Boards & Commissions

Boards & Commissions Handbook

  1. Maddy Act Local Appointments

    In compliance with the requirements of the Maddy Act, CA Government Code 54972, the following local appointments are posted on the City website

  2. Arts Commission

    OMC Ch. 4‐16 Art. 1

  3. The Arts Commission shall exercise the powers reasonably necessary to perform and carry out its delegated responsibilities. The duties of the Commission include the following:
    • Advise the Council on all matters pertaining to the arts in the community;
    • Make recommendations to the Council concerning the resources and needs of the community on the subject of the arts, opportunities for participation of artists and performers in City-sponsored activities, and ways to encourage community involvement;
    • Work cooperatively with City boards and commissions and other public and private organizations in promoting art and cultural activities within the City;
    • Encourage public and private partnerships to assure the survival of the arts and artists in the City;
    • Encourage the flow of art into the City and stimulate art and cultural activities among residents of the City;
    • Review and evaluate submitted City art grant proposals and submit funding recommendations to the Council;
    • Carry out the duties necessary to oversee the Ojai Public Arts Program as specified in Article 2 of this chapter; and
    • Prepare and submit to the Council at least every two years a five year arts project plan. Prior to submission, the Arts Commission shall review all ongoing and future capital improvement and development projects for public art opportunities.


  5. Finance & Budget Committee
    Council Resolution # 24-42
    This Committee is advisory to the City Council. This Committee does not possess independent decision-makeing authority and cannot independently direct the City Manager on matters or studies requiring additional staff and/or resources.  Any final recommendations of this committee must be apporved by the city council to be adopted and implemented.

  6. Building Appeals Board

    OMC § 9‐1.214

  7. Building Appeals Board consisting of five members. The Building Appeals Board shall be the "local appeals board," the "housing appeals board," and the "board of appeals" as those phrases are defined and used in the California Building Standards Code.

  8. Historic Preservation Commission

    OMC § 4‐8.03

  9. The functions and powers of the Historic Preservation Commission shall be:
    • Evaluation. The Historic Preservation Commission or Community Development Director may investigate any structure in the City which the Council or Planning Commission or Historic Preservation Commission has reason to believe should be declared an historical landmark, historic district, structure of merit, or point of historical interest;
    • Inventory. To maintain a current list of all historical, cultural, and natural landmarks, historic districts, structures of merit, and points of historical interest which have been declared as such by the Council. This information shall be made available to the public;
     
    • Public hearings. To hold public hearings for the purpose of identifying historical landmarks, historic districts, or points of historical interest, with such hearings held 10 days or more after the property owner has been notified by registered mail;
    • Recommendations. If the conclusion of the Historic Preservation Commission is that an historical landmark, historic district, structure of merit, or point of historical interest does exist which meets the criteria established in this chapter and should be declared as such, the Historic Preservation Commission shall make its recommendation to the Council for timely deliberation within 90 days and send a copy of such recommendation to the property owner;
    • State registration. The Historic Preservation Commission may recommend to the Council that the City apply to the California Office of Historic Preservation for State registration of landmarks, historic districts, or sites which have historical significance, which meet State registration criteria, and where the registration would assist in preservation. The Historic Preservation Commission may find that a landmark site of historic significance is significant for declaration as a State "point of historical interest" but does not warrant registration as a State "historical landmark." The Historic Preservation Commission shall investigate and recommend to Council the appropriate State registration;
    • Advise and assist property owners. To advise and assist owners of landmarks and property or structures within historic districts on physical and financial aspects of preservation, renovation, rehabilitation, and reuse, and on procedures for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places;
     
    • Amendments. To identify issues with this chapter and recommend to the Council consideration of amendments to this chapter when circumstances indicate; and
     
