Sarasota City Commission votes to proceed to litigation in Salam and Jackson case

The Sarasota City Commission voted unanimously on May 6 to authorize the city to proceed to litigation in the matter of Rose M. Salam and Carl E. Jackson v. City of Sarasota, case no. 2024CA002682.

Vice Mayor Cathy Keller Alward moved to proceed after the commission met in a closed attorney–client session; the motion was seconded and Mayor Debbie Treis then announced the vote was unanimous. City Attorney Joel Polzak told the commissioners the closed session had concluded and stated, “No votes were taken during the open or during the closed session.” Polzak also noted a court reporter had been present.

The closed session was convened to discuss settlement negotiations and strategy related to litigation expenditures in the case, the mayor said when opening the item. Polzak earlier outlined logistics for the closed session, stating it would take place in Room 109 at City Hall and listing attendees that included the mayor, vice mayor, city commissioners, interim city manager Jennifer Jorgensen, and designated litigation counsel.

Transcript remarks reflect that the commission recessed into the closed session at 3:03 p.m. and returned to open session at 3:59 p.m.; the open‑session motion to proceed to litigation was made immediately after the report on the closed session and was adopted with no recorded roll‑call by name in the transcript.

The meeting record in the open session does not include details of settlement positions discussed in the closed session; the action reported in open session is the formal direction to proceed to litigation. The mayor then adjourned the meeting.