MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING
TUESDAY, JULY 14, 2026, 6:00 PM
KENT HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS - CITY HALL CAMPUS - 111 W SANTA ANA ST,
OJAI, CA
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, second by Mayor Gilman, to approve the agenda.
The motion carried unanimously.
PRESENTATIONS
1. Members of the Ventura County Fair's Junior Fair Board to Present the 2026 Ventura County Fair Announcement and Poster
2. Proclamation Honoring July as Parks and Recreation Month and the Parks and Recreation Commission
COMMISSION REPORTS
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.
3. City Council Minutes
RECOMMENDATION: Approve.
4. Planning Commission Minutes
RECOMMENDATION: Receive and file.
5. City of Ojai Warrants for June 08 - June 21, 2026
RECOMMENDATION: Receive and file.
6. Revision of Ojai Trolley Advertising Program Rates, Contract Terms, and Inclusion in the Master Fee Schedule
RECOMMENDATION:
1. Review and approve revisions to the Ojai Trolley advertising program, including updated advertising rates and contract structure.
2. Approve limiting advertisers to one ad space per trolley.
3. Approve establishing a one year contract term for all ad placements, with an exception for rear placements limited to three consecutive terms per advertiser.
4. Approve a unified rate for driver side and pedestrian side panels and a higher rate for the rear (back) panel due to increased visibility.
5. Direct staff to add all trolley advertising rates to the City’s Master Fee Schedule.
7. On-Call Trade and Professional Services – Award of Agreements RECOMMENDATION:
1. Authorize the City Manager to execute amendments for one (1) additional two-year term to the current On-Call Professional Services Agreements that have expired on June 30, 2026 extending them to June 30, 2028 and increase the not-to-exceed amount of each On-Call Professional Services Agreement as provided in this report; and,
2. Authorize the City Manager to execute an On-Call Trade Agreement with Ventura Pest Control and authorize future amendments for an additional one (1) one-year term with compensation not-to-exceed $75,000; and
3. Receive and file the task orders issued during Fiscal Year 25/26.
8. Introduce Ordinance No. 973 Suspending Certain Requirements of Article 2 of Chapter 3 of Title 7 of the Ojai Municipal Code ("Well Construction, Modification, and Demolition Standards"), Subject to Biennial Review by City Council, and Creating a New Section 224 of Article 2 of Chapter 3 of Title 7 of the Ojai Municipal Code
RECOMMENDATION:
1. Introduce, for first reading by title only with further reading waived, Ordinance No. 973, an Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Ojai, Suspending Certain Requirements of Article 2 of Chapter 3 of Title 7 of the Ojai Municipal Code ("Well Construction, Modification, and Demolition Standards"), Subject to Biennial Review by City Council, and Creating a New Section 224 of Article 2 of Chapter 3 of Title 7 of the Ojai Municipal Code; and
2. Direct staff to return to the City Council for second reading and adoption of the Ordinance at the August 11, 2026, City Council meeting.
MOTION: It was moved by Council Member Lang, second by Council Member Rule, to approve
The motion carried unanimously.
DISCUSSION
9. Approval of Resolution Adopting the 2026 City of Ojai City Hall Campus Landscape Master Plan (City Council Direction)
RECOMMENDATION: Approve the Resolution adopting the 2026 City of Ojai City Hall Campus Landscape Master Plan as presented, thereby establishing a comprehensive vision for the revitalization, stewardship, and long-term management of the City Hall campus.
MOTION: It was moved by Mayor Gilman, second by Council Member Rule, to approve The motion carried unanimously.
10. County of Ventura Civil Grand Jury Report Regarding Ojai Permanent Supportive Housing Project (Legal Requirement)
RECOMMENDATION:
1. Discuss report issued by County of Ventura Civil Grand Jury regarding the Ojai Permanent Supportive Housing Project on June 25, 2026.
2. Direct the City Attorney to prepare a draft response to the report for further consideration by the City Council at a regular or special meeting of City Council in August, 2026.
