San Juan Capistrano council opens meeting; two members recuse before closed session

The San Juan Capistrano City Council opened its meeting and heard recusal statements from two council members before adjourning into a closed executive session.

One council member told colleagues, "At the advice of counsel, I'm recusing from 1 item under 4 b, anticipated litigation, and I'm recusing from item 4 c because my son, Harrison Taylor, who rents property from me, is an employee of the negotiating party." The speaker identified the reason for recusal as a family relationship tied to an ongoing negotiation. Another member said, "At the advice of counsel, I am recusing from 1 item under 4 b anticipated litigation," and added they would record one additional recusal.

Earlier in the opening minutes the clerk called the roll; Council members Hart, Taylor and Frias were recorded as present and Mayor Pro Tem Campbell was expected to join shortly. When the chair asked whether any members of the public wished to address the council, the clerk reported that there were no speakers. The presiding official then stated, "We will now close to executive session," and the council moved into closed session. The council did not record any public votes or further actions during the portion of the meeting covered in the transcript.

The recusals were recorded on the council minutes as related to agenda item 4(b), described on the record as anticipated litigation; one recusal was also linked to item 4(c) because of the speaker's stated family tie to an employee of a negotiating party. The transcript does not include additional details about the underlying litigation or the negotiating party, nor does it include any public debate or a formal vote on the recusals. The council proceeded to executive session to discuss the listed items.