MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING
TUESDAY, AUGUST 11, 2026, 6:00 PM
KENT HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS - CITY HALL CAMPUS - 111 W SANTA ANA ST, OJAI, CA
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, and Chief Deputy City Clerk Montgomery.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Chief Deputy City Clerk Montgomery led the Pledge of Allegiance.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
ACTION: Unanimous consent reached through the Mayor, to approve the agenda of the August 11 Regular Meeting, with Item 14 being heard as the first discussion item.
COMMISSION REPORTS
CITY MANAGER’S REPORT
City Manager Harvey provided an oral report.
PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS
CONSENT CALENDAR
1. City Council Minutes
RECOMMENDATION: Approve.
2. City of Ojai Warrants for June 22 - July 26, 2026
RECOMMENDATION: Receive and file.
3. Treasurer's Monthly Report of Cash and Investments for the City of Ojai as of June 30, 2026
RECOMMENDATION: Receive and file.
4. Adoption of 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”) (City Council Direction) RECOMMENDATION: Continue second reading of Ordinance No. 973 to the August
25, 2026, City Council meeting.
5. Ratification of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) Between the County of Ventura, Ventura County Watershed Protection District, California Department of Transportation, Ojai Valley Sanitary District, and the Cities of Ojai and San Buenaventura (MOA Parties) to Share the Costs of Funding a Ventura River Algae TMDL Monitoring Program; and Approval of Associated Expenditures (Operational Need)
RECOMMENDATION:
1. Ratify MOA for the Ventura River Algae TMDL Monitoring Program, retroactively effective January 1, 2025, through January 1, 2028, and;
2. Approve the City's three-year cost-sharing obligation of $129,794.83.
6. Approval of Amendment No. 1 to the Interagency Agreement with the Ventura County Transportation Commission (VCTC) for Senate Bill 125 (SB125) Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program (TIRCP) Funding RECOMMENDATION: Authorize the City Manager to execute Amendment No. 1 and related documents necessary to implement the amended agreement.
7. Resolution Approving and Adopting the Revised Drug and Alcohol Testing Policy for Safety Sensitive Employees
RECOMMENDATION: Adopt a resolution approving and adopting the City’s revised drug and alcohol testing policy, and repeal any and all previous adopted policies
related to drug and alcohol testing for safety sensitive employees.
Council Member Lang pulled Items 5 and 6 for discussion.
Council Member Rule pulled Item 2 for discussion
MOTION: It was moved by Mayor Gilman, second by Council Member Lang, to approve Consent Calendar Items 1, 3, 4, and 7.
The motion carried unanimously.
Item 2
MOTION: It was moved by Council Member Rule, second by Mayor Gilman, to approve.
The motion carried 4-1. (Council Member Rule abstaining.) Item 5
MOTION: It was moved by Council Member Lang, second by Mayor Gilman, to approve.
The motion carried unanimously.
Item 6
MOTION: It was moved by Council Member Lang, second by Mayor Gilman, to approve.
The motion carried unanimously.
DISCUSSION
8. County of Ventura Civil Grand Jury Report Regarding Ojai Permanent Supportive Housing Project (Legal Requirement)
RECOMMENDATION:
1. Discuss the proposed response to the County of Ventura Civil Grand Jury Report.
2. Approve the proposed response or provide direction for revisions to the proposed response.
Consensus on Council direction to staff reached through the Mayor, with no motion or action needed, as approved by the City Attorney. The City Council reviewed the proposed responses and provided revisions. Consensus reached on revision requests and direction provided to have the response return on the Consent Calendar at the next regular meeting, to allow an additional opportunity to review and revise if so desired.
9. Approval of Amendment to Development Management Agreement ( Operational Need)
RECOMMENDATION: Approve a proposed Amendment to the Development Management Agreement, substantially in the form of Attachment A, with DignityMoves to allow acceptance of donations for specified purposes for the Ojai Permanent Supportive Housing Project.
MOTION: It was moved by Council Member Lang, second by Mayor Gilman, to approve the proposed Amendment with revisions as directed by the City Council.
The motion carried 3-2. (Council Members Mang and Whitman dissenting.)
10. Authorization to Release a Request for Proposals (RFP) for an Integrated Property Management and Supportive Services Provider for the City’s Permanent Supportive Housing Development (Operational Need) RECOMMENDATION:
1. Approve the Request for Proposals (RFP) for an Integrated Property Management and Supportive Services Provider for the City’s 30-unit Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) development; and
2. Authorize the City Manager to release the RFP, conduct the competitive solicitation process, evaluate proposals, and return to the City Council with a recommended contract award for consideration.
MOTION: It was moved by Council Member Lang, second by Mayor Gilman, to approve, working with Help of Ojai and County of Ventura and experts to further develop the RFP, returning in September, and designating Council Members Rule and Whitman to work in an ad-hoc capacity.
The motion carried unanimously.
11. Authorization to Release a Request for Proposals for Owner’s Representative/Construction Management Services for the Permanent Supportive Housing Project (PSHP) (Operational Need)
RECOMMENDATION:
1. Approve the Request for Proposals (RFP) for Owner’s
Representative/Construction Management Services for the Permanent Support Housing Project (PSHP); and
2. Authorize the City Manager to release the RFP, conduct the competitive solicitation process, evaluate proposals, and return to the City Council with a recommended contract award for consideration.
Item 11 was continued.
12. City of Ojai Policy for Commemorative Naming and Donations (City Council Direction)
RECOMMENDATION: Approve proposed Policy for Commemorative Naming and Donations.
Item 12 was continued.
13. Furnished by Owner and Installed by Owner (FOIO) Items | Ojai Permanent Supportive Housing Project (OPSHP) 611 South Montgomery Street (Operational Need)
RECOMMENDATION:
1. Review the Permanent Supportive Housing Project Furnished by Owner and Installed by Owner (FOIO) items list.
2. Authorize staff to proceed with solicitation of donations for items included on the FOIO List.
Item 13 was continued.
14. Approval of FY 2026 27 Professional Services Agreement with the Ojai Valley Chamber of Commerce (City Council Direction)
RECOMMENDATION: Approve the FY 2026 27 Professional Services Agreement (PSA) between the City of Ojai and the Ojai Valley Chamber of Commerce for business development, economic consultancy, and community focused event management services.
MOTION: It was moved by Mayor Gilman, second by Council Member Lang, to approve continuing the contract – with revised list returned to Council in 30-days.
The motion carried 3-2. (Council Members Mang and Whitman dissenting.)
15. Amendment No. 3 to Secural Security Corporation Agreement – Contract Extension and Not-to-Exceed Increase (Operational Need) RECOMMENDATION: Approve Amendment No. 3 to the Agreement for Contract Services with Secural Security Corporation, revising the contract’s not-to-exceed (NTE) amount to $767,000 and extending the termination date to June 30, 2027.
Item 15 was continued.
COUNCIL MEMBER'S REPORTS
Council Member Whitman provided a Planning Commission Liaison report.
Mayor Gilman provided a Public Safety Commission Liaison report and a water adjudication report.
FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Gilman adjourned the meeting at 10:30 p.m.
____________________________________
Weston Montgomery, Chief Deputy City Clerk
Approved: August 11, 2026