Opinion ID: 2366436
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Are Appellants entitled to a transcript and recording of the March 1, 2007, executive session?

Text: [¶ 26] Appellants sought a copy of the record made of TCHA's March 1, 2007, executive session. After ruling that TCHA had properly ratified its March 1, 2007, vote to purchase the Mantey property, the district court ruled that the request was moot. A district court's decision on the question of mootness is an issue of law that we review de novo. Northfork Citizens for Resp. Dev. v. Bd. of County Comm'rs of Park County, 2010 WY 41, ¶ 16, 228 P.3d 838, 844 (Wyo. 2010). In Northfork we quoted Wyoming's law on mootness from Bard Ranch Co. v. Frederick, 950 P.2d 564, 566 (Wyo. 1997): Our general law on justiciability provides that courts should not consider issues which have become moot. We do not decide cases when a decision will have no effect or pertains only to matters that might arise in the future. A case is moot when the determination of an issue is sought which, if provided, will have no practical effect on the existing controversy. Northfork, ¶ 18, 228 P.3d at 845. [¶ 27] Production of a transcript or recording of the executive session of TCHA would not have an effect on the issue of whether TCHA properly ratified its decision later. However, a record of the executive session proceedings could have an impact on other issues that remain pending in this case. As we discuss later in this decision, factual issues remain as to whether TCHA purchased the Mantey property as an investment, or for direct use as part of an affordable housing project. Appellants' claim for discovery of the record of the executive session is not moot with respect to that factual issue. [¶ 28] Although Appellants argued that they are entitled to the record of the March 1, 2007, TCHA executive session, they entirely ignored Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 16-4-405(b). That statute provides: Except for those parts of minutes of an executive session reflecting a members' objection to the executive session as being in violation of this act, minutes and proceedings of executive sessions shall be confidential and produced only in response to a valid court order. We hold that the district court improperly dismissed Appellants' claim demanding a record of the executive session. The district court may consider reviewing the record in camera before determining if the matters discussed were appropriately considered in executive session and whether the record is appropriately discoverable under Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 16-4-405(b).