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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1976-08-02 City Council Summary MinutesCITY COUNCIL MINUTES Special Meeting August 2, 1976 CITY 31 - PALO ALTO ITEM PAGE Presentation of Resolutions of Appreciation to Planning Commissioners re: COMPREHIOSIVE PLC Resolutions of Appreciation to Frances : H. Brenner and George Cody Appointeents-to PL'tufng Commission: -1. Wtllia _E. Green 2. Jay W. Mitchell, Terms Expire July 31, 1980 Public Hearing: Palk Alto's COMPREHENSIVE PLAN 2 2 2 4 54 8/2/76 August 2, 1976 The City Council of the City of Palo Alto met on this date at 7:30 p.m. in a Special Meeting with Mayor Norton presiding PRESENT: Beahra, Berwald, Carry, Clay, Comstock, Eye r a y, No r t on , Witherspoon ABSENT: Sher Sffi l ON OF _ ESUL�J'TIQ „OF APF CL&TION PLANNINGTO COMMISSIONERS RE : 0314PRENENSIVE PLAN Mayor Norton noted that on June 21, 1976 Council adopted Resolution No. 5222, expressing appreciation to the Palo Alto Planing Commission for outstanding and conscientious efforts re the Comprehensive Plan, He said it gave him great pleasure to present the seven members of the Commission with a copy of that resolution this evening, and to thank them again. for completing a long and arduous task. Copies of the resolution were presented to Commissioners Steinberg, Brenner, Hensel, Cody, and Rack. Commissioners Carpenter and Gordon were absent. Mayor Morton noted that resolutions would also be sent to former Planning Commissioners Klein and Powers, who were involved in the early discussions of the new Plan. RESOWTIO S OP APPRECLATItJQ4 .TO FRANCES H. —11111111.41 11 fit Arl !MOTION: Mayor Norton introduced the following resolutions and moved, seconded by Clay, their adoption: RESOLUTION NO. 523►6 entitled "RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OP THE CITY OF PALO ALTO EXPRESSING APPRECIATION TO FRANCES H. SUMNER FOR =STARVING PUBLIC SERVICE AS A NRMBER OF THE SING COMMISSION" RESOLUTION PO. 5237 entitled "RESOLUTION OF THE 00UNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO EXPRESSING APPRECIATION TO GEORGE COOT TOE OUTSTANDING PUBLIC SERVICE AS A MEMBER OF THE PIS SIGN" Mrs. Frances H. Brenner and Mr. George Cody, retiring Planning Commissioners, mire pru. t and received copies of the resolutions and plaques. Mayor Norton thanked them for their service to the community as members of the Palo Alto Planning Commission. The Resolutions were adopted on unanimous vote, Councilman Sher absent. ISSI Myer Norton stated that mil would sow votes by paper ballot to fill two seats ne t e Pluming Commission. N. said each seat would be voted on 55 8/2/741 separately. The question that needs to be decided in advance is whether the names of the interviewees and candidates to be voted on should be announced. Outlining the procedure followed so far, Mayor Norton said there were thirty-five applicants. The councilntmbers, in a secret vote to the City Clerk, indicated their individual preferences of seven persons to be interviewed. The Clerk tallied those civicee and a final list of seven persons was arrived at. Interviews were held in an Executive Session, which was legally advertised last Thursday, July 29, 1976. The Executive Session did not include any deliberations of candidates' qualifications. It was purely for inter -- views. Tonight, the Council will be voting to select two persons from the final seven interviewed. MOTION: Councilman Comstock moved, seconded by Clay, that Council direct the Mayor to cause the names of all applicants to be published or read aloud. The motion passed on the following vote: AYES: Beaters, Berwald, Carey, Clay, Comstock, Eyerly, Witherspoon NOES: Norton ABSENT: Sher Ann J. Tamer, City Clerk, read the list of thirty-five applicants, as i o l loo : 1. Ischtenhagen, Stephen H. 2. Fsiarn, Robert A. 3. Bliss, Lida 4. Bocook, B. R. 5. Boland, Peter 6. Bowers, Robert L. 7. Canes, Jutta S. Cobb, Michael W. 9. Cole, Prentiss I. 10. Cutler, flirter T. 11, Denson, Dale B. 12. Eddy, Edith T. 13. Green, William E. 14. Haddock, Robert J. 15. Harper, Douglas Patrick 16. Harris, Michael R. 17. Hartsog, Charles H. 18. Hryncsak, Michael 19. Jenks, Robert R. 20. P.ockelman, William J. 21. Kovisars, Judith F. 22. Kovisar s, Leone 23. Land, Betty Ewing 24. Lathrop, Cheryl A. 25. Marer, Gerald Z. 26. Marguerit, Edward N. J. 27. McMichael, J. Richard 28. Miller, Oliver W. 29. Mitchell, Jay W. 30. Moss, Robert 31. Rea, Freeric M. 32. Silberling, Barbara 33. Snow, John D. 34. Wagstaff, James A. S. 35. Weiss, Herman H. Mayor Horton asked Councilman John V. Beabra to assist the Clerk by collecting the paper ballots after each vote. Ida said Council would proceed with the lallotig for the first office, which be referred to as Office No. 1. The first candidate to receive five votes (a majority of the City Council) would be appointed. Office No. 1 William E. Green, 225 Green Meadow Way, received five Totes oe the f trot ballot. Mayor Norton announced that Mr. Green was therefore appointed to the Planning Cos tissdou to serve a four-year term expiring July 31, 198G. Office No. 2 Jay W. Mitchell, 288 Creekside Drive, received five votes on the fourth ballot. Mayor Norton annoueced that Mt. Mitchell eau therefore appointed to the naming boas to ears a four-year term expiring July 31, 19*A. 56 1/2/76 MOTION: Councilman Beahrs moved, seconded by Berwald, that a unanimous ballot be passed for both appointees. The motion passed on a unanimous vote, with Councilman Sher absent. Mayor Norton congratulated Mr. Green and Mr. Mitchell on their appointments. .gajigeaca. 1.10.11.122.§. REHEXS IVE PLAN Mayor Norton stated that two recommendations had been forwarded to the Counts from the Planning Commission. The first finds the EIR to be sufficient. The second recommends approval of the Comprehensive Plan as amended by the -Commission. In addition to tonight's meeting, two meetings have been scheduled for Council consideration of the new Comprehensive Plan on Wednesday, August 18, and Tuesday, September 7. Mayor Norton said that he saw the Council taking up the text of the Plan before the Map; and in taking up the text, concentrating first on those areas where considerable public interest has already been evi- denced. This first meeting would begin with a review of the sufficiency of the Environmental Impact Report, followed by a discussion on the Corrected Housing and Employment elements of the Plan, and if possible, would See Pg. 222 also get into a review of the Land Use Map. The third meeting, on September 7, would be devoted primarily to the review of the Land Use Map. Assuming the Council finds that the EIR is sufficient to tyke the Comprehensive Plan under consideration, Mayor Norton said he would open the public hearing, asking the public to comment only on the Housing and Employment sections of the Plan during the first meeting. The public hearing would be continued on notion of the Council, from meeting to meeting, and would not be closed until Council has heard from the public on all of the elements, including the Land Use Map. At each meeting, after Council has heard from the public, the Council would then take amendatory action on those elements that have been discussed, but that would not preclude going back to an element at a later date if it becomes necessary to further amend that element or to reconcile it with other actions taken. Any Council member who desires to propose a change to the Plan forwarded by the Planning Commission should do so by moving that the draft be amended in the desired manner. Each of those amendments will be voted on in tam, but no final action on the formal adoption of the plan will be taken at the initial meeting. To make this clearer, Mayor Norton referred Council to the outline which he sent in the packet suggesting a procedure for the Council's meting* on the Comprehensive Plan. Be noted that copies of the outline were available to the public on the table at the side of the Council Chaebers, and advised that the outline schedule should be considered flexible to the extent that Council night complete either more or leas than is scheduled for a particular weeting. He continued that at the final Comprehensive Plan meeting in this series, the public hearing will be closed. After the Council has node all desired changes, the Council should move to refer the draft Comprehensive Plan, as amended, to the Planning Commission for a report on the proposed changes. Pursuant to Section 19.04.090 of the Palo Alto Municipal Code, the Planning Commissioo is required to review the Council's changes and submit its report thereon to the Council within forty days. Failure to so report will result in the rants being deemed approved by the Commission. They Council may specify a response time longer than 40 days if it so desires. Minutes of any Planning Commission meetings ensnare the referral is discussed eay constitute the required report. There being no questions or comments from the Council about the procedure, Mayor Norton turned to consideration ion of the