City Council - Regular Meeting

Tuesday, May 12, 2026

The Ojai City Council discussed the disposition of the Habitat for Humanity project property, ultimately voting to convey the land to Habitat for Humanity and to initiate a separate process for establishing a community land trust. The council also heard a report on public works safety improvements and confirmed appointments to the Planning Commission and Public Safety Commission.

About this meeting

Government Body
City Council
Meeting Type
City Council
Location
Ojai, CA
Meeting Date
May 12, 2026

Video will appear here as soon as Ojai City Council posts it — usually within a day of the meeting

Tuesday, May 12, 2026

20 items on the agenda.

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ROLL CALL

ROLL CALL

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

APPROVAL OF AGENDA

APPROVAL OF AGENDA

COMMISSION REPORTS

COMMISSION REPORTS

CITY MANAGER'S REPORT

CITY MANAGER'S REPORT

PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS

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 CALENDARItem 1

Minutes - City Council

RECOMMENDATION: Approve. 04-28-2026 - Regular Meeting

CONSENT CALENDARItem 2

Minutes - Planning Commission

RECOMMENDATION: Receive and file. Minutes - 04-15-26 PC Regular Meeting

CONSENT CALENDARItem 3

City of Ojai Warrants for April 13, 2026 - April 26, 2026

RECOMMENDATION: Receive and file. Administrative Report - Warrant Report Attachment A - Warrant Register Report Attachment B - Disbursement by Category Warrant Cover Letter

CONSENT CALENDARItem 4

Confirm Appointment to Fill Mid-Term Vacancy on the Planning Commission

RECOMMENDATION: Confirm nomination of applicant Bruce Hanson as Planning Commissioner to fill a mid-term vacancy (term ending May 2028). Administrative Report - Planning Commissioner Confirmation Attachment A - Commissioner Application Form - B. Hanson

CONSENT CALENDARItem 5

Confirm Appointment to Fill Inaugural Vacancy on the Public Safety Commission

RECOMMENDATION: Confirm nomination of applicant Larry Steingold as Public Safety Commissioner to fill an inaugural vacancy (term ending May 2030). Administrative Report - Public Safety Commissioner Confirmation Attachment A - Commissioner Application Form - L. Steingold

CONSENT CALENDARItem 6

Amendment No. 2 to Pristine Auto Detailing for Fleet Detailing Services

RECOMMENDATION: 1. Authorize City Manager to execute the second amendment to PW Agreement No. 2025-29B with Pristine Auto Detailing (Pristine Auto) to (1) increase the not-to-exceed amount for FY 25/26 by $15,000, and (2) establish a new not-to-exceed amount for FY 26/27 of $67,000; and 2. Authorize the City Manager to extend the term of the agreement to June 30, 2027. Administrative Report - Fleet Detailing Services Attachment A - Original Agreement Attachment B - Amendment No 1 Attachment C - Amendment No. 2

CONSENT CALENDARItem 7

Award Maintenance Agreement for Janitorial Services (Operational Need)

RECOMMENDATION: 1. Authorize the City Manager to execute Maintenance Agreement No. 2026-31 with Kelly's Cleaning & Supplies for janitorial services in the amount of $115,263.96 for a three-year period commencing July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2029, and; 2. Authorize the City Manager to execute, in their sole discretion, future amendments for up to two (2) additional one-year terms for a maximum agreement term not to exceed five (5) years. Administrative Report - Janitorial Services Agreement Attachment A - Agreement

CONSENT CALENDARItem 8

Consider Approval of Resolution No. 2026-16 Supporting Assembly Bill No. 2529 (Johnson) Relating to Declarations in Civil Claims Filed Against Public Entities

RECOMMENDATION: 1. Approve Resolution No. 2026-16, "A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF OJAI, CALIFORNIA, SUPPORTING ASSEMBLY BILL NO. 2529 (JOHNSON) RELATING TO DECLARATIONS IN CIVIL CLAIMS FILED AGAINST PUBLIC ENTITIES." (Attachment A). 2. Direct staff to transmit a copy of the executed resolution to the author of AB 2529, Assembly member Johnson, and to other members of the State Legislature as directed by the City Attorney's Office. Administrative Report - AB 2529 Support Attachment A - Resolution 2026-16 Attachment B - Assembly Bill 2529

