Council members announce recusals; meeting moves into executive session

The San Juan Capistrano City Council recessed into executive session after two members announced recusals from items on the closed-session agenda during the opening of the Aug. 19 meeting.

An unidentified speaker said, “At the advice of counsel I am recusing from 1 item under anticipated litigation.” A second unidentified speaker stated, “I am recusing from 1 item under anticipated litigation and real property item 4C because my son Harrison Taylor who rents property from me, is an employee of the negotiating party.” Both disclosures were made before the council moved into closed session.

The clerk reported there were no requests to speak during public comment, and the roll call recorded council members present, including Council member Hart and Mayor Pro Tem Campbell. A participant noted that Council member Farias had not been excused for the evening. When asked whether any members needed to abstain from items on the executive-session agenda, the presiding official confirmed the recusals and then announced the council would go into executive session.

The announcements identify the recusal subjects as an anticipated litigation matter and real property item 4C; the second recusal explicitly cites a familial connection to an employee of a negotiating party. The transcript does not specify the agenda item numbers beyond the reference to “4C,” the precise nature of the litigation, nor did it identify the speakers by name on the record.

Following the disclosures, the council recessed to executive session as stated by the presiding official. No votes or further public actions were recorded in the available transcript excerpt.