Port Hueneme housing agency holds closed-session talks on 237 East Hueneme Road

The Port Hueneme Housing Successor Agency recessed into closed session on a property negotiation involving 237 East Hueneme Road and later reported it had given direction to its negotiating team but took no reportable action.

The agency’s special meeting began at 5:00 p.m.; the chair called roll, the clerk reported no public comments, and the board moved into closed session at 5:03 p.m. The attorney reading the item said the session was held under Government Code section 54956.8 “for conference with Real Property Negotiators regarding property at 237 East Hueneme Road.” The attorney identified the negotiating team as James Vega, city manager, and Gabby Basua, housing and facilities maintenance director, and said the meeting would address price and terms.

The closed-session notice and the negotiating-team list are significant because Government Code section 54956.8 authorizes public agencies to confer in private when discussing real property terms. Before recessing, the chair asked whether any agency member had a conflict of interest. A participant said they would check a map and noted a 500-foot proximity threshold; the chair later stated the member in question was outside that 500-foot radius.

The agency reconvened at 5:30 p.m. and the city attorney reported that Council member Perez had been present for the closed session and that the council "gave direction to its negotiating parties, so there's no further reportable action." The meeting adjourned at 5:30 p.m.

No motions or formal votes were recorded on the public record during the special meeting. The key outcome disclosed on the public record was that staff were given direction in closed session to continue negotiations on the property; no sale, price, or contract terms were reported in open session.