Leavenworth City Commission recesses to 20-minute executive session on economic development

At a special meeting, the Leavenworth City Commission voted to recess into a 20-minute executive session under K.S.A. 75-4319(b)(4) to discuss economic development opportunities involving data related to the financial affairs or trade secrets of private entities. The city manager and assistant city manager were announced as present for the closed session and the open meeting was scheduled to resume at 5:22 p.m.

The commission began by taking a formal motion to move into executive session for 20 minutes to discuss “economic development opportunities regarding data relating to financial affairs or trade secrets of corporations, partnerships, trust, and individual proprietorships pursuant to K.S.A. 75-4319(b)(4).” The transcript records a second to the motion but does not identify who moved or seconded. Commissioners recorded voting “aye” during the roll call; the transcript includes Commissioner Hingland, Commissioner Henley, and Commissioner Wilson voting in favor. The motion passed and the commission recessed. The transcript shows the meeting later returned and a motion to adjourn was made and carried.

Because the discussion occurred in executive session, the transcript does not include any substantive details of what the commission discussed or any decisions reached during the closed session. The only specifics recorded in the public portion were the statutory authority cited (K.S.A. 75-4319(b)(4)), the stated purpose (economic development opportunities and confidential financial/trade-secret information), the 20-minute duration, and the scheduled time for the open meeting to resume at 5:22 p.m.

The action removed the body from public view for deliberations the commission determined were authorized under state law and did not produce a public record of the discussion in the transcript provided. No further motions or votes on economic development projects were recorded in the public portion of the transcript.