AGENDA

CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2025, 5:00 PM

KENT HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS - CITY HALL CAMPUS - 111 W SANTA ANA ST, OJAI, CA ADADDITIONAL TELECONFERENCE MEETING LOCATION AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC TO ACCOMMODATE TELECONFERENCING COUNCIL MEMBER LESLIE RULE, PER CALIFORNIA GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 54953(B)(3): 6 SALTOUN RD., LONDON, ENGLAND SW2 1EPD REMOTE LOCATION FOR COUNCIL MEMBER RULE ATTENDANCE

OJAI CITY COUNCIL

ANDY GILMAN, MAYOR

DISTRICT 1 - LESLIE RULE
DISTRICT 2 - RACHEL LANG

DISTRICT 3 - ANDREW WHITMAN
DISTRICT 4 - KIM MANG

BEN HARVEY
CITY MANAGER

MATTHEW SUMMERS
CITY ATTORNEY

WESTON MONTGOMERY
CHIEF DEPUTY CITY CLERK

VIEWING & ACCESS

Public participation is encouraged! The Ojai City Council meets regularly on the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month at 6:00 p.m. The meetings are conducted in a hybrid model, providing both in-person attendance and virtual public comment via the Zoom link below. Virtual attendance via Zoom is the only way to remotely provide public comment. Pre-registration is not required for public comment via Zoom. Instead, Zoom participants will utilize the “hand-raise” function to indicate their desire to speak on an item. The meeting is also livestreamed on the City's website at ojai.ca.gov/525/2968/Public-Meetings, on YouTube at youtube.com/@ojaicity, and on Spectrum Channel 10. See “Public Comment Options” below for further instruction.

ZOOM LINK

Zoom Link - September 16, 2025, Special Meeting

ROLL CALL

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

APPROVAL OF AGENDA

CLOSED SESSION - 5:00 PM

1. Conference with Legal Counsel; Anticipated Litigation (Gov. Code § 54956.9(d)(2) & (d)(3))
Based on the below-described existing facts and circumstances, the City Council is meeting only to decide whether a closed session is authorized. The following facts and circumstances known to plaintiff or plaintiffs regarding (Gov. Code § 54956.9(e)(2))
Transactional occurrence; Code enforcement at 1117 Sunset Place
Number of Potential Cases: 1

HEARING - 6:00 PM

2. Appeal Hearing to Uphold or Overturn the Tax Collector’s Determination dated April 8, 2025 Enforcing Assessed Transient Occupancy Tax (“TOT”) and Penalties from Audit Findings (June 30, 2020 – March 31, 2023) Against Cameron Larner, business owner of Casa Ojai Inn, managed by B&W Inns LLC (“Appellant”)

RECOMMENDATION:

That the City Council hear the evidence and testimony presented by the Appellant and The City of Ojai (“City”); and
Pursuant to procedures outlined in Ojai Municipal Code (“OMC”) Sections 8-1.429 through 8-1.432, decide whether to uphold or overturn the Tax Collector’s April 8, 2025 hearing determination (“Hearing Determination”) that the audit findings concerning the Transient Occupancy Tax (“TOT”) for the period of June 30, 2020 to March 31, 2023, and penalties, collectively $11,423.37, should be assessed against the Appellant; and
If the City Council overturns the hearing determination, decide the amount of TOT tax, penalties, and interest owed by the Appellant, if any

Administrative Report - Casa Ojai TOT Appeal

Casa Ojai TOT Appeal Exhibits Combined

3. Appeal Hearing to Uphold or Overturn the Tax Collector’s Determination dated April 8, 2025 Enforcing Assessed Transient Occupancy Tax (“TOT”) and Penalties from Audit Findings (January 1, 2021 – March 31, 2024) against Cameron Larner business owner of Su Nido Inn, managed by B&W Inns LLC (“Appellant”)

RECOMMENDATION:

That the City Council hear the evidence and testimony presented by the Appellant and The City of Ojai (“City”); and
Pursuant to procedures outlined in Ojai Municipal Code (“OMC”) Sections 8-1.429 through 8-1.432, decide whether to uphold or overturn the Tax Collector’s April 8, 2025 hearing determination (“Hearing Determination”) that the audit findings concerning the Transient Occupancy Tax (“TOT”) for the period of January 1, 2021 to March 31, 2024, and penalties, collectively $1,630.67, should be assessed against the Appellant; and
If the City Council overturns the hearing determination, decide the amount of TOT tax, penalties, and interest owed by the Appellant, if any.

Administrative Report - Su Nido Inn TOT Appeal

Su Nido Inn TOT Appeal Exhibits Combined

DISCUSSION

4. Extension of Three Month Pilot Program with Ojai Valley Chamber of Commerce and Establishment of 2:2 Committee

RECOMMENDATION:

Authorize the City Manager to execute an amendment between the City of Ojai and the Ojai Valley Chamber of Commerce to extend the three-month pilot program to a new term of October 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026; and
Establish a 2:2 committee comprised of two (2) City Council Members to be designated and two (2) Ojai Valley Chamber of Commerce Board Members; and
Appropriate funding from the unprogrammed general fund balance for the extended contract at the monthly rate of pay identified in the pilot proposal, totaling $81,900 for the remainder of the fiscal year (FY 25-26), extending the agreement from October through the end of June, 2026.

