Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout1989-08-14 City Council Summary Minutes8 Oral Communications Minutes of July 17, 1989 Consent Calendar CITY COUNCIL MINUTES =-PALO ALTO CITY COUNCIL MEETINGSARE BROADCAST LIVE VIA KZSU-FREOUENCY9O.1 ON FM DIAL Special Meeting August 14, 1989 ITEM PAGE. 1. Appointments to the Htman Relations Commission 62-85 62-85 62-86 62-86 2. Renovation of Existing Irrigation System at 62-86 the Cultural Center 3. Contract with Oakland Fence Company, Inc. for 62-86 Construction of Adobe Creek Undercrossing Lease Agreement with The Santa Clara Valley Water District for Adobe Creek Undercrossing 4. Contract with Pacific Engineering Construction 62-86 for Foothills Park Erosion Control; Change Orders Not to Exceed $14,000 5. Contract with Gas Recovery Systems, Inc. for Landfill Flare Station Modifications; Change Orders Not to Exceed $2,800 62-86 6. Contract with Stanley Smith Security Services 62-86 at the Municipal Service Center; Change Orders Not to Exceed $2.000 Annually 62-83 8/14/89 ITEM FAGS 7. Contract with Granite Construction Company for 62-86 Byxbee Park Phase I Road Reconstruction; Change Orders Not to Exceed $30,000 8. Agreement with EA Engineering, Science and 62-86 Technology, Inc. to Conduct Phase II of the Effluent Toxicity Characterization Program; Amendments for Related Services Not to Exceed $15,000 10. Easement from Southern Pacific Transportation 62-86 Company, Alma/Churchill Intersection Improvements, CIP 84-71 11. Resolution Adopting Salaries for Council - Appointed Officers 13. PUBLIC HEARING: Planning Commission Recommen- dation Regarding Application of Maria and Hoover Kwok for a Comprehensive Plan Change and Zone Change for Property at 755 University Avenue 14. Ordinance Amending the Zoning Code Regarding 62-89 Definitions in the Commercial Downtown District. and Variance or Conditional Use Permit Appeal Fee Refunds 62-87 62-87 15. Planning Commission Recommendation Regarding the 62-90 Residential Units at 4146 El Camino Real 15A. (Old Item 9) Contract with California Land 62-95 Land Management for Park Ranger Services for Palo Alto Baylands Area 16. Resolution Regarding Smoking Regulations 62-97 17. Request to Revise Definition of Driveway as it 62-97 Relates to Flag Lots Adjournment at 10:50 p.a. 62-98 62-84 8/14/89 Special Meeting August 14, 1989 The City Council of the City of Palo Alto met on this date in the Council Chambers at 8:05 p.m. Mayor Klein announced a Special Joint Meeting with the A::chitec- tural Review Board was held at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Conference Room. PRESENT: Cobb, Fletcher, Klein, Levy, (arrived at 8;06 p.m.), Patitucci (arrived at 8:06 p.m.) , Renzel, Sutorius, Woolley ABSENT: Bechtel SPECIAL ORQERS OF THE DAY 1. Appointments to the Human Relations Commission (702-04) Mayor Klein announced the two applicants were Richard Block and Rosalyn Gray. Council Member Sutorius said Palo Alto was fortunate to have the benefit of two professionally qualified candidates. He would cast his ballot for Rabbi Block. RESULTS QF _T I „FIRST RUU2 D OF VtTING VOTING FOR GRAY: Renzel VOTING FOR BLOCK: Cobol Fletcher, Klein, Levy, Patitucci, Sutorius, Woolley City Clerk Gloria Young anmanced that Rabbi Block received seven votes and was appointed. Q, ►L CgMMUNIcATIONS Ed Power, 2254 Dartmouth Street, spoke regarding the Palo Alto Harbor. Harrison Otis, 2721 Midtown Court, thanked the Council. Members who had served the City and were retiring from the Council; and the need to replace sidewalks and trees. Jobst Brandt, 351 Middlefield Road, spoke regarding the danger of Page Mill Road, especially the curves. 62-85 8/14/89 John Lovas, 650 Coleridge, spoke re trends, eclecticism, etc., and cautioned the Council against imposing their taste on design. siNuns OF JULY 17A 1989 MOTION: Council Member Sutorius moved, seconded by Renzel, approval of the Minutes of June 19, 1989, as submitted. MOT/OM PARSED 7-0-1, Patitucci "abstaining," Bechtel absent. CONSE 1T CALENDAR MOTION: Council Member Sutorius moved, seconded by Fletcher to approve Consent Calendar Items 2 - 11, with Item 9 removed by Woolley to become Item 15A. 2. Renovation of Existing Irrigation System at the Cultural Center - Rejection of Bids (1305) (CMR:394:9) 3. Contract with Oakland Fence Company, Inc. for Construction of Adobe Creek. Undercrossing (1520-01) (CMR:4179) Lease Agreement with Santa Clara Valley Water District for Adobe Creek Undercrossing (1520-01) (CMR:417:9) 4. Contract with Pacific Engineering Construction for Foothills Park Erosion Control; Change Orders to the Contract Not to Exceed $14,000 (1073) (CMR:416;9) 5. Contract with Gas Recovery Systems, Inc. for Landfill Flare Station Modifications; Change