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HomeMy WebLinkAbout021419563 0 City 'Hall, Palo Alto, California February 14, 1956 The Council of the City of Palo Alto met in regular ses sion on this date. at 7:30 P.M., with Mayor Porter presiding. Roll call •as follows: proved. Present: Bishop,,Byxbee., Corcoran, Cresap, Cummings, Drysdale, Giffin, Marshall, Mitchell, Nevis, Porter, Rodgers, Ruppenthal, Simpson Absent: Davis. The minutes of the meeting of February 6, 1956, were ap- Letter from B. M. Wolfe A letter from B M. Wolfe, owner of the Kemp -Monet Appli- ance Company, expressing appreciation for services rendered by city employees at the city hall, was read and placed on file. Pinball Machines A letter was received from the Palo Alto Woman's Club re- questing the passage of an ordinance" to prohibit the possession of pinball machines. A communication was received from Frank H. Thill, County Executive, enclosing copy of a proposed ordinance which would prohib- it pinball, marble and claw machines but permit amusement and vending machines. Mr. Thill advised that the Board of Supervisors would like to have the City Council's opinion on the proposed ordinance, and is exploring the possibility of its adoption by all jurisdictions within the County. On motion of Ruppenthal and Giffin, the matter was referred to Committee No.,3 and the City Attorney for study and report. Teachers Recognition Week The Mayor read a letter from Dr. Henry M. Gunn, Superin- tendent of Schools, expressing appreciation for the action of the Mayor and Council in proclaiming the week of February 13-18, 1956, as Teachers Recognition Week in Palo Alto. Sewerage System - Storm Drainage - Flood Control A letter was received from Mr. Murray Ross, 1010 Elmdale Drive, requesting,per.mission to present a petition at this meeting from theresidents of Melwood Tract, requesting that Greer Canal be tweer Oregon Avenue and Amarillo Avenue be closed by the construction of a box culvert. The Council also received a letter on this subject from Mr. Ernest H. Norback,' President -of the Oregon Avenue District Associa- tion, concerning the health hazard in the flow of raw sewage into the Greer Canal and urging immediate action to correct the situation by construction of the culvert requested. The Mayor stated that the entire matter of sewerage and i drainage is tied in with 'flood; control and will be given first prior- iity in the capital improvement program.' The City Manager read Engineering Bulletin 56-16 regarding. deficiencies in the Palo Alto sewerage system and the need for cor- rective action. The City Manager recommended that the Council authorize'.an: engineering study -to be -_made immediately, in accordance with the rec- lommendations of the'City Engineer in Bulletin 56-16, for improvements to the sewer system so that cost estimates will be available in planning the method or financing the necessary work. He recommended. that George S.. Nolte, Civil Engineer, who is presently making a stu-- y of storm drainage problems, be engaged for the sewage system study because of the inter -relation of the two systems, advising that the cost of the engineering study and completion of construction plans and estimates for the needed improvements should not exceed $10,000. - 00. On motion of Mitchell and Byxbee, the City Manager was au- thorized to hire George S. Nolte to make this study, with the under- standing that he would submit a recommendation to the Council for the nec.e.asary transfer of funds after arrangements have been made with Mr. Nolte. The City Manager referred to the survey made during the past year by Harry N. - Jenks on the needs of the sewage treatment plant,:and advised that. the storm and flood conditions this winter have shown that the program must be stepped up a year. He requested authorization to negotiate with Mr. Jenks for his services in the preparation of plans and specifications for the required additions :.to the sewage treatment'p'lant.. The City Manager advised that the total cost of additions and improvements to the outfall lines and the sewage treatment plant is estimated to be $600,000.00, and: it'is expected that,a recommendation will be made in the near future by the Capital improvement Program Committee on the financing of the project. On motion of Mitchell and Cummings, the City Manager was authorized:to negotiate with Mr. Jenks for his services in the prep- aration of construction plans and specifications for the expansion of the sewage treatment plant. The Mayor reported that Col. Graf, District Engineer of the Corps of Engineers, U.S. Army, had informed him that the Corps of Engineers are 'continuing 'with their study of San Francisquito Creek and will soon