County attorney requests executive session on legal advice and contract negotiations; commissioners approve

Pueblo County Attorney Cynthia Mitchell requested an executive session during the Board of County Commissioners’ May 13 work session to receive legal advice and to develop negotiating strategy on several pending matters, and the board voted to go into executive session.

The request cited Colorado’s open‑meeting exceptions for attorney‑client communications and negotiation strategy. Mitchell told the board the legal topics include an agreement with Ciate (as referenced in the request), a potential amendment or replacement intergovernmental agreement (IGA) with the City of Pueblo concerning the Human Relations Commission, a potential new contract with TSA regarding the Bridal of Honor Boulevard, and discussions about a possible public‑private partnership for Pueblo Motorsports Park and Sky Corral.

After Mitchell’s request the chair asked for a motion to convene an executive session. Commissioner Miles Lucero moved to enter executive session and Commissioner Paula McPherders seconded. The chair called for the vote and commissioners responded “aye,” and the motion carried. No public board action on those subjects was taken at the meeting; the motion authorized the board to meet in closed session for the stated purposes under Colorado law.

Because the matters involve privileged legal advice and negotiation strategy, the county did not provide additional details in the public session. The county attorney’s public statement specified the statutory bases for the closed meeting as the attorney‑client and negotiation exceptions to Colorado’s open‑meetings law (Colo. Rev. Stat. § 24‑6‑402(4)(b) and (e)).