Administrative Report - Chamber Agreement and 2 by 2 Committee

Chamber of Commerce - Exhibit A - Amended

5. Resolution in Support of the Roadless Rule and H.R. 3930 (Rep. Carbajal) S. 2042 (Sen. Cantell) and Opposition of United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) 2025 Rescission of the Roadless Area Conservation Rule

RECOMMENDATION:

Adopt a resolution:

Opposing the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) 2025 rescission of the Roadless Area Conservation Rule; and
Supporting H.R. 3930, introduced by Representative Salud Carbajal, and S.2042, introduced by Sen. Maria Cantwell, to permanently protect roadless areas and wild forest lands.

Administrative Report - Roadless Rule Comment Period

Attachment A - Roadless Rule Resolution

ADJOURNMENT

Posted September 12, 2025 at 5:00 p.m.

Weston Montgomery, Chief Deputy City Clerk

ACCOMMODATIONS

In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, if you need special assistance to participate in this meeting, please call (805) 646-5581. Notification 48 hours prior to the meeting will enable the City to make reasonable arrangements to ensure accessibility to this meeting.

If you feel that a language interpreter is necessary for you to participate in this meeting, notification 48 hours prior to the meeting will enable the City to make reasonable arrangements for an interpreter to assure your participation/understanding of this meeting.

Si considera que un intérprete de idiomas es necesario para participar en esta reunión, la notificación 48 horas antes de la reunión le permitirá a la Ciudad hacer arreglos razonables para que un intérprete asegure su participación/comprensión de esta reunión del Concejo Municipal.

Para Español por favor llame al (805) 646-5581 ext. 100 o por correo electronico a cityclerk@ojai.ca.gov.

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

Agenda reports and other disclosable public records related to agenda items are available on the City's website at ojai.ca.gov/525/2968/Public-Meetings and at City Hall located at 401 S. Ventura St., Ojai, Ca., during regular business hours, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

PUBLIC COMMENT OPTIONS

The easiest way to submit written public comments is through the “eComment” function on the City Council’s Public Meetings page. Please click into the “eComment” link for the desired date and agenda item.

Written Comments: In order for staff to provide the City Council with written public comments timely, written/emailed public comments must be submitted no later than 3:00 p.m. on the day before the meeting.

You may always submit written comments to the City Clerk via mail, in person at City Hall, or via email to cityclerk@ojai.ca.gov. If your written comment is received by 3:00 p.m. on the day before the meeting date, the City Clerk will distribute copies of your comments to all Council Members and recorded on the City website. Written comments received after 3:00 p.m. may not be distributed to the Council Members and recorded on the City website until after the meeting.

Verbal Comments: Verbal Comments will be received on any item on the agenda at the time the agenda item is heard. Comments may be made in person at the meeting or through Zoom, via the link at the top of the Agenda. Pre-registration is not required for public comment via Zoom. Instead, Zoom participants will utilize the hand-raise function to indicate their desire to speak on an item.

IMPORTANT NOTES:

All materials related to an item on this agenda, including written public comments, will be available for public inspection in the City Clerk's Office at City Hall, and following the meeting, will be accessible on the City of Ojai's website at ojai.ca.gov.

As a government agency, the City of Ojai is subject to the California Public Records Act (Government Code § 6250 et seq.). Please be advised that all communications submitted to City officials and staff are subject to public disclosure under the California Public Records Act. There are limited exceptions that allow the City to redact personal information under the California Public Records Act. If you have concerns regarding privacy, please do not include your personal identifying information, such as your name, e-mail, phone number, and home address in your correspondence to the City, including, but not limited to, public comment.

If you challenge the actions of the City Council in court, you may be limited to raising only those issues you or someone else raised at the public hearing described in the public notices, or in written correspondence delivered to the City Council at, or prior to, the public hearing (California Government Code Section 65009).

Any legal action by an applicant seeking to obtain a judicial review of the City Council's decision on a Hearing listed on this Agenda may be subject to the 90-day filing period of and governed by Code of Civil Procedure Section 1094.6.

LEVINE ACT WARNING

Applicants and their agents before the City Council are subject to the campaign disclosure provisions detailed in Government Code Section 84308. No City Council Member may accept, solicit, or direct a contribution of more than $500 from any party or agent for 12 months subsequent to the date a final decision is rendered by the City. This prohibition commences when your application has been filed, or the proceeding is otherwise initiated.

A party to a City proceeding - which includes both applicants and agents - shall disclose on the record of the proceeding any contribution of more than $500 made to any Council Member by the applicant or agent, during the preceding 12 months. No party to a City proceeding, or agent, shall make a contribution to a Council Member during the proceeding and for 12 months following the date a final decision is rendered by the City.

Prior to rendering a decision on a City proceeding, any Council Member who received a contribution of more than $500 within the preceding 12 months from any party, or agent, to a proceeding shall disclose that fact on the record of the proceeding and shall be disqualified from participating in the proceeding. However, if any Council Member receives a contribution that otherwise would require disqualification and returns the contribution within 30 days of knowing about the contribution and the relevant proceeding, the Council Member shall be permitted to participate in the proceeding.

If you believe that these provisions apply to you or a Council Member, please inform the City Clerk at the earliest possible opportunity. Failure to do so may affect the City's ability to process your application.