HomeMy WebLinkAbout1983-07-25 City Council Summary MinutesCITY (
COUNCIL
MINUTEN
CITY
OF
PA( O
ALTO
Regular Meeting
Monday, July 25, 1983
ITEM PAGE
Oral Communications 3 6 3 0
Minutes of April 25, 1983 3 6 3 0
Item #1, Appointment of a Planning Commissioner 3 6 3 0
to Fill a Four Year Term Commencing August 1,
1983
Consent Calendar 3 6 3 1
Referral 3 6 3 1
Action 3 6 3 1
Item #2, Agreement for Architectural/Interior 3 6 3
Design Services for Phase III Improvements to
the Main Library
Item #3, Traffic Signal Detector Loop Instal-
lation
Item 14, Amendment of the Compensation Plan for
Management Personnel
Item #5, Appointment of Interim Controller
Item #6, Special Jobs Bill - Community
Development Block Grant Contracts
Item #7, Underground Conversion 4000 Block of 3 6 3 2
Orme Street
3 6 3 1
3 6 3 1
3 6 3 1
Item #8,; Golf Course Driving Range Fence (2nd
Reading)
Item 19, Esther Clark Park Improvements (2nd � 3 6 3:2
Reading)
Item #10, Travel Services
Agenda Changes, Additions and Deletions
Item 411, California Avenue and Valorem
ASsessment.Rates
Item #12, Members' Agreement with Northern
California Power Agency
3 6 3 1
Item #13, Members' :Agreement with,Northern
California Power Agency Feather River
Hydroelectric Project
Item #15, Legislation Tracking Plan
item 116, Request of Mayor Bechtel .re Rebuttal
Arguments
3 6 3 2
3 6 3 2
3 6 3 2
3 6 3 3
3 6 3 3
3 6 3 3
3 6,3 6
3 6 3 6
3 7/25183
Regular Meeting
Monday, duly 25, 1983
The City Council of the City of Pale Alto met on this day in the
Council Chambers at City Hall, 250 Hamilton Avenue, Palo Alto, at
7:30 p.m►
PRESENT: Bechtel, Cobb, Eyerly, Fazzino, Fletcher,
Klein, Levy, Renzel, Witherspoon
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
Richard Rundell, 574 Vista Avenue, Palo Alto, expressed concern
over the drinking water. At present there were 816,000 asbestos
fibers per liter. That level was outrageous and a future health
hazard=_ Well water had only 34,000 fibers per liter. After talk-
ing with experts, he asked that the City use well water until the
problem was solved.
Mayor Bechtel explained that the Council did not take action
directly on items presented in Oral Communications and asked City
Manager 8111 Zaner to check on the asbestos fiber content of City
water.
Zaner clio there would be a staff report
Mayor Dechte i promised Mr. Runde i l that staff would be in touch
with him concerning the matter.
MINUTES OF APRIL 25, 19( 3
Vice Mayor Witherspoon had the following correction:
Paze 3218, second line, to read, "the person who owned the Shell
Iranchlse was not about to reverse his decision to move".
MOTION: Councilmember FAzzino gieved, seconded by Witherspoon,
approval of the mikutes of April 25, 1933, as corrected.
MOTION PASSED unanimously.
SPECIAL ORDERS OF THE DAY
ITEM 11, APPOINTMENT OF A PLANNING COMMISSIONER TO FILL A FOUR
YEAR TERM COMMENCING AUGUST 1, 1981
Mayor Bechtel asked the Council to vote on the four applicants in
question; Joseph Hirsch, Robert Ross, Jonathan Schink, and William
Kockelman.
RESULTS -OF VOTING:
'Voting for Hirsch: Fletcher, Eyerly, Bechtel., Klein, Fazzino,
Levy, Cobb
Voting for Moss: Renzel
Voting for Schink:.Witherspoon
City Clerk Ann Tanner announced that - t4r. Hirsch had six votes, Mr,
moss .had one vote, and 'Mr, Sohink had one. vote. Mr. Hirsch was
'herefore appoihted to fill the four year term:
Mayor Bechtel congratulated Mr. Hirsch and said the Planning Com —
mission would look forward to his joining them. She thanked the
other candidates fortheir interest and willingness to serve Palo
Alto. Their present work, representing Palo Alto in other areas,
was very much appreciated.
