HomeMy WebLinkAbout10281957City Hall, Palo Alto California:
October .28 -1.957:
The Council of the, City of Palo Alto met in regular
session on this date at 7:30 P.M., with Mayor Porter presiding..
Roll call as ' foilows
Present: :Bishop Byxbee, Corcoran, Cresap, Evans,_:
Gitf in., Marshall, Mitchell, Navis, Porter;,
Rodgers, Stephens, Woodward.
Absent: Davis, Ruppenthal.
The:minutes of the meeting of October 14, 1957, were.
approved:
Fluoridation
A letter was received from Avery Curl stating that "there
is a violation of the fluoridation ordinance taking place.every
day of.. the week, a misAppropriatior of funds, and the confidence
of the people .is being betrayed." Mr. Curl asked for permission
to speak to=the Council on. this subject.
At the request of the Mayor, brief statements regarding
the operation, of the,fluo.ridation program were made try H. L. May,
Chief Engineer, of the Water-Ga;s-Sewer Division, and Emanuel H.
Pearl, engineer of the Santa Clara County Health Department.
Mr. May advised that when the fluoridation ordinancewas passed by
the people,it was necessary to :apply to the State for an.a.mended
permit to operate the.:water system. Mr. Pearl explained the pro-
vis1ons_,of the permit which was granted by the State Health Depart-
ment, and a.dv1sed.tha.t fluoridation of Palo Alto water is being
done under the careful supervision of the State Health:Department
and 9.n accordance with the conditions of the permit.. Mr May
pointed' out th't .;:tt is not possible to maintain the exact ratio of
one part of fluoride to one million: parts of water as. stated in the
ordinance, and submitted information on the average dosage used in,
the program.
Mr Curl addressed the Council and read Ordinance No. 1577
authorizing the fluoridation of the Palo Alto Municipal Water Supply
which was adopted by' the- people in November, 195.. He stated that
the ordinance is'beir+g:viola,ted because it is not possible to min-tain one part of f,luorlde_.to one million parts of water at all times
in all 'parts_ of: the, system, that there is a misapplication of funds
and the people are, beingbetrayed. He asked that fluoridation of
the water' be abandoned since it has proved to be impossible to
.fluoridate the" mater in: accordance ' with the provisions of the ordi-
nance:. Mr. Cur]. pointed>:out. that there. are ways in which people- who
wish fluoride can have 1t without fluoridating all the: water.
In answer'to questions by councilmembers, the City Attorney
advised that the ordinance; can only be repealed by vote `of the
people,. Atha t he;: =does not' thank the ordinance is being',violated te
daily as . stated,- by:- Mr. Curl, `that the method of 1n Jecting fluoride=
into .the ,water system has beenapproved by the State, that: the City
1S -using, the best equipment,,, and that in his opinion the:intent of
the ' ordinance is , being: complied with.
On 'motion Of. Navis' and Mitchell, the matter was
Bids or Park rmorovetrer ts.
A. report was made by;:the City Manager on the bads received
on October 25,, :1957 " '.on Project 56-17, Rinconada Park , imvrovements
and, on Pro jeet",'::56-18, park on Park. Boulevard. He advised.; that the.
low bid on .Project 56-17 was $86,850.00, submitted by Gravelle and
McConnell;Inc., and, the low bid` on Project 56-18 was $22`,980.00,
submitted by the:S and Q Construction Company. He further advised
•
•
t t�s�
tie ;,ty ntr
woad y�
ymrA�7l ,� •t+l a Informed
Qh a. . �A
ampan e
etn re were don
Constructione avta edt t t�'e �n the bS nger
and. ect . t l$ ' only-, overhead Casts one City o in -
t .tne twa pxo o eGt 56_ o� e'b bid • an r event
that tt, for . t' 3 fed .ill t ad �,ri t o
bid Sforec an ct f nod inG7.v withdraw a � d t �'� t°
tr$ a,nd that any
ireco bid d that e„ law bid of Grave Ile 50 and.Gt' ,c oructi o pr3ec, t .
their Council
-sit the„ h savant,: h h -S and Q strv.c ion C oat pa to
om�gnded accepted . i.n ta, aliaw• ��v�;�.le' and ei , �e pointed
p�r'� pxo �
recommended
�c willing; i ,. bid of• be :acae� °n the t
G � the 2a, 8 carried
'��� fl their,- bid,.