call for bids for repair of the levee and for revetment work. Mr. Ernest H. Norback addressed the Council at this time in behalf of Murray Rosa and other petitioners who request the con- struction of a box culvert- to enclose the portion of the Greer Canal between Oregon Avenue and Amarillo Avenue. He spoke of the health hazard created by the flowing of raw sewage in the drainage, canal and urged immediate action to correct the situation. He presented a petition signed by approximately 175 property owners and residents. of the affected area. H. L.. May, Chief. Engineer of the Water, Gas and Sewer Divi sion, explained that the sewage flow was greatly increased because, of' the infiltration of' water into the sanitary sewer system and that it was necessary to break into the storm drainage system to prevent the sewage from flowing into the streets; that this connection'was made at the, suggestion. of the County Health Department and that their advice had bean followed in chlorination and other protective measures.. Mr. May s,tatedathat-no sewage has been flowing into the Greer .drainage canalsince Pebruary 10th, and that the canal should remain clear unless.'there are more heavy rains. The City Manager and City Engineer pointed out that the- construction the box culvert from Oregon Avenue to Amarillo Ave- nue is Sncluded'in the program; that no funds are available for the work at this;time, but it is the intent to provide funds in the next budget and have the work done during the summer. Mrs. Corcoran moved that the necessary funds to construct the box culvert be transferred from the. Mitchell Park project. The motion was seconded by Drysdale. During the discussion which fol- lowed, it was pointed out that it would not be advisable to do the work at this time, because the canal is a part of the storm drainage. collection system and that construction work before the rainy season is over might prevent theflowing of storm water; that the work 379? should not be started until-the:ra.ins are over. The motion to transfer funds for the purpose was with- drawn,, and it,, was then moved` by -'Mrs . Corcoran, seconded by Drysdale, and carried that funds for the project be included in next year's budget. On motion of Bishop and Byxbee, the staff was directed to have the necessary engineering studies and plans completed so that' when the budget is adopted the construction work can proceed immedi- ately. Mr. Jack. Miller, 2463 Burnham Way, commended the City Man- ager and staff for their presentation before the Corps of Engineers, U.S. Army, at the hearing held in San Jose on. February 7, 1956, on flood control. The Clty:Manager:advised that citizens had also par- "ticipated in the presentations and that Col. Graf, the hearing offi- cer, had complimented the participants for the presentation which was made by the Palo Alto group, the City Manager reoonu ended that the Council request the Santa Clara County.:Fl.00d.' Control: and Water Conservation District to include in the engineering -studies now under way that portion of San. Francisquito Creek which lies in Santa -Clara County, and further re- quest that the improvement of the Santa Clara County side of San F'rancisquito Creek from Middlefield Had to the Bayshore Highway be included in the proposed bond election for flood control in the Northwest Zone of the Santa Clara County Flood Control and Water Con- servati'on District. The City Manager advised that it is important that the San Francisquito Creek project be considered at the. same time that the other engineering studies on major streams in the northwest zone are reviewed by the Board of Supervisors. °Demotion of Mitchell and Drysdale, the City Manager's rec- ommendations were adopted and it was directed that a letter setting forth these requests be sent to the Board of Supervisors of Santa Clara County for presentation at their next meeting on February 20,. 1956. Bids on Temporary Hospital Additions A report was made by.the City Manager on the bids received on February 9, 1956,_on temporary building additions to the Palo Alto Hospital, with'the information that the low bid was approximately $26,000.00 in excess of the estimate;' that the architect has reviewed the bids and has proposed that the mechanical items be revised and additional bids be taken op such items; that the low bidder has no objection to this procedure. A corplete report will be submitted at the next Council meeting, after bids on'the revised mechanical items have been received. Bids on Mitchell Park Construction Items The City Manager made a.: report on bids received on Febru- ary 10, 1956, on certain construction items in Mitchell Park, with the recommendation that the low: bid of Howard Bru in the amount of $15,900.00 for the tiny Tot. Area and the low bad of Atlas Concrete Company in the sum of.