HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 10241995 - C75 Contra \�
TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS f
Costa
FROM: Supervisor Tom Torlakson County
DATE: October 24, 1995
SUBJECT: REFER TO THE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE THE ISSUE OF REQUESTED CLOSURE OF
EMPIRE MINE ROAD
SPECIFIC REQUEST(S)OR RECOMMENDATION(S)AND JUSTIFICATION
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Refer to the Transportation Committee the issue of closing Empire Mine Road, located in the unincorporated area
of Antioch. Request staff for Transportation Committee to contact officials of the City of Antioch to determine what actions
are being considered by the City for that portion of the road located within the Antioch City Limits. Further, request
Transportation Committee to place this issue on the agenda for a November meeting to discuss the issue and to
determine what procedures would be employed to either approve or deny a request for the permanent closure of the
County portion of roadway. Potential alternatives to closure should also be a part of this discussion. Upon completion of
review, request Transportation Committee to provide a report to-the Board of Supervisors.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
Residents of the Empire Mine Road area have reported an increase in vandalism both to the public roadway and
to private property along the roadway. Some residents of the area have requested that both the County and the City of
Antioch consider the permanent closure of this road, with a gate being erected for limited access. Other residents have
indicated that they do not approve of a closure plan.
Before the County could make a recommendation on this issue either way, research must be done to determine
what County policies currently exist, and what actions must be taken to either approve or deny such a request. Any action
taken by Contra Costa County must be coordinated with the City of Antioch.
CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT- X YES SIGNATURE:
RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE
APPROVE OTHER
SIGNATURE(S)
ACTION OF BOARD ON October 24, 1995 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED: g OTHER:
HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE AND CORRECT COPY
OF AN ACTION TAKEN AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF
THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN.
ATTESTED October 24, 1995
PHIL B OR,CLERK OF THE BOARD F
SUP S AND COUNTY,Ad7I9INIS3R0OR
VOTE OF SUPERVISORS: BY
UTY
_X UNANIMOUS(ABSENT ------- )
AYES: NOES:
ABSENT: ABSTAIN,
cc: County Administrator
Transportation Committee (via CDD)
Led r
gie
Vot.125,No,247 Serving Antioch.Pittsburg,Brentwood and East County Sunday,September 3, 1995
In th ne f" fire
ell o
f i
Empire Mine
Road draws
gun-wielding
characters
By Mk*"Soar
Staff writer
ANTIOCH — Ten days ago, " t�
just after sunrise, 22-year-old
Bobby Soto stumbled out of the 4
rolling hills and cattle grazing land
near Empire Mine Road, on the x,<
southern fringes of Antioch. He
was smeared with dirt and x.
drenched in blood.
His throat had been slit,he had
been stabbed behind the ear and
'i
in the back,and his jaw had been
broken. Soto wandered into the
city ut.a daze.Early morning coin-
mute traffic was just starting to
pick..up.
By the time someone stopped
to help him,he was on the verge
of passing out.He babbled to po-
lice and gave conflicting stories
about what happened.He said he
was attacked by several men the
night before near Empire Mine
Road. But he gave police a false
name and changed his story sev-
eral times. staff photo/Ray saint tiannatn
Police took note of Soto's re- acid Garrte Lt Jlin Bond end Warden Woe Queta exatnlrte a'St-est tStv6ew stwtgtm taken from suspects kwdved in shooting at signs.
port, but they still don't have a
clear picture-of what happeacia
The case has not been solved.
Empire Mine Road, a narrow a I
stretch of roadway that loops
through the ranch land of south- , `
ern Antioch and rural Contra Cos-
ta
os to County, has gained a >.:.
reputation among police and resi-
dents as a place where danger
lurks.Named after the coal mines
that once peppered the hillsides,
the secluded road has become a +'
mecca for drug deals, illegal gun '
sales, rowdy late night parties #r ` '»
and illegal drag racing. x
once the wild west
And it's recently seen an up-
surge in violence. f �
The small community of ranch- "This scares us. We've got families, We F
ers who live in and arouaad:Hot'AtF ' These shells were among
Valley say their cattle are being got kids. But on the other side of the coin, R . hundreds littering this area that
killed for target practice. Once, , rn } UM. ? ranchers say resembles a
there was a e m battle bet,•.een we re not a-inb to get run off. And that's �„�h, battlefi-;d.incidents o`shooting,
ranchers and outsiders.
