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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01141957City Hall, Palo Alto, galifornia: January 1k,. 1957 The Council of the City of.Palo Alto met in regular ses- 'aion,on this:date at 7:30 P,M. with Mayor Porter presiding. Roll call as follows Present:` Bishop, Byxbee, Corcoran, Cummings Davis, Drysdale-, 0iffin, Merahall,.Mitcheil Navin, Porter, Rodgers, Siwopson. Absent: Cresap, Ruppenthal. proved.. Meetingon Sales -Tax Revenue The Mayor announced that the Council,_will meet as a Commit• tee of the Whole on>Wednesday, January 23;, 1957, at 7:30 P.M. to die ;cues the .integration of the sales tax revenue into the City: operatin6 and capital improvement program, and to consider policy in this con- nection on reduction of the property tax rate, reduction ot'rssiden�- :tial utility rates, -Improvement of -city services nuch aa•quality of -- the water, and :capital improvements such as the hoapital,.traffic proveaent..program, etc-. The Mayor reported that. the staff is prepart ing data which will be -'furnished to council members in advance of. the meeting. Cancellation of Taxes on State Property Letters were received from the State Diviaeion of Highways requesting that 1956-57.taxes on certain, properties acquired by the State for -highway purpoees.b.rcancelled, and that these properties be removed from the assessment roll. The properties involved in- clude Lots' 15 and 16, Block 367, Chabot Terrace; Lots 40 and'tl, Block 361, Sierra Tract; Lots' 20 and 29, Block 360, St. Prancie Ter- race, and Lot.1,-Angela Terrace. All these parcels. are located in the vicinity of Bsbareadero Road, Oregon Avenue and the Bayshore Highway. 59 The minutes of the meeting of December -10, 1956, vereap- On motion of Simpson and Byxbee, and by unanimous vote on roll call, the 1956-57 taxes on these properties were cancelled, and it was directed that said properties be removed from the assessment roll. Reimbursement of Costs of Sales Tax Collection A communication was received from Spencer M. Williams, County Counsel, :regarding the-- city -county agreement for reimburse- sent of the eosts of: sales tax collection. He called attention to the agreement between the City of Palo Alto and the County of Santa Clara providing for annual reimbursement by the County of the amount ;charged by ,the State for collection of the sales tax, and advised that the Hoard of -/Supervisors haa received a request from the Inter - City Council for a uniform agreement providing for quarterly rein- burseaent. The County Counsel asked whether the City of Palo Alto prefers to stand on.:the-existing agreement or wishes to re -negotiate to` provide for quarterly -reimbursement.; The City Manager -reported that he had contacted the cities4 of San Jose,and,llountain-View regarding this matter and was informed that they aav,.or quatrterly: reimbursement rather than annual. It was eyed by Navin,, seconded by Bishop, and carried that'the matter be rererred•through the Mayor to the Inter -City Coun. H:111, and that the Mayor be authorized to take action in behalf,.of' ;the Council to accept -either plan. -Sales Tax Revenue,- Utility Rates A letter was., received from William H. Ousae, 552 hello Avenue; -John S. ,I nd, 781`AllenCourt; and M. H. L. Sanders, Jr., 1156 Sdgewood Drive, requestiiac6 that'the Council consider the possibility; of using sales tax funds, for the improvement of the City's water. - •A letter was rrceit*d from Mrs. Stephanie Caaaurang, Pres- ident of the Palo Alto Citizens' Association, urging the Council to Make "early and substantial cuts in utility rates." The Mayor advised that the matters referred to in these letters will be discussed- at` they aeetirg of the Committee of the Whole to be held on January 23i 1957. Oeng Annexation The City Manager reported that the annexation to the City of Palo Alto of a parcel of city -owned property east of the Bayehore Highway, designated as the "dent Annexation" has been completed, that the Board of Supervisors adopted a resolution on December 2k, 1956, annexing this prosy to'thh City, and that the resolution was filed with the secretary of State on December 27, 1956. No ac- tion by ths'Council is required. Relocation of Water Main East of Hay_shore Highway The Assistant City Manager reported that a city water main. serving an area east of the Beeyshore Highway between Bmbarcadero -Road and San Francisquito Creek mUst