Flag salute led by Cliffton

 

Inspirational moment by Leslie Bouche

 

 

Visiting Rotarian from Washington is Steve White

 

Guests today were Kristin Dodge from Ojai and Cliffton's grandfather James also from Ojai

 

Meeting crew today: Set up and tech: Bill Prather and Jerry Marynuik

                                  Roving mike: Cliffton

                                  Greeter: Sue 

                                  Fining: Ren

                                  Reporter: Tessa

                                  Editor: Randy

 

Announcements:

*Bob Eiser is encouraging people to volunteer for Portfolio Day with Nordhoff students. May 1st & 2nd.

 

 

 

*Al West wants volunteers for Arbor Day and will have a meeting after todays meeting.

*Living Treasure nominations are due in two weeks by March 29th. You can fill out a form at RCOLT.org.

*We need helpers for the 4th of July Fun Run. Taundra, Joe and Sue have already volunteered.

*Upcoming programs: Next week EJHarrison with 'Where does our trash go?'. 3/22

                                     Lanny Kaufer will come to talk about social justice. 4/4

*Social on March 28th at the new Ojai Roots at 5pm on Montgomery Street. Kathy Yee said that last weeks

Game Night was lots of fun.

 

 

Fining today by Ren didn't earn any money because everyone answered his St.Patrick's Day questions

correctly!

 

Bill presented The Service Above Self Award and $100 to Miss Riley Guess from Nordhoff Jr. Highschool.

 

 

Diedre introduced today's speaker, our Ojai City Manager Ben Harvey. Mr. Harvey has been in this 

position for a year and mentioned that he is the highest paid employee in the city allowing him to actually afford to live here.

This isn't so with all city employees. He talked about budgets and that our largest sources of income are from

Transient Occupancy Tax (30% just from the Ojai Valley Inn alone), property taxes and sales taxes.  Ojai has a rather

large budget which is conservatively invested with the Local Agency Investment Fund. He said the city also has a reserve 

operating fund for emergencies.  Mr. Harvey went on to answer questions  about a comprehensive general plan which included 

tourism management, congestion impacts, and a diversified economic plan.  In the upcoming year the city will be considering

broadband, water issues, state housing policies, and behavioral health opportunities for the unhoused population.

 

Museum moment:  Wendy showed several old photos of City Hall thru the years. The original property was called

the Smith Hobson House.

 

Kathy Yee recommends the HBO Series Somebody Somewhere.  She loved it.  The comedy/drama is about finding

your tribe.  Just a warning that you have to be cool with adult language, but she highly recommends it.

 

Bret Bradigan recommends the book Doppleganger by Naomi Klien.  He says it's a deep dive into Naomi Wolf with

whom she is often confused.  But Wolf got deep into conspiracy theories.  A weird merging of the fringe left and right.

 

See you all next week.