Santa Clara council moves into closed session on labor negotiations, votes to excuse mayor

The Santa Clara City Council voted 5-0 to excuse Mayor Gilmore from the meeting and then recessed into a closed session to discuss labor negotiations, officials said.

Assistant City Attorney Sue Rueter told the council that the sole closed-session agenda item was a conference with labor negotiators pursuant to government code section 54957. She listed the bargaining units to be discussed as Unit 1, Unit 2, Unit 3, Unit 4, Unit 578, Unit 6, Unit 99 A, 9 b, and 10 and said city representatives named on the agenda would attend. "Today's agenda consists of 1 item on closed session," Rueter said.

Before adjourning to closed session, the council checked for public comment; staff reported there were no hands online and no one present to speak. The motion to excuse Mayor Gilmore was made from the floor and seconded by Council Member Jane. During roll-call voting, Council Members Shahal, Hardy, Park, Jane and Vice Mayor Cox each voted yes; the motion carried 5 to 0. The council then dismissed the open session and convened to the announced closed session.

No formal actions, deliberations or outcomes from the closed session were disclosed on the public record at the time the meeting moved into closed session. The meeting record shows Mayor Gilmore absent and notes that Council Member Park and Council Member Albert Gonzalez were expected to attend or were participating in the closed session under stated provisions.