[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-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",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":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,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6468977,"mediaKeyId","5781411-abab193e4d646e2e7392105de84dc9be","parentId",5781411,"title","Ojai council opposes rescission of roadless rule, backs H.R. 3930","audioSeconds",138,"startMs",3436000,"endMs",3574000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5781411-abab193e4d646e2e7392105de84dc9be&start=3436&end=3574","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5781411-abab193e4d646e2e7392105de84dc9be/thumbnail_3436000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6468977/Ojai-City/Ventura-County/California/Ojai-council-opposes-rescission-of-roadless-rule-backs-HR-3930","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6468977-b2dce12bb1118c590e10785ac45d2b55/orig.mp4?Expires=1771192498&Signature=gn3MRBAuVOLeEPebmro4m5ug1P0jFCFNmFQEVpKjaJONnU2wXUKhiah~1uTqTGLStBikXGOp68O61WyJvLwFL7wwMSpo66qWUxHNqA8tBirmBQMN6ZRS7NJWifqDtr0BUBgO-IojrLU9ziw0Y8eZwQacBhkJ-OGxnwYiu1enHrnhAAUepHCwSjaa1BmqrCdhrf4w8CBXIWArLv9TM6ZHKE-SdnvSYdImdgdCqskHR2Aka1RNANfINf4cZF1eYBQ1cYngg1Xfx~9WUy1SiQQyV-5lX~s263Du4H7tpZgORAeILfl~7GQUhnhwcMBCqtWT3cWRqyeGA0d3Uo0nSDlwYA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Ojal, CA","date","2025-09-18T00:22:57.053Z","article","The City of Ojai City Council on Sept. 16 adopted a resolution opposing the rescission of the Roadless Area Conservation Rule — commonly called the roadless rule — and authorized two letters: one opposing the Department of Agriculture’s proposed rescission and a second letter of support for H.R. 3930, a Congressional bill to codify the roadless rule.

Council members and staff framed the issue as locally significant because Ojai is surrounded by the Los Padres National Forest; councilmembers said changes to management that allow expanded road building or industrial activities could raise wildfire risk, threaten watershed stability (including impacts to Lake Casitas and the Ojai groundwater basin), fragment wildlife habitat and reduce tourism that supports local jobs. Staff noted a public comment period on the federal rulemaking that closes Sept. 19 and directed staff to file comments on the city’s behalf before that deadline.

The resolution also acknowledged a companion Senate bill, S.2042, and asked the city’s congressional delegation to support federal legislation that protects roadless areas. Councilmember Winters offered draft additional “whereas” language emphasizing ecosystem services, carbon sequestration in mature forests and local economic benefits tied to recreation; members accepted edits and corrected a typographical reference to Los Padres National Forest in the draft.

Public comment on the item was not recorded during the meeting. The council approved the two actions by roll call vote; members recorded as voting yes included Council Member Whitman, Mayor Pro Tem Lang, Council Member Meng and Mayor Gilman (the resolution text also references both H.R. 3930 and S.2042). The council instructed staff to send a public-comment letter before the Sept. 19 deadline opposing rescission and to transmit a support letter for H.R. 3930 to the bill’s authors through Representative Carbajal’s office, as identified in the resolution.

