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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1977-02-28 City Council Summary MinutesCITY COUNCIL M1NL)TE 1 Regular Meeting February 28, 1977 ITEM Approval of Minutes of February 7, 1977 Oral Communications Consent Calendar - Referral Items Request or Councilman Comstock for Finance Committee Referral Concerning Possible Termination of Community Box Office Consent Calendar - Action Items Byxbee Park and City -Owned Baylands -- Plan for Construction of A Lagoon Mitigation Project Skateboard Ordinance Request to Santa Clara County to Except or Exempt All Property Within Boundaries of Palo Alto from Assessment or Taxation to Cover Any Portion of the County's Cots in Providing Fire Protection Services Bayl.ands Master Plan - Planning Commission Recommendations Adjournment 729 2/28/77 CITY Gr Ml0 ALTO PACE 7 3 0 7 3 0 732 7 3 2 7 32 7 3 2 7 3 2 7 3 3 7 3 3 7 4 7 February 23, 1977 The City Council of the City of Palo Alto met on this date at 7:30 p.m. in a regular meeting with Mayor Norton presiding. PRESENT: Beahrs, Berwald, Carey, Clay, Comstock, Eyerly, Norton, Sher, Witherspoon ABSENT: None OF MINUTE S OF FEBRUARY 7 , 19 77 Mayor Norton asked that in the corrections to the meeting of January 3, 1977 on page 667, the phrase in the second line read "...new revenue sources, such as...." On page 680, first two lines of the second paragraph read instead, "...to point out...that under Federal and state constitutions the City may exercise Eminent Domain...." MOTION: Councilman Beahra moved, seconded by Clay, that the minutes of February 7 be approved as corrected. The motion passed unanimously. Mayor Norton announced that Ruth Landy, graduate student in the Depart- ment of Communications at Stanford, would be filming sections of the Council meeting that evening, as a part of her master's thesis. Her topic was entitled, "Trade-offs which the Bay Area faces in. Managing its Environmental Resources." The proposed one-half hour of filming was sponaored by the League of Women Voters and was to be used for educational purposes. Release time was planned for Fall of 1977. Those speakers not wishing to be filmed while addressing the Council were asked to indicate that, at the time of addressing Council. Mayor Horton said the filming would begin with Item 5, having to do with the Esylands Master Plan. 1. Fred Kunkel, 765 Garland, said his 5 -pegs analysis of Palo Alto water rates had been placed in Council era' packets it his request. He pointed out the stateeent in the Palo Alto Times, saying that Palo Alto's water rates grew higher as more was used; as cost of 32c per hundred cubic feet, rising, after use of 95,000 cubic fest, to 35.40 per hundred cubic feet, might indicate. Be said he had plotted monthly domestic water use in units of 100 cubic feet as well as the cost, which demonstrates that users .get more water per dollar. A graph showed the number of gallons users received per dollar of billing using only 100 cubic feet the user received 297 gallons per dollar; using 200 feet, users got 527 gallons per dollar. Only after use exceeded one thousand units of 100 cubic feet, did the rate increase. Were the usage doubled to two thousand units of 100 cubic feet the number of gallons per dollar was reduced by 7 gallons. The "sleeper" in the rate structure, Mr. Kunkel said, was that a $2.20 aster charge was made monthly --the overall effect was to encourage users to use more water. He suggested Council think about eliminating the $2.20 meter 730 2/28/77 charge and charge a flat 50c per 100 cubic feet, the cost per 1100 feet would be $1.00. Those using that 1100 cubic feet per month or less would have a reduction in rate. Those using more would have an increase in rate. According to the City's figures, households used an average of 1800 cubic feet per month, which meant that most households would have an increase in their water ratea--a sure incentive to conserve water. He had his water bills over the past eleven years' residentae in Palo Alto, he said, and had calculated those monthly bills in two increments. The first, 1965-1972, the second beginning in 1973: In his household they strove to conserve hot water pr.incipslly, in the light of the energy crisis in 1973, and he calculated their water consumption had been reduced by 23 percent,. with no hardship. That resulted in a 16 percent reduction in the water bill. He foresaw not much difficulty in reducing his own household's water use another 25 percent, particularly if he cut back on irrigation, and he anticipstad saving another 16 percent on his bill. He said such savings did not encourage conservation of water. Mayor Norton remarked that staff could bear Mr. Kunkel's figures in mind when changing water rates. George Sipel, City Manager! praised Mr. Kunkel's survey. Mr. Kunkel paid that his occupation was hydrologist, and he had worked with such figures very closely over the past twenty years. Councilman Perwald commended Mr. Kunkel's study and aid it would be useful in a forthcoming Finance and Public Works meeting on Conservation and re -use management. 2. Louis Goldanith, 1462 Edgewood Drive, spoke as vice president �f the Palo Alto Housing Corporation. He expressed pleasure of having such a large number of listeners. Counci1members had in their packets, he continued, a certificate of limited partnership with Webeter Wood Development Association, which was, he said, an arrangement between the Pilo Alto Housing Corporation (PAHC) and the Mid -Peninsula Coalition Housing Fund (HCHF) to get "the front money" needed to sake the project fundable by the State under the California Housing Finance Agency. The MCHiF had put up $75,000, because the PAHC did not have the fuxeds. MCRF had been brought into being by the Stanford Mid -Peninsula Urban Coalition, so that low- and moderate --income housing could be generated and fostered. Mr. Goldemith said the Stanford--Mid-Peninsula Coalition had built San Barone, 32 units, in Mountain View; 220 units iA Sunnyvale called Yomestead Park, and 95 unite also in Sunnyvale called Aster Park. In addition they co-sponsor Colorado Park in Palo Alto, but have pasetd the bulk of the responsibility to PANG, "its child." Mr. Goldsmith said that relative to Webster Wood working drawings were well underway with the bond anticipation notes having been sold so that there were now construction funds. Housing and Urban Development (RUD) approval wee imminent for the Section 8 units. Returning to the limited partnership, he repeated that the Webster Wood Development Association was "...strictly a front -money arrange t," which, at the time of closing it would be taken over by the permanent entity. The permanent entity would be either a non-profit corporation or another limited partnership, which would function as owner and operator of the project. 7 3 i 2/28/77 If the project went non-profit, he said, PAHC would co- sponsor as they had with Colorado Park. If the project went limited dividend, PAHC would function as the managing general partner, with MCHF dropping out. 3. Frank Manfredi, 219 Addison Avenue, denounced the "super- annuated people who are earning tremendous salaries" on the Board of Education. He spoke of the power of mothers' influence, and the randomness of intellectual endowment among children, neither of which warranted the high cost of education. He said the free enterprise system led to consumers being "soaked" in having to pay high taxes and prices for the goods they buy. He said that while he felt sorry for the lead character in "Roots" he felt all citizens were just as bad off. C 44I C.R21 4 - 2it -- REFERRAL. ITEMS VEST OF COUNCILMAN COMSTr:X FOR F `.y. 3 4 .