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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01101955City;Hall,-Palo Alto, California, January 10, 1955. The Council of the'City'of Palo Alto met in regular ses- sion onthis date at 7:30 P.M., with Mayor Simpson presiding. Roll call as follows,: Present: Bishop, Byxbee, Cashel,` Corcoran, Cummings, Drys- dale, Hanley,:Huston,`Marshall, Mitchell, Porter, -- Rodgers, Ruppenthal, Simpson, Wickett. Absent :None. The minutes of the meeting of December 27, 1954, were approved. • ?eddli on Streets (Bakery Products) A letter was received from 1r. A. J. Cathcart, attorney representing the People's Baking Company which has been operating a regular:_:retell bread delivery route'in the area included in El Camino Real Annexation No. -1recently annexed to the City. Mr Cathcart submitted a proposed ordinance amending Section 5.09.1 of Codified Ordinance' No. 5. prohibiting peddling of certain mer- chandise.:on: the `city streets,"to remove the prohibition on the sale of bakery products from door to door. On motion of Rodgers` :and Mitchell, the proposed ordi- nance was.a:ccepted for flrst reading and the matter referred to, Com:ni t tee':No '.rraff:+:C`=.C: nd. t. ons A tired, 2220 Middlefield reply. on Middlefield Road letter from L C. Montgomery, Captain, U S. Navy,- Re- Middlefield Road, , complaining of traffic conditions on. Road, was received and referred to the City Manager for .f El Camino eaz. Annexation No.- 1 .0n motion of Bishop and Wickett, a proposed ordinance establishing tkie . zoning, in the .area recently annexed: to the. City designated. as "E1 •-:Camino Real, AnnexationNo. 1", in accordance with `- recommendation,of, the Planning C:ommiasion, concurred in by the Council at a previous; meeting, ' was accepted for first reading. Tf; :thdrawal :from f''i3 Districts , L Resolution No 259,; declaring a portion of the territory known as . „El Camino? Real= Annexation` No. 1 withdrawn from the Bar - ion Park Fire Distri:ct was introduced, and on motion of Porter and Cummings, was adopt'ed:by unanimous vote on roll call. Resolution No. 2591 declaring a portion of the "El Camino Real -Annexation No 1r, erea'withdrawn,from the Fremont Fire Dis- trict =was_ introduced, and on Motion of 'Porter and Cummings, was :. adonted..by unanimous vote: on roll call. Withdrawal frc:n Sanitary District The City Attorney.pres,ented a contract between the Las Encinas Sanitary •District and ` the ; City of Palo Alto withdrawing the area known as 11El Camino 'Real Annexation No. 1" from the Las En- cines Sanitary District. On motion of Wickett.and Drysdale, a resolution approving:• the contract and authorizing` its execution by the Mayor was adopted by unanimous vote on roll call. Agreermer s :Willi- -D Vision of Hi r4ray 165 The City Manager .presented. two agreements with the. State i :Division .of Highways, and" explained :their provisions. One agree- itent provides for cooperative financing of roadwork, traffic si.g nail and highway lighting; system at the intersection of - El Camino -Real With Palo.Alto Avenue, -and with the entrande:to the Stanford. shopping center, _ at a total 'es.timated cost of $311,'090 00, o,f w.hi,ch the State.will.pay $276,495`.00 and the City $34,595.00 The City Manager explained that "the City will be reimbursed 'by -Stanford ;University in:the amount of $20,700..00, and an agreement- will=be entered" 'into between t! e "City Wand the University for this ' p irpose,, so that 'the actual :cost to -the City will be $13,895.00,,' to be: paid from available gas tax funds::. The plans for the improvement were presented and -`explained. by'the City Manager. The other"agreement provides that the State shall pay to the :'City. the. sum `of $4,020:00 as full compensation for: the removal' of fences andfor the loss and/or relocation of shrubbery : located on El Camino"Park which will be involved in the highway improve- ment. On motion of Porter and Mitchell, resolutions approving' • the two agreements.:andAuthorizing their execution by the Mayor in behalf of'the City were -adopted by unanimous vote on roll call. Hospital,Enlargement PnaEram A progress report was made by the City,Manager on the Hospital enlar8ement_program. He advised that Rosenfield and Allen, consultants, who are making a supplemental study and report , for the City,;, have .recommended that the City acquire a '25 -acre site on.Quarry,Road adjoining the proposed Stanford Medical School site asthey consider the present ten -acre site inadequate' for the hospital expansion program., The City Manager stated that the Stanford` Board of- Trustees is considering the City:` s, request, for a long-term lease of the 25 -acre parcel and that an answer can be expected from the Board at their meeting on January 20th. The site in question:is adjacent -to the present city limits and -can be an- nexed to the City. The City Manager read letters from Dr. J. E.. Wallace Sterling., President"of Stanford