Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Closed Session Report topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
City attorney reports closed-session actions: $150,000 settlement, motion on law firm ethics, and direction on censure process
Summary
The City Attorney reported three reportable actions from closed session: a $150,000 settlement, a directed motion on law-firm conduct where a council member is employed, and direction to advise on a potential censure process.
The Santa Ana City Attorney reported several "reportable actions" taken in closed session before the Aug. 19 council meeting.
The city attorney said the council approved a $150,000 settlement in the case of Delfina Robles v. City of Santa Ana by a 6-0 vote with Councilmember Jonathan Hernandez absent. In a separate matter concerning JBW Enterprise LLC (Ware Disposal), the council voted 5-0 (Hernandez absent; Councilmember Fan recused herself because her employer's law firm represents the plaintiff) to direct the City Attorney's Office to file a motion to determine whether the plaintiff's law firm, Rattan, can continue to sue the city when the firm employs a city council member who has recused herself.
The council also directed the city attorney, by a vote of 6-0 with Hernandez absent, to advise the council on a potential censure process with possible legal consequences in response to personnel complaints filed against Councilmember Hernandez; the council asked the City Attorney's Office to report back at the Oct. 7 council meeting. Finally, the council continued the Union Pacific matter and labor negotiations to the Sept. 16 council meeting.
Ending: The city attorney characterized the actions as "reportable" closed-session outcomes; the matters include ongoing litigation strategy, an inquiry concerning the ethics and potential conflicts arising when a council member is employed by a plaintiff's firm, and a direction to study censure procedures and legal options.
