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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11261951120 City Hall, Palo Alto, California, November 26, 1951. The Council of the City of Palo Alto met in regular session on this date at7:30 P.M., with Mayor Mitchell presiding., Roll call as follows: Present: Bishop, Blois, Bowden, Bower, Cashel, Cathcart, Drysdale, Gaspar, Hill, Miller, Mitchell, Montrouil; Simpson, Wickett. Absent: Marshall. The minutes of the meeting of November 13, 1951, were approved. Change of District (Maranhao) This was the time for..a hearing on the recommendation of the Planning:Commission to rezone property of Manuel V. and Mary V. Maranhao from R�I District. to L -M District. This property -is bounded on the north_by property of the Mackay Radio and Telegraph Company at;Colorado Avenue and the Bayshore Highway,; on the east by_the Bayshore Highway, on the west by the C. M. Wooster Subdivision, and<on the south by the old city limits line prior to the San Antonio Road annexation. The hearing was -declared open. There being. no one who wished to speak on the matter, the hearing was closed. On Motion of Montrouil and Hill, an ordinance amending the Zone Map by changing the -;Maranhao property from R-1 to L -M was accepted for first reading'. Zoning of Barrett 2c Hipp Property Bond.Issue for Extension'and Improvement, City Hall Site A report was received from Committee No. 5 recommending` that the City Attorneybe instructed to start proceedings fora bond issue of $IOC',000.00 for extension and improvement of the City Hall site at Newell Road and Embarcadero Road. Committee No. 5 also recommended that action on the ordinance relative to zoning of the Barrett & Hilp property be withheld until the results of the bond election are known. There was considerable discussion in which several counciZ/members felt that the zoning question should be acted upon at this time,..;.so that the matter of a bond issue would stand on its merits and'haveno connection with the zoning problem'. A motion was made by Montrouil, seconded by Hill, that the ordinance given first reading on October 8, 1951, zoning the Barrett: & Hilp property as Interim P -C be not adopted. The vote was .as follows:_ Ayes: Bishop, Blois, Bowden, Bower, Cashel, Drysdale, Gaspar, Hill, Mitchell, Montrouil, Wickett. Noes: Cathcart, Miller, Simpson. The motion was carried and the ordinance was not adopted. A motion was then made by Cathcart, seconded by Montrouil, that. the Council adopt the recommendation of Committee:, 121 No. 5 that the`City Attorney start proceedings for a.bond issue of $100,000:.00 for -extension and improvement of the: City Hall site at'Newell Road -and Einbarcadero Road, me The Council -accepted an amendment suggested: by the City Attorney that the'words "purchase of land" be used instead of "extension". - At, this time the City Manager informed the. Council that a report -18 being prepared on the need for an.additional fire station and' equipment: to serve the new areas in the southern part of the City, and that:.it would be necessary to have a bond issue to` finance the`project which should be started In -1952.' The Council agreed- that if a bond election. Ise to be held for a new fire station, it should be held at, the same time as the bond election for purchase of additional land and: improvement of the City Hall site, so that two special elections. would not be necessary. The motion to adopt the recommendation of Committee No. 5 as amended was then carried. It was pointed out;that.this action does not seta date for the election or make any'comMitment, but merely instructs the,, City Attorney to start proceedings•_:. "-S" District- Regulations At ---this time Mr., TYorenz Costello asked for permission to speak on behalf of Mrs..Walter Rodgers in regard -to -the proposed ordinance; providing for the .4S" designation`to be added to all areas zoned C-2. He pointed out that;Mrs_. Rodgers owns a 25 -foot `strip of land in Block 37, ru ning, from Tasso Street to her larger parcel at University Avenue and'Webster Street; that the 25foot strip is in C-2 while the rest of her property is inR-14. ;Heyadvised that Mrs. Rodgers is concerned about the "S" zone -requirement and would like to have her strip of land eliminated from this regulation if the ordinance. is passed. It was pointed out -that the "S" designation is a temporary measure and would be removed when a parking plan is worked out. New`. Parking Lot