be relocated in view of the state highway development. Headvised that the staff has set"with property owners concerned, and. informed them that the cost of relocat- ing the main must be shared?by those properties benefited, and that the staff had discussed With them the possibility of annexing the area, which involves 40or 50 sores, to the City if city services are to be available tothem. It wts reported that on:the basis of numbers 'and assessed valuation, a substantial majority of the proper- ty oxners.are in favor of annexation to the City. The.Assistant City Manager advised that theataff recom- mends that the water .sin' be relocated and that a transfer of $5,- 000.00 be authorized (roll the Unappropriated Reserve of the Water Department to Account 2317, to be spent subject to the following conditional 1. That reimbursement from the. State will be sought. 2. That the property owners in this area agree to pay all costa not reimbursed to the City prior to receiving wa- ter service. Failure to. pay shall constitute cause for terminating water service. 3. That those properties which are annexed to the City be relieved of paying any costs for the relocation of the. main. After discussion, -on motion of Hyxbee and Cummings, the -recommendation of-tht-staff was adopted and the transfer authorized, by"unanimous vote on roll can. Sart- D. Harker Memorial: Purd for Library- Hooks The City Manager reported that the alumnae and friends of The Harker School•have established a Sara D. Harker Memorial Fund to purchase books for the Palo Alto Public Library in memory of Miss Harker; that the "selection of the books to be purchased Will be left entirely to: the City Librarian, and that the Memorial Fund will pro vide printed book plates to.'be pasted in each book. A Check in'the amount of '475.00 for the first. Contribution from the Memorial Fund was presented. • On motion of Mavis and Bishop, the gift was accepted and the Mayor was asked to express. appreciation- for the gift in behalf of :the Council. • adopted. B Resolution on Retirement. of Employee The City Manager presented a resolution of appreciation to Armand Andrieu,-Sr., on.:his retirement after thirty years sof service with the Palo Alto Ptre'Department. On motion ofiMitchell and Navia the resolution was adopted by unanimous vote on roll call. Civil Defense Assistant -'?he,..City Manager recommended the employment of Mrs. Char-: lotte,H. Mi11er`as a,.spealal assistant in Civil Defense,, at 4300.00 per month for part time work, effective immediately.. On notion of Byxbee,and Drysdale, the appointment of Mrs. Miller was approved in accordance with -the City,:Manager's recommendation. Use of Present Hospital. A report was received from Committee No. 4 recommending that the Council adopt the policy: that. the present hospital build/nk be continued in use as an.integral.part of the medical center, and that the operating board be guided accordingly in its activities. On motion of Mitchell and Simpson, the recommendation was • Branch Library Site A report was received from Committee No. 1.recommending that the Council authorize. the purchase and exchanges of property with the Little League .to.enlargethe.tranch-library site. Council man Byxbee, Chairman of Committee No. 1, reported that the-architec has recommended -that the site-be'enlarged, and that arrangements ca be made to purchase a 15 -foot strip of land from the -Little League for 41875..00 and to obtain another 15 -foot strip through an exchange1 of land nor, owned by the City adjoining the substation.' • On,motion'of-Byxbee and Rodgers -:,-the purchase and:exchang of -property, with the Little -League were authorized. by unanimous vote on roll -call. Acquisition of Property for Seale Canal Bridge A report was received from Committee No. 1 recommending that the Council authorize the acquisition of a strip of:.property at 2905:areer Road needed in conjunction with the construction of a bridge across s. the Seale,Wooster Canal. It was explained. that the cost of the land is estimated. to be:$450.00. On motion of Byxbee and Mitchell, the acquisition of this property was authorized by unanimous vote on roll call. Zone Change (R-1 to -P -0 -Application, Alma and East Meadow ' Committee 10..':1:reported that it has considered the recom-{ mendation'of the Planning:Commmission that.Lots 8 through 14, Brock I 5; Tract 800, being the ,frontage along iAlma Street between. Bast Mea ow Drive