Ojai council OKs moratorium on pavement cuts for newly paved streets; expanded trench rules for exceptions

The Ojai City Council approved an ordinance to limit cuts in newly paved streets and to require more extensive repairs where exceptions are granted.

Public Works staff described the ordinance as a common municipal practice intended to protect recent paving investments, reduce repetitive street damage and lower long-term maintenance costs. Under the ordinance, newly paved asphalt streets would be subject to a five-year moratorium on utility cuts; roads receiving slurry seals would have a three-year moratorium. The ordinance includes explicit exceptions for emergencies and other narrowly defined situations; if an exception is granted, the ordinance requires larger, higher-quality trench repairs (for example, paving that extends to the centerline) than standard single-trench patches.

Why it matters: The city has several ongoing and planned paving projects. Staff said a moratorium makes it easier to coordinate with utilities and reduces the likelihood of repeated cuts that shorten pavement life. The ordinance also includes a public schedule of streets under moratorium so agencies can plan work.

Vote: The council approved the ordinance introduction and related motion unanimously (5-0). Councilmembers said the rule would not stop necessary repairs — it is intended to discourage avoidable cuts and to give utilities advance notice so they can coordinate projects.

Implementation: Staff said the city will post the list of streets and moratorium dates on the city website, hold quarterly coordination meetings with local utilities (Casitas, sanitation district, water providers, Southern California Edison) and apply the higher trenching standards for granted exceptions. The ordinance was introduced and will return for adoption as required by council rule.