[{"_1":2,"_122":-5,"_123":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74,86,98,110],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":44,"_46":47,"_48":49,"_50":51,"_52":53,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":59,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":65,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},"mediaId",6561127,"mediaKeyId","3296466-45dcd04aa805f22d388711adc1998d95","parentId",3296466,"title","Votes at a glance: monitoring wells approved; consent calendar passed; staff directed on protocols and a goals workshop","audioSeconds",0,"startMs",5454000,"endMs","viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3296466-45dcd04aa805f22d388711adc1998d95&start=5454&end=5454","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3296466-45dcd04aa805f22d388711adc1998d95/thumbnail_5454000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6561127/Ojai-City/Ventura-County/California/Votes-at-a-glance-monitoring-wells-approved-consent-calendar-passed-staff-directed-on-protocols-and-a-goals-workshop","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6561127-5017bf9bd7435b1dc456bbdcfac5e0e5/orig.mp4?Expires=1773575737&Signature=S9pnocyUQT879BaKQ9OpIEpzV~pP9eR7tv8qDcPz9O2se9uJHg649hHl2p1z96AZkX5D6h-9iUrtO02zZtlI681n3i883gYUrbtAIovaV0YNXJvaSUQJP8kc2505mK6GabF5I1-TzdACdCDL~6A9DvNjT8FCuJWJ~0mASwDozCuNMzB4C5BsIm0fzwfBiqEz4c9DDbycD7BMi93cmMTgjwc6Pp~mdiMOBTNBLlXxl6ICyfCcF3sumVPJA6hdNjVL29-oJHB4Z5SuIDF6YB5cZ9GdT4Q2aG8eEDgpMfzjzZ44Gr3dh~4i8gEQ45lD0irPNEEeMF6MSzjLZC0vZ-B0tA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Ojal, CA","date","2025-05-14T07:59:28.397Z","article","This meeting included several formal actions and recorded votes.

- Monitoring-well permit (public hearing, item 2): Approved. The council voted 5–0 to approve an application from the Ojai Valley Inn to install five shallow monitoring wells for data collection related to irrigation efficiency. Staff and OBGMA emphasized the permit is monitoring-only; production wells would require separate county, OBGMA and city review.

- Consent calendar (items approved): The council approved the consent calendar (with items H and I pulled for discussion) by voice vote and then approved the pulled items (H and I) after discussion; approval was recorded by voice and later confirmed by the mayor.

- Policy directions (non ordinances): Council directed staff to post a request for qualifications (RFQ) for city attorney services (closed-session report-out), to return with a revised closed-session protocols draft, and to schedule a four-hour Saturday workshop to finalize city goals and tactics and to provide monetized cost estimates for tactics.

Vote details and key motions are summarized below.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","May 13, 2025 Ojai City Council Regular Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","The council approved the Ojai Valley Inn monitoring-well permit, adopted consent calendar items including two pulled items (H and I), and gave direction to staff on closed-session protocols and a goals workshop.","taxTitle","Ojai City, Ventura County, California","taxId",72373,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_46":80,"_48":81,"_50":82,"_52":83,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":84,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":85,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6561131,"Council directs staff to refine closed-session protocols after extended debate on transparency and recordings",3114,7430000,10544000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3296466-45dcd04aa805f22d388711adc1998d95&start=7430&end=10544","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3296466-45dcd04aa805f22d388711adc1998d95/thumbnail_7430000.jpg","/articles/6561131/Ojai-City/Ventura-County/California/Council-directs-staff-to-refine-closed-session-protocols-after-extended-debate-on-transparency-and-recordings","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6561131-41ccb319b0fa5959ddb3dacc58682754/orig.mp4?Expires=1773575737&Signature=kxP-9PxKu5LTA7x7~DMzIVDzK85pn46QiWfYV5koV0vJz1U2SVHKoMWguLZakwZWzJb~Rav~OtPBEhM42nbYxADENpFRQeBiWrrIEl0S~4tZDypWvUS95A7bVnXifZ7yZtWPLNy2u95cAXfffUz5wqgu-aoeSpB1TS9AysFSeGQjKnZgMkxPcV4A16VgAZBcwqdrbr7UmkcfX9uESFi2dbGkuc49-GF3xAJcFE86wnPSKcjOoXVE0IgURV-7t5Fss-jl1Zo8Cthf77zAKcZjde82xv7umc3Fa~z29vOKqY1XBl3ovaOzpwLXD3KqZZpw2kx0YRfsgGF3aWJnAN1ZLg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The City Council debated proposed changes to its meeting and closed-session protocols before voting to ask staff to prepare a revised draft and return to council for consideration.