and "Shoppers. World;" be rezoned from R-1 to P -Cs, with the --following proyisiommisWth*t `a `written easement providing access to. the. Shoppers Woridparking area be obtained, that the uses be.11 ited to those indicated: under the R -3-P provisions of the Zoning dinanoe, and that the first seven units adjacent to the -,"Shoppers: World" as shownm'..on> the !approved: ,development plan be desYgnatd, as { the first unit of_ building:: to-be'constructed. The committee recoe- mended the approva ;'of this zone change as recommended by the Plan- ning Commission condition_. that the r ,. ��th�: he pa king �faoiliti�es be increased..to one space: for --every 200 sq.ft. of space in the building. .comseilman Byxbee, Chairman of Committee No. 1, explained that the. recomendation:of.the committee was passed by a•3 to 1 vote;. that the rajoritt.ot'the.committee felt that the proposed re- zoning for the professional use contemplated was in order butthat, the number of parking'apsces should be increased approximately 50 • per cent. A motion was eade_by.;!.bee.that the recommendation of Committee No. 1 be approved-. Mr. -:-Karl Bledsoe; .attorney for -•the. applicants, addressed the Council. advising that the,appiicants;have worked out an amended plan which they.' believe rill satisfy the requirements, :';by eliminat- ing three of the unite shown on the sketch previously submitted which would reduce the numberof units from 1g to 16,.and "y'increase ing the number of parking spaces from- a42 to 52. Mr. Bledsoe stated that his client$ wouldolike to:know Whether or not the -plan will'be approved before they obtain the required easement. It -was noted that an ordinance providing for the zone change as previously -recommended by.the:Planning Commission was ac- cepted for first reading at the last meeting. A motion was made by ?Mitchell, seconded by Rodgers, that: the ord1zance be amended in ac- cordance with the recommendation of Committee No. 1. Councilman:Cumming$-expreiased'objection to the proposal., pointing out that'' Shoppers -World has not developed according to the plans, and advising that -,in his opinion any expansion of bust- nese usage in that area prior to the adequate development of -"Shop- pers World" is; unnecessary." After further discussion, a motion was made by Navin to amend the amendment to provide further that constriction of the building must commence within six months, and that if development has not started within that time, the property revert-to`R-1 zoning. .After more discussion, the - previous motions were withdrawn and it was moved' by Drysdale,'seconded by Marshall, and carried by,a voice vote that theraatter be referred back to the Planning Commis- sion with a record of the -discussion. .Parking . Requiremante . Review. It was..movedby.Byxbee, seconded by Mitchell, and carried . that the Planning Commission be;directed to review the parking re- quirements of the Zoning Ordinance for 'adequacy and possible revi- sion, and that such review be made as expeditiously as possible and in a manner whereby reports and recommendations will be submitted as the study is being. made. Design Control A report was received -from the Planning Commission recom-. rending approval of the -design -control -application of N. and Mrs-. C. S. Coates for a duplex on Lot 20, Block 2, Stanford City, in the 2500 block of Alma Street. 7Itwasmoved, seconded and carried that the application be approved. Extension on Tentative Map of Tract No. 178 A report•.was receivedfrore'the Planning Commission unani- mously recommending that:the-request for a one-year extension of time on the tentative map ' of portion Hof Lot 101, Wooster Subdivision, -be granted to the owner and .aubdivid.r, Trans -Western Development Cor- poration (John`Uaphreys). It` was'notedv�that.this property is locat- •ed--on Louis Road, opposite Greer Road, and is known as:Tract No. -1738,lQueen'e Court. On Motion of.Byxbee and.:Cummings, the recommendation for extension of time on this tentative map:;was adopted. Application to Amend.Develop* nt Plan (Menary) A.report was received -from the Planning Commission unani-- mouzly recommending approval at the application of Jack R. Nenary to amend the lovelopmwnt :' Plan of -the .P --C `District, located oh the north- erly corner of Middlefield Road and _San Antonio Road to allow L -M (Limited Manufacturing") use*. • . • 0 ,..A.. _- _ _.1� nmm . M .wf+rr.±�m+r - *'H.