City Council Meeting Minutes January 8, 2025
CITY OF EL PASO DE ROBLES
"The Pass of the Oaks"
Paso Robles City Council Special Meeting Minutes
January 8, 2025, 7:00 PM
Council Chamber - Library/Conference Center
1000 Spring Street
Paso Robles, CA 93446
Councilmembers
Present:
Mayor Hamon, Councilmember Bausch, Councilmember Beal,
Councilmember Gregory, Councilmember Strong
_____________________________________________________________________ A. CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order at 7:00 PM.
B. ROLL CALL
Councilmember Bausch, Councilmember Beal, Councilmember Gregory , Councilmember Strong, and Mayor Hamon. Councilmember Gregory participated remotely.
C. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
D. STAFF INTRODUCTIONS
E. CLOSED SESSION ITEMS
1. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL - ANTICIPATED LITIGATION Pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(2)
Significant Exposure to Litigation: One Case related to a threat of litigation letter regarding the Public Records Act that was received from the Tribune.
2. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL – INITIATION OF LITIGATION (Gov. Code, § 54956.9(d)(4))
Initiation of Litigation: One case
F. PUBLIC COMMENT REGARDING CLOSED SESSION ITEMS
G. ADJOURN TO CLOSED SESSION
7:02 PM
City Council Meeting Minutes January 8, 2025
H. REPORT FROM CLOSED SESSION
1. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL - ANTICIPATED LITIGATION Pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(2)
Significant Exposure to Litigation: One Case
In a 5-0 vote the City Council directed City Attorney Elizabeth Hull to read the following statement as a report from closed session:
The City Council went into closed session this evening regarding a threat of litigation from the San Luis Obispo Tribune. The Council met in closed session last night and created a subcommittee to meet with the City Attorney’s office regarding a request for certain records in the City’s control and for certain records that may be responsive public records located on the personal devices of Councilmember Bausch. The City has made every effort to comply with the requirements of the Public Records Act, including the requirement to provide responsive records that are held on the personal devices of public officials.
The City Council has directed the City Attorney to inform legal counsel for the SLO Tribune that the City has conducted a search of City servers for responsive records and will continue to search for responsive records. The City has or will be releasing any responsive non-exempt records. At this time, the City will be withholding certain records related to City Manager Lewis’s claim against the City and the related personnel investigation that are attorney-client privileged, attorney work product privileged, or that the City believes are exempt pursuant to the Public Records Act.
As to any public records that may be on Councilmember Bausch’s personal devices, Councilmember Bausch has agreed to review his personal devices and will commence providing responsive documents to the City Attorney’s office within two weeks of today.
2. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL - INITIATION OF LITIGATION (Gov. Code, § 54956.9(d)(4))
Initiation of Litigation: One case
City Attorney Elizabeth Hull reported that this case was not discussed in closed session.
I. ADJOURNMENT
Motioned by Councilmember Bausch, seconded by Councilmember Strong, and passed unanimously by voice vote at 7:59 PM to adjourn to the January 15, 2025 regular City Council meeting.
Submitted by:
_____________________________
Melissa Boyer, City Clerk
Approved: January 15, 2025