Assistant City Attorney Anderson reviewed a menu of policy options: clarifying who may call special meetings, whether closed sessions should be scheduled only on regular meeting days or allowed at other times, and whether to record closed-session audio. Public commenters urged stronger transparency, including routine audio recordings of closed sessions, clearer notice identifying who requested a closed session, and more public reporting when legally permissible.

Several members of the public said the city’s past closed-session practice has undermined trust and asked council to favor openness whenever consistent with the Brown Act. The city clerk and others described operational approaches that other agencies use — for example, placing the closed-session item on the regular open agenda so the public knows the closed session will occur that day.

Council members discussed administrative fixes (clearer agenda descriptions and who requested special meetings) vs. broader policy choices (formal rules on recording closed sessions, which raise legal and confidentiality considerations). After discussion the council voted to have staff return with a revised protocols draft that implements administrative changes and presents options for the larger transparency questions; the clerk was asked to add the item to a future meeting agenda for a fuller policy workshop.

Ending: The council did not adopt new rules tonight but directed staff to return with a revised protocols draft that clarifies meeting-calling mechanics and offers recommended language on closed-session notice and preliminary checks before a closed session. The council also signaled interest in a larger workshop on transparency and closed-session policy.","After hours of council debate and dozens of public comments urging greater transparency, the council directed staff to bring back a revised set of closed-session protocols and procedural language. Public commenters urged audio-recording and clearer public notice of closed-session topics.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_46":92,"_48":93,"_50":94,"_52":95,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":96,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":97,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6561135,"Council schedules a four-hour Saturday workshop to finalize city goals and tactics; staff to cost out tactics for budgeting",5635,5483000,11118000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3296466-45dcd04aa805f22d388711adc1998d95&start=5483&end=11118","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3296466-45dcd04aa805f22d388711adc1998d95/thumbnail_5483000.jpg","/articles/6561135/Ojai-City/Ventura-County/California/Council-schedules-a-four-hour-Saturday-workshop-to-finalize-city-goals-and-tactics-staff-to-cost-out-tactics-for-budgeting","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6561135-57280e84db45e705d3c634c34e06e6c7/orig.mp4?Expires=1773575737&Signature=LnhvXgAo5BVpNxGpQTyrB0CTnayC~tE0ad4MFsog389LWUIWDs9sAcRTE9hK2xAeu1R-AOOctI-oDHN69xCkUOGzXpK786aLNaL9t3ZpOeSZDHmSpyD96Xwbo1SsEUthOupYdyg-EKkrbotXrJ0HXwbdJ1uoS72Ea8QJZXx1AtwjDQKlTI~a3Igsd7Le7FfxM4y1~~87ZynccavNTEnqc32aT6Pez3vQtjyDAxTEI3PEQTSJ3rXiLHD37slA939DkP3t4L-5MD~d5SefF21pSB4dvd0auYgKNNBd9cZdzMU7H22wwKMhhhFUlXMDDUX2AlnCNGTES8WV8xxsITgtow__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The City Council agreed to set a focused workshop — proposed as a four-hour Saturday session — to finalize nine draft municipal goals and the tactics intended to implement them.

Council members and staff said the goals-and-tactics process has spanned several meetings and drawn extensive public input. City Manager Harvey summarized staff work to date and said staff will, after the council finalizes the tactics, return with monetized estimates so the council can weigh cost and timing against available resources and the budget.

Council Member Leslie Rule and others urged a concentrated workshop to complete the item. Public commenters urged the council to prioritize wildfire hardening, arts and culture funding, housing supports, transportation resilience and expanded animal services. Several speakers specifically requested that the council consider using Measure C funds (a local wildfire/climate measure) to target home-hardening grants for vulnerable households.

Council members discussed scheduling and process: onboarding of newly appointed commissioners (parks and recreation) was raised as context for public-engagement timing, and staff said any tactics that require council action will be presented with cost information for policy decisions. The council asked staff to prepare status reporting and recommended quarterly updates once the work plan is finalized.