� F tfNG POSS ELF' tERMTNATION OF C6? ITT 45CX MOTION: Councilman Comstock moved, seconded by refer to the Finance and Public Works Committee continued operation of the Community Box Office the question it be returned to the Council with The motion passed on a unanimous vote. NSENT CALENDAR -- ACTION Iris Berwald, that Council the question of the and that ar,er review of any recommendations. Mayor Norton asked if CouncLmembers were ready to vote on the following items on the Consent Calendar. ORDINANCE 2971 entitled "ORDINANCE OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO APPROVING AND ADOPTING A PLAN FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A LAGOON MITIGATION PROTECT IN BYX1E1 PARR AND THE CITY -OWNED BOUNDS (AKA JOHN FLETCHER HUBEI RECREATION AREA). `First reading 2/7/77) The. City Attorney reported that tha first five code sections to which a prohibition against skateboarding has bean added are those which were recommereed by Chief Eurcher and several members of the Council. Additionally, he suggested an amendment to Section 10.64.180 which would prohibit towing a skateboard and rider from the back of e bicycle. Such a practice appears to have become commonplace, though it is extremely dangerous for being towed by a rope makes the skateboarder ride in a much wider radius than the bicyclist, often forcing him off the sidewslk and into the street. To clear tap those inconsistencies the City Attorney suggests that Section 22.04.220 be changed to read as follows: "22.04.220 Sic, as and easels. No person shall operate, drive or rids upon any bicycle, unicycle, skateboard, horse or any other animal in any park, playground, or school - ground except on sateblish ed paths or walkways, unless such 732 2/28/77 riding or operation is expressly permitted under rules end regulations established by the director of recreation and the director of nature and science, and then only in accordance with such rules or regulations. The director of recreation and the director of nature and science may prohibit such riding or operation in any playground, park, or school by posting appropriate signs to that effect." Section 4, the City Attorney recommended, should be amended to repeal Section 10.64.220 of the Palo Alto Municipal Code and the remaining sections renumbered accordingly. ORDINANCE 2972 entitled "ORDINANCE OF THE COUNCIL Of THE CITY OF PALO ALTO PROHIBITING RIDING OF SKATEBOARDS ON SIDEWALKS IN BUSINESS DISTRICTS." (First reading 2/14/77) .� TO SAi ` CLila� TO EXCEPT OR EXEMPT Ax.L P : iP "TY VER ES (CXR:177:7) City Manager George Sipel said that cities who do not call on County fire services must file an exemption resolution, by March 1, 1977, RESOLUTION 5354 entitled "RESOLUTION or THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO REQUESTING THE SANTA CLARA COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS TO EXCEPT OR EXIT ALL PROPERTY WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO FROM ASSESSMENT OR TAXATION TO COVER ANY PORTION OF THE COUNTY'S COSTS IN PROVIDING FIRE PROTECTION SERVICES." MOTION: Councilman Serweld moved, seconded by Beahrs, that Council approve the Consent Calendar including the City Attorney's suggested changes to the skateboard ordinance. The motion carried unanimously. Councilman Berwald said that the Finance and Public Works Committee had cancelled its meeting for the following day in anticipation of Council possibly running into a second session on the Baylendls Plan, in order to enable people to lease the present meeting at a reasonable time. Anne Steinberg, Cheirwomeo of the Planning Comaieeion, said they had heard eight and one --half hours of public testimony and had spent three meetinga on the consultants's reports on the Baylands ?mister Plan. The large number of speakers demonstrated the significance to the people of Palo Alto of the issue regarding the special quality of the baylands area. The Planning Commission recommendations, she said, had been e1aoat all unanimous: a et3iving to siaintein that special quality. The question of the South Bey Discharger's plan vas now being re --evaluated, and Councilmen Eyerly's memo of January 20 referred to that. The chairman of the State Water Resources Control - board had said that the decision to build the pipeline had looked Corrected good forty-five yearo ago, but needed to be thought in the light See pg 791 of present --day circumstances, for the highly treated wastewater could be put to a more useful purpaee now, than jest dumping it into the bay. The Planning Commission, she said, agreed unanimously that Palo Alto Coucil should not allocate rights -of -sway through the &ylac*ds. Protection measures for Barron, Adobe, Matadors and Ban P"ranciaquito 733 2/28/77 Creeks were approved with the proviso that any action relating to San Francisquito Creek should be coordinated with East Palo Alto and San Mateo County. The recommendation for the 14 -foot levee for protection agatnst the 100 -year floor was objected to for the following reasons: there are no present plans for outboard levees --the Army Corps of Engineers is about to embark on a 5 -year study to determine the feasibility and environmental impact as well as the cost of the levee system; Fish and Wildlife Service expressed concern about the impact of the levees on the marshlands ---the cost would be very high. A Santa Clara County Flood Control District study of four years ago listed the construction costs of the outboard levee system for the South Bay at $94 million. Dikes might collapse in an earthquake, especially if built of dredging spoils, for the ground beneath is unstable. Other nett -{ode of flood control, such as restriction of develop- ment in the flood zone, should be sought. The City had to decide what method of flood control it wished to implement; all recommendations regarding flood control had been unanimous. Also unanimous was the recommendation by the Planning Commission that access to the flood basin be restricted so to prevent damage to the breeding habitat and wildlife and vegetation. The Commission had voted five to two to permit organized training programs for water dogs in the flood basin with certain controls relating to time and area. The Commission was unanimous on the golf course, Embarcadero Road and Charleston Shoals. Corrected The Commission fully endorses the policy in the Comprehensive Plan See pg 791 toward the refuse area, which states "Further filling of the marshland and other water areas shall be prohibited and alternative :r improved methods of solid waste disposal be vigorously pursued." Ms. Steinberg said the Joint Powers Authority was about to begin a study of long- range solutions. The study would undertake some collective solution for six cities in North County. "It is not reasonable to suppose that any recommendations resulting from this study can be implemented before the present site is exhausted in three to four years," she read, and that a partial second lift at the present site should be implemented as an emergency measure only, for the Commission did not support the idea of a second lift. Long-time use of the refuse area proposes its use for passive recreation, and that it be left in natural green space. Many citizens, she contineed, expressed concern about the airport, both from their stand on the proposed second runway as well as flights aver residential areas of Menlo Park, East Palo Alto and Palo Alto. New flight patterns had not reduced the noise over East Palo Alto on the weekends. The second runway would attract flights from aircraft now using other facilities, a situation that would grow more permanent. Also, from a safety standpoint, aircraft traffic should be stabilized at its present level, and, as appropriate, re -negotiate the needs Corrected of the County. The landscaping around the airport, the Commission See pg 791 recommended, ahouid be upgraded. On the yacht harbor, no further dredging should be done unless the spoils could be moved at the time Corrected of dredging, The Plan was before Council that evening, she said, See pg 791 in fulfillment of a requirement from Bay Conservation District Commission, (BOAC), for a plan that identified environmentally acceptable -at -the- Corrected site disposal of dredging spoils for the life of the county leases, See pg 791 which provides an impla ntation and timetable for public access improve- ment, and identified all costs to the public for maintenance at the yscht harbor as well as the source of the funds. The present identified site is not environmentally acceptable since it would take up about 20 acres of parkland to be used as a vast expanse of drying mud enclosed by 6 -foot dikes also of mud, and that over a 22 -year period, with no solution for disposal of spoils following that time. The 20 -acre site would not be adequate to take spoils from the outer channel which BCDC said would require dredging during the stipulated period, The Regional Water Quality Control Board is concerned about possibility of leachate movement in the ground under the de -watering pond. Also, annual dredging meant silt would not have enough time to settle nor could plant life in the spoils have enough time to regenerate, and twenty years' of dredging lay ahead. Dry spoils with high salt content 734 2/23/77 cannot be used as landscaping material. Estimated costs do noCinclude Corrected dredging, establishment of temporary de -watering ponds, along with See pg 791 processing spoils to make them useful, as well as costs of transportation of the spoils for landfill or road construction. Where the money was to come from for those costs was not known, yet the County had repeatedly stated it needed all the berths indicated in the Master Plan --299, not the 86 on which number the consultants had based their calculations and recommendation*. The recommendations did not conform to the Open Space (OS) element of the Comprehensive Plan:. 