Frequently Asked Questions

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On July 1, 2012. Retail establishments must stop distributing single-use carryout plastic bags, and grocery stores (including supermarkets, convenience stores, liquor stores, and gasoline stations) must begin charging ten-cents for recyclable paper carryout bags.

• The fee on recyclable paper carryout bags encourages the use of reusable bags. The cost pass-through reimburses retailers for the costs of providing paper carryout bags to their customers. All the revenue from the cost pass-through remains with the store.
• Consumers can avoid the cost by remembering to bring their own reusable bags to the store.

• They are consumed in extremely high volumes.
• They are produced from non-renewable resources.
• They are designed to be disposable rather than reusable.
• They are difficult to recycle. Less than 5% of the 19 billion plastic bags used annually in California are actually recycled.
• They do not biodegrade.
• They are a significant hazard to marine animals and birds, which often mistake plastic bags for food.

State law requires that each city in California adopt and maintain an "up-to-date" general plan. A general plan is a city's blueprint, or constitution, to manage change and preserve community character. General plans help shape and improve the quality of life for residents and businesses. Generally, cities update their general plans every 10 to 15 years.

A general plan is more than just a policy document - it reflects the vision, values, and priorities of a community. It defines what is unique and special that should be preserved and identifies strategic ways to improve a city's quality of life. Because a general plan impacts so many members of the community - residents, visitors, business owners, and more - the process of updating a general plan is a unique opportunity to come together as a community to develop a shared vision for the future.

The General Plan Update will cover wide range of topics that are important to members of the Ojai community. General plans are required by the State to address eight "elements", including land use, housing, conservation, open space, safety, noise, environmental justice, and mobility. This General Plan Update is focused on land use, transportation, safety, housing, and environmental justice. Other topics, such as parks and recreation, noise, conservation, and open space, will be addressed as needed to ensure consistency throughout the document.

Ojai’s existing General Plan contains nine elements, updated between 1987 and 2013. Today, the City faces a new set of opportunities and challenges that invite new thinking and vision. An updated General Plan can produce many benefits for the Ojai community, including:

• Preserving and enhancing quality of life
• Guiding economic growth
• Providing direction for housing decisions
• Clarifying the decision-making processes of the City
• Promoting positive changes for public health and sustainability
• Protecting open spaces and natural resources
• Developing approaches to address wildfires and other natural hazards

The General Plan Update is a complex initiative, requiring a multiyear process. The City is committed to making sure the General Plan Update reflects the voices of the community and has designed a plan to bring the community together as collaborators. The update process is kicking off in the Fall of 2020 and is scheduled to conclude in the Fall of 2022 to 2023.

Our goal is to reach out to the entire community and strive for 100% participation in the General Plan Update. The best way to learn about events and activities is by signing up for email updates.

Throughout the process, the City will host a variety of community engagement activities, including:

• Community workshops, either virtual or in person
• “Pop-up” events
• Small group meetings
• Online surveys
• Meetings with stakeholder groups
• Commission study sessions
• City Council hearings

Due to COVID, the preliminary activities will be “virtual” or will involve minimum contact. We hope that later events can be held in person.

Please sign up for updates and tell your friends and neighbors about the process. We want to hear from everyone!

Join the project mailing list for news and updates about the General Plan. Sign up by clicking the button below! Please also check this webpage frequently for project updates and documents.

View the online Sign Up form.

If you have any questions, or would like to provide us with comments, please use this link to contact Lucas Seibert. Community Development Director, or 805-646-5581 x113.

The program started on September 1^st, 2022

The Youth Ride Free Program is a promotional program that will last through the 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 academic years.

Anyone age 18 or younger or enrolled high school students who are older.

Drivers will let anyone who looks 18 or younger board the bus for free but high school aged students should be prepared to show ID.

No, you do not. You can travel anywhere, for any reason on any bus operator in the county.

No, you do not.

No, the Youth Ride Free Program only lets you ride public buses in Ventura County.

No, other than Valley Express and Camarillo Area Transit (CAT) dial-a-ride services, passengers will have to pay the full fare.

Unfortunately, no you cannot.

Yes, you may ride free.

No. Buses will only take students to predetermined fixed-route bus stops. Students can ride the bus to the stop nearest their school then walk or use alternate transportation.

Only kids 10 and under must be accompanied by an adult.

Yes. The following buses are participating

• Camarillo Area Transit
• Gold Coast Transit District
• Kanan Shuttle
• Moorpark City Transit
• Ojai Trolley
• Simi Valley Transit
• Thousand Oaks Transit
• Valley Express
• VCTC Intercity Transit Service

The ordinance grants legal rights to water bodies, flora, fauna, mountains, and hillsides (“natural communities”) in Ojai to exist, flourish, and regenerate free from harm. It provides legal protections against harm from water pollution and soil contamination that threaten these natural communities.