Znvironmental Impact Report on the Plan, noting that the Planning Commission bad reviewed the IL3tR and found it sufficient. Specifically, at a pnbllic hearing on s 7 8/2/76 June 9, 1976, the Planning Commission voted unanimously to certify that the EIR on the Comprehensive Plan dated April 16, 1976, together with supplementary material, had been completed in conformance with the California Environmental Quality Act, the State Environmental Review Guidelines, and Title Eleven of the Palo Alto Municipal Code. The City Council also received the draft EIR in April, and received the supplementary material on July 1. Before taking any action on the Comprehensive Plan, the Council must consider the EIR. If Council concurs with the finding of the Planning Commission that the EIR is sufficient, a motion should be made to that effect. Mayor Norton asked anyone in the audience wishing to comment on the EIR to submit a card and be prepared to speak only to the EIR and its sufficiency. He called on staff to comment briefly on the EIR. Naphtali H. Knox, Director of Planning and Community Environment, said that the Environmental Impact Report has been prepared to meet the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act. The seven sections of the Comprehensive Plan are addressed in the EIR: Housing, Employment, Transportation, Schools and Parks, Urban Design, Environ- mental Resources, and Land Use. Each of the sections contains proposed City policies and programa. Briefly summarized, the policies and programs proposed in the Comprehensive Plan are mainly mitigation measures for what are perceived as problems affecting Palo Alto. For each program, there is a discussion in the EIR on anticipated impacts, either adverse or beneficial; on the measures proposed to alleviate adverse impacts of each program; and on possible alternative programs. Because the number of proposed programs is so great, the EIR has been prepared in a matrix form rather than a standard text form which would be too cumbersome. The proposed programs are listed on the left side of the matrix under Description of Project. The next five column headings are the analyses that are required to be made under CEQA: Description of environmental setting; Impact, and possible adverse effects; Mitigation measures; Alternatives; and Growth inducing impact. Prior to taking any action on the Comprehensive Plan, the Council must find the EIR sufficient. Mayor Norton noted that he had no cards from the public. No one came forward for the purpose of spearing solely to the sufficiency of the Eta. He asked for questions or discussion on the matter by the Council. Councilman Beahrs said he wondered if the audience would benefit from a very brief discussion by staff on who developed the EIR and to what extent the staff and consultants participated. Kenneth R. Schreiber, Assistant Planning Director, said that the information in the EIR was developed by seven members of the planning staff pulling the information together. Much of it was available from research done in preparing the Comprehensive Plan. The Eli was developed in February and March and published in April to meet the State deadlines for review time prior to the Planning Commission meetings in June. 1 Councilman Buhr) raid, to amplify the fact that considerable effort was expended, roughly how many hours of staff time was consumed in this particular effort? Me. Schreiber said be would estimate somewhere between 400 and 500 hours on just the EIR process. One of the major problem* was to distill it down to where it would fit into amatrix. Staff didn't tent to end up with a 400 page document which would have been very easy to do. Councilman Eyarly asked if the staff had considered the financial effect of some of these programs as tar as income to the city. He said in going through the Ell, he didn ' t see where the staff has 'woken to financial repercussions of some of the programs. Some of the would restrict buointai, end perhaps drive out some of the industrial plants that we have in town. 5 E 8/2/16 Mr. Knox replied that the EIR is not required to speak to economic impact. Legislation was proposed, but failed in the last session, that would have required an economic impact report in addition to the Environmental Impact Report. Councilmembers will recall that in July, 1974, the staff completed a 100 -page Impact Report. In working with the Commission and the consultants late in 1973 and early in 1974, we felt we would be unable to show precise quantitative economic impact, and instead developed a matrix (at that time also). which showed the directions of economic and other impacts. We showed that in some cases there might be an increase or decrease in revenue to the city, but we could not estimate the amounts with any specificity. So economic impacts are considered to some extent in the 1974 report, and most of the programs that are currently in the Plan were investi- gated in that 1974 impact Report. While it might have been possible to make a cost -benefit analysis if we had enough money and time as to whether, for example, it would be preferable to develop transit systems and pay taxes to support those transit systems, or whether it would be preferable to spend city money to widen roads, we have not done that. We can certainly say, however, that whatever it might cost to subsidize the transit system it would not produce the kind of air pollution that a widened road would. So both impact reports speak to the kinds of things we know will come from additional roadway expansion, such as increased air pollution, and do not measure the economic costs. Councilman b'eahrs said he was glad that Councilman Eyerly asked that question because he thought this is one area which could be borne in mind by all who discuss the Plan. While we are all overwhelmed by environ- mental penalties, on the other hand we do need jobs. And speaking of economics, we have complimented the Planning Commission and the staff on their tremendous efforts in preparing the plan. To prevent both of these documeuts from becoming mere paper to -gather dust on the shelf, the community ought co- know just .what labor .has .gone into the preparation of these documenta, Unless_fonstril objecta,-M.r. Beadars said he would hope that at an early subsequent_ meshing, _t.he staff - would present a statistical summary showing the neeber of meetings -and hours .spent by the Planning Commission,- membexa of the public, and staff; the number of consultant hours . engaged . end - paid . for; _ant the number of Council meetings and_ hour .s .spent. sue.. these_ d. nts ,--- but most important, the total dollar coat of this effort. It had been his experience that when people receive . something_without knoseledge_nfe th e._coat, . they are lens than appreciative` of what has been done. Mayor Norton asked if the staff felt able to respond, or give some idea of the tine it would take to prepare this response. Mir. Knox said it would be an s aiggnment in itself to go back and total up all of the Planning Commission meetings and staff hours. Povever, he could tell the Council nov that we are spending $110,000 on the consulting c,ontxacts on the Comprehensive Plan. Staff time would run about /mother $250,000. In total, some $400,000 to $500;,010 has been spent. Mayor Morton amid the staff should make the hest estimate they can without spending a great deal of time, and report that to the Council at their next >t ins . Councilman Ruhr* said he had no object ions to that, and would urge the staff to keep track of the time that they spend on this assignment. MOTION; Councilman Eeahrs moved, seconded by Councilman Eyerly, that the EIS has been reviewed end considered by the Council, has been prepared in conformance with all the applicable laws, and is sufficient for consideration of the project. Councilmen Comstock said his question may represesrit A fine point. As he sees this Ems! it is closely allied to the Plan forwarded to Coil. Mayor Morton indicated that during the course of the next severs' meetings, Council will be reviewing portions of the Plan, and 'after 59 5/2/ 76 public comment and discussion there will be an opportunity for Council to adopt changes to some of the recommendations that came from the Planning Commission, If the Council adopts some change, how do we assess the environmental sufficiency of that? What would the Council do at that point? Do we hold final judgment of the EIR until it has gone through this whole series of actions, or do we deal with each change at the time and make our own environmental assessment on that? Mr. Schreiber replied that the Council, in approving this EIR at this time, will be able to review and act on the entire Plan. If changes made to the Plan are substantial enough to have a significant environ- mental impact, staff will note at that time, that a supplemental EIR will have to be prepared before Council action on the specific item that raises the Environmental Impact. The supplemental Environmental Impact process will involve a separate public hearing. Staff will have