Ojai preservation commission sets joint‑council priorities: survey adoption, trail signs and outreach

At its Jan. 8 meeting the Ojai Historic Preservation Commission agreed on several items to bring to a joint meeting with the City Council, tentatively scheduled for Feb. 24. Commissioners prioritized ensuring the funded professional historic‑resources survey moves quickly toward adoption and asked staff to confirm the contract and timelines.

Chair McCatton and other commissioners urged that council understand the survey is a commission priority so it does not stall. Commissioners said the survey’s findings will streamline CEQA reviews, assist planners in identifying potentially historic buildings and could reduce the cost of individual historic resources reports for property owners.

The commission also asked council for permission to extend an existing ad hoc group (functions and powers) with two council members so the committee can finish drafting a flowchart of when items come to the commission and clarify roles. Commissioners noted past confusion over whether items required commission review and said a clearer process would reduce frustration.

Another priority is a Railroad Heritage Trail signage project: commissioners said initial budgets cover three or four interpretive panels and reported strong community interest and potential funding partners. Commissioner comments characterized the signs as two‑foot‑by‑three‑foot angled panels that tell the history of the railroad and identify nearby historic sites.

Commissioners emphasized outreach and education for downtown storefront owners and the arcade district. Staff said the City Council has already blessed planning for a public workshop focused on arcade signage, outdoor dining and displays; the workshop is intended as an educational forum prior to any enforcement action. Multiple commissioners said proactive, repeated outreach—pop‑ups, presentations and participation in events such as Ojai Day—would build public buy‑in before pursuing a local historic district.

Other business included a staff note that the Edward Drummond Libby City Beautiful Award will appear on the Feb. 12 agenda, a reminder that an attorney will present training at the next commission meeting, and a request that applicants bring physical paint chips and material boards for exterior color approvals. Commissioners flagged the need to check built paint colors against approved Sherwin‑Williams codes and to require repainting if built colors do not match the approved samples.

What happens next: the commission will prepare concise slides for the joint meeting (maximum about an hour for presentations), ask staff to confirm survey contract status and present the trail project and outreach plan. Staff will schedule attorney training on the next commission agenda.