Council moves to executive session; public return expected for housing, public art and compensation items

The City of Columbus City Council convened a regular meeting on Monday, Aug. 25, at 7 p.m. and promptly moved into an executive session to conduct deliberations with persons designated by the council to negotiate real property transactions, the council announced. The executive session was held under ORS 192.660(2), which the council cited as authority to discuss those matters in private. The council indicated that designated staff and the news media were permitted to attend the executive session, while other members of the audience were asked to leave the room. No final decision may be made in executive session, the council said, and the public will be welcomed back when open session resumes. When the council returns to open session, the agenda items listed for further public consideration are public comment, discussion of the 20th Street affordable housing project, a proposed revamp of the public art committee, and three resolutions concerning compensation. The council estimated the executive session would last about 30 to 45 minutes before resuming the public meeting. The meeting record did not include substantive debate, motions, votes, or detailed presentations on the listed agenda items in the provided transcript excerpt.