🏛️ Governance & Council Procedures

• Resolution No. 2026-9 — Quasi-Judicial Hearing Procedures / Council Protocols (2026): Adopted revisions to the City Council Protocols to formally establish quasi-judicial public hearing procedures, ensuring due process for applicants and appellants, and updated references from Robert's Rules of Order to Rosenberg's Rules of Order.

• Resolution No. 2025-27 — Prioritize Local Issues Only Policy (February 25, 2025): Directed the City Council to focus its legislative efforts on local issues directly impacting Ojai, the Ojai community, or Ventura County, and restricted the Council from taking positions on non-local state or federal matters. Adopted unanimously.

🏡 Affordable Housing Policies Enacted Since 2022

• Ordinance No. 941 — Title 10 Errata (Effective November 10, 2023)

  • This ordinance amended Title 10, Chapter 2, Article 9 of the Ojai Municipal Code (Affordable Housing Requirements and Incentives), updating the City's inclusionary zoning, replacement housing, density bonus, and special needs housing provisions. 12 Key updates included:

    • Revised occupancy standards for the Special Housing Overlay (SPL) district, requiring at least 15% of units for very low income households, 15% for low income households, and 5% for moderate income households. 2

    • Updated the Affordable Housing Trust Fund provisions to include extremely low income households as eligible beneficiaries. 3

    • Revised reasonable accommodations provisions for disabled persons in affordable housing. 3

• Ordinance No. 944 — Rental Housing Development Rent Disclosure Ordinance

  • This ordinance added a new Chapter 8 to Title 6 of the Ojai Municipal Code, requiring developers of multi-family rental housing projects with deed-restricted affordable units to provide clear, transparent, dollar-per-month rent information to the public. 4 The City found that public confusion between the common meaning of "affordable" and the legal definition was causing failed communication about proposed housing projects.

• Ordinance No. 945 — Local Tenant Preference Policy for Lower Income Deed-Restricted Affordable Housing (Adopted November 28, 2023; Effective December 28, 2023)

  • Adopted unanimously, this ordinance established a tiered local preference system for deed-restricted affordable housing rentals. 56 Key provisions:

    • First-tier preference: Applicants who currently reside (and have resided for at least 3 months) in the Ojai Area of Interest or Sphere of Influence, are income-eligible, and are facing or at risk of displacement.

    • Second-tier preference: Former residents who lived in the area for at least 10 years and were involuntarily displaced within the past 5 years, or persons who currently work in the area, who are income-eligible and facing displacement.

    • Affordable Housing Owners must develop and implement a tenant selection plan meeting these requirements.

    • Owners must retain documentation of applicant selection for two years after occupancy.

    • Non-compliance can result in notices of non-compliance, permit revocation, injunctive relief, and forfeiture of rents obtained in violation of the policy.

    • The City must publish the ordinance and policy on its website within 90 days and include a link in its annual housing element report.

• Resolution No. 2026-7 — Approval of 100% Affordable Housing Project at 408–410 North Montgomery Street (2026)

  • The City Council approved a Design Review Permit (DRP 24-007) and Tentative Tract Map (TTM 25-002) for a five-unit, 100% affordable housing project on City-owned land at 408–410 North Montgomery Street, to be developed by Habitat for Humanity of Ventura County. 121314 All five units are deed-restricted for lower income households. 1213

• Resolution No. 2025-19 — Ojai Permanent Supportive Housing Project (OPSHP) / Cabin Village

  • The City approved a Design Review Permit and location approval for the Ojai Permanent Supportive Housing Project (formerly known as Cabin Village), a project designed to serve unhoused persons, including many from Ojai Tent Town who are elderly or have disabilities. 1516 Key policy elements include:

  • The project accepts Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers, expanding access for extremely low income individuals.

  • The project aligns with Housing Element Policy H-16, which establishes preferences for persons currently living and/or working in Ojai.

  • On-site supportive services are provided to maintain housing stability for residents.

  • Housing Element Program Funding — Help of Ojai ($100,000 Allocation, 2025)

    • The City Council considered a one-time $100,000 allocation from the General Fund to support Help of Ojai's Homeless Prevention and Rapid Rehousing program, consistent with Housing Element Program No. 16, which prioritizes preserving existing affordable housing, rehabilitation, rental assistance, and community assistance programs.

