Costa Mesa council votes to add closed-session item on city manager appointment

The Costa Mesa City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to walk on a closed-session item to consider the appointment of a city manager, then recessed to a closed session to take up that matter.

The council added the item under the rules for unposted emergency matters, citing California Government Code section 54956.9(d)(1) for existing litigation and the public employee appointment exemption under Government Code section 54957(b)(1). Councilmembers held a roll call and then approved the motion to walk on the item by a 7-0 vote, the four-fifths threshold noted as required for adding the item after the agenda was posted.

The council did not announce any appointment during the meeting. After the vote, a speaker notified the public, "I do not expect any reporting out this evening," and the council recessed to the community room for the closed session. No further public action or decision was reported before the recess.

The vote to add the item was recorded in the meeting minutes as: Reynolds — yes; Perez — yes; Mar — yes; Gameros — yes; Beaulieu — yes; Mayor Pro Tem Chavez — yes; Mayor Stevens — yes. The clerk announced, "Motion carries 7-0." The council read item number 1 on the agenda as "public employee appointment pursuant to California Government Code section 54957(b)(1), title: city manager."

The meeting began with a public comment period before the closed session recess; a resident urged the council to prioritize a city manager who would address concerns about the Fairview Developmental Center specific plan (see separate article). The closed session was convened immediately after the vote and public-notice items were read.