Upfront
Public Agenda A preview of Palo Alto government meetings next week PLANNING AND TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION ... The commission plans to hold its annual retreat to discuss procedural items and its work plan for the year. The meeting is scheduled for 9:15 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 8, at the Palo Alto Art Center (1313 Newell Road). CITY COUNCIL ... The City Council plans to discuss the Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) Process; pass a resolution of appreciation for retired Public Works Director Glenn Roberts; and approve a budget amendment ordinance for replanting trees at Eleanor Pardee Park. The meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. Monday, Jan. 10, in the Council Chambers at City Hall (250 Hamilton Ave.). BOARD OF EDUCATION ... The board will decide whether to change the timing of school-board elections to align with Palo Alto’s recent vote to switch City Council elections from odd- to even-numbered years. Members also will hear an update on the school district’s program to modernize its 17 campuses under the $378 million “Strong Schools� bond passed in 2008. The meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 11, in the board room of school district headquarters (25 Churchill Ave.). PLANNING AND TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION ... The commission plans to discuss the proposed streetscape improvements and lane changes on California Avenue. The meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 12, in the Council Chambers at City Hall (250 Hamilton Ave.). UTILITIES ADVISORY COMMISSION ... The commission plans to discuss home energy reports, the Water Shortage Implementation Plan, and the city’s Ten-year Gas Energy Efficiency Goals. The meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 12, in the Council Conference Room at City Hall (250 Hamilton Ave.). CITY COUNCIL ... The council plans to hold a closed session to discuss its process to recruit a new city attorney. The meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 13, at City Hall (250 Hamilton Ave.). HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION ... The commission is scheduled to discuss its six-month calendar, hear a presentation of the Palo Alto Mediation Program and consider new mediators. The meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 13, in the Council Conference Room at City Hall (250 Hamilton Ave.).
again and Zumot allegedly gave gos asked. Johnsen said he didn’t him a different version of events. recall smelling cologne. (continued from page 3) This time, Zumot mentioned that Geragos asked: What if comhe made a stop at his house before ponents of some colognes are the Chaalan, an auto mechanic who coming to Da Hookah Spot. same chemically as in gasoline? has known Zumot for about eight “He said he went to Restaurant Had Rosie ever been tested for false years, wasn’t the only friend of Zu- Depot, he went to the domestic vio- positives for cologne? mot who testified Wednesday about lence class, he went home and saw Johnsen admitted she hadn’t. the relationship between Zumot and Jennifer sleeping and then he went Johnsen confirmed that other Schipsi. Joseph Martinez, a deputy to the hookah lounge,� Martinez combustible products, such as tar sheriff at the Monterey County said. paper, contain similar substances Sheriff’s Office, said the relationEarlier in the week, the jury heard as gasoline but there were no such ship was what prompted him to from arson investigators and officers distractors for the dog in the car, he break off his business partnership who inspected the scene of the fire. said. with Zumot. The two were close On Tuesday, Geragos challenged Pressed by Geragos over what friends who invested in the testimony of Den- could cause the discrepancy bea San Jose hookah shop nis Johnsen, Santa Clara tween the dog’s and ATF’s analysis, in early 2008. County chief fire investi- Johnsen seemed flustered. Martinez said Zumot gator and handler of Rosie, Something could have happened and Schipsi were often the accelerant-sniffing dog to the evidence after it was repacktogether and that Zumot that detected accelerant on aged and sent to the lab, but he did “cleared his schedule Zumot’s shoes, socks, pants not know what, if anything had ocfor her.