• Property Acquisition for Affordable Housing

  • The City pursued the purchase of property at 503 South Ventura Street for affordable housing purposes, with Resolution No. 2026-6 authorizing the acquisition. 18 The City had approximately $5.8 million in unprogrammed General Fund balance available for the fiscal year 2025/2026 to fund such acquisitions.

• Housing Production Progress

  • As of the 2025 Annual Progress Report, the City began the 6th Housing Element Cycle (2021–2029) with a Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA) obligation of 53 units. Since 2021, building permits have been issued for 97 units, reducing the remaining RHNA obligation to 20 units as of the end of 2025.

💰 Financial Policies

• Resolution No. 25-31 — Financial Policy (August 12, 2025): Adopted a comprehensive Financial Policy to govern the implementation, review, and update of the City's financial policies and procedures, incorporated into future annual budgets. Adopted unanimously.

• Resolution No. 25-32 — Balanced Budget Policy (August 12, 2025): Adopted a Balanced Budget Policy establishing the definition of a balanced budget for the City of Ojai, to be incorporated into future annual budgets. Adopted unanimously.

• Resolution No. 25-11 — General Fund Reserve Policy (April 22, 2025): Adopted a Fund Balance Reserve Policy for the General Fund, repealing and replacing prior reserve-related provisions, including Resolution 21-44. Adopted unanimously.

• Resolution No. 25-12 — Auditor Rotation Policy (April 22, 2025): Adopted a formal Auditor Rotation Policy requiring independent audit firms to be engaged for an initial three-year term, with a possible two-year extension, and mandatory competitive re-bidding after five consecutive years. Adopted unanimously.

• Resolution No. 25-25 — Annual Statement of Investment Policy FY 2025/26 (June 24, 2025): Adopted the annual Statement of Investment Policy for FY 2025/26, designating the Finance Director as Investment Officer, and repealing prior Resolution 24-20. Adopted unanimously.

• Resolution No. 24-20 — Statement of Investment Policy FY 2024/25 (June 11, 2024): Approved the annual Statement of Investment Policy for FY 2024-25, designating the Finance Director as Investment Officer. Adopted unanimously.

• Resolution No. 24-42 — Finance and Budget Committee (October 10, 2024): Affirmed the name, powers, duties, and membership of the Finance and Budget Committee as an advisory body to the City Council, subject to the Brown Act. Adopted unanimously.

• Resolution No. 22-12 — Statement of Investment Policy (March 8, 2022): Approved the updated Statement of Investment Policy, including exclusion of investments related to nuclear weapons. Adopted unanimously.

🌿 Environment & Public Safety

• Ordinance No. 973 — Suspension of Well Code (August 11, 2026): Adopted an ordinance suspending certain well permit requirements, introduced July 14, 2026 and adopted August 11, 2026.

• Resolution No. 2026-30 — Drug and Alcohol Testing Policy (August 11, 2026): Approved and adopted a revised Drug and Alcohol Testing Policy for safety-sensitive employees (transit/paratransit), repealing all prior drug and alcohol testing policies, in compliance with the Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1988 and the Omnibus Transportation Employee Testing Act of 1991. Adopted unanimously.

• Resolution No. 24-39 — Earth Friendly Management Policy (2024): Adopted an Earth Friendly Management Policy for the City.

• Resolution No. 24-35 — Community Wildfire Protection Plan (OV-CWPP) (2024): Adopted the Ojai Valley Community Wildfire Protection Plan.

• Resolution No. 24-36 — Suspending Enforcement of Chapter 9-17, Title 9 (September 24, 2024): Suspended enforcement of the City's all-electric appliance requirements (Chapter 9-17), reinstating state-level minimum standards. Adopted 4-0 (Whitman, Lang, Stix, Rule; Francina absent).

• Resolution No. 22-54 — Ventura County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan (2022): Adopted the 2022 update of the Ventura County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan.

📋Wildfire Prevention and Readiness

• The City Council formally adopted the 2024 Ojai Valley Community Wildfire Protection Plan (OV-CWPP) via Resolution No. 24-35

• The OV-CWPP was a two-year, $1.2 million comprehensive study (2022–2024) developed collaboratively with the Ojai Valley Fire Safe Council (OVFSC), Ventura County Fire Department, U.S. Forest Service, Ventura County Office of Emergency Services, Ojai Unified School District, Ventura County Sheriff's Department, California Highway Patrol, and others.