to research the matter, prepare a report, advertise it to the public, and have it available for public review 10 days prior to an advertised public hearing. The Council would have to hold that public hearing and make a finding on the sufficiency of the supplemental EIR before it can take an action on whatever the item might be. Mayor Norton confirmed that staff would be advising promptly if the need arose to do a supplemental FIR. Councilman Berwald asked if approval of the EIR in any way precluded Council from amending the Elk or suggesting that staff go back, in specific areas, and include more oti economic impact. Mr. Knox replied that the way the Environmental Impact Report has been produced, it covers the waterfront pretty well; and from public commentary at the Planning Commission meetings and letters received so far by the Council, the staff is reasonably optimistic that nothing so substantial will be raised as to require a supple- mental ELF,. As fur as the economic questionsraieed by Councilman Berwald, those are not required by an environmental impact report; so if he wishes to make some: economic comments the Elk will not be effected. Councilman Beahrs asked the City Attorney to monitor all discussions very closely and warn the council if we are getting close to any law suits. MOTION PASSED: The motion was approved on a unanimous vote, Council- man Sher absent. Mayon Norton asked those in the audience who wish to comment on the Housing and EupllOyseent sections of the Plan to submit a card at this time. He called on Planning Commission Chairman Anne Steinberg to present an overview of the Plan and introduce the Housing and Employment sections. Anne Steinberg, Planning Coma1eesen Chairman, . inttoduced Jahe Blayney, the prime consultant in_daweiaping the plea._ thanked .Mx.. Knox, Mr. Schreiber and the entire Planning staff.for.the great effort they put into the Plan. She continuedthat-tha_1976_Comprshensive Plan represents more than 3 years of . aerrk. by the Commission, Council and plan- ning staff, with this active.-paxticifkation-oi 'oar. cLtiaena. The Commassiou tried . to balance -the malty conflicting -points . of view presented by the public. The recommeadetioesmads in this Plan -varpresent the Commission's judgment at -how., the development 44, 04 e City tan best be structured during. the asst .1.5..yesaxs &-act tssn . t e k*n , of community desired by most of the people who live in Palo Alto. The overall goal is to maintain Palo Alto as a fins residential community, and the various sections of the Plan era written with that objective in mind. 6 0 8/2/76 To achieve that goal, positive actions are required -- rather than passively permitting unwanted changes to occur. There are two new sections not contained in previous general plans. (I) the section on the Environment includes Conservation, Noise, Air Quality and Seismic Safety elements. (2) The section on Urban Design is new and deals with the aesthetic aspects of the City. The Commission regrets that there is no section on the use and conservation of energy at this time, but it is the intent of the Commission to provide this as soon as possible. Mrs. Steinberg continued that, although there was not unanimous agreement on all the programs recommended in the Plan, (as thousands of pages of Planning Commission minutes will confirm), all Commissioners joined in the recommendation that the Council adopt this 1976 Comprehensive Plan for the City of Palo Alto. The first section -- Housing -- focusses on the, overall goal of the Plan: To meintain Palo Alto as a fine residential community. To achieve their goal the Commission recommended programs that fall into three broad categories: (1) To maintain the character and quality of residential neighborhoods. (2) To provide a diversity of housing opportunities, both homeownership and rentals, in a range of prices that recognizes a variety of household types and income levels. Bear in mind that jobs in Palo Alto, as elsewhere, offer a wide range of wage levels. There are middle and moderate income households, especially those with children, who cannot afford to buy homes anywhere in Palo Alto, and there are elderly residents with limited incomes who are unable to keep up with the rising costs of saintaining a home. (3) To provide opportunities for those who woxk in Palo Alto to live close to their jobs. Mrs. Steinberg continued that, with regard to housing programs financed by other levels of government, Palo Alto must not be discouraged by the lengthy process of obtaining federal or state aid. Lytton Gardens took many years of rebuffs and delays before it was finally completed. The perseverance of the devoted volunteer Beard of Com- munity Housing Inc., with the active support of the City Council, succeeded in producing a residential development that is a great coedit to Palo Alto. A waiting list of more than 600 proves that there is an urgent need for more projects of this kind. The aim of the Employment section, Mrs, Steinberg said, is to recommend policies and programs that Viii maintain the commercial and industrial base that helps to support the outstanding City services — while at the same time preserving Palo Alto's residential areas. If we do nothing now the number of jobs in Palo Alto will have increased from 58,000 to 78,000 during the 10 -year period between 1970-1980. The 1 is creaae will be almost all commuters coming into Palo Alto to work. That mane residential streets will have more commuters parking on them, and neighborhoods will experience heavier traffic and more air pollution as computers look for the quickest routes to and from work. Traffic, housing and capital expenditures are problems relating to increased employment. The Commission hes recommended programs that limit employment growth until Palo Alto can find ways to avoid the adverse impact of such growth. The Commission hopes that the Council will recognize the merits of the programs recommended ism these sections. Mayor Norton thanked Mrs. Steinberg for the tine she spent as Chairmen of the Planning Commission and as a Planning Commissioner on this entire project. Mayor Norton said he had a request from Planning Commission Vice Chairman Frank Rack to speak at this time. Prank Rack, Vice Chairman of the Planning Commission, said that the Comprehensive Plan, as presented to the Council, was forwarded by the unanimous action of the Planning Commssion. However, not all of the recommendations of the Plan bad the unanimous approval of the entire Commissi:on. His purpose in being here is to present to the Council a Minority Report. The procedure may be a bit unusual in that you ere usually left wit k the Plug Commission minute, as the source for any minority view., but Mr. Rack amid be believes that this subject b 1. 8/2/76 deserves much more attention to a view that differs from the majority. Some of what I say here is already summarized in the minutes of the Planning Commission meeting of June 9, 1976, that resulted in the Resolution that recommended adoption of the Comprehensive Plan. Council can judge from the minutes of that meeting, the extent to which the Commission concurred on those issues that Mr. Rack con- sidered most troublesome. He said he did not represent that this Minority Report has the approval, in its entirety, of any member of the Commission other than himself. Mr. Rack continued that there is much in the Comprehensive Plan that is good and constructive. Much of it however, reflects a philosophical bias that must be recognized. This bias seems to be a composite dislike of automobiles, traffic, industrial expansion, business expansion, commercial real estate development and urbanization, and a feeling that any legislation counteracting these alleged evils la desirable regardless of the cost in personal liberty or fiscal responsi- bility. Planning Commissioner Peter Carpenter has repeatedly stressed that Palo Alto must accept the inevitable consequence of its own desirability. We want to retain and improve those features of life in Palo Alto that make it a uniquely desirable place to live. This enhancement of Palo Alto invites people and families from outside and results in more expensive housing, more costly services and amenities, more traffic, and ultimately those people at the lower end of the economic scale are "squeezed" -- and possibly "squeezed -out".: This process can be mitigated, but we must nct ignore the cost of such mitigation in the aforementioned personal liberty or fiscal respon- sibility. Mr. Rack observed that Palo Alto feels that housing for low to moderate income families is its major problem, and that additional housing at the low end of the scale is desirable. Having made this decision, we now try to achieve the results that we consider desirable. We know that the electorate will not approve a broadly-based local subsidy that would place the financial burden for low -moderate income housing on the entire co mity via sales. taxes or property taxes, so we have looked for other groups (other than the electors) to shoulder the burden that we have decided must be shouldered- _ We have tried to shift it to: (1) guilders of new retail and office construction or their tenants, by requiring all such development "to provide some proportion of residential space, on or near the same site";, via Pro -- gram 9 on page 10, and Program 6, page.i9._ ..Whether tte- particailar site of the proposed consiructioa_i.a_a proper -location -for residential space is not considered-. The haaildszsemedior tots. axe probably not from Palo Alto - so ehsy .caamat effectively. f ight this proposed pelicy, or if they are from Palo Al,to.,,they axe.probablye'-neat 4u.ffietiently strong to mount a cohesive. and .ef fectiveL objection. Ws have mom shifted some of the burden from those_who are .effective -and might object. (2) Builders . of ne fwdustrial..expenaion -by rsquixing hous- ing in conjunction with such_e> eusion...