HomeMy WebLinkAbout1986-12-22 City Council Summary MinutesCITY COUNCIL
MINUTES
PALOAL.TOCIVYCOUNCILMEETINGSARE BROADCAST LIVE VIA K.ZSU• FREQUENCY 90.1 ON FM DIAL
Regular Meeting
December 22, 1986
ITEM
Oral Communications
Minutes of November 24, 1986 and December 1, 1986
Consent Calendar
3. Contract with Container Corporation of America
for the Purchase of Papers Collected in the
City's Recycling Program
4. Consultant Agreement with Keller & Gannon
Engineers -Architects to Provide Design Services
for Emergency Power and Ventilation for
Computer Operations in this Civic Center
Building
6. Agreement with Scientific Environmental
Laboratories, Inc./ to Perform Quifer Protec-
tion Study for Regional Water Quality Control
Plant
PAGE
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7. Request for Authorization of Insulation Testing 7 9 4 7
Expenditures
8. Ordinance Amending the Budget re Additional 7 9 4 7
Appropriation for the Human Services Program
and the Palo Alto .Unified School District/Youth
Counseling. Project; Agreement with Palo Alto
Unified School District
9. Agreement with Palo Alto Unified School 7 9 4 8
District for Use of Facilities for City's
Recreational Purposes
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ITEM PAGE
10. Ordinance Amending the Budget re Appropria- 7 9 4 8
tion fbr a Fuel Efficient Traffic Signal
Management Project
11. Resolution Ordering Weed Nuisance Abated 7 9 4-8
12. Resolution Approving Loan and Note and Deed
of Trust With Authorization to Carry Out
Related Activities
13. Ordinance Amending Various Sections in
Chapter 2.08 of the Palo Alto Municipal Code
Relating to Various Officers and Departments
15. Resolution Authorizing the Filing of a Claim
with the Metropolitan Transportation
Commission for Allocation of Transportion
Development Act Funds for Fiscal Year
1987-88
16. Soundwall Recommendations in Connection with
Route 101 Widening Project
16A. (OLD 1), City's Financial Condition - Refer
to Finance & Public Works Committee
16B. (OLD 2) , Contract with Clyde Farmer. to
Provide Maintenance and Security for Stable,
Stablemaster House, and Barn at the
Arastradero Preserve
Adjournment to Closed Session re Litigation at
8:20 p.m.
Final Adjournment at 10:00 p.m.
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Regular Meeting
Monday, December 22, 1986
The City Council of the City of Palo Alto met on this
Council Chambers, 250 Hamilton Avenue, at 7:35 p.m.
PRESENT:
ABSENT;
Cobb, Fletcher, Klein, Levy,
Patitucci, Renzel, Woolley
Bechtel, Sutorius
date in the
Mayor Cobb announced the need for a closed session re Litigation
to discuss Century Federal v. City of Palo Alto pursuant to
Government Code Section 54956.9(a) to be held after the meeting.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
1. Dr. Nancy Jewell Cross, 301 Vine Street, Menlo Park, spoke on
the air quality implicationn in transportation. The Route 101
proposal involved putting two more lanes into high -occupancy
vehicle. Part of the Route 101 project from Lawrence
Expressway south was opened to high -occupancy vehicle lanes
under protest. The proposal was part of an anticipated exten-
sion between Lawrence Expressway to Whipple Avenue in Redwood
City, and only a part of it would be to the San Mateo County
line. She requested the City of Palo Alto ask Caltrans to
make an environmental impact report rather than leaving it to
a negative declaration. Palo Alto's air quality was impacted
and to raise ti -m. volume of traffic from 150,000 to 165,000
plus would have a severe impact which soundwal].s could not
stop. The 132,000 cars -a few years ago ` was calculated to have
10 tons of pollution on Palo Alto.
MINUTES OF NOVEMBER 24t 1986f AND DECEMBER 1, 1986
NOTIDet Councilmemsber Levy moved, seconded by Rensei, approval
of the Minutes of $ovember 24, . 19116, and . December 1, 19$6, as
gabsi tted.
AOTIO* PASSED umonimonsly, Fletcher, Klein, Levy *abstaining" on
the Minutes of meet 1, i9i6, Bechtel, Sutorius absent.
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OVI
DE
D I T'I ON
L APPROP
ATI
ON
FOR
CONSENT CALENDAR
Mayor Cobb removed Item 1, City's Financial Condition, at the
request of a member of the public.
Vice Mayor Woolley removed Item 2, Contract with Clyde Farmer.
Item 5, Agreement with Malcolm Jones & Associates, was removed at
the request of staff.
