Laguna Hills City Council holds closed session on potential California Voting Rights Act notice; no reportable action

The Laguna Hills City Council recessed into a closed session Tuesday to consider one potential legal matter alleging violations of the California Voting Rights Act, the council announced.

The meeting began at 4:03 p.m., with the presiding officer calling the special meeting to order and the City Clerk confirming a quorum of four council members in the chamber. Interim City Manager informed the council that Councilmember Payzold, who had been expected to appear by teleconference, was unable to join the closed session.

The City Attorney outlined the closed-session item as a "conference with legal counsel regarding anticipated litigation" and said the council faced "significant exposure to litigation pursuant to paragraph 2 of subdivision (d) and paragraph 2 of subdivision (e) of Government Code section 54956.9." The attorney added: "There is 1 potential case involving the receipt of written notices threatening litigation from the Law Offices of Michelle R. Jackson, alleging violation of the California Voting Rights Act."

The presiding officer asked for public comment on the closed-session item; the City Clerk said the city had received "no electronic public comments and no request to speak on the closed session item." The council then recessed into closed session.

The meeting returned to open session at 5:59 p.m. The City Attorney reported that the council had convened in closed session on the announced item and stated, "As a result of this afternoon's closed session there was no reportable action taken." The special meeting was then adjourned and the regular meeting began shortly afterward.

The closed session concerned an anticipated legal claim delivered in writing and alleging violations of the California Voting Rights Act; no additional details about the substance of the allegations or next steps were provided during the public portions of the meeting.