$3,120.Oo for the Wading Pool be accepted. The City Manager reported that only one bid was received on the con-. struction of two service buiidingm:,.fountain pool, planters, arbors, walks, multi -purpose area; Senior.Citizen Area and appurtenances. This bid was from. Huettigand Schromm, Inc., in the total amount of $99,158.00. The. City Manager. advised that the bid on these items is favorable except that the cost of the service buildings exceeds the amounts budgeted in the estimate for the total park development. He recommended that consideration of this particular bid be deferred un- til it can'be determined:whether a.n.egotiated agreement can be reached for all of'the items except the -service buildings and an op- portunity given'to revise' details'of the service buildings in an ef- fort to bring. the'. cost' within budgeted limitations. On motion Of`Byxbee and Cummings, the bids of the low bid- 37.E ders on;'the Tiny Tot area and the.W'ading Pool were accepted as rec- ommended, and the Mayor was authorized to sigr the contracts, and action on the bid on t.he:service buildings and other items was de- ferred . (Councilman Rodgers left at this time, 8:55 P.M., and:was absent for the rest of the meeting.) Report on Annexation Fees A written report was submitted by the City Manager, in compliance with a request:of the Council at a previous tweeting, re- garding procedures followed by some cities in charging fees for the privilege ofannexation. The report was accepted for study, and copies were distributed to Council members. (The.Council took a recess at this time, 9:00 P.M.-, and reconvened at 9:10 P.M.) Zoning of Stanford Annexation No. k Area A report was received from the Planning Commission recom- mending approval of the application of Stanford University to zone certain territory known as Stanford Annexation No. 4 toL-M:S and 0-A, with an 0-A District of 50 feet, subject to the condition that the University and the adjoining property owners work out a solution to the problem of landscaping the 0-A District to their mutual sat- isfaction. A motion:was made by Mitchell, seconded by Navis, that the' recommendation of the Planning Commission be accepted. I Mr..AndrewM. Spears, 950 Matadero Avenue, addressed the Council in behalf of himself and other residents of Roble:Ridge, a residential area outside the City limits of Palo Alto but adjoining the area proposed for annexation to the City. They opposed the in- dustrial development so close to their homes, and asked that the 071 (Open -Area) District be at least 70 feet instead of 50 feet as rec--� ommended by the Planning Commission. Mr. Alf E. Brandin, Business Manager of Stanford Universi-J ty, discussed the proposed development and stated that the Universi- ty will do:everything possible to make this area as attractive as the rest of the industrial park. He pointed out that -a11 plans for .buildings are approved' by the University, and that there would be 90 feet between the proposed Lockheed laboratory buildings, and the properties of Mr. Spears and others on Roble Ridge. Mr. Roger Sherman, 975 Roble Ridge, supported Mr. Spears in requesting that more open area space be required, and asked'for information regarding the zoning and open -area district regulations. There -was considerable discussion regarding regulations for open -area districts, and. it was pointed out that in addition to landscaping and, screen planting, there are certain uses permitted under a use permit, including off-street parking, loading, and serve ice roads. A motion waa made by Mrs. Corcoran, seconded by Cummings, that the previous' -motion tov adopt the recommendation of the P1ann1n Commission be amended to provide that this.particular 0-A District in -Stanford Annexation No. k should be subject to no use permit. whatsoever, The City Attorney ruled that the proposed amendment is out of 'order : After further discussion, the motion made by Mitchell and Navis was modified to read :that a proposed ordinance zoning the Stanford Annexation No. k area to -L-M:S and 0-A be accepted for -first reading, with the 0 -A --District to be 50 feet, subject to the annexation --of this,area:to the City. The motion was carried by the following vote .: on..:ro.il.. call : 374 Ayes: Cresap, Drysdale, Marshall, Mitchell, Navis, Rup- penthal, Simpson. Noes: Bishop, Byxbee, Corcoran, Cummings, Giffin. Not Voting: Porter. A motion was then. made by Bishop, seconded by Giffin, that an O -A District of 50,feet with a setback of 20•feet be established for the entire periphery, of the Stanford industrial lands. The City' Attorney advised:that Stich a proposal would have