MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING
TUESDAY, MAY 26, 2026, 6:00 PM
KENT HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS - CITY HALL CAMPUS - 111 W SANTA ANA ST, OJAI, CA AGENDA UPDATED - 5/22/26, 9:00 PM - TO INCLUDE
PRESENTATION SECTION ITEM
Mayor Gilman called the meeting to order at 6:00 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, and Chief Deputy City Clerk Montgomery.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Chief Deputy City Clerk Montgomery led the Pledge of Allegiance.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
MOTION: It was moved by Council Member Lang, seconded by Mayor Gilman, to approve the agenda, with Item 10 continued to a future meeting.
The motion carried unanimously.
PRESENTATION
Proclamation Designating May 2026 as Historic Preservation Month
COMMISSION REPORTS
None
CITY MANAGER’S REPORT
City Manager Harvey provided an 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.
1. City of Ojai Warrants for April 27, 2026 - May 10, 2026 RECOMMENDATION: Receive and file.
2. Treasurer's Monthly Report of Cash and Investments for the City of Ojai as of April 30, 2026
RECOMMENDATION: Receive and file.
3. Minutes - City Council
RECOMMENDATION: Approve.
4. Confirm Reappointments to Fill Term-Ending Vacancies on City Commissions RECOMMENDATION: Confirm nomination of commission reappointments: Gina McHatton, Historic Preservation Commission; Craig Walker, Historic Preservation
Commission; Carolyn Wagner, Arts Commission (terms ending May 2030).
5. Confirm Appointment to Fill Inaugural Vacancy on the Public Safety Commission
RECOMMENDATION: Confirm nomination of applicant Jim McEachen as Public Safety Commissioner to fill an inaugural vacancy (four-year term ending May 2030).
6. Amendment No 2 to Pristine Auto Detailing for Fleet Detailing Services (Operational Need)
RECOMMENDATION:
1. Authorize City Manager to execute the second amendment to PW Agreement No. 2025-29B with Pristine Auto Detailing (Pristine Auto) to increase the not-to-exceed amount for FY 25-26 by $15,000; and
2. Authorize the City Manager to issue a Request for Proposal (RFP) for trolley detailing services for FY 26-27.
Mayor Gilman pulled Items 4 and 5 for discussion.
MOTION: It was moved by Council Member Lang, seconded by Council Member Rule, to approve Items 1, 2, 3, and 6.
The motion carried unanimously.
MOTION: It was moved by Council Member Rule, seconded by Council Member Lang, to approve Item 4.
The motion carried unanimously.
MOTION: It was moved by Mayor Gilman, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Mang, to approve Item 5.
The motion carried unanimously.
DISCUSSION
7. Consideration of the City’s Ability to Shift to At Large Voting (Gilman/Rule) RECOMMENDATION:
1. Consider information regarding the ability to shift from electing City Council Members “by-district” to an “at-large” method of selection.
2. Provide direction (or not) to the City Attorney’s Office as to whether to return to City Council with an ordinance repealing or amending Ordinance No. 889 or an ordinance submitting a ballot question to the voters seeking voter approval to return to at-large elections.
3. Provide alternate direction to the City Attorney.
Councilmember Whitman made a motion that City Council not move forward with a change in the method of selection. The City Attorney clarified that no action is needed to maintain the status quo. No action was taken.
8. Initiating Proceedings for the Annual Levy of Assessments, Preliminarily Approving the Engineer’s Annual Levy Report, and Declaring the Council’s Intent to Levy and Collect Assessments for the Landscaping and Lighting District No. 1, Plaza Maintenance Assessment District No. 2, and Landscaping and Lighting District No. 3 (City Council Direction) RECOMMENDATION:
1. Adopt Resolution No. 2026-13 - Initiating Proceedings for the Annual Levy of Assessments for the City of Ojai Landscaping and Lighting District No. 1, Plaza Maintenance Assessment District (District No. 2), and Landscaping and Lighting District No. 3 for Fiscal Year 2026/27; and
2. Adopt Resolution No. 2026-14 - Preliminarily Approving the Engineer’s Annual Levy Report for the City of Ojai Landscaping and Lighting District No. 1, Plaza Maintenance Assessment District (District No. 2), and Landscaping and Lighting District No. 3 for Fiscal Year 2026/2027; and
3. Adopt Resolution No. 2026-15 - Declaring the Council’s Intent To Levy and Collect Assessments Within the City of Ojai Landscaping and Lighting District No. 1, Plaza Maintenance Assessment District (District No. 2), and Landscaping and Lighting District No. 3 for Fiscal Year 2026/2027 and Setting a Time and Place for Public Hearing.
MOTION: It was moved by Mayor Gilman, seconded by Council Member Lang, to approve Item 8, as recommended.
The motion carried unanimously.
9. Five-Year Proposed Capital Improvement Program (City Council Direction) RECOMMENDATION: Receive a presentation on the current and proposed Capital Improvement Program and provide feedback and direction to be incorporated in the FY26/27 approved budget.
Council provided feedback for staff.
10. City of Long Beach Modular Connect Shelter Units Request for Proposals (Mang/Whitman)
RECOMMENDATION: Discuss City of Long Beach Request for Proposals and provide direction to staff as to whether to submit a proposal to the City of Long Beach to acquire one or more Connect Shelter units and also provide direction as to the maximum proposal price for such proposal.
Item 10 continued to a future meeting.
11. Update on Aspire Broadband Agreement and Microtrenching Ordinance (City Council Direction)
RECOMMENDATION: Receive an update regarding the agreement proposed by Aspire Broadband for the installation of a fiber network within the city’s right-ofway.
Council provided feedback for staff.
COUNCIL MEMBER'S REPORTS
FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
Council Member Mang requested consideration of an Area Housing Authority appointment.
Council Members Whitman and Lang, and Mayor Gilman, requested a future agenda item regarding the “Local Heros Award” collaborate with students for water tanks projects.
Mayor Gilman and Councilmember Rule requested a call up of the Planning Commission’s denial decision of the Ojai Mountain Farm Conditional Use Permit and Design Review Permit.
Council Members Rule, Lang, Whitman and Mayor Gilman, requested a future item regarding fire ember screens, and a project fully funded by the City. Council Member Whitman requested that we look into grant funding to help pay for this and that was agreed to by the other Council Members.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Gilman adjourned the meeting at 9:55 p.m.
____________________________________
Weston Montgomery, Chief Deputy City Clerk
Approved: 06-23-26