HomeMy WebLinkAbout01091956:City Hall, Palo Alto, Californi=an
January 9, :1956'
The Council of the City of Palo Alto met in regular ses-°
lion on ---.this date 7, at .30 -P.M.:, with.- Mayor Porter presiding. Roll
call as followl:
.t
Present: Bishop;, Byxbee,,Corcoran, Cresap, Cummings, Davis,
Drysdale, +Giffin,; Marffihall, Mitchell, Mavis, Porter,
Rodgers, Ruppenthal,; Simpson.
Absent None:
Contribution, "of: First Methodist Church to Parking Program.;
Rev. .Marvin Stuart of`the First Methodist Church was Area A
ent and -reviewed the proposal of'the Church, made several years ago,
to contribute :#5,000.00 toward the-otf`atreet parkingprograat, pay-
able $500:00 per year; --•1f off-street parking facilities Were provid-
ed near the Church: Ile explained that this offer was made in connec
tion with a variance granted to the Church for additional buildings
on the church property. Dr. Stuart and Mr. James Hillhouse,, direct
or of administration of. the Church, presented a check in the sum of
$500.00 as the first-payient of. their contribution.
On motion Of: Drysdale and.M's. Corcoran, the check was ac-
cepted and the Council expressed appreciation to the First Methodist
Church, for therr civic-mindedneas,in this matter. The Mayor; was re-
quested to send a suitable' letter conveying the Council's thanks and;
Approval of Minutes:
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The Minutes of the, meetings of December 27, 1955, and Jan-
uary 3, 1956, were approved.
Flood Control
J. Myers, 1863 Edgewood Drive, read a statement to
the Council concerning the condition of the levee along, San Francis-
quito Creek in the vicinity of Greer Road, where the break occurred
on, December 22,195.5, and,ea.11ing attention to the erosion problem
along -the entire creek. He requested that the Disaster Council make,
a personal inapeetion,ot the levee and formulate a plan of action '
should disaster threaten again; that immediate temporary repairs be
made to the levee, and.:thWthe levee be strengthened and repaired
before next winter to insure its holding, at flood stage.
The Mayor advised that the Disaster Council would inspect
the . area the :first, part of. next--. week . He stated that everything
po.*sible is being done, and that -the situation has been well publi-
cized in 'the papers He advised: that he and the City Manager are go-
ing to.attend a seating in Santa Cruz this week of the congressional
sub- .committee investigating flood conditions.
Mr. Charles Satterlee, 530 Greer Road, suggested that the
army engineervbe asked to consider the realignment of San Francis-
quito Creek Westerly of tihe=Bayehore Highway to eliminate the bend
in the creek near Edgewor>d and :(freer Road. Mr. Harris Pottier, 544
Greer Road,^ stated that'eomething should be done immediately, at
least in. a temporary way, about the turn In the creek at this point,
Suggesting -some type of piling might be put there to divert the wa-
ter. The Mayor advised that there suggestions would be considered.
Mr. R. E. Haynes,.:1032 Metro Circle, and Mr. E. H. Bell,
1082 Metro Circle, criticised the Police Department for not giving
residents sufficient warning that the Creek !night overflow. Mr.
Barold'Klein,, 1832 Ed'gewood Drive,ssaid thaat he called the Police
Department to: report the overflowing of the Ci*eek when it first
started , on : the night Of December '22nd;; that it happened So suddenly
that it took the City`*nd thereesidents by surprise.
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Councilian Mitchell pointed out the importance of: the cit4
izens' taking part In.the work of; the floodcontrol district which
bee- been -organized in Santa Clara County, andsuggested that -they
attend eetinge when it would be helpful to have public representa-
tion. He also advised that it would be a help to the City if the
property owners along San Francisquito Creek would cooperate by in-
dicating.their willingness to give up such portion of their land as
might be needed in the flood control work.