Ending: The adoption sends a local government statement into the federal rulemaking record opposing the rescission of the roadless rule and formally signals the city’s support for legislation to protect roadless areas; staff will file the administrative comment before the public-comment deadline and deliver the congressional letter to the representative named in the resolution.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","September 16, 2025 Ojai City Council Special Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","The City of Ojai adopted a resolution opposing the Department of Agriculture’s recommended rescission of the roadless rule and authorized a letter supporting H.R. 3930 (and acknowledging S.2042). Council cited wildfire risk, watershed protection and recreational and economic benefits of intact national-forest lands.","taxTitle","Ojai City, Ventura County, California","taxId",72373,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6468982,"Ojai extends Chamber contract through fiscal year; creates 2-by-2 ad hoc committee",1063,2180000,3243000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5781411-abab193e4d646e2e7392105de84dc9be&start=2180&end=3243","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5781411-abab193e4d646e2e7392105de84dc9be/thumbnail_2180000.jpg","/articles/6468982/Ojai-City/Ventura-County/California/Ojai-extends-Chamber-contract-through-fiscal-year-creates-2-by-2-ad-hoc-committee","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6468982-9cc9aede9f46922240e31ba8ef0cf307/orig.mp4?Expires=1771192498&Signature=RgEkGjrET6JLdyJftzje~85KLR0-8PmS8tUtPXiYENz7YEbgyznoTNcjZbzOy6FBHbyLGDOR5diZ6KSP~Ztc9fZW3HtK2CP4T-jwQrH9zJR2nTeg7L2TPMWTpBLq-hTkggPLA52aM86AvU-aItoqFJSfesAOzkiO-jdaJU5XZJz94g9xE6XfSviwR5kX-yZdwMQvB1Ee11rUrS9NZgv8-MKPzo8E33tsNwcts~0XgjWNz2YUbORRrvgWx5~lUZ5qEA5opsYfGnCeSCEizN3xa7nQ000c7nNF3-NZYsjFhKxAQrr5peapFG7bCc-mZJ8wZPkFZaX3taP0jByHSzR9kA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The City of Ojai City Council voted Sept. 16 to extend a professional services agreement with the Ojai Valley Chamber of Commerce through the end of the current fiscal year and to form a 2-by-2 committee composed of two council members and two chamber board members.

City staff described the item as the next step following a three‑month pilot that began in July. The contract extension continues the pilot’s scope of services at the same monthly rate through the fiscal year (through June), and council asked that the 2-by-2 committee be ad hoc — time‑bound and focused on refining deliverables rather than making independent policy decisions.

Carla Ferrante D’Erfano, chief executive officer of the Ojai Valley Chamber of Commerce, told the council the chamber had spent the pilot period rebuilding a working relationship with the city and with local businesses. She summarized services the chamber provided: business consulting for local merchants (including help with receivables and online payments), permitting assistance and application coaching, vendor and event programming at Libbey Fountain Plaza, business-sector seminars (for example, social media and Medicare/Social Security information sessions), and plans for a Vintage Ojai event to broaden visitor traffic patterns.

Council members praised the chamber’s outreach and said the arrangement had reduced staff time spent assisting businesses because the chamber can offer hands‑on consulting and implementation help. One council member suggested creating a permanent city staff economic-development coordinator position to perform similar work in the future; that idea was discussed but not acted on at this meeting.

Council agreed that the 2-by-2 committee would be ad hoc and time‑bound to coincide with the term of the contract extension (through the end of the fiscal year). Council members volunteered to serve on the committee; the council indicated continuity of membership could be reviewed next year if the role were to continue.

Votes: The extension motion passed by roll call: Council Member Whitman — yes; Council Member May — yes; Mayor Gilman — yes; Mayor Pro Tem Lane — yes; Council Member Rule — absent. The motion to form the 2-by-2 ad hoc committee passed by roll call: Council Member May — yes; Mayor Pro Tem Lane — yes; Mayor Gilman — yes; Council Member Wood — yes.

