Ojai council holds workshop on proposed single‑family "FlexPath" energy‑efficiency ordinance; first reading set for Aug. 12

The Ojai City Council on Tuesday held a public workshop on a proposed single‑family ‘‘FlexPath’’ energy‑efficiency ordinance designed to require energy upgrades for many remodeling projects and to preserve a state exemption by adopting the ordinance before the state moratorium deadline. Maura Macaluso, principal planner for the City of Ojai, presented the proposal with consultants Walker Wells of Ramey and Associates and Myra Vega of TRC Companies; staff scheduled a first reading of a draft ordinance for Aug. 12.

The measure matters because it would add local requirements tied to the statewide cost‑effectiveness framework used by California energy agencies and because state legislation and recent court developments limit how local governments can regulate appliances and gas service. Macaluso told the council, “This workshop is not meant to provide a decision on this proposed process this evening. It's to gather your questions and respond to them this evening and also perhaps on the landing page at another time or following the meeting.”

How the FlexPath would work

Under the proposal, the ordinance would apply to alterations of existing single‑family residences that meet a square‑foot trigger: projects of 300 square feet or more would have a target score of eight points; projects of 1,000 square feet or more would have a target score of 19 points. The point system converts projected annual energy savings into compliance credits: Macaluso said, “1 point equals 1,000,000 BTUs saved per year.”

The draft includes a menu of cost‑effective measures drawn from the state cost‑effectiveness studies for Climate Zone 9 (the climate zone covering most of Ojai). Cost‑effective measures on the menu range from air sealing, duct sealing, and additional attic insulation (R‑19) to wall insulation (R‑13), upgraded windows, new…