HomeMy WebLinkAbout1983-12-12 City Council Summary Minutese
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CITY
COUNCIL
MINUTES
Regular Meeting
Monday, December 12, 1983
ITEM
Ural Communications
Approval of Minutes of August 1, 1983
Approval of Minutes of August 15, 1983
Motion to bring forward Item #14, Search Firm for
City. Auditor Position Ahead of Item #1, Peninsula
Kuril 2000 Presentation
PAGE
4 0 1 2
4 0 1 2
4 0 1 2
Item #14, Selection of Search Firm for City 4 0 1 2
Auditor
item #1, Peninsula -Rail 2000 - Presentation 4-0 1 3
Item #2, Foothills Park Lower Turf Irrigation 4 0 1 6
Remodeling
Ite#'#:3, Street Tree Planting 4 0 1 6
item #4, Weed Aba tenent Program 4 0 1 6
item #5, Resolution re Qlympic Soccer Events to be 4 0 1 7
held at Stanford Stadium
item #6, Resolution Congratulating Gunn High School
and Palo Alto High School re Santa Clara County
Academic Decathlon
4 0 1 7
Item #7, City of Palo Alto Deferred Compensation 4 0 1 7
Plan
Agenda Changes, Additions and Delet►dns,
Item #H, byxbee Park Conversion Status Report and 4 0 1 7:
Future Policy Consideration
Item #9, PUBLIC HEARING:
Grant (CUgG) Program Report
4 0 1 7
Community Development 4 0 2 0
Item #10,. -Human Relations Commission Recommendation
re Restructuring ,the Youth Council -
i.teaa #11, Sixty Uay Extension of Solar Financing
Line of Credit'
Item #12, Sales Tax: AmeniR?.en_t
-- item #136 Policy_ Governing Naming of City-0wn ed
Land and Facilities
4 0 ;`' 0
4 0 2 6
4 0 2 6
ITEM
Item #I5, Request of Counci lmeinber Levy re Historic
Resources Board Appointment -
item #Ib, Request of Counci lniernber Levy re Sidewalk
Ramps
Adjournment
P A !I E
4 0 2 9
4 0 3 1
4 0 3 2
4 0 I i
12/12/83
Regular Meting
December 12, 1983
The City Council of the City of Palo Alto met on this day in the
Council Chambers at City Hall, 250 Hamilton Avenue, Palo Alto, at
7:40 p.m.
PRESENT: Bechtel, Cobb, Eyerly, Fletcher, Klein
Levy, Renzel, Witherspoon
ABSENT: Fazz ono
Mayor Bechtel announced that a special meeting was held at 6:15
p.m. to interview consultants for the City Auditor search`
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
None
MINUTES OF AUGUST 1, 1983
Councilmember Renzel submitted the following corrections:
Page 3659, line 25, "RP -3 zone" should read "R3(P) zone";
Page 3659, line 28, should read "parameters of the zone to be set
71 9 o all-Gw the architects to be creative";
Page 3659, line 31, should read "but what we got were just the big
T57177-71 the ARB was not to be given design latitude, then the
parameters must be tighter because otherwise obtrusive, incompa-
tible pro=jects would continually appear."
Councilmember Cobb submitted the following correction:
Pages 3653 and 3654, the word "multi -flex" should read "multi -
p ex, mean ng pars ng that served double duty.
MINUTES OF AUGUST 15, 1983
Councilmember Renzel submitted the following correction:
Page 3680, line 1, "variations in fence heights due to grade dif-
� ,�
er-ent1a' s."
Page 3680, line 4, "...sloped forward, and the rear set back area
woute—T 've the property at the existing grades, to Avoid a dif-
ferential at the property line. She asked if that could be done
here."
MOTION: Councilmember Renzel movers, seconded by Cobb, approval
of the minutes of August 1, 1983 and August 15, 1983 as corrected.
MOTION PASSED. unanimously, Fazzino ebsent..
MOTION TO BRING FORWARD ITEM f14, SEARCH FIRM FOR CITY AUDITOR
MOTION: Mayor Bechtel moved, seconded by Klein, to move Item 14
re Selection of Search Firm for City Auditor forward.
MOTION PASSED unanimously, Fazzino absent.
TEEM #14, SELECTION OF SEARCH FIRM FOR. CITY AUDITOR
Mayor Bechtel said Council met earlier in public session to inter-
view two consulting firms_ in the selection of a City Auditor,
which new position was recently approve.i `'by the voters of the City
of Palo Alto:
11/32)8i
MOTION: Mayor Bechtel moved, seconded by Klein, to direct staff
to prepare
Clark.
a
contract with Korn Ferry, with work to be done by Jim
Cnunc i lmember Faerly said the vote at the public meeting was ini-
tially 4-4, and then changed by one more vote in favor. He
believed a full Council should have been present, but would be
happy with either., firm. He would not change his vote because of
the way the matter was handled.
SUBSTITUTE MOTION: Councilmember Fletcher moved, seconded by
Eyerly, to continue the item until a full Council was present.
SUBSTITUTE MOTION FAILED by a vote of 3-5, Eyerly, Lery,
Fletcher voting "aye."
MOTION PASSED by a vote of 6-2, Fletcher and Eyerly voting
"no.
Mayor Bechtel said both :irms were outstanding, and it was -diffi
cult -for Council to choose.
ITEM #1, PENINSULA RAIL 2000 - PRESENTATIO!!
Ron Kilcoyne, represented Peninsula Rail 2000 of San Francisco,
and said the group was relatively new and spun off from Citizens.
Rail California. There were about 100 members, and was in
response to .the decline since CalTrans took over the Southern
Pacific line between San Francisco and San Jose. Highway 101 was
already at capacity, and further developments would increase its
use.- The area south of fountain View had the• greatest delay in
travel time in the Bay Area, Downtown San Francisco had too much
traffic because of poor peninsula commuter links., Peninsula Rail
2000's five -point plan was a. practical solution ao the problems.
The CalTrans downtown -terminal .was .rejected by MTC staff because
of insufficient long-term plans. To add 23 trains and build a
tunnel was not cost effective, but to upgrade the line to a rapid
transit service was. Peninsula Rail 2000 proposed a reduction in
the tax subsidy as follows:
1. A downtown extension to double or triple ridership;
2. Creation of a special Transit District as a sole operator,
with a Board accountable to the residents of San Mateo, Santa
Clara and San Francisco counties;
3. Capital improvements, including the downtown extension. elec-
trification and improvements;
4. Development of a rapid transit -style service, with a minimum,
18 hour day and a maximum 20 minute wait between trains;
5, Labor changes to allow expansion with existing labor, to which
the unions agreed.
He said,self-service fares would be invoked. The capital_ costs of
the plan would be $750 million, including a 25 percent contin-
gency, spread over 10 years, or $15 million per mile, when free-
ways and BART cost up to $60 million dollars per mile. Federal
and state funding could be obtained, and no new or increased taxes
would be required. Once the service was fully operational, .it
would carry 125,000 passengers per day as compared with 15,000
current passengers. The pr-osals were proven successful in other
areas, and the underut i l i xe4 system would be brought up to par.
State legislation was needed to create a special district. to
operate the service, and the cities involved should indicate sup-
port to their legislators. He presented a report outlining the
figures involved.
