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Ojai Valley Municipal Advisory Council

The Ojai Valley Municipal Advisory Council (MAC) was created by the County Board of Supervisors in 1974 to increase citizen participation in County government on issues pertaining to the unincorporated portions of the Ojai Valley. The MAC reviews significant land development and planning proposals for the unincorporated areas. Local representatives and evening public meetings held in the Valley enable greater citizen participation and representation of Ojai Valley values in County government. The MAC strives to listen to all viewpoints and reach a balanced consensus on the matters before them. The actions of the MAC are guided by the Ojai Valley Area Plan- the governing General Plan for the Valley. All decisions by the Municipal Advisory Council are advisory to the County Planning Department, Planning Commission, and Board of Supervisors.

Contact OVMAC
Telephone (805) 654-2703
FAX (805) 654-2226
Postal Address c/o Supervisor Bennett
800 S. Victoria Avenue
Ventura, CA 93009
General Information: Steve.Offerman@ventura.org

Documents
(links open in a new window)
02/10/10 - Meeting Notice and Agenda - Highway 33 Improvement Committee (DOC)
02/08/10 - Ventura River Watershed U. (PDF)
02/08/10 - Meeting Notice and Agenda (DOC)
12/21/09 - Meeting Notice and Agenda (DOC)
11/16/09 - Meeting Notice and Agenda (DOC)
09/21/09 - Ojai MAC background Report (DOC)
09/17/09 - Meeting Notice and Agenda (DOC)
08/17/09 - Meeting Notice and Agenda (DOC)
08/17/09 - Scenic Resources Protection Program Phase II (DOC)
07/20/09 - Meeting Notice and Agenda (DOC)
07/20/09 - Planning Division staff report: Scenic Resource Protection (DOC - 1.2MB)
05/13/09 - Meeting Notice and Agenda (DOC)
04/20/09 - Meeting Notice and Agenda (DOC)
03/16/09 - Meeting Notice and Agenda (DOC)
02/09/09 - Meeting Notice and Agenda (DOC)

DIVISIONS AND REPRESENTATIVES: The MAC is made up of seven elected representatives who each represent a division of the valley (see map). The members are elected to staggered four-year terms. Elections are held in November of even-numbered years.

Division 1- Areas west of Ventura River and Rice Road - Jim Combs, 2008-2010
Division 2- Meiners Oaks - Russ Baggerly, 2004-2008
Division 3- Northwestern Mira Monte – Terry Wright, 2006-2010
Division 4- Southeastern Mira Monte – Todd Wilson, 2008-2012
Division 5- South Oak View, Casitas Springs & Creek Road – Mike Zielsdorf, 2006-2010
Division 6- North & Central Oak View – Florencia Ramirez, 2008-2012
Division 7- East End-Foothill-Fairview – Jerry Kaplan, 2008-2012

MEETING DAYS, TIME, and AGENDAS: The MAC generally holds public meetings on the third Monday of the month, at 7:00 PM, at the Oak View Community Center, 18 Valley Drive, Oak View. Agendas are posted on Supervisor Bennett’s website at www.countyofventura.org/ovmac as well as at the Community Center and are also available at the meetings.

CITIZEN INPUT: Residents of the Valley are encouraged to attend meetings of the MAC. A time period is set aside at the beginning of each meeting for citizens to address the MAC regarding issues that are not on the MAC agenda. Citizens may get on the email distribution list for MAC agendas by contacting County Supervisor Steve Bennett’s office; see below. In order for the MAC to fulfill its purpose as a community forum, people wishing to communicate with MAC members are strongly encouraged to attend the MAC meetings. Other communications can be addressed to the MAC via Supervisor Steve Bennett’s office, 800 S. Victoria Ave. Ventura, 93009-1900; phone: 654-2703; e-mail: steve.offerman@ventura.org

MAC MEETING PROCEDURES: MAC meetings are conducted following the procedure of official County public hearings. Items which are not on the agenda may be discussed, but no action can be taken. In conducting the hearings on items that are on the agenda, the MAC chair will first ask for a staff presentation from County staff, followed by a presentation by the project applicant or representative. The MAC chair will then open the hearing for public comment. Speakers should first state their name and address. If there are many speakers, a time limit may be imposed. Speakers may only speak once. After all members of the audience have had a chance to speak, the applicant/representative will be given a chance to rebut or add testimony. The Chair will then close public comments, and the MAC members will deliberate their action on the issue. Typically, the MAC will vote to recommend either: denial of the project before them, approval of the project as presented, or approval with alterations and conditions as recommended by the MAC.