1) dredging should be minimized, restricted to essential needs for health, safety, and welfare; 2) intensive effort tut be made to find ae longterm solution for dredging as maintenance for the Palo Alto Yacht Harbor.- While there is agreement that the harbor is open to all, the price of that accessibility to all is not known. "It appears now," Ms. Steinberg said, "that the harbor was doomed when the decision was made to realign San Franciequito Creek years ago so that we could use vast arein of marshland to dump our waste material. If the harbor could continue to exist with dredging and the spoils could be taken someplace where they would not damage the environment, we would enthusiastically support it.'° However, she added, continued dumping of spoils in the fragile area made the "price" for continued boating very high to the thousands of other users of the Baylanda. The Planning Commission does not say to abandon the yacht harbor, but asks what the cost of epoila disposal would be without ruining the environment, and could the City afford it. The answer had not yet been given. Neither birdlovers nor sailors must be the winners, but the env'i.ronzent, ehe concluded. Councilman Berwald commended Ms. Steinberg's professional presentation, which, though a serious topic, perhaps "needs a little levity." He introduced the possibility that both birdlovers and sailors are "for the birds." Reuss Frsau-Brsc, consultant with the Environmental Impact Planning Corporation of San Francisco, said that he would not cover the specifics of his report, but would give "the perspective of the consultants" of the Beylands Master Plan. The scope of work assigned to the consultants by the City had an interesting history and it contained t number of alternatives to be investigated along with a set of critical factors to be used es criteria in weighing those alternatives. They worked within the constraints of the environment as well as the scope of the assignment. The ensuing recommendations report had only two items changed by the Planning Commission: the yacht harbor and the airport. Discussion with people about the yacht harbor, he said, led to the consultants adding some alternatives to those already extant --some computer "modeling" led them to a concept of an attempt to reduce the volume of dredged spoils that required disposal, thereby lessening their impact on the environment. The consultants' resulting recommenda- tion, he said, was in the report, and the key was to reduce channel width and depth. The County hard indicated they did not want to reduce either, but wanted to return "to the initial channel geometry." The County's preferences indicated a *attach greater volume of spoils than the consultants had calculated, for the dunes created by the spoils would be :much larger if adherence to County recommendation was followed. He felt that, everything considered, the Planning Commission had made a rrecponaibls decision in their recommendations for the yacht harbor." The issue of the second runway at the airport raised the question of whether or not it would be "compatible land use" in the Baylands Ares and the Planning Commission answered that question by saying such use was not compatible. Mr. Prase--Brac said that citizens would give their answer in the political process in which they were engaged that, swing. eee Councilman Fyerly asked Mr. Frau--Brac if he had or had not changed his recommendation about dredged spoils. 1 7 3 S 2/2$/77 Mr. Frau-Brae said the data, with the County recommendation, had changed, for under County recommendation a larger volume of spoils would then have to be disposed of. Councilman Sher asked how much more the volume of spoils increased if County recommendation were followed. Phil Williams, consultant for the Environmental Impact Planning Corporation, said the original recommendation was for dredging 370000 cubic yards but with County recommendations for the north arm of the harbor the volume increased to about 43,000 cubic yards -per annual dredging, leading to an increase in the de -watering area from two five --acre plots to two seven -acre plots, so that about twenty acres, including walls, would have to be dedicated to de -watering. The temporary de watering ponds would be removed after two years. Mayor Norton asked the estimate of cubic yards from the initial dredging. Mr. Williams said that if the dredging took place within a year the armeunt of spoils would be 37,000 cubic yards, and that as time passed without dredging the amount of spoilo when initially dredged would increase. Councilman Beshrs asked the County's reasons for preferring wider and deeper channels. Mr. Williams answered that the County criteiia for the berthing area were twice the length of the boat plus the length of the berth. Council- man Seaters asked if that was a requirement, then, for a larger turning circle, He asked if that was a safety measure. Mr. Williams said it was a requirement for greater maneuverability, which led to improved safety. Councilman Sher said he would make his questions brief: they would cover costs safety, use of the spoils and esthetics. How much of the cost of establishing de -watering ponds and the requisite landscaping would fall to Palo Alto? Mr. Williams replied that the consultants had not gone into cost allocation. Councilman Sher asked if the consultants had supposed that the County, being the lessee, would bear all the costs. Mr. Williams replied thaty the consultants had assuaged some arrangement would be worked out Councilman Sher asked who the consultants had assumed would move the dried laud to their location, and the estimate of that cost. Mr. Willie's said that the cost depended on what the dried mud would be used for. If the gaud were awed to the second lift and to the levee it would be for City purposes so the costs would be borne by the City. Ruse Prau-Brae added that since the dried mud so waved would remove the need to haul in fill from elsewhere, those savings would offset the cost of transporting the dried mud. There were no specific cost figures for how such it would cost to move the mud, Councilman Sher asked if there were any figures on the cost of landscap- ing, and also, did the consultants make any consideration of landscaping the remporery ponds. Mr. Williams replied that the temporary ponds would not be landscaped, so the cost was not included. Councilman Sher asked where the temporary 6-8 acre temporary pond would be located, and did that estimated area include the walls and levees? Mr. Williams replies that the needed land which included walls 736 2/28/77 and levees would require an increase of a couple of acres, and the site would be the old sewage --sludge drying pond. He indicated the area on the map. Councilman Sher asked if there were any figure on the cost of moving the firing range, which would be covered by the de• -watering ponds. Mr. Williams replied in the negative. Councilman Sher said he was switching the topic of his questions to that of the use of the spoils: he asked if the consultants were aware of the park dedication ordinance and had they considered the geestion of using the area as a park. Garret Eckbo, consultant of Environmental Impact Planning Corporation, San Francisco, said that their instructions to find the best way to keep the yacht harbor open overrode other considerations. Robert Booth, City Attorney, explained Lhat the use of the area (for de -watering ponds) would be consistent as long as Council passed an ordinance, as a part of a development plan. Councilman Sher said that the consultants had said in their report that the spoils could be used for topsoil, yet an earlier report, called "The Yacht Harbor Salinity Report" had indicated that the dredged and dried spoiler had salinity twice that of soil which was suitable for growing salt -tolerant plants. He asked if the dried soil would be