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Santa Barbara City Council adjourns to closed session on litigation; council member uses emergency remote participation
Summary
At a Jan. 28 special meeting the Santa Barbara City Council moved into closed session to discuss existing and anticipated litigation under Government Code section 54956.9. Council member Harmon said she would participate remotely under the emergency exception because she is recovering from the flu.
The Santa Barbara City Council on Jan. 28, 2025, adjourned into closed session to discuss existing and anticipated litigation under Government Code section 54956.9 and said it did not anticipate a report out, the council indicated at the start of the meeting.
Council member Harmon told the council she was “still in recovery from the flu,” and that she would “be utilizing the emergency exception to participate remotely today,” saying the illness qualified as just cause and adding, “there is no one who is 18 or older in the room with me today.” The council clerk then called the roll, and all members answered present or here.
The council identified two closed-session items: Item 1, conference with the city attorney on existing litigation under Government Code section 54956.9(d)(1); and Item 2, conference with the city attorney on anticipated litigation under Government Code section 54956.9(d)(2) and (e)(3). After listing those items, the mayor announced the council would adjourn to closed session and that it did not anticipate reporting out; the council said it would reconvene at 2 p.m. for its regular meeting.
Because the matters are listed as closed-session litigation under the Government Code, the council did not discuss details publicly at the special meeting. The agenda language and the mayor’s statement were the only public descriptions provided at the Jan. 28 session.
The meeting opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and a roll call that recorded Council member Harmon (participating remotely under the emergency illness exception), Council member Santa Maria, Council member Sneddon, Mayor Pro Tem Friedman, Council member Gutierrez, Council member Jordan and Mayor Raus as present. The clerk noted no public comment was received online for the special meeting before the council recessed to closed session.
The council’s announcement that it did not anticipate a report out means no summary action was expected to be given at the public reconvening at 2 p.m., although closed-session law requires disclosure if certain reportable actions occur. No formal vote was taken on an open motion during the portion of the meeting recorded in the public transcript.
