Opinion ID: 2525150
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Whether the Closed Portion of the Meeting was a Strategy Session

Text: ¶ 17 The trial court, after reviewing the minutes of the March 30, 1998 meeting in camera, concluded that the County Commission did not conduct a strategy session, rather it discussed the underlying policy question of whether to take any action at all. The district court stated that in order to close a meeting under section 52-4-5(1)(a)(iii), the focus of the public body's discussion must be on litigation strategy, which could include a discussion of claims or defenses, strengths and weaknesses of the public body's position, whether to hire outside counsel, settlement posture, etc. ¶ 18 We conclude that the closed portion of the meeting was a strategy session. In generally accepted terms, to strategize means to devise plans or means to achieve an end. The Salt Lake County Commission devised a plan or course of action and put it in motion during the private portion of the March 30, 1998 meeting. It is uncontested that counsel for the County Commission explained the factual and procedural circumstances leading to, and the possible results of, Riverton City's annexation petition. Next, counsel informed the County Commission that South Jordan City had already protested Riverton City's petition and offered three possible courses of action for the County Commission to take with respect to the petition: (1) send a letter to Riverton City listing technical problems with the petition, but refrain from appearing before the Boundary Commission; (2) appear, through counsel, before the Boundary Commission and address only technical problems with the petition; or (3) file a formal protest opposing the annexation. Moreover, counsel also suggested that one option regarding the protest of technicalities not be pursued; and at the end of the private session, the County Commission selected a course of action, agreeing to appear before the Boundary Commission and to send a letter to Riverton City identifying technical problems. This closed session during which the County Commission was informed of the background of the Riverton City annexation petition, was advised on how to respond to the petition, was given a recommended course of action, and decided on a course of action, constitutes a strategy session.