• The 265-page report includes fine-scale risk mapping for the entire valley, ember cast modeling and vulnerability assessments, an evacuation assessment, and a real-time Wildfire Digital Dashboard.

• The City's initial investment was a $50,000 Community Service Grant (2021), which leveraged a total project value of $1.2 million — a 24:1 return on investment.

• The plan meets federal Healthy Forests Restoration Act (HFRA) requirements and serves as the foundation for all future wildfire preparedness efforts and grant funding in the valley.

• Firewise Community Development

  • Using a $25,000 City Community Service Grant (2023), the OVFSC established five certified Firewise Communities: Matilija Canyon, Persimmon Hill, Rancho Matilija, Golden West Mobile Home Park, and Ojai Villa Mobile Estates.

  • The City's contract with the OVFSC (October 2025–September 2026) includes a goal of certifying at least 3 additional Firewise Communities during the first year, with a 3-year plan to have every residential property within City limits part of a certified Firewise Community.

  • As of early 2026, I have been in talks with OVFSC staff to organize Firewise Community efforts for our district.

• Home Hardening & Home Ignition Zone (HIZ) Assessment Program

  • Free home hardening and HIZ assessments have been conducted valley-wide in partnership with the Ventura Regional Fire Safe Council and Ventura County Fire Department.

  • As of the February 24, 2026, Council presentation, 25 assessments had been completed (25% of the annual target of 100+), with 77 additional signups pending.

  • The OVFSC's active contract with the City (FY 2025–26) targets a minimum of 100 free assessments, with a pilot program focused on a high-density residential zone bounded by Canada Street, Shady Lane/Mercer Avenue, Shelf Road, and Ojai Avenue.

• Fuels Reduction & Active Grant Projects

  • As of early 2026, nearly $5 million in fuel reduction projects were underway in the Ojai Valley and Ventura River watershed.

  • The city issued an RFP to work with a team to clear fuel and debris from city properties.

• Community Education & Outreach

  • Multiple wildfire preparedness workshops were held in late 2025, including presentations to the Ojai Garden Club (~25 attendees, October 8, 2025), Ojai Hospital Guild (~40 attendees, November 10, 2025), and Ojai Valley Lions Club (~35 attendees, November 12, 2025).

  • A three-part Property Insurance Crisis Education Series was initiated, with Part 1 completed in December 2024, addressing the insurance challenges facing fire-prone communities.

  • A Wildfire Resilience Festival was held at Sarzotti Park on April 25, 2026, featuring information booths, workshops, demonstrations, fire trucks, and community activities.

  • A two-day NFPA Wildfire Resistant Construction and Landscaping course was scheduled for May 18–19, 2026, offered free to Ojai residents and students.

  • A community town hall on January 28, 2026 drew over 100 attendees to discuss the Community Resilience Centers project.

• Ratification of Ventura County Fire Protection District Ordinance No. 34

  • Resolution No. 25-37 — October 28, 2025 - The City Council ratified Ventura County Fire Protection District Ordinance No. 34, which establishes updated requirements for fire protection plans, defensible space, fuel modification plans, and vegetation management in Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) areas.

• Measure C Funding for Wildfire

  • In 2020, Measure C was passed and the City began setting aside funds for wildfire protection, among other priorities.

  • The City's contract with the OVFSC for FY 2025–26 is valued at $386,025, covering community outreach, home hardening assessments, Firewise community development, and wildfire risk mitigation.

🌍 Resolution Supporting SB 1137 / Fossil Fuel Setbacks

• Resolution No. 24-31 — August 27, 2024

  • The Council adopted a resolution urging Governor Newsom and Ventura County to stop issuing oil and gas permits and support 3,200-foot health and safety setbacks from fossil fuel extraction sites, which also relates to fire and environmental risk reduction.

📋 Other Notable Policies

• Resolution No. 23-22 — Outdoor Flagpole Display Policy (2023): Adopted a policy governing outdoor flagpole displays.

• Resolution No. 22-43/22-53 — Gas-Powered Chainsaw Permit Fee (2022): Established a fee for gas-powered chainsaw permits.

• Resolution No. 22-51 — Supporting Reproductive Freedom (2022): Adopted a resolution supporting reproductive freedom.

• Resolution No. 22-52 — Conflict of Interest Code (2022): Amended and restated the City's Conflict of Interest Code.