Orders to the Contract Not to Exceed $2,800 (1072-01) (CMR:4 10:9) 6. Contract with Stanley Smith Security Services for Security Servir s at the Municipal Service Center; Change Orders Not to Exceed $2,000 Annually (130-03) (C'MR:409:9) 7. Contract with Granite Construction Company for Byxbee Park Phase I Road Reconstruction; Change Orders Not to Exceed $30,000 (1321-05) (CMR:393 :9) 8. Agreement with EA Engineering, Science and Technology, Inc. to Conduct Phase II of the Effluent Toxicity Characterization Program; Amendments for Related Services Not to Exceed $15,000 (1122-01) (CMR:411:9) 10. Easement from Southern Pacific Transportation Company, Alma/Churchill Intersection Improvements, CIP 84-71 (1010) ( :412:9) 62-86 8/14/89 1 1 11. RESOLUTION 6822 entitled "RESOLUTION 01THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO ADOPTING SALARIES FOR COUNCIL -APPOINTED OFFICERS AND AMENDING RESOLUTION NO. 6818" (501) MOTION PASSED 8-0, Bechtel absent. AGENDA Gx S. ADDI. IONS. , I,D DELETIONS City Manager Bill Zaner announced Item 9 would become Item 15A. PUBLIC HE7 ING 12. PUBLIC HEARING: Resolution Confirming the Weed Abatement Report and Ordering the Cost of Abatement to be a Special Assessment of the Respective Properties (1250-01) (CMR:390:9) Mayor Klein announced the item was removed by staff because it had not been properly noticed by the County. The item was referred to a later agenda. 13. PUBLIC HEARING: Planning Commission Recommendation Regarding Application of Maria and Hoover Kwok for a Comprehensive Plan Change and for a Zone Change for Property Located at 755 University Avenue (300) Mayor Klein declared the Public Hearing open. Maria 'Wok, 471 Addison Avenue, noted the property had been used as a multiple -family dwelling unit since 1949. Denial of the rezoning application would not change the existing multiple -family use. The property was located in a mixed use area not an exclusively single-family area. Policy 2 of the Comprehensive Plan's Housing Element was to preserve older single-family homes and small apartment buildings. The intent of rezoning the particular area was to prevent widespread deenlition of single- family homes and construction of large apartment buildings and to preserve the existing scale of the neighborhood. She contended the property had been missclasssified as a single-family home in 1978 and described in the Historic Building Inventory as a Rooming -In House with a lot size of 75 x 100 feet. The converted garage had been mistakenly classified as a separate property. She urged approval of the project. Lorna Masson, 478 Fulton Street, opposed the application to change the zoning to RM-30. She was concerned about adverse effects on traffic and parking and that the zone change would change the character of tie neighborhood. She urged the Kwoks to restore the Queen Anne style hone because of its historic value. She read a letter from Sharon Conte of 789 University Avenue who also opposed the project. 62-87 8/14/89 Jo Killen, 482 Fulton Street, presented a petition with over 50 signatures of neighbors and residents in Palo Alto who opposed the rezoning of the property at 755 University Avenue. She urged Council to hold to its commitment to retain buildings of historic interest to the City and to maintain the single-family zoning of the neighborhood. If rental income was the motivating factor for the rezoning request, she suggested upgrading the four legal non- conforming units to luxury apartments. Mrs. Kwok responded to the comments made by the real estate agent regarding the four properties owned by the Kwoks. The property :s in San Jose were bought directly from the developer and were recently sold. Mayor. Klein declared the Public Hearing closed. NOTION: Council Member Fletcher moves, seconded by Renzel to uphold the Planning Commission recommendation and deny the applica- tion of Maria and Hoover Kwok for the requested Comprehensive Plan and Zone Change from Single -Family residential to Multiple Family, RM-30 at 755 University Avenue as follows: YINAIj+GS 1. The public interest would not be served by rezoning this property to allow five units. The existing four non- conforming units are themselves more dense than the surrounding single-family homes in the area. Additional units would change the character of the neighborhood, in contravention of long-standing City policy. 