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Findings 18 findings
F01
The Ventura County Civil Grand Jury found that the City of Ojai was exempt from obtaining competitive bids based on price when selecting a development manager for its Encampment Resolution Funding grant application and contract under an area of California law that expressly exempts contracts for certain professional services.
F02
The Ventura County Civil Grand Jury found that the City of Ojai was required by law to conduct a fair and competitive selection process based on qualifications and competency when selecting a development manager for its Encampment Resolution Funding grant application in January 2024.
F03
The Ventura County Civil Grand Jury found that the City of Ojai did not conduct a fair and competitive selection process based on qualifications and competency when it included DignityMoves as its development manager in its Encampment Resolution Funding grant application in January 2024.
F04
The Ventura County Civil Grand Jury found that the recommendation of DignityMoves by the County of Ventura Community Development Division did not absolve the City of Ojai from conducting a fair and competitive selection process based on qualifications and competency when it included DignityMoves as its development manager in its Encampment Resolution Funding grant application in January 2024.
F05
The Ventura County Civil Grand Jury found that the City of Ojai’s claims of insufficient time did not absolve the City of Ojai from conducting a fair and competitive selection process based on qualifications and competency when it included DignityMoves as its development manager in its Encampment Resolution Funding grant application in January 2024.
F06
The Ventura County Civil Grand Jury found that the City of Ojai could not support its claim of insufficient time to conduct a fair and competitive selection process based on qualifications and competency prior to submitting its Encampment Resolution Funding grant application in January 2024.
F07
The Ventura County Civil Grand Jury found that the City of Ojai was required by law to conduct a fair and competitive selection process based on qualifications and competency when it awarded a contract to DignityMoves on May 27, 2025.
F08
The Ventura County Civil Grand Jury found that the City of Ojai did not conduct a fair and competitive selection process based on qualifications and competency when it awarded a contract to DignityMoves on May 27, 2025.
F09
The Ventura County Civil Grand Jury found that the City of Ojai issued a series of findings on of Resolution No. 25-19 dated May 27, 2025, to justify the awarding of a contract to DignityMoves as its sole source development manager on May 27, 2025, without conducting a fair and competitive selection process. Ojai Permanent Supportive Housing Project 13
F10
The Ventura County Civil Grand Jury found that the City of Ojai could not support its claims on of Resolution No. 25-19 dated May 27, 2025, that DignityMoves was uniquely qualified and that no other development managers could have been identified.
F11
The Ventura County Civil Grand Jury found that the City of Ojai could not support its claim on of Resolution No. 25-19 dated May 27, 2025, that it was obligated to award a contract to DignityMoves because DignityMoves was listed in the grant application.
F12
The Ventura County Civil Grand Jury found that the City of Ojai could not support its claims on of Resolution No. 25-19 dated May 27, 2025, that it was obligated to award a contract to DignityMoves because it faced a short timeline to spend 50% of the grant due to delays leading up to the deadline.
F13
The Ventura County Civil Grand Jury found that the City of Ojai’s claims of insufficient time did not absolve the City of Ojai from conducting a fair and competitive selection process based on qualifications and competency when it awarded the contract to DignityMoves on May 27, 2025.
F14
The Ventura County Civil Grand Jury found that there was significant turnover of staff and elected officials at the City of Ojai during this process which contributed to the issues in this report.
F15
The Ventura County Civil Grand Jury found a lack of full public transparency throughout the process of the City of Ojai selecting DignityMoves for the Encampment Resolution Funding grant application in January 2024 and awarding the contract in May 2025.
F16
The Ventura County Civil Grand Jury found a lack of alignment within the Ojai City Council, and between the city and local residents, resulting in delays that impacted the progress of the project.
F17
The Ventura County Civil Grand Jury found that the County of Ventura Community Development Division acknowledged recommending DignityMoves to the City of Ojai and providing a copy of the recent and successful City of Thousand Oaks Encampment Resolution Funding grant application that included DignityMoves.
F18
The Ventura County Civil Grand Jury found that the County of Ventura Community Development Division aided in the development of, and then certified, the City of Ojai’s 2024 Encampment Resolution Funding grant application without confirming that a fair and competitive selection process had occurred. Ojai Permanent Supportive Housing Project RECOMMENDATIONS
Recommendations 6
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R01The Ventura County Civil Grand Jury recommends that, by January 1, 2027, the City of Ojai develop policies and procedures that support conducting a fair and competitive selection process in all cases moving forward. (F-01, F-02, F-03, F-04, F-05, F-06, F-07,
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R02The Ventura County Civil Grand Jury recommends that, by January 1, 2027, the City of Ojai implement a plan to improve its public transparency throughout the selection process in all cases moving forward. (F-15)
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R03The Ventura County Civil Grand Jury recommends that, by January 1, 2027, the City of Ojai implement a plan to gain alignment among employees, elected officials, and local residents before initiating large and complex projects. (F-16)
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R04The Ventura County Civil Grand Jury recommends that the County of Ventura Community Development Division be clear in its discussions with local cities that any recommendations still need to be vetted through a fair and competitive selection process in all cases moving forward. (F-17, F-18)
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R05The Ventura County Civil Grand Jury recommends that, by January 1, 2027, the County of Ventura Community Development Division amend the Memorandum of Understanding, Ventura Countywide Homelessness, to include language requiring a fair and competitive selection process in all cases moving forward. (F-17, F-18)
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R06The Ventura County Civil Grand Jury recommends that, by January 1, 2027, the County of Ventura Community Development Division develop policies and procedures that confirm a fair and competitive selection process has occurred before certifying grant applications in all cases moving forward. (F-17, F-18) RESPONSES Responses required from: The following governing body : Ojai City Council (F-03, F-04, F-05, F-06, F-08, F-10, F-11, F-12, F-13, F-15, F-16, R-01, R-02,