As of January 2027 the public portion of Murrieta City Council meetings will start at 5:00 p.m.
A 5-0 city council vote October 6 approved the change in the starting time. If a closed session is needed that will begin no earlier than 3:30 p.m. with the actual closed session starting time based on the estimated length of the closed session discussion, and if closed session discussion is not completed by 5:00 p.m. the city council will resume closed session after conclusion of the public portion of the meeting.
The Murrieta Municipal Code gives the city council discretion to determine the dates and starting times for city council meetings. A 2019 resolution stipulated regular meetings to be held on the first and third Tuesdays of each month beginning at 6:00 p.m. with closed sessions on regular meeting days beginning no earlier than 4:00 p.m. and any workshops not beginning prior to 4:00 p.m. In October 2025 the city council changed the starting time of the public session to 4:00 p.m. effective January 2026 with closed session following the conclusion of the public portion.
A public agency can restrict discussion and a vote to board members and relevant staff members under four types of circumstances. Personnel matters including terminations, disciplinary actions, and salaries are discussed in closed session. Pending litigation, potential real estate transactions, and facilities vulnerabilities are also closed session matters.
During the October 6 city council meeting the city clerk provided average duration times for closed session and open session from January through September. Because the average closed session lasted between an hour and an hour and a half, the allowance for a 3:30 p.m. closed session starting time was suggested and subsequently unanimously approved.