%rte--lA.. paw.10). - argu- ment aane as Pros arnn..9... _. (3)...,1* 4 1A4.rs of-Reaidenzial_rissalopmente of 10 units or more, by -reequiring 3Z-ro evat3L inc.ome uni. ..in.,such . developments (Program 19, pegs 13) . This shifts the burden to the builder or to the purchasers of the other unite. (4) Builders and buyers of non-residential deeveelop ant via construction taxes (Program 22, page 13) . (5) Buyers of any real property in Palo Alto via transfer taxes (Program 23, page 13) . Hr. Back stated that the foregoing deals primarily with a cowardly effort to shift responsibility to entities that cannot effectively react, He urged the Council to reject those programs which std local funds for housing subsidies: , (1) Land Bank Program (No. 16, page 12) to the extant that local funds are not returnable to city. (2) Rent Suppleme4t (goo. 17, page 12). (3) Financial assistance in Rental Housing Ogo . 21. . Page 13)._ 6 2 8/2/76 Mr. Rack concluded that, to the extent that Palo Alto makes itself a haven for low -moderate income people, it fosters an ever-increasing and ultimately uncontrollable financial burden. The housing problem is not a local problem. It is a local manifestation of a national problem. Soluticns must be national in scope. He indicated his concern also about some of the programs in the "Employment" element. Program 4 (page 19) would have only a minor effect on ultimate am loy- ment - perhaps not enough to justify the trauma involved in its imple- mentation. He noted that he had avoided commenting specifically on the Land Use Plan Hap, preferring, in this report, to concentrate on the general rather than the specific. Mayor Norton called on Mr. Knox who read for the record, a list of ten letters received by the City Council relating to the Comprehensive Plan, noting that half of them addressed the Housing and Employment sections to be discussed first: A letter of July 30, from the Chamber of Commerce, commenting on housing, employment, and transportation programs; letter of July 28, from Alan Henderson, Civic League, com- menting on employment and transportation programs; letter of July 27, from Birge Clark, commenting on housing and autos; letter of July 27, from Nestor Barrett, asking for a land use map change for property owned by Mr. Tan at Middlefield and Everett; letter of July 27, from ohn Thomas, asking for land use map changes in Barron Park; letter of July 21, from Palo Alto Housing Corporation, suggesting changes in three housing programs and auggesttng the addition of two housing programs; letter of June 27, from M£tsuo Tachibane, asking for a land use sap change on Waverley Street; letter of June 25, from University Dental Ceramics, asking for a land use map change in the 700 block of University Avenue; letter of June 10, from John E. Mitchell, com- menting generally on a number of housing and employment programs; letter of June 8, from CALTRANS, commenting on transportation pro- grarma. Mayor Norton thanked Mrs. Steinberg, Mx. Reck, and Mr. Knox. He noted that a public hearing on the Comprehensive Plan had been legally advertised, and he declared the public hearing open. Dirge Clark, 1490 Edgewood Drive, said his father, brother, and current partner, Walter Stromq;aiet, wore all former Chairmen of the Palo Alto Planning Commission. He realized ali of the work that had gone into the Plan, and it seemed very brash to 4isagree with it. He agreed very much with what Mr. Rack seemed to say. There are five major pro - poem's in the Plan, and Mr. Clark agreed with four of them. One that he disagreed with was slowing down employment growth. Even if he believed in that philosophy, he didn't think the argument that employ - wt causes all that traffic wee valid, Mr. Clark said that he worked in the Industrial Park, lived in Palo Alto, and his wife drives an automobile around. Certainly, a men sad his family who live in Woodside do not create all of the traffic here. Mr. Clark said ht wanted to correct a statement in his Letter. Se had thought all of the housing over public and in private parking iota, and in the cottage_ duplex zones would increase the populaetion..axf Jake Alto tremendously. That was not to be public housing, which was the way he had read it. But saying that if Hewlett Packaged or Varian -wanted to increase their plant, they merit build housing near that plant -- that would certainly mean more people and more auttmobilss,, - to. which he waa_ opposed as a change in the character of Palo Alto. Louis Allen, 625 University Avenue, said that twelve years sego, he tried to put together property at Webster aad Forest Avenue to build a headquarters for his fire.ig-.Palo..Hato...-.At tit-,tii e_ths Planning nomaisation rte. conaiderriag tat. ths..sOs1A4,. and he Ass a -forced to Leave that location and go oyes to University and Webster where again he triad to put together a grip of properties to build an office for his firm. Many properties on the other side of University ars in 63 6/10/76 the same situation he is: The zoning has been changed to multiple housing. Apparently, there is some confusion, but he now understood that multiple housing may provide for replacement of existing professional offices, although that did not seem the intent of the written material he had seen. His land on University Avenue has a market value now that would require spending $17,000 for land for each 1,000 square foot apartment unit. The highest price ever paid in the City of Palo Alto for a similar housing unit in the past was $9,000. This means that the return on this type of housing would have to be double what it has been. That points out the complete impossibility of using this particular land for multiple housing. Since housing is the use for which the land is apparently going to be designated, it seemed to him a condemnation of the land, and that multiple housing is very infeasible. Traffic is heavy, and noise is constant, hardly conducive to the kind of expensive housing that would be necessary there. He hoped existing professional offices on University Avenue would be permitted to continue in use, and when they have worn out, to be replaced with new professional offices. Janet Owens, Midpeninsula Citizens fey Pair Housing, residing at 863 Moreno, expressed her concern for maintaining housing within Palo Alto for people with a diver3ity of incomes. More than seven years ago MCPH urged Council to slow the trend that was making housing possible only for those with higher incomes. Over the years a commendable number of new unity to house some lower income residents has been built. Only 20% of this housing, however, is available to families. In spite of a decrease in the rate of demolition of older, smaller lower cost units, economic forces continue to price Palo Alto housing that comes on the market out of the reach of all but the most affluent. The Housing Assistance Plan which Council subnitted to the federal government in requesting Housing and Community Development funding for 1976-77 estimates a cur- rent need for assistance for over 5,000 houaeholda. While the Commission has not adopted suggestions that would reverse the current housing trends, they have attempted to correct some of the lack of balance between employment and housing potential in the 1963 Plan without depriving any owner of the right to reasonable use of property. Out of many conflicting needs in the city, the Commission has carefully balanced the pro -- grams in the Plan, The Council should recognize the careful and paains- taking. job that has been done and engaged in a minimum of alteration. The housing section provides realistic programs to slow the rate at which moderate income people leave Palo Alto, and give the Council time and opportunity to explore alternatives, by review of the Plan every few years. 