4 0 1 3
12/12/83
As Corrected
2/13/84
Council};:ember Fletcher said a study recommended the Rincon Annex
be : s e i n w
�1 t. 1. J for
_ o
��=a, i3, :a ,a is doiiititre�; terminal, and she asked 1 tji 1 1i 1 13f'fnd4, i i;ft (ifi
that, the Ferry Building and the Trarisbey terminal,
1
1
Mr. Kilcoyne said .the , on q i na l plan found the Rincon Annex to be
the most logical. Peninsula Rail 2000 was now asking for agree-
ment on the concept without stipulating a location. The study,
made for CalTrans, looked at three sites, and selected Rincon
Annex as the best, but since CalTrans failed to obtain an easement
under the building Southern Pacific planned, it would be difficult
to locate the terminal there. The Ferry Building was proposed for
three morning and tnree afternoon trains, and was rejected because
it would run on the streets and block traffic. It had many flaws,
and its failure would make it difficult to build a permanent
extension,
Councilmember Fletcher asked if Peninsula Rail 2000 requested any
specific action by the Council.
Mr. Kilcoyne said it requested Council support of the Peninsula
Rail 2000 proposals as being worthy of further study, and to go on
record as supporting legislation to create a special district to
take over operation of the line, study and carry through the pro-
posals, and make the state legislators aware of its support, as
well as the Char.man of the Senate Transportation Committee.
Couricilmember Klein asked about the reactions of CalTrans and
Southern Pacific.
Mr. Kilcoyne said there were no reactions from Southern Pacific.
Its freight operation was so minimal it lost mosey, and the Port
of San Francisco intended expansion geared to continued freight
service. Peninsula Rail 2000 first went to CalTrans, and was
ignored, but now paid lip service only to the plans. CalTrans was
turned down because it did not come up with proposals to solve the
problems.
Or, Nancy Jewell Cross, representing the Committee for Safe and
Sensible San Francisquito Creek Area Routir=g, 301 Vine Street,
Menlo Park, said there was a decline in patronage of Southern
Pacific each year since CalTrans took over, and the situation was
serious since it received some $15 million in annual subsidy.
Fares were too high even though each ride.was subsidiked by about
$2. CalTrans proposed a tunnel in San Francisco for $340 million,
and Mr. Kilcoyne mentioned a $750 million project. She first
heard the proposal of Peninsula Rail 2000 in San Francisco, and
the San Francisco Chronicle identified the group as only.,having
four mem ers---an o Leer or AMTRAK, a Federal employee, interested
in heavy rail industry; one connected with the San Francisco Port
Authority and concerned with rail freight availability; the third
member was an employee of Western .Pacific; and Mr. Kilcoyne, who
was an employee of AC Transit in the East Bay Fremont; Newark area,
living in San Francisco._ She wondered how many cf the 150 members
were concerned with the Peninsula, or servea nterests outside the
area. Residents were interested not only in the question of
diesel versus electric trains, but in.who would foot the bill.
BART wanted Alameda and San Francisco County_ residents to get to
the airport at the expense of San Mateo County, and she asked -if
the Peninsula would benefit from- the $750 million (-:Jr one billion,
because BA:RT's estimates, on which theaa-woren based, were notori-
ously inaccurate) they were asked to spend,., Palo Alto could mot
tell San Francisco how .to connect its transports --there were many
options available, some much cheaper. Mr. Kilcoyne had not shown
any .alternatives"that would benefit thee-Paid.-Pen--insula -
Councilmember Fletcher asked for clarification that CalTrans had
no long range plan. The five year plan was approved only a'few
months ago, but made no mention of the $300 million proposal pre-
sented last week. It had no plans to increase the "frequency or
lengthen its schedule Its project management committee met in
San Francisco on an irregular basis without public notice, and the
Committee members included a SP representative, a CalTrans repre-
sentative from each of the Transit districts --Muni, Santa Clara
It/i2) S
1
1
and San Mateo Counties. It was not responsible to any public body
although its decisions affected everyone. The right decisions
were not made because ridership had declined alarmingly, The al-
ternative to set up a special district and hire professional
people who knew how to run a railroad, and the acquisition of the
line for which CalTrans had no plan, was attractive. In order to
implement any plan, Cal Trans and the Districts needed the cooper-
ation and approval of Southern Pacific, which did _not always hap-
pen, so the line must he acquired. She believed Peninsula Rail
2000'had new ideas worthy of examination. CalTrans' proposal to
the Transportation Commission was not the same as the one given to
the Council, and differed again from what it told the Metropolitan
Transportation Commission a few months earlier.
Councilmember Klein thanked the Peninsula Rail 2000 for the pre-
sentation, and Dr. Cross for her comments. The issue deserved
close attention because it affected citizens and the commercial
life of the City. The Bayshore would be strangled within the
decade, and governmental progress was slow. The City Council
should try to _get something going, or participate with other jur-
isdictions to that end_. He believed he had insufficient informa-
tion to either endorse or criticize the Peninsula Rail 2000 propo-
sals, but believed the problem was worthy of study.
MOTION: Councilmember Klein moved, seconded by Renzel, to refer
the proposal of Peninsula Rail 2000 and the future of the rapid
transit along the peninsula between San Jose and San Francisco to
the Policy and Procedures (P&P) Committee.
Councilmember Renzel said there would he ample opportunity for the
matter to be discussed in the P&P Committee. Because of the
ghastly projections for the area, it was important to act soon to
deal not only with the transportation aspects, but also look at
the land use implications.
Councilmember Levy was not clear about what the assignment meant
in terms of staff time and effort, and asked if it might not be
more appropriate to refer it to the Legislative Committee.
Councilmember Klein said the mandate of the Legislative Committee
was to consider legislation pending before the State legislature
and Congress.. -
City Manager Bill Zaner did not know how much staff time would be
required. The issues Would be summarized and developed in a posi-
tion paper so the Council had all the issues a=tecting Peninsula
transit, and a summary of thetpropcsed alternatives. The P&P Com-
mittee would review the matter-, and give an assignment for --re-
search and follow up, which might be a lengthy assignment.
Councilmember Levy said it was an important issue for all Peninsu-
la residents, and far transcended Palo Alto. Many of the ques -
tiors related to the dispersal of industry up and down the Penin-
sulaae The connections within Sara Francisco were important, and he
did not expect change by simply changing ownership.. • CalTrans was
itself a change in ownership, and -. he did not believe spending
large sums led to -a- simple solution. He had no -alternative mo-
tion, but believed. Palo Alto should study the question with other
Peninsula -cities:. - It might be more effective and efficient for
the City to.. take the Initiative- and bring in other communities in
the Peninsula :and share the results of the study.-
Councilmember Cobb agreed with the referral. to the P&P Committee,
and with Councilmember Renzel that the land use issues were impor-
tant.- The question of where: Southern Pacific would fit in'..needed
to be made available to the P&P Committee, as did the issue of
Peninsula Rail 2000. The members were present, and he hoped that
information would be made available. He agreed that it was a
Peninsula problem,.and cities should work together.
4 0.1 5
12/12/83
Councilrneoeoer Fletcher wanted to review the matter, but the.Pentep
Committee was a subcommittee of the MTC, and its function was to
deal with the 101 corridor.
Mr. Ki-icoyne said two MTC committees --the 101 Technical Advisory
Committee and the Pentep Committee --were looking into the matter.
The Pentep Committee had no specific agenda, but it primarily
focused on existing operations. The 101 Technical Advisory
Committee would focus more on transit into the corridor. He
clarified that almost all 150 members of Peninsula Rail 2000 were
commuters from Palo AlLo and Menlo Park. He a l ways lived on the
Peninsula and used the trains, and their interests were as
commuters.
