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City Hall, Palo Alto, California
February 20, 1956
The Council of the City of Palo Alto met on this date at
7:30 P.M., pursuant to adjournment of February 14, 1956, with Mayor
Porter presiding. Roll call as follows:
Present: Bishop,,Byxbee, Corcoran, Cresap, Cummings,
Davis, Drysdale, Giffin, Marshall, Mitchell,
Nevis, Porter, Rodgers, Simpson.
Absent: Ruppenthal.
Flood Control
The Mayor read a letter from Senator William F. Knowland
transmitting for information a copy of a report from the Chief of
Engineers concerning rehabilitation and repair work on San Francis-
quito Creek and Matadero Creek.
In compliance with the request of the Council at a recent
meeting, representatives of the Santa Clara County Flood Control and
Water Conservation District were present for the purpose of discuss-
ing flood control plans and financing. Those in attendance were Mr.
J. B. Wells, Mr. W. L. Hubbard and Co1. Norman M. Nelson, members of
the Northwest Zone Advisory Board; Col. Walter S. Gaspar, Supervisor
of this district; Donald Currlin, Manager -Counsel of the Santa Clara
County Flood Control and Water Conservation District; Mr. George
Prime, Engineer of the District; and Co1. John H. Skeggs, Consultant.
Mr. Wells, Chairman of the advisory Board of the northwest
zone in which Palo Alto is located, reviewed the establishment and
organization of the Santa Clara County Flood Control and Water Con-
servation District which is divided into five zones. He explained
that the northwest zone takes in the watershed of Stevens, Permanen-;
te, Adobe, Dry and Matadero Creeks, and a portion of San Francisquito
Creek. Mr. Wells outlined the projects proposed in this area for
flood control, and advised that; surveys and studies of the various
creeks are now being made. He stated that the first construction
project will be the opening of Mountain View Slough which will di-
vert the waters from ?ermanente and Stevens creeks which now flow in-
to the Palo Alto flood basin.
Mr. Wells discussed the financing of flood control work,.
pointing out that up to tee present time the financing has been
through taxation. He advised that it is proposed to hold a bond e--
lection.in the northwest zone in September for the issuance of bonds
to, carry on the needed flood control projects. He referred to the
possibility of. Federal aid, but was of the opinion that the greater
part of the expense will, have to be carried by this part of the Coun-
ty.
Mr. Wells and Mr. Currlin spoke of the legal problems and
difficulties" encountered in connection with acquiring rights of way,
and stated that the staff has been rather inadequate a ad that the
District has not been able to make as much progress in its planning
as had been expected. Mr. Prime ;advised that some realignment is
needed for San Francisquito Creek and that protection of the banks
at critical turns is essential; that. he hoped all of the improve-
ments necessary to protect Palo Altocould be completed within the
next few years if the bond issue is successful.
The. City Manager reported that he and the Mayor attended
the meeting of the Board of. Supervisors on this date and presented.
the requests made by the Council at its last meeting that the Santa
Clara County Flood Control and Water Conservation District include
in the engineering studies now under way that portion of San Fran-
cisquito Creek which lies in Santa Clara County, and that the im-
provement of the Santa Clara County sine of San Francisquito Creek
from Middlefjeld Road to the Bayshore Highway be included in the pro-
posed bond election for flood control in the northwest zone of the
District.
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The.City Manager advised that the Corps of Engineers,
Army, which is going to do certain emergency repair work on San ?ran
cisquito Creekwith-Federal funds allocated for the project has of
fered to extend its:work on repairing the levees an additiona1.900
feet if:the rip-rapping'is constructed where needed with funds from
,other sources. He; asked the County to participate by allocating
funds for; this purpose, and advised that the cost is estimated,to be
$k1,0.00.00.
The.Coun;cil was informed that the requests had;been re
ferred to the advisory board of the northwest zone of the flood ,con-
trol district.for:consideration and report back to the Board of Su
pervisors.on February 27th. Col. Gaspar advised that the:Board is
;interested in the program and will give consideration to the request
when it receives a..report'from the advisory board.
Stanford Annexation No. 4
This was the time set for a hearing on the proposed annexe
tion of 125.,684 acres of uninhabited territory, designated as "Stan-
ford Annexation No. 4;1 to, the City of Palo Alto.
The Mayor pointed out that the question of zoning the area
is involved and it.has been suggested that action on the matter be
deferred until the next meeting on February 27, 1956, when the ordi-
nance establishing the zoning will be on the agenda for second read-
ing.
On motion of'Navis.and Byxbee, the hearing was continued
to the next meeting.
Building Code
The hearing on the Uniform Building Code and proposed
amendments had, been continued to this date.
report was presented by Birge Clark, Chairman of the:
speclel committee on the Building Code revisions, with their
recom-mendations in the form of amendments to the appropriate sections of
the Code, and -with comments on certain items which involve`polic: tol
which they felt the Council might wish to give special consideratior.i
Copies of the report and proposed amendments had been distributed to
:council members for their review prior to this meeting.
Attention was called to errors in numbering of sections
and zone designations in the text, and It was pointed out that the
necessary corrections:would `be made by the City Attorney when the or
dinanee isA.rafted in proper7form. The City Attorney advised that s0
'many changes have been made since the ordinance was given first read
ing in October, 1955, that the revised draft should be considered as
first reading at this time.
0n,,motion of Nevis and Drysdale, the ordinance adopting
the Uniform Building Code with certain amendments as recommended by
the special committee was accepted for first reading, subject to the
minor corrections as noted and to the deletion of reference under
Sec. 1602 (b) to accepting the valuation or. the City asses=sment roll4
as representing one-third of the current valuation. It was under-
stood that the: ordinance is to include the recommendations of:the.
special committee on the items involving new policies -- Emergency
Lighting, Permitting Gas Burning Appliances to be allowed in Garag-
es, Permitting Gas Ranges to be non -vented, and Prohibiting Inciner-
ators.