1 Mrs. Owens continued that MC'FH supports all the housing programs as a good package. In particular MCA endorses Housing Program 19 which requires 1OZ moderate iktoOe units in all new residential developments of 10 units or more. This will provide fever units than we've hoped for when the resolution of 20Z to 4OZ for developments of 20 or more units was a adopted. However, there are no federal programs to facili- tate the resolution as passed, and Program 19 comes closer to mhat developers can do without assistance. Program 19 should be s opted as worded so that the staff time need not be wasted in prolonged discussions with developers. Past experience has shown that new below -market --priced units are possible in this way, and housing has been provided for those who could not otherwise have been accommodated by Palo Alto's housing market. The Plan should continue to indicate City support for the Palo Alto !lousing Corporation, the Rental Housing Medication Task Force, fair housing services such as Midpeninsula Citizens for Fair Housing offers, and the efforts of the Hewn Relations Commission to combat discrimination in rental housing (Programs 2`4 through 29). Ali of these groups are working on critical parts of the housing problem and making Limited resources achieve notable success. Two policies should be added! "Require replacement cf any housing units removed on b4 $12/76 a one -for -one basis to maintain the supply of housing;" and recog- nizing the Chamber of Commerce's concern that state and federal programs should he simplified, a new program should be added under Policy 9 to read, "Whenever appropriate, urge that state and federal programs be modified to simplify procedures and be made more ;responsive to needs in areas such as ours." Robert Rosenzweig, Vice President for Public Affairs, Stanford Univer- sity, noted that Stanford had responded on a number of occasions to drafts of the Palo Alto Comprehensive Plan. He distributed to the Council copies of a statement of June 9, first presented at a meeting of the Planning Commission. Me noted that the University's responses to tie Housing and Employment sections are on pages two through five of that statement. Me. Rosenzweig said that Stanford has admired the City's determination to chart its future in a thorough and imaginative way. Few other coassuritiea have undertaken the job so conscientiously or have the capacity to do it so well. Stanford shares many of Palo Alto's goals: provision of additional housing, curtailment of unre- strained commercial growth, reduction of traffic, preservation of environmental resources, and encouragement of mass transit and other alternatives to the single -passenger automobile. In pursuit of those goals, the University has provided additional housing for faculty, students and staff; maintained low density and high standards for both academic and commercial development; supported the PAATRANS study; preserved the El Camino frontage and other campus open space; adopted a traffic circulation program that protects the inner campus area and encourages pedestrian and bicycle use; established a parking program that charges motorists a fee which is applied toward the purchase of four new campus shuttle buses; and has held surplus lands for future academic and academic -related needs. H.owev:er, Stanford has had difficulty with portions of the proposed Comprehensive Plan. Stanford is in part a neighbor outside of Palo Alto, yet within the city's "sphere of influence". It is also in ;art a taxpayer within the city: Stan- ford's commercial property annexed to Palo Alto forms 7.2% of the city's total area and generates 30.8% of the total and net utility revenues. Stanford is the owner and lessor of lands, and has an obligation to those who have leased. And Stanford is a non-profit institution engaged in education end research, without the tax power of a municipality, yet :smith many of the responsibilities of a city, because Stanford is a University engaged exclusively in meeting public purposes, it viii insist on the primacy of those public purposes when it is asserted that Stanford's assets -- land, for instance -- should be taken or reserved in order to meet some other public purpose -- open space, for example, Thus, Stanford hays reservations, as set forth in the June 9 statement, about several of the programs suggested to meet the City's goals. The problem for the City appears to be: If social progress is not mandated by law, there is a risk that it may never come about; but to impose it may require instruments se blunt as to produce greeter long-range costs than the community is willing to hear. The answer lies in city policies that would encourage voluntary efforts by providing incentives to eanatructive action rather then through coercive, and possibly counter -productive, measures. The complexity of the issues and the limited knowledge of how to deal with them argues against treating clever idea* and novel devices as if they were tested solutions. Recent years have seen the consequences of social programs that were applied full grown at birth because they looked plausible Co paper. For example, Stanford doubts that taxing employers on the number of employees who drive va agark. .i s a goad. w. to Leap dependents on the palate automobile. It . should lea possible to demonstrate by studyandaed.measuted eapexiaeatation whether such a plan is effective before enshrining it in the Comprehensive Men. The June 9 statement also contains some references to the proposed land use map. Of particular importance to Stanford is a more flexible designation of thousands of acres of Stanford land labeled "Open Space...Con.trolledDevelopment". Stanford has objected to such open apace designations on every possible occasion over the years, and reiterates that position. Such S designation mill have a stra g influence an Santa Clara County's moving of Stanford property and 63 8/2176 could severely and unnecessarily limit uses of the land endowment, It would be more appropriate to designate Stanford lands as exactly what they are; "Major Institutional". MorgauWoollett, Planning Consultant, 1766 Willow Road, spoke on behalf of the El Camino Palo Alto Association, a group of property owners and business operators in the El Camino commercial district. Mr.Woollett maid he had been retained to conduct a study of the El Casino Real business district south of Matadero Creek, and to work with the businessmen to develop an alternative plan for this area for presentation to the city, because of what the Association believes to be extensive and drastic changes proposed for this section of El Camino Real by the Planning Commission. El Camino Palo Alto Association strongly disagrees with the general thrust, and with certain objectives, policies and programs in the Planning Commission's version of the Comprehensive Plan now before the Council. The Association will present a critique and will recommend modifications to pertinent elements of the Comprehensive Plan as they apply to the El Camino Real South area at the Council meeting of August 18, and will present the Association's own plan for El Camino Real at the September 7 public hearing to be devoted to the land use map. Susan Selig said she owned a business at 201 California Avenue, and lived in the University Park neighborhood. Mrs. Selig said she was speaking for a coalition of concerned citizens composed of diverse neighborhoods, churches, businesses, and other interest groups who followed development of the Comprehensive Plan with interest, and support a number of concepts offered in the Plan, but also must take issue with some. On page 15 of the Employment section, a sentence reads "Palo Alto is an example to many communities on developing and maintaining attractive and successful commercial and industrial centers." While that is true in some areas, how could a, yone make such a statement with the degradation that has been allowed along El Camino and is rapidly occurring in the California Avenue area? Because of this, we support the upgrading of El Camino as presented in the Plan. There has been a recent trend to downgrade El Camino, which along with certain areas of California Avenue have become a vice strip. The whole city is concerned, not just the ireaeediate neighborhood. The majority of city officials and most residents do not live or woe:, in these areas, so have only an occasion- al opportunity to observe their activities. Take a drive from the Santa Cruz Avenue intersection of El Camino in Menlo Park south to San Antonio Avenue. The deterioration and the general rundown nature of businesses seem to increase each block southward. Priorities in housing and employment must be re-evaluated. Even one complaint on the height of a resident's fence instantly generates a barage of city employees until the violation is corrected. A report of a dog loose on a street produces a speedy incarceration of that animal which cannot be released until fines are paid. Recently a skateboard ordinance was rapidly passed by the Council and before it was in effect, the police department was tightly enforcing it. Yet in three years, the city has not been able to close a single adult entertainment establish - 'lent. Most continue to operate without proper licenses. Some actually opened during the moratorium. It is clearly not enough to approve the Plan and paws the ordinances. They must be enforced at all levels. Although citizens continue to