HomeMy WebLinkAbout05/19/1981NW
CITY COUNCIL
TOWN OF IDS ALTOS HILLS
26379 Freront Road
Los Altos Hills, California
MINUTES OF AN ADJOURNED REGULAR =ING
Tuesday, May 19, 1981
cc: Reel 129, Tr. II, SidejI, 160 -end
Mayor Proft called the Adjourned Regular Meeting of the City Council to order at
7:40 p.m. in the Oounoil Chambers of Town Hall.
A. ROIL CALL AND PLEDGE OF AIIEGIANCE•
Present: Mayor Proft, Councilmembers Hillestad, McReynolds, Nystrom & Perkins
Absent: None
Staff: City Manager Robert Crowe and Deputy City Clerk Pat DuA
Press: Leslie Conley, Peninsula Times Tribune; Florence Pallakoff, Ins
Altos Town Crier; Theresa Allen, San Jose M:-rcury
` B. PUBISC SAFETY REPORT:
�I Council discussed approaching the subject of public safety in the following
manner: 1) acceptance of the feasibility sturdy; 2) identification of problems
in both the areas of police and fire; 3) applicability of report as it relates
to solving these problems; and 4) public input.
n)TION SEOoNDED AND CARRIED: Moved by R-illestad, seconded by Nystrom and passed
unanimously to to accept the Public Safety Department Feasibility Study as prepared
by Robert Dennett of Rohnert Park.
The following problens were identified concerning both the areas of police and
fire: contract negotiations, finances, control and level of service. McReynolds
noted that the issue had been under study for some time and suggested public input
might be valuable at this time.
Robert Cheney, 10737 Magdalena, cert ented that police coverage for the Town could
be improved but felt that fire coverage was good. He further noted that the report
was, in his opinion, good for a feasibility study and that the matter of finances
was the biggest problem.
Muriel Sclmidt, 10971 Ter Way, Ins Altos and Walter Schulze, 25259 la Irma Drive,
not
Yow tke terrain of Ins Altos Hills was much different than that of Pohnert
Park. They further questioned haw much of the department would be volunteer and
how effectively could the volunteer group be controlled ?
CITY COU4CIL MINUTES - May 19, 1981
B. PUBLIC SAFETY REPORT (continued):
Hillard Reiser. 27660 Red Rock Rc
commented on the good response time to police, fire and emergency medical situa-
tions which, in their opinion, the Tuan was presently experiencing.
of Rohnert Park reiterated that they were available to answer any questions Council
may have concerning the feasibility study. Mr. Dennett noted that he had heard
no criticism regarding the current police and fire protection; however, the
problem was financial. The services were becoming more expensive every year.
In a public safety department the traditional roles of police and fire were inte-
grated and the members of that department were constantly involved in a variety
of activities, i.e. police, fire, public service programs. Cross -training of
personnel was possible. Mr. Dennett expressed the opinion that the public male
the issue of cross -training much more complicated than it actually was.
Council responded to several comments that had been made. Nystron noted that
the members of a public safety department would go through an extensive training
progran and service would be equal to if not better than what is presently
available. McReynolds stated that the basic issue seemed to be response time and,
in his opinion, with a public safety department response time in the Town would
be excellent. Perkins submitted for the Council's information a mem dated
May 19, 1981 which included general information on the matter of public safety
which he had compiled. He further stated that he had examined several years of
statistics concerning the fire loss record for the Town. In his opinion the
problem was presently not well defined. Perkins suggested possible alternatives
using the best of both approaches (current system as opposed to public safety),
i.e. the use of the roving car approach for fire safety.
MDTION SECONDED AND CARRIED: Moved by Nystrom, seconded by McReynolds and passed
by the following roll call vote to take the next step toward implementing the
public safety concept for Ins Altos Hills and, if so desired, for the Eire Protec-
tion District and to take action on the following four approaches, requesting the
City Attorney's opinion on each approach: 1) File with LAEVO to wit draw from
the District; 2) Discuss the formation of a public safety department that would,
through contractual agreements, keep the fire district intact and would perhaps
service the entire district; 3) Request the introduction of legislation that
would change the District to a Public Safety District; and 4) Change the District
to a service district which can be done by the County Board of Supervisors.
AYES: Councilmenbers Hillestad, McReynolds and Nystnan
NDES: Mayor Prof: and Councilman Perkins
Robert Cheney, 10737 Magdalena, suggested that the Ad Hoc Public Safety Committee
look into the four approachesand report back to Council.
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CITY ODUNCIL MINUTES - May 19, 1981
L B. PUBLIC SA= REPORC (continued):
Captain Donald Tamm, County Sheriff's Department, requested the Council, on
behalf of the Sheriff's Department, to consider a meeting where they could
present their opinions and options concerning the subject of public safety.
Hillestad responded that she hoped everyone involved would work together towards
a successful solution to the problem. Nystrom and McReynolds mmiented that
they felt their motion was a positive step. The issue had been studied at
length and in detail and it was now time to move ahead. Perkins disagreed with
the motion noting that he felt there were alternatives which could be taken.
Proft also noted that in his opinion Council had net clearly defined the problems.
C. ADJOLRM :
There being no further new or old business to discuss, the City Council adjourned
at 10:10 p.m.
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In
Respectfully submitted,
Patricia Do d
Deputy City Clerk