� cn�to'o� b Giffin, � and
both he
!t 5;1$: in ex�eea seconded y 1;f, In ote
these bsd, vi:� Mr,(`,OxY�� t0 eXec
164 ,66 d by K ile "'` orizad re'�e 5ed ,
by _' was, .move a o �#xave r be �'' ° ny be sent durnS
` ��that.lt to a�' b a �~u ��,� be5n �t
; o �c to
a •oe end t t rote a. 12 Ayes' r?
f ot: The . r,t3,G rfl z, $'�{� • ( y end St
pr,,
r t tY1e a7.i • Sa Bern G VI' C moo' xd Oil Go +T
tilts eG r
� { � roll everts :w�•'�Ylta},Gir, to �� the Standard �o�xsG'�lelfle �amAan'�
I\ w :s reCel ivigion: SOV,:lexn tr.c sp w
7 tt �Q,�pan with the er ai�int "� ree�en .
nil Qil �ee nt paxt3� p le e F ary
c Sig an. �g ,��,rd snd �l �° p ,�ycn:-
t C��if ve a.ra exeo,�te ��aGk by �liv�' Avenge �i.s� � S�- ,1.
the exp �� axcep'�
r4 duct eva-"'d .a.nd -Q '' Cali'tracX r w _ a x+oev ont
� Abp, o� ..�
i for Usk t ;�r�t. gaol °i� �omp�n s�;fte .s'Pu�� pre�ri � txy� '�a :e::::...
t � k �._ St�ntsl to ,. .. tic; . ,,rd�'. taninS deti ted rcU'1 g;t i ion per , 4nts deli,$' : „ ' pp .k �i,,e. 7gem bony; nen�' xes yox,
1that the e t1�e these;,e `. ��, ra''6. P rn br cnang�rtlestQ :yxb. a,,ndtheir'esee tvot1.n °
current on- _ uthori A.s : ?vi
t ,eemeriti. end : with .1 e .�o . call.
`, se - 11 cxl., during pr t� ,
�, the : on x� bent a • ec for �� ;
�r �;S cn z�Se
�` Tm8 g r, avid ors ri ll cry SQ ys r by the City \Ind to Acc°' ;,t 3
mots � ar dun t3ati�' "�9 mde ro�ects era an px°�
Transfer �ecam a�► the Spec ��� �r�dc sep 4r� "per "c �1�,
S60,000,
d v s' tis 'n P1 , .mot.
in
ex o£ ' of tion.�°ails Y be; 1 with
t;nf visit t+titc cal
1 �,G°, 0�'' n ra��
1 fbi on . mats° v • o
utY,ori7e nriels c; the
' funds t , t thi :a7:se,
eXa�nr h rc y,r n �j'saatYtcto4kieing � tips bytr ttyeit.r t�,e, � m�tted. �,::ta endsvm r�'�'�`n��a Y"^�'s.ke,0 0rti^ s .in Flo.; : r��ns t t:e t� l A.
A rep d c ne1 the ned .dur ng and t'e SAS `" m"�'do
O. Cx' }Cs ,,, : d'�r n acco' ' \ B Engineers ova 1e' fit tw iG5'� '
b -y t L °ff .w been , of �x Improvements
mpr the c�xe
un- wriic�' has �cmY Corp� ,d farther •,pe romp �ys�
\aridn' loo 13.S. A t. �,ch C then tiara om t' y
control. the �.�stx?•c r .,� �ruG tre State.
