Ojai conservation report finds deferred maintenance across public-art collection; council asked to fund repairs

At a Sept. 9 special joint session, the City of Ojai Council and the Ojai Arts Commission reviewed a conservation assessment that found years of deferred maintenance across the city’s public-art collection and recommended prioritized repairs and follow-up actions.

The assessment was produced by LA Art Labs, represented at the meeting by principal conservator Camilla Corbella, who described the scope of treatments the firm recommends after a site-by-site review of sculptures and site‑specific works. "Any areas of corrosion, which is very normal at this stage for an outdoor sculpture, will also be treated," Corbella said in a recorded interview played for the council and commission.

The audit identifies a range of conditions: some works are stable but need routine cleaning; others show corrosion, cracking or pitting that will require more extensive conservation; one work—Reflections of Ojai at Bryant Park—was described as a "total loss" after an earlier sandblasting incident. The commission said ownership and maintenance obligations vary: some pieces are the city’s responsibility, while others fall to building owners under the percent-for-art agreements that originally commissioned them.

Why this matters: commissioners and conservators said delaying maintenance increases future costs and can put artwork at risk of irreversible loss. The report stresses that regular maintenance budgeting and clearer stewardship assignments would protect public investment and preserve the collection as an asset for residents and visitors.

Key findings and examples

- Trimpin Sound Arch (Libbey Bowl entrance): Conserved on Aug. 20 by LA Art Labs. Corbella said the work’s mixed materials require a phased cleaning and treatment plan and that the recent work addressed immediate conservation needs.

- "Big Red Roller" (Ted Galls): The report documents pitting, fading, corrosion and graffiti; conservators recommended a potentially costly conservation and discussed whether relocation would reduce vandalism. Commission Chair Smitty West told council the artist wants to approve final color but prefers professionals undertake conservation.

- Corten-steel horse (Ted Galls): Noted as being in fairly good shape and expected to need only manageable cleaning.

- Two Paul Lindhardt works (Clough Vista Park): Reported in stable condition but with a crack that warrants inspection; the commission indicated city responsibility for these pieces.

- Douglas Lochner works (near playground and business center): Mixed conditions—one "stable for use by children" but showing cracking that should be monitored or repaired.

- Reflections of Ojai (Bryant Park, panels on building piers): The conservators concluded the panels were effectively destroyed when the building owner sandblasted the façade after installation. The commission said the building owner at the time was at fault; the current owner is different. The commission also noted the artist has not yet formally asserted legal rights under state and federal law to seek remedy.

- Matilla Papi Fountain (artist Sandra Johnson): Brass corrosion documented; city maintenance is responsible.

- "Business of Bees" (Bryant Park): Reported in poor condition; maintenance obligations fall to the building owner under a maintenance agreement.

- Bronze works at the Ojai Valley Inn: Conservators reported access problems during inspection and that only some of the pieces were located during site visits; the commission said it will continue to work with the Inn to secure access and complete inventory.

Commission and staff concerns

Commission members repeatedly described the problem as deferred maintenance that will grow more expensive the longer it is left unaddressed. Chair Smitty West said the commission will return with budget requests and asked the council to consider setting aside recurring funds for conservation. "The bad news is that years of deferred maintenance has taken a toll on the collection as a whole," West said.

Several council members and commissioners noted split responsibilities where maintenance obligations lie with private building owners, which complicates enforcement and timetables for repairs. Vice Chair Steiner and the conservator emphasized that some treatments require specialists; Corbella noted the team includes a senior conservator with a Ph.D. and other trained staff.

Next steps and budget implications

No formal city action or ordinance changes were adopted at the meeting. Commissioners said they will bring specific budget requests back to council for prioritized conservation work and proposed drafting a maintenance schedule and cost estimates. Council members suggested several options including:

- Incorporating annual maintenance into the capital improvement/budget process; - Re-examining the city’s public-art funding formula to increase routine maintenance funds; and - Working with building owners where maintenance agreements assign responsibility to the private property owner.

Councilmembers also discussed whether some maintenance tasks could be made part of public‑works duties if the city invested in training or staffing to perform routine upkeep, while reserving more complex conservation to outside specialists.

At the end of the presentation the council and commission agreed to continue the conversation: staff will return with options and cost estimates for prioritized conservation projects and possible budget mechanisms to fund them.

Ending

The City of Ojai Arts Commission provided council members copies of the full conservation report and said the commission will return with specific budget proposals and prioritized treatment plans. Commissioners emphasized that acting sooner rather than later will reduce long‑term costs and better preserve the city’s public‑art assets.