2. Changing the Comprehensive Map Land Use designation of the property is contrary to the Policy of the Comprehensive Plan of maintaining the low -density residential character of existing single-family neighborhoods. Council Member Patitucci requested clarification regarding the block of University which retained R-1 zoning, although blocks on either side, with frontages on University, were designated RM-30. Council Member Renzel, who was on the Planning Commission at the tine of the rezoning, believed part of itr reasoning was that the property was on a corner which was also part of the Fulton Street landscape. Fulton was a narrow street and maintaining the zoning as single --family was appropriate because of the relationship to the Fulton Street frontage. 62-88 8/14/89 1 1 0 Council Member Woolley supported the motion to uphold the Planning Commission recommendation. She thought perhaps there were ways the Kwoks could manage to renovate the house. Since the property was an income producing property, the Kwoks could be eligible for tax credits through the IRS. Secondly, there was the possibility of the Mills Act, which provided property tax relief. There were ways to get assistance since the structure was a Category Two Historic Property. Council Member Renzel supported the reasoning of the Planning Commission that the zoning ran with the property; not with the building. Even though the structure was a Class II,. Council's powers to protect Class II structures was somewhat constrained. While the Kwoks were dealing in good with, a subsequent owner might decide to put condominiums in there. MOTION PASSED 8-0, Bechtel absent. 14. Ordinance Amending the Zoning Code Regarding Definitions of Commercial Recreation, General Business Service and Personal Service, Certain Parking Requirement Exceptions in the Commercial Downtown District and Variance or Conditional Use Permit Appeal Fees Refunds (237-01) Council Member Cobb referred to the General Business Service definition, and queried to what extent the changes related to the issue that developed in the Charleston Shopping Center with regard to the small local laundry and then the chain that came in. Chief Planning Official Carol Jansen said the change was related because interpretation issues were raised regarding the City's regulations and staff felt it prudent to clarify those issues. Council Member Cobb asked whether there was a problem with the current interpretation that might create legal difficulties which the change would correct. Ms. Jansen said the definition clarification would not result in any change in existing operations. The state-of-the-art of the laundry industry had changed substantially and although there was a small amount of on -site solvent used in conjunction with what staff considered to be a neighborhood dry cleaning establishment, it did not conflict with the intent of the regulations to allow neighborhood dry cleaners as opposed to those kinds of operations which clearly were commercial in character. The interpretation was contested by a minter of the public. The new General Business Service definition clarified the existing operation. City Attorney Diane Northway said since there were gray areas in the zoning code, there were those who disputed that is said what 62-89 8/14/89 staff wanted it to say. The rule of statutory construction said that contemporaneous administrative construction of a statute was given great weight by the courts. While staff had some presumptions on their side in caking interpretations, it was a cleaner process to crystalize definitions where possible. Council Member Levy asked if language should be included in the ordinance to distinguish between large and small group instruction in order to clarify any ambiguities for someone reading the ordinance without the benefit of consultation. Ms. Northway believed the problem of defining large and small group classes quantitatively was that it was not a sufficiently definitive standard. Ms. Jansen said there was no magical number for small or large groups. Code occupancy allowed a greater number in some instances than one would ever see. Staff did not want a situation where someone leased 5,000 square feet but maintained they would have no more than twelve people in that large area. Some instances involved parking problems related to a particular use. A number of parameters were involved in an interpretation. MOTION: Council Member Sutorius moved, seconded by Patitecci, to approve the Planning Commission recommendation finding that the proposed ordinance changes will not have a significant environmental impact, and introduced the ordinance. OxdJnance lit Reading entitled 'ORDINANCE OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO AMENDING TITLE 18 (THE ZONING CODE) REGARDING DEFI}V TIONS OF COMMERCIAL RECREA 'ION, GENERAL BUSINESS suvire AND PERSONAL SERVICE, CERTAIN PARKING REQUIREMENT EXCAPTIONS IN THE COMMERCIAL DOWNTOWN DISTRICT AND VARIANCE OR CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT APPEAL FEES REFUNDS" MOTION PA3BRD 8-0, Bechtel absent. 