The Ojai City Council will consider forming an affordable housing committee and whether to direct staff to draft a rent stabilization and just cause tenant protection ordinance at tonight's March 14 meeting. But first the council will determine when the public gets to address council at public meetings. Â
The meeting is set for 6 p.m. Tuesday, March 14 and will take place in person and virtually. The inperson meeting is at Ojai City Hall.Â
The first item on the agenda is a discussion and request from staff to decide where public comment shall be placed on the agenda for council’s public meetings. Until recently public comment on items not on the agenda was at the beginning of each meeting.Â
At a recent meeting Mayor Betsy Stix opted to put public meeting later in the meeting. Some members of the public said tha was an effort to thwart public input. Stix said that it was to support council in conducting city business.Â
Elected bodies are governed by state law and must allow public comment on items within the purview of the elected body but not on the agenda.Â
Other items on the March 14 consent item calendar include a General Plan update report, and a contract to complete training in the City Clerk’s office and related services.Â
Kimberly has been reporting on a wide range of issues in Ventura County for over a decade including land use, oil and gas, government accountability, open meeting and sunshine laws, and climate change.