• Residents' Rights: The ordinance affirms the right of Ojai residents to clean water free from pollution and soil free from excessive phosphorus. The ordinance also recognizes the right of residents to self-governance. 
• Natural Communities' Rights: It recognizes the rights of Ojai water bodies, flora, fauna, mountains, and hillsides to exist, thrive, and regenerate without harm from water pollution and soil pollution due to excessive phosphorus.

The ordinance prohibits the introduction of harmful substances (i.e., liquids, solids, gases) into Ojai’s water bodies that materially impairs the habitability or drinkability the water for plants and animals OR materially impairs the usefulness of water for people. This prohibition does not apply to the natural release of sediment related to the Matilija Dam Ecosystem Restoration Project.

As discussed in more detail below, the ordinance also prohibits selling, applying, and using fertilizers containing phosphorus which can harm water quality, making it unsafe for drinking and use.

These prohibitions protect the rights of residents and natural communities to exist, thrive, and regenerate by ensuring clean water free of pollution.

“Water bodies” means any fountain, pond, dam, stream, creek, pool, or any body of water in or adjacent to any city park, or any tributary stream, storm sewer, sanitary sewer or drain flowing into such waters within the jurisdictional boundaries of the City of Ojai

The ordinance regulates the use of fertilizers containing phosphorus, which can harm both soil health and water quality. The ordinance limits the sale, application, and use of phosphorus-containing fertilizers, particularly on lawns, and enforces immediate cleanup if spilled on hard surfaces to avoid runoff.  Fertilizers with phosphorus can be applied under specific conditions such as low phosphorus levels in the soil or during the first growing season of new turf. Fertilizers containing phosphorus cannot be applied during conditions that could lead to runoff into water bodies.

Phosphorus is an essential nutrient necessary for the growth of plants and animals. Nutrient pollution resulting from excess phosphorus can result in significant harm to natural communities, such as harming water quality, making it unsafe for drinking and recreation, trigger toxic algal blooms, disrupt aquatic ecosystems and biodiversity, increase sedimentation that smothers habitats, and negatively impact soil health and plant growth. 

The proposed ordinance regulates the sale, application and use to fertilizers containing phosphorus on turf, with specified exceptions for soil health, to protect the rights of natural communities to exist, thrive, and regenerate without harm from such pollution and to protect the right of residents to clean water.

Yes. Fertilizers containing phosphorus can be used if a soil test from a test by a certified agronomist, soil scientist, or state-certified soil-testing laboratory shows low phosphorus levels or if the fertilizer is being applied during the establishment of new turf in its first growing season. 

Residents and property owners in Ojai can create and maintain "managed natural landscapes" on their property, which can include native vegetation over eight inches tall, as long as they keep the area free of unwanted plants and noxious weeds.   These landscapes must not pose a health, safety, or fire hazard in the opinion of the City Manager or their designee.

Managed natural landscapes create opportunities for native vegetation and animals to exist, flourish, and thrive. These landscapes enhance biodiversity, reduce the need for harmful inputs like fertilizers, and improve stormwater retention.

Any weeds or grasses growing upon any lot or parcel of land in the City to a greater height than eight inches or that have gone or are about to go to seed are prohibited.

No. The ordinance is not a basis for denying development projects. It focuses on protecting natural communities from water and soil pollution, not limiting development activities.

The ordinance can be enforced by both the City and residents in a court of competent jurisdiction. Legal action can be taken against anyone who violates the rights of natural communities when:

• Water bodies are polluted and it materially impairs the habitability or drinkability the water for plants and animals OR materially impairs the usefulness of water for people; or
• A business or person sells, applies, or uses fertilizers containing phosphorus in violation of the ordinance.

A resident can file a lawsuit in court to protect the rights of nature if they believe the prohibitions in Ojai Municipal Code section 5-16.04 have been violated. A resident can file a lawsuit in the name of the affected natural community.

Damages are measured by the cost of restoring the natural community to its pre-injury state. These funds are paid to the City and used exclusively for the full restoration of the affected natural community.

The ordinance allows the City or a resident enforcing the ordinance to recover all costs of litigation, including, without limitation, expert and attorney's fees

Options for enforcement also include administrative citations and criminal enforcement for the regulations of the ordinance, and nuisance abatement for violation of the managed natural landscape provisions.

Natural communities are granted legal standing to enforce for their rights in the ordinance. By granting legal standing to natural communities, legal action to be taken on their behalf to enforce these rights and seek remedies for violations of the regulations in the ordinance. 

All City boards, commissions, and committees must thoughtfully consider the principles and rights outlined in this chapter when making policy recommendations for consideration by the City Council. City officials and City staff must thoughtfully consider the principles and rights outlined in this chapter when drafting and adopting City policies.

City officials, commissioners and staff can thoughtfully consider the principles and rights of nature in Ojai by considering the right of natural communities to exist, thrive, and regeneration without harm into the policy development process.