MOTION: Vice Mayor. Woolley moved, seconded by Fletcher,
approval of the Consent Calendar.
3. CONTRACT WITH CONTAINER CORPORATION OF AMERICA
FOR
THE
PURCHASE OF PAPERS COLLECTED IN
(CMR:S96:6) (1420)
THE CITY
S RECYCLING PROGRAM
4. CONSULTANT AGREEMENT WITH KELLER & GANNON ENGINEERS -ARCHITECTS
TO PROVIDE DESIGN SERVICES FOR EMERGENCY POWER AND VENTILATION
FOR COMPUTER OPERATIONS IN THE CIVIC CENTER BUILDING
( W a ) 600/ 0
Staff is further authorized to execute change orders to the
agreement up to $1,000.
6. AGREEMENT WITH SCIENTIFIC ENVIRONMENTAL LABORATORIES INC., TO
PERFORM A UIFER PROTECTION STUDY FOR REGIONAL WATER QUALITY
CONTROL PLANT (CMR:609 z 6) ( 41-02)
Staff is further authorized to issue Change Orders up to
$5,00(0 to cover the cost of any additional work that may be
identified as necessary during the course of the study.
7. REQUEST FOR AUTHORIZATION OF INSULATION TESTING EXPENDITURE
(CMR:60ha6) (1414.01) 0
Staff is authorized to pay up to $25,000 to the State Bureau
of Home Furnishings laboratory for the testing of cellulose
insulation installed through the Utility Department's Energy
Services Home Weatherizaticn Program.
ORDINANCE 3728 entitled "ORDINANCE OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF PALO ALTO AMENDING THE BUDGET FO L YEAR 19 6-�R THE F1 CA 7
TO ESTABLISH AND
HUMAN- SERVICES PAR _ HE PALO ALTO UNIFIED .; • SCHOOL
DISTRICT/YOUTH COUNSELING PROJECT" (64R:562:6) (12. .4414,3•41-00
AGREEH NT LIUTH PMdO ALTO? UiIIFIED SCH OL DISTRI °OR YOUTH ;
COUNSELING PROJECT
THE
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9. AGREEMENT WITH PALO ALTO UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT FOR USE OF
FA LITIES FOR S RECREATIONAL PURPOSES (CMR :600:6 )
(1311)
10. ORDINANCE 3729 entitled "ORDINANCE OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF PALO ALTO AMENDING THE BUDGET FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 1986-87
TO PROVIDE AN APPROPRIATION FOR A FUEL EFFICIENT TRAFFIC
SIGNAL MANAGEMENT PROJECT" (601:6 (208:02
11. RESOLUTION 6579 entitled "RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF PALO ALTO ORDERING WEED NUISANCE ABATED" (CMR:599)
(1250-01)
12. RESOLUTION 6580 entitled "RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF PALO ALTO APPROVING THE LOAN AND NOTE AND DEED OF
TRUST EVIDENCING SAME TOGETHER WITH AUTHORIZATION TO CARRY
OUT RELATED ACTIVITIES" (CMR:608:6) (501) —
ORDINANCE 3730 entitled "ORDINANCE OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF PALO ALTO AMENDING THE BUDGET FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 1986-87
TO PROVIDE AN APPROPRIATION FOR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECT
NO. 86--46 'CITY MANAGER'S HOUSING ASSISTANCE' "
13. ORDINANCE 3731 entitled "ORDINANCE OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF PALO ALTO AMENDING VARIOUS SECTIONS IN CHAPTER 2.08 OF THE
PALO ALTO MUNICIPAL CODE RELATING TO VARIOUS OFFICERS
DEPARTMENTS" (1st Reading 10/27/86, PASSED 9-0) (CMR:589:6)
(701-01)
AND
MOTION PASSED-eaanissoualy, Bechtel, Sutorius absent.
AGENDA CHANGES/ ADDITIONS, AND DELETIONS
City Manager Bill Zaner said item 1, City's Financial Condition,
would become Item 16A; and Item 2, Contract with Clyde Farmer to
Provide Maintenance and Security for Stable, Stab1emaster House,
and Barn at the Arastradero Preserve, would become Item 16B.
Mayor Cobb said Item 14, Resolution of the Intention of the
Council of the City of Palo Alto re Issuance of Revenue Bonds, was
withdrawn at the request of the applicant.
15. RESOLUTION 6581 entitled •"RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF =PALO ALTO AUTHORIZING THE FILING 0f A CLAIM WITH THE
R OLITAN TRAN ORTATION COMMISSION R ALLOCATION OF
TRANSPORTATION DEV OPMENT ACT FUNDS FOR FI CAL YEAR 1987-88"
(CMRi607:5) (208-03/1163-01-02)
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Transportation Planner Gayle Likens said on page 1 of staff report
(CMR:607:6), Item (5) of the priority list should be listed for
funding in FY 1988-89 a s described in the body of the report.
