AGENDA
CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2026, 6:00 PM
KENT HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS - CITY HALL CAMPUS - 111 W SANTA ANA ST, OJAI, CA
ANDY GILMAN, MAYOR
DISTRICT 2 - RACHEL LANG
DISTRICT 4 - KIM MANG
CITY MANAGER
CITY ATTORNEY
CHIEF DEPUTY CITY CLERK
VIEWING & ACCESS
ROLL CALL
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
COMMISSION REPORTS
CITY MANAGER’S REPORT
PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS
Public Communications is the time set aside during the meeting for members of the public to address the City Council on items of City business other than scheduled agenda items. Matters raised at this time may be briefly discussed by the Council, and will generally be referred to staff and/or placed on a subsequent agenda. Under State law, other than for emergency items, no action can be taken.
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 Council Minutes
Approve.
2. Planning Commission Minutes
Approve.
3. City of Ojai Warrants for August 31 - September 13, 2026
Receive and file.
4. Treasurer's Monthly Report of Cash and Investments for the City of Ojai as of August 31, 2026
Receive and file.
5. Authorize the Issuance of a Purchase Order to National Auto Fleet Group for the Purchase of One Ford Maverick Hybrid Truck
Authorize the City Manager to issue a purchase order to National Auto Fleet Group in an amount not-to-exceed $31,832.66 for one (1) 2026 Ford Maverick Hybrid Pickup Truck.
6. Amended and Restated Professional Services Agreement with the Ojai Valley Chamber of Commerce – Revised Scope of Work
Approve and authorize the City Manager to execute the Amended and Restated Professional Services Agreement (PSA) between the City of Ojai and the Ojai Valley Chamber of Commerce, incorporating revisions to the Scope of Work based on feedback provided by the City Council during its August 11, 2026, regular meeting.
7. Affirmation of City of Ojai’s Opposition to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Proposed Rollback of Roadless Area Conservation Rule
Reaffirm the City Council's previously adopted resolution (Resolution No. 25-34) opposing the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s proposed rollback of the Roadless Area Conservation Rule and authorize resubmission of the resolution.
8. Community Town Hall: Election Related Issues with the Ventura County District Attorney (Requested by Council Member Rule)
Approve Council Member Rule’s request to host a community town hall with the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office regarding election-related issues, authorize the use of Kent Hall and City support for televising the event, and direct staff to assist with coordination.
9. Community Town Hall: Community Disaster Preparedness (Requested by Council Member Whitman)
Approve Council Member Whitman’s request to host a City-sponsored community town hall on community disaster preparedness and authorize the use of Kent Hall and City support for televising the event, and direct staff to assist with coordination.
PUBLIC HEARINGS
10. Design Review Permit (DRP 25-011), Conditional Use Permit (CUP 26-004), Zone Change (ZC 25-002), General Plan Amendment (GPA 25-001) | Regarding the Change in Use From an Office Use to a Health Spa & Wellness Center Use, Zone Change from Public, Quasi-Public (P-L) to Village Mixed Use (VMU), and General Plan Land Use Amendment from Public/Quasi-Public (P) to Village Mixed Use (VMU); located at 107 North Ventura Street (Formerly: World University) – Assessor’s Parcel No. 021-0-106-040 and currently residential use at 107 W. Matilija Street Assessor’s Parcel No. 021-0-106-030. The existing General Plan Land Use Designation of the subject site is Public/Quasi-Public (P) and existing Zoning Classification of the subject site is Public, Quasi-Public (P-L). Property Owner: 107 Ventura LLC. Applicant/Representative: Jeremy McBride.
- Review the Matter;
- Open the public hearing and take public comments; and
- Consider the draft City Council Resolution provided as Attachment A and draft City Council Ordinance provided as Attachment B;
OR - Provide alternative direction to City staff.
DISCUSSION
11. Concept Review: Vacancy or Second Home Tax (City Council Direction)
- Discuss the concept of a vacancy or second home tax as a potential funding source for affordable housing programs and development.
- Provide direction to the City Manager and City Attorney regarding whether staff should further evaluate the concept, including:
- Taking no further action on a vacancy or second home tax at this time;
- Directing staff to further evaluate a narrowly tailored ordinance, together with associated legal, revenue, and enforcement considerations; or
- Providing alternative direction regarding the City’s interest in, and approach to, a vacancy or second home tax.
12. Concept Review: Fourth of July Celebration (City Council Direction)
Discuss the current structure of the community Fourth of July celebration and provide direction to the City Manager regarding whether staff should further evaluate potential changes to the event, including:
- Continuing the current Fourth of July event structure without City financial participation;
- Exploring the feasibility of replacing or supplementing the traditional fireworks display;
- Evaluating the City’s future role, if any, in supporting, coordinating, or funding the Fourth of July celebration.
13. Concept Review: Potential City Interest in Soule Park (Requested by Mayor Gilman and Council Member Rule)
- Receive a concept review regarding Soule Park and its potential as a community and recreational resource; and
- Provide direction to the City Manager regarding whether to initiate discussions with the County of Ventura to explore potential opportunities for greater utilization of Soule Park.
14. Amendments to Professional Services Agreements for Building & Safety, Engineering, Code Compliance and Planning Consultant Services (Operational Need)
- Approve and authorize the City Manager to execute:
- Amendment No. 2 to a professional services agreement with Willdan Engineering for Building Official and Project Compliance Services (Att. A) to extend the term of the agreement for one year through July 31, 2027, and increase the not-to-exceed amount by $425,500 for a new total not-to-exceed amount of $1,047,500, and;
- Amendment No. 1 to a professional services agreement with Willdan Engineering for Code Compliance/Enforcement Services (Att. D) to extend the term of the agreement for one year through June 30, 2027, and increase the not-to-exceed amount by $150,000 for a new total not-to-exceed amount of $300,000;
OR
- Direct staff to appropriate funding for six full-time employees which include one Certified Building Official, one Building Inspector, one Plans Examiner, one City Engineer, one Code Compliance Officer, and one Planning Technician (Project Compliance Coordinator).
If option one or two are not selected (or a combination thereof) then: - Provide alternative direction to the City Manager.
15. Well Permit Ordinance Research Update – Agency Roles, County Agreement Implications, and Status of Ordinance No. 973 Suspending Article 2 of Chapter 3 of Title 7 of the Ojai Municipal Code ("Well Construction, Modification, and Demolition Standards") (City Council Direction)
- Receive information and an update from the City Attorney regarding a historic agreement with Ventura County relating to well permit administration, and;
- Evaluate options presented in this report and by staff regarding the City's well permit ordinance in light of new information, and;
- Provide direction to staff regarding which option to pursue.
16. Amendment No. 3 to Professional Services Agreementwith Eide Bailly LLP (Operational Need)
Approve and authorize the City Manager to execute Amendment No. 3 to the Professional Services Agreement with Eide Bailly LLP to increase the not-to-exceed amount from $167,000 to $290,000.
COUNCIL MEMBER'S REPORTS
FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
ADJOURNMENT
Posted September 18, 2026, at 2:00 p.m.
Weston Montgomery, Chief Deputy City Clerk
WRITTEN PUBLIC COMMENTS
Written public comments will be published here for public access. Please see PUBLIC COMMENT OPTIONS below for instructions on how to submit.
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.
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.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.
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.