15. Planning Commission Recommendation Regarding the Proposed Residential Units at 4146 El Camino Real (300) (CMR:414:9) Planning Commissioner Joe Huber stated the Planning Commission had three major concerns regarding the project. First, regarding parking and safety, it concluded it was safer to provide access from Thain rather than from El Camino. Secondarily, the impact of only eight units would be minimal. Third, some type of stop sign compelling a ' stop out of the new project to Thain should be included, hopefully by the Architectural Review Board. 62-90 e/14/89 Council Member Woolley asked about a pedestrian access from the new project to El Camino so guests could park on El Camino. Architectural Review Board (ARB) Staff Liaison Jim Gilliland said the ARB would be encouraged to add the pedestrian access from El Camino into the new project. Ms. Jansen said the pedestrian access concern had also been expressed by members of the ARB at two preliminary hearings. While there was no formal project yet and the hearings were only preliminary reviews, the ARB anticipated any formal proposal would include pedestrian access. Mayor Klein asked if Council could condition its vote on the addition of the pedestrian access to El Camino. Ms. Northway stated Section 16.48.100 gave Council ample authority to impose or suggest conditions to the Architectural Review Board. Part of the rationale for the referrals was to get Council's policy directions and, if the direction included conditions or modifica- tions, Council had the freedom to make those modifications, providing the conditions related to the referral. Council Member Cobb asked if more recent discussions had resulted in some endorsement of the Thain access by the formal homeowners' association of the project. Ms. Jansen was unaware of an endorsement of the access. Council Member Cobb urged members of the public aware of such information to advise Council. Co'mcil Member Levy referred to the adjacent properties on El Camino Real, the Sunset Barbecue and the Chinese Kitchen, and queried whether they would also have eveitual access from Thain Way. Mr. Gilliland said no. Mayor Klein asked if there was room for the Chinese kitchen to access the corner from Maybell Avenue. Mr. Gilliland said it would be very difficult. Mayor Klein asked how many units could be constructed on the Sunset Barbecue/Chinese Kitchen parcels since they were zoned at RM-30. Mr. Gilliland calculated a mma:xDeus of six units could be constructed on the isolated triangular piece of property, under the present ordinance; however, with setbacks, open -space requirements, 62-31 8/14/89 parking, etc., the number of units would probably be closer to four. Architect Tony Carrasco of Carrasco & Associates, 140 Forest Avenue, project architect, had met with the Barron Park Associa- tion (BPA) twice over the year and at its request had scaled the project down from eleven to nine units. The BPA felt larger, three -bedroom units were more preferable than the two -bedroom units found in most projects along the street. A plan was submitted to the Architectural Review Board (ARB) for nine units and later revised to eight larger units. After three meetings with the newly formed Barron Square Association (BSA), he agreed to work cooperatively with the BSA and the property owner, Mrs. Su Chen Chun to provide parking spaces which seemed to be a common problems. Studies by traffic engineers showed it was safer to have the eight townhouses access from Thain Wa►y rather than El Cassino. In addition, it was better planning to incorporate eight units into a neighborhood rather than isolate them off on a busy, public, commercial street. He urged Council support the recommendations of the Planning Commission and planning staff. Bob Moss, 4010 Orme, presented graphs of the original Barron Square development. The first unit showed the Barron Square project at Interdale. The other three units; the Thain property, the Sunset Barbecue/Chinese Kitchen, and the Townhouse Motel were not part of the original project and were considered separately. The Townhouse Motel came in under the Cherry Amendment and was excluded from being amortized. The original concept was to have the residential properties developed as a group with access off Maybell Avenue. When the Townhouse Motel was grandfathered in, that access became impossible. There were two residential properties fronting along El Camino, one of which was proposed to be developed and the other little triangle which would be almost impossible to develop rationally. It would be more appropriate for the RM-30, the Sunset Barbecue and the Chinese Kitchen, to be left as comme: -cial and not be redeveloped as residential. Combining the Sunset Barbecue and the Chinese