be concerned with the quality of life in Palo Alto, there seems to be a definite lack of that concern in the Comprehensive Plan. The Plan states that housing is in greater demand than can be met is Palo Alto, and in an effort to meet that demand HUD funds have been earmarked for the Pepper/Vest Meadow area, the Power parcels have been purchased for tot -moderate income housing, and a development has been approved for the former McElroy Lumber property. We must insure that so mach money committed to improvements of residential aromas sd scent to El Camino and California Avenue ins not being thrown may; these areas must be protected. Spaces for small businesses are at a premium in Pale Alto, California Amens being the only reasonably priced _ area eve lable for thee. Three years ago beat of us predicted to the Council that if existing saasage parlors wars allowed to continue to operate, they would attract other undesirable enterprises, The 66 8/2/76 result has been a proliferation of porno -book stores, bail bondsmen, ping pong palaces, porno -theaters and other undesirable enterprises, within a block of residential areas. What neighborhood cao long survive when inundated by the elements attracted by theses businesses? Palo Alto is in a unique position now to set an example in developing and maintaining our commercial and industrial centers, particularly in proximity to residential areas and schools. We »t.. tighten our zoning laws and update our use permits to regulate businesses such as adult entertainment establishments that would adversely affect our neigh- borhoods. We want healthy commercial as wall as healthy- residential districts. Hal Hudson, President, Palo Alto Rousing Corporation, residing at 533 Everett, recalled that the Corporation's letter of July 21st endorsed the eleven polities and twenty-nine programs in the Rousing section of the Comprehensive Plan, suggested modifications to three of the programs, and suggested adding two programs. The Corporation emphasizes that it endorses all of the housing policies and programs. There could be a temptation, with so extensive a list, to eliminate some programs or policies in favor of others, We see the Plan as a flexible framework from which actions cor i5e selected in response to both current and future needs. Program 19 on page 13 of the Plan had its inception in Council Resolution #4125 --- which established a policy that new housing developments of 20 or more units Mould include 20% to 40% of lower- and moderate -income units. There has been good cooperation from developers in this regard, yet a range of only 10% to 20% has been reached. The Housing Corporation, having been closely involved in this program as administrator of the buyer -selection process can attest to the program's workability at the 101 to 20Z level, and to its value in providing units for sale or rent at lover -than -market prices. The policy is workable; practical experience has proven 10% to be reasonable and achievable; and it is time to act on it. Mr. Hudson continued that, because it is best to begin slowly and gauge the worth and workability of a program., the words "Require all" in Pro- gram 9 should be changed to "Provide incentives for new retail and office construction to provide some proportion of residential space on or near the same site." Adding "the number of units to be not leas than those removed if residential units are to be demolished" would provide a guide- line for implementing Program 9 and for preservation of housing. In Program 10, on the same page, the word "Require" should be changed to "Provide incentives for development of housing in conjunction with indus- trial expansion." In both Programs 9 and 10, to be rigid --- and "require" -- might discourage the additional housing the city needs. Language should be added to Program 14 on page 10 to read "In the revision of the Zoning Ordinance, establish procedures which would encourage three- and four -bedroom urita, such as reducing the parking requirements for such units" depending, of course, on the location and type of development. The assumption that families necessarily have care in proportion to the number of bedrooms in the 'nits should be examined. Mr. Hudson explained ashy the PAMC suggests adding a Program 19A(to relate to Program 19) to read; "Where aappropri.atae encourage developers to apply for a percentage of Section 8 Federal Wising Assistance Payments in new rental housing." Largely because of construction costs and high interest rates, the private market can't afford to provide new rental housing. For the past four years, all new construction of multi -family housing in Palo Alto has been either condominiums or townhouses. However, during the life of the Comprehensive Plan, new rental housing will again become feasible. At that tih', Section 8 or its successor could offer en additional meet to provide the 102 errata -income units specified Program 19.- The lousing Corporation also senesced a new Program 30: ",7 plors mays to ensure that appropriately-sised apartment units will be for rent to families with Children." Encouraging the pro - 6 7 8/2/76 t`3 1 vision of three- and four -bedroom units in order to provide suitable housing for families with children."(as stated in the Plan's policy 7) will not suffice. Over a year ago, a committee of the Housing Corporation called all the apartment houses listed in the Yellow Pages to ask if they accept children. Out of 24 apartment complexes contacted, only four indicated that children were welcome without qualifications. Three others indicated yes, they would accept children -- but all had a variety of limitations. So of the 24, 17 would accept no children. If such practices continue, renting families with children will largely be con- fined to apartments in federally or state -subsidized developments. This ';s hardly desirable in a community which is rightly concerned about the continuing need to attract new families with children to Palo Alto. : The telephone inquiries to the Housing Corporation office indicate that families with children are being forced to move out of Palo Alto largely because of sharp rent increases or the sale or recapture of homes they have been renting. Mr. Hudson concluded that the non-profit, volunteer Housing Corporation -- under .contract to the City of Palo Alto as a consultant -- is expected among other duties to review proposed low and moderate income housing proposals. Accordingly, the Corporation respect- fully requests the Council's consideration and adoption of the recommenda- tions in the Housing Corporation's July 21st letter. Vice Mayor Clay said Mr. Hudson's endorsement of Program 19 implies phasiring moderate income housing, as compared to low. He noticed that the below -market units are selling for about $30,000 which pre- eumably requires a $12,000 per year salary to carry the mortgage. He asked how that $12,000 per year relates to HUD definitions for low -mod- erate income. Mr. Hudson replied that the $12,000 income would fall within the mm definition, but a higher income woe:ld be required to purchase a $30,000 home. That is why we say "lower to moderate income." Vice Mayor Cl.ayageed if the subcorporattor, were approved and put into being, would it not address itself to that kind of housing. Mr. Hudson replied that would be one purpose -- to provide, maintain and preserve housing for lower to moderate income persons. Councilman Berwald said on Programs 9 and 10 Mr. Hudson suggested sub- stituting "provide incentives" for "resauire", but he left the word "require" intact in Program 19. Is there a reason for that? Mr. Hudson replied that it has been the experience of the city that 102 of lower to moderate income housing is reasonable. Councilman Berwald asked if Hr. Hudson didn't think that the 101 of moderate income units in new residential could be, achieved unless it is a requirement. Mr. Hudson replied that the 101 seemed so reasonably achievable that the Housing Corporation could see no reason why it shouldn't be required. Councilman Be vsla asked, if it was so reasonably achievable, why not provide incentives to bring it about, rather than make it mandatory? Mr. Hudson said that requiring it was the strongest incentive he could think of, Kermit Knopf, a Director of the Palo Alto Housing Corporation, residing at 930 Palo Alto Avenue, said he janted to talk about Programs 20, 21, 22 and 23 on page 13. Program 21 would ll provide local financial assistance to bring rental housing within the moans of low income hoeseholds." At this time, vte feel that this is a goal to have in the Plea, and also feel that at this time it may not be appropriate to implement Programs 20, 22, and 23 which really ere methods of financial, 1'rogra, 21. WW hewer seen wives of enthusiasmIn the federal government in tees of bow they approach such programs. There are up periods and 68 0/2/76 down periods. If the federal and state governments can not adequately provide for our citizens in Palo Alto in the lower income bracket, then we feel these methods should be provided