Sanger City Council schedules closed session on labor talks, pending lawsuit

The Sanger City Council convened a brief special meeting on Feb. 19 and voted to move into closed session to consider two items: labor negotiations and pending litigation.

Council members conducted a roll call after the presiding official read the Brown Act reporting requirement. The public forum produced no speakers, and the council "skipped" the item to proceed to closed session. A procedural motion to enter closed session was made and seconded and was announced as passing "3 to 0," with two members recorded as absent.

City Attorney (speaking at the dais) said, "There are 2 items for closed session this evening." He identified the first as negotiations under Government Code section 54957.6 and said, "The agency designated representatives are Shalene Bennett, lead negotiator," naming her as the staff representative for talks with employee organizations and with unrepresented/confidential/executive employees. The second item was described as pending litigation: "Case Gardezebo versus City of Sanger, case number 25CECG04536," cited under Government Code section 54956.9(d)(1).

The public record made available at the meeting did not specify the exact text of the procedural motion recorded in the minutes. The City Attorney closed the public portion of the meeting and stated the council would move into closed session to discuss those items.

No votes on substantive matters, settlements or negotiations were taken in public during the session. The meeting record shows three members present and two absent at the time of the motion; the transcript does not include further public disclosures about either closed-session matter.

Next steps: city staff will handle the closed sessions as announced; any reportable actions or votes taken in closed session will be disclosed as required under the Brown Act when the council returns to open session or in subsequent public minutes.