The City Manager reported that a hearing will be held on
February '7,l,956, : by the Corps of Engineers, U.S. Army,, in the hear-
ing room of the Hoard of, Supervisors in San Jose, to determine pub-
lic interest .in flood -control projects in this area, and he thought
it very important that there be citizen representation at that meet
ing:
Councilman Rodgers stated that he hoped some'temporary
measures would' be taken before February 7th to relieve the situa-
tion and would -bring the clatter up at the first meeting of the Dis-
aster Council:
Councilman Byxbee pointed out that, while the levees were
undoubtedly wear,,, a reason for the break -through of the Creek was
the inadequacy of the two bridges at Chaucer Street and Bayshore
Highway, and.he would like to have consideration given to rebuild-
ing these bridges ,,
Abatement of -Nuisance (Rehorst)
The City Attorney- reported that he had directed Mrs. Velmal
Rehorst,-owner. o'f the property at 345 High Street, to appear before
the Council at thietime to: show cause why the building should not
be demolished ims+ediately- He called attention to the hearing held
by the Council on July ,2"5,' 1955, when the: building was declared a
nuisance and -the owner was directed to abate it within ninety days-,
and advised that she . had- beets`:.given a further extension-: to January
3,.1956, and that nothing has yet been done.
Mrs.,;Rehorst was present and asked for a thirty -day exten-
sion ,stating- -that she has:. ,arranged for a man : to take the building
down and` -that the work will 'be done as fast as they can doit.
It waa,,moved by Cuimings, seconded by Drysdale, and car
ried that: Mrs. Rehorst be given another thirty days,and that if the
building is not ,demolished- .completely within thirty days, the City
Manager be authorized to call for bids and have the demolition done,
` the expense to be: made a lien 'against ;the property.
Letter from Mies Treat
A letter was received from Miss' Katharine W. Treat, 1845::
Emerson Street,' stating that she thought the fluoridation and dog
leash:ordinances passed by the: voters last year were "mistakes" and
and ahouldbe repealed. It was pointed out that these matters are
out of the Council's_hands, as they were adopted as initiative ordi--j
nancee::by the people:. .
Letter from Division -of : Highways re Freeway
A' letter was received from the State Division of -Highways,
for the -Information of thee. Council, with reference to the proposed
freeway between the San Mateo County Line and Brokaw Road in Santa
'ClaraiCounty, tranesltting.. copies of letters and saps sent to vari-
ous, bum' ,and. stage lines -relating to the effect the freeway may have
on mass transportation facilit.'
Hzdrant:-Rental..
The City. Manager reported that a detailed > study had been
made by the Water -Gas -Sewer Department regarding the cost of provid-
ing hydranta tor fire protection service, and the summary of costs
of operation showed that the cost averages $5.96 per month per hy-
348
drant. He advised that the -rate charged to districts outside the City
where hydrants are : furnished by the City of Palo Alto is 33•.00 per
montb;per.hydrant, andthat there has been no change in the rate -since
1941,: Copiesofthe study and report' were distributed about two
months ago to council members for their review.
After discussion, it was moved by Mitchell, seconded and
carried that the hydrant rentalfor outside' be increased.
to $6.00 per month per hydrant, to be effective July 1, 1956.
Project 52-13, Off -Street Parking, University Avenue District
The Council gave further consideration at this time to
Project 52-13 for .the acquisition of off-street parking lots in the
portion of the University Avenue District from Alma to Ramona Streets.
After further discussion regarding the proposed parking
iota as considered -at the last meeting, a motion was made by Rodgers
for the adoption of a resolution of preliminary determination and of
intention to make changes and modifications in Project 52-13, to ac-
quire a parking lot on the northeasterly side of High Street and
Hamilton Avenue (five parcels), being a portion of Block 5, and a
lot on the southerly. corner`: of Hamilton Avenue and Emerson Street in
Block 6. The motion `was 'seconded ''by Mitchell.
Mr. Floyd'. Lowe submitted :. a map of the area bounded by Alas;
Street, Emerson Street, Lytton Avenue and Hamilton Avenue, and eedi-
sated the properties in these blocks which have been offered for
sale and the asking prices, >urging; the Council to consider a plan'
tor acquiring all these `:properties and- offering his services in help-
ing to work out a program for the redevelopment of this area
•
After discussion'on cost figures, the Council took a, re-
cess at 9:20 P.M. and-°r,eeonvened at .9:30` P.M.
