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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02271956380 City Hall, Palo Alto, California. February 27, 1956 The Council of the City of Palo Alto met in regular ses- aion on this; date at 7:30 p.m., with Mayor Porter presiding. Roll call as follows: Present: Bishop, Byxbee, Corcoran, Cresap, Cummings, Davis, Drysdale:, aiff in,; Marshall, Mitchell, Navis, Porter, Rodgers, Ruppentha1, Simpson. Absent: None The minutee of the meetings of February 14 and February 20, 1956, were approved Zoning and Development Plan, Palo Alto Drive -1n Theatre Action had been deferred to this date on the recommenda- tion of the Planning Commission, submitted to the Council on Febru- ary 14, 1956, for the'rezoning of the property of the Palo Alto Drive-�In Theatre to P -C and the approval of the develops .ht plan for the property,, subject to=certain It was mov;.d by Mar- shall and seconded .that the matter be referred back to the Planning Commission for further study, Mr. William T.. Joyce, attorney for the Palo Alto Drive -In Theatre, addressed-the,Council, Stating that the question had been before'the-"Planning Commission for'six months and had been thorough- ly discussed, andurging"the Council to take action on the Commis- sion's.recommendation'so that the theatre could proceed with the work of moving the protection booth and restore the operation of the business. There was dieeusson of the problem, in which Councilman Cummings advised that'1n hie opinion this is a hardship case and the change of Zone should be -allowed. He, Suggested that the Planning. Commission be asked to consider and propose a new zone designation or classification for such cases where non -;conforming uses exist, pointing out that -the Planning Officer in the past has advised that. P -C (Planned Community) is not an appropriate zone in such instances. The motion to refer the matter'back to the Planning Commis- sion was withdrawn. A proposed ordinance rezoning the area from R-1 to P -C in Accordance with:the.-Planning Commission's recommendation was accepted for first reading. The Planning Commission eras requested to review and study the question of establishing- a more appropriate zone classification for such areas where businesses are operating as non -conforming uses. 0n motion of Mitchel and Cummings, the Zoning.Administra- tor was authorized to grant a temporary variance to the Palo Alto Drive -In Theatre so that the work can be started immediately. Annexation and Zoning, Stanford Annexation No. 4 The hearing on the proposed annexation of 125.684 acres of uninhabited territory designated as "Stanford Annexation No. 4" had been continued from.February 20, 1956, to this date. No one ap- peared to speak on the matter and the hearing was closed. Ordinance No. 1672, approving the annexation of the area designated as "Stanford Annexation No. 4" was introduced, and on mo- tion of Mitchell and Navis, was adopted by unanimous vote on roll call. The Council gave further consideration to the zoning of the area. A proposed ordinance had been accepted for first reading on February 14, 1956, zoning the. Stanford Annexation No. 4 area as L-M:S and O -A, the 0-A (Open Area) District to be 50 feet. 381 Mr. Andrew M. Spears, 950 Matadero Avenue, repeated the objections hehad made at a previous meeting to having the build- ings of the Lockheed plant so close to his property, and again' re- quested on behalf of the residents of Roble Ridge that an 0-A Zone of 70 feet be established adjacent to Roble Ridge instead of the 50-� foot zone as recommended. A letter was received from Mr. Roger Sherman., .975 Roble Ridge, urging that an adequate buffer zone be es-� tablished and that, the buildings be located farther from the resi- dences than providedin the present plans. Mr. Linn Winterbotham, Secretary -Manager of the Palo Alto Chamber-ot Commerce,. and Mr. Doug Couch, Chairman of. the Industrial Committee oaf the Chamber of Coerce, addressed the Council, urging approval of the zoning as recommended by the Planning Commission so that Lockheed can proceed with construction immediately in accord- ance with their development plans. Mr. Herschel Brown of the Lockheed Missiles Systems Divi- sion reviewed: the plansand' answered questions regarding the pro- posed development: He advised that they intend to landscape all the area which is not covered by buildings or parking spaces and will' maintain the planting; that they would not wish to plant trees which might obscure the view from the hill, but would use shrubs or any other, type of planting the Council wishes. .Mr. Brown pointed out that the area behind the buildings to the edge of their property will be landscaped; that they do not contemplate the use of that area for parking, loading zone or a road. He stated that they are required because of the nature of their work to fence the property; that the fence must be kept clear so it can be observed at all times and the buildings must be lighted at night as required by the military for security purposes. Mr. Alf Brandin, Business Manager of Stanford University, gave the Councilfurther information on the proposed development and ee pointed out the difficulty involved if any changes are required now in the Lockheed plans, which have been drawn by architects -to make the best use of .the site. Attention was called by Councilman Byxbee to the fact that previous annexations of Stanford lands have provided • for an 0-A Dis- trict of 50 feet and he felt it was reasonable to follow the same procedure in the zoning of the area under discussion. 0rdinance'No. 1673, establishing L-M:S and O -A Zoning for Stanford Annexation No.<k, the 0-A District to be 50 feet in width, