Berkeley City Council convenes closed session on litigation, property and labor matters

The Berkeley City Council met in a special session July 24, 2023, and immediately convened into closed session to consider four items on the agenda: a workers' compensation appeal (case ADJ10187918), a notice of intent to sue filed by California River Watch under the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, real property negotiations over 1900 Addison Street, and labor negotiations. No public commenters spoke during the allotted public-comment period, which was limited to items on the closed-session agenda.

At roll call, the city clerk recorded that Council members Chaplin, Weingraff, Robinson and Humbert were present while Council members Casarwani, Bartlett, Harrison and Khan were absent. Mayor Arguin confirmed a quorum before the council moved to the closed session.

The council listed the four closed-session items in full: (1) conference with legal counsel regarding anticipated litigation tied to a workers' compensation appeals board matter identified as ADJ10187918; (2) conference with legal counsel regarding a California River Watch notice of intent to file suit under the Federal Water Pollution Control Act; (3) conference with real property negotiators concerning property at 1900 Addison Street; and (4) conference with labor negotiators.

The clerk reported there were no in-person speakers and no raised hands on Zoom during the public-comment window, so the council closed public comment and convened the closed session. The meeting record states the council will report out any action taken when it returns to open session.

No votes, motions, formal decisions or further public statements were recorded in the publicly circulated transcript for this special meeting; the agenda items were announced only as topics for closed-session discussion.