University, concerning.'the•hospital project,.in which Dr. Sterling expressed the opinion that there. would' be mutual advantage to the City and the University if the same architect were selected for both the hospital and" the Stanford Medical School buildings. HA suggestion was made that City and Uni- versity officials together interview qualified architects and make, a recommendation to their respective bodies, with the understanding that if the:same architectural'f1rm is selected, separate contracts would be entered into by the City and the University. Reference was made by the City Manager to the previous instructions of'the Council that he=negotiate with Rosenfield and Allen. He advised that their consulting work has not, yet been :completed; and that this would be an time ,to negotiate with other firms if the Council 'wishes to accept the University's suggestion. The City Manager further advised that he had-con- ferred,with all the members of the Mayor's committee and ail had agreed that it -.would be an excellent idea to interview a number of leading architects before a final decision is made, as -they felt that negotiations with a number of people would produce the best: results for the City. It was, moved:by Mitchell, seconded by Porter, and carried that the report and: suggestion be aocerted and that the City Manager be author'ized to coll;aborate'with Stanford University in inter viewing;'architectsfor the; hospital project and make a report and recommendation; to the Council. Sherman School Sit The City Manager reported that. negotiations with the School :Board for the acquisition_ of: the Sherman School site, have been completed. and that the;property is available for purchase by the City at. the .sum of $35,000.00..; Resolution No. 2592,_ authorizingthe City Manager to pur=' c.has:e the 'Sherman: School site,,. being Lots` 87;188-, 89, 90 and: 91, .Paul' Survey, for the sum of $35,000:-00 from the Palo Alto. Unified School District, and;--transferring.:this sum from the Special Pro--. .jects ,Fund to Account 132-F for the : purpos'e, was introduced, and on -motion of porter and Mrs::. Corcoran,, was adopted on roll call with 14 Ayes, Marshall voting No: '.�.' ar"sfer for Middlefield Well ?umo A recommendation was made by the City Manager for the transfer'of $2,000-00. from the unappropriated balance of the Water Fund to Account No...2773for the overhaul of the Middlefield We11 pump: 0n.mot.ion of Bishop and Porter, the recommendation was adopted and the transfer adopted by .unanimous vote on roll call. -- Fire insurance Rahn The City Manager reported that a letter had been received: from the Pacific Fire Rating Bureau notifying the City of Palo Alto, that the City is now, Class 3 instead of Class 4, resulting in -a reduction in:.fire insurance rates. On motion of Drysdale and Mit- chell,_the City Manager and Fire Chief were commended for the- ex cellent work.they have done in -accomplishing this change in fire rating-: inai Mao, Tract No. 1414 A report was received, from' the Planning Commission re- commending approval of the final map' .of Tract No. 1414, being all of Lot 3 and a portion of Lot: 4,. Block' 6, Seale Subdivision No: 5, located on the southeasterlyy::side,of Oregon Avenue. between Louis and Greer Roads,:; subject to the provision of a 5 -foot easement at the ' r..ear line of Block 3. Resolution -No. 2593 approving the final map of Tract.No. 1414 was introduced,and.on motion of. Wickett and Hanley, was adopted by unanimous vote .on' roll call -Final Record .. ) cock ;52 A report was. -received , from the Planning Commission re-_ commending approval of the Final.Record of Survey for the sub- division of Lots 5 6 < 7 ;and poxt&on >of Lot 8, Block 52, Univer - atty.Park, . locate.d at Palo Alto' and Hale Street, subject to the granting of -public utilities ;easements as shown on map and. furnishing. evidence of payment' of 195k-55 County taxes, and to the provision of ,joint::easemente on" lotsfronting, on Palo Alto Avenue as -indicated on the :Gap. On motion a1 Porter and Hanley, this:. finalre.cord of. -survey was approved in accordance with the recom- mendation Te:^t ,t :ve:' RPcord of, :Survey,; Block 6, Seale 3,;o. A report was, :submitted-by;the Planning Commission;recom- mending:.approval of the tentative record of survey for the sub.