ra
tnQ City' Control. - , reGcn� ice by T � �,-cY
C ,Anty one pre t �e'ss tieCiyt �X,�A<fra4 st t Y,,e f . two aIr, the 'ea
\bP:Ytttel:tiolt°"wdas°aIlltar,6616a,d1t:ls,e'tdp'Iteo,:.t
b:ei�'gdor d�ts,ed tih t;�n a ��°test1�w�.y`Br7��.S T+�.ng�'r ��ergen° been '�'�de f
'VZI an titcQeats ,ihio � ve t cG�otf,`,
e� pasi ,pxovc' * tt
� � tet�_ of the i s and. F� " a,dv;,s'�"'g
teca�!laad n? �>>d Ck�'�ny' tee °. �o end Qke oG�ted
� fr. �L°nom" �n e Ax s Cei�je�: �xo'� � �1Gnton f x,��sxopert on anW a �b ever x.
,. ort: w� : r�. e a�.rge � d:S.atxiG�weec� � .�2 tint
e sdered xthe tn 'fox �� d d 2� end 5
it. has considered
rat G . IlIG41 Ae of 14101: .�. f isld dos
id westerly 610 Mi d -
` an . t%� s 262Q �n
llis
, t y. dh
1=�'�awn
'i r,,.— - - .-..:.d.•6Mw(,T."..li&W�7%i . �w'�. �'ti ,,4 1'h .
to: C=2:S: and R -3--P.
Committee No, 2 recommended that the Council uphold' the
recomt:endation:'of the Planning Commission for denial of the applica--
Lion: as submitted, send for the rezoning of the Aro and Okerman
- I property . at 2620? and 2640 Middlefield Road from R-1 to' R -3-P", : the
zoning of:'the McGrath:. property at 2590 and 2572 Webster Street to
rema1 R-] _
Councilman Byxbee, Chairman of Committee No 1, reviewed
the matter, stating that the -committee had held a hearing for the'
applicants and interested property owners. He moved adoptionof the
ree'ommendation of C_oinrn%ttee::No. 1 and the Planning Commission, and
the adoption of the ord.inanee._ previously given first reading, to pro,
vide for the rezoning ofthe-Aro and Okerman property at 2620 and
2640 Middlefield Road: from; R-1 to R -3-P.
During the: ensuing, discussion, Councilmen Stephens and
Mitchell. stated they felt the. applicants had presented a practical
plan for development :of the property that they do not feel the
property 1n, question is 'good. --.residential . property, and .that the C-2
and;R-3-P uses., should, be allowed as, requested.
Mr Kenneth McDougall, attorney for Aro and Okerman, told
the -Council. ,that .their architects. have advised them that it is not
possible:to develop the Aro and Okerman property for R -3-P uses as
there is_not sufficient. land ;without a portion of the McGrath pro-
perty being included in the development; that if the Council does
not see -fit -,to rezone a l.1 of `the property, he has been instructed : by
the applicants to ad'vise''the Council that they wish to.withdraw both
a"pplica.t:i;ons .
::There . ha;d. been' n;o:second to Councilmen Byxbee's motion.
:A motion was nor made by`Giff.in, seconded by Mrs. Corcoran, that the1
' app/icanta.be permitted to withdraw their applications.
:There wad further discussion, and attention wad called by ,
several council members to the Fact that the zoning of this proper,tyj
,ha;s: been :a probiem for a, : long time and they would like to , have the
rn tter settle,d Councilman Byxbee suggested the Counc_il;consider-a
sense mction as to whether it wishes to extend the commercial zone
a long- Middlef ielcl Rond to .Web'ster Street; if so, he thought the
:deve.lopment:pla.n proposed would be a.cceptnble.
it was pointed out by the City Attorney that the,plar, is
not a partof the zoning.. The Planning Officer stated there are two,
alternatives hlch c`ouldbe:considered,- the zones could be changed
to 2 :S : and` )-3-P.. as' the. `a:pplica.nts have requested, or the property
could be:zored:P-C under; the proposed development plan.
.The motion made by Giffin and ;ors. Corcoran that the
applicants be permitted to withdraw the applications was withdrawn.
