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Home My WebLink About1997-02-24 City Council Summary Minutes 02/24/97 −46 Regular Meeting February 24, 1997 1. Resolution entitled “Resolution of the Council of the City of Palo Alto Expressing Appreciation to Sam Waters Upon His Retirement”............................................82-47 ORAL COMMUNICATIONS.........................................82-47 APPROVAL OF MINUTES.........................................82-47 2. Contract between the City of Palo Alto and Zongar Johnson for the Ventura Center Remodel Project.....................82-48 3. Resolution 7651 entitled “Resolution of the Council of the City of Palo Alto Ordering the Summary Vacation of a Public Utilities Easement at 160/162/164 Waverley Street”...............82-48 4. Ordinance 4399 entitled “Ordinance of the Council of the City of Palo Alto Amending the Budget for the Fiscal Year 1996-97 to Provide an Additional Appropriation, to Amend the Table of Organization, and to Amend the Municipal Fee Schedule, for the Permit Streamlining Program” (1st Reading 2/10/97, PASSED 9-0) 82-48 5. Golf Course Master Improvement Plan and Preconstruction Interim Improvements...........................................82-49 6. Request for Authorization of Funds for Repair of California Avenue Between Bowdoin and Amherst Streets.............82-50 7. Council Comments, Questions, and Announcements.........82-51 ADJOURNMENT: The meeting adjourned at 7:50 p.m..............82-51 02/24/97 −47 The City Council of the City of Palo Alto met on this date in the Council Chambers at 7:03 p.m. PRESENT: Andersen, Eakins, Fazzino (arrived at 7:11 p.m.), Huber, Kniss (arrived at 7:09 p.m.), McCown, Rosenbaum, Wheeler (arrived at 7:09 p.m.) ABSENT: Schneider SPECIAL ORDERS OF THE DAY 1. Resolution entitled “Resolution of the Council of the City of Palo Alto Expressing Appreciation to Sam Waters Upon His Retirement” MOTION: Vice Mayor Andersen moved, seconded by McCown, to adopt the Resolution. Resolution 7650 entitled “Resolution of the Council of the City of Palo Alto Expressing Appreciation to Sam Waters Upon His Retirement” MOTION PASSED 5-0, Fazzino, Kniss, Schneider, Wheeler absent. Director of Utilities Ed Mrizek congratulated Sam Waters on his retirement and thanked him for his dedicated service to the City of Palo Alto. He had been a valuable asset to the Utilities Department for over 30 years. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS Ben Bailey, 343 Byron Street, spoke regarding bicycle safety at Paly High on Churchill Street. T. J. Watt, homeless, spoke regarding improvements. Lee Brokaw, Hanover Street, spoke regarding open house at 1021 College Avenue (letter on file in the City Clerk’s Office). Edmund Power, 2254 Dartmouth Street, spoke regarding accountability. Cary Andrew Crittenden, 1556 Halford Avenue, Suite 379, Santa Clara, spoke regarding an apology to staff and Council for his comments during the Sit/Lie Ordinance discussion at the January 21, 1997, City Council Meeting. APPROVAL OF MINUTES MOTION: Council Member Wheeler moved, seconded by Rosenbaum, to approve the Minutes of February 8, 1997, as submitted. MOTION PASSED 7-0, Eakins “not participating,” Schneider absent. MOTION: Council Member Wheeler moved, seconded by Rosenbaum, to approve the Minutes of February 11, 1997, as submitted. MOTION PASSED 7-0, Eakins “not participating,” Schneider absent. CONSENT CALENDAR MOTION: Council Member Rosenbaum moved, seconded by Andersen, to approve Consent Calendar Item Nos. 2 through 4. 02/24/97 −48 2. Contract between the City of Palo Alto and Zongar Johnson for the Ventura Center Remodel Project 3. Resolution 7651 entitled “Resolution of the Council of the City of Palo Alto Ordering the Summary Vacation of a Public Utilities Easement at 160/162/164 Waverley Street” 4. Ordinance 4399 entitled “Ordinance of the Council of the City of Palo Alto Amending the Budget for the Fiscal Year 1996-97 to Provide an Additional Appropriation, to Amend the Table of Organization, and to Amend the Municipal Fee Schedule, for the Permit Streamlining Program” (1st Reading 2/10/97, PASSED 9-0) MOTION PASSED 7-0 for Item No. 2, Wheeler “not participating,” Schneider absent. MOTION PASSED 8-0 for Item Nos. 3 and 4, Schneider absent. 02/24/97 −49 ORDINANCES 5. Golf Course Master Improvement Plan and Preconstruction Interim Improvements Ordinance entitled “Ordinance of the Council of the City of Palo Alto Amending the Budget for the Fiscal Year 1996-97 to Provide an Additional Appropriation for Interim Golf Course Improvements” Director of Community Services Paul Thiltgen said the Interim Golf Course Improvements represented the first phase of the project and would allow the golf course to be kept open with 18 shorter holes rather than closing it completely. In the next few months, the Council would be receiving the design portion of the Golf Course Master Plan which was the contract portion and would be done in-house. He clarified a discrepancy between the total cost of the contract as seen in the charts on page 3 of the staff report (CMR:146:97) and that of the consultant in the back of the report. When the two totals were added together, there was a one dollar differential. Both came out to $205,300. The difference in the charts was that staff had not spread the construction management or the contingency in the same manner as the consultant had. He asked the Council to approve the recommendation in order to proceed with the project. Al Soderquist, 743 East Charleston Road, President, Citizens Golf Course Advisory Committee, said the improvements had been initiated over 13 years ago, and the Advisory Committee urged the Council to approve the first phase. He noted the action taken by Council that evening was only an interim step; however, it would allow everyone the opportunity for an 18-hole course over the next year as the main construction work took place. MOTION: Council Member Wheeler moved, seconded by Kniss, to approve the Budget Amendment Ordinance to provide staffing, supplies, materials, and contract services for construction of interim greens and tees at the golf course. Ordinance 4400 entitled “Ordinance of the Council of the City of Palo Alto Amending the Budget for the Fiscal Year 1996-97 to Provide an Additional Appropriation for Interim Golf Course Improvements” MOTION PASSED 8-0, Schneider absent. REPORTS OF OFFICIALS 6. Request for Authorization of Funds for Repair of California Avenue Between Bowdoin and Amherst Streets 02/24/97 −50 Council Member Fazzino said he would not participate in the item because of a potential conflict of interest due to his employment with Hewlett-Packard (H-P). City Attorney Ariel Calonne said his understanding of the facts was that H-P would not be considered as directly involved under the Political Reform Act. While he was not an appraiser, he did not believe that repair of an existing facility would have an impact regarding a conflict of interest. City Manager June Fleming said the repair work had not been done for H-P. H-P was one among a number of residents who had brought the situation to the attention of staff. Council Member Fazzino said if the City Attorney assured him of the legality of his participation, he would participate in the item. Council Member Kniss said she had been assured by the City Attorney that the item was within the bounds of any financial implications. Director of Utilities Edward Mrizek said during the construction phase of the paving project as described in the staff report (CMR:149:97), a field decision had had to be made. Although proper policies and procedures were in place to receive approvals for additional funding, the policies and procedures had not been followed. A mistake had been made in not requesting approval for additional funding prior to doing the work. Staff was requesting approval from the Council to ratify the expenditures. Ms. Fleming clarified that the Council would need to approve and ratify the expenditure of the funds. Vice Mayor Andersen clarified the amount of money which had been expended was within the City Manager’s realm to authorize in an emergency situation. MOTION: Council Member Rosenbaum moved, seconded by Andersen, to approve and ratify the expenditure of funds in the amount of $14,807.00 to pay for additional work during the repairs made to California Avenue between Bowdoin and Amherst Streets due to problems encountered with water saturation of the base material under the existing asphalt. MOTION PASSED 8-0, Schneider absent. COUNCIL MATTERS 7. Council Comments, Questions, and Announcements Vice Mayor Andersen indicated that he had attended a meeting with City Manager June Fleming, City Clerk Gloria Young, Senior Assistant 02/24/97 −51 City Attorney Grant Kolling, and Cable Co-op’s Executive Director Brad Anderson that afternoon and asked that a study session be scheduled for Monday, March 3, 1997, at 6:30 p.m. regarding Cable Co-op, with a limit of ten minutes for public comment. He said the meeting would not commit the Council in any way but would provide some possible information for the March 4, 1997, Cable Co-op Board meeting. Questions were raised by various Council Members regarding the issue. Mayor Huber said the City was proud to announce that City Manager June Fleming had been selected as one of Career Action Center’s 1997 Women of Vision honorees. June Fleming and two other women would receive the current year’s awards at a banquet on April 24, 1997, at the Fairmont Hotel in San Jose. June was recognized for her commitment to excellence in leadership, community service, and racial justice. ADJOURNMENT: The meeting adjourned at 7:50 p.m. ATTEST: APPROVED: City Clerk Mayor NOTE: Sense minutes (synopsis) are prepared in accordance with Palo Alto Municipal Code Sections 2.04.200 (a) and (b). The City Council and Standing Committee meeting tapes are made solely for the purpose of facilitating the preparation of the minutes of the meetings. City Council and Standing Committee meeting tapes are recycled 90 days from the date of the meeting. The tapes are available for members of the public to listen to during regular office hours.