�«vt•rr{ MW" .,�.v�M�w1 �k'N. '� y \ . � -: - - -, - On motion of Byxbee and Cumingsr this matter was refe back to the Planning Commission for further review of the parking facilities in the plan. Abandonment of Easement (Tracts 782 and 800) Resolution -No. 2800 of Intention to.abandon.a public util- ities easement over portions of Tract No. 782 and Tract No. 800 was introduced, and on motion, duly seconded, was adopted.by unanimous vote on:roll sail. This: regoluti'on provides for a hearingon the proposed abandonment to be held on February 11, 1957, at 7:30P.M. Project 56-7, Middlefield -Colorado Parking District Resolution No. 2801 of Intention to make changes and,modl-. fications, Middlefield -Colorado Parking District, Project No. 56-7:, was introduced: The Assistant City Manager explained that the modi-. fixation will7increase the total amount of the assessment from 05,- 000.00 to $48,828.00, for the purpose of providing better storm. drainage and improving a small additional parcel to be acquired. 33 On motion of Byxbee and Cummings, the resolution of inten4 tion was adopted byunaniaous vote on roll call. The resolution provides for a hearing on the proposed modification to be held on February'll, 1957, at 7:30.p.m. Resolution, No. 2802 calling for sealed proposals on Proj- ect 56-7 was.introduood, and on motion of Hyxbee and Cummings, was adopted by unanimous vote on roll call. This resolution provides for bids: to be reosei?ed on February 8, 1957.-. • It was coved, seconded and carried that the time for cash payments of•aeeessaents under Project 56-7 be extended from January 11, 1957, to February 26, 1957. It was moved by Mavis, seconded and carried by unanimous vote on roll call that the ,transfer of 450,000.00 from the Parking Meter Fund to the Revolving. Fund be authorized as a loan to Project. 56-7, to make it possible to acquire the property before the bonds are sold. Project 56-14, University Avenue Street Lighting District Resolution.No. 2803 of Preliminary Determination ,betting hearing for February. 11, 1957, at 7:30 P.M., was introduced; and on motion of Byxbee, duly seconded, was'adopted by unanimous vote on roll call. k -letter -was received from Hare, Brewer & Kelley, Inc.., regoasting that the 500 block of University Avenue be ineludei in,. the'"district for improved street lighting. It was suggested that this requeit:be-considered at the. time of the hearing and that the staff look; into the matter: in the meantime. Agreements:with'Southern Pacific Company An ,agreement was presented between. the Southern Pacific Company and the`City ofAqilo Alto covering the 1natallation of:a storm serer under the Southern Pacific tracks at Page Mill-;Rond. There was also presented for consideration an agreement with the, Southern'- Pacific Company for use ofindustry track by third party. Thin concerns the use of the spur track serving the. city pole yard. It was moved by Mitchell, seconded and carried that reso- lutiona approving'thesef2agreements`'and'authorizing their execution by the Mayor,'be adopted .The motion was carried by unanimous vote of all cauncih,:members.present. -(Dr. Davis.was'absent during this roll• call..,• Ordinance No. 1728, providing for the issuance and sale of $500,000 City of Palo Alto Municipal Improvement Bonds of 1956, Se - pied "B" (Electric Bonds), was introduoed and on motion of Mitchell and Drysdale was adopted by unaniious vote of all council members present.. (Dr. Davis was absent during this.roll call.) The ordinance provides that.proposals for the purchase of these.bonds shall. •be received.on February 11, 1957. Bond Sales. Councilman Cummings suggested that Committee No. 3 explore. -the possibility of consolidating:all,.sales of Palo Alto bonds into a` once-a-year..sale and also:<.to; `;consider' if it would be possible to work out -an arrangement with; the Palo 41to School„District for the sale •of school bonds. at the same tire.. The. Mayor asked. Committee No. 3 and the staff to ;investigate the matter. Street Names in Stanford Annexation Areas 'Ordinance.No. 1729,.