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City staff outline Ojai Tent Town expenses as operations stabilize; security and case management cited as major costs
Summary
City staff told the council the temporary Ott (Ojai Tent Town) operation has cost roughly $750,000 since 2023, driven chiefly by security, debris removal and temporary case-management and coordination services; staff say costs are trending down.
City staff presented an accounting of Ojai Tent Town (OTT) operations and expenses on Aug. 26, reporting that the city spent roughly three-quarters of a million dollars on the site between 2023 and June 2024 and that costs are trending downward as the encampment stabilizes.
Nut graf: The council heard a multi-part explanation of how OTT evolved — from scattered encampments around the city to a consolidated campus — and why expenses grew. Staff described security, contract case management, debris removal, porta-toilet servicing and temporary staffing as the largest line items; they said some costs will decrease if the population and staffing model remain steady.
City staff described a phased approach. Early operations included an extensive private security presence (24/7) and short-term supports to stabilize a population with significant behavioral health and hoarding-related needs. “All told, from '23 to the June, the city has spent 3 quarters of a million dollars on OTT,” city staffer Mister Harvey said during the presentation.
Staff credited temporary contractor support and volunteers for stabilizing the site: Amy Wise of Saint Francis Challenge lived on-site and helped organize good-neighbor agreements; a lead community volunteer, Ruth Miller, provided daily onsite coordination. Help of Ojai and Ventura County Behavioral Health contributed case management paid through emergency-response grant funds, staff said.
Several residents and community members addressed council during public comment. Supporters of the project urged a move toward permanent supportive housing and suggested loan programs or grant assistance for homeowners who need hardening work; teachers and students offered to participate in outreach and hardening projects.
Ending: Staff said they will bring a required budget amendment to properly reflect OTT expenses and will return with options for reducing recurring costs, including evaluation of bringing security and other services in-house.