, evandalism and illegal drag racing
It's like the winQsouth of where the danger is. We,re going to are increasing as development
Aritioch, ranchers say. spreads into ranch land.
More and more the =Aa protect our property. --lack Roddy, rancher
ire clashing with youpg, well-
armed mptt ad.:boys•from the x Feed tot } r
ity. And they say, it's only a
natter of time until someone is On Friday Sikes stood in a roll- the north. He wears a cowboy
;riled. Ing sea of dry grass, on a,hill hat, a thick brass belt buckle, Shooting Incident ^ "
"Thi�S&�*�
said south of Antioch, surveying his stamped with a rodeo emblem, here Friday led to 4 .
antherhose cattle grazing in the valley below. and mirrored sunglasses. And the arrest of three
.ouse is tucked in a groxe.of, - He swept his atm over the land- he's been shot at—and returned
males for
alyptus within view of scam pointing to the line of fire. possession of
Sine Road For more than a de- wooden posts that support his Becoming urbanize weapons,including
ade Sikes has grazed 170 cattle hotbed wire fence. Ftl6tomatic and
n land leased from a Texas de t y"ca!' he said. Road;' orate'rux-AT'264T seclud
elopment company. "There was "Aver there,"heturned, "these was annexed by the city of Anti- Pump shotguns.
time I would let my kids run are my neighbor's cattle." och in 1993. New housing devei-
�ound out here by themselves. Sikes stands in contrast to his
d never do that now." urban neighbors a few miles to See EMPIRE, back page
Willi
<rf DISPATCH. Sunday. September 3. 1995
Staff photo/Ray Saint awmain
Fish and Game officers search a car whose occupants allegedly fled after shooting at signs Friday.Antioch police officers assist In the arrest of three male suspects.
F 1EMPIRE
From page I A weapons. '
opments are creeping from the 11t was just luck that I hap-
city's edge toward the ranch land. paned, to be out there at that
And with the approaching city time," said Fish and Game War-
comes crime... den Michael Buela. �Y
"This is a DaC ro#d where the Getting personal
bad elements frir'!h' e city can
But that was minor compared
come," said rancher Jack Roddwithsome shooting incidents, " v. ..
57. Roddy owns 1,200-acrek; said Sikes. Last year a group of v
leases another 4,000 in the area.
men drove up in a silver Ford - - - •- .
The towering Roddy, who chews Mustang and opened fire on Sikes
tobacco and owns 2,000 cattle, and a representative of the devel- N
has been a rancher south of Anti- oper who owns the land. At the
och for I$ years. , r s
time they were working at the old
"They can come out here Wid Gursky cattle feed lot,along Em-
do their drug deals. They sell Aire Mine Road.
guns. I've seen them pull up in "We could hear the shots hit-
their cars and exchange guns ting the buildings right by us," :{
through the window, talk about Sikes said. Sikes said he didn't
their guns,then shoot them a fit- mop if they were drug dealers,
tie bit.I can hear at my house at trying to scare them away,or just
,night — pop, pop, pop, pap, kids having fun. There were sev-
popp ' eral of them, about 50 yards
Arrt7oc6l potic r 10 are kept away,,he said."I ran to my pickup
busy with crime in the city and got my rifle out. I fired a
streets, try to patrc' the area couple of shots toward them to
whenever they can. care them.Then they fired back
"It's a remote area anda.iot It me. So I fired back at them. }
young pqQ o 14Jy's�� They got back in their car and
och Pa$Cat t ry Ita took off." Special to the Ledger Dispatch/Randi Lynn 101"hner
become
of incidentsrty hout there."ce, We've had The men were never caught. Rick Sikes shows where vandals have shot out the walls of a vacant house on Empire Mine Road.