DISCUSSIONItem 9

Initiating Proceedings for the Annual Levy of Assessments, Preliminarily Approving the Engineer's Annual Levy Report, and Declaring the Council's Intent to Levy and Collect Assessments for the Landscaping and Lighting District No. 1, Plaza Maintenance Assessment District No. 2, and Landscaping and Lighting District No. 3 (City Council Direction)

RECOMMENDATION: 1. Adopt Resolution No. 2026-13 - Initiating Proceedings for the Annual Levy of Assessments for the City of Ojai Landscaping and Lighting District No. 1, Plaza Maintenance Assessment District (District No. 2), and Landscaping and Lighting District No. 3 for Fiscal Year 2026/27; and 2. Adopt Resolution No. 2026-14 - Preliminarily Approving the Engineer's Annual Levy Report for the City of Ojai Landscaping and Lighting District No. 1, Plaza Maintenance Assessment District (District No. 2), and Landscaping and Lighting District No. 3 for Fiscal Year 2026/2027; and 3. Adopt Resolution No. 2026-15 - Declaring the Council's Intent To Levy and Collect Assessments Within the City of Ojai Landscaping and Lighting District No. 1, Plaza Maintenance Assessment District (District No. 2), and Landscaping and Lighting District No. 3 for Fiscal Year 2026/2027 and Setting a Time and Place for Public Hearing. Administrative Report - Special Districts, Landscape, Lighting, Plaza Attachment A - Resolution No. 2026-13_Initiation of Proceedings Attachment B - Resolution No. 2026-14 Approval of Preliminary ER Attachment C - Resolution No. 2026-15 Intent to Levy Attachment D - Preliminary Engineers Report

DISCUSSIONItem 10

Habitat for Humanity Project; Real Property Management/Disposition Options; Establishment of a Community Land Trust (City Council Direction)

RECOMMENDATION: 1. Receive information regarding management and disposition options available to the City Council related to the real property underlying the proposed Habitat for Humanity project (involving the development of five residential units to be sold to qualified homeowners), including: a. City ownership of the property subject to a ground lease with Habitat and/or future homeowners (status quo); b. Conveyance of the property to Habitat for $1 for Habitat to develop five residential units and eventually convey fee ownership of property to future homeowners; c. City ownership of the property subject to a ground lease with Habitat and/or future homeowners along with a conveyance of the property to a community land trust, if established. 2. Provide direction to the City Attorney's Office to initiate the Surplus Land Act process. 3. Provide direction to the City Attorney's Office as to which of the above options should be brought to City Council for further consideration and a decision and provide direction to prepare documentation needed to implement the disposition of the property based on the selected option. 4. Provide direction to the City Attorney's Office as to whether to return to City Council with a future agenda item to establish a Community Land Trust, and/or establish an ad-hoc committee of City Council to work with staff to further frame out the steps needed to establish a Community Land Trust, irrespective of which option is selected for the Habitat for Humanity project. Administrative Report - 408-410 N. Montgomery Habitat for Humanity Project

DISCUSSIONItem 11

Consideration of the City's Ability to Shift to At Large Voting (Gilman/Rule)

RECOMMENDATION: 1. Consider information regarding the ability to shift from electing City Council Members "by-district" to an "at-large" method of selection. 2. Provide direction (or not) to the City Attorney's Office as to whether to return to City Council with an ordinance repealing Ordinance No. 889 or an ordinance submitting a ballot question to the voters seeking voter approval to return to at-large elections. 3. Provide alternate direction to the City Attorney. Administrative Report - At Large Voting

COUNCIL MEMBER'S REPORTS

COUNCIL MEMBER'S REPORTS

FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS

FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS

ADJOURNMENT

ADJOURNMENT