The Salina City Commission spent approximately one hour in executive session discussing the ongoing Cozy Inn case with city administrators, staff members and outside special legal counsel.

All five city commissioners participated in the closed session along with City Manager Jacob Wood, City Attorney Patrick Hoffman, Deputy City Manager Shawn Henessee, Community and Development Services Director Lauren Driscoll and outside special counsel Todd G. Messenger.

After returning to open session, commissioners made no motion, took no vote and provided no additional details about the discussion. The meeting was then adjourned.

Before adjournment, Mayor Mike Hoppock told those present that he would see them “in a couple weeks,” apparently referring to the next regular meeting of the Salina City Commission. He did not provide further explanation.

Driscoll serves as Salina’s director of Community and Development Services. Her department oversees planning, zoning, building services, code enforcement, housing programs and other development-related matters.

She is directly connected to the Cozy Inn case through her role in the city’s review of the artwork at the restaurant.

Driscoll oversees the planning and zoning functions responsible for interpreting and enforcing Salina’s sign regulations. She was involved in the city’s determination that the Cozy Inn artwork should be classified as a regulated sign rather than an unregulated mural.

That determination became a central issue in the federal lawsuit challenging the city’s sign regulations and enforcement process.

Her participation in the executive session placed the department official connected to the original sign determination in the closed discussion with commissioners and legal counsel.

Todd G. Messenger’s Role

Messenger is an attorney with Fairfield and Woods P.C. in Denver and serves as outside special legal counsel for the City of Salina in the Cozy Inn litigation.

His legal practice includes municipal law, zoning, land use, development regulations and First Amendment issues involving sign codes.

Messenger has been responsible for helping defend the city’s legal position in the case. His attendance allowed commissioners to receive advice directly from the outside attorney handling the litigation.

Patrick Hoffman’s Role

Hoffman serves as Salina’s city attorney and provides legal advice to the City Commission, city administration and city departments.

As the city’s in-house attorney, Hoffman would be involved in coordinating the city’s legal response with Messenger and advising commissioners about the case, potential liability and available legal options.

Shawn Henessee’s Role

Henessee serves as Salina’s deputy city manager and assists with the administration and operation of city government.

He also holds a law degree and has previous experience in city and county management. His attendance placed another senior administrator with legal training in the executive session.

Jacob Wood’s Role

Wood serves as Salina’s city manager and is responsible for supervising city operations and carrying out policies approved by the City Commission.

His participation would be expected in a legal discussion involving city staff, potential financial exposure, future litigation decisions or administrative action connected to the case.

No Public Action Taken

The commission did not announce any settlement, authorize additional legal action or provide a public directive to city staff after the executive session.

No binding decision was made in open session.

The discussion remained confidential, and commissioners did not indicate whether the case would return for public consideration at the next meeting.