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El Mirage council votes 4–2 to enter executive session after members voice public-access concerns
Summary
The council voted to adjourn into executive session at the Feb. 19 meeting by a 4–2 margin. Two council members said they opposed the move because they believed some topics slated for discussion should be addressed in open session and had spoken with the city attorney about their concerns.
The El Mirage City Council voted on Feb. 19, 2025 to adjourn into executive session by a 4–2 margin after brief debate and public explanation of opposing votes.
Vice Mayor Parsons moved to adjourn into executive session and Councilmember Dorsey seconded the motion. The motion passed after the council called the question and tallied four in favor and two opposed. Councilmember Winston was excused and not present for the vote.
Two council members explained their no votes on the record. One member said they were concerned the subjects slated for discussion in executive session were covered by the city code and should be discussed in open session with the public. That member said they had already spoken to the city attorney and described “gray areas” about the appropriate forum for the topics. Another council member said the city had received a response from another city attorney indicating the item was permissible for executive-session discussion and added that the city attorney present would provide guidance during the closed meeting.
The mayor then announced the council was adjourned into executive session at 6:50 p.m. The meeting record shows the council proceeded to a closed-session discussion with city manager and city attorney attendance noted.
The dissenting council members asked that the record reflect their concern about public access and the applicability of the city code to the matters under discussion.