� waistband, sweatshirt and curred, he said. “From the time we on the passenger-side floor A Santa Clara County forensic met, they were together mat and rug of his black pathologist also testified Tuesday as much as they could Land Rover. afternoon Palo Alto police forgot to possibly be together,� Geragos said that Alco- call the Santa Clara County CoroMartinez said. hol, Tobacco and Firearms ner’s Office and delayed examinaBulos Zumot But the relationship and Explosives (ATF) lab- tion of Schipsi’s body for 18 hours. was also characterized oratory testing found acceGlenn V. Nazareno said his examby frequent arguments and “drama,� lerant only on the shoes — a com- ination of Schipsi’s charred remains Martinez said. Schipsi and Zumot mon occurrence given that shoes showed she had died after being broke up in early 2008 but later rec- often contain petroleum products. strangled and was then set on fire to onciled, and Schipsi started to spend Geragos showed the jury an ATF cover up the crime. time at the hookah shop. Martinez report that noted K-9s (sniffer dogs) Nazareno admitted that police had said he was “concerned that (the will sometimes come up first told his office not to relationship) would eventually start with a false positive for come immediately to the back up again� and asked Zumot if accelerants. burned Addison Avenue he could buy him out. Later, when “Lab verification of all cottage to pick up her recross-examined by Geragos, he said positives is necessary,� mains but to wait for the he didn’t want to be around Schipsi according to the report. police to call. That call when she was with Zumot. Johnsen said he did not did not come until about After several weeks of negotia- agree with ATF’s analy18 hours later, breaking tion, Zumot bought Martinez out. sis. At a training for dogs protocol, because police Zumot and Martinez remained and handlers, several had forgot, he said. friends and on the afternoon of Oct. complained that ATF Nazareno said the de15, 2009, Martinez called Zumot to tests were unable to detect lay did not alter the eviwish him a happy birthday and to talk what dogs can sniff. dence or his conclusion Jennifer Schipsi to him about buying hookah supplies. Johnsen said he could about how Schipsi died. During the conversation, Zumot al- not say how many false “Could it have affected legedly mentioned his argument with positives Rosie had produced. In the time of death?� Geragos asked. Schipsi and told Martinez that she seven years with Rosie, she had done “Given the fact that a fire was crewalked away upset the previous night 60,000 to 70,000 sniffing times, he ated ... all bets are off� in terms of after he told her to shut up. estimated. establishing a precise time of death, Later that day, at about 7:15 p.m., “There’s no way to test those thou- Nazareno said. Zumot called Martinez and told sands of times� to find which were Geragos continued to press Nazahim his house was on fire. He also false positives, Geragos countered. reno: “None of the protocol was folsaid he hadn’t seen Schipsi since Johnsen said he was confident the lowed in this case?� Geragos asked. that afternoon and went over his ac- dog had correctly identified the ac“Yes, that’s correct,� Nazareno tivities that day. Martinez testified celerant. The dog’s behaviors and said. N Staff Writer Gennady Sheyner that Zumot told him that he went to actions were strong positive alerts, can be e-mailed at gsheyner@ Restaurant Depot, a supply store for he said. restaurants, and then to his courtGeragos also pointed to chemist’s paweekly.com. Staff Writer Sue ordered class for domestic-violence notes, which Johnsen said he had Dremann can be e-mailed at sdremann@paweekly.com offenders before proceeding to Da not seen. Editor’s note: Follow the trial Hookah Spot. “Are you aware of a strong smell The next morning, they spoke of cologne on those items?� Gera- on Twitter. Go to twitter.com/#!/ paw_court.
Zumot trial
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Palo Alto government action this week
City Council (Jan. 4)
Election: The council elected Sid Espinosa to serve as the city’s mayor for 2011 and Yiaway Yeh to serve as vice mayor. Yes: Unanimous Appreciation: The council passed a resolution of appreciation to Pat Burt, who served as the city’s mayor in 2010. Yes: Unanimous
Architectural Review Board (Jan. 6)
Stanford Hospital: The board reviewed a proposal by the Stanford University Medical Center for a 185,000-square-foot building for the Stanford University School of Medicine. The project is part of Stanford’s proposal to expand and renovate its medical facilities. The board discussed the design and continued the item to a future date. Action: None
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