CITY OF NEWPORT BEACH
City Council Meeting Minutes
Special Meeting
July 8, 2025
Volume 66 - Page 350
I. CALL MEETING TO ORDER – 2:30 p.m.
II. ROLL CALL
Mayor Stapleton called the Special Meeting to order at 2:30 p.m.
Present: Mayor Joe Stapleton, Mayor Pro Tem Lauren Kleiman, Councilmember Michelle Barto, Councilmember Noah Blom*, Councilmember Robyn Grant, Councilmember Sara J. Weber*, Councilmember Erik Weigand
*Councilmember Weber arrived at 2:34 p.m. and Councilmember Blom arrived at 2:42 p.m.
III. PUBLIC COMMENTS
Interim City Clerk Perry read the announcement concerning public comments explaining the rules for public participation and time limits.
Jim Mosher expressed surprise at the announcement of the special meeting shortly before the long weekend; questioned the justification (and exemptions) for holding certain items in closed session, particularly regarding the recruitment of a new City Clerk and City Manager; and cited the press release related to the City Manager’s retirement. Mr. Mosher also stated that there should be a nationwide recruitment process for City Manager and felt that the matter should be discussed in Open Session with public input.
Adam Leverenz shared concerns regarding public employee appointments and noted the substantial pay and benefits related to the City Manager position; questioned whether there was a recruitment process; noted the lack of clarity in the agenda item descriptions and questioned whether appointments would be made without a proper recruitment process or interviews.
Mayor Stapleton requested that City Attorney Harp announce the Closed Session agenda items.
IV. CLOSED SESSION
A. PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT - PUBLIC EMPLOYEE APPOINTMENT
(Government Code § 54957): 2 matters
Title: City Manager.
Title: City Clerk.
B. CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATORS
(Government Code § 54957.6): 2 matters
Agency Designated Representatives: Mayor Joe Stapleton and Mayor Pro Tem Lauren Kleiman.
Unrepresented Employees: City Manager and City Clerk.
Draft
July 22, 2025
Agenda Item No. 1
City of Newport Beach
June 10, 2025
Volume 66 - Page 351
V. CLOSED SESSION REPORT
City Attorney Harp announced that there was no reportable action.
Mayor Stapleton announced that the City Council had a productive Closed Session and had authorized him to share, although not required by the Brown Act, that there would be an announcement of the game plan for the appointment of the next City Manager at the end of the regular meeting.
VI. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Stapleton adjourned the Special Meeting at 4:05 p.m.
The agenda was posted on the City's website and on the City Hall electronic bulletin board located in the entrance of the City Council Chambers at 100 Civic Center Drive , Newport Beach, on July 3, 2025, at 11:30 a.m.
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Joe Stapleton
Mayor
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Molly Perry
Interim City Clerk
Draft