Council approves commission appointments and initiates annual assessment levies; public hearing set for June 9

At the May 26 meeting the Ojai City Council approved consent‑calendar business including reappointments to several advisory commissions and an inaugural appointment to the Public Safety Commission.

The council approved consent items 1, 2, 3 and 6 by roll call and specifically confirmed reappointments to the Historic Preservation Commission and Arts Commission (item 4). The council also approved the appointment of Jim McKichchen to the Public Safety Commission and thanked him for his willingness to serve.

Later in the agenda council considered agenda item 8, a routine annual action to initiate proceedings for the levy of assessments for three maintenance districts (lighting and landscape maintenance districts 1 and 3, and plaza maintenance district 2). Staff explained that districts 1 and 3 lack an automatic escalator and may require a Prop 218 process in the future; plaza district 2 has an adequate fund balance and staff recommended a modest reduction in assessments. The council preliminarily approved the engineer's levy report, declared its intent to levy and collect assessments, and set a public hearing for June 9, with unanimous roll call approval.

What this means: the action begins the statutorily required notice and public‑hearing process; affected property owners will have an opportunity to comment on June 9 before any final levy is adopted.