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. . . . . - preliminary approval of settlements and then what the Brown Act provides is, if somebody - inquires after it has been approved by the other side, then you respond with a report, not necessarily in open session, but to the party who inquires. So you have not violated the Brown Act with respect to reporting out. The second, with respect to the reporting out had to do with negotiations of property. You don't have to report out the instructions you give to your negotiator. I don't recall the specifics of the discussion that was alluded to regarding the property transfer, but if there is some action taken.... I think the only action we reported out was the instructions that were given to the negotiator. That's what it was. I recall now. We reported that we had given instructions to the negotiator. Technically the question arises whether you actually have to report that, because in point of fact, that's why you went into closed session in the first place. The other had to do with names and addresses. The Brown Act prohibits as a condition of attending a meeting that a person must sign their name and address. But it does not prohibit requesting a person to identify him or herself at the podium as they address the Council." Mayor Howard thanked City Attorney Schricker for keeping the Council on the straight and narrow, and said, "You have never let us stray and I appreciate your answers." Council Member Bain said, "I won't dwell on the discourtesy that has been done to this Council. All I wanted to say was to reiterate what Council Member Claire, Council Member Hartnett and Vice Mayor Ruskin said which is that since I've been on the Council, at none of those closed session meetings, nor at any open meetings, did I hear any - objections to what we were doing, or any questions about what we were doing in regards to being in violation of the Brown Act. Those concerns were never raised, so I would submit that whoever makes allegations such as those, is also making those allegations against himself. I wonder why someone would do that. But I just wanted that to be out there to the audience, to the newspapers, and whoever might be listening, that these allegations or questions were never raised in any meeting that I attended." Council Member Leipzig said, "Very briefly, Madame Mayor, I did raise the issue about the School District agreement and the response I believe from the City Attorney was, 'oh, yea, I guess we better.' It is true, Council Member Ira is correct the Council wanted to wait and issue a joint press release. I objected that that was wrong. I have spoken to the Mayor, the City Manager and the City Attorney about the number and frequency and topics in closed sessions. I don't believe that in all fairness that I have said that we are breaking the law or I want to look into this, excuse me, I did want to look into the number, the frequency and the topics. And briefly, Vice Mayor Ruskin, you and I use to speak frequently. I called you several months ago on several topics and this is one of them. I am still waiting for that return phone call." Vice Mayor Ruskin said, "Nonsense. That's nonsense." ~ REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING MINUTE BOOK NO. S6 JUNE 22,1998 MINUTES Page No. 585 PAGE 23