VENICE

After months of public meetings about the city's dispute with the Federal Aviation Administration over the Venice Jet Center, the City Council met privately with attorneys Monday to plan its next step.

The seven-member council; City Attorney Bob Anderson; a Washington, D.C., lawyer; and City Manager Isaac Turner were in the private session.

Florida's open government rules allow the council to meet privately to discuss lawsuits and pending administrative actions.

The FAA is supposed to rule later this month on whether the city breached terms under which it assumed control of the airport in 1947 by refusing to permit construction of four new hangars.

The city argues that it is not obligated to approve the hangars because they are not mentioned in its lease with the Jet Center.

The city is supposed to operate the airport to promote general aviation. If the FAA rules that the city is violating its agreements with the agency, it could fine the city, get a court order to force the permits or, in a rarely used step, take or transfer control of the airport.