Public commenters urge Ojai City Council to retain City Manager Ben Harvey ahead of closed-session review

Several residents and local advocates told the Ojai City Council on June 10 that City Manager Ben Harvey has provided steady leadership and should be retained, speaking during the public comment period immediately before the council moved into a closed-session performance review.

Speakers praised Harvey’s responsiveness and hands-on role in projects including the Cabin Village (sometimes referred to in comments as “Tintown”), negotiations with nonprofit Dignity Moves and management of an encampment adjacent to City Hall. Ruth Miller, who identified herself as a member of the unhoused task force and an on-site volunteer, said Harvey ensured the Cabin Village project complied with grant requirements and worked to secure funding. “Mister Harvey has shown leadership in his creative approach to these issues and his problem solving ability,” Miller said.

The praise was echoed by resident Liana McNeely, who said Harvey, hired in February 2024, has been unusually accessible and persistent in addressing local issues. “He tackled the encampment situation head on with common sense and with compassion,” McNeely said. Resident Bradley Smith said he had “only had a few personal interactions” with Harvey but found him “responsive, personable, and easy to speak with.”

An online commenter identified as Renee Roth suggested a procedural change to increase transparency: move “city manager comments” earlier on the agenda—before public comment—so the manager can briefly update the public on staffing and other matters. Roth cited the City of Berkeley’s agenda language as an example, saying the change would allow the city manager “to briefly update the public on key managers’ matters from the city manager’s office.”

Council approved the meeting agenda by voice vote before public comment and then adjourned into closed session to conduct the performance review. The council’s roll call earlier in the meeting recorded Mayor Gilman, Mayor Pro Tem Lang, Council Member Ruhl, Council Member Whitman and Council Member May present; the agenda approval passed on a voice vote with all members responding “aye.”

The public remarks documented residents’ perceptions and the projects cited; the council took no publicly reported action about the performance review at the time of the meeting’s public record, adjourning to closed session for the review.