Ending: The chamber will continue providing services through the fiscal year under the existing scope; staff will prepare the formal contract extension and notice of the ad hoc committee’s charge, membership and time frame for the council’s packet.","The City of Ojai approved extending a three-month pilot professional services agreement with the Ojai Valley Chamber of Commerce through the end of the fiscal year and established a time‑bound 2-by-2 committee of two council members and two chamber board members.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6468987,"Ojai council continues hearing on Casa Ojai Inn transient-occupancy tax appeal",142,1863000,2005000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5781411-abab193e4d646e2e7392105de84dc9be&start=1863&end=2005","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5781411-abab193e4d646e2e7392105de84dc9be/thumbnail_1863000.jpg","/articles/6468987/Ojai-City/Ventura-County/California/Ojai-council-continues-hearing-on-Casa-Ojai-Inn-transient-occupancy-tax-appeal","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6468987-297ae9042aac6d046cceeb033c42e724/orig.mp4?Expires=1771192498&Signature=box4na0Pw37O-AjVgiQyv28~byQ3dCRV18mqu3dSmgQKNz6FScFnS9ZWTXLyU3t6plAZQMALmPppkEaclEQ5eOmGDajQNCHzyy5-f5LjrWuIO8Rxt5QClm5vSQ9wyaxAcAgVQZDa1-PNex~djwN0kBvYYj4HFQtvp7XrJ~38gciIh0YrJaAMld65TGyyht6mye2uSWEx3Ooc3Zp5dazA~SYH8T6N0bc5oErJZ-Xo7enANeXLC8muZoPo7ktYwpi0EpSPr4OWpKYzYCkIKKenRpfOOXmXqRsDWwSN1Bly-8q9WeuToY46ynUWbGN5ROb1ZwO~aQnP~JcsRiU6tVhm7g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The City of Ojai City Council on Sept. 16 agreed to continue an appeal hearing requested by Cameron Larner, owner of Casa Ojai Inn, over a tax collector determination that assessed unpaid transient-occupancy tax and penalties following audits covering June 30, 2020, through March 31, 2023.

The hearing originally opened with city staff describing procedures and the council chair reading the scope: the appeal challenges the assistant city manager’s decision under the Ojai Municipal Code, and the city bears the burden to prove the assessment’s validity. City staff told the council the determination at issue was dated April 8, 2025.

Council members said they had received a large volume of documents from Larner shortly before the meeting and that the packets arriving within 24 hours made it impracticable to review new material before issuing a decision. Council split over proceeding immediately or continuing; Larner asked the council to hear his “story” but objected to making a final decision without the council having time to review submissions. After discussion the council agreed to continue the hearing and re-notice it as a special meeting to allow time for review.

Under the conditions the council set, Larner agreed to consolidate and label his exhibits and to submit a single, succinct packet with an exhibit index at least 10 days before the rescheduled hearing. The council directed staff to provide electronic copies of exhibits to council members as part of the agenda packet and said the city may respond to any new materials Larner files if the hearing is continued. Council members discussed allowing the city the same opportunity to submit new briefing if Larner’s late materials raise new arguments.

City staff also reminded the council and Larner of two procedural limits: any written decision the council issues after the hearing will be the city’s final administrative decision, and if the council rules against Larner and he wishes to appeal, the Ventura County Superior Court would be the next step. Staff reiterated the “pay first, litigate later” requirement — the council’s order to pay any taxes, penalties or interest would need to be paid before filing an appeal in court, though Larner could seek a refund through the courts.

Larner told the council he had compiled a substantial record over roughly 18 months and said the short notice for some filings had been stressful; he agreed to prepare an annotated, single-document submission identifying essential exhibits and a short “what to read” summary. Council members also asked staff to minimize unnecessary printed copies and provide materials electronically where possible.

The council did not decide the merits of the tax assessment at the Sept. 16 meeting; rather, it continued the hearing to a later, specially noticed meeting and asked staff to return with clear written hearing procedures and a schedule that allows adequate time for both parties to prepare and exchange exhibits.

Ending: The council instructed staff to set the rescheduled hearing date as soon as practicable, to re-notice it with the 10-day exhibit cutoff, to include instructions for exhibit labeling and to provide public-records responses Larner had requested. The council will take oral presentations at the rescheduled hearing and then deliberate and issue a written decision, which will be the city’s final administrative determination in the matter.","The City of Ojai agreed to continue an appeal hearing by Casa Ojai Inn owner Cameron Larner over an audit assessing unpaid transient-occupancy tax and penalties. The council set conditions for resubmitted materials and required a consolidated exhibit packet 10 days before the rescheduled hearing.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Ojai council opposes rescission of roadless rule, backs H.R. 3930

Ojai extends Chamber contract through fiscal year; creates 2-by-2 ad hoc committee

Ojai council continues hearing on Casa Ojai Inn transient-occupancy tax appeal