Councilmember Klein believed it was a good idea for the P&P
Committee to meet with other neighboring jurisdictions. He putt
the motion on the floor because Palo Alto should do its bit to try
and light the fire and get the matter going. Not much progress
was made..and no one seemed to take the initiative.
MAKER AND SECOND OF MOTION ADDED LANGUAGE TO ENCOURAGE JOINT
MEETINGS WITH MOUNTAIN VIEW OR MENLO PARK
MOTION PASSED by .: vote of 7-1, Levy voting *no," Fazzino
absent.
CONSENT CALENDAR
MOTION: Councilmeraber Cobb moved, seconded by kenze., approval
of the Consent Calendar.
_____ITEM #2 FOOTHILLS PARK LOWER TURF
T�3
Staff recommends the following:
1. The Mayor be authorized to execute a contract with Tom Therp
Landscape Contractor, Inc. in the amount of $14,390; and
2. Staff De authorized to execute change orders in the amount' of
$1,440.
IRRIGATION
AWARD OF CONTRACT
To Therp Landscape Contractor, inc.
ITEM #3� STREET TREE PLANTING (CMR :b 10:3 )
Staff recommends the following:
REMODELING
1. The Mayor be authorized to execute a contract with Complete
Garden Service in the amount of $20,350 for street tree
planting; and
Z. Staff be authorized to execute change orders not to exceed
$2,035.
AWARD OF CONTRACT
Complete Car-rden Service
ITEM #4, WEED ABATEMENT PROGRAM (CMR:5 7:3)
n.ui-.euu�w.uwnwrsliu■m■■rti.s�e...e.r■rr - - -
Staff recommends that Counci l determine that there will, be no
adverse environmental impact, from the action and adopt the resolu-
tion declaring weeds to be a nuisance
RESOLUTION 6207 entitled "RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF
IME CI€Y' dF 1)!! O ALTO DECLARI$4 WEEDS TO BE A NUISANCE
AND SETTING A NEARING"
4 0 1. b'
12/12/83
Hui fb, KESULUI IUN RE OLYMPIC SOCCER EVENTS 10 13E HELD AT
STANFORD STADIUM
RESOLUTION 6208 entitled "RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF
THE CITY OF PALO ALTO SUPPORTING THE OLYMPIC SOCCER
MATCHES TO 13E PLAYED AT STANFORD STADIUM, JULY 29
THROUGH AUGUST 8, 1984"
ITEM #6 RESOLUTION CONGRATULATING GUNN HIGH SCHOOL AND PALO ALTO
E1IGIT .rt v it SM 1 A- LLARA CUUN ACAU'[: DECATHLON
RESOLUTION 6209 entitled "RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF
/HE Cif df ~PALO ALTO RECOGNIZING THE OUTSTANDING
ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF THE GUNN HIGH SCHOOL AND PALO ALTO
HIGH SCHOOL ACADEMIC DECATHLON TEAMS AND THE TREMENDOUS
SUPPORT THEY RECEIVED FROM GUNN AND PALO ALTO SCHOOL
TEACHERS"
ITEM #7, CITY OF PALO ALTO DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN
CITY OF PALO ALTO DEFERRED. COMPENSATION PLAN
ORDINANCE 3494 entitled "ORDINANCE OF THE COUNCIL OF THE
ALTO AMENDING THE BUDGET FOR THE FISCAL
YEAR 1983-84 TO ESTABLISH AND PROVIDE FUNDING .FOR
CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECT NO. 83-27 'REIMBURSEMENT TO
THE CITY OF PALO ALTO EMPLOYEES DEFERRED COMPENSATION
PLAN"
NOTION PASSED unanimously, Fazzino and Fletcher _absents
AGENDA CHANGES, ADDITIONS AND DELETIONS
Councilunember Levy added Item 15 re historic resources; and item
Ib re new sidewalk ramps.
ITEM 46, BY -ABEL . PARK CONVERSION STATUS REPORT• AND FUTURE POLICY
L iD R Lets ont1nue
1
City Manager Bi i l 7aner said the joint powers agency (JPA) on
which Counci lmennber Renzel sat would consider the feasibility plan
for the North County Solid Waste Disposal operation within the
next few weeks. The timing was such that the plan would go to the
JPA on February 1, .and then return to the. City Council for review.
The report was intended to clarify the current status at Byxbee
Park and the Sanitary Landfill and provide the necessary back-
ground for Council to make a decision when the plan returned with
the JPA recommendation.
Counci l.member. Cobb asked for clari fication that, the numbers con-
tained on Page 2 of �'MR:537:3 were cumulative in terms_ of the
estimated closure and park development costs through stage�3.
Deputy Director of Public Works Dale Pfeiffer slid the numbers
were incremental.
Counci lniernber Cobh requested information regarding the amount
specifically related to the closure of the landfill and that
specifically related t -o the park development.
Mr. Pfeiffer ` said the minimum total cumulative amount for the
landfill closure was about $6.6 million.
Councilmeriber Cobb clarified with staff that about hal F: of the
cumulative total involved park development.
Counci member Renzel said one of tire. bases,. for the 4xtended time
period on the .dump was an estimated 20 to 25 percent subsidence-.
4 0 1 7
12/12/83
She asked for clarification about whether the City would auto-
matically assume thf subsidence and build the laiicii ill d5 muc: as.
10 or 15 feet higher than the approved contours assuming that it
would gradually sink.
Mr. Pfeiffer said initially the landfill would be a few feet
higher, but would settle within the first couple of years.
Councilmember Renzel asked if the City obtained documented experi-
ence in a baylands context that the subsidence was consistent from
the beginning to end, or whether the lower part compressed and the
upper part stopped compressing at some point.
Mr. Pfeiffer said based on experiences with other landfills, com-
pression happened extensively as garbage decomposed, and most
settlement was done in the first three to four years.
Councilmember Renzel clarified with staff that it was more of a
decomposition settlement than an actual sinking of the whole land-
fill.
Councilmember Renzel asked if the City would take the full per-
centage of the ultimate design as its basis at the end or as it
went since sinking occurred within a three or four year period,
and they were talking about almost 16 years, and whether it would
end up at 65 feet on the high part in anticipation that it would
sink 15 feet.
Mr. Pfeiffer said based on the current elevation of the landfi ll ,
the City would not go to 65 feet because the first level was sub-
sided as much as it would. They were talking about 10 to 15 feet
additional because it was landfi fled and the garbage was buried
such that by the time the cap and topsoil was placed on it, all
settlement was pretty much anticipated. When it was developed
into a park, it would be at 42 feet.
Councilmember Renzel asked what would happen with the remainder of
phase 2 or 3 if an alternative was in place sooner than 16 years.
Mr. Pfeiffer said the landfill would be filled with something to
get the minimum slopes of three percent as required by the State,
and it could be filled with demolition debris.
Councilmember Renzel clarified there was no way out except to
petition for a different kind of closure if an alternative was
found.
Mr. Pfeiffer said that was the reason for originally going to some
type of contours to meet the minimum slopes required by the
state.
Colsnc'iimember Renzel said previously there was a lower contour,
and it was raised because the City Council was told it did not
have the time frame it needed. Now the time frame was available
with;+he lower contours which were apparently approved.