3 7/65/83
CONSENT CALENDAR
MOTION: Councilmember Fletcher moved., seconded by Fazzino,
approval 01 Consent Calendar Items #2 - 10
Councilmember Klein asked to be recorded as "not pc.rticipating" on
Item #2.
Referral
None
Action
ITEM #2, AGREEMENT FOR ARCHITECTURAL/INTERIOR DESIGN SERVICES FOR
PAM i I I IMPRUVLMLNrS TU 111E MAIN LIBRARY (CMR :4I/:3)
Staff recommends that the Mayor be authorized to execute the
agreement for $40,000 with Spencer Associates, Architects and
Planners for the design services, and that staff be authorized to
Execute change orders to the design agreement of up to 20 percent
($8,000) of the agreement amount. -
AGREEMENT FOR ARCHITECTURAL/INTERIOR DESIGN SERVICES
Spencer Associates
TTCM Al TDACCT( CT/_UAI
•
Ammomminirarn
nrTC!`Tflp r nnis TRICTAI E ATTAL
Staff recommends that the Mayor be authorized to execute the
contract with Signal Maintenance, Inc. in the amount of $25,450.
AGREEMENT
Signal Maintenance, Inc.
ITEM #4, AMENDMENT OF THE COMPENSATION PLAN FOR MANAGEMENT
Staff recommends approval of the. resolution for an amended compen-
sation plan for management personnel.
RESOLUTION 6164 entitled "RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL
PALO ALTO AMENDING THE COMPENSATION
PLAN FOR MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL
ITEM #5, APPOINTMENT OF INTERIM CONTROLLER
AGREEMENT
Clayton Brown
RESOLUTION 6158: entitled "RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF
lilt 4;11 yr PALO ALTO AUTHORIZING ` AND DIRECTING
SUBSTITUTION OF THE SIGNATURE OF CLAYTON E. BROWN,
INTERIM CONTROLLER.: AS AUTHORIZED (SIGNATURE ON DANK
ACCOUNTS WITH CROCKER NATIONAL BANK AND. . BANK OF
AMERICA iA PLACE OF ALFRED J. MITCHELL, TO BE
EFFECTIVE SEPTEMBER 1, 1983
ITEM #6, SPECIAL JOBS BILL-COMMUNITY
luiThfAC i r I CAA: 4 Zs:3 )
DEVELOPMENT BLOCK
GRANT
Staff recommends the Council move to approve the Jobs Bill con-
tracts for Palo_,A1to Community Child Care, Senior Adults Legal
Assi stone; , Community Housing. Inc., Retirement Jobs, Inc., and
Senior Coordinating Council.
AGREEMENT FOR HONE HEALTH AIDES -FOR RECUPERATIVE CHILD CARE
Palo Alto Commit/ Child Care, Inc.
AGREEMENT FOR LONG- tERM CARE PROJLC I
Senior Coordinating Council of the Palo -Alto Area, Inc.
AGREEMENT FOR ASSISTANT HOUSING COORDINATOR AND
SENIOR DAY HEALTH PROGRAM
Senior Coordinating Council of,the Palo Alto Area, Inc.
AGREEMENT FOR ADDITIONAL SUPPORT STAFF FOR LYTTON GARDENS I
LYTTON GARDENS I AND II
Community Housing, Inc.
AGREEMENT FOR RJI EXPANSION PROGRAM
Retirement Jibs, Inc.
ITEM #7, UNDERGROUND CONVERSION - 4000 BLOCK OF ORME STREET
1TNK:414:S)
Staff recommends adoption of the resolutions, both of which are
preliminary to the public hearing scheduled for August 15, 1983.