East County's urban Another group,however,was ar-
y gang rested last year by Antioch police
problem is spilling into the coun- after they opened fire on Sikes, been badly damaged. The lot is troublemakers just disappear as �oa►tatdmttq"Hd
tryside, say ranchers, raying the dirt around his feet perched on a rise overlooking soon as they see headlights."And °
Sikes rarely vap R Egssfif" a scare him off. He went to the Empire Mine Road. It once in police can't be there all the time, F,Msnageri mid
hieM6 by'on a Antioch police department and cluded a huge warehouse and two he said. Re'.R0.1,
and he'II..,recommend
rsftat's because he Ips identified them from their mug small houses. Both the hawses the' ncil approve the clo-
p`his lever-action 30-30 rills- a shots. were unoccupied during the last Antioch police Capt.Glen says sure. A hearing is set for Sept.
*3'5r-caliber pistol inside the cab. On Tuesday, Roddy found the few years., he understands the ranchers' 26•
'When he's out fixing a fence along carcass of one of his steers near One house has been gutted by fear.But he cautions them not to Some of the residents who eve
the remote Empire Mine Road, the road.It had been shot an thousands of shotgun blasts and take the law into their own hands, in southern Antioch's newest
he warily watches each approach- arrow. Roddy hs3 tie bullet holes. Entire walls have ""If they see a problem, they
ing car. been. blasted awe , housing developments might nor
killed in the last'' ears.Sikes Y inside the shouldn't confren- them," Glen be thrilled by he idea,however
Early Friday morning Sikes has had six shat and killed. pause. The other house was said. "They should call us and Many of them use Empire Min(
was posting "No Hunting" signs "They drive up and down the burned to the ground this month we'll deal with it." Road to commute east and south
along Empire Mine Road.He saw road and take pot shots at the by arsonists,according to fire of-
three men pull up and open fire cattle," Roddy said, facials.Hundreds of shotgun shells Looking for closure But despite Roddy's defian
on a road sign with semi-automat- police have also noted a trend and other shell casings litter the But several of the ranchers stand,not all the ranchers are a
is weapons,a few hundred yards- ���ed ""cow tipping." Youths ground. r
away. A nearby.. IF PP g have aome with determineds Sr7ces said he s tires
�� Gsme`f sneak into the fields at night and "This scares us," Rodd said. The d hket�ok= 91 big,shot at. He has fou
warden sped oft after the men, try to push over the cattle. The We've at families.We of Y he said,and he doesn't wan
who fled in their vehicle toward seemingly harmless rank can in- g 8 kids. Kh'e Iliia w4h a series o{roc bogs,
Antioch. B Y P But on the other side of the coin, gates.Only the people who five in them to be in danger.
Antioch police and the warden lure the cattle.It can also endan- we're not going to get run off. the area would have the keys,as
eventually caught up with the ger the people. And that's where the danger is. well as police and fire officials.
He said he understands that hi
men. Police found u illegal the B We're going to protect our prop- The area is not a main thor- way of life will fade in East Coun
gauge semi-automatic shotgun;., Roddy said "They're vi any-" oughfare,they say,and would not u if d and ether ranchers pec.
They weigh a tom and have ha impede traffic across the county, up and move. But he said h•
called a"Street Sweeper,"in thin you get some stupid kid from the Roddy said he and the other doesn't want to compete with th
trunk of the suspects' car. They city out here, w en there"s a ranchers are on guard. They're But closing a public road re gangs and drug dealers anymore
also found two 9mm handguns,a Brahama.bdo near and that kid all armed, all the.tires, he said, quires a public hearing.Since Em-
20-gauge shotgun, several illegal can kiss himself goodbye." He praises the Police pire Mine Road serves as the I went to Nevada last mont
wrist-action "Butterfly" knives and Sh Int for dividing line between Antioch and to look at some property at
and plenty of ammunition. TheBlasted by bullata theif eff, the rural county area,the closure there," Sikes said. "I've red
men,all from Pittsburg,were az The Gars kY feed lot, where "We call them,and they're out would have to wm* a p;o. had it.I think I'm going to mor
rested for possession of illegal cattle feed is stored, has also here fast," Roddy said."'But the both th 9a4b,14 to Nevada."
:.A NEWSPAPER.�oF-LESHER,COMMUNICAT,IONS;INC..
