City Manager’s Office

Memo TO: FROM: DATE: SUBJECT:

City Council Steve McClary, Interim City Manager August 12, 2016 Weekly Update

Shanbrom Picnic Area – Lower Libbey Park This tree grove and picnic area was dedicated in 1994 to a young man that passed away. The Ojai Valley Land Conservancy (Rick Bisaccia) is in cooperation with City public works in refurbishing the neglected area – planting natives from OVLC’s nursery, fixing/painting benches, installing rock borders, regrading soils and DG, fixing irrigation and providing better picnic tables. Jill Shanbrom, the original donor and designer, has been involved and helping out. This work is expected to take another week or so to complete. Libbey Park Oak Tree Removal: The Libbey Park live oak just east of the Astroturf hill has been in decline for years. We have given this tree special care, including irrigation and radial spiking with soil enhancement (a technique of placing radial trenches with mulch/perlite/fertilizer/soil mix to improve water penetration and aeration to the roots and provide nutrients). Our hope was a good El Nino winter might bring the tree’s vitality back, but El Nino didn’t produce much rain. Public Works has been monitoring the tree carefully and recently met with several arborists with oak tree expertise – all agreed the tree had no chance of survival and was becoming a hazard. The tree was removed yesterday. The tree provided morning shade to the Astroturf hill – staff is considering temporary shade for the area and plans to install a new tree this fall when temperatures cool, possibly a large boxed oak or sycamore that will provide shade benefits sooner. Museum Air Conditioner The air conditioning for the curator wing of the museum failed recently. Considering the unit was over 20 years old and other issues, the unit was replaced. This is one of three AC units at the museum. Since this was not a repair, the cost was covered by the City under the lease. Nominations Update Three persons have qualified for mayor for the November election: John F. Johnston, Severo Lara and Paul Blatz. This is for a two-year term. Two persons have filed for Council Member: Chris Gardner and Suza Francina (signatures are being checked). The Council Member seat has a four-year term. The nomination period for the one Council Member seat has been extended to Wednesday, August 17 at 5 p.m. (only for non incumbents). Cynthia Burell and Alan Rains have qualified for the positions of City Clerk and City Treasurer, respectively, and the nomination period for both offices has closed.

Upcoming Agenda Items (all items are tentative) August 23 Consent Surplus Trash Cans FEMA Map Revisions Planning Commission Minutes Receive/File meetings July 6 and July 20, 2016 Public Hearing Discussion Sterling Venues Contract City Council Project Priority List Short Term Rental Advertisement Ordinance Second Reading Tree Ordinance Second Reading Bee Keeping Ordinance Introduction Grand Avenue Property Purchase Closed Session City Manager Performance Evaluation August 30 Public Hearing Taormina Historic District September 13 Planning Commission Joint Meeting, 6 pm Presentation Ojai Day Poster Commission Reports Consent Adopt Nordhoff HS Pedestrian Improvement Plan FPPC Conflict of Interest Code Biennial Notice Public Hearing Article 12 Landscaping and Text Amendment Rezone M1 Bryant Circle September 27 Consent Adopt Street Overlay Plan and Specifications Discussion 201 S Montgomery Street Tentative Map Extension Leaf Blowers October 11 Consent Award Street Overlay Plan