A letter was received from the Palo Alto Chamber of Commerce inviting'the'council members to the dedication ceremonies at the new Bryant--Forest-Ramona parking lot on November 30, 1951, at 1O:00A,M. The "Mayor announced that he had received another communication from the Chamber of Commerce offering cooperation in the development of additional off-street parking facilities. Gift to Junior Museum A letter was received from Harold W. Milner,, Secretary of the Peninsula Astronomical Society, expressing appreciation for the use of the facilities of'the Junior Museum and offering to present as an outright gift to the City for the use of the Junior Museum several metallic rodent cages valued at approximately $35.00. On motion of Mr8.: Borer and Wickett, this gift was accepted and the Mayor was requested to send a letter of apprecia- tion,on behalf of the Councils • 122 Resolution in. memory of Mr. Miller A communication was received from Harold Flannery,-. Director of the League- of California' Cities, transmitting a copy of resolution, passed by the Public: Works Officers' Department at the League Conference in October, 1951, in memory of Fabian S. Miller, who was Chief Engineer of Public Utilities of the City of Palo Alto and formerly.; president of the Public Works` Officer$' Department of the League. This was placed on file. Naming Street on Stanford Property A letter was received from A. E. Brandin, Business Manager of Stanford University; concerning development of Lot 41 for light industrial use and advising that it will be necessary to -construct: -a road to serveLot.k1 starting from a point On E1 Camino Real and running southerly approximately 800 feet. As this road is within the boundaries of the City of Palo Alto the University requested approval of the Council in the selection of a name for the road,.and suggested the name "Hansen Way!' in honor of William Webster Hansen, student, teacher and scientist. This was referred to the Planning Commission and Committee No. 1. Clerical Classlf icati:ons., -Police Department A report was received,from the City Manager concerning clerical classifications:in the police Department, and requesting, that the present classification of c-6, Clerk -Stenographer, be replaced immediately by the_ classification of C-5, Senior Clerk-Stenographer,aand remain in effect until July 1, 1952. No appropriation of;-funds`will be necessary. On motion of Montrouil and Wickett, this change in classification was approved. Acceptance of CuJ.vert The.City Manager -reported that construction of the reinforced concrete culvert under Louis Road at the Seale -Wooster Canal has been completed by the_Lew.-Jones Construction Company as of November 12, 1951, and recommended acceptance of the work. On motion of Cathcart and Montrouil, the culvert was accepted. Planning Officer- A- communication: was received from the City Manager :recommending Elton :R Andrews. as' his appointment to replace, James M. Campbell as Planning Officer for the City of Palo Alto, effective December 1,=1951. He advised that Mr. Campbell would - then be classified as Planning Consultant for the City of Palo Alto. approved. Bids on Copper Wire` • The City Manager made.a report on bids received on copper wire on November 15, `1951 with the recommendation that. the bid of -the General Cable.,Co:rporation it the amount of $3,710,.43 . be accepted. - On motion:of.Bloisand Hill, the appointment was On motion of Wickett and_Montrouil, the recommendation was adopted and the bid accepted by unanimous vote on roll call.. • 123 Christmas Program { The City Manager reported on plans for the Christmas program arranged by the Chamber of Commerce which has requested permission to block off Alma Street at the Circle overpass. from 6:00 to 8:30' P.M. on November 30th, for the tree lighting ceremony, to block off University Avenue from High to Webster Streets and a portion of High Street and Lytton Avenue from 9:00 to 11:00 A.M. December 1st for the children's Christmas parade, and to block; off, a portion of California Avenue near Second Street from 6.00 to 8:30 P.M. on December. 3rd for the program in the South Palo Alto area. The City Manager advised that it is: his ,intention to grant permission as requeated if it; meets with the Council's approval, There was no objection expressed by the Council. Sub -Lease of Airport Building (Sky Cafe) The City Manager submitted a sub -lease and option agreement between the Palo Alto Airport, Inc.and the :McCormick Se]ph Associates, covering the building at the Airport formerly. known as the Sky Cafe He recommended tnat the Mayor be authorized to sign the consent co this sub -lease. 