Ending: The council asked the city clerk to solicit dates and to schedule a four-hour Saturday workshop; staff will prepare monetized cost estimates for tactics so the council can sequence high-priority items into the upcoming budget.","After a multi-meeting review of nine draft city goals and dozens of tactics, the council agreed to schedule a dedicated four-hour weekend workshop to finalize priorities. Staff will convert agreed tactics into cost estimates to inform the budget.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":103,"_46":104,"_48":105,"_50":106,"_52":107,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":108,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":109,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6561139,"City approves Ojai Valley Inn monitoring-well permit; staff and OBGMA say wells are for irrigation monitoring, not production",820,4639000,5459000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3296466-45dcd04aa805f22d388711adc1998d95&start=4639&end=5459","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3296466-45dcd04aa805f22d388711adc1998d95/thumbnail_4639000.jpg","/articles/6561139/Ojai-City/Ventura-County/California/City-approves-Ojai-Valley-Inn-monitoring-well-permit-staff-and-OBGMA-say-wells-are-for-irrigation-monitoring-not-production","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6561139-916d2ce462fde0d07a51b7a3e2f428e0/orig.mp4?Expires=1773575737&Signature=aMOrW0gm7OrK2hFFkks4tjY6q5d-TY6~r2-KMrXa2YBopQtF4VV99yCCPbaZmQdLWBLeG~d6UpAdiaVW6h64k8VHJFM7jDjv0XD7xIT4Jkh9eDe4Ga9mwYQQfJy8gRrrox3IH9DsnKs005ktyAtjh1cHGc5Varq2CGk-78Lp4LmnsyBeXwXuGJa0SFi6Pl6qAvI80j-Xtej9skn-7fYauo~ixF8ascpj8cul-tEOzHKEUis-0qOZMPLC29sYZnb78CEwX~eQaKkdArEZdpGQdab0kSbMCwPuDk5w4zyPZHZyrsI5n3eYCizwxFL1odW6rEJfIJM1VUccgyppwMiW2w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Ojai City Council voted unanimously to approve a monitoring-well permit for the Ojai Valley Inn, allowing the applicant to install five shallow wells to gather groundwater data related to irrigation efficiency.

Principal Planner Maura Macaluso (presenting as Ms. Palmer) told the council the permits are for monitoring wells about 30 feet deep and are distinct from production wells, which would be substantially deeper and require separate county and city approvals. Macaluso said staff included the Ojai Basin Groundwater Management Agency (OBGMA) in the review and received a supporting letter from OBGMA.

The project involves multi-jurisdictional review: city municipal code requires a city permit for wells (the staff report cited Ojai Municipal Code section 7-3.204), and the County of Ventura and OBGMA will also act. Macaluso told the council the city is considering an ordinance amendment to remove a duplicative city-level well permit requirement in deference to OBGMA and state groundwater law (the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act), but that change was not yet adopted and staff did not want to delay the applicant’s monitoring work.

Members of the public spoke during the hearing. Eric Ryder referenced recent research and requested the council consider public health literature in decisions affecting golf courses and irrigation; another resident urged recycling and reuse of irrigation water. Council members and staff emphasized that the approved permit is limited to monitoring and that any future production well would require separate county permitting, OBGMA review and a return to the city.

The council moved to approve the monitoring-well permit; a roll-call recorded all council members voting yes.

