North Bend council moves executive session earlier to consult counsel on potential litigation

The North Bend City Council on Sept. 22 adjusted its published agenda to move an executive session from item 7 to item 3 and then entered that closed session to consult with the city attorney about potential litigation.

An unidentified presiding official announced the agenda change and said, "The Northern City Council will now meet the executive session pursuant to 192Dash6602 h to consult with our attorney regarding current litigation or litigation that is more than more likely than not to be filed." The speaker also instructed that "Representatives of the news media and this needed staff shall be allowed to attend the executive sessions" while other members of the audience were asked to leave and media were "specifically directed not to report on any of the deliberations during the executive session." The speaker closed by saying that the general subject had been previously announced and that "No decisions may be made in the executive session."

During roll call before the agenda change, callers recorded Councilor Jones, Councilor Hamilton, Councilor Garban, Mayor Eveline, Councilor Schulz, Councilor Slater and Councilor Torres as present.

The transcript cites the legal basis for the closed meeting as "192Dash6602 h." The council did not record any public votes or motions on the record related to the underlying litigation during the portion of the session captured in the transcript.

The meeting moved into the executive session as announced; the public record in the transcript ends with the instructions about attendance and the prohibition on decisions during the closed session.