505 Forest Ave. Laguna Beach, CA 92651 TEL (949) 497-3311 FAX (949) 497-0771
CITY COUNCIL AGENDA
SPECIAL CLOSED SESSION
Thursday, August 24, 2023
Laguna Beach City Hall
Conference Room A
9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Confer with Legal Counsel Regarding Significant Exposure to Litigation (pursuant to Government Code section 54956.9(d)(2)) – one item: complaint alleging conduct of Councilmember George Weiss constituting harassment and creating hostile work environment.
Public Employment (pursuant to Government Code section 54957) – one item: City Manager.
No other business shall be considered at the Special Closed Session Meeting.
POST MEETING REPORT:
City Attorney Phil Kohn reported that regarding the agenda item relating to Anticipated Litigation, Mayor Whalen, Mayor Pro Tem Kempf and Councilmembers Orgill and Rounaghi were present and participated. Pursuant to a unanimous vote, Mayor Whalen was authorized to sign a Separation Agreement and General Release with City Manager Shohreh Dupuis by which Ms. Dupuis will retire from her position, effective September 1, 2023, pursuant to the terms of the agreement. The agreement will be available and posted as a public record and will be the subject of a media release to be distributed later today. By unanimous vote, Mayor Whalen was also authorized to disclose such closed session information as necessary to publicly explain the Separation Agreement and General Release and the reasons for it.
Regarding the agenda item relating to Public Employment, all five members of the City Council were present and participated. Assistant City Manager Gavin Curran will serve as the Acting City Manager, with a unanimously authorized compensation adjustment of 10%, while the City Council is taking steps to timely fill the City Manager position.
Otherwise, there was no reportable action taken, and the City Council adjourned to the regular Closed Session at 4:00 p.m. Tuesday, September 26, 2023.