- Dean S 'lesher(1902=1993),,';
LedgerDispatch
Margaret L Lesher, Chairman hof the board
George E Riggs, publisher and chiefexecutive officer
John Armstrong;editor aril vice president%news'` approve"erectin locked ates aloe the:
g g g
Gloria M Thomas general manager roadwa�: Wl ile it`S. opod.#this WOuId!keep
n ob Goll,managing editor, {
vandals;anTgun toting people off:private
Theresa Keegan; editorial page editor.,
F property, it isno way to solve the;prob-
1ems. Instead,-<the city, which recently in
stituted a utility tax to hire:-Emore:police'
DITORIAL r = I
officers, should make effectively`patrolling.
f,
I . f ! this area a,law enforcement priority, 1q.
PO ''< conjunction with county,sheriffs:
b c A0eerves the council closes Empire Mine Road,
what.about residents on:other violent
streets their.access. -to`'roads People who.,live on Sycamo a Drive woerry
about their safety, but they,don't petition
�t maintalns to hahat public road closed..
ve
=sj The city anount should not be :the
ith urban:problemsf encroachuYgron ry ' business o eonvertuig public roads into: M �a
rural lifestyles, a clash on Empire gated commuuties.'To'deny access of flus '
Mine_Road'isKuievitable, but a:solu `' public,road to the people Whose'taxes
'pay
cion to,the problem'doesi 't'lie"`in`erecting for its maintenance is wrong "In`addition to,
barners Guns, drug deals and vandalism
know no borders iiotorists who en�oy`a leisurely`drive u the
country, many commuters, runners, bilkers
While it's unfortunate that the remote '
Empire Mine setting is conducive to'ille al> i and bicyclists use:this route
g If the ranchers want more control over
activities, rCSidentS of th1S area are wrong the 3re1;Ahoy can'.pay the,,c03t of a Sectin
to expect`officials to erect Locke- ar ers r g
uard But permanent closure:of a;pub f
on the,,wmding, two lane public road
Since.the " r
E
lia street is no way`tosolve the;problem E
area falls within
both:the'crty-� ;:What about
and county's ju
risdiction,both YeSZfleYltS`OYl
the Antioch
city council . other vZalent
and the county
supervisors Streets
would have to
To: Antioch City Council Members &
Board of Supervisors of Contra Costa County
From: the home owners on Mesa Ridge Dr.
Stony Creek Subdivision:
We, home owners of Mesa Ridge Dr. would like you to consider putting a gate with a
chain lock at the point where Mesa Ridge Dr. becomes Empire Mine Road with.a small gate for
bicycles. We are concerned because many malicious incidents have taken place on Empire Mine
Road. Many speeding cars come through this street at all times of the day and night. It is very
dangerous to adults and the children on Mesa Ridge Dr.
1 p , ;e
d
�P
RECEIVES ?
To: Antioch City Council Members &
rvisors o on a o
From: e o owners on esa e
Stony Creek Subdivision:
We, home owners of Mesa Ridge Dr.,would like you to consider putting a gate with a
chain lock at the point where Mesa Ridge Dr. becomes Empire Mine Road with a small gate for
bicycles. We are concerned because many malicious incidents have taken place on Empire Mine
Road. Many speeding cars come through this street at all times of the day and night. It is very
dangerous to adults and the children on Mesa Ridge Dr.
\ )
OP , - ��
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3Q62JQ- 94 0,4
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Page 2:
13. Our suggestion to Mr. Roddy and Mr. Sikes is to apply for a
caretakers permit and put a small trailer on their property.
They already have electricity. telephone, butane and two
septic tanks.
14. It's not fair or reasonable that commuters. bicylists or
people that Just want to take a nice leisurely ride in the
country have to suffer. because of locked gates. The
gates will only serve a selfish few.
15. The Higgins family has been paying taxes on their ranch
for 90 years.
16. As so stated in the Editorial dated Monday September 18,
1995. If the city council closes Empire Mine Road. what
about Sycamore Drive? What is more important cattle or
human lives.
17. The Higgins family to this point have always been
community oriented. We invested and spent thousands of
dollars to stop a proposed garbage dump where Centex is
now developing. We also did the same to stop a proposed
airport in Lone Tree Valley that would have hurt
Brentwood as well as Antioch.
