Carlsbad council adjourns to closed session to discuss Hilliard v. City of Carlsbad

The Carlsbad City Council adjourned into closed session during its meeting after the clerk said the council would meet with legal counsel to discuss existing litigation, specifically Hilliard v. City of Carlsbad.

The clerk called the roll and stated that all five council members were present. When asked about public comment, the clerk said there were no speakers.

“Please take us into closed session,” the clerk said, directing the council to confer in private with legal counsel on ongoing litigation. The clerk identified the authority the council relied on for the closed session in the record. The clerk also said any required report of action taken in closed session will be made at the city council meeting starting at 5 p.m.

The meeting record does not provide details about the substance of the litigation or any actions taken during the closed session. No motions, votes, or public testimony about the litigation are recorded in the public portion of the transcript.

The council’s announcement and the cited legal authority indicate the meeting moved to an executive-session format to allow privileged communication with the city attorney about Hilliard v. City of Carlsbad. The clerk handled roll call and confirmed a quorum before the council left the public meeting for that closed discussion.

The council is scheduled to return for the publicly noticed 5 p.m. meeting, at which any required reporting of closed-session action will be made, according to the clerk’s statement.