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Hayward reports $500,000 settlement in closed session; council to revisit city attorney and city clerk employment
Summary
The City Attorney reported a closed‑session settlement in the case Blickenstaff v. City of Hayward for $500,000, to be paid $250,000 from the city budget and $250,000 by the city’s insurance partner.
The Hayward City attorney reported out of closed session at the start of the March 18 meeting that the council approved a settlement in the pending litigation matter Blickenstaff v. City of Hayward for a total of $500,000, with the city contributing $250,000 from budgeted funds and the city’s insurance partner contributing $250,000. The city attorney stated the action was unanimously approved during closed session; the meeting record does not show a public roll‑call tally for the closed session vote.
The city attorney also reported the council met with labor negotiators and gave direction to staff with no reportable action, and that the council discussed the public employment of the city attorney and city clerk and took a unanimous vote to return to the topic for further discussion after the council meeting.
Why it matters: Settlement payments and personnel matters reported after closed session can have budgetary and organizational impacts; the city attorney said the settlement will be funded with $250,000 from the city’s budget and $250,000 from the city’s insurer.
Actions recorded in the public report
- Approved settlement in Blickenstaff v. City of Hayward, total settlement $500,000; city contribution $250,000 from budgeted funds, insurer contribution $250,000. (Reported as unanimously approved in closed session.) - Council met with labor negotiators for all bargaining groups and gave direction to staff; no reportable action. - Council voted unanimously to return later for further discussion regarding public employment matters related to the city attorney and city clerk; no final public action was reported.
Council did not take further public votes on these items at the March 18 meeting. The city attorney noted there was no reportable action on other pending litigation matters discussed during closed sessions on March 8 and March 18.
Speakers
- City Attorney (reporting out of closed session) — name not provided in the public portion of the transcript.
Authorities
- Reference: pending litigation (Blickenstaff v. City of Hayward) and closed‑session reporting requirements under California law as summarized by the city attorney during the March 18 meeting.
Ending: The council’s closed‑session settlement was reported publicly; staff will continue follow‑up on personnel discussions at a later meeting, and the settlement will be funded as reported.
