(Napa Co) American Canyon council considers rejecting grand jury recommendation

By Rachel Raskin-Zrihen/Times-Herald staff writer -

The City Council on Tuesday will consider rejecting a Napa County Grand Jury recommendation to form a countywide citizens review board in the aftermath of an officer-involved shooting.

Council members are scheduled to consider authorizing Mayor Leon Garcia to submit a response to the 2011-2012 Napa Grand Jury concerning a Nov. 28, 2010 officer-involved shooting in Napa.

A Napa police officer fatally shot an individual in Napa's Alta Heights neighborhood, resulting in some residents having "concerns" about the Napa Police Department's conduct. The Napa County District Attorney's Office found the shooting was justified.

The 2011-2012 Napa County Grand Jury investigated, and issued eight recommendations. One was that within a year all county jurisdictions establish a single civilian review board to examine all investigation documents of this incident and all future officer-involved shootings.

American Canyon City Manager Dana Shigley, after consulting Napa County Sheriff John Robertson, recommends the city join other county jurisdictions in responding that the "creation of such a panel is duplicative and unnecessary."

The council also is scheduled to consider continuing to inform the public of upcoming public meetings despite the state's suspending portions of the Brown Act requiring it.

The Legislature suspended reimbursement for mandated costs associated with the Ralph M. Brown Open Meeting Act as part of 2012-2013 State Budget cuts.

But, "the city of American Canyon believes that the public's right to an open government is paramount," and will likely continue complying with all Brown Act provisions, anyway, according to a staff report. This goes for the Fire District, as well.

At Tuesday's 6:30 p.m. City Council meeting at 4831 Broadway St., Suite 201, council members also will consider:

• A presentation of the Napa County Library 2012-2015 Strategic Plan by library services director Danis Kreimeier.

• Donating an unused Deskjet 800 Plotter to Army Reserve Unit No. 304, of which city employee David Miller is a member. The Unit's Family Readiness Group could use the machine to make homecoming banners and posters for returning soldiers.

• Approving an $85,000 agreement with Questa Engineering Corporation for services for the Kimberly Park Bay Trail Project.

• Entering into a three year funding agreement with Community Action Napa Valley for homelessness prevention services through Hope Center, Napa County's primary outreach tool to the chronically homeless population.

• A General Plan Amendment to incorporate the Napa County Transportation & Planning Agency Countywide Bicycle Master Plan for the city of American Canyon.

• Appointing new Blue Ribbon Committee on Water Resources members.