MOTION: It was moved by Council Member Lang, second by Mayor Gilman, to direct the City Attorney to prepare a draft response to the report for further consideration by the City Council, at a regular or special meeting of City Council in August 2026.
The motion carried 4-1. (Mayor Pro Tem Mang dissenting.)
11. Municipal Code Revisions (Legal Requirement)
RECOMMENDATION: Provide direction to the City Attorney’s Office to work with staff to prepare recommended Code revisions to various ordinances as further described in this report.
MOTION: It was moved by Mayor Gilman, second by Council Member Whitman, to task City Attorney’s Office with administrative report-presented list of code revisions, and returning with a status report which includes legal and staff time estimates.
The motion carried unanimously.
12. Concept Review of Contracted Services (City Council Direction) RECOMMENDATION:
1. Review the attached list of contracted services and identify those contracts for which the City Council would like additional analysis; and
2. Direct staff to return at a future meeting with a detailed evaluation of the selected contracts, including operational, staffing, financial, legal, and service level considerations associated with potentially bringing those services inhouse.
MOTION: It was moved by Mayor Gilman, second by Council Member Lang, to direct staff to: (1)refine and categorize and/or combine the contracted services and list; (2) include analysis of bringing services in-house for contract renewals; (3) consider expanding city job functions where appropriate; (4) use code enforcement as the near-term priority case study; and (4) direct the City Attorney to return with status reports including time estimates.
The motion carried unanimously.
13. Affordable Housing Agreement Located at 312 West Aliso Street And ThirdParty Income Qualify Household for Deed-Restricted Affordable Housing Units (City Council Direction)
RECOMMENDATION:
1. Receive the staff report and presentation and ask clarifying questions related to the Affordable Housing Agreement associated with Cottages Among the Flowers.
2. Direct the City Manager and City Attorney to finalize and execute the Declaration of Land Use Restrictive Covenants (Affordable Housing Agreement) with Ojai Bungalows LP, associated with the two deed-restricted units within the Cottages Among the Flowers site and cause it to be recorded in the Official Records of Ventura County (Attachment A).
3. Direct the City Manager to negotiate and execute a formal Professional Services Agreement with Area Housing Authority of the County of Ventura.
The proposal from Area Housing Authority includes performing third party services to income qualify households for deed-restricted affordable housing units. The Area Housing Authority proposal for third-party services is Attachment B.
4. Direct the Community Development Director to establish a reporting schedule and compliance format associated with those households which are income qualified to reside within the deed-restricted units.
MOTION: It was moved by Mayor Gilman, seconded by Council Member Rule, to accept rental agreement as written – authorizing Item 13 Recommendations No. 2 , 3 (selecting scenario 2), and 4, and direct staff to work with Help of Ojai concerning additional services available.
The motion carried unanimously.
14. Ad Hoc Committee Formation for Community Land Trust (City Council Direction)
RECOMMENDATION: Select two (2) City Council Members to form an ad hoc committee for a six-month term.
MOTION: It was moved by Council Member Lang, seconded by Council Member Rule, to select Council Member Whitman and Mayor Gilman to serve on the Ad Hoc Committee for Community Land Trust six-month term.
The motion carried unanimously.
15. Concept Review - Building Code Options Return (City Council Direction) RECOMMENDATION: Receive the information and presentation by Staff, ask clarifying questions and consider providing additional direction on alternative building code options for local amendments to the building code.
MOTION: It was moved by Council Member Lang, seconded by Mayor Gilman, to direct staff to return with concept review of local building code amendments addressing fire hardening and a list of options for consideration.
The motion carried unanimously.
COUNCIL MEMBER'S REPORTS
FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
Council Member Whitman and Mayor Gilman requested a concept review of ember screen requirements during real estate transactions.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Gilman adjourned the meeting at 10:00 p.m.
____________________________________
Weston Montgomery, Chief Deputy City Clerk
Approved: August 11, 2026