0n motion of Wickett and Cathcart, the Mayor was authorized to sign this document for the City. Agreement with P.G. & E. (San Antonio Area Facilities) The City Manager, reported that the City has been., negotiating with the Pacific Gas & Electric. Company for, several months relative to the transfer of the company's facilities in"'the :.San Antonio annexation area to the City of Palo Alto and that the agreement is now ready for approval. He discussed the provisions of the agreement for the purchase of these electric and gas facilities by the City, and recommended that the Mayor and City Clerkbe authorized to sign the agreement on behalf of the City. On motion of Gaspar and Cathcart, and by unanimous vote on roll cal=l, the, Mayor and City Clerk were authorized to sign the agreement. Bids on. Poles A report was made by the City Manager on bids on poles received on November 21, 1951, with the recommendation that the partial bid of the J. H. Baxter Company on Douglas: Fir Poles in the amount of $7,564.65 be accepted, and that the City Manager be authorized to purchase 120 - 6oe Douglas Fir poles on the open market. On motion of,.Simpson and Drysdale, and by unanimous vote on roll call, the.rec.ommendetion was adopted. Prot ect 51-15, Loma Verde Avenue et al Project 51-16 Homer Avenue et al Pro ect-51 17 Bryant Street et al A report was received from Committee No. 1 recommending that the project previously known as Project 51-15 be divided : into three separate projects, one for the improvement of Loma Verde Avenue and other streets in that area, one for paving and° storm drainage on:Bryant Street between Forest and Enbarcadero, and one for storm drainage 'on Wells and Homer Avenues. The committee suSBes;ted that January 28, 1952 beset as the date for a hearing ,on, the resolutionsof preliminary determination for these projects;.` • • • • • • • On motion of Gaspar. and: Drysdale, Resolution No.. 218+ of Preliminary Determination.,>Project 51-15, Loma Verde Avenue et al, was adopted on"roll call with:13'Ayes, Mrs. Bower not voting on the motion. On motion of Gaspar and.Drysdale, Resolution No. 2185 of Preliminary Determination,;Project 51-16, Homer Avenue et al, was adopted on roll call with 13 Ayes, Mrs. Bower not voting. On motion'of Gaspar and Drysdale, Resolution No. 21.86 of Preliminary Determination, Project 51-17, Bryant Street et Al was adopted on roll call with 13 Ayes, Mrs Bower not voting. `These resolutions provide for a hearing to be held on January 28, 1952 on each project. Rezoning Application A report_;was received from the Planning Commission recommending, that the petition of ;Jack Dymond and E. C. Vipham for rezoning of their property on the northeasterly side of Middlefield Road between Sari Carloia`Court and Matadero Canal from R-3 to C-2 be denied, f'or the reason that the Commission feels that there is sufficient -C-2 'zoning in the area to sa.tisfyy the neighborhood needs, and that a further extension of cormerC,ial zoning is" not warranted. Committee No. 1 concurred in this recommendation On motion of MMontrouil and Drysdale, the recommendation was adopted and the application denied. Variance and Resubdivision Application A report was received from the Planning Commission recommending that the applicationof Mrs. Alice P. Fischl for a variance -from the side yard requirement to permit the location of a building within four:feet of..the side line be denied, for the reason that the Commission feels - that the:. findings do not. indicate that a hardship exists. The Commission also recommends that the.application of Mrs. Fischl for resubdivision of a portion of Lots 1, 2 and 3, Block ,25,, College Terrace, be denied, because it would reduce the. size' of one lot_: to less than its original area.: Committee NO.'l 'concurred with these recommendations. Qn motion of.Mrs. Bower and Bowden, the recommendations: were adopted and the applications denied. Use Permit A report was submitted= by_the.Planning Commission recommending approval of the. application of the South Palo Alto Church Property, Inc., (St..Marks.Episcopal Church) for a use .permit to construct a parish hall and storage building, upon condition that the storage buildingAbe removed within three years. Committee No. 1 recommended -that the use permit be granted in