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HomeMy WebLinkAbout07/14/1976I .f CITY COUNCIL TOWN OF LOS ALTOS HILLS 26379 Fremont Road Los Altos Hills, California MINUTES OF A SPECIAL MEETING Wednesday, July 14, 1976 cc: Reel 90, Side 1, Tr. 1 - 001-1403 Mayor Robert Cheney called the Special Meeting of the City Council to order at 4:30 P.M. in the Council Chambers of Town Hall: PRESENT: Councilmen Brown, Grabowski, Proft, Mayor Cheney STAFF: City Manager Robert Crowe, City Clerk Norma Hislop PRESS: Los Altos Town Crier: Ms. Vicki Applegate Palo Alto Times: Mr. Paul Voecks San Jose Mercury -News: Mr. Dave Goggins A. CURRENT BUSINESS: Mayor Cheney announced the purpose of the Special Meeting, which was to discuss the recent arson to the Rossi home being constructed on Summerhill 6W Road, the threats of arson received by several other residents, the possibility of offering a reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person(s) guilty, and discussing other alternatives which might present themselves for Council's consideration. City Manager Robert Crowe summarized events and actions to date, noting the presence of the Deputy County Fire Marshall and the Sheriff's Department Field Enforcement Officer in the audience. He noted the immediate concern of the threats received by persons whose homes were also under construction at the present time, which may or may not be related to the Rossi case. Mr. Will Remily, Deputy Fire Marshall, Santa Clara County, addressed Council regarding information which could be related concerning.the fire to the Rossi home, which precluded the possibility of the fire being started accidentally. He noted that the house was in the framing stage, with no power or gas. Additionally, he stated that an attempt to fire the house had been made the previous day, but had been found and exterminated before any damage was done. In talking with neighbors, it was found the fire was totally involved before it was discovered; thus eliminating a "smoking" cause, such as the fire starting from a match or cigarette. Mr. Remily stated that the Sheriff's Department and the Fire Department were cooperating in investigating the matter, and that the newspapers were also cooperating in appealing to the people to come forward with any information they might have which would assist in the investigation. Regarding the telephone threats made to other properties, Mr. Remily advised the homeowners to watch the property very carefully. X MINUTES OF A SPECIAL MEETING - July 14, 1976 CURRENT BUSINESS (Cont'd Councilman Grabowski questioned whether the posting of a reward for in- formation had produced results in the past, to which Mr. Remily responded that it had on such occassions and in other police matters, and thought that the posting of a reward would be of benefit in the apprehension of the guilty party(ies). Mr. C. D. Marron, Field Enforcement Officer, Santa Clara Sheriff's Depart- ment, addressed Council regarding actions of the Department relative to the subsequent telephone threats. He stated that the Department would continue a heavy patrol of the homes threatened. Mayor Cheney asked if the F.B.I. might be called in to investigate the matter, since citizens were being deprived of their rights to build their own homes, to which Mr. Marron responded that it was the Mayor's prerogative, as well as the private citizen's, to present the question to that body, but he did not feel the F.B.I. would investigate the matter under the Civil Rights Act. In response to a question from Mr. Bill Cavanaugh, who stated he had been living on Mr. Rossi's property at the time the arson was committed, Mr. Marron stated the intense patroling would continue as long as necessary, and that the Department could provide reasonable protection to the property owners. Councilman Brown felt that some action should be taken by the Town by offering a reward, and protecting its' citizens insofar as it was able. He asked if the City Manager had heard from the insurance carrier regarding the posting of a reward. Mr. Crowe responded that the insurance carrier had contacted him to state they would not participate in the offering of a reward, since there was no chance for recovering their loss. Councilman Grabowski also noted the number of prowlers, burglaries, vandalism and thefts within the Town, stating he did not feel the Town was coping adequately with the rising crime situation, nor were citizens adequately protected. He also reminded Council that a reward of $500 had been posted by the Town for information on persons who defaced Town signs, and that to date, no one had come forward to collect that reward. He thought Council should establish some type of policy pertaining to the posting of rewards. Councilman Grabowski moved, seconded by Councilman Brown, that the Town of Los Altos Hills post a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of person(s) resoonsible for torching the Rossi home. CITY COUNCIL MINUTES OF A SPECIAL MEETING - July 14, 1976 CURRENT BUSINESS (Cont'd): Councilman Proft expressed concern for the problem and stated he supported Councilman Grabowski's motion. He asked the City Manager if there were funds available in the budget which could be used for this purpose, with Mr. Crowe responding that funds were available in the unappropriated reserve of the General Fund. Mayor Cheney reiterated his suggestion of contacting the F.B.I., stating that a pattern might be emerging in that no big builder had been threatened, and it appeared that the threats were directed at the persons who wished to build their own home. SPEAKING FROM THE FLOOR SUPPORTING THE POSTING OF REWARD AND ADDRESSING ISSUE: Dr. R. Buck, Sumnitwood Road Mrs. Celia Bleisch, Robleda Road, whose home, too, had been threatened. Ms. Carolyn Mansell, Realtor, also offering to print posters at no expense to Town. Mr. Dick Bachman, LaRena, who was also threatened. Suggested larger reward, offering to match Town's $5,000. Mr. Ray Rossi, La Loma, also offered to match the $5,000 reward Mr. William J. Hershenow, Jr., Los Altos Board of Realtors, also suggesting that Town seek Federal or State assistance because of the hazardous fire conditions existing because of the dry weather: NOTED FOR RECORD: The following persons arrived too early for this afternoon's meeting, but requested the Clerk to note that they supported Council's posting of a reward: Mr. Frank Saul, Via Ventana Mrs. Audrey Martin, Merritt Rd, Los Altos Mrs. Annette Tan, Via del Pozo, Los Altos Mrs. June Olson, Sunrise Farm Road The question was then called, and Councilman Grabowski's motion to post a $5,000 reward (above), carried by the following roll call vote: AYE: Councilmen Brown, Grabowski, Proft, Mayor Cheney NO: None ABSENT: Councilwoman Hillestad ABSTAIN: None Mayor Cheney encouraged all concerned to keep this matter active until it was solved, and to notify the City Manager should there be any other develop- ments that could be divulged. Councilman Proft also encouraged neighbors to look out for each other in the community, and to report any suspicious activity that might observe to the ` Sheriff's Department. fir+ -3- CITY COUNCIL MINUTES OF A SPECIAL MEETING - July 14, 1976 CURRENT BUSINESS (Cont'd): Councilman Grabowski moved, seconded by Councilman Proft, to accept the offers of Mr. Dick Bachman and Mr. Ray Rossi of $5,000 each to add to the reward offered by the City Council. Motion carried unanimously by roll call vote. Councilman Proft moved, seconded by Councilman Grabowski, to direct Staff to notify the F.B.I. and appropriate State Agency regarding the possible violation to the Civil Rights Act and request assistance in the matter of arson and threats of arson. Motion carried unanimously by roll call vote. Discussion then ensued between Council and members of the public relative to being apprised of crimes that are committed in Town, with Council suggesting it be standard operating procedures to make the statistical report provided by the Sheriff's Office available to the Press on a monthly basis. Regarding Councilman Grabowski's suggestion that Council Members be allowed to review the individual crime reports, Mr. Marron stated that the City Attorney should request a written opinion from the Office of the Attorney General of the State of California before such reports were made available to elected officials. ow B. ADJOURNMENT: Council adjourned their meeting at 5:45 P.M. to their next regular meeting on July 21, 1976. Respectfully submitted, Norma J. Hislop City Clerk -4-