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Council passes consent items, housing element review and reinstates parks chair; approves Cabin Village site motion earlier in meeting
Summary
The Ojai City Council approved a package of consent items, voted to accept the annual housing element progress report, reinstituted Susie Taylor as parks and recreation commission chair, and earlier designated the Lower Public Works Yard as the site for the Cabin Village project (see separate article).
The Ojai City Council on March 25 approved a set of consent items, accepted the city’s annual housing element progress report and reinstated Susie Taylor as chair of the Parks and Recreation Commission. Those votes followed public comment and a separate, substantive public hearing on the Cabin Village permanent supportive housing project (site approved 3–2; see separate article).
Warrants and legal bills (item B)
Councilmember Kim Meng pulled Item B from the consent calendar to ask why recent legal bills were not yet reflected in the warrants. After staff comment, the council took a roll‑call vote to approve item B (payment of warrants shown on the agenda). Roll call: Mayor Pro Tem Rachel Lang — Yes; Councilmember Whitman — Yes; Councilmember Meng — Yes; Councilmember Leslie Ruhl — Yes; Mayor Andy Gilman — Yes. Motion passed.
Housing element annual progress report (item G)
Council approved the city’s annual housing element progress report by roll call. Staff explained the reporting format is dictated by the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) and counts only those units that have reached final certificate of occupancy; other projects in entitlement or plan‑check phases are tracked separately. Staff said accessory dwelling units (ADUs) are a major contributor to the city’s progress and that the Cabin Village accounted for 30 of the 31 very‑low income deed‑restricted units listed in the report. The roll call for item G was unanimous in favor.
Parks & Recreation Commission chair reinstatement (item H)
Council voted unanimously to reinstate Susie Taylor as chair of the Parks and Recreation Commission after councilmembers described improved communications and a plan for resuming commissioner interviews. Motion passed unanimously.
Other procedural actions
At the start of the meeting council approved a batch of consent calendar items (multiple noncontroversial agenda items) by roll call; items B and G had been pulled for separate discussion and vote (see above). The meeting record shows routine roll calls to confirm each approval. The council also noted the Brown Act requirement for roll‑call votes when members participate remotely.
Why it matters
The housing element report is a state‑required annual accountability document; approval keeps the city compliant with state reporting obligations and demonstrates progress toward regional housing needs allocation targets. The warrants/legal bill discussion reflects ongoing municipal budget pressure from legal expenses. Reinstating the commission chair resumes an advisory body’s functioning on parks issues.
Ending
Council directed staff to continue tracking housing projects in entitlement and permit phases and to provide follow‑up on outstanding warrant items. The meeting adjourned after the council closed the last item on the agenda.