RESOLUTION 6159 entitled "PRELIMINARILY APPROVING
IneLRLLR's RIPuRI, APPOINTING TIME AND PLACE OF HEAR-
ING PROTESTS AND DIRECTING NOTICE THEREOF, AND DE-
SCRIBING PROPOSED BOUNDARIES OF ASSESSMENT DISTRICT
AND DIRECTING FILING OF BOUNDARY MAP
RESOLUTION Pi1Kdf ant1tlaai •APPRnV4ar_ BI ANc _AYn cncrtcr_
G FOR SEALED PROPOSALS ARID FIXING
LIQUIDATED DAMAGES FOR FAILURE TO COMPLETE THE WORK
WITHIN TIME SPECIFIED
ITEM #8, GOLF COURSE DRIVING RANGE FENCE 2nd reading
ORDINANCE 3461 OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALO
Wiltr—APPRiMAGr AND ADOPTING PLANS FOR FENCING AT THE
MUNICIPAL GOLF COURSE (1st Reading 7/11/83, PASSED
9-0)
ITEM #9, ESTHER CLARK PM K IMPROVEMENTS 1'nd readino
ORDINANCE 3452 OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALO
AL ND ADOPTING PLANS FOR EROSION REPAIR
AT ESTHER PARK (1st Reading 7/11/83, PASSED 9-0)
ITcM #1O, TRAVEL SERVICES-(CMR:412:3)
Staff recommends the Mayor be authorized to execute the one year
contract- with Venture Travel
AGREEMENT FOR, 'RAVEL SERVICES
Venture Travel Center
MOTION PASSED unaai■ausly, Councilmealber. Klein "not Nartitipat-
1ng" iw Item 02.
AGENDA CHANGU, ADDITIONS AND DELETIONS
Mayor: Bechtel requested adjournment in memory
Bert Woodward.
past mayor,
City Attorney Diane Lee requested Item 014, _.Resolution Accepting
Deed to Lee Property bP withdrawn from the agenda.
ITEM #11, CALIR•ORNIA AVENUE AD_. VALOREM ASSESSMENT RATES
City Maneger. Bill. Zaner said: Council was required to set the "ad
valorem" rate for all assessment districts. The rates for the two
districtson California Avenue had been computed" by the Controller
in accordance with the law.
3 6 3 3
7/25/83
ORDIiANCE 3453 OF THE COUNCIL OF t Ht CITY OF PALO
A TO FIXING AR ASSESSMENT FOR FISCAL YEAR 1983-84 FOR
THE CALIFORNIA: AVENUE DISTRICT OFFSTREET PARKING
PROJECT NO. 55-5
ORDINANCE 3454 OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
' 1l1R6 AT7'SSESSMENT FOR FISCAL YEAR 1983-84 FOR THE
CALIFORNIA AVENUE DISTRICT OFFSTREET PARKING PROJECT
NO. 60-8
MOTION: Counciimerber Eyerly moved, seconded by Klein, approval
of the two Ordinances 3453 and 3454 fixing the California Avenue
Ad Valorem Assessment 'Mates.
MOTION PASSED unanimously.
ITEM #12, MEMBER'S AGREEMENT WITH NORTHERN
AG...-. NC T (CMR : 4 7-
Mayor Bechtel said staff recommended that Council adopt the reso-
lution approving the agreement for Financing of Planni'g and
Development Activities for Relicensing of the Haas -Kings River
thern Project between the Northern California Power Agency and the
City of Palo Alto.
CALIFORNIA POWER
Mr. Zaner added that the item had been before the Council on a
p nevi e,,c i+��.'r.�-e i ..�i • Th i j o ��it CaCII .CU a Lon „ i fllldt i on OT work with
r v
the CPA on the project so staff could, together with other juris-
dictions, apply tor a license for the hydro project.
AGREEMENT FOR FINANCING OF PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT
ACTIVITIES FOR RELICENSING OF THE hAAS-KINGS RIVER PROJECT
Northern California Power Agency
RESOLUTION 6161 OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALO
FILTD WITIMIWG AGREEMENT RELATING TO THE HAAS -KINGS
RIVER PROJECT
MOTION: Counci l aerobe r Eyerly moved, seconded by Klein, to approve
the agreement :n1 the Resolution 6161 relating to Haas -Kings River
Project.
MOTION PASSED unanimously.
ITEM #13, MEMBER'S AGREEMENT WITH NORTHERN CALIFORNIA POWER AGENCY
runtirvrme-Rmurrnigue PROJECT (Ci$FC`c 7
Mayor Bechtel said staff recommended the adoption of the resolu-
tion approving the Power increase in financial commitment to the
Northern Californiaer Agency for the City of Palo Alto's share of
the Feather Riv project.
RESOLUTION 6162 OF THE COUNCIL. OF THE CITY OF PALO
M INCREASE IN FINANCIAL COMPUTMENT OF
THE CITY RELATING TO THE LICENSING OF THE FEATHER
RIVER PROJECT
MOTION:. Cotncllaiember Eyerly moved, seconded by Cobb, to approve
Resolution 6162.
