
Approved: April 14, 2026
Regular Meeting Minutes - March 24, 2026 Page 4 of 4