irrigated to leach out the salt. Mr. Eckbo replied that in order to make the spoils useful a complicated process cf leaching out the salt followed by enrichment naterials would have to be undertaken for the dried mud to be made useful as topsoil. He said that sewage -sludge could he used as enrichment. Such a process would involve some costs. Councilman Sher asked if the mud -pond levees were included in the 20 -acre figure. Mr. Williams replied affirmatively, and that the slope would be ore -to -four. That water depth of four feet, contained in such a levee, vuuld not entail significant risk were there to be an earthquake, though Mr. Williams granted that he did not have the possibility of earthquake in ?Sind when he designed to that 4 -foot depth. Councilman Sher asked if the proposed two -foot pad which would act as a barrier to leaching would always exist. Mr. Wi1liame replied that in actuality it would be a 1 -foot pad, with the purpose of prevention of leakage into the garbage dump. Councilman Sher asked if penetration of that pad by bulldozer could be prevented. Mr. Williams replied that a thicker pad could be forayed. Councilmen Sher vent to the question of esthetics: would the levees for the spoils be of the compacted soil? Mr. Eckbo replied in the affirmative. Councilman Sher aeked how it could be landscaped. Mx. Eckbe replied :hat ideally the levee would appear as an extension of the marsh which would mean lieitins height and finding indigenous grasses to impart the view of similar texture. That would require that the soil salinity be reduced by leaching. Member* of the audience voiced their impatience with Councilman Sher's continued questioning, and requested that the Mayor allow the public to speak. Councilman Sher said that he designed hia questions in good faith for Councilmembers were called spun to yaks a very difficult decision. 1h acceded to public objection. 7 2 7. 2/28%77 i Enid Pearson, 1200 Bryant, acknowledged her pleasure at the public hearings and the pertinence of Councilman Sher'R questions to the topic of the Baylands. She said a visit to the dikes built seven to ten years ago 'Auld show that nothing was growing there, and some growth was just beginning to creep up. Seventeen years ago, she said, she and Bob Debs had filed suit against the City to prevent industrial- ization of the Baylands, and their suit had been won. Twelve years ago the Park Dedication Ordinance had been passed 7-1 to preserve the Baylands for Open Space and Conservation. A major change, she said, could be referended. She alluded to her letter of January 5 addressed to the Council. She said the consultants' report showed the cost from an environmental point of view of keeping the harbor open. She noted she was a former hoatowner, and presently a one-third owner of an airplane tied down at the Palo Alto airport. She said she represented the Peninsula Conservation Center as well as herself. The PCC supports the Planning Commission recommendations, and urged that both County and City review the airport plans, a plan adopted in 1968. Much had changed since then, and there was no longer the support for energy-cons-uming hobbies which interfered with both peace and quiet as well as their pocketbooks. Over 60 percent of flights from Palo Alto airport were recreational, and not many were business or emergency. The airport, like all airports, was heavily subsidized and already beyond its "ultimate capacity" of 400 tiedowns, in that it had 409 at present. The noise was a constant irritant. sTh a pattern change of no longer allowing left crosswind or straight out departures, and requirement of an approach altitude of 1500 feet over Bayshore freeway has still not changed the amount of noise over north Palo Alto. With two runways the now -prohibited departure patterns would not be prevented. A second runway would also increase the demand for touch-and-go flights and increased tiedowns. A look at the Associated Bay Area Government (ABAG) report and a talk with San Carlos airport showed her that airplane traffic increased as availability of runways increased, San Carlos airport, she said, had et present 446 tiedowns, with an expectation that the number will increase to 590; 251,000 movements during 1976 is anticipated to rise to 346,000; Polo Alto had 215,000 movements, which, with a second runway, could rise to 385,0003 --with one runway the number of movements at Palo Alto airport could rise to 291,000. Twelve to fourteen planes line up for takeoff at San Carlos, seven or eight line up at Palo Alto. San Carlos felt that they could accommodate the 346,000 movements with only one runway, and they were not planning to get a second ramway. The to has strict control over the traffic, and touch -and -goes are not allowed. Planes, at San Carlow, are scanned over KNU. Palo Alto does the man* thing, Ns. Pearson said, denying touch -and -goes to practising pilots when the airport Is busy, and they also ask pilots waiting to land to extend downwind when it is busy, or to do throe 60s or three 70s, subsequently Barking them into port. The safety area, she continued, had changed since 1968, having been enlarged to 1800 feet vide and 3000 feet long. The "catchment" area, where planes touch down is critical and no objects were to be there, yet at present there are son* hangars in that critical x.500 -foot touchdown area, which should not be allowed. She said the County's 299 bertha were in the second 1500 feet, where the aallowe le density of people is limited for sef,ety's sake, and so certainly those 299 berths should not be there either. The County had a history of non-costplience with regulations: in 1968 the County got as permit from say Conservation District Commission (8CDC) to dredge and the spoils were to go 3n the Faber Tract, then the Faber tract was to be restored. A public hearing and complaint by bCDC and two years ware needed to force the County to comply, The County was also to have built a 25 -foot pathway with installed benches and landscaping, which has never been donna. In 1975 the permit was issued to dredge 50,000cubic yards yet they 738 2/28/77 overdredged, as the consultant had pointed out. In the 1975 permit the paths and roads on the retention dike on Yacht Harbor Point were to be retained during dredging, and that qualification had not been met either, and the mud from those paths and roads had slumped down into the marsh. Since then a new roadway has been built. Also, during dredging, 6 -foot paths were to have been maintained around the yacht club and the Sea Scouts and the shoreline, and that had not been done. The City Council and the Planning Commission and BCDC had approved a plan for parking. The County had willy nilly filled in an area near the yacht club contrary to the plane, and applied for a permit after it wae done, making it a de facto parking lot. No parking is permitted in the roadway during the day, yet the County does not enforce the parking ban. BCDC requires that no cars park within 100 feet of the shoreline. She concluded with an objection that the County had made no notice or request for extension for compliance by the County, who begged off because of the water shortage. I✓Ia. Pearson observed that water was not needed for benches or paths or improving the parking. The requirement that the County also install esthetically pleasing toilets was ignored as well --the present facilities had yellow oil drums for waste and blue chemical toilets. The Peninsula Conservation Center, she said in closing, supports the Planning Commission in its plans for Baylands, and requests a reopening of the airport expansion plans for public review prior to any further construction in private or public sectors. She asked that the City of Palo Alto join the Peninsula Conservation Center in urging BCDC to open a public hearing on the utter of non-compliance of the County. Dr. Carl Bllertson, 780 Seale Avenue, had lived in Palo Alto for fifty years, he said, and used the yacht harbor for the past thirty years. He said numbers and symbols such as $ for S sometimes were used with both ignorance and malice to "confuse the undiscerning" in leafletting on political issues. Repeated fallacies became, to the innocent, truth, as witness the opposition to dredging on environmental as well as financial grounds. He said the yacht harbor was a County Regional Park, leased by the City and financed by County funds. That fact of county financing rude him wonder 'thy operating coats were a concern of the