A motion was :made by Cresap, seconded by Mitchell, that a
'proposed ordinance rezoning the property to P -C be accepted .for
first reading. The development plan ns proposed was revieWed by
Allan Reid, landscapearchitect for the applicants. Mr McDouga11
advised that the owners wouid:be willing to post a bend that the
landscaping would be properly ma irtn fined .
In arswer;'to a 'request from Councilman Navid' for his
comments,. the Plan i;rg. G:tf.i°cer advised that in his opinion the
parking proposed on ;the -plan should be revised and tat . he does
not, think it,.could be"a.ltered to meet requirements without re -
du. cin,g,`.the floor ;a:rea of- the .proposed building; that there should be
a solid structure along the Webster Street frontage to prevent, -people
having access to the commercial area. from Webster Street; that -the
present lsndscapin;g one the . corner property of Mr. McGrath is very
-gatisfactory.and migh,t_give enough protection to the Webster Street
properties.
Mr.'Kar..1.,Bledsoe.,--representing property owners and resi-
de.nts-; ":on Webster Street, advised that they . are still opposed to
ti`':; �,� "` �*`�
commercial uses -On the Aro and Okerman" lots and to professional
uses on the McGrath property, that :they do 'not want 'any change of
zone which will .provide a; business type of use on the corner of
Webster Street and Middlefield Road: Mr. Bledsoe asked that the.
recommendation of the; Pianni g Commission and Committee No. 1 for.
rezoning the Aro . and'Gkerma:n dote to R -3-P and retaining the McGrath:'
Property as R=1, be followed.: Mr. W. H. Newton, 2562 Webster Street,
a1so'; spoke for the residents in the 2500 block of Webster, stating
they q aest.i on the need for -additional commercial zoning; that trey,
want to keepthe 'area residentjal in character, and are opposed to
any commercial uses on -the .property of . the applicants.
A roil cs3.11 vote was taken on the motion to give first
reading to a proposed" ordinance rezoning the Aro and 0kerman and the
McGrath properties to P.C. The :vote was PS follows:
Ayes: C'orcoran, Cresap, Giffin, Mitchell, Navis`,
Stephens,.
Noes: Byxbee, Evans, Marshall, Porter, Rodgers,
Woodward.,
Not Voting: B1shcp
L.,w,72::-.,47;;.:i::w�..; i a
'The motion was declared lost.
0rdin.nce No 1766, amending the Zone Map to provide
for'rezoning of the Aro':and:.0kerm r' property at 2620 and 26k0
Middlefield:Road-from R-1 :to R -3,-P was then given second reading,
and on -motion -Of Byxbee.and Cresap, was adopted on roll call, with'
11 Ayes, Giffin voting No=end'Bishopnot voting on the motion.
Zoning of Purity. Store PrOpert
kit this time.. Counot1woman Corcoran asked the staff to
mske a_ full report_ font the zon1ng of the property at 2605 Middlefield
110,5(f.cn Which the ;Purity Store; is,."located, the report to show step
.1)Y step. how; the i ning was; changed'- to permit the Purity Stores to,
locate: there, .when the ;zone 'change `was :requested, who were'. the
applicants, and full' inf:ormation' on the zoning of the property.
(The Council took s:'recess at this time, 9:25 P.M.,
and reconvened, at 9.-:35 P.M-)
Christmas . Decoration` Progra,
A report was- received from Committee No. 3 recommend
'in that the amount of $5,750:00. to allocated to the Chamber, of.
Commerce for Christmas de-corat1ons- for, the City's five shopping
centers:and districts, to."be'allocated according to the proposal in„
the letter of October 1, 1957,: fr'om',the -Chamber of Commerce, but
with the provision' that the City's' contribution to any area be re-
duced. n proportion to the amount,s.uch area fails to contribute in
accordance 'with the: p.ropo'saa
In commenting ,on- the committee's ,action, Councilman'.