- divis.ion of a portion of Lots• 27 sand 28, Block 6, Seale Subdivision; No.' 5, sub ject.to granting .5 -root public utility easements as shown and ;the :payment or segregation of.assessments, and also furnishing evidence.: of payment o1' '195k-55 County taxes. On motion of Porter. and, Hanley„ this:tentative: record of: survey was approved in accor- dance :wi'th the recommendation 167 Desin Control A recommendation was received from the Planning Commis-' sign for the.approval of design control plans presented by Stephen Moore for apartment.buildinge to be located on Emerson Street on LotsAt and :5,: Block" 9; Stanford . City. On motion of Porter and Bishop, the recommendationAwas adopted. Ccla„geof Street Name Ordinance No. 1581, changing the name of Piss Road tween..Alma Street and El Camino Real to "West Meador Drive", .given'_second`reading,,and on motion. of Mitchell and Cummings adopted:by unanimous vote:on roll call. Barron Par1t Anrexca .on Action was deferred on:this. matter at the last Council "meetingwhen a report WAS received.: from the Planning Commission savoring the annexation and recommending that the Council allow the -' matter to proceed in the manner prescribed by lam-. The City Attorney reviewedthe status of the matter and advised that if the :Council wishes to.proceed,•the next step is , the adoption of ;;a resolution consenting to the commencement of annexation proceedings .. Resolution No. 2594 consenting to the commencement of proceedings for the annexation to the City of. Palo Alto of certain inhabited territory denigrated as "Barron Park Annexation" was introduced. A motion: was, made by Mitchell, seconded by Drysdale, that the resolution.be,adopted, :The Planning -Officer summarized a report which has been. prepared 'on the proposed annexation, with factual and financial data; and estimates` , of coats:.and, revenue . .:ouncilman Byxbee called attention to a number of capital improvements proposed for the next few years which willinvolve: large expenditures, and..expressed his concern as to the financing,` of these projects , He: moved that the annexation of Barron Park "be postponed until the means..for financing major projects: now under consideration and costa`,in>.;connec:ton with the annexation have been determined.: There `.wae; no second to the motion. Councilman Mitchell' pointed out that the basic question is the ,welfare. of: the community and',thought. it wise toHo ahead with :the annexation; that 'the: financing can be taken. care of in the same .way`- the City ,has- - taken --care of annexations in the:: past Mr Robert E.;:Hackley_ad.dres,sed the Council stating he was -concerned : with `the financial : aspects of the annexation pro posal; andsuggested'that the:Counci,l publish some facts and state ment,s regarding "t.he matter, for the information of Palo Alto .rest- - de.nts. The: City'; Manager advised that the Palo Alto Times reporter hasbeen furnished with.a copy of the material` contained in the annexation study and report: Mr. Joseph R. Mixer, 4187 Hubbartt Drive, representing a group of people in the Barron Park area favoring annexation, spoke to -the. Council, urging..;that the Council permit them to circulate the; petition and have: an election on the question. Mr. Joseph Harrington, 3860 Magnolia Drive, spoke in opposition to the annexa-' tion:proceedings. After discussion, Resolution N. 25)4 consenting to the commencement of annexation proceedings was adopted by the following vote on roll call:. Ayes": Bishop, Cashel, Corcoran, Cummings, Drysdale,. Huston, Marshall, Mitchell, Porter, Rodgers, Simpson, Wickett. Noes: Byxbee, Hanley, Ruppenthal. 1, 3 �:E wW,un y�M1 - The Council took a recess at this time, 9:35 P.M:, and reconvened at 10:00 F.M.) `'Relocation of Adobe Cr uek kmotion was made by",Porter, seconded by Bishop, that the Council "proceed with the.relocation of Adobe Creek as previously_ recommended, in accordance, with_-Acqutsit:ion Diagram, Drawing 12607, Improvement .'Tans `No 5 ;-5. Mr:„ .Porter advised that a letter had been -sent-;`to the property owners who`: had requested a delay at; the last Courcii meeting, answering 'ti eir ouestions regarding the pro- ject". .Mrs. Corcoran raised a:;:"question regarding two pardWls of property fronting:on Charleston Road ;which she thought would `;be difficult: to- develop If provision is not made by the subdivider'of -ad jacert property :for "stub'° `streets' . ',She suggested' that it,. would bed :more .desirable .to reroute the;"creek` through the center of the _ property 1r'question rather than at the.back of it as proposed, and moved that:the motion be"tabled"for.two:weeks in order to give;:the owners ;of ,the propertyyshe referred= to.- "an "opportunity to consider whether it would be more advantageous to `theaa:; to have the creek realigned through the center 01' their property. Mr.Porter seconded the motion to delay action for two weeks The Planning Officer reported that the proposal for de velopment of an Eichler subdivision as mentioned by Mrs. Corcoran is a very preliminary one and that a tentative map has not yet been; filed::_ He further stated that it might complicate matters to have the -creek routed through the middle of property instead of at the rear of lots _as planned. The City Attorney called attention to the fact that appraisals have been made in accordance with the plan proposed -and if the route is changed it would be necessary to have the 'propertg reappraised, and there would be additional cost for✓ severance, damages. Mss. Corcoran stated that she realized this and suggested:the change be made only if the property owners are w11 ling -to overlook severance damages After discus"sion, Porter withdrew his second to Mrs. Cor- coran's motion to table the matter for two weeks. The previous motion to approve the plans for relocation of Adobe Creek as previously recommended and proceed with the pro- ject:,in accordance with Improvement Plans 5k-5 was then voted on and carried,' Mrs. Corcoran voting Nor on the motion. Abatement of"-IhtI ,� e ? �. �' "' ': Avef.ue) t sa ��c (.Black ooex�ty, .