Kitchen property would provide a viable commercial district. Mary W. Shaw, 553 Thain Way, felt the architect misrepresented his purpose when he met with the Baron Square homeowners. His responsibility was to inform the residents of the possibility of an access from Thain Way. The majority of the homeowners were against the Thain Way access because of the existing substandard, unsafe street. She opposed the proposed access due to the already existing substandard street. Rosemary Campana, 522 Thain Way, spoke against the Thain Way access and echoed similar complaints against the project. Her main concern was traffic and pedestrian safety. When the Townhouse 62-92 8/14/89 1 1 Motel became planned community zoning, the property was locked in. The result was the creation of parking problems and many near - accidents in the neighborhood. Pedestrians had to go into the street to access the swimming pool, tennis courts, mailboxes, their cars, and even sidewalks. She urged Council to carefully study this already substandard project. Laszlo Takes, 4133 Thain Way, expressed concern with traffic problems due to the larger three -bedroom units. The current parking problem would be worse with the Thain Way access. He urged consideration of the two properties in light of future development. MOTION: Council Member Levy moved, seconded by Renzel, to approve Planning Commission and staff recommendations that the access to the proposed residential units on the property known as 4146 El Camino Real be made from the end of the cul-de-sac currently existing at the end of Thain Way with the following findings and conditions: FINDINGS The recommendation to require access to the property at 4146 El Canino Real from Thain Way is based on the following findings: 1. Access to the property from Thain Way will result in the least environmental impacts, particularly in terms of added traffic congestion along El Camino Real. 2. Access to the site via Thain Way is consistent with the Comprehensive Plan, in that it limits driveway access to El Camino Real and will assist in creating a greenbelt landscape area along El Camino Real. 3. Access via Thain Way will create a neighborhood and sense of community between the two developments, greatly improving the quality of residential environment for the proposed project. 4. The traffic report by RGM Associates, dated March 1, 1989, concluded that the Thain Way access is the most desirable and will have the least traffic impacts. These impacts may be mitigated by additional guest parking, painting of a center- line on Thain Way and replacement of the STOP sign. comnittpm Final site and building design shall be subject to review and approval by the Architectural Review Board. The Architectural Review Board shall insure that the project is compatible with the existing developments by adequately addressing the following: 62-93 8/14/89 1. Adequate open and available parking for shall be provided, which may be in excess by the Zoning Ordinance. 2. The site layout and building shall be manner as to respect the concerns of residents, by encouraging pedestrian and El Camino Real. guests and tenants of parking required designed in such a the Barron Square visitor access from 3. The project shall be provided sufficient common usable open space and on -site amenities so as to encourage residents to remain on site. Further, with the suggestion that the Architectural Review Board consider staff recommendations 1, 2, 3 and 5 of the July 21, 1989 Planning Commission Report as follows: 1. Treatment of the El Camino Real frontage as the front door of the project with possible retention of El Camino Real addresses. This would allow for visitors to arrive and park along El Camino Real while the Thain Way access would be secondary for residents only. Pedestrian access to the project from El Camino Real should be encouraged. 2. Sufficient and usable play and common areas must be provided for the new project so as to discourage the residents from attempting to use the Barron Square facilities. These facilities should be fully designed and constructed with this project and should be sited so as to encourage their use. 3. The new project should be required to provide guest parking in excess of current Zoning Ordinance requirements, such as one guest parking space per unit, or by providing usable parking aprons for each of the garages. 