Residents press Ojai council to restore Sunday trolley; public disputes surround trolley supervision

Residents told the Ojai City Council on Aug. 12 that missing Sunday trolley service and limited routes are harming seniors and riders who rely on the system. Multiple speakers said the lack of an A/B route and absent Sunday runs force longer waits and difficult walks while carrying groceries and other items. One speaker said the trolley system’s gaps prevented people from reaching Sunday services and social appointments.

City Manager Ben Harvey said the city is actively recruiting and training drivers, has two trolleys in retrofit that will join the fleet and plans to restore Sunday service as a priority before expanding routes. “We feel that we’re close to restoring Sunday service,” Harvey said, adding the city was discussing classification and compensation adjustments to help recruit and retain drivers.

Public comments also included repeated appeals over personnel matters surrounding former trolley supervisor Anthony Palacios. Speakers described Palacios as respected by riders and staff and said they had collected petitions asking the city to reinstate him. Others in the audience alleged mismanagement and said the city has not improved operations since the supervisor’s suspension. Several speakers warned the city to consider litigation risk in personnel decisions; the city did not announce any personnel action at the meeting.

Clarifying details: staff said a new driver begins training on Friday and that two trolleys purchased earlier in the year are nearing completion of retrofitting; overtime paid under an OTS grant is used for DUI enforcement on some patrol shifts. The city said progress toward Sunday service has been steady but not yet complete.

Next steps: city staff said they will continue recruiting and training drivers, bring the retrofitted trolleys into service and return to council with updates when restored Sunday service and any route changes are ready to be implemented.