Several residents expressed outrage at the Los Altos City Council's closed-door decision to over-turn the death sentence of three local "pit" bulls.
Gwen Francis, the victim of a Sept. 19 pit bull attack, her father, James Francis, and six from their neighborhood spoke out at the Oct. 30 City Council meeting.
"Justice for all? Not in Los Altos," Shelly Casey said to council members. "I'm ashamed of what's come out of this Council."
At a Council meeting Oct. 10, members adjourned to closed session at 11:05 p.m. to consider an agenda item listed as "anticipated litigation."
Hank Harrison, owner of the dogs, had hired attorneys and was threatening to sue the city.
Council members said they decided to avoid possible protracted litigation and kennel costs and agreed to release the dogs to Harrison if the dogs never came back to Los Altos. Harrison said he was moving to Stanislaus County Nov. 1.
Three days later the dogs were released, but it was another eight days before the city announced the action they authorized at their closed-door session.
Neighbors were angry that they had not been notified that Council was reconsidering the decision of the hearing officer. After a public hearing, he had declared the pit bulls vicious, according to city code, and that they should be put to death.
City attorney Robert Booth said no action is considered taken until all parties sign an agreement.
When the dogs were released, the city had not yet signed the agreement, Booth said, so no announcement was made.
"Something is wrong when the city attorney and the Council can overturn an action without contact with residents," said Roberta Kelsch who lived near the pit bulls.
Gene Bowles, another neighbor, said he was troubled with the process.
"Is this standard operating procedure for City Hall? Or is it an anomaly? If so, how can citizens be sure they are not blind-sided?" he asked council members.
Abby Ahrens said, "I love this town. But I'm appalled. That could have been a child," she said, and not another dog that was attacked Sept. 19. "We spend more time on gas-powered leaf blowers than in protecting our town."
Gwen Francis told Council members, "I want something from the five of you who sent those dogs to another county. I would like some sort of explanation."
Councilman Ted Laliotis said, "We've made the best decision that these animals will not be a threat to the people of Los Altos and that there will be disclosure so it won't happen again. This was done for the overall good of Los Altos."
Mayor Bob Gray said, "We've moved away the threat."
Booth said that as of Oct. 30 the Harrisons' furniture was gone from their house, their phone was disconnected, and that the dogs are now on a 22-acre ranch, properly registered, in Stanislaus County.
"The owner has followed all the requirements (of the agreement reached with City Council)," Booth said.
Councilwoman Patti Williams apologized to the people at the Council meeting, "for any pain my decision has caused.
"I think the document should have been signed before the dogs were released so we could have talked about it. I've told staff I found that intolerable."
Councilman Dave Reeder added, "None of us up here is very comfortable with the decision."