MOTION PASSED unanimously.
ITEM 115 LEGISLATION TRACKING PLAN (CMR:435 3)
�rww.�w.w _...
Mr. Zaner said staff had prepared a 'legislation- tracking system
more responsive than the present one. The staff report listed six
appropriate steps for the' City. The program was experimental and
would require subsequent Council modification The current cost
was estimated at $1,500 per annum to obtain quick reference .to
bills through ,a service located in Sacraoentd. Staff recommended
the Cour.'cil approve the proposed legislative strateg'_for the City
of Palo Alto. Staff also requests further direction from the City
3 6 3 4
7/25/83
Council if it wished to pursue contracting part-time with a legis-
lative advocate in Sacramento or Washington, D.C.
Mayor Bechtel said the staff person to be hired would report to
June Fleming and the legislative work would form only part of that
person's duties. More staff input on legislative issues would not
preclude Council but would make them more aware of bills of con-
cern to the City. To ensure .alequate Council policy direction,
she would move that in addition to the six steps outlined in the
staff report (CMR:435:3), a three member legislative subcommittee
of the Council made up of the Mayor and two other Counci lmembers
to be appointed by the Mayor, be set up to meet as needed to
review pending legislation,. The subcommittee would make recom-
mendations to the Council on possible action and would cause the
entire Council to be more pro -active and involved. She did- not
feel the legislative advocate was necessary at this time. The
changes over the past decade made it imperative that the Council
be aware of budget decisions in Sacramento. The motion would also
state that the City Clerk's office should work closely with the
City Manager's office concerning the timing of letters and tele-
grams, as the City Clerk was very knowledgea:'le in dealing with
Sacramento.
Councilmember Fazzino said he applauded the proposals and the con-
cept of a legislative committee. Many Councilmenrbers had been
concerned about the lack of i nfnrmati nn nr anA 1 ! i c
tion. He supported a. subcommittee meeting on an "as needed"
basis. Like most other items, legislation should be given prior
analysis by the Council. He applauded Mr. Zaner's effort, but
expressed concern that overwhelming information could be supplied
by a tracking service. He felt a part-time advocate was not
needed. The National League of Cities and the League of
California Cities could adequately represent Palo Alto unless
specific help was required. He supported the item requiring
departmental heads to take the lead on issues pertaining to their
areas of knowledge, and felt it important that the person handling
the legislative facilitation have ongoing contact with them for
onwa:.e transmission of 1nforr:ayio: i.o t '' ;ity Mai►aeer aid
groups working for Palo `Ai toy i e` a ke ;r Zaner . i f the Naticnai
League of Cities or the League of California Cities could provide
a sufficient tracking service.
Mr. Zaner said only these bills which were'applicable to the City
would be tracked. It was planed to subscribe to the service in
order to obtain the latest amendments. The National League of
Cities' bulletin, the 1CMA and the League bulletins were used as
means of picking --out those items of primary interest. That would
enable the City ,to have the latest amended version of bills as
quickly as possible. He wanted to try the service for a year and
then to discontinue it if it was found to be redundant.
Councilmember Fazzino asked if it would not be more economical to
obtain the information through the leagues.
Mr. Zaner said the leagues' ffe.re'Ci-,=arse-o.rtstari'ding servi'cy, laut
were designed for the broad range of cities, and as a matter of
policy took no position on controversial items.- Palo Alto could
be interested in some areas the League was not interested in.
Councilmember Faezi no said he was willing to support the -Service
for a year. He was concerned about the amount of information
generated, and said departmental heads and the legislative com-
mittee of the -Council would have to be very actively involved in
ongoing legislation. He said -he supported --the motion.
Councilmember Renzel asked if the function of the subcommittee
would be to tell staff not to submit certain items.
7/25/83
Mayor. Bechtel said the subcommittee. function was a way to form
policy and to bring items to ti.e Council's attention. When
individual Cour`.ci lmembers found bi l 1 s of interest they could bring
them to the'subcommittee. She envisioned the legislative subcom-
mil:tee meeting having a pre -Council meeting in order to be ready
and responsive to urgent items. The subcommittee would not screen
out hut would make recommendations such as were the Policy and
Procedures and Finance and Public Works Committees.