for in our future Plan. Program 25, the subcorporation, can be viable in terms of what happens in Palo Alto. It may be coupled -with federal, state, or private options or programa. Depending on what our needs are in the future, those options should be left open. But Program 25, we feel, is extremely important. Councilman Berwald asked Mr. Knopf to elaborate on the establishment of the subcorporation, Program 25. If time objective is to acquire, preserve and manage housing at the lowest possible cost in a financially self-supporting program, aren't those aims better served by a private organization than by a publicly -supported organization? Mr. Knopf replied "n& . He explained that he was connected with a private organization -- a real estate firs involved in housing. Their motivations are profit. When you're in a market that can provide increases in rent and increases in profit, you have invester--owners, or you are the owner, your motivation normally is to maximize your return. Given the housing market that we have in Palo Alto,: it is easy Cp keep rents going up and not provide for any low income housing. On the other hand, the subcorporation, without a profit motive, would use ,tong -term holding, In other words, the subcorporation.w_ould not increase costa by transferring the property, and would take advantage of inflation. It would buy at today's dollars, and maybe ten or fifteen ysars from now the income levels would have risen enough so that the units bought today would be providing relatively low income housing. Palo Alto employs a lot of people.of diverse incomes and interests, and it is extremely important too have a diversity of housing for them. Councilman Berwald asked why this type of organization has to be pub- licly -supported. Mt. Knopf replied he didn't think it needed to be publicly -supported financially. Once started, it can support itself . -That was a very important facet of it. Councilman aeahrs asked what would generate the capital that generates the taxes which pay the subsidy? Mr. Kopf answered that investigations in the last year have shown that, depending on the financial market, we can be or not be success- ful. In a period of very tight many when interest rates are very high, it is difficult to sell bonds at reasonable rates. However, during those times when the bond market is favorable, the proceeds from bond sales would be used to purchase real property for rental at fair prices, sufficient to pay back the bonds. Councilman Mahre confirmed with Mr. Knopf that the people of Palo Alto would not have to pay any tars for this purpose or contribute to this capital. The City Council recessed from 9:50 pen. to 10:15 p.m. Robert Moss, 4010 Orme, said he agreed with the Housing and Employment sections of the proposed Comprehensive Plan and recommended their approval. Program 9 and 1.00 that relate to the development of housing in conjunction with industrial, commercial, and office expansion, are excellent. They would add much to residential development in the city. Residential is what we lack most. The apartment vacancy rate has beam* lase then 26 for the last three or four years. Nome prices have been rising 12--22 per month. The lack of housing is causing the iaease in the coat of housing'filch increases the asseesments, 'which raises our tams and hurts all of the homeowners La Palo Alto. In 6 9 6!2/76 ,�. Santa Clara county, less than a third of the people could now qualify to buy the homes in which they live. Therefore, at policy which increases the housing supply should be supported. Furthermore, these cost increases narrow the range of people who can afford housing and live in Palo Alto. The cost increase drive out the senior citizens and families with young children. One result is that school population is' datelining, schools are being closed; and neighborhoods are being thrown into conflict. The question has been asked if these pr sgre a are feasible, practical or desirable? One advantage would be a reduction of traffic, congestion and agog, because people could live close to where they work. Only lOX-2O% of the industrial workers here also live in Palo Alto. Of non -industrial workers, only 352-451 of those who work in Palo Alto live in Palo Alto, East Palo Alto, Menlo Park, Atherton and Portola Valley. If the County transit system succeeds, it will carry 5Z-18% of all of the trips in the county within three or four years. If Sousing Programs 9 and 10 succeed in creating only 500 apartments, and assuming only 1.5-1.8 people per apartment (which is less than we have right now) , by reducing future trips, those programs would be more effective than the entire 1/2 cent sales tax in terms of reducing car traffic. Will people live above stores? Obviously, dosontown housing is in a great demand. The rents are going up People living in apartments above stores has been a fact of life throughout this country and the world. Vacancies in residential properties are much lower than in commercial properties. Consider all of the vacant land along El Camino Real, the vacant stores along University, the vacant lot at Birch and California, and University Circle which has had hoarded up buildings for decades. Mr Moss felt there could be same subsidization of these apartments which would act to guarantee the developer an income and a profit. Mr. Hose said he strongly supports Program 19 to require. 10% below - market housing in all developments. Re referred to Mir. Ur -weld's earlier question as to why this should be a requiremant and not an option. Mr.M es said he had have heard developers say the reason they provide below -market housing is because they are required to, but if they had their druthers, they wouldn't. Another question was who is paying for these 10% belowenerket properties? A number of Stanford students ran a very sophisticated computer model to find out whether or not this subsidy is practical. It is. In addition to what the devel- oper maximizes from the market units, he makes 22-.1% profit on the 102 below -market development, without raising the price of the rest of the units. Developers are willing to do this, as shown in the McElroy and San Alma projects. If developers were discouraged, we would not have the same people eosins heck to Palo Alto, asking to develop, and willing to put in below-eerket housing. It is essential that the city continue to require helowenarket housing. Mr. Moss said he also wanted to sake a strong pitch for rezoning the commercial strip along Ei Camino between Verian sad Arastradero tc something better than what it is. Certainly the parcels which can support housing in that area should be allowed to. Rs was delighted that the property owners are doing a design and upgxading study. He 'suggested if there is say hewing which is demolished for commercial use, the housing should be replaced on a suss -to -roe basis. If that housing is demolished for parking, the replacement ratio should be mo- or three -to -one. With regard to employment, Mr. Moss said he did not feel that anybody ass opposed to employment, per se. The opposition is to the impact that increased employment has on this city. The city should consider either a strong incentive to employers, in the form of either a llowiaag t creased lot coverage or reducing requirements for parking, for those employers who provide either von pools or bus pools to reduce the member of cars eateries and leavitsg the i dustrial areas. Coastlines' Carey asked if he cvele have a ropy of the Student survey sad Mr. Eeos said he wild be glad to provide Mr. Carey sad the rest of the iii with copies. 70 8/2/76 17 Joan Johnston, President of League of Women Voters, said the League applauds the Plan's format and the procedures used in the Comprehensive Plan. Since 1973, the League's goals have been to see a plan deteloped which would involve citizens throughout the process; to have the Plan's policies emphasize human neede'rather than revenue needs; to consider different population sizes to determine what is optimum for Palo Alto; to include social and environmental planning; and to have a single, comprehensible document readily available to all citizens of Palo Alto. These goals have been admirably met. With regard to specific policies and programa,ethe League supports policies and actions that will main- tain an economic'nrttnge of housing available for low and moderate incom families and insure that all housing is open to everyone without discrimination. Policy 9, reflecting a continuing aggressive program to participate in any federal or state financing plan which may exist, is essential... Many developers of new condominiums have increased the supply of moderately price units io scattered areas of the city. This Program 19 has been successful and beneficial to the city and should be continued. ...The League supports Program 24 through 28. The volun- teers who serve on the board of the Palo Alto Housing Corporation have contributed time and talent which has resulted in an increased supply of lower priced units. They should continue to be supported in