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Ojai City Council Minutes of the Regular Meeting of February 27, 2007, 7:30 pm
Page 1

NOTE: No video of meeting.

ROLL CALL
On a call of the roll the following Council Members reported present: Steve Olsen, Rae Hanstad, Sue Horgan, Joe DeVito and Carol Smith. Also present were: City Manager, Jere Kersnar; City Attorney, Monte Widders; Chief of Police, Capt. Bruce Norris; Finance Director, Susie Mears; and City Clerk, Carlon Strobel.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Council Member Steve Olsen

INVOCATION Moment of Silence

PRESENTATION
• Economic Development Collaborative, Ventura County: Services Offered for Local Businesses – Michelle Peddis

SPECIAL REPORT
Chief of Police, Capt. Bruce Norris, reported to Council on a shooting which occurred on Drown Street. Capt. Norris responded to inquiries from Council Members and from several members of the public

PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS
Leonard Klaif requested that Council place on the agenda a discussion about whether or not it would be appropriate to have a moratorium on new housing other than single family housing pending the update to the Housing Element.
Rosemary Beilschmidt, Mira Monte Beautification Committee, addressed harmful impacts resulting from increased mining truck traffic.
The following persons addressed Council regarding Widders v. Furchtenicht:
Leonard Klaif
Dennis Leary
Sholom Joshua
Nathaniel Wolper
Susan Williamson

1. CONSENT CALENDAR
a) Motion to approve the reading by title only of all ordinances and resolutions. Said ordinances and resolutions which appear on the public agenda shall be determined to have been read by title and further reading waived.
RECOMMENDATION: Approve.
b) Warrants for February 8, 2007, and Payroll warrants for February 15, 2007 in the amount of $174,791.77.

Ojai City Council Minutes of the Regular Meeting of February 27, 2007, 7:30 pm
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RECOMMENDATION: Authorize payment.
c) Minutes of the Arts Commission meeting of January 18, 2007
RECOMMENDATION: Receive and file.
d) Treasurer’s Monthly Report of Investments for the City of Ojai and the Redevelopment Agency for January 2007
RECOMMENDATION: Receive and file.
e) Community Development Block Grant Allocations for Funding Program Year 2007/2008.

RECOMMENDATIONS:
1. Adopt Resolution No. 07-08 allocating the City Community Development Block Grant funds for fiscal year 2007/2008; and
2. Approve the allocation of any funds over estimate to be applied to the Boyd Center Restroom Remodel project.
Mayor Smith pulled Item 1 e for further discussion.

MOTION: Mayor Pro Tem DeVito moved and Council Member Hanstad seconded to approve the Consent Calendar Items a – d as submitted.
The result of the vote:
AYES: Olsen, Hanstad, Horgan, DeVito, Smith
NOES: None
ABSTAIN: None
ABSENT: None
e) Community Development Block Grant Allocations for Funding Program Year 2007/2008.

RECOMMENDATIONS:
3. Adopt Resolution No. 07-08 allocating the City Community Development Block Grant funds for fiscal year 2007/2008; and
4. Approve the allocation of any funds over estimate to be applied to the Boyd Center Restroom Remodel project.
Rosie Craig, RAIN Project, thanked the Council for their consideration regarding CDBG funding.
MOTION: Mayor Pro Tem DeVito moved and Council Member Horgan seconded to approve Consent Calendar Item 1 e as submitted.
The result of the vote:
AYES: Olsen, Hanstad, Horgan, DeVito, Smith
NOES: None
ABSTAIN: None
ABSENT: None