5. The applicant should be required to provide for two-way reflective markers or centerline striping to be placed on the curve on Thain Way and to replace the STOP signs at Thain Way. Council Romer Levy believed Council should suggest to the ARB some policies to follow, but he was uncomfortable giving definite direction to the ARB. He wanted all residential ...yeas to be part of a purely residential neighborhood. Fronting and accessing such an isolated project onto El Camino would not provide quality neighborhood residential amenities. Secondly, there were only eight units, so it was not going to add a dramatic amount of traffic to Thain Way. Thain Way was a substandard street, but the alternative of making the project a part of the El Camino traffic in all ways would be very unpleasant. The old Planning Commission minutes were interesting because the surrounding neighbors opposed 62-94 8/14/89 the Barron Square project; however, it was built and many residents now enjoyed the quality of life. He thought the Thain Way project would provide the same opportunities. Council Member Fletcher had visited the site and saw the access to El Camino was very close to the left -turn stacking lane, and it was difficult to merge over to that left -turn lane safely with the amount of traffic on El Camino. She lived in a multi -family project of 140 units, with many children using bicycles and skateboards and garages accessing a 26 -foot driveway. The access had not presented a problem, so she believed Thain Way was quite adequate to handle the traffic from eight more units without any perceptible impact. Council Member Cobb referred to cul-de-sac parking and the fact that family -sized units generated teenagers with cars which plugged up the cul-de-sac. He could not support the project without adequate consideration being given to the parking issue. He went down Thain Way and believed it was too small and congested and parking was limited. The triangle area was not going to produce better developed housing. It needed to be changed; otherwise access needed to be from El Camino. Council Member Renzel supported the Thain Way access to the property. She opposed the substandard public street when the Barron Square project was originally developed. Council consciously approved the public street and tried to ensure there was access to the remaining portion of the Thain property because Council believed it should be integral to the neighborhood. A major accomplishment of the General Plan revisions in 1976 was to have the El Camino frontage to some extent reflect the neighborhoods behind them rather than wall-to-wall strip development. Even though the proposed units were family -sized, they were sufficiently small in number to accommodate the number of cars. Council Member Sutorius supported the motion. He did not want the ARB to interpret the El Camino orientation suggestion to overrule consideration of the most recent discussions between the developer's representative and a member of the Thain community regarding orientation on a secured basis because it was important to not create a mall. Access needed to be carefully considered. The project would not return to Council unless it was an appeal situation. MOTION PASS= 7-1, Cobb "no," Bechtel absent. 15A. (Old Item 9) Contract with California Land Management for Park Ranger Services for Palo Alto Baylands Area (1330) (CKR:395:9) 62-95 8/14/89 Council Member Woolly thought the cost of hiring a ranger at a cost of $64,000 for 27 hours a week was expensive. She queried whether staff had evaluated the costs of inhouse versus a contract arrangement. She did not believe the Athletic Center, Duck Pond, and Old Harbor area were part of the responsibility of the Refuse area and she queried why the Refuse Fund was paying for services to those areas. Supervisor of Parks and Open Space Jerry Lawrence, referred ;:c the cost of hiring a ranger and said labor was $12 an hour. The contractor provided uniforms, a 50 -gallon pumper unit on a truck, a four-wheel drive truck equipped with first -aid equipment and a light bar for enforcement, and tools for maintenance. He had evaluated the costs and found a contract arrangement less expensive than going inhouse. The contract was established in 1983 and services were only provided in the Refuse area. When the County pulled out of the Harbor area in 1986, the City expanded the patrol to include those areas. Council Member Woolley asked why the Refuse Fund shouldbear the entire burden. She asked if the Refuse Enterprise Fund received money from the General Fund, and how much money was involved. She had not understood the funding process during budget hearings and requested the information come back to the entire Council. City Manager Bill Zaner said the funds were budgeted in the Refuse Division Budget; however, not all of the funding from the Refuse Division Budget came from Refuse fees. General Fund moneys were appropriated annually for the Refuse Division Budget. The funding for the contract was from both refuse fees and the General Fund. He would get the numbers from the budget and report back to Council. NOTION: Council Member Woolley moved, seconded by Renzel, to approve the staff recommendation to: 1. Authorize the Mayor to execute the contract with California Land Management in the amount of $55,920 for Ranger Patrol Services at the Palo Alto Baylands Preserve for this fiscal year. 2. Authorize the City Manager or his designee to negotiate and execute one or more amendments for additional services related to or incidental to the scope of services, the aggregate value of which amendments shall not exceed $8,388 for this fiscal year. NOTION PABDBD 8-0, Bechtel absent. 