    • Develop guidelines. To develop and recommend for Council adoption of specific design guidelines for the alteration, construction, or removal of landmarks or property and structures within historic districts;
    • Inform citizens. To inform and educate the citizens of Ojai concerning the historic and architectural heritage of the City by publishing appropriate maps, newsletters, brochures, pamphlets, websites, and social media information, and by holding programs and seminars according to a workplan and budget authority approved by Council;
    • Markers. To determine which designated landmarks, historic districts and points of historical interest shall be marked with uniform and distinctive markers;
    • Nominate landmarks. To nominate landmarks and historic districts to the National Register of Historic Places as approved by Council, and to review and comment on any National Register nominations submitted to the Historic Preservation Commission upon request of the Mayor or Council;
    • Preservation of landmarks and points of historical interest. To take the steps necessary to preserve such landmarks and points of historical interest not in conflict with the public health and safety consistent with City policies and protocols. Such steps may include the creation of civic and citizens' committees; the establishment of a private fund for the acquisition or restoration of declared landmarks and points of historical interest; and the recommendation that such declared landmarks and points of historical interest be acquired by a governmental agency where private acquisition is not feasible;
    • Review Mills Act agreements. To review proposed initial and renewed Mills Act agreements and provide a recommendation to the Council regarding acceptance of Mills Act agreements, under Title 4, Chapter 9 of the Ojai Municipal Code;
    • Review Conservation Element of the General Plan. To periodically review the Conservation Element of the General Plan and to recommend to the Planning Commission and the Council any amendments appropriate for the protection and continued use of landmarks or property and structures within historic districts;
     
    • Review proposed amendments, etc. At the request of the Council or Planning Commission, review proposed zoning amendments, applications for permits, or applications for zoning variances that affect proposed or designated landmarks and historic districts. Review and comment within 30 days of submission for the public record of any and all historic resources reports prepared for any other development project requiring a design review permit, conditional use permit, development agreement, or other zoning code permit;
     
    • Rules and regulations. To adopt such rules and regulations as are necessary to carry out the purpose and intent of this chapter;
     
    • Surveys. To conduct surveys of potentially significant properties, structures, or sites according to workplan and budget approved by Council.



  11. Parks & Recreation Commission

    OMC Ch. 2‐4 Art. 1

  12. The Parks and Recreation Commission shall have the following powers and duties:
     
    • To act in an advisory capacity to the Council on all matters pertaining to recreation programs and facilities. (Recreation facilities include, but are not limited to, parks, buildings, trails, bike paths and open space.)
    • To become knowledgeable about the general field of recreation, the programs and facilities provided by other agencies and organizations within the area, and the needs of City recreation program participants and recreation facility users.
     
    • To receive input from current and potential recreation program participants and recreation facility users regarding the recreation program and facility needs of the Community.
     
    • To periodically review the Recreation Element of the General Plan and such master plans and facility plans as are deemed advisable, and make recommendations to the City Council.
     
    • To periodically review recreation policies of the City, and make recommendations to the City Council.
     
    • To participate in the annual review of the proposed budget as it relates to recreation programs and facilities, and make recommendations to the City Council.
     
    • To participate in the annual review of the Five-Year Capital Improvement Plan as it relates to recreation facilities, and make recommendations to the City Council.
     
    • To participate in the annual review of City fees as it relates to recreation programs and facilities, and make recommendations to the City Council.
     
    • To make recommendations to promote participation in recreation programs and use of recreation facilities.
     
    • To report fully to the public through the Council on all of the activities of the Commission at least once each year, and at such other times as may be required by the Council or requested by the Commission.

  13. Planning Commission

  14. OMC Title 10 Ch. 1
    The Planning Commission shall have the following powers and duties:

    • To act in an advisory capacity in all matters pertaining to the development and modification of streets, parks, and public or private structures and buildings, housing, schools, grounds, vacant lots, and all other matters pertaining to the General Plan of the City, and to recommend to the Council plans for future growth, development, and beautification of the City;
    • To advise and recommend to the Council plans for securing to the City and its inhabitants proper service of all public utilities, proper sanitation, and transportation facilities;
    • To recommend to the Council approval, conditional approval, or disapproval of tentative maps of proposed subdivisions of land. The Council designates the Planning Commission as its advisory agency with respect to the design and improvement of proposed subdivisions. Every such map or plat shall, prior to its final approval or disapproval by the Council, be submitted to the Commission for action thereon;

    • To do all things necessary, by majority vote, to carry out the provisions of Title 10 (including Conditional Use Permit requests, Variances, Concept Reviews, Design Review Permit requests, and Tree Permits), other applicable provisions of this Code, and the provisions of the CA Conservation and Planning Act (California Government Code Section 65006 et seq.), as amended from time to time;

    • To perform such other duties and functions as may be delegated by the Council.