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Santa Barbara City Council adjourns to closed session to interview city attorney candidates
Summary
At a special meeting Oct. 21, 2025, the Santa Barbara City Council moved into closed session under Government Code section 54957(b)(1) to review applications and interview candidates for the city attorney position; a public commenter urged the council to prioritize candidates familiar with tenant protections and rent-stabilization policy.
The Santa Barbara City Council on Oct. 21, 2025, adjourned into closed session to review applications, interview candidates and discuss qualifications for the position of city attorney under Government Code section 54957(b)(1).
The closed session was announced at the start of the special meeting after a roll call that recorded Council members Harmon, Santa Maria, Sneddon, Mayor Pro Tem Friedman and Council member Jordan present and Council member Gutierrez absent. The council said it did not anticipate a report out and scheduled reconvening at 2:00 p.m.
During the public-comment period, a member of the public identified only as Anna thanked the current city attorney for service and urged the council to prioritize candidates with a strong understanding of tenant-protection laws and policies supporting affordable housing. Anna said, “I just wanna say thank you to our current city attorney for all you have done and, your service here in our city.” She also recommended that interviewees “have a really great, understanding of current local and state, tenant protection laws and also, understand the urgency for a run stabilization in our city and how that is part of our sorry,” (verbatim from the transcript).
No public speakers called in online. The council then adjourned to closed session. The meeting record states the council did not expect to report out from that closed session.
The item cited Government Code section 54957(b)(1), which authorizes closed-session discussion of public-employee appointments. The council did not take any publicly recorded vote or action during the open portion of the meeting on the city attorney appointment; further action, if any, will occur following the closed-session process or at a future public meeting.