their efforts to establish a non-profit organization to acquire, preserve and manage housing at the lowest possible costs in a financially self- supporting program... Finally, the League urges the City Council to allocate sufficient funds to keep the adopted Plan ep_to-date and in point. Steve Mylroie, 415 Fernando, gave his strong support to Employment Programs 3 and S having to do with El Gamine. A number of people accept El Camino as a commercial and urban arterial, unique to the purpose of auto - oriented and other types of commercial uses that no other loc+etion can support. But the present commercial zone le much too broad to be compatible with the residebtiaal uses behind the strip, and there has been strong pressure by the residents to make this whole area neighbor- hood commercial. It was Mr. Mylroie1e view that, as a result, the land use plan proposed a mudli larger area than can possibly support neighborhood commercial. Further, "neighborhood commercial" would eliminate many small owner -operated businesses in this area which would not fit in our present definition of neighborhood cosmerciai. Therefore, we need a zone which would combine some of both of these functions. Secondly, there is a need for off-street parking in this area. Given the traffic voles, the curbside parking is practically impossible to use. There- fore, there is really no place for many of the patrons of these busi- nesses establishments, that could help keep neighborhood businesses in the area, to park. Off-street parking is needed. Jack Addison, Ventura Avenue, said He had purchased a house in the Ventura area several years ago, and after several thousand dollars and a lot of work, made it a very nice house. He emphasized that it's possible to do that, and this area can veaa►in viable for single fsaily housing with the sprinkling of apartment houses presently there. Loa interest home improvement loses are very important for improving this area. Mr. Addison said he supported Employment Program 4. Quit pushing undesirable businesses into areas of smell homes. W. W. Bizbee, representing the Board of Directors of Downtown Palo Alto Inc., said there istoomuch demand fir the available supply of houses. He suggested the Council consider what could be done with the Arastra property, especially if there hats to be some sort of subsidization for moderato income housing. Downtown Inc. has previously submitted papers to the Planning C,u iaaios stating its position. In wry, Downtown Inc. is opposed to the requirement for housing above commercial use. We oppose the dnessesins of existing multi -fa mdly areas. Mew multi -family structures can totter meet the demand for housing than can the present properties. We urge that the housing density `bent the downtown area be increased, sad we base that on the successfulness of the -density Lytton Gardens project. We oppose the elimination 7 1 6/2/76 of parking requirements for downtown apartments. The same parking requirements should exist downtown as in any other area of the city. We oppose the creation of c construction tax. We also oppose the tax on employees who drive as a type of restriction on business which is uncalled for. David Jeong, 4056 Park Boulevard, representing the Ventura Neighborhood Association, supported the Housing element in its entirety. We have a special interest in the Housing element since it deals largely with the lov* dprate income people. Policy 4 "Define and preserve housing quality", is important to us. We have traffic and other problems in our area. We would like to see the continuance of Program 7, the housing rehabilitation program, which our neighborhood needs. Pro- gram 15, continuing the adopted candosinium conversion ordinance, has our strong support. Preventing the conversion of apaartments to condominium is the only way that low -moderate income people can have an opportunity to live in Palo Alto. We also support Programs, 17, 19, 20 21, and 22. We feel that this isn't just a plan of the Planning Commission. There have been numerous public hearings, and much input from the public; so that the people --- all of us -- have had a say in this. Frank Manfredi, 219 Addison Avenue, said while he agreed with some of the parts of the Comprehensive Plan, he felt that under the present day set-up those things just wouldn't be accomplished. The builders, developers, and bankers are. all here tonight looking for that fast buck that they are going to make in charging interest on the money for the housing you want to build. There should be no more growth or develop- ment in Palo Alto. Stanford has enough land to provide their own housing. The Comprehensive Plan is a good one, but don't put it into force. Chase the people away from Palo Alto. Don't build here. Boyd Smith, 301 Coleridge, said he had several objections to the basic premises that were made. The Plan makes a major issue that the hi4h cost of housing is caused by the ratio of jobs to available housing. The prei.se that 2.75. jobs per household creates the high cost of housing, completely ignores the opposite statistic that the majority of Palo Alto residents don't" -work' in their own city; In other words, Palo Alto can't be looked at in a vacuum; percentages and ratios have to be looked at in terms of a much wider geographical area. The rapidly increasing. cost of housing is not unique to Palo Alto. It is directly tied to the cost of new construction. One only needs to compare the quality of resideneial life in Palo Alto to many other cosreunities to see immediately why Palo Altans -acre willing to pay a premium for housing. The ratio of job's is a factor in demand, but it has been overplayed. Mr. Smith continued that the idea of tying residential construction to commercial and industrial development is idealistic and veryimpracti- cal. Residential and commercial developments are two different ani- mals. To assume that a commercial end . industrial developer can auto- matically develop residential properties is an oversimplification. They require two completely different areas of -expertise. There are very few similarities. The market conditions which favor one type of development may he exactly adverse to the other at the lane time. Fur- ther, who says that employees want to live adjacent to their work? Mr. Smith said he wouldn't, We said that residential land is being deliber- ately held off the market by the city's land policy; for example, the Arastra property. The best way to produce housing is to open up these reservoirs of vacant property. Finally, Mr. Smith said, the Plan relics too heavily on force sod economic psnarlities for achieving its objectives. The word 'incentive" has been suggested as a substitute for "require" by several speakers. That substitution would go far to- ward solving the city's problems. Laurette Van Za edt, 340 Wilton Avenue, commanded the Planning Commission for such a complete Comprehensive flan. She asked that the Council look 72 8/2/76 carefully at Housing Programs 17 and 21. There are a lot of people who need these programs. She noted that Lytton Gardens has been a help to many senior citizens and widows who need a place to stay. Denny Petrosian, 443 Ventura Avenue, strongly supported all of the programs in the Housing element as the bare minimum that should be done for the people in this city who add value to it, who don't hove incomes of $10,000, $12,000 or $25,000 a year. Where the word "require" appears in this Plan, it is entirely justified. The business community cannot absolve itself of the responsibility for increased pressures on the housing market. The Ventura and Barron Park neighborhoods have worked with the Planning Commission to bring Program 5 of the Employ- ment section into the Comprehensive Plan, and because that program was mentioned in the Chamber of Commerce's 8 -page letter to the Council, Me. Petrosian felt the Council should know that the El Camino neigh- borhoods asked that this ,program be put into the Comprehensive Plan. MOTION: There being no one else wishing to speak, Councilman Comstock moved and Councilwoman Witherspoon seconded to continue the pib1ic hearing. MOTION PASSED: The motion passed unanimously, Councilman Sher absent. MOTION: Councilman 1 ervsld moved, and Councilman Comstock seconded to receive the CompTehensiire Mitm vs recommended by the Planning Com- mission and place it before the Council for consideration. MOTION PASSED: The motion passed unanimously, Councilman Sher absent. MOTION: Councilman Comstock moved and Councilman Berryald seconded to continue the Council's discussion of and deliberation on the Housin and Employment sections of the Comprehensive Plan to a special meeting on Mondays August 16, in addition to the public hearing August 18th. MOTION PASSED: The motion passed unanimously, Councilman Sher absent. „ 2J11311W-. MOTION: Councilwoman Witherspoon moved, seconded by Councilman Com- stock, that the meeting be adjourned until 7:30 p.m., Monday, August 16, 1976. MOTION PASSED: The motions passed unanimously, Councilmen Sher absent: ATTEST: 7 3 8/2176 APPROVE: