2017-10-03 CC CS MinutesSpecial Meeting
Alameda City Council
October 3, 2017
MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING
TUESDAY- -OCTOBER 3, 2017- -5:00 P.M.
Mayor Spencer convened the meeting at 5:01 p.m.
Roll Call – Present: Councilmembers Ezzy Ashcraft, Matarrese, Oddie, Vella and
Mayor Spencer – 5.
Absent: None.
The meeting was adjourned to Closed Session to consider:
(17-567) Conference with Conference with Legal Counsel – Anticipated Litigation;
Significant Exposure to Litigation Pursuant to Subdivision (b) of Section 54956.9 of the
Government Code; Number of Cases: One (As Defended – City Exposure to Legal
Action).
(17-568) Conference with Conference with Legal Counsel – Anticipated Litigation;
Significant Exposure to Litigation Pursuant to Subdivision (b) of Section 54956.9 of the
Government Code; Number of Cases: One (As Responded (Amicus Curiae – City
Exposure to Legal Action).
(17-569) Conference with Conference with Legal Counsel – Anticipated Litigation;
Initiation of Litigation Pursuant to Subdivision (c) of Section 54956.9 of the Government
Code; Number of Cases: One (As Plaintiff – City Initiating Legal Action).
Following the Closed Session, the meeting was reconvened and Mayor Spencer
announced that regarding City Exposure to Legal Action, a status report was provided
and direction was given to staff; regarding Amicus Curiae, that she is a member of
Mayor’s Against Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Discrimination which
sent out a request to mayors to participate in litigation that is anticipated regarding
Masterpiece Cakeshop versus Colorado Civil Rights Commission; Council authorized
the Mayor and City Council to sign onto the U.S. Supreme Court friend of the Court brief
being submitted in support of the rights of the Colorado Civil Rights Commission and a
same sex couple who was refused service by a commercial bakery; the commercial
bakery argued that it should be exempt from a law prohibiting discrimination against
LGBTQ people based on its owners asserted religious opposition to same sex marriage ;
the Amicus brief, which is being drafted by attorneys from the Santa Clara County
Counsel’s Office and the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office will focus on: 1) the
importance of ensuring the continued enforcement of non -discrimination laws
highlighting the range of local support for non-discrimination laws and policies, and 2)
the wide range in harms that granting the bakery’s request would do to the enforcement
of local laws; the case is entitled Masterpiece Cake shop versus Colorado Civil Rights
Commission; thanked the group Mayor’s Against LGBT Discrimination for offering the
opportunity to local governments; thanked City Council for deciding to support the brief;
and regarding City Initiating Legal Action, direction was given to staff.
Special Meeting
Alameda City Council
October 3, 2017
Adjournment
There being no further business, Mayor Spencer adjourned the meeting at 6:27 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Lara Weisiger
City Clerk
The agenda for this meeting was posted in accordance with the Sunshine Ordinance.