Burbank council schedules closed session to discuss Metro litigation, facilities threats and property negotiation

The Burbank City Council on July 21 said it would move into closed session to consider three items: existing litigation with the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority that involves the California Environmental Quality Act and alleged breach of contract; a matter concerning threats to public facilities or services; and a conference with the city's real property negotiator over 303 North Glen Oaks Boulevard.

City Attorney (identified in the record as the city attorney) summarized the session items, invoking state open-meeting exemptions: "the city council is convening closed session this afternoon about ... to discuss 3 items in closed session," and listed the specific Government Code sections governing each item. The attorney named potential participants for the facilities item, including Mandeep Samra, general manager of Burbank Water and Power, and two assistant general managers, and identified Patrick Prescott, community development director, as the city's negotiator on the Glen Oaks property.

Closed sessions in California are exempt from public deliberation under specified Government Code provisions; the council's announcement did not include further detail on the substance of the litigation or the property negotiations. The meeting agenda indicates the closed session will be followed by a study session at about 5 p.m. and the regular televised meeting will begin at 6 p.m., when the public may again observe and comment on open-session items.