Dr. Nancy Jewell Cross, 301 Vine Street, Menlo Park, spoke
regarding the allocation of bike funds and the need for a wide,
flat bike And walking bridge between Palo Alto's Alma Street and
Menlo Park's Alma Street. The congestion on El Camino Real
between Menlo Park and Palo Alto was getting worse. Many people
visited the new Safeway from northern Palo Alto, and car travel
was congested, to go by bike was hazardous in terms of collision
and detrimental in terms of air quality. A possible improvement
to Fl Camino Real would be a bike and pedestrian access distinct
from cars. Most people traveled only a few blocks and should be
encouraged to use bikes and walk. She also suggested a bike/
pedestrian bridge between the shopping center and Menlo Park. The
inexpensive improvements could have profound effects between Palo
and Menlo Park and she asked Council to consider a joint
endeavor.
$OTIO; Couacilaomber Fletcher moved, seconded by Renzel, to
adopt staff recommendation authorizing the City Manager to file a
claim for allocation of TIM Article 3 funds in FY 81.88 for
pedestrian and bicycle projects in the following priority
manner:
1) Bicycle Traffic School Program ($1,500);
2) Traffic Loop Replacement ($3,000);
3) Middlefield Sidewalk ($10,000);
4) Adobe Creek Undercrossing ($28,000);
5) Embarcadero/Bryant Traffic Signal ($75,000); and
6) barcadero/B1 Camino Island Sidewalk Construction
($28,000)
Councilmember Fletcher was pleased to see the proposal for,
improvements to the undercrossing a t Adobe Creek and U.S. 101,
which was improved recently by the water district to make it pos-
sible to walk and bicycle safely except there was no railing from
the ledge and people could possibly ride off the edge into the
water. The proposed improvements would put railings and lighting
in the underpass. The funding was not assured, but the project
had .a good chance of being implemented. The project was important
because there were many office buildings on the other side of U.S.
101 and the San Antonio ovetcrossing was intimidating for
bicyclists and pedestrians, She hoped the communication to the
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County emphasized the project was a potential high -use commuter
route which shou!d have high priority because Palo Alto would be
competing with other cities for funding.
Councilmember Levy asked about a bicycle crossing at Alma Street.
Ms. Likens said a project to build a bicycle overcrossing of San
Francisquito Creek at Alma Street was reviewed two years ago by
staff and the Palo Alto Bicycle Advisory Committee and was put on
the priority listing as a mid -to -long range project because of the
considerable cost, which was estimated at that time to be between
$150,000-$200,000. Given the funding available .in TDA funds for
the present year, the project was not recommended as a high
priority.
Councilmember Levy asked if the matter had been discussed with
Menlo Park.
Ms. Likens said not at the present time. When the subject was
first brought to Council, it was looked at it terms of looking at
the subject after there was a decision regarding the Sand Hill
Road extension because conditions along Alma Street and the need
for an overcrossing would exchange considerably..
MOTION PASSED unanimously, Bechtel, Sutorius absent.
16. SOUNDWALL RECOMMENDA'T'IONS TN CONNECTION WITH ROUTE 101
WIDENING PROJECT (CMR:605:6) (1019)
Chief Transportation Official Marvin Overway said there were two
additional pieces of information from Caltrans, one in a letter
before Council (on file in the City Clerk's office) regarding a
section of soundwall included in the area between Embarcadero and
Oregon Expressway, and a comment from Caltrans regarding Soundwall
1. Subsequent to the report, Caltrans found the soil conditions
in the area were less favorable than anticipated. While Caltrans
still expected to be able to design a wall that could be supported
by piles, it ,was necessary to come up with a more creative pile
design, and there was a small chance they might not be able to
achieve the design cost effectively. If Caltrans was unable to
find a cost-effective way to put the wall on piles, it would have
to go to a beam footing which would destroy the trees. If condi-
tions changed, staff would report back to Council.
Councilmember Fletcher asked whether the soundwalls would be blank
or textured and whether the Architectural Review Board (ARB) had
any jurisdiction over the walls.
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Mr. Overway said Caltrans was willing to meet to review the
texture and design of the walls soon after a decision was made
about whether the wall would go in, size, etc. He believed the
City would definitely have input; it was a State project, and not
subject to formal ARB approval.
Councilmember Patitucci clarified staff was not recommending the
wall along the ramp that backed up to Sierra Court.
Mr. Overway said they were.
Councilmember Patitucci asked who would pay for that wall.
