Residents urge more transparency in closed sessions as litigation involving city officials progresses

Early in the Jan. 14 meeting several residents urged the City of Newport Beach to increase transparency related to closed sessions and litigation involving city officials.

Adam Leverenz told the council he had reviewed a complaint that showed extensive references to the city attorney and the city manager and asked whether the matter would be handled by outside counsel. “On the closed session agenda is the director of HR suing the city manager,” Leverenz said during public comment, asking whether the city would provide clarification when possible.

Longtime resident Jim Mosher urged the council to narrow the use of closed sessions and to post information about the city’s litigation and settlements online. “The general rule in California is that the public’s business is to be done in public,” Mosher said, and suggested the city voluntarily record closed sessions and post litigation listings and settlements after confidentiality no longer applies.

Why it matters: commenters said open access to litigation listings, claims and settlements would help residents understand government decisions and reduce the difficulty of tracking local court activity.

Later in the meeting the council recessed to closed session on items listed on the agenda and, on reconvening, City Attorney Mr. Harp reported that there was "nothing to report out of closed session." The closed-session agenda had included labor negotiations with all unions; real-property negotiations regarding Palmer Luckey and portions of public right-of-way adjacent to 929 Zurich Circle and 944 Vía Litoro Nord; and pending litigation involving John Doe v. Newport Beach and a suit involving Barbara Sullivan.

Ending: Commenters asked the council to consider posting litigation rosters and, when permissible, recordings or summaries of closed-session outcomes once confidentiality expires.