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. . . , . I - want to just apologize on the 'back room dealing' comment. I did not intend to say that Councilman Ruskin or Councilman Hartnett were making back room dealings. It is the - appearance of back room dealings. It is my frustration and the frustration of the people who are close to these negotiations that talk to me, calling me up for months, giving me updates, and asking 'what's going on? Why can't we please get this moving?' And the answer that I have, and I'm not trying to attack Mr. Everett, that, well, Mr. Everett doesn't get along with the School District. So that's what the problem is. That doesn't make sense to me, and I want to find out what is going on here? It is a very frustrating process. So I would like a dialogue so we can all discuss it." City Manager Everett said, "I just want to say I have a great relationship with Dr. Crates and Joan Smith from the two School Districts, so that is just a false statement." Mayor Howard said, "It is unfortunate that the people who are speaking to you who happen to be in on the process don't call Vice Mayor Ruskin or Council Member Hartnett and ask them directly, because it appears to me that the dialogue is open. We know things move slowly. That is just a fact of life when you have many parties involved. How else could we have a successful partnership if you don't take the time to include all the shareholders and major stakeholders and get their impressions and their voices heard." In response to Council Member Ira's questions, Council Member Hartnett said he expected to hear something from the County in a couple of weeks. Council Member Ira said he would like to have the negotiations continue as they are right now, and "hopefully, - I would like to see this come back very soon with a report. Part of the reason there are problems here, whether there was formally an offer from the County or not, it certainly became apparent from certain statements from certain people, there was certainly an informal offer out by the County that led to the confusion. I would like to move on." Mayor Howard said she appreciated the work done in this collaboration by Council Member Hartnett and Vice Mayor Ruskin. She said, "I have no doubt that you will come back with information for us as soon as it is available, and I know it will be factual when it is brought back to us." MEMO 6/23/98 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- B. Discussion of the Brown Act; (205) Council Member Hartnett said, "As you know there has been discussion in news columns with respect to the press release issued by Council Member Leipzig alleging that the Council was violating the Brown Act in the manner in which it was conducting itself in closed sessions. And I wanted to address that tonight because I want to make sure that we don't engage in violations of the Brown Act.... I would certainly be willing to consider how we might have done so, but having only received the press release on that issue, I don't feel fully informed. I'd like to, if I may Madame Mayor, and Council Member - Leipzig would permit me to, ask whether or not Council Member Leipzig has reviewed REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING MINUTE BOOK NO. 56 JUNE 22,1998 MINUTES Page No. 581 PAGE 19