Mr. Overway said the recommendation was that the Santa Clara
Traffic Authority include the wall as part of its mitigation.
package for the project. The Santa Clara Traffic Authority was
paying for the whole project, including thewalls already speci-
fied, subject to a certain amount of negotiation. He had an indi-
cation from the Council that if the project was a desirable one to
be included, that would carry some weight. To date the Santa
Clara Traffic Authority had .not committed to paying for that por-
tion.
Councilmember Patitucci clarifies the soundwalls were on State
property and asked what happened to property boundaries when the
walls were put in. He was not clear on the responsibility for
maintenance.
Mr. Overway said Soundwalls 1 and, 2 as described in CMR:605:6 were
built right on the property line; therefore, anything on one side
belonged to the City and on the other side to the State. The
Embarcadero/Oregon Expressway WAS away from the property line and
a piece of land would remain between the wall and the residential
property. The State said that land would be its reponsibility to
maintain.
Councilmember Patitucci asked if staff was confident that: under
the proposals most of the Eucalyptus trees on the Embarcadero
off -ramp could be saved.
Hr. Overway said the project engineer doing the design work was
trying hard to find a way to do so.
Vice Mayor Woolley was pleased to see more information from
Caltrans and a reduced cost on the Embarcadero/Oregon Expressway
ramp soundwall from the original $100,000-$300,000 to
$50,000-$80,000.
MOTIONS Vice Mayor Woolley moved, seconded by Levy, to adopt
staff recommendation that the Mayor direct a letter to the Santa
Clara Traffic Authority and Caltrans communicating the following
points;
1) Sousrdwall 1 be built to a height of 16 feet except in the area
of the existing mature trees where the height should be
reduced to 14 feet with the express intent of saving all or
most of the trees;
2) Sosndwall 2 to be built to a height of 16 feet throughout and
extended as far north(crest) as warranted;
3) Special care be taken to save as many existing mature trees as
practical, 'including City's commitment to perform initial
pruning;
4) Additional soundwalls be provided as warranted along the ramps
in the area between Embarcadero Road and Oregon Expressway;
5) Basic landscaping of the residential side of the soundwalls be
included as part of the current project, including City
commitment to provide proper ongoing maintenance; and
6) Basic landscaping of the freeway side of the soundwalls be
included as part of the current project.
Councilmembec Fletcher said expensive interchanges were being con-
structed on Routes 237 and 85, and Palo Alto also paid the one-
half cent tax as did the other jurisdictions who fought hard for
the expensive freeway construction projects. In terms of alloca-
tion of funds, she believed Palo Alto could make a point that pro-
portionately it was not gaining the benefits from the Measure A
funds Lo the same extent as many of the other jurisdictions. It
was time for Palo Alto to fight for something.
Councils ember Renzel said soundwalls were important to people who
lived near freeways; and, .while she_ supported the motion, it was
sad . Pa io Alto needed them. Soundwa l l s were. graffiti attractions,
and a . bright in terms of the visual enjoyment of people driving on
the freeway. She hoped as much landscaping as possible might be
preserved to hide the 1i -foot walls.
C*unciimevber Patitucci supported the motion because of staff's
assurance that the maximum amount of landscaping would be retained
at Eebarcasdero. If the landscaping could not be retained and the
design could not be achieved as Caltrans claimed, he wanted the
issue to return to Council before removing the trees.
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AMENDMENT: Council.esber Pa.titucci moved, seconded by Sensel,
that if retention •f the Eucalyptus trees along the proposed area
for constructing Sorndralls 1 and 2 cannot be achieved by the
design, the matter be returned to Council for review.
Vice Mayor Woolley asked whether the neighbors, whose properties
backed up to Soundwall No. 1, preferred a soundwall with or
without trees.
Mr. Overway believed it depended on the height of the soundwall.
The effect of a 16 -foot soundwall as one drew away from the
freeway was acceptable to most of the people. If the soundwall
was much lower, he believed people would prefer to have the sound -
wall built at the expense of removing the trees. Thereseemed to
be an understanding with Caltrans that a 14 -foot wall was
achievable. The difference between 14 and 16 feet in terms of
sound reduction was fairly minimal and several of the neighbors
favored keeping the trees and building the highest _wall possible,
and a couple of people preferred the 16 -foot wall and hoped trees
would be planted if existing ones were destroyed.
councilmember Patitucci believed it was a trade off between the
needs of the immediate neighbors and whether the .30 or 40
Eucalyptus trees were assets to the City. It was a welcomed
relief for him from the freeway to turn into Palo Alto and get a
feel .for the community's image. The mood would be destroyed if
the trees were removed and the wall would be bar` for the next 10
years. He dice not support a soundwall without trees,
;ouncilmember Levy said the report indicated the difference
between a 14- and 16 -foot soundwall was -two decibels, which was
barely perceptable to most people. He .asked for clarification.