Mr. Pfeiffer said the contours were raised about four feet, and
could probably go down about four feet. The problem was that as
garbage settled, it did not settle .evenly, and when the slopes
were flatter, it caused maintenance problems and pending whereas a
steep slope would. prevent.nonding.
Councilmember Renzel said she understood the basis for the
requirements, but did not understand whether the City could avoid
the contours it reluctantly accepted if an alternative was found
in four years
Director of Public Works David Adams said the matter could be
reviewed at the time, but some slope was necessary. It would be
4 0 1 : ;?
12/12/83
Corrected
2/13/84
similar to that already approved, but there might be another tech-
siique for changing the actual contours and its look. Council
might want to keep open the option of a fall back position at the
time, and staff would look at keeping it active for construction
debris or something else. The other option was to change some
contours, but additional fill would be necessary no matter what.
Councilmember Fletcher asked staff to clarify that the statement
iii the environmental impact report that no further environmental
review or findings. were needed, laeant currently, because no action
wes being taken or whether no further review or findings were
required even with an increase in the height of the Mayfield
Slough.
Mr. Pfeiffer believed if Mayfield Slough were filled, another
environmental review would be required.
Councilmember Fletcher said she hoped so.
Councilmember Eyerly asked_ for clarification that staff believed
the report from the Solid Waste Management in January might impact
the cost of garbage disposal such that Council should be ready to
decide whether to go with the Solid Waste Management statement of
the JPA, wait and see if something happened before 1998 on the
City's own landfill, or change some dumping procedures in terms of
height, or fill for the lands, etc. he was confused that the
matter was before the Council that evening rather than ahead of
the report because the priorities would be set when both items
were before the Council.
Mr. Zaner said he was concerned the JPA might not return with a
solution to the problem that could be implemented by the member
cities. If that occurred, the City would have to fall back on
some other alternative, and Palo Alto would keep using the sani-
tary landfill.. The Council would have to decide whether the JPA
recommendation was viable once the study returned. He wanted to
ensure that Council knew its options so that when the JPA returned
with its recommendation, they could be compared.
Councilmember Eyerly clarified that under the present structure,
the Council had until 1998 on the sanitary landfill. He believed
staff would have some recommendations concerning the sanitary
landfill and where to go if the JPA was not something in which to
continue membership.
Mr. Zaner said there would be other alternatives, but the major
b,ne would be whether to continue the current sanitary landfill.
The possibility -existed to put together another type of solid
waste disposal arrangement with other cities --perhaps not the ones
in the JPA--but it was of in the distance. Those arrangements
took four or five years to put into operation, and the Council
would have to rely on its current landfill for the foreseeable
future.
Florence LaRiviere, 453 Tennessee Lane, thanked the staff, present
Council and the preceding Council for grappling with a problem for
which everyone was responsible. Most cities around the Bay
started solving solid waste disposal problems by using wetlands,
which should never have been done. The early discussions in 1978,
elicited a lot of comments,.. about the Mayfield Slough, and she
hoped it would be reviewed minutely. She hoped the environmental
considerations would have credibility when the decisions were
made.
RED ACTION TAKER.
3
ITCH u PUBLIC HEARING: MM a� � Yi L ilt {y fl[ K w t
1 , COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT (c Bql
.141W/.7).A H
Mayor Bechtel said the staff report was well done.
City Planner Glenn Miller made two corrections to the report. On
page 2, line 3, the words "$25 per job" substituted for "$200 per
month"; and page 3, line 19, "30" to replace "13."
Counciimember Cobb suggested that a comparison of target expendi-
tures, schedules and the actual state of the budget would allow
quicker reading of the report.
Mayor Bechtel asked if the format was required by the federal
government for the particular CDBG funds.
Mr. Miller said yes, and an assessment was sent to HUD about the
existing program 30 days before planning the next program year.
Staff used the same type of report for the previous six years, and
HUD appeared satisfied. He appreciated Councilmember Cobb's sug-
gestion, especially for administrative projects where an annual
goal was set.
Vice Mayor Witherspoon asked about the reallocation of funds in-
volving Terran.
Mr. Miller said the matter was discussed the previous Monday when
the funds were reassigned, and would appear in the next report,
which would refer to projects already in existence and approved
the previous year.
Counciimember Levy said one project appeared under several cate-
gories. One was "Harvey House Rehabilitation," and funds were
also allocated to Harvey louse under the Nonprofit Facility
Rehabilitation Program. He was unclear about whether they were
for the same or different purposes, and believed it would be help-
ful if the object of expenditures were also summarized, showing
the total funding from CDBG going to the facilities receiving
funds. Overall he appreciated the clarity of the report, and the
work done with CDBG funds.
Mayor Bechtel declared the public hearing open. Receiving no
requests from the public to speak, she declared the public hearing
closed.
Councilmember Fletcher endorsed Councilmember Levy's remarks.
No protests were received on the allocation of funds, which at-
tested to the good work of staff and the advisory committee, and
she commended them both.
MOTION: Councilmember Fletcher moved, seconded by Levy, to
accept the Community Development Block Grant Progress Report.
MOTION PASSED unanimously, Fazz1noabsent.
ITEM #10, HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION REC0MM ;NDATION RE
Councilmember Klein was concerned about the estimate of 20 hours
per week staff time to support the Youth Council. He asked about
the work involved, and where the staff time was found since the
report did not recommend additional staff support.
Social and Community Services Administrator Hal Anjo said the
Recreation Department's Adolescent Programs Coordinator worked
about 20 hours a week.. on special programs like those for disabled
young adults. The estimate was an average, integrated with the
other work of the coordinator and current staffing. The addition-
al cost ,related to a; teen coordination program being, introduced.
Councilmember Klein clarified with staff that the present coor-
dinator would.. continue his present workload, and the new work
would not require an add itiuoal 20 hours. The report stated, "It
is estimated that the Youth Council will require an average of 20
hours per week in staff support." He asked where the additional
20 hours would come from if the present staff member worked 15
hours per week with the handicapped.
Mr. Anjo said that person's time would be increased --as a tempor-
ary measure --to include the additional hours.
Councilmember Klein said the report requested no new funds.
Mr. Anjo said the Recreation Department was budgeted for ternpr rary
moneys, which included summer programming, and was flexible to
allow such costs to be covered. The money was a pool that could
be used for Recreational programs.
City Manager Bill Zaner said for the balance of the current year,
the large recreational budget could absorb an increase of 20 hours
per week for temporary help; but if accepted by the Council, the
new budget would show the appropriate funds budgeted for a half
person increase.
Councilmember Klein said it would have been helpful for the report
to clarify that fact. He asked what the person would do during
the 20 hours.
Human Relations Commissioner Richard Roe said the estimate was
based on the staff time devoted over the past few years with the
school district and the Youth Council. When restructuring and
creating something new, it seemed important to have staff support,
although less time would be required during the next fiscal yeas.
He pointed out that staff needs would be reevaluated after 120
days.
Councilmember Cobb said the report stated some concern with the
Youth Council's focus on school activities and the de -emphasis on
City-wide concerns," and asked if there was a problem with the
Youth Council. He believed it was natural for young people to be
more interested in school affairs than City affairs, and he asked
whether the City should try and encourage young people to take
more interest in City affairs.
