Several litigation items deferred; closed-door attorney–client session announced for Sept. 10

At a special meeting Aug. 25 the City Commission deferred three agenda items related to pending litigation and settlement discussions and announced a closed-door attorney–client session for Sept. 10.

Two settlement items (listed on the agenda as items 6 and 7) were moved for deferral by the city manager and the commission voted 4-0 to defer both to the Sept. 10 regular meeting, with the manager and city attorney to announce and schedule a closed-door (shade) meeting before the next public session. Item 5, initially without a motion and noted as having died for lack of a motion, was later reconsidered and also deferred to Sept. 10 after a motion to reconsider passed 4-0.

City Attorney Bernadette Norris Weeks and outside counsel from the Florida League of Cities were listed as expected attendees for the Sep. 10 closed-door session. The city issued a public notice stating the attorney–client session will be held Sept. 10 at 5 p.m. in the City Commission Chambers (or an adjoining room) to discuss pending litigation matters, including cases identified in the notice with the court-style citations recorded on the agenda.

Transcript excerpt: the city’s public notice lists multiple case captions and numbers to be discussed in closed session and names the following participants who will attend: Mayor Taylor; Vice Mayor Kelly; Commissioner Irvin; Commissioner Bass; Commissioner Santiago; City Manager Shamika Lawson; City Attorney Bernadette Norris Weeks; assistant city attorneys; and outside counsel from the Florida League of Cities. The notice estimates the session length at one hour.

Outcome: All three items were deferred to Sept. 10, and the city announced a closed-door attorney–client session to address the matters in greater detail out of public view in accordance with Florida Statutes on attorney–client privilege and pending litigation.