Bishop advised that it,--ha,d. been suggested- in committee that the. City.
look- into the feasibility: of'prov ding decorations or a lighted tree
on the. City Hall , grounds:- or in -one of the parks;
It •
, was moved by Cresap, seconded by Stephens, that
the recommendation . of•Committee' No. ; ?;. be adopted.
During the -discussion; -Councilman. Mitchell expressed
. his `.opinion that :the; amount` recommended . is too nuch for the City'to :
cont;. ibpte.;` .ghat the`, City should limit its contribution to supplying;
the power..<a.nd ,malting::the connections,, prov3,ded the funds are spent ,
only on public -property.
Reference was made .to a 'memorandum distributed to
Council mnembervshowing the alP)Oationomade to the Chamber of Com-
merce ;for publicity and Christmvs'r,ligh'in,g :in previous years; the
City':s contributions in the past. covering the•:power and connections
In. the.. University Avenue arid South Palo= ;Alto districts.
A motion Was made by Navis to arnend the previous motion
that: an allocation be.made to the Chamber of Commerce to provide
the =power and make connections. for Christmas lighting, with the
stipulation: that the, funds are to be. used only on public .property,
and";.inl addi,t_ i.on 'the full e xpense of decorating the Alma Street
overpass at.the Circle,
Councilman'Byxbee seconded the amendment, with the sugges-�
tion that provision be included -for for Christmas decorations on the
City Hall grounds or in the parks
The City -Manager reported on the cost of providing. a large
lighted Christmas. tree -o- the City Hall grounds, advising that the
purchase: -of a large tree would cost about $210.00 and equipping it
with complete' lighting'".would cost around $250.00; and _that the city.
departments.: could furnish the labor for the installation. The City
Manager advised .that he' .had a'sked the Public Works Departments to
look into the, planting o.f a live tree on the City Hall grounds whict:
could be.r used. ir. the. future if a lighted tree at'the City Hall is
to be an annual`fea.ture. He pc3.ntedout that th:: same lights could
be, used ,each year., ,.and that the program might be expanded each year
o; include the , pitrks
'Councilman Nevis made an addition to his amendment that
sufficient furidsbe .a,p•aropriated to cover. the cost of a lighted
tree on the ;C:ity Hall-;. grounds, with a statement of intention on
the part of the-. Council. that this is to be an annual' project., .and
that the'City. Manager'be authorized to look into the feasibility
of planting a. live tree inthe future.
There was further discussion. Councilman .Bishop pointed
out that some areas do not plan to have lighted decorations so the
proposed amendment Koul'd not provide any help for those areas, and
for this`, .reason tit :"segued logical to him that the City` should parties.
cipate; in the insta llatlon= of decorations so that s:1]: districts:
you'd' `receive'- some ;aid from the City.
There -was. some discussion as to the estimated cost of
., prticlpatin ; in the program in accordance with the proposed amend-
ment, and Councilman Navis advised that he thought $2500 00 .ould
be a sufficient 'amount. He added to the amendment that:: a transfer
of this :amount be authorized from the Special Projects. Fund ' to
Account'' 123, -Publicity.
The amendment wa.s carried by the following vote on roll
call:
Ayes,: Byxbee,- Giffin, Marshall, Mitchell,
Rodgers, Woodward.'
Noes: -.Bishop; -_"Stephens .
Not Voting Cresap, Evans.
(Mrs.. Corcoran, had left at 9:55 P.M. during the discussion
of thi3 . item, .and was absent for the rest of the 'meeting. )
At the request of:Cbuncilinan Stephens, Mr. R?y Rohrs of
the Chamber o.f ..Commerce reviewed the Christmas decoration ,program
for the five=shopping centers and districts, and the budget showing'
the amounts to be raised_by,the merchants in each �are�a d the
amounts the City had been asked to contribute.
Attentionwa;s called by Councilman Nevis to the fa.c't that
the merchants last year had agreed to finance the entire' Christmas
decoration program in the future without help from the City.