accordance with the Commission's recommendation. The Council accepted a suggestion of Mr. Cathcart that a definite date be set for termination of the permit for the storage building, and granted the use permit for the parish hall and storage building on condition that the latter is removed by January' 1, 1955. Street_Closinns ..The Planning Commission recommended that the application of property 'owners on Rhodes Drive for the abandonment of a .;a • 125 10 -foot strip on the easterly side of the street between Charming Avenue and ifilbar.Lane (south) and between Mbar Lane (north) :and 'Edgewood Drive be granted. The request of Committ e No. 1 for further time for study of this question was granted. The Planning Commission recommended that the application for the closing of the northerly portion of Lucas Lane be granted, provided that an adequate turn -around at the end of Encina Avenue is retained. The Commission suggested that the design of such a turn -around be referred to the Engineering Department in order that, the portion of the street to be abandoned-and,the portion to be retained for the purpose -of the turn -around may be accurately determined. The Council granted Committee No..1 further time for study of this matter pending a report from the City Engineer. Purchase of U.S. Certificates A report was received from Committee No. 5 recommending that the Treasurer -be authorized to purchase $200,000.00 U. S. Treasury Certificates, 1 7/8%, due July 1, 1952. Resolution No.. 2187 authorizing the purchase of these securities was read, and.:on motion of Wickett and Bowden, was ads ted by unanimous vote on,roll call. Cancellation of. -Tax Bi11 A report was received from Committee No. 5. recommending that Tax Bill:No '8165 in the total amountcf $30.04 be cancelled. This included $12.39 for taxes and $17.65 for lot cleaning. It was explained that this ;bill covered property sold by Scoble, Inc. to the State Division of Highways, and could not be collected as State -property is not taxable. on=motion'of-Gaspar and Wickett, the recommendation was adopted and the --bill cancelled by unanimous vote on roll call. Refund on Weed Abatement A report was received from Committee No. 5 recommending that a refund ,of $6.80 -be made to Paul Huston, covering a -weed abatement charge made in error, Lien No. 7461-B. On motion of Wickett and Gaspar, this refund was authorized by unanimous vote on roll call-. Purchase of ?roperty A report was=received from Committee No.. 5 recommending that the City Manager be authorized to acquire three acres of land on the southerly corner of D sa Road and Middlefield'Road for a future fire station and utility purposes. Committee No. 1 concurred_in recommending the purchase of this property. On motion of Gaspar and Bowden, and by. unanimous vote on roll call, the recommendation was adopted and the purchase of the property was authorized. Project 51-5, San Antonio Annex Sewers Resolution of ;Intention No. 2188 to make changes and modifications,.Project 5.1.-5 was read. It was explained -that the purpose of the modification is to correct an error in Assessments, No. 631 and ;6"32-: On motionof Hill and Cashel, the resolution was. adopted by unanimous .vote on rollcall. It provides for a hearing to be held on December 10, 1951, at 7:30 P.M. "Q. 126 CC Project k8-14, High Street Extension et al Resolution No. 2189.of-preliminary determination and of intention to make. Grange$ and modifications in Project 48-14 was read, and on'motion of -Gaspar and Cathcart, was adopted by unanimous vote on roll call. This resolution provides fora hearing to be held. on December 10, 1951, at 7:30 P.M. on the: modifications involved. Amendment to Zone Map ("----s": Districts .Ordinance No. 1369 amending the Zone Map by adding the suffix "S" to all areas zoned C-2, C-3, M-1, M-2 and L -M, was given second reading and discussed:. On motion of Mrs. Bower: and Montrouil, the ordinance was adopted by the following vote on roll call: Ayes: Bishop, Blois, Bowden, Bower, Drysdale, Gaspar,, Hill`, i�iltchell, Montrouil, Simpson, Wickett. Noes:'Cashel, Cathcart, Miller. Amendment. to Zonin Ordinance Lot Areas in "B Districts) Ordinance No : 1370,. `amending Section 19.02 of the Zoning Ordinance, -changing building site area requirements of "B"'districts, was given second:reading, and on motion of Montrouil and Hill,. was adopted ,on''roll call, with 13 Ayes, Cashel voting No. On motion of Simpson'and-Bowden, the Council adjourned.