It was reported that the >cast of acquiring the properties
in the first two blocks, as . designated on Mr. Lowe ° s map, would be
approximately $900,000.00.
Mr. Fred' Cothran 'chairman of the Chamber of Commerce Tref»
fic and` Parking Committee, stated, that he could not say whether or
not 'the district.could pay for 'such a costly program; that the plan
previously agreed upon by -.the property owners was estimated to cost
$325,000.00. `He pointed out that the merchants are anxious to have
a parking program stated without delay.
The motion made by Rodgers and Mitchell to adopt Reeolu-
,tion No. 2696 of preliminary determination and of intention to make
;changes and modifications to acquire the two parking lots in Blocks
5 and 6, setting January -23, 1956, as date of hearing, was then
Ipassed by the following 'vote onroll call:
Ayes: Bishop, Byxbee, Davis -Marshall Mitchell Porter, y p� 'Devise -Marshall, , ,
Rodgers, Ruppenthal.
Noes: .Corcoran, Cresap, Cummings, Drysdale, 0iffin.
(Councilmen Navia andSimpson were absent from the room
during the roll eali )
A motion was then made by Drysdale, seconded by Cresap,
for the adoption of Resolution No. 2697' of preliminary determination
and of intention to sake changes and modifications in Project 52.13,
to acquire Lots 3, 4, 5, 6, 20, 21, 22: :and 23, and part of Lot 7,
Block k, and Lots 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 17,-18, 191 20, 21 and 22, Block 5,
these' lots having frontage on both -Alma and High Streets. This res-
olutionwould provide for a hearing to be held on the proposed modi-
fications on January 23, 1956. The resolution was adopted by the
following vote on roll call:
A
Ayes: Biehop,`Corcoran, Cresap, Cummings, Davis, Drys
dale, Giffin, Mitchell, Navis, Ruppenthal.
Noes: Byxbee, Marshall, Porter, Rodgers.
(Councilman Simpson was absent during the roll call,)
On emotion of Byxbee and Drysdale, Resolutions No. 2696
and 2697 were; consolidated for purposes of publication.
Mr. Drysdale -asked that copies of Mr. Lowe's map and the
cost data accompanying it be furnished to council members for their
information:
Tax. Refund
It:,was oved by:Mitchell, seconded and carried by unani-
mous -vote' on roll; call that a refund of the duplicate payment of
the first installment of Tax. Bill No. 11704 in the amount of $17'.36
be authorised.,
.Monthly' Reports
The' rnont'h y:rep'ort . of the Controller for December:, 1955,
was received.and planed on -file.
The ;monthly"report of the Planning Officer on action tak-
en in December on application for redivision of lots--, and, the month -4
ly report of theF.2oning Administrator on action taken in December
on applicatione or.:variancee and use permits, were received and.
placed on file.
HoepitalPlanning
Dr. Davie reported that he had received a letter from Dr.
L. H. Arnatein concerning:'decisions which have been made regarding
hospital planning which appeared to him to be contrary to public
assurances given.at the time the bond issue was raised. On notion
of Davis and.Byxbee it�wae directed that the subject of hospital
planning be•pleced on ffir:agenda of the Council at its next meeting.
Dr. Arnatein'a letter was referred to the City Medical
-Building Committee which meets on January 11, 1956.
Annexation Costs
At the .auggeetioea of Councilman Byxbee, the. -City Manager
was :asked to make a report' T'at. some future meeting of the Council as
to the procedure followed"`by some cities of requiring the owners or
developers of areas being annexed to the city to pay a lump sum for
the :privilege of annexation
Yedesstrian: Lanes for Bus Stops
At the auggeation of Councilman Cummings,. the .Traffic CoemJ
mittee was askrd-tocons,idr the feasibility and practicability of
establishing pedestrian lanes across Alma Street at:intereections 1
where bus atone are located`on the southwesterly side of Alma Street.
Adjournment to JanuaryA6, 1
Tt .was: •asoved by :Hyxbee, seconded and carried that this
meeeting "be: adj .rne4 to Honda , January 16, 19560 at 7 :30 PAIL in
the Council Roon..at theCity Hall.
(This tmeet'ing was -declare adjourned at 10:15
APPROVED