Residents, former colleagues press Ojai City to resolve trolley supervisor's suspension and restore service

Residents, former transit staff and riders pressed the Ojai City Council on Dec. 9 to prioritize resolving the prolonged administrative leave of former trolley supervisor Anthony Palacios and to restore more frequent and evening trolley service.

The council heard repeated public appeals asking for Palacios’s reinstatement. “Mister Palacios has requested he be reappointed to his former position,” said a public commenter, noting the matter has remained unresolved for more than eight months. Other speakers called Palacios “exemplary” and blamed management and staffing practices for service problems.

Why it matters: Speakers framed the trolley as both a community amenity and critical mobility service for seniors, workers and visitors. Multiple commenters described missed runs and hour-long headways that make the system impractical for users without cars. “If you miss a trolley, you only have to wait a half hour to get the next one, instead of waiting a whole hour,” one senior rider said, urging the council to consider half-hour headways and evening routes.

What was said: Former drivers and riders told council members the trolley has been understaffed and that pay and benefit structures disincentivize full-time hiring. “We're still up to the 12 people that were on the budget. I think it's roughly that number, nowhere near that,” a longtime rider testified. A former driver who said he resigned described the prior operation as under-supported by staff and urged the council to “dig into the detail” of Palacios’s case before accepting staff explanations.

Council response and next steps: Council members and staff acknowledged ongoing recruitment and pay adjustments and said expanding hours is a high priority. No formal motion to reinstate Palacios was made at the meeting; the speaker who raised the eight-month timeline asked council to urge administration to set a deadline for resolution. Council members directed staff to continue recruitment and service‑planning work and to report back in committee.

Details and context: Public commenters pointed to recent consultant reports and internal disputes as part of the backstory for staffing decisions. The city manager and transit officials reiterated that steps have been taken to improve pay and recruitment and that some additional hires have been made but that more work remains.

What remains unresolved: The council did not vote on any personnel action related to Palacios at the meeting. The public asked the council to set a clear timeline for resolving his status and to prioritize restoring more frequent and evening trolley service for seniors and residents who lack cars.

The council moved on to other agenda items; questions about a permanent resolution and any personnel decisions remain pending with city administration.