to be referred to the Planning Commission first for -consideration, since other area is involved. After: more discussion, the motion was changed by Bishop to read that the Planning Commission be requested to consider the es- tablishment of an O-A.District'of 7'0 feet along the outer periphery of the Stanford lands, including the area in Stanford Annexation No. 4 under. discussion. The City Attorney advised that this motion was out of order inasmuch;as,first.reading has Just been given to the zoning of Stanford Annexation INTO,? to provide for an O -A District of 52 feet. No further action was taken. Drive -In- Theatre Development Plan A report was received from the Planning Commission recom- mending that the P -C -District Development Plan for the Palo Alto Drive -In Theatre at Bayshore Highway•a.nd Amarillo Avenue be approved` subject to the following conditions:. That the driveway be reduced` ten feet so that ' 260 feet of R-1 zoning may remain on the southwest side of the property and that this 260 -foot R-1 area be continue -“o' the southeast in place of the flood' basin as shown; that the drain- age for the area be:approved by the City Engineer; and that thepro posed concrete block wall along Amarillo Avenue be set inside the future street widening line. Details of the la dscaping and circu lation would be worked out:as a part of the use permit which would be required. Mr. William Joyce, attorney for the owners of the theatre, was present to answer questions and present information in behz,lf of his clients. It was explained that the Drive -In Theatre is operating a non --conforming use and has requested a zone change to permit the re- location and modification 'of their projection booth. Mr. Joyce stat- ed,that'they are not interested in residential development in a part of the area. The. Planning Officer reviewed the report of the Planning Commission and pointed out that the Commission is in favor of the continuance of the.Drive-In Theatre at this location. • After some discussion, action on the matter was deferred to -the meeting 'of February 27, 1956. Record of Survey : Tract No.?. 1580 • A report was. received from the Planning Commission recom- mending approval of. the Tentative Record of Survey of a division of Lots 1-6 inclusive; -Tract No. 1580. It was moved, seconded' and carried that this tentative rec- ord of survey be approved. - --Monthly Reports The monthly report of the Controller for January, 1956, was received and placed on file. The monthly report of the Planning Officer on action taken in January on applications for redivision of lots, and the report of the Zoning Administrator on action taken in January on applications for variances and use permits were received and placed on file. Tax: Refunds 375 . A report was received from the Controller reconmending'rel fund of duplicate payments of taxes as follows: Tax Bill NO. 6525, first installment and Penalty, in the amount of $32.00 ,andTax Bill No. 1.201-2, seeondinstallment, in the sum of $29.89. On motion of Mitchell and Drysdale, these refunds were'au4 thorized by unanimous vote on roll call. BuildingC:ode At the request of the special building code committee, the hearing on the Uniform Building Code, 1955 Edition, and pro- posed amendments, which had been continued from December 1a., 1955, to this 'date, was again continued to February 20, 1956, at which time the committee will present its report and recommendations. Appointment'to>Matadero Mosquito Abatement District The. Mayor nominated Mr. J. B. Wells for re -appointment as. a Trustee of the Matadero Mosquito Abatement District, representing Palo Alto, for a two-year term commencing February 15, 1956..- It was moved, seconded and carried that this appointment be confirmed-. R -3-P. Uses It was: moved by Bishop, seconded and carried that the Planning Commission be requested to consider an amendment: to Section 8B.02 of the Zoning Ordinance to prohibit retail sales of any goods drugs or merchandise in connection with any use in an R -3-P zone. I Settlement of Claim (Lester) Reference was made by the City Attorney to the claim filed by Muriel H. Lester in the sum of $30,000.00 for damages in connec- tion with a sidewalk fall accident, which was denied by the Council, in June, 195k. He advised that an action was filed in the matter, and that an agreement has been reached to settle the case for $x65.28.. On motion of Byxbee, duly seconded, and by unanimous vote on roll call, the'City Attorney was authorized to settle the case for $465.28. Adjournment to February 20, 1956 It was moved, seconded and carried that this meeting be adjourned to February 20, 1956, at 7:30 P.M. (This meeting was declared adjourned at 11:15 P.M.) APPROVED: ATTEST: yor