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Santa Barbara City Council schedules closed session on pending litigation
Summary
At a special April 29 meeting the Santa Barbara City Council voted to retire into closed session to discuss pending litigation under Government Code section 54956.9(d)(1); the council said it did not anticipate a report out and set reconvening for 2:00 PM.
The Santa Barbara City Council scheduled a closed session to discuss pending litigation under Government Code section 54956.9(d)(1) during a special meeting on April 29, 2025.
A staff member read the agenda item as “Recommendation that council hold a closed session to consider pending litigation pursuant to subsection D 1 of section 54956.9 of the Government Code and take appropriate action.” The council then retired to closed session and planned to reconvene at 2:00 PM, with the presiding officer saying the council did not anticipate a report out and that there would be no public comment on the matter.
Why it matters: Government Code section 54956.9(d)(1) permits local legislative bodies to meet in closed session to discuss pending litigation when public discussion would compromise the city’s position. The council did not disclose details of the litigation during the public portion of the special meeting.
At the start of the meeting the clerk called roll. Council members present included Harmon, Santa Maria, Sneddon, Gutierrez, Jordan and Mayor Rouse; Mayor Potem Friedman was noted as not present. No members of the public provided comment during the meeting; staff stated there was no public comment online.
The council set a 2:00 PM reconvening time. No motions, votes with tallies, or additional agenda details about the litigation were made public in the recorded portion of the meeting.