Palo Alto City Council. The 1967 lease with the County had been signed so that the larger County tax base could finance it more easily. Only the City of Palo Alto, in the person of a few of its residents, voiced opposition to the yacht harbor for environmental reasons. The County "was well aware of the siltation problems when it took over the harbor's operation." They thought the harbor would be financially self-sustaining through having an adequate number of berths which were rented. He said the duck pond, Interpretive Center and yacht harbor attracted many visitors, over 900,000 a year. He said that was a County statistic, arrived at by counting the cars that came daily and multiplying by 3.5. Though reasons for those visits were not known, the area functioned as a unit anyway, and the figure was the only one available. He considered the $42,000 loss gene=rated by the harbor -park, an erroneous accounting s'stement, Dr. Bllertson said, first merle by the consultants' report, which, however, noted that with the exception ofthegolf courses no County or City park operated et a profit Boats, he noted, were not commented on in reports on County parks. except in the classification of revenues. Much of the cost of operation of parr was for employees who cleaned up after the visitors, and, Dr. Rilertson said, "...in no way ran their services be related solely to the boats in the harbor." He cited other expenses with the duck pond end the marshlands and Interpretive Center. Tallying the expenses of operating the various Baylands attractions and dividing by the number of visitors he calculated the cost to the County at about 10c a visit, and he contrasted it with the 26c a visit at Foothill Park. He made it clear that after -5 p.m. visitors had not bean included in the tally. He alluded to the fact that after -dark 739 2/2e/7? cars did not carry 3.5 visitors, and he added that he and other sailors were "for the birds" for he had a count of scaup and pheasants at lowtide. The costs of operating the Harbor Park represented 2% of the $2,500,000.00 County Parks and Recreation budget. $31,000 from berths and launching fees represented 9 percent of the operating income of all the parks in the County. Beginning March 1, 1977, with a raise in fees, the figure would increase $40,000, due to a 33 1/3 percent increase in berthing fees."Responsible park personnel" had told him that $4,000 per acre per year was a representative figure for park costs, a high figure that varied with patk size and use. Rinconada, a 20 -acre park with high use, costs $4,000 per acre per year in maintenance, whereas Foothill Park at 15,000 acres operates at a cost per year of $66.00 per acre, harbor park, 73 acres with 39 of land and 32 of ,pater cost a reasonable $575.00 per acre per year. He estirated costs per voter and he thought the figures proved the costs of the harbor -park were well within reason and not attributable to boatownere. He acknowledged the costs of dredging and spoils disposal would be collected from Palo Alto taxpayers. Palo Alto had paid $2 million into County parks since 1972, pursuant to a charter amendment allocating tax foods. Only 17 percent of that money was used in the only County park in the area, the Harbor Park. The funds were not exhausted, as eome said, for the money would be collected and allocated until 1983. The figure of $7 million forecast for dredging costs for forty years, yet during that period, discounting inflstion, the County would take in $5 billion in taxes, and at the rate of 1 will per tax dollar the cost would be $58,750 par year would be within Leeson, as the consultants had said. He said that if the dredging costs were shared with Alviso one-half to one-third savings could be realized, if the harbor were abandoned and further dredging were not permitted, there would be an exodus of boats, though there were no available berths elsewhere in the Bay, and none foreseen, Only a ditch would remain which slowly choked with milt and a smal/ strecm runeing through from the lagoon. He aaid he had interviewed about 100 people, who shared his regret at the possibility of the loss of sailing boats. He suggested that the de -watering ponds could be contoured similar to that done at San Leandro Yacht Harbor. He voiced anger at environmentalists who "carped" about the harbor being spoiled and yet did not pay a cent, whereas each boatownsr paid about $400 a year to use the yacht harbor. He said he thought they were *nettled to wake scuts demands: adequately dredged main harbor, additional berths to increase the .income, adequate paved parkin to serve as a ramp for loading and unloading, and soma planting to beautify the place. He said that until that County said they could no longer afford to maintain the area he felt it should be available to boatownere and all others who want to use the South Bay. Harley Hamilton, 2857 Bryant Street, noted that diecuasion of the finances of the harbor had been dominantly used by opponents to harbor maintenance by dredging. Revenue from the present number .of bertha, he said, was $75,642.00, according to the rates as of larch 1, 1977. Property tam ou the boats amounted to $27,000, with a possessory interest tax of $2,700, with rent fees of $3,070 ermually. Were the number of berths increased to 86 there taculd be an additional $57,000, totality $132,007. He projected operating costs based on cost of dredging, amortisation of installing 86 additional bertha, with ancillary facilities, and amortisation of capital costs related to the de -watering pond. The inclusion of those amortisation costs, however, wee not sound practice for the tine vas so indeterminate. Each boatowner paid about $3000 per year in personal property tax for the boats located at Palo Alto harbor. He based hie figure for operating costs on 1916 costs of $73,000 including an "abnormal cost" for berth repairs. He amortized $60,000 in estimated dredging coats, with ancillary berthing facilities for 86 berths at $8,0017, making a total estimated annual cost of $181,907.00, an excess of coat over 740 2/28/77 income of $59,000. He said that amount did not indicate an undue burden on the taxpayers of the County. Projecting operating costs on those totals showed Palo Alto harbor generating 20 percent of the revenue of the Parks and Recreation department and 6 percent of the costs, including the cost of dredging. Some pertinent facts relating to the continuance of the Harbor Park: there are 32,236 boats registered in Santa Clara County, a larger number than any other County in the State of California except for Los Angeles and Orange; Santa Clara County has 274 berths --the lowest number of any county in the entire Bay Area; Santa Clara County voters pay personal property taxes in excess of $500,000 per year on an evaluation of $20 million per year; Baylands Harbor Park and recreational facilities is the only current option for which the County had utilized the funds raised by taking at the rate of lOt on every $100 valuation, which funds were set aside for such purposes, and the Harbor Park is the only place where such County funds are put to work in North County, therefore Harbor Park maintenance would not raise the tax burden. He commented on an article in the Palo Alto Times of Friday, February 25, relating to the funds that the County received from the State for park purposes including an allocation to Palo Alto. Fie saw chat allocation as one means of funding the costs of dredging and other maintenance; another concerned the Land and Water Conservation Bill passed by the Federal Government last year, making a total of $900 million for recreational projects ---the fund was administered by the Bureau of Outdoor Recreation. Sunnyvale received $1,700,000 of those funds, toward the development of their Say]ands. He concluded saying he and his fellow sailors were also environmentalists and were as threatened as other endangered species. Council recessed from 9:28 p.m. to 9:48 p.m. Walter Stromquist, 3410 Thomas Drive, said he was glad Palo Alto conducted a study on the Baylands area so that all aspects of the usage would be considered. He thought the natural beauty was important yet the manmade area needed study and improvement. He thought the "modest hill" resulting from continued dredging could be made attractive. He predicted the disposal area could continue to verve for thirty years with the 600,000 yards of necessary coverfill coming from dredged spoils. He said the spoils shrunk in the process