62-96 8/14/89 OUH I L )IX`I"TERS 16. Council Member Fletcher re Resolution Regarding Smoking Regulations (1401-02) NOTION: Council Member Fletcher moved, seconded by Klein, to request the League of California Cities to seek legislation repealing the provisions in State law preempting local regulation on the sale or display of tobacco projects. Council Member Fletcher intended to bring to Council a proposal to regSulate the sale of chewing tobacco sold to teenagers because more supervision by the sales clerks at the check-out counter was needed. She felt cigarette machines should only be placed in supervised areas. Most people started smoking as teenagers and making those products so readily available encouraged them. She checked with the City Attorney's office and found the State legislature recently passed legislation preempting any local control of the sale or display of tobacco products. The League of California Cities was not aware of the legislation nor were the nonsmoking organizations. She had prepared the draft resolution for the League of California Cities Conference. Council Member Renzel supported the motion although she thought it made more sense to lobby for statewide regulation of such facilities. MOTION PASSED 8-0, Bechtel absent. 1/. Mayor Klein and Council Members Renzel and Woolley re Request to Revise Definition of Driveways as it Relates to Flag Lots (237) NOTION: Cour cil Member Renzel moved, seconded by Klein, to direct the City Attorney to return to Council on September 11 with a revised Section 21.04.030 to reflect the definition of driveways as it relates to flag lots. Council Member Renzel said a lot of attention was paid to what would happen on a flag lot during the revision of the flag lot regulations, but not enough attention was paid to the definition which was changed and which resulted in the exclusion of a number of properties having flag lot characteristics. The proposed ordinance would encompass those lots. Council Member Patitucci hoped the proposed ordinance change was not a vote against flag lots because properly designed and developed, flag lots adequate housing alternatives. He asked if the proposal was simply to tighten up definitions that made sense. 52-97 S/ _4/89 Mayor Klein stated Council had alre<dy gone on record against flag lots. Council Member Renzel said Council had already dealt with the issue of new flag lots and conditions of existing flag lots. The motion dealt with existing flag lots that had all the characteristics of a flag lot, e.g. small narrow driveways to the street, and the principal building area was behind the property fronting on the public street. A number of properties that previously would have been defined as flag lots, were not because of the definition of driveway. Council Member Patitucci urged Council to vote against the motley) and re-evaluate flag lots. Terry Stewart, 1141 Forest Avenue, lived on a flag lot for eight years. Approximately one year ago, they started trying to expand their house and were caught in the flag lot moratorium. They were yranted relief and started the variance procedure. On the day they were supposed to receive the variance decision they were informed that under a new interpretation, the property was considered a flag lot. They hoped to acquire a building permit shortly and did not want to get caught in a similar situation. Council Member Sutorius shared some of the same concerns that Council Member Patitucci raised. He would support the motion and reserve his judgment until they had an actionable item before them. MOTION PASSED 7.1, Patitucci "no," Bechtel absent. pJOU MENT: The meeting adjourned at 10:50 p.m. ATTEST: APPROVED: C y Clerk / Mayor NOTE: Sense minutes (synopsis) are prepared in accordance with Palo Alto Municipal Code Section 2.04.200(b). The City Council meeting tapes are retained in the City Clerk's Office for two years from the date of themeeting, and the Finance and Public Works Committee and Policy and Procedures Committee meeting tapes are retained for six months. Members of the public may listen to the tapes during regular office hours. • 62-98 8/14/89-