No actions taken on second closed special Elk Grove City Council meeting on Oak Rose, Attorney General lawsuits

Elk Grove city clerk Jason Lindgren awaiting the Elk Grove City Council to
reconvene from their Monday, October 9 closed session. | 

The second closed meeting of the Elk Grove City Council was convened this morning to discuss lawsuits against the city for allegedly violating fair housing laws but ended with no reported action. On Friday, September 29, the city council held an afternoon closed meeting but had no reportable action.  

Both city council meetings discussed lawsuits brought against Elk Grove by Oak Rose L.P. and California Attorney General Rob Bonta. The city is accused of violating state fair housing laws over its July 2022 rejection of the Oak Rose affordable housing project in Old Town-Historic Downtown Elk Grove.

As with the September closed meeting, Mayor Bobbie Singh-Allen and her four councilmen met with city attorney Jonathan Hobbs and city manager Jason Behrmann. Development Services Manager Darren Wilson and Housing and Public Services Manager Sarah Bontrager joined those two city executives today. 

Today's meeting lasted an hour and 15 minutes. Before the city staff and city council retreated, they heard public comment.

One person speaking to the city council, who identified himself as Brian Coulson, implied he had contact with one or several city council members.

"We, as the city, are here, and we want to let you know we'll be here, and we are behind you one hundred percent on this endeavor and move forward," Coulson said (audio below). "And did everything I could do to keep ever away today, so I think we are doing pretty good, and thank you for being here."

One person accompanied Coulson, and four others in the chamber attended independently. 

The city council will have another closed session this Wednesday before the 6 p.m. meeting. During the regular meeting, the city council will again consider approving the controversial project based on the legal advice of city attorney Jonathan Hobbs, who interestingly said the city could deny the project during the July 2022 meeting. 

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