of drying as much as 50 percent. "Nose of the problems of salt solution which has plagued the golf course all these years will be encountered," he said, with leaching and enriching proceieseas on the spoils. He thought such use of dredged spoils "represents the kind of symbiotic relationship this part of the ] aylande should have." He gave some statistics: Palo Alto produces about 300 tons of refuse per day, about 5 acres per year; the present rate of use meant the present area would serve for three or four more years. He forecasted that power combustion technology to take care of the refuse was about sic or seven years off, and he said hiaw forecast was from ?irk Harris, Energy Resource Specialist of the City of Palo Alto. Los Altos, Cupertino, Los Altos Hills and Mountain View had joined with Palo Alto in a vigorous pursual of power co buaztioa technology, which had zany advantagea, not the least of which wee the possibility that it could produce energy. Mon -combustibles would represent 20 percent of Palo Alto's refuse, with an additional 5 percent from the combustion system. There is no foreseeable end to the need for refuse disposal, so reduction of volume is important in order Dot to increase the height of the area. De -watering ponds for about 12,000 cubic yards of spoils, about four feet high. would require space in the refuse area so that they would not he visible. Plantings to provide windbreak to the area of the spoils rounds, would sake an attractive 40 --acre park on the north channel side in about five years, he said. He outlined some suggestions to accelerate the process, along with specifics of topsoil composition, and manner of irrigation. Hs noted that the International Telephone 7 4 1 2/28/77 and Telegraph (ITT) property had "considerable possibility." He held that his plan recognized the natural beauty of the area without doing violence to the marshland. W. B. Richards, 2490 Greer Road, said in his ten years' residence he had also based an aircraft at the Palo Alto Airport. He was a member of the Palo Alto Wild Life Rescue Team. He questioned the study on the second runway at the airport which the Environmental Planning Corporation had concluded, which gave numbers which had so often been repeated they had taken on the "aura" of fact, those figures of 214,000 operations per year, 600 operations per day, though, Hr, Richards said, a count on a day euch as the present day might find fewer than 200 operations. He said the figures had been presented when the "FA" took extrapolations of two weekend counts which had been extended to 360 days, toward the end of justifying a tower. An operation was one t€►keoff and landing for a licensed pilot —five takeoffs and landings per student ---but the net result was still only one craft in the air. Palo Alto -based aircraft represented 80 percent of the traffic, and that principally for recreational use, which was the prime purpose of the area. He said that construction of a second runway did not necessarily mean that the number of operations would be increased, for that was dependent on the air traffic control. He felt the required plantings would eliminate the possibility of adequate servicing for the area, and also that those esthetic requirements, such es redwood siding for the airport buildings, were unfair for they had not been required of other City buildings. He pointed to the sewage treatment building as a case in print, which was far from exemplary, He asked that recommendations and decisions regarding the airport facilities be held in abeyance until views of the users of the facilities had been serveyed. Rich Grether, Spirit of Palo Alto Aviation employee and also president of *'Palo Alto ?!others in Favor of Adding Another Runway to Palo Alto Airport", requested permission to trade seven speakers' time for projecting a 12 -minute movie. The movie waa on the topic of the benefits of general aviation to the community. A letter from the Spirit of Palo Alto :o*pany on what was being done about noise abatement vas on the table in the beck of the roam and copies were available to the public. He proceeded to show the film. Mayor Norton advised the audience that Council would adjoura about 11:30 p.m., but that cards of those who had not had an opportunity to epeak would be kept for the following evening's westing. C. H. Heckler, 165 Parkside Drive, head been sailing from the Palo Alto harbor for eighteen years, and his three daughters had learned to sail there an well. Ha felt he and his family bad bean privileged to have this "wonderful frailly activity." One of his daughters had written Councilaa bars to ecknovledge tthet sense of privilege the Hecklers felt. Sailing could begin when youngsters were still strapped in baby carriers and continue through the age of retirement ---a lifetime activity. He asked thee Council keep the harbor open —similar to cyclists, golfers and nature lovers, who required space for their activities, boaters need their specif f c space as well. Lora Black, 625 Waver!oy, handed in a letter saying how such the harbor had meant to her, and relinquished her speaking time. Tom Heinen, 332 Tioga Court, spoke to encourage Council to keep the harbor opera for sailors. He had been sailing out of the Palo Alto Yacht Harbor for seven of his thirty -too years of sailing. His boat class was "Day Sailor," and he was president of that class, as well as executive secretary of the National Day Sailors Association. The 762 2/28/77 boat was 16 feet 9 inches in length, with no sleeping or toilet facilities, and was for family sailing. Fifteen formal functions had been held in 1976 at the Palo Alto Yacht Harbor, with many more informal functions, including invitationals for visiting boats. The North American Championship regatta had been held there in 1966 and 1976, The Day Sailor drew four feet of water with centerboard down, he said, and that required keelage was more than many keelboats in the harbor: small boats therefore could not sail in an undredged harbor any better than could larger boats. Redwood City, Alviso, Santa Cruz and a few others provided alternate places for sailing, but none of them was as nice as Palo Alto. Southern San Francisco Bay was "probably the best place in the country to sail," his experience had shown -him, and ...Palo Alto Yacht Harbor is the place to sail frogs," because the summer afternoon wind was advantageous, Palo Alto's harbor was naturally configured, the people were compatibles. Hr. Haines read from a publication called "The Day Sailor". The excerpt praised Palo Alto's harbor facilities, "...the breeze at noon 10 to 12, settling into 15 to 22 for most of the afternoon with occasional upping to 25, and that sun shines in that blue, blue sky, perennially." Crayton Thorup, 575 Lincoln Avenue, said he agreed with the Planning Commission recommendations, and he would give Councilmetcbers a letter. "May the spirit of Solomon descend upon you," he closed. Joyce Leonard, 4107 Briarwood Way, spoke on behalf of the Palo Alto American Association of University Women (AAUW). She referred to the organization's letter of January 5, 1977, of which Councilmembera had received a copy, along with a letter of February 21. She gave the group's final recommendations on the Baylands Master Flan, based on the Environmental Impact Report of Garret Eckbo and Associates: tAUW supports the entire section as enlarged upon by the Planning Commiesion. They found no justification for the annual dredging proposed by the plan and the continued use of the Faylande for disposition of the spoils. "Due to the rapid rate of siltation in the South Bay, we seriously question the commitment of public funds for the next 40 years for an annual dredging and disposition of those spoils." AAIJW, she continued, supported a second lift at the refuse disposal sits on an emergency basis only. Only alterations and operations toward insuring safety at the airport were recommended, with the opinion that a larger airport wes not compatible with the passf ive use of the Baylands, which benefited more public members than did the airport. She closed with the specific recommendations:- that there be 1) continued Open Space Wetlands designation for the Faber and Lohmeister tracts and the ITT property; 2) provision for and implementa- tion of frequent review of any Palo Alto Bayland leased to the County of Santa Clara; 3) appointment and use of a Citizens' Review Committee including a competent biologist to suitor mitigation measures