Youth Council Representative Doug Bodin said he believed many mem-
bers of the Youth Council would like to become involved with City
politics, but the old Youth Council offered an insufficient• chan-
nel. The new one would afford young people a better opportunity
to become involved in City affairs, and there was an -interest in
the schools. Previously there was a problem reith insufficient
staff to assist the Youth Council in effecting its goals.
Councilmember Cobb asked wnat young people wantect to do with re-
gard to City government, and how staff could help,
Mr. Bodin said the most important function of the new Youth Coun-
cil was to. -make students feel more in touch with their City.
Students were citizens and should be heard on issues confronting
the City Council.
Mr. Roe said the report was not meant to criticize youth interest
in school activities, but it was becoming hard for the Human Rela-
tions Commission to determine its and the City's role in sponsor-
ing another level of student government. The connection with the
schools seemed to detract from the Youth Council's becoming an.
avenue for young people to become involved in City government.
4 0 2 1
12/12/83
As Corrected
2/13/84.
He was not sure about the response because the youth did not ap-
pear eager to become involved in City government. He wanted the
City to offer a mechanism by which to recruit students into City
commissions. The responses for the first six months should be
interesting, and if there were no responses, it should be discon-
tinued.
Counci lmember Cobb said his teenage daughter .«s disinterested in
City government, and he asked if it was -possible for the young
people on the Youth Council to represent :il l young people in town.
rather than the narrow subset that was active in any group, and
whether young people could be encouraged to take -more of an inter-
est in their schools.
Mr. Roe said yes because there were recruitment opportunities that
were impossible ender the old structure.
Mr. Bodin said the report encouraged that students be recruited to
represent the youth of Palo Alto --which meant Jiff:rent groups --
and there should be an opportunity to do that.
Mayor Bechtel said the proposed bylaws stipulated the Youth .Coun-
cil meet bi-monthly, and she asked whether it would be more appro-
priate to meet once a month, which might ultimately save staff
time and City money.
Mr Roe said once a month eras originally suggested, but was
changed upon encouragement by the Youth Council. The old Youth
Council met every two weeks for purposes of continuity and a sense
of involvement- It made no difference, in terns of staff time,
how often they met. He was comfortable with any wording of the
bylaws because the Youth Council could meet as often as necessary
to function, which would probably be every two weeks.
Mayor Bechtel said the danger of putting that into the bylaws was
that it tied it down and made it more difficult to change.
Counciimember Levy asked what staff support was currently given to
the Human Relations Commission (HRC) and the Visual Arts Jury.
Mr. Anjo said the HRC received 10 to 15 hours per week.
Mr. Leiner said support to the Visual Arts Jury was minimal.
Councilmember Levy said he disliked institutionalizing something
that was in formation, but believed the HRC could oversee the Com-
mittee. He asked Mr, Roe for his opinion on the staff and HRC
liaison,
Mr. Roe said the HRC provided liaison with the Youth Council, and
commissioners played supportive roles to the staff person, but
could not replace staff support since nn_ memher of the IIRC could
give direct, continuous attention. There was a difference between
the Youth Council ansd other groups, and .the level of staffing com-
mitted to. the groups in terms of expenses.
.Codnci inieriber Levy said the school district provided staff support
for the existing Youth Council.
Mr. Roe said the school district provided support, but - it was
becoming a burden for them, and future -aid was in question.
Councilrrnember Levy asked if the Palo Aito Unified School District
(PAUsD) provided satisfactory help,
Mr. Roe said .it provided excellent staff, but because the focus
was -on ..the school, the activities= were more school -related -than
considered desirable by the IIRC.
4 0 2 2
1-2/12/83
Cuunci iriiember Levy asked if last year's Youth Council representa-
tives were elected by their contemporaries. The only difference
in the selection process was that the former Youth Council was
selected by members of that former Youth Council, whereas the new
Youth Council would be selected by a nominating committee composed
of members of the HHC and members of the Youth Council.
Mr. Roe said other adults would be involved --the old Youth Council
was structured with a certain number of representatives from each
school. Some of the representatives elected were interviewed by
people on the Youth Council, and some were chosen to fill vacan-
cies. There would be a significant change by moving the locale
out of the schools and into the City as a whole.
Councilmember Levy believed the difference was the old Youth Coun-
cil had areas of responsibility iri •both school and City, whereas
the new one would focus its responsibility on the City only. By
definition, school interests were more important. to youth than
City interests, and the old Youth Council let City interests
slide. The restructuring meant school interests would not compete
with City interests.
Mr. Roe said hopefully the restructuring would eliminate those
problems. The purposes of the Youth Council and the proposed new
bylaws were essentially the same as the previous ones. The old
Youth Council bylaws did riot require it to be involved in school
activities, and some HRC members believed there was a growing de-
viation from the initial intention of the Youth Council. The
Governmental Affairs Committee was seen as a .prototype of what the
Youth Council should be, and the Youth Council proposal would
restructure it to function like that committee.
Vice Mayor Witherspoon was upset by the proposal for the Youth
Council to meet twice a month. It was a waste of staff time, and
there was not enough business to warrant the frequency. The by-
laws stated that anyone missing three meetings was expelled, or
must furnish explanations, which was a heavy burden she did not
believe wooid work. She asked how many people were involved --the
report mentioned 15 representatives rather than 12 --and she asked
if there would be a school board representative.
fir. Roe said there would be 15 representatives, which would not
represent a significant difference from, the previous six represen-
tatives from Gunn and six from Paly, plus representatives from
private schools an -the area.
Vice mayor Witherspoon wanted the youth to be Involved with the
City, and to have access to what was going on politically, a,s well
as administratively, but was not convinced the Youth Council was
the way to go about it. She believed other jurisdictions used an
Explorer Scout approach, providing a more intimate, hands-on rela-
tionship with City government. She would support the proposal for
six months, and decide whether to add one-half staff person.to the
budget to continue the project.
Councilmember Klein :askec about the basis for a 15 member Youth
Council.
Mr. Roe said it was similar to the previous Youth Council repre-
sentation, which Worked -well. A miniMum of 1.2 to 15 ;members was
necessary to allow a division into two or three Committees at any
given time.
Counci lroniber Klein- asked what had been the attendance rate of the
torrent 12 -member group.
Mr. - ai in said there was. relatively good -attendance, and the
stipulation about missing -three meetings assured good attendance.
4 0 2 3
-12/12/83
Councilmember Klein asked it the increase to . 15 member Council
was to allow representation of ninth graders, students from
Castslleja, etc.
1
Mr. Roe said that was part of the reason, and that number was
required to get the desired spread of young people.
Tory Seedman, 975 El Cajon Way, was on the Youth -Advisory Council
from the seventh to twelfth grade, and was its Chairman for his
last two years. It was established to explore and express the
needs and interests of the youth -of Palo Alta, and he urged that
Council adopt the resolution. It would be an older City Council
when Councilmember Fazzino,its youngest 3nember,left, and he be-
lieved Councilmember Fazzino would favor the concept. The gradu-
ates would have a tremendous impact on the world around them, and
he offered his time to help find a suitable framework. A City
Council commitment of staff time was needed, and although it was a
problem, a solution was possible.
Mayor Bechtel thanked Mr. Seedman for his offer, and welcomed him
back.