��� �~�� t , The City Attorney reviewed the Council's action of Sep tember, 27, 195k, when a:resolution was adopted", directing Mrs. Florence M. Black: to abate the nuisance on her property at 1101. Forest Avenue. by January '1,1955,'by:.having the building properly reconstructed or repaired, or. by having`. the same razed or removed. The City Attorney advised that the Building Inspector has reported` that nothing hasbeen done by Mrs. Black to date and no further action needs to be"taken by:the'Council, that the staff has au thority to proceed to raze the building. Mrs.` Black_ was, present` and, was given permission to speak to the.Council She stated that she -has a number of ideas for im- provement.of:her property which'.are developing and asked the Coun ell for 'more, time. She, said''she :thought she could present a ten- tative program to the Buliding"Inspector by January loth. A motion`was made by Cashel that Mrs. Black be given an_ extension,; of six months, in which, to hake:repairs satisfactory to :the Building Inspector or to demolish the building. Councilman Ruppenthal asked Mrs. Black if . it is true that her Children had' buglt a home tor .her. She said this state- ment was not true: He then asked if `it is true that her son had provided a home for -her. She answered: that there had been plans 169 for her a.nd a. -son to -occupy -a pieceeof property he was buying but that.he is going to be married and live in the house. Mrs.:Cor- coran asked Mrs. Black what: -her situation would be; six months .from now if she is granted an` extension of time. Mrs.'Black said she Could not say.ae shehw several plans under consideration, but would•rather not dlscuas.the details at this time. Mrs. Corcoran seconded the motion to give Mrs. Black six extension Mayor Simpson stated that he has sympathy for Mrs. Black but feels that the.Council has a responsibility to the community and that its former action was proper; that he felt no indication has been made by Mrs Black'that she will have any definite:plans in the near future to`correct the situation, -Councilman Byxbee-stated that it would be advisable to talk to Mrs. Black':s.>children and see if they can help, solve the problem: .I't.was pointed_o.ut by Mr. Porter that this could be done ;without granting a six months' extension. Mrs. Black referred again to a financiall-program which she has. been creating over a, period of years and which will not mature for another five years. She stated that she would like an, opportunity to develop her program but could not say whether she could start rebuilding her house within six months. - A vote was then taken on the motion to grant a six months' extension,'and=the vote was as°follows Ayes: Cashel Corcoran, Puppenthal. Bishop Byxbee, Cummings, Drysdale, Han;ley,.'Huston Marshall, Mitchell, Porter, Rodgers, Simpson, Wickett. The motion was declared lost. It was suggested -that Councilman Byxbee's suggestion of.- contacting Mrs Black's children be followed. Mrs Loui:s;e Coon, 1119 Hopkins Avenue, spoke to the Council in behalf o-.Mrs.'Slack, stating that if Mrs. Black is' given: a_, longer period..than six months in which to carry out her plans, she. thought the situation could be corrected in a: -satin-= ,factory -manner. ?x!.1}ect- :.f2-16, Off -Street Park _gig, vC ,. .. la k, ,e On motion of Marshall and Hanley, all matters_ `in connee- ti'on with Project 52-16 were.continued to February 1�+. 1955.E („Sec. The proposed ordinance amending Section 46O2.of the Building Code was withdrawn from Committee No. 1 and presented for second readingat this time The amendment permits temporary signs advertising conatruction projects. It was moved by Porter, seconded by Marshall, that the C41-Vmali amendment beamended:to permit such temporary billboards only in commercial or industrially::.oned areas, and prohibiting their erection in residential districts, and that the ordinance. (-Ordinance No. 1582) as amended'be adopted. The motion was carried and the':ordinance adopted by unanimous vote on roll call. M. nthl � SeoortS.. The .monthly ,report. of the - Controller for December, 1954 was: received and placed on file-. The , monthly report of; the Planning Offices on action taken -in_December on applications for lot redivisions, and the monthly- report of the Zoning Administrator on action taken in December 'on variances', and use pe mit .were received and placed on file: ; - There being no further business to come before the Council, the :meeting was declared . adJourned at 11:00 P.M. APPROVED;