being implemented in the lagoon and flood areas of the Bayiands; 4) compliance with federal guidelines toward flood protection whereby unreasonable public expense should not be incurred on land comprising a natural flood plain. Cyanne McElhinney, 666 Teangson, was a meter of Environmental Volunteers, an educational group of 100 teachers encouraging students to have ...appreciation for all the living things...." Five thousand eight hurdre1 children had taken field trips during 1976. from school districts from San Jose to San Mateo. She felt the de-wetering ponds, and the second runway areas would deny learning sites to students. Orval Y'airbairn, 236 Acalanss Drive, Sunnyvale, owned an antique airplane based at Palo Alto airport. He spoke of "the little guy in aviation" becoming en endangered species:. The airport, he said, had only one operator, one runway eyed only a limited amount of tiedowa space. Escalat- ing costs kept the airplane hobbyist end craftsman on thin budgets, 743 2/28/77 there being about sixty such owners at the Palo Alto airport. "Little guy" airplanes, Mr. Fairbairn said, had no place else to go. Tax dollars did not go for flying, for flyers paid taxes to federal, state and county. Relating to noise, he cited the large population of ground squirrels near the runway, as well as longbilled curlews and rabbits, all hunted by marsh hawks, whose world was growing smaller as well, for it was man, not aircraft noise, which frightened them. The only cost to the City of Palo Alto was police protection, and Mr. Fairbairn gave two observations to show that it was noticeable in the breach. He asked that a Citizens' Advisory Council which would include aircraft owners and related parties to work on the problem, be established. Lou Bellardo, 1163 Guinda Street, spoke as a member of the Board of Directors of the Oregon Green Homeowners Association, That development, he said, consisted of 92 units at Oregon Expressway and West Bayshore. ' The Association felt concern about the effect the four -foot levee proposed by the consultants would have on the water table beneath that complex of buildings. The table had been measured by the United States Department of Mines and Geology as being between six and eight feet below groundlevel. Surface levels for the project had been approved at only three and one-half feet by the City of Palo Alto, and that in "the dry season," when the borings were made, but which could be "smaller" (leas depth) during the rainy .season. No attention to the water table had been giver in the consultants' study, although local flooding had occurred within the pest five years. He asked that the consultants be requested to re -think the water problem level ea it might be effected by the proposed levee. Doug Obester, 831 Marshall Avenue, spoke as a junior sailor. He said that the family had often been unable to sail because of the "mud collecting in the harbor." He spoke of the benefits of sailing for "kids" and that it took brains to plot a course around buoys. He asked Counciimembers co give "°...us kids a chance to do something like (sailing)" and that required that the harbor be dredged. Gil Wooley, 1685 Mariposa Avenue, said that Palo Alto Harbor was tha only place from which the South Bay waters could be reached. Many Yacht Club members had en "emotional attachment" for the excellent conditions offered by the harbor, good winds and moderate sea. Mr. Woolley said he sailed a 16 -foot "Contender," a one -sail boat. V'ieitors at one sailing event had come from states throughout the country as well as England, Canada, Kuwait, The Netherlands, Australia and New Zealand. He feared that if dredging were not maintained such events would not take place again. William McK.aig, 452 Marion street, displayed a copy of "Utopia" by Sir Thomas More, which he had dated years ago "March 1, 1913 --Palo Alto Highschool," and four generations of Mc.Kaigs had been graduated from there. Palo Alto was their Utopia, he said, and he lauded the park system, libraries, longbow archer, community playhouse, tennis, an airport, golfcourse and a good yacht harbor. He voiced belief that others did not mind paying taxes "for somebody elsa's thing." He thought some conflict. could be settled in court, and he spoke of the 144 acres of ITT property, suggesting that Palo Alto grant ITT Light lnduatry zoning for 74 acres in exchange for 70 acres for waste disposal for tht yacht harbor. Re said he did not think City staff realized the merit of his .suggestion. Robert T. Wheeler, 868 Elbridge Way, praised sailing conditions at the harbor, and ht scid that as a sailor he did not avant to be "lined up" against environmentalists, for he was an environmentalist also. The h.. rbor had serv.d South Bay sailors since the 1920s. The coat of having to dispose of spoils was more than offset by increased quality of life made available through selling. Rs thought that if half of the "fantastic amount of energy" which the people there that evening represented were directed toward finding the right solution. 744 2/28/77. Patricia Gilliland, 1176 Emerson, spoke as a member of the Loma Prieta chapter of the Sierra Club. The Chapter supported most of the Planning Commission recommendations, she said, but opposed the second lift to the refuse disposal site, feeling it did not provide a longterm solution of solid waste disposal; they opposed the salt water levees, for the Coastal Commission had said of levees, "...their height should be the minimum required to prevent frequent flooding." The present height of the present levees was seven feet, and the height recommended against the 100 -year tidal flood was seven and one-half feet. She felt that it would be extremely unlikely that strong winds, which might raise the 100 -year flood higher, would occur along with the flood, avid so levee heights should not be raised against such a rate occurence--a predictable event such as that tide permitted time for precauticna to be made. Businesses in the Baylands were bought because the land was cheap, and the City need not now feel they have to mitigate the risk of flooding for those businesses. In order to meet federal flood control regulations the buildings had to be built of a height - of seven feet or higher, and so they would not suffer serious damage. "What we have now is fine," she said. "We don't need 18 -foot wells blocking our view of the Bay." Mrs, Ward Smith, 1304 Pitman, introduced the antonym of the word "beautify," as being "uglify," and that was what could take place with the Baylands if a wise decision did nest follow from the meeting taking place that evening. An afternoon looking at and measuring dirt piles at the Baylands had led her and her husband to conclude that one had to be 500 feet, from the piles to not have them block the view. Not just the acreage occupied by the de -watering pond would be "uglified," she said, but also that obscured by the pile itself. She contrasted the high cost of the acreage bought in the recent Arastra purchase with the no -cot acreage of the Baylands, and deplored its possible careless treatment by even considering turning it over to de -;catering ponds. [While she liked to see the sailboats, she said she hoped Council would adopt the Planning Commission recommendation to have no more dredging. R. J. Debs, 3145 Flowers Lane, said he was an tz-Councilmember and a Palo Alto resident for the past 21 years, as well as a boatowner. He revieved the base for that evening's eontraverey. In the early 1960's the then -City Manager succeeded in a move to divert the San Francisquito Creek to empty into the Palo Alto harbor, and silting had been taking piece ever since. Diversion of the Creek made possible the construction of the airport, so that it would be in Santa Clara County. The land was subsequently leased to the County by Palo Alto. Mr. Debe said the County had "megalomania in public works," and Palo Alto's priceless Baylands heritage has been threatened ever since. Dredging meant that inevitably the entire Baylands would be covered with mud, which meant that the land would have to be industrialised, so that the dredging could be paid for. Or the Baylands heritage could be saved by stopping the dredging. 