Human Relations Corruission Chairman Joseph Podolsky, 950 North
California, said the three people who testified worked hard on the
matter. He believed the proponents were diplomatic in their anal-
yses of the old Youth Counci l , and it via` not a case of "if its
not broken, don't fix its" The proposal attempted to fix the
problems because things were not going as well as they would have
liked. The amount of time given by the school district and the
City was not uniform nor consistent enough to accomplish the goals
of the youth and the HRC. There was an overemphasis on social
activities, in; the dispersion of students on a socioeconomic,
racial, and other structures was not good. Election to the Youth
Council was considered desirable on student resumes for good col-
leges. The problems were brought to head by a fine effort of.
Hal Anjo with the Government Affairs Committee. He worked with
five members from the Youth Council for at least 20 hours a week,
with magnificent results. The representatives were involved and
interested, made proposals, and learned, which prompted the HRC
recommendation. He believed 20 hours of staff time would be money
well spent, and would mean money saved on police or drug enforce-
rnent, etc., since the Committee was helpful in those areas. The
representatives of the Government Affairs Committee met with the
parents and police. after an accident due to teenage drunk driving
in the spring, which investment was excellent. He urged adoption
of the motion.
Vice Mayor Witherspoon asked about the Government Affairs Commit-
. tee composed of five youth members. She was convinced that a
finite number in a group led to cohesiveness,_ whereas in a larger
group people left matters to others. She struggled with the con-
cept of 15 versus a smaller number -`of committed, active, involved
youth, nd believed the •latter would be most effective.
Mr. Podolsky said At had worked wel l-_-15 was a good number for a
broad representation, and a different:Model could be buii,t. Using
supervision and volunteers could involve more people, and set up
subcommittees.. The necessary broad representation could be broken
down: into smaller groups.
Councilmember Eyer,ly believed the Council m.st make a commitment
to the youth of the City. It was tried in several ways, -and the
Youth Advisory Council and the Palo Alt0 Youth Council was reor
ganized in 1979 by unanimous action The HRC was directly -in-
volved since then-, and - its., recommendations were before the Coun-
ci 1. Periodical ly: it was necessary to review bow youth was in-
volved,. and revise the bylaws,- activity, and commits►sent.
4 0 2 4-
---12/12/83
MOTION: Councilmember Eyerly moved, seconded by Cobb, to adopt
staff recommendations to approve Human Relations Commission recom-
mendation to reorganize the Palo Alto Youth Council with a request
fur a detailed report from the HRC and staff to the Finance and
Public Works Committee on the effectiveness prior to Councll's
approval of the fiscal year 1984-85 budget.
RESOLUTION 6210 entitled "RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF
ALTO RESCINDING RESOLUTION NO. 5662 AND
REORGANIZING THE YOUTH COUNCIL"
Counci lmesriber Klein endorsed Counciirnember Eyerly's remarks, and
believed the Youth Council was an appropriate organisation for the
City. It should be set up properly to avoid earlier problems, and
he hoped a large and active number of students would participate.
He deferred to the ,HRC regarding the number, nut believed a broad
representation might be at the cost of efficiency. He hoped the
group would analyze the matter and inform the Council of its
status. He was concerned about high staffing, but was satisfied
by Councilmember Eyerly's caveat requiring a report. The Youth
Council was important, and it was unfortunate that all post- Prop-
osition 13 matters had to be scrutinized closely and extra staff
time justified. He agreed with the remarks about the bimonthly
meetings. Stipulated once a month ,meetings allowed the flexibili-
ty to meet as often as necessary-, but it should not start out with
d r;eavier schedule.
MAKER AND SECOND INCORPORATED FOLLOWING INTO MAIN MOTION:
AMENUMENT TO THE BYLAWS, ARTICLE IV, SECTION 1, THE YOUTH COUNCIL
SHALL MELT NOT LESS THAN ONCE A MONTH IN A. REGULAR BUSINESS SES-
SION"
CounceImemner Cobb believed it was important that a detailed
report be submitted to the Council to advise on the status before
the start of the next budget. Because of tight finances, he hoped
success could be ensured with less staff hours. It was important
to ensure representation by the entire youth of the community. He
recently spoke to soire hiyh school classes at Gunn, and found some
stuaente interested in what went on in the City, It one or two
out of thirty paid attention, there was poteotia�l for getting many
students involved from the whole spectrum.
Counci lrnember Fletcher was impressed by the level of intelligence
of students at Gunn High when she spoke there, and .believed they
would contribute to the City with proper g'a i dance, She attested
to the hard work that went into the formulation of the new policy,
and said an all day HRC work session devoted half the day to the
topic. She was going to suggest a full Council meeting per month
plus a Committee meeting, but preferred the current wording since
the representatives' would meet additionally as committees.
Vice Mayor Witherspoon said the report stated the Youth Council
would be appointed in April, and would start in January.
Counci Iniember Levy also believed the item was important, and it
was important that the channels of c,ommuhicati-ors between youth and
the City Council be kept open. Youth interests varied, but should
run towards what happened outside school and in the community in
general. The City Council must enure that students Were not
frus,.trated by a closed line to it and others who made decisions in
the community. He believed the frequency of meetings should be
set by -the students, so the fewer meetings stipulated the better. -
It was difficult to set the number of students, .but they would not
have as is-ny responsibilities as the City Council, and would not
need to be a smalls, tight, decision Making group. They would
partially. represent the youth _of the community, and would be a
decision maaki,ny group, and_it might be better to have a larger
group. The Council made- arrt,ongoing commitment of staff time, and
each --year, during the --budget process, it asked for more_ community
volunteers. and for staff to reach out to them. He believed
4 0 2 5
12/12/83
volunteers could be useful in the area, and he urged that staff
lark in that direction: Otherwise, the students should provide
the direction and initiative, and Council should respond. He was
delighted with the work of the HRC and was happy to support the
motion.
MOTION PASSED unanimously, Fazzino absent.
1
1
ITEM #11, SIXTY DAY EXTENSION OF SOLAR FINANCING LINE OF CREDIT
MOTION: Councilmember Cobb moved, seconded by Klein, to adopt
staff recommendation that the Mayor be authorized to sign the 60
day extension agreement with the Bank of America for the solar
financing line of credit.
MOTION PASSED unanimously, Fazzino absent.
ITEM #12, SALES TAX AMENDMENT (CMR:619:3)
MOTION: Councilmember K1pin moved, seconded by Levy, to adopt
the staff recommendation re amendment to Title 2, Chapter 2.32 of
the Municipal Code.
ORDINANCE 3495 entitled "ORDINANCE OF THE COUNCIL OF THE
LTO TO AMEND SECTION 2.32.130 OF CHAPTER
2.32 OF THE PALO ALTO MUNICIPAL CODE IMPOSING A SALES
AND USE TAX TO BE ADMINISTERED BY THE STATE BOARD OF
EQUALIZATION"
MOTION PASSED unanimously, Fazzino absent.
ITEM #13, POLICY GOVERNING NAMING
MOTION: Vice Mayor Witherspoon moved, seconded by Klein, ap-
proval of the resolution with an amendment to #2 of the resolution
to include Board of the Palo Alto Historical Association (PAHA),
also to add to #4a after the "historical significance for," the
words "the city as a whole for."
OF CITY -OWNED LAND AND
RESOLUTION 6211 entitled "RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF
O ALTO ADOPTING A POLICY REGARDING THE
NAMING OF CITY -OWNED LAND AND FACILITIES°
Councilmember Cobb was surprised that the matter had not gone to
the Policy and Procedures (P&P) Committee befor. the Council
Regarding Item 2 of Section 1, he asked why referrals should be
made to the Finance and Public Works (F&PW) Committee.
