Naples City Council holds executive session on airport authority lawsuit; no public action taken

The Naples City Council met May 7, 2026, and entered a closed executive session to discuss litigation in City of Naples v. City of Naples Airport Authority et al., case no. 2026-1094, the city attorney said. The council set the published agenda at the start of the special meeting and then moved upstairs for the executive session; no public action was taken during the closed session.

Vice Mayor Ted Blankenship moved to set the agenda as published and Council Member Linda Peneman seconded; the motion was approved by voice vote. City Attorney Matthew McConnell announced that, pursuant to section 286.011(8) of Florida law, the council would meet in executive session for settlement negotiations and litigation strategy related to expenditures. McConnell said a public notice of the session had been posted May 6 and that the executive session would take place in the upstairs conference room on the 2nd floor of City Hall and was expected to last "approximately 2 to 3 hours, give or take." He added that the session was being recorded.

McConnell listed those expected to attend the executive session: the mayor, council members Bill Kramer, Linda Peneman, Vern Barton, Ted Blankenship, John Kroll and Scott Schultz, City Manager Gary Young, Assistant City Attorney Andrew Dickman, and a representative from Dinesco. The transcript contains inconsistent spellings of the mayor's surname; the article therefore refers to the official only by role. The city attorney emphasized that the council would not take action during the closed meeting and that "any action will take place at a future public meeting."

Returning from the executive session, McConnell reminded the council of the limits of Florida's Sunshine Law, saying, "Florida is a sunshine state, hence the sunshine law, hence public records," and cautioned that executive-session discussions are confidential: "It is confidential and it is to be discussed with no one. Period." He warned that sharing or emailing about the matters discussed could waive the confidentiality exemption and urged council members to treat communications labeled "confidential attorney communication" accordingly.

Before the closed session began, Vice Mayor Blankenship briefly complimented a videographer, identified in the transcript as Mr. Quinn, for work done the previous day. The mayor then adjourned the special meeting to allow the council to proceed to the executive session upstairs. Any formal action or votes related to the litigation will be recorded at a subsequent public meeting.