Ojai City Council Minutes of the Regular Meeting of February 27, 2007, 7:30 pm
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JOINT CITY COUNCIL / REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY MEETING
DISCUSSION
2. 2006 Annual Audited Financial Statements for the City of Ojai and the Ojai Redevelopment Agency
MOTION: Council Member Horgan moved and Council Member Hanstad seconded to continue the audit report until the regular meeting of March 13, 2007. The motion passed unanimously.
3. Mid-Year Budget Status Report
City Manager Kersnar presented on overview of the staff report. He stated that City revenues would exceed $586,000 over expenditures.
Mr. Kersnar noted a necessity for an amendment to the adopted budget of approximately $22,178 to pay for unanticipated expenses resulting from a windstorm that occurred in December of 2006.
Mayor Pro Tem DeVito noted that the City had taken a hit financially resulting in layoffs, and the elimination of a department. He recommended the employees be appropriately compensated. City Manager Kersnar responded that employee salary was usually dealt with as part of the budget.
MOTION: Council Member Olsen moved and Council Member Hanstad seconded to adopt Resolution No. 07-09 authorizing additional General Fund expenditures totaling approximately $22,178.
The result of the roll call vote:
AYES: Olsen, Hanstad, Horgan, DeVito, Smith
NOES: None
ABSENT: None

At that time the City Council and the Redevelopment Agency recessed and reconvened as the Ojai City Council.
CONTINUED ITEMS FROM FEBRUARY 13, 2007 CITY COUNCIL AGENDA
4. Possible Formation of a Housing Element Task Force
City Manager Kersnar presented an overview of the staff report.
Dale Hansen asked if the public would be invited to join the Housing Element Task Force.

Ojai City Council Minutes of the Regular Meeting of February 27, 2007, 7:30 pm
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Rosemary Beilschmidt observed that if the infrastructure of a city (transportation, housing, schools and hospitals) was not in balance, things start falling apart.
Council Member Olsen asked for the advantages and disadvantages of having a Housing Element task force. He wondered if it would be repetitive, or if it would be beneficial to answer questions prior to updating the element. City Manager Kersnar responded that an advantage of having a task force was that it might provide a method of considering alternatives and coming up with an effective decision making procedure.
Council Member Horgan asked who would run the meetings. City Manager Kersnar replied that in addition to Consultant Tom Figg, a facilitator might be beneficial.
Mayor Pro Tem DeVito viewed a task force as another level of government. He recommended public workshops.
Mayor Smith noted that the task force would be volunteers who, except for three public members, were basically very involved in housing and planning. She commented that quality volunteers working with Mr. Figg could be productive and simplify the overall workshops for the public. If the group could come to a consensus it would represent all spectrums from the public’s point of view.

MOTION: Council Member Hanstad moved and Council Member Olsen seconded to form a Housing Element Task Force; direct staff to return with a resolution creating such a task force; and direct that the Planning Commission members serve as Chair and Vice Chair of the task force.
The result of the roll call vote:
AYES: Olsen, Hanstad, Smith
NOES: Horgan, DeVito
ABSENT: None

5. Appointment of Council Members to Ad Hoc Committee to Make Recommendation for City Manager Compensation
MOTION: Council Member Hanstad moved and Council Member Olsen seconded to appoint Mayor Smith and Mayor Pro Tem DeVito to an ad hoc committee to recommend to the full Council the amount of an increase in compensation for the City Manager; and direct staff to schedule an open session agenda item to consider the committee’s recommendation at a future Council meeting once the committee’s work is complete.
The motion passed unanimously.
The Ojai City Council then recessed and convened as the Redevelopment Agency. Subsequent to hearing those items before them, the Redevelopment Agency adjourned and reconvened as the Ojai City Council.

REPORTS FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS

Ojai City Council Minutes of the Regular Meeting of February 27, 2007, 7:30 pm
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ORAL REPORT(S) FROM CITY MANAGER

CLOSED SESSION
7. Closed Session – Pending Litigation per California Government Code Section 54956.9(a) Monte L. Widders v. Jeff B. Furchtenicht (Ventura Superior Court No. CIV 243771)
Council Members conferred with the City Attorney in closed session regarding the subject litigation. Council took no action. No announcement was made after the closed session.

ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business the meeting was adjourned at 10:55 p.m. in memory of Weston Herbruck and Cendy Lara.
______________________________
Carol Smith, Mayor
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Carlon Strobel, City Clerk