City Attorney Diane Lee said the F&PW Committee was involved to
provide consistency with the street naming policy..
Councilmember Levy saki he understood the same policy was used for
naming City -owned land and facilities as_ when naming streets.
Ms. Led said there were some distinctions. The suggested method
provided means by which citizens could suggest names, whereas
street names originated from the Historical Association. Facili-
ties often attracted the interest of a broader section than the
commemoration cf.historical figures and events, and it might be
wise to provide a device to hear the suggestions of environmental
or other groups. Another distinction was that suggested names for
streets were reviewed by the Communications Department to ensure
no confu"ion, whereas the proposed policy would be reviewed by
public Works.
Councilmember Levy asked if there was any policy for naming
private streets.
4 0 2 6
12/12/83
Ms. Lee said they were reviewed by the same process used with pub-
l ic' streets to avoid confusion.
Councilmember Levy clarified that the concept also applied to name
recommendations of an historical association.
Councilmember Renzel referred to Lytton Plaza which had been known
by that name for some time. It was a City facility, and there was
a question about it renaming. She asked how far back significant
went because Bart Lytton constructed the plaza as an amenity to
the public, and its name might be considered historical.
Ms. Lee said if the signifiaanr_p did not fall under 4(a), it might
be caught under 4(b.), which tied land or facility to the donor.
It could be deferred to the historical association for justifica-
tion.
Councilmember Renzel asked if there was a potential for Lytton
Plaza to retain its name.
Ms. Lee said yes.
Councilmember Renzel referred to the Housing Corporation attempts
to memorialize Suzanne MacPherson. One of its buildings on City
land might be privately owned for a period of time and then revert
to the City. She asked whether the lessee was allowed to invoke a
name on public lands, and wanted assurances that the possibility
was not excluded.
Ms. Lee said staff attempted to cover a- number of situations when
drafting the resolution, and were aware of the suggestion by the
-Palo Alto Housing Corporation to memorialize Suzanne MacPherson.
•Point 5 could be interpreted to include the possibility.
Councilmember Menzel asked - i f an application would go through the
City Manager in order to rename, and whether the City Manager had
the prerogative to reject even if the lessee had controlled the
property for four years.
Mr. Zaner said the resolution clearly gave the City Manager that
authority. When dealing with structures to be occupied by a les-
see for a long period of time, staff leaned heavily in that direc-
tion, ano it might be different for a structure to be occupied by
the City.
Councilmember Ren7e1 raid there might be a different City Manager
or lessee in ten years, and whether clarification should be given
that preferences would be given to the desires of a long-term
lessee.
Mr. Zaner believed that would make it more complicated, and that
no changes would be made in the long run. He did not believe a
City Manager would strenuously object to a lessee idesirino to name
a road in memory of someone.
Chairman of the Historic Resources Board Gail Woolley, 1685
Mariposa, suggested that Section, 1 (2) of the resolution state
"the Board of the Palo Alto Historical Association." When a
request came in to name a street on short notice, she made a quick
recommendation after discussion with one other person, and that
decisions were not always made by a large body. The Board met :the
first Thursday of each month, and when a major facility was being
named, there was sufficient time for. the Board to meet and make .a
recommendation.
LANGUAGE INCORPORATED BY MAKER AND SECOND Oi $OTIOM TO INCLUDE
LANGUAGE TO AMEND 32 OF THE RESOLUTION TO INCLUDE BOARD OF THE
PALO ALTO HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION (PAHA).
4 0 2 7
12/12/83
Corrected
2/13/84
Mr. Leiner said the amendment put the City staff in an awkward
position because it was unusual for staff 'CO tell an organization
how to direct its own affairs. The City referred items to organi-
zations, who in torn decided whether to delegate to its Board or a
committee for review.
Ms. Lee said sne understood the Association had a street ruining
committee to deal with names the matter.
Ms. Woolley said the street naming committee reported the action
to the Board after the fact.
Mayor Bechtel believed Mr. Loner had a point because the Historl-
cal Association could have a police that the decision be:.made 'by
the board of Ui rectors, but it should net be mandated by the
City.
Vice Mayor Witherspoon disagreed because the Council should say
if it wanted the weight of the Board behind decisions, and the
Board could refer the matter to a subcommittee if it desired. As
a City Counci lmeniber, she asked for assurances that the Board of
the Historical Association knew the name recommendation, and that
the name decision did not come from only two people. The Council
-gave the Association a lot of responsibility, and a name carried
on in perpetuity, as did street names. It was appropriate for the
Board to make cognizant name recommendations to the Council.
AMENDMENT: Mayor Bechtel moved, seconded by Fletcher, that the
ianyuage added by maker and second be removed from the motion
Cuuncilrnenrber Fletcher believed it was unnecessary to be so spe-
cific. Many resolutions and ordinances were passed designating
the .City Manager to take action, with full knowledge that he could
delegate the work, The Historical Association had similar .respon-
sibi i ity to carry out its function without the Council having to
desiynate organization specifics.
Cuunci irnernber Renzel asked whether it was within the purview of
the Historic Resources Board to effect similar 4ecision making.
It might be more appropriate for the.Council's public body to make
the same judy'nent with input from the Historical Association,.
Since the City had its gown Body to govern historic resources, it
might be more appropriate for the Historic Resources Board to make
similar decisions.
Ms. Lee said she did not directly staff the Board, and could not
attest to the expertise. She knew the Historical Association was
charyed with maintaining historic records for the City ane3 was an
excellent resource for potential lists of names.
Councilmember Levy said the Historical Association was a different
entity _from the Historic Resources Board.' The Board was primarily
concerned with architecture, whereas the Hi stor° i ca l Association
was the appropriate entity to make the decisions in question.
It was an important function, and he was sure it would act r-espone
sibly. He believed _the original wording in the resolution was
acceptable.
AMENDMENT PASS. U by a vote of b-2, Eyerty and Witherspoon voting
Fazzino absent.
Counci1mgriber Levy -said _the resolution did not allow for a name
that would be of City-wide significance, but only for the specific
area where the land or ar rea - wa.s - -located. He bel 1 eyed that situa-
tion snow l d be i nc l utled,
MAKER AND SECOND OF MOTION AMENDED ##a OF THE RESOLUTION AFTER
'HLST0i(iCAL SIGNIFICANCE FOR," AUU THE .MORNS "THE CITY AS A WHOLE
FOR%
4 0 2 8
12/12/83_-
-Counci linember Levy was concerned about Item #5 of the resolution
which Jeleyated responsibility and authority to name places within
City -owned land or facilities to the City Manager. He— envied
names given to City -owned properties or places because the name
represented an important function to the entire community. There
were not many opportunities to name places, and even though many
cases might be routine, the -Council should retain its right to
designate names with the flexibility required to name important
facilities.
AMENDMENT: Councilmember Levy moved, seconded by Renzel, that
#5 be amended to read "the places within City -owned land or facil-
ities shall also be named by the Courici l , but need not follow the
procedures for lands and facilities themselves."
Councilmember Eyerly did not understand how the Council would
handle the matter, and asked whether names would be debated.
Councilmember Levy intended the name would come to the Council
from the City Manager, and if Council disapproved, a debate would
ensue. In most cases, he anticipated that Council would approve.
Councilmember Eyerly said the last thing he wanted to do was get
into a controversy with a community group over a name, and the
next to last thing he wanted to do was crowd a City,. Council agenda
witn the naming of rooms in City facilities. He recommended that
staff be allowed to name rooms in City facilities.
Councilmember Klein could not believe the Council lias spending so
much time on the issue, and said it was creating a nonissue.
Councilmember Fletcher did not agree that an agenda would be clut-
tered because the matter could be put on the Consent Calender for
ratification.
AMENDMENT FAILED, #-4, Eyerly, Bechtel, Klein, Cobb voting "no,"
Fazzino absent.
Councilmember Levy believed names were permanent and widely used
in the community, and should not just be placed on the Consent
Calendar. Although items could be removed from the calendar, the
matter was important enough to warrant going on the regular
agenda. He wanted to remove language from #Z. -
AMENDMENT: Councilmember Levy moved to delete the language from
#Z, "for placement on the consent calendar."
AMENDMENT FAILED for lack of a second.
MUTTON AS AMENDED PASSED unanimously, Fazzi no absent.
ITEM #15 REQUEST OF CUUNCILMEMI3£R LEVY RE HISTORIC RESOURCES
C ouncilmerber Levy asked the City Attorney. what direction should
be taken to :Hake an appointment to the Historic Resources Hoard
(IiKU). The language appeared;to allow action only on a nominee
recommendation by the Historical Ji.ssoCiation, -:but the names of
four nominees were placed before the Council, and was agendized to
determine whether the Council should -have interviews,
City Attorney Uiane Lee mild not believe she had as: much informa-
tion as the Council did on the item. She realized there was a
particular vacancy to be filled by nomination -of the Historical
Association, and the Council'had the option to con4uct interviews,
but was not required to do so.
Councilmember Levy said there Were lour, nbminees--one .by .the His,
torical Association. He asked whether the -Council was bound-. to
select that nominee, and should consider dispensing with inter-
views.
Assistant City Clerk Gloria Young clarified that it was a particu-
lar vacane , and the Council could select any candidate.
Mayor Bechtel asked why the City did the advertising process when
according to the notice from the City Clerk's office, it was a
seat specificially designated to a Palo Alto Historical Associa-
tion nominee. The Council was bound by that nomination, and it
was awkward when able members of the public wanted the appoint-
ment. The Council might respond by urging those persons to apply
later, and to keep their names on file. She believed the Council
should continue the process, but asked whether the matter had to
be discussed that evening.
Ms. Young said requests to interview had to be on file with the
City Clerk by December 19, but the Council could indicate its
preference later.
Councilmember Levy suggested the City Attorney provide a ruling at
the next Council meeting.
Ms. Lee clarified that Council wanted a ruling on whether it had
to make a nomination based on a recommendation from the Historical
Association for the vacancy.
Councilmember Eyerly said two letters - from the City Clerk state:
why the matter was handled that way --there had to be two members
from the PAHA on the HRB. Gail Wool l ey's election to the Council
caused a vacancy, which was advertised, and members of- the ..PAHA
could apply. That was why the naves were referred to the PAHA for
a recommendation. The Council did not know whether any of the
applicants were members of the PAHA, but presumably the PAHA did
when lt. made the recommendation. He did not know why the matter
J
was discussed that evening.
Councilmember Renzel understood from past City Clerk explanations
that the PAHA waited -to make its nomination until after the recom-
mendation process, which made- sense of the City's role in
appointing members to the body. Otherwise" there was no point in
having a,process, and she was offended to have the whole matter
taken from the hands of the City Council by a premature recommen-
dation. She had no problem with the recommendation, but an open
process should be truly open, not preempted at the outset. She
had no suggestions, but did not believe there would have been a
problem if the PAHA waited until after the interview process to
make its recommendation. The process would have been open to the
public, and the PAHA might have -found an acceptable nomination,
Councilmember Levy said the charter read that two_ members of the
HRB were to be nominated representatives from the PAHA, which dia
not say they must be members. The Council, in setting up -the HRB,
took the -matter out of its hands and gave it to the PAHA, which
was satisfactory. It acted responsibly, although a little late.
A -ruling from the City Attorney was required to determine whether
there was any point to conducting interviews, -and whether the
Council had any choice other than selecting the norntnated candi-
date of the PPIA.
Ms. Lee believed it was a policy decision , The Council was rc: __
quired to appoint a 'nomin3ted representative o.f the PAHA to the
position, and interviews were not required.
Councilmember Levy asked for confirmation that there was only one
nominated representative in the list,
MOTION: Councilmember Levy waved, seconded by Fletcher, to not
hold Historic Resources Board interviews, .and to send letters to
the applicants,
MOTION PASSED unanimously, Fazzlno absent.
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Councilmember Renzel was concerned about Boards and Commissions
being so proscribed as to not be open to a broad spectrum uf the
citizenry.
MOTION: Councilmember Renzel moved, seconded by Klein, to refer
to the Policy and Procedures Committee the question of boards/
commissions proscribed members.
Councilmember Fletcher said the procedure was reviewed recently,
and perhaps the case was special and overlooked. It might be more
appropriate to consider the question separately.
Councilmember Renzel believed the City had a similar problem with
tt.e Architectural Review Board requirement for a landscape archi-
tect, two design professionals, etc. While it behooved the City
to have a number of design professionals on the ARB, it was not
necessarily healthy to make appointments on a seat by seat basis,
always replacing one member with the same type of person. It
limited access to Boards and Commissions, and it aright be appro-
priate to look at another way to encourage the desired expertise
without it being so closely proscribed.
Councilmember Klein agreed with Councilmember Renzel. When the
Council appointed the members of the Arastra Lands Advisory Com-
mittee, it rejected the idea that certain organizations would ap-
point members to the committee. The Council decided it would con-
sider recommendations, but the Mayor would appoint the members on
a totally open basis, which he believed was the wisest policy.
While the Historical Association was a worthy group, and its rec-
ommendation would probably be approved, it was not appropriate for
a publicly elected body to delegate some of its responsibilities
to a private organization which was not responsible to the public
in any way. Regarding whether there should be specified cate-
gories such as landscape architects, the call was closer and he
would suppo t its re-examination.
MOTION PASSED unanimously, Fazzino absent.
ITEM #1b, REQUEST OF COUNCILMEMBER LEVY RE SIDEWALK RAMPS
Councilmember Levy said he observed a new ramp off the sidewalk at
the corner of Tasso and University that would impede a bicyclist
coming up the curve of the street. He requested the City Manager
provide a report on the configuration of that particular ramp and
its safety, and to respond to the letter from Mr. Brant which he
believed referred to the same matter.
Mr. Zaner said staff would respond to Mr. Brant's letter,- and
clarified it was a different intersection with a similar problem.
Cotsnctlrnember Fletcher said she asked the Disabled Task Force to
make a recommendation on the configuration of ramps, and whether
the -lips or the flush ramp were preferred. It night be appropri-
ate for the Palo Alto Bicycle Advisory Committee to review the
matter, but she left that decision to staff.
Mr. Zaner said staff would chetk with the Disabled Task Force.
State standards required a half.inch lip at the end of the -ramp
for use by blind handicapped persons.
Councilmember .Fl etcher pointed out that the hew devel opment on
Ca' iforrria Avenue and Park had flush ramps, and a disabled person
she spoke -to said it was preferred by disabled persons. Tt,c
-standard might state "not more than half an inch was required.
N(s ACTION TAKEN -
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AUJUURNMLt T
Council adjourned at 10:25 p.m.
AITLST:
APPROVED:
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