•stablishing street names in portions of Stanford Annexations Not. 1,_2, 4 and 5, was given second::reading, and on motion of Mitchell, duly seconded, was adopted on roll call,, with 11 Ayes,: Marshall voting No. Claim for'Damages (Meyer) A report was submitted by the City Attorney on claim filed by Mr. W. T. Meyer in the sum of $100.71 for damages to water tank which was split open by a surge:of.water in the water system caused by a`hydrant in the street -being turned off too quickly. The City Attorney advised that the damage as . the result of the negligence of an employee of the L. C. Smith Coepany, contractor doing work on Grove Avenue, and recommended that the claim be denied... On motion of Bishop and Navis, the report of the City At- torney was accepted and the claim denied. Claim for Damages SShaler) A report was received from the City Attorney on claim filed by Suzanne L. Shaler in the sum of $1250.00 for injuries sus- tained when the: claimant. was riding a.. bicycle in the 1700 block on Middlefield Road and struck a hole around a large oak tree. The City Attorney advised that the hole extended into the street about three feet and was constructed to provide an irrigation well for the tree; that at. the time of..the accident the hole was covered with leaves. The City Attorney advised that since the condition was created by the City, it was his opinion that the possibility of re- covery against the City. is go6d; that he has discussed the::maatter with the claimant's attorney and.they have arrived at a figure of $450.00 as settlement in full of_the claim. He recommended that the settlement be approved. On motion of Rodgers and Cummings, and by unanimous vote on roll call, the recommendation of the City Attorney for settlement of the 'claim in the sum of $450.00 was approved and the Controller was directed to prepare a warrant in this amount payable to Suzanne L. Shaler. Bill of Sale, Temporary Hospital Buildings There was presented:.a Bill:of Sale to Stanford University of the two -temporary hospital buildings now. located adjacent to the . P31o.Alto Hospital, formerly Buildings..212 and 214 purchased by the City from the Stanford Research Institute on December 16,.1955. It *as explained that these buildings are being transferred to Stanford' University to make it possible to use funds from the Ford Foundation' At 65 for these facilities. On motion of Cummings and Mitchell, a resolution authoriz' ing the Mayor to execute.: the Bi11 'of Sale in behalf of the City was adopted by unanimous vote on roll Call. Tax Refunds On recommendation of the Controller, it was moved by Mitchell, seconded by Rodgers, and carried by unanimous vote on rol4 call, that the following tax refunds be authorized: Tax Bill No. Amount 5476 .99 11428 $ 2S.34 11987 3.70 12009 3.70 7140 14.25 8144 4.56 8150 .4.56 8198 4.56. 12503 2.56 14023 23.54 Monthly Reports The monthly report of the Controller for December, ';956, was received and filed. The monthly report of the Acting Planning officer on ac- tion taken in December on applications for redivision of lots, and the monthly report of the Acting Zoning Administrator on action tak-+ en in December on applications for variances and use permits, were received and placed on file. - Traffic Plan (one -Way Streets and Arterials) Councilman Rodgers called attention to the proposed plan for one-way streets, arterials, and "no parking" areas, as outlinedi in a Traffic and Parking Study for the University Avenue Business District, prepared by the Planning Department in April, 1956, which has been under consideration by the Council and Committee No. 2 since that time., It was moved by -Rodgers, seconded by Byxbee, that the City Attorney be directed to prepare a resolution for the next Council meeting on January 28, 1957,.to put into effect the follow- ing regulations: One-way Arterials: Channing"'Eve ue (eastbound) and Homer Avenue (west- bound) from Alma to Guinda Streets High Street (southbound) from Hawthorne to Channing Byron Street (southbound) from Palo Alto Avenue to Lytton Avenue Arterial Streets: 0uinda Street from Lytton to Channing Avenues Waverley Street from Lytton Avenue to Embarcadero Road Charming Avenue from Guinda Street to Newell Road Removal of Parkins: Bah sides of Middlefield Road from San Francisquito Creek to Charming Avenue Both sides of Waverley Street for one-half block north and south of University Avenue Both sides of University Avenue from the Circle to High Street A motion Was made by Mrs. Corcoran to amend the motion by deleting the designation of portions of Guinda Street, Waverley Street and Channing Avenue as arterials. There was no second to 66 the amendment. The motion to direct the City Attorney to prepare the resolution for the January 28th Council meeting was carried. The meeting was declared adIo' ned;at 9:20 P.M.