0f the 89 cities along the Bay only Palo Alto owed land on the Bay, The ecological chain, the Pacific flyway for birds, the Open Space, the water: Palo Alto had a tremendous responsibility to keep them as a heritage to be :enjoyed by all. He said the sad from dredging was analogous to radioactive waste, for it just wouldn't go aysy. Not only that, dredging costs were a "sinkhole" for money, which the County, no doubt, would assign to the City. He said that dredging would serve only a fete hundred people, and that access for those sailors was obtainable "so re *long this Say here, where you can get them that kind of place." He felt the cooperation would be good in finding that re --location. Florence Laittviere, 453 Tennessee Lane, spoke for the Save the Marsh Committee which had been established as an i;s:foraal group in 1970 to prevent the flood control basin from becoming a highly developed 745 2/28/77 1 County park. Dr. Joseph Greenberg had been the charter chairman. She conjectured that casual hikers and photographers might be one group, unlike other well organized groups, who were unaware of the proposed changes. The organization had printed a map showing the site of the proposed new runway, the saltwater levee, and the drying ponds, with the proposed plan and the public agencies responsible for implementation. The Save the Marsh committee passed out the sheets during the past three weeks along the dikes and walkways, and met with good response. The group explained the proposal and collected signatures for the statement °'We, the undersigned, support the Planning Commission's recommendation that there be no further dredging of the yacht harbor unless the mud can be issmedietely removed from the Baylands area." There were 1096 signatures, with people having signed regardless of their place of residence for the group wanted to show the long distances that people came to enjoy the land. Forty-four percent of the people were from Palo Alto, 80 percent from Santa Clara County. She said she personally had s delightful tine talking to people --cold statistics about numbers of users were very different from real people describing the pleasures they take from the level land which the City of Palo Alto had had the foresight to provide. Nancy A. Holmes, 843 Hoene Court, spoke as president of the Santa Clara Co mty Audubon Society. She said Audubon members had as long a time of interest in the marshlands as the City of Palo Alto. The dredging threatened further degradation of the marsh and the tranquility of the area. The Baylands prevented water from moving landward at high tide, and the water was receding so that the scouring action of the sloughs has been virtually eliminated. She discussed the alterations of the marshland through the years, and which, in spite of growing awareness of the value of the Baylands, had continued. The remaining marshland could not possibly continue to soak up salt -laden water. Peripheral areas of the march had been given over to ether purposes and the animals had to rest anywhere at high tide. Just getting to the marsh, ehe said, has become an ugly trek, through scraped and filled lands and she said one had to try hard to remember how lovely the area was before the heliport was installed, and she recalled a little cattail area known as "Pixie Park." Parking at the Duck Pond was not only unsightly but dangerous. She questioned the value of making any more lend ugly in order to keep the harbor open. She said the proposed plans to stack mud in 20 and 30 -acre portions did not seem any more preposterous that welling off sloughs, re-routing creeks and the like, except that in the light of 1977 awareness** that "caravaap of mud" inherent in a decision to continue dredging should make di,emisazl of the playa easier. She repeated the disadvantage resulting from the mud, and noted the "apparent disinclination" of anyone to beautify it. She alluded to the "everpresant advocacy of the flood control people to build dikes and walla for water contaf nm nt . f" She spoke of the further dispossession of wildlife as the marsh became full of mud. The Audubon Society of Santa Clare, she said, opposed building a second runway, and building sore levees or walkways because they were a further assault on the wildlife. She said again thee they support the Planning Commission's recommendation. Barbara McBride, 1125 University Avenue, spoke for the League of Women Voters. She said the League was not opposed to dredging but to disposal of the spoils; League opposed a second lift to the dump except as an interim emergency measure in the event of a "solid waste crieia." The League was against the construction of levees and preferred flood plain zoning and insurance. The Army Corps of Engineers, she said, had not yet received funding for the study of a need for such levees. The League was "greatly concerned of the many unknown or hidden coats for the City of Palo Alto." They believed all costs should be spelled out in detail. She praised Councilman Comstock's letter proposing 7 4 6 2/28/77 a silt -free yacht harbor alternative in the Palo Alto Times of that date (2/28/77), in the South Bay, and she said the League "...is more than willing to work with any group to find some kind of a solution to this huge problem," She urged Council to accept the Planning Commis- sion's recommendations on Items C, H, and J. Earl Brabb, 3262 Ross Road, owned a power beat he launched in the Palo Alto harbor, and he also sailed from these. In listening to that evening's discussion he felt all of the possibilities had been researched relating to spoils, and he concluded that the coat was simply not worth any benefits. He said he had a movie of the airport activity also. He used to take pleasure in doing acrobatics over his house with his ancient bi-plane, and he said the planes had a sound comparable to a large motorcycle without a muffler. Adding a runway would just encourage more aircraft, and hence more noise, over Palo Alto. He praised the work of the Planning Commission and he asked Council to support their recommendations. Katharine McCann, 783 Garland give, had sent a letter with figures to Councilmembere which she said she would not repeat. She pointed out that all the figures she used had came from material used by the consultants. She said she had heard that the haylande visitors numbered 936,000, not 900,000. She remarked that with that breaking down to about 25,000 a day she found it difficult to give credence. She asked Council to approve the Planning Commission recommendations. Mayor Norton noted that the time was 11:30 p.m. end that he had nine more cards frorr, people who had not had time to speak to the Council. Re offered the possibility that they tculd finish the public portion that evening, and return fresh the following evening for Council delibera- tions. Ma asked for some consensus. staiklEfilirEa MOTION: Councilman Comstock moved, seconded by 8erwaid, that Council adjouru to 7:30 the following evening, Tuesday, March 1, 1977. Mayor Norton read the names of those who had not had an opportunity to speak, and then man+ that more cards of additional speakers had accumulated as veil. Councilman Eyerly said that he would prefer to hear the balance of the speakers that evening in view of the fact that some Councilms bera would be leaving for Washington on Wednesday. Mayor Norton said that problems would arise should Council not complete the business at hand on the following day. Councilman Bervald said he did not want to rush into a decision on such an important subject, and he felt that should the decision not be made on the followirg day be felt it could readily be continued. He said he thought it might be possible to find some solution which would permit the yscht harbor to remain open and also get a satisfactory disposition of spoils. AST: Vice Mayor Clay, seconded by Norton, moved that the motion be amended to csil the continued meeting on the following day for 7:00 p.m. instead of 7:30 p.a. City Manager George Sipel said that one problem would be that the public night arrive at the conventional 7:30 hour. 747 2/28/77 Councilman Sher said he thought speakers were entitled to a full Council to hear them, and that he would have difficulty arriving at the meeting before 7:30. AMENDMENT FAILED, The amendment to meet at 7:00 p.m. instead of 7:30 p.m. failed on the following vote: AYES: Clay, Norton, Witherspoorn, Eyerly NOES: Beahrs, Ber.wald, Carn;y, Comstock, Sher MOTION PASSED: The motion to adjourn to 7:30 p.m. March 1, 1977, passed on the following vote: AYES: Ber~wa1d, Carey, Clay, Norton, Comstock NOES: Eeahre, Eyerly, Sher, Witherspoon Council adjourned at 11:40 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, March 1. ATTES T : APPROVE: 1 7 4 8 2/28/77