18. All of Mr. Roddys cattle loses did not occur on Empire
Mine Road. Four head hat we know of were shot one mile
sou f Empire ine head/hat
on Deer Valley Road.
01A LUIJ
RONALD L. IGGINS PATRICIA HIGGINS
Residents of Empire Mine Road 13 years (No problems)
�.�^�J�
NORMAN MARTINS LORENE MARTINS
Martin' s have leased Higgins Ranch for 19 years (No
problems)
RICK BIGGS NANCY BIGGS
Caretaker lived in trailer on south side of ranch for 6
year (No problems)
.14Z2 1-1.1,21zao,
HOWARD HIGGINS RRAINE HIGGINS
Property owner & P e ident of Empire Ranch , Inc.
Travels Empire Road several times weekly (No problems)
RECEIVED SEF Z 5 1995
TO THE REPRESENATIVES OF THE PEOPLE OF ANTIOCH AND EAST CONTRA
COSTA COUNTY.
We the . people who live on and use Empire Mine Road on a daily
basis, would like to express our objections to any type of gates
or road closure to this last of the country roads in East County.
We object to any closure of this beautiful country road for the
following reasons:
1. Customers from the Brentwood-Byron area to select
headstones, engraving, Etc.
2. U. S. Mail trucks come from the south heading back into
Antioch.
3. U. P. S. delivery- - Same as mail.
4. PG&E meter reader - Reads Ron Higgins meter and heads
south toward Deer Valley Road.
5• Telephone repair trucks and PG&E repair trucks would have
no access.
6. Dumping of all kinds of garbage. With gates -the garbage
will be dumped from the northern gate all the way to
Centex development, mostly on Higgins property.
7. Large trucks and cattle trucks. garbage dumped in front
of proposed gates would force large cattle trucks and
trailers to travel through Mesa Ridge residential area
( Load limit 7200 LBS. plus bad odor. )
8. Fire and Emergency access. All Fire Trucks. Ambulance
and such would not have keys to gates.
9. Who is liable if someone is injured or killed because of
these gates?
10. Blocks public road for commuters, runners, bicyclists and
the disabled from an enjoyable country outing.
11. The Higgins family pays into the five digit figure in
taxes each year.
12. The Higgins Ranch land has been leased to the Martins
family for grazing rights for 19 years. In that time the
Martins have never lost even one head of cattle.
Jack Roddy Cattle Co.
5601 Chadbourne Road
Brentwood , Ca . 94513
Mr. Tom Torlakson
Supervisor, 5th District
Contra Costa County
300 Leland Road, Suite 100
Pittsburg, Ca . 94565
Re; The Closure of Empire Mine Road
Dear �Tom.,..
As one of the property owners adjunct to the remote
section of Empire Mine Road, I 'm concerned for the safety
of my family and also that of the police and sheriffs. Justin the past year alone on a two and one-half mile stretch of
isolated roadway, these are some of the events that have occured .
1 ) Eight head of cattle were unmercifully killed .
2) An unoccupied house destroyed , article in the
Ledger September 3rd .
3 ) Buildings and surrounding fences and grass burned,
due to arson .
4 ) A stolen car stripped and burned .
5) Two water pumps vandelized
6) Racial slurs boldly painted on the roadway.
7) The city and county signs riddled by bullets , some
beyond recognition.
8) A man knifed and left for dead , article in the
Ledger August 23rd .
9) Three men were arrested with illegal automatic
weapons, article in the Ledger September 3rd .
10) Garbage dumped daily, 32 bags are there right now.
11 ) Fences that keep livestock in are cut and torn down
almost weekly.
12) Teenagers use the road for drag racing and parties .
The police patrol this area constantly and the county
picks up garbage continuously, creating a great cost to
to all taxpayers .
Several years ago, the east side of Briones Valley Road
off of Deer Vally Road was closed for the very same reasons .
When the gates were put up, all of the abusive activities
stopped and there has not been a problem since.
What we are recommending that this section of Empire
Mine Road be closed to the motorized traffic, to keep this
group that destroys our property out, but leave it accessible
to the bicyclists , runners and hikers that wish to use it.
You : tryZly,
t