City Council moves into closed session to discuss anticipated litigation; City Attorney cites two cases

The City Council moved into closed session Thursday to discuss anticipated litigation under Government Code section 54956.9, the City Attorney announced, saying the matter involves two cases.

The City Attorney read Item 4.1 on the agenda as "conference with legal counsel — anticipated litigation pursuant to Government Code section 54956.9" and said it involved "two cases," the transcript shows. Before the closed session motion, the City Clerk confirmed there were no public comments on the closed-session items and the council recited the Pledge of Allegiance.

Mayor Stevens and Council Members Pasche and Rezendes were recorded present; Council Members Morales and Deanda were noted as arriving shortly. The council then moved into closed session; the public transcript contains no further description of the litigation or any public vote on the adjournment.

Under California Government Code section 54956.9, local legislative bodies may meet behind closed doors to confer with legal counsel about anticipated litigation. Because the discussion occurred in closed session, the City Attorney and council provided no additional details about the subject matter, parties, or schedule for returning to public session.

No public comments were made on the closed-session items before the council adjourned to closed session, and the meeting record provided in the public transcript stops after the council moved into the closed session.