Mr. Overway said ', t was a matter of judgment. The issue was not
the decibel level because reducing the height of the wall drew
away fron the freeway. The numbers quoted in the report were more
for the section immediately paralleling the freeway. The decibels
along the ramps themselves were actually less. If one stood on
Edgewood, there was noise, and he hesitated to say the difference
in two decibels was insignificant.
Couricilmember Levy assumed if a 16 -foot wall were built and the
trees were destroyed, it would not be much different from building,
a 14 --foot wall and having the trees :&ntact.which themselves acted
as a sound buffers
Mr. Overway understood unless there was a significant amount of
dense trees, it made little difference. He did not believe any of
the Eucalyptus trees filtered out the noise.
1
1
1
1
Councilmember Levy sympathized with Councilmember Patitucci. The
two decibel level was not significant, and presently the neigh-
bors' concerns focused on the noise and not the visual. aesthetics.
He believed the residents of the community should generally be
taker, into consideration. A 14 -foot wall would accomplish most of
the reduction.
AMENDMENT PASSED by a vote of 5-2, Fletcher, Woolley voting
"no,• Bechtel, Sutorius absent.
MOTION AS AMENDED PASSED unanimously, Bechtel, Sutorius absent.
16A. (OLD 1)t CITY'S FINANCIAL CONDITION - REFER TO FINANCE AND
PUBLIC WORKS (F&PW) COMMITTEE (411) (CMR:6 10:6 )
Harrison Otis, 2721 Midtown Court, said Palo Alto had a limited
budget and it was important to adhere to it. He did not know the
truth about the $2 million deficit, and believed the City was
endowed with a capital reserve enough to fund its needs. Palo
Alto needed to watch its expenditures and be self-contained with
the City staff doing more in-house consulting. He supported a
City Council -appointed Controller.
MOTION TO REFER: Councilmember .Klein moved, seconded by
Woolley, to refer the item to the Finance and Public Works (FSPW)
Committee.
Councilmember Levy believed a $2 million reduction in the City's
unappropriated reserves, which was 60 percent of the City's
reserves warranted some discussion and clarification before the
matter was referred to the F&PW Committee where it would be a
number of weeks before it was heard. Without discussion, he was
unable to support the motion.
Councilmember Klein said Council was aware of the problem and i .-
was more appropriately handled in the F&PW Committee giving staff
the appropriate time to respond. He supported the referral.
MOTION TO REFER PASSED by a vote of 6-1, Levy voting "no,'
Bechtel, Sutorius absent.
168. jOLD 2) CONTRACT WITH CLYDE FARMER TO PROVIDE MAINTNANCE
MW SECURITY FOR STABLE, $TABLEMASTER HOUSE. AND BARN AT THE
ARASTRADERO PRESERVE (1321-3 c 1598:6) _
Vice Mayor Woolley said the contract was previously on a month -to -
month basis and she believed it should be continued on a month -
to -month basis because the matter was in question. She believed
the matter would return to Council long before the six months was
up.
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MOTION: Vice Mayor Woolley moved approval of the staff recom-
mendation with the amendment that the contract be on a month -to -
month basis.
MOTION DIED FOR LACI OF A SAD
Councilmember Fletcher asked why Mr. Farmer would receive a salary
in addition to living quarters.
Director of Parks and Open Space Latry White said by living on
site, Mr. Farmer would provide security for the stable and. house.
The City's past experience was if the house was vacant, it quickly
became vandalized.
City Attorney Diane Northway said the only person who could live
in the house was the stablemaster. Because of the Fair Labor
Standards Act, an employee could not live in the house, and
because of the Park Dedication Ordinance and the term which
expired at the end of November, the property could not be leased
to anyone else because it would be inconsistent with the park
purpose. Staff was more concerned about the use and protection of
the house rather than income.
NOTIONt Coonc i Mme ber Fletcher moved, seed by Klein,
approval of the t eeommeadatfon, approving the stabl emanage-
ment contract paying Clyde Farmer the amount of 87,200 (81,200 por
for the period January 1, 1987 to Jame 30, 1987.
MOTU*PASSED by a vote of 6--1,, Woolley voting *no," Bechtel
Ohtor1ts abSent.
ADJOURNMENT
Council adjourned to a closed session re litigation at 8:20
FINAL ADJOURNMENT
Final adjournment at 10:00 p.
ATTEST:
APPROVED:
p.m.
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