Ending: The permit allows the Ojai Valley Inn to install five approximately 30-foot monitoring wells for data collection on irrigation efficiency; any future proposal to use groundwater for irrigation or domestic supply would require separate county and OBGMA approvals and a new city review.","The City Council approved an application from the Ojai Valley Inn for five shallow monitoring wells to gather irrigation and groundwater data. Staff and the Ojai Basin Groundwater Management Agency (OBGMA) told the council the wells are for monitoring only; any production well would require separate permitting and review.",{"_33":111,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":112,"_41":113,"_43":114,"_45":115,"_46":116,"_48":117,"_50":118,"_52":119,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":120,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":121,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6561144,"Ojai council hears widespread public concern over trolley service; staff says hiring, new trolleys will restore Sunday runs",248,380000,628000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3296466-45dcd04aa805f22d388711adc1998d95&start=380&end=628","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3296466-45dcd04aa805f22d388711adc1998d95/thumbnail_380000.jpg","/articles/6561144/Ojai-City/Ventura-County/California/Ojai-council-hears-widespread-public-concern-over-trolley-service-staff-says-hiring-new-trolleys-will-restore-Sunday-runs","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6561144-b6c38402cf4e961d9e2d3e850769b253/orig.mp4?Expires=1773575737&Signature=TCsgXToQzU-1cKWQXRE-VznPon3R4NFyMIKbfVNPovpTtqD6UlmlY65zUz~-KDEzszju48T0-2YER9h8eOYrknUjRGW5P2OyV1B~CzTvj3pmUe1JZJ07EtemHaIF0z6sRgYmFdSmpjteHBPnRuUwpxwGSBdbIv-e-OppdHh5-TYl9VwSk3ZVoU-tZSJTHGpqheUHfAgshKkXlKFnVgTNauUQhO7roUpDBA9AIcEGNhZcK2oc8uhwzLehZeFHR2jSaZXSC-xQ6bFRXSv0PnR9rBZnfwmM6XIchMYID02zJ3LfTb1hoSuO1U6IvZ4IWP2alpm2C97eOgim-FhMCqHU9A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Dozens of Ojai residents urged the City Council to restore and stabilize the town’s trolley service, saying the system’s suspended Sunday runs and frequent service gaps have left seniors, people with disabilities and daily riders without reliable transportation.

At a lengthy public-comments segment, riders and former drivers described missed trips to medical appointments and church, problems with stops that no longer pull into senior parks, and uncertainty when drivers take unscheduled breaks. “The trolley, which is handicap accessible, is extremely important in my life,” said Winnie Major, a longtime rider, describing how she now lacks Sunday service to get to church.

Council and staff said the trolley’s problems stem mainly from a shortage of qualified drivers. Interim Transit Supervisor Alameda told the council the city is actively recruiting and has an interim supervisor reviewing applications; Alameda said two trolleys arrived this spring and are undergoing inspection and painting so the city can restore the B route when drivers are available. “We are actively trying to hire new drivers,” Alameda said. The city manager confirmed the council in July increased pay for trolley drivers to help recruitment.

Several riders described past attempts to train local applicants and asked the city to resume free driver training and to accept applications. Trolley driver Patrick Holmes told the council he volunteered to drive Sundays for two months while the city tried to hire, and voiced concern that the system’s reliability is eroding ridership. “If they can’t rely on this mode of transportation, it’s going to start to deteriorate the ridership,” Holmes said.

Staff told the council the city continues a partnership with Gold Coast Transit District to provide training for applicants who lack a passenger endorsement; staff said it will again cover training costs for hires who need endorsement and road training. Staff also said the city is investigating the use of a contract service to backfill vacancies — a step the city used previously to supply one Sunday driver — and will post and continue to accept job applications via the city Human Resources webpage.

Council members and staff thanked frequent riders for their testimony and said restoring Sunday service is a priority. The council liaison to Gold Coast Transit District noted the quality of Gold Coast’s training program and said that will support city recruitment. Council and staff did not set a firm date for restarting Sunday service but said they expected action once sufficient drivers are hired or a short-term contract arrangement is in place.

Residents also urged additional improvements: requests included clearer communications to riders when runs are late or cancelled, restoration of prepaid token discounts, more consistent route access to senior mobile-home parks, and a town-hall forum focused on the trolley. Staff committed to continued public updates and to return to council with any required contract or budget requests if recruitment remains insufficient.

Ending: The city does not yet have a fixed restoration date for Sunday service. Staff says two trolleys are road-ready pending inspection, the city is actively hiring and training drivers (including funded training in partnership with Gold Coast Transit), and contracted drivers remain under consideration to bridge gaps until in-house staffing is sufficient.","Dozens of residents told the City Council the Ojai trolley’s reduced hours and driver shortages are disrupting medical trips, church and daily life. Staff and councilors said the city is recruiting drivers, took delivery of two trolleys and is exploring contracted drivers to restore Sunday service.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: monitoring wells approved; consent calendar passed; staff directed on protocols and a goals workshop

Council directs staff to refine closed-session protocols after extended debate on transparency and recordings

Council schedules a four-hour Saturday workshop to finalize city goals and tactics; staff to cost out tactics for budgeting

City approves Ojai Valley Inn monitoring-well permit; staff and OBGMA say wells are for irrigation monitoring, not production

Ojai council hears widespread public concern over trolley service; staff says hiring, new trolleys will restore Sunday runs