Resident urges Ojai council to weigh opportunity cost of proposed property purchase

Ojai City officials convened a closed-session meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026, approving the closed-session agenda before hearing a single public comment that urged caution about a potential property purchase.

During public comment, resident Larry Steinfeld told the council that "for whatever dollar you spend there, you're not spending on the roads, on police, on services," and warned the city to consider the long-term maintenance costs and legal risks of acquiring property. He urged council members to assess opportunity cost before proceeding.

Steinfeld also offered a concrete alternative, saying the city could "buy the empty lot next to the gas station because it's already approved as a parking lot," and arguing it could provide substantially more parking capacity than the planned purchase at lower cost.

The council first handled routine business: after roll call and the Pledge of Allegiance, Mr. Montgomery moved to approve the closed-session agenda and the mayor asked for objections; none were raised and the agenda stood approved. Staff noted one in-person public-comment card for Mr. Larry Steinfeld and that there were no Zoom participants.

After the public comment, the mayor announced the council would adjourn into closed session. The public comment did not prompt an on-the-record response at the meeting, and no formal motion about property acquisition was made during the public portion of the session.

The council adjourned into closed session at the conclusion of the public-comment period.