Scottsdale council adjourns to executive session on city manager appointment and seeks legal advice on state land‑use bill

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — The Scottsdale City Council on April 8 adjourned into executive session to discuss the possible appointment of a permanent city manager and to receive legal advice about recently introduced state legislation that could affect multifamily residential, hotel and industrial land uses.

The move came after Mayor Lisa Boroski proposed removing the city manager appointment from the executive session and discussing it in open session. "I believe the residents of Scottsdale should be availed to those discussions just like it would be in an interview situation," Boroski said, arguing for transparency. Her motion was not seconded and therefore did not proceed.

City Attorney Sherry Scott told the council that the state open‑meeting law permits either approach. "Mayor, it is an allowed executive session topic under the state's open meeting law," she said, and added that the law also provides an option for an employee to request a public meeting for salary discussions. Scott said the city "is not involved in any pending litigation" concerning the cited state legislation but that the council could receive legal advice that might include the "contemplation of litigation."

Councilman Barry Graham moved that the council reconvene into executive session "as expeditiously as possible" to consider the appointment and related legal matters; the motion was seconded and the council voted to adjourn into executive session. The transcript does not include a roll‑call tally or individual votes for that motion.

Council members debated precedent and procedure. Some members said the council had previously discussed a former acting manager in open session on Jan. 14, 2025, while others said longstanding local practice has been to negotiate and discuss terms for charter officers in executive session. Council members also noted scheduling considerations: the regular council meeting was set to start at 5 p.m., and several members said returning to executive session promptly would avoid delaying the public meeting.

Staff said a template employment contract used by the city is included in the public materials with blank fields for terms the council may decide to fill in if it proceeds. The city attorney said the council may receive legal advice about the state legislation and discuss contract terms that "may be the subject of negotiation," but that salary discussions specifically have statutory protections and an employee may demand a public discussion of salary.

After brief additional remarks and a lodged objection from the mayor to the executive session approach, the council president called for the vote and the body adjourned into executive session. The council did not announce any decisions or contract terms before adjourning; no further details were disclosed in the public transcript.

The council's business in executive session and any subsequent formal actions will be reflected in future public meeting minutes or in a report back when the council reconvenes in open session.