Councilmember Renzel said if an item had to. go through the subcom-
mittee prior= to being placed on the agenda, it would add a signi-
ficant time delay.
Mayor Bechtel said the matter could be put on the agenda and at
the same time go to the legislative subcommittee.
Councilmember Renzel said a decision in the subcommittee meeting
could result in six members being faced a the Council meeting
with a matter they had not discussed.
Mayor Bechtel said no action could be taken unless a matter were
listed as an agenda item. The Council could take action on an
urgent matter.
Councilmember Renzel confirmed that she now understood. Mayor
Bechtel was referring fin matts�rc t" t arr,ce heeeeeen Wednesday .. _ � .aLv.. ai \. VIi �+J VLij {3 FfV
Monday and which the Committee discussef with staff, thus being
prepared to discuss as an emergency item at the meeting.
Councilmember Fletcher said a legislative committee of the Council
-sight be superfluous, but agreed that if staff were not sure of
Council direction, it could be useful. On a routine basis where
staff reviewed bi 11 s and put them on the agenda with a recommenda-
tion, she saw no useful purpose. A computer service was mentioned
in the staff report and s°ae asked why staff did not recommend its
use.
Mr. Zaner :aid the service provided far more information than the
City could handle and would require one full-time person to track
the data. Only those bills concerning the City were of interest.
He wished to conserve the Council 's influence, and a response to
every item would dilute that.
Councilmember Fletcher said the Council could be kept up to date
on action on bills by having a copy of communications from depart-
ments put in the packet.
Mr. Z.aner said the present process would continue. Departments
would continue to funnel their recommendations through the City
Manager's office. The proposal included a report to Council on
the status of bills. If a bill moved to the other douse or was
modified, Council would be asked for further instructions
Councilmember Eyerly said he had the same reservations as Council -
member Renzel but felt they had been resoived. He eiar•ed overlap
between the City Manager's informational legislative report and
his activities under Ho. 3 of the staff report. He said he would
appreciate receiving prior information on bibs, even as late as
the Council meeting packet. Some record of the subcommittee's
discussions should be given to Councilmembers. He said he was in
favor of a year's trial.
Mayor Bechtel felt the subcommittee's role had to be evolved by
Council and members of the committee. A trial period was valu-
able as Council should take a more proactive response. to areas
beyond the City that affected it. _Ie
3 6 3 6
7/25/83
NOTION: Mayor Bechtel- moved, seconded by Witherspoon, adoption
of the six steps outlined in staff report (CMR:435:3) and the
setting up of a three member legislative subcommittee of the
Council, made up of the Mayor and two other Counci lne bers to be
appointed by the Mayor, to meet as needed to review pending legis-
lation; the City Clerk's office to be actively involved with the
City Manager's office.
MOTION PASSED unanimously, 9-0.
ITEM #16, REQUEST OF MAYOR BECHTEL RE REBUTTAL ARGUMENTS
Mayor Bechtel informed Councilmembers that the deadline for rebut-
tal arguments placed before them would be the following Tuesday.
She asked for volunteers for a committee to draft a response.
Vice Mayor Witherspoon volunteered to draft the rebuttal response,
and Counci lmeniber Cobb to consult. The matter would be put on the
Monday, August 1, 1983 agenda.
Mayor Bechtel said she would adjourn the meeting in memory of Bert
Woodward, who died on Saturday, July 23, 1983. Mr. Woodward was a
Palo Alto Councilmember from 1957 to 1963, and again from 1963 to
1969, resigning March 1967. He was Mayor of Palo Alto from 1964
to 1965, Vice Mayor from 1963 to 1964, and sat vii maii ' ttees .
The funeral services were set for 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, July
27 at St_ flpnjc' Church in MQnin Park_
ADJOURNMENT TO E XE UT I VE SESSION
Council adjourned to executive session regarding litigation at
8:10 p.m.
MOTION: Mayor Bechtel moved, seconded by Levy, that Council
adjourn in memory of Bert Woodward, former mayor of Palo Alto.
MOTION PASSED unanimously, 9-0..
FINAL ADJOURNMENT
Council adjourned at 8:25 p.m.
AFTEST:
APPROVED:
3 6 3 7
7/25/83