The motion as,. amended was then carried by the -following
vote' on ro.12. -_ _
Ayes: Byxbee,_"Cresap,. Giffin, Marshall, Mitchell, Nevis,
:Porter, Rodgers; Woodward..
Noes Bishop, Stephens:
NottVoting:' ;Evans
•
the
resolution ,,was
or b as nt a�no
was ► and ° Ii:ng the
coed;
•
� the ���$o7Utian �cicig����, � �n d•, ehd
uCe
�,s :t, No, 2 anmous
�daAted � �n�"'����e aa` author µ. ;
. on request
from
! San he Crossing, pu,�1x on. N �a ec c�r,
in tondo Protection
tit/Ile-b./Runes r2a� $
No Avbn 4tebt, Co utho,1
three Rt ue o for, 1s 1n
cat �} � over the d. soon tong
San .# a was, e_. < ,�o �o submission
make Antonio gear ue very°� c outlier: pa2'otb t aaI�°ostiackson a
re aAA1 �'�nu ated �, a,c1 i n at n ° a
r�r�bu ea g ors toc intzso un thb cost of
Man° tiger oa the o as ,funds
d.
Protection,
P raper `c o Pub/lc,Utilities
t that he to nexplained $i�C
the cast $120 .00,, of gates at that'''. `
anti mono Cmi�a on Alto must
e the Crossingo'be
pica t� Ivor Croa
Y unani �
a;r� ox�a R
� ;i � d n solut
t�ect��, S o �s ton N�
Chc�� . .� Pa, �»o �1g
�� du��. � c� �eci Ro�� , 'sands �� Q=°�zlryin
x w ., `gas l the 8 unAai
ass
°�' �8:.. � �s�'enbs
on �� 5�, 80 ,
vote an p� l� �
aid'
s y{yte on
motion o�,l�uchase Q 9
est to th o�ut, 11 ca is �.� tcheZ.�, ���s
t dtiZ
urds
ni02ou d�..:Or 14 ,
of Street vote, on
jZ a ` cbe
Zane �` ____ a .L. e'
Ra a ranc "a WIllal ee Na
�a�,is} . x'd, Was.. 8Y aid a ,• ���.�
p.ras adptd .:accodAortion, a ngina the, ead1 c nape
affected
pec,t d The an4touS v g' ar;d ant 3tr,e$t or Rpgeb
the intention
by thechange
City' oi� n Otio to Far ery
ha s r e a cma n e:Peer
- these reporteds rb x o-7 Z 1 pf yxbee n
IUmbe, $ the he changes*
that
sWz��. +�,tter hanger; tet na:�es eU.ery or
o ed not be were hat no d be open
Lir ib: on i changed-
ce of anr°teststr17:J ��a-
fled ° p�di� C� � & _ 1Z°W Road d further, that un �a
the
a`�OA by1, cx �� ArN. 1768;
��rki uari�o vt .oM�fee tine peed mB sita ection ``�---r ________onn a °n oi- 1. 1 e "��{� i�� of Coax.
the b '' ant a • and Aavoad, Wa,
St ildin ounce and L t 'was
demolished.
emo a and Ss or) -the zip r Byxb t...=°n
3s shed_ xsYtto V property ee •Ca.iied:
so to the lie etat �'nue, recently
;the attention
! tree, but or ed t entl easterly n to
L)ut into t $ tie Arh$t he er uir'ed Iy oorne the fact
shaAe �8 st d Aert un s:tan by t r o that.
l for Aa nt n the i7 t sbno it�� Vnt
� Invest i� The
g.� meantime r3ry. situation
ion wi , e �n
r on
the eot In _ the CIty Tana the Ioa ba tion is r de
so ths,t tter how ��'r sdv��s gravelled
i t . Coul w�t� the ed � that d =end
c11� the ,,ieh e beti in` be used aintentionCity yn$in
rag was, d Ci$ e. business
Auto$ grvaK
red a�Jou�,��s'ss to 00
me ,--- a ��'; G F e `ore the