Ojai set to hire Ben Harvey as city manager

Wes Woods II, Ventura County Star
·2 min read
The Ojai City Council selected Ben Harvey as its top candidate for city manager on Jan. 19, 2024. Council members will vote on a contract for Harvey on Tuesday at its regular meeting.
The Ojai City Council selected Ben Harvey as its top candidate for city manager on Jan. 19, 2024. Council members will vote on a contract for Harvey on Tuesday at its regular meeting.

Ojai has zeroed in on a new city manager.

Former Pacific Grove City Manager Ben Harvey was selected unanimously by the City Council Friday as its top candidate, and the council will vote on his contract during Tuesday's regular council meeting, said Matthew Summers, city attorney.

Council members held a special closed session meeting at 9 a.m. Friday to discuss the position with Harvey, their second in-person meeting with him.

The contract vote will be held at the 6 p.m. Tuesday, Summers said. Details of the employment agreement released Friday evening show Harvey would receive an annual base salary of $250,000.

"We are so excited to have you and grateful," said Mayor Betsy Stix.

Harvey, 53, said he is looking forward to leading Ojai.

"I want the council to take their formal action, obviously, but I'm very optimistic and very hopeful and this is terrific," Harvey said after the announcement.

Harvey previously worked at Pacific Grove from January 2016 through July 2023. He was initially hired as interim city manager before being appointed to the city manager position in April 2016, said Leticia Livian, human resources director for the city, in an email.

When he left Pacific Grove, Harvey had an annual base salary of $216,600 with a 3% management incentive, she said. He also received an employer contribution into deferred compensation of $16,740 a year and had other benefits given to management employees.

During public comment, a former city council member from Pacific Grove, Daniel Miller, said the city should not hire Harvey. Miller, who made comments remotely via Zoom, cited examples including revealing erroneous information to a local newspaper and forcing the city to spend money it didn’t need to on a library relocation and housing element contract.

Harvey said Miller was entitled to his own opinions. "I don't share them," Harvey said.

Previously, Ojai council members interviewed candidates via Zoom in a special meeting on Jan. 9 before narrowing it down to Harvey. Last Saturday, the council held a special closed session to interview Harvey in person.

Wes Woods II covers West County for the Ventura County Star. Reach him at wesley.woodsii@vcstar.com, 805-437-0262 or @JournoWes.

This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Ojai set to hire Ben Harvey as city manager