Uniform Sales Tax
A , letter was received from Frank H. ThI11, County Execu-
tive, concerning---the.Uniform Sales Tax Act of 1955, now under consi.d-7
eration,by the Board of Supervisors, offering to discuss' arrangement
with individual cities which might lead to the enactment of the Uni-
form Sales Tax Ordinance by the County, and requesting the Council to
communicate with:Mr. ,Thill's office if it is the Council's- desire to
discus's the subject_:with the County.
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A letter was also received from A. P. Hamann, City Manager`
of San Jose and Chairman of :the UniformSales Tax Committee of the
Inter -City Council, advising that representatives of the cities in
Santa Clara County met,with.Mr. Th3.11 on February 17, 1956, to dis-
cuss the possibility of the enactment of a uniform county -wide sales:
tax and'that the City representatives had requested that each of the
CityCouncils .enact. a, resolution requesting in substance that the:
Board of Supervisors adopt:a uniform sales tax of 1% and that each
of the cities be allowed to retain the full 1% collected within
their cities and the, County retain the full 1% collected in the unin-
corporated areas.
A Motion was made by Byxbee, seconded by Drysdale, that
the resolution recommended by the Inter -City Council representatives`
be adopted
The City Attorney explained that the Uniform Sales Tax Act
which becomes effective April 1, 1956, authorizes counties to adopt
the tax which would be collected by the State Board of Equalization
and provides that if citiesewithi.n the county do not also adopt a
one -cent sales tax the:revenue collected within that city would go
to the County. He reported that there has been a controversy be-
tween.the cities and the.County because the County wants a share of
the tax collected and -the cities want to retain the full 1:%.
After discussion it was moved by Cresap, seconded by Navis,
and carried that the motion be amended to read that the City Council:
inform the County that if the County passes a sales tax ordinance,
the City of Palo Alto wishes to retain the full amount of tax col-
lected in the city limits of Palo Alto. The motion as amended was
then carried.
Library Project
A letter was received from Linn Winterbotham, Secretary -
Treasurer of the Palo Alto Historical.Association, transmitting a
resolution adopted'by.the Association requesting the Council to make
finanCial provision at the earliest possible date in 1956 for a com-.
piete library system including a new main library and two branches as
recommended by the Citizens' Library Committee. It was pointed out
that this question is now before the Capital Improvement Program Com-
mittee. The letter was placed on file.
Willow Road Extension
The Council received a copy of a resolution adopted by the
Board of Supervisors of San Mateo County, urging the inclusion of
Willow Road within the State Highway System. This resolution was
filed.
Bids on Temporary Hospital Additions
The City_Manager made a further report on bids taken for
the construction of temporary building additions for the Palo Alto
Hospital, and on the bids taken on this date on revised mechanical
items -- electrical°work, plumbing and heating, and sprinklers. In
view of,the fact that the bids:.are in excess of the estimate, the
City Manager recommended:that the matter be referred back to the Palo
Alto Hospital Committeefor review at their next meeting and a report
to the. Council with their'recommendation regarding the bids and the
financing of the project.
It was ;roved by Simpson, seconded and carried that the mat-
ter,be referred to the' Palo Alto Hospital Committee for their review
and recommendation.
It was suggested by Councilman Navis that the Palo Alto
Hospital Committee..consider.the possibility of constructing only one
temporary unit instead of two as proposed.
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Bids on Mitchell Park Construction Items
A further report was made by the City Manager on the bid
received on Pebruary 10., 1956, for the construction of two service
buildings, fountain:poo1, planters, arbors, walks, multi -purpose
area, senior citizen area, and all appurtenances in Mitchell Park,
with the information that the bidder, Huettig and Schromm, Inc.,
have supplied the City with a letter in which they indicate their
agreement for the -removal of the two service buildings: from the con -4
tract and agree to do the balanee'of the work for $55,006.00. It
was explained that this arrangement would make it possible for the
City to make alterations to the plans for the buildings with the in-
tention of reducing their cost. As the bid of Huettig and Schronm,
Inc., without the service buildings is favorable to the City and
comes within the architect's estimate of the work, it was recommend
ed by the City Manager that the bid be accepted.
On:motion`of,Byxbee and Navis, the bid of Huettig and
Schramm, Inc., in the amount of $55,006.00 was accepted and the May -1
or was authorized --to execute the contract.
Agreement, Wilbur Swimming Pool
There was presented for consideration an Amendment to the
Agreement 'between the Palo Alto Unified School District and the Cit
of Palo Alto for the joint operation and maintenance of the swimmin
pool at the Ray Lyman Wilbur Junior High School.
0n motion of Cummings and Marshall, a resolution authoriz-I
ins the:Mayor to execute thy. Amendment to this Agreement was adopted,
by unanimous vote of:a11 council members present. (Cresap was ab-
sent during the ro1:1 call.)
Parking in Mid -Town Area
.Ordinance No.. 1670, prohibiting parking on portions of
Middlefield Road, Bryson Avenue, Moreno Avenue, and Colorado Avenue,
was given second reading, and on motion of Marshall and Mitche ll,
was adopted on roll ca11, with 12 Ayes, Simpson voting No and Bishop
not voting on the; motion.
Amendment to -Plumbing Code
Ordinance No.' 1671, amending Section 1103 of the Plumbing
Code, was given second reading, and on motion of Navis 'and Bishop,
was adopted by unanimous vote on roll call.
There being no further business to come before the Coun-
cil, the meeting was adjourned at 9:30 P.M.
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