MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING
TUESDAY, AUGUST 18, 2026, 5:00 PM
KENT HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS - CITY HALL CAMPUS - 111 W SANTA ANA ST, OJAI, CA ADDITIONAL MEETING LOCATION - 1 FOURTH STREET, LILY DALE, NY 14752 - TO ACCOMMODATE COUNCIL MEMBER LANG WHO IS ATTENDING
THE MEETING VIA TELECONFERENCE
Mayor Gilman called the meeting to order at 5:00 p.m.
ROLL CALL
The following members were present: Mayor Gilman, Mayor Pro Tem Mang, and Council Members Rule, and Whitman.
Council Member Lang was presently remotely, properly noticed in the agenda posting, stated they were the only adult in the room, and the City Council will take all actions via roll call vote.
Also present: City Manager Harvey, City Attorney Burgess, Assistant to the City Manager Cervantes, Chief Deputy City Clerk Montgomery, Special Counsel Millhouse, and Community Development Director Seibert.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Chief Deputy City Clerk Montgomery led the Pledge of Allegiance.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
MOTION: It was moved by Mayor Gilman, second by Mayor Pro Tem Mang, to approve the agenda.
The motion carried unanimously via roll call.
CLOSED SESSION
1. Public Employee Performance Evaluation
(Government Code § 54957(b))
2. Conference with Legal Counsel - Existing
Litigation (Government Code § 54956.9(d)(1))
Name of case: Leslie Rule v. City of Ojai, Ventura County Superior Court Case No. 2025CUPT055697
CITY ATTORNEY'S REPORT OUT OF CLOSED SESSION
City Council directed the City Attorney and Human Resources Manager to establish agreement with JMSB Strategies for a City Manager 360 performance review.
DISCUSSION
MOTION: It was moved by Mayor Gilman, second by Council Member Whitman, to reorder Item 4 before Item 3.
The motion carried unanimously via roll call.
3. City Council Goals and Tactics Progress Update (City Council Direction) RECOMMENDATION: Receive and file
The City Council provided and future agenda item requests to staff and no formal action was taken. The item was received and filed.
4. Information Regarding New Communication Tower at Fire Station No. 21 Located at 1201 East Ojai Avenue (Operational Need)
RECOMMENDATION: Receive the presentation from the Ventura County Fire Department representative, ask clarifying questions, and provide direction.
Furthermore, acknowledge receipt of the VCFD recent notification, confirm awareness of the County's permitting authority, and request copies of the Countyissued permits and approved plan set for City records. Upon project completion, City staff confirms removal of the existing rooftop antenna as represented by VCFD.
Presentation received.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Gilman adjourned the meeting at 7:30 p.m.
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Weston Montgomery, Chief Deputy City Clerk
Approved: September 15, 2026