Denver mayor, council move into executive session to discuss federal action and litigation

The mayor and Denver City Council voted to enter an executive session under DRMC 2-34(A), sections 1, 3 and 7, to discuss the city's response to federal executive action and the settlement of pending litigation against the city.

The move to a closed executive session was made during the council's regular weekly meeting so members could receive legal advice and discuss litigation strategy away from the public record. The mayor said, "I will now entertain a motion to move us into executive session pursuant to DRMC 2 34 A, sections 1, 3, and 7, for the purpose of discussing the city's response to federal executive action and the settlement of pending litigation against the city along with legal advice related thereto." A motion was made and seconded, and the mayor called for a voice vote: "All in favor. Aye. All opposed." The mayor then announced, "We will enter into executive session."

The transcript records the motion and the council's affirmative voice vote; no individual vote tallies or names of the member who moved or seconded the motion were recorded in the public transcript. The council returned to the public meeting only after completing the executive session; no further public details about the matters discussed were given on the record.

Because executive sessions are exempt from public discussion under the cited municipal code sections, the content of attorney-client advice and settlement discussions was not disclosed in the public transcript. The council did not provide a schedule for any subsequent public updates or decisions tied to the litigation or federal action discussions.