Palm Springs council adds late closed-session item on potential litigation and adjourns

The Palm Springs City Council voted to add a late closed-session item described as a "conference with legal counsel" concerning significant exposure to litigation under Government Code section 54956.9(d)(2) and then adjourned to a closed session.

City Attorney said staff sought to add the item after new facts and circumstances came to the city’s attention and requested the council approve the late addition as a single potential case. "The city attorney's office and city staff would ask that the council add, as a late breaking item, 1 item to closed session, reading conference with legal counsel, significant exposure to litigation, government code section 54956.9 d 2, 1 potential case," the City Attorney said during the meeting.

Council then moved and seconded the request — with the mayor making the motion and the mayor pro tem seconding — and announced approval. The mayor announced, "Motion carries 4-0." The council immediately adjourned to a small conference room for the closed session.

Because closed-session discussions and most supporting details are confidential under state law, the council did not disclose further particulars about the potential case during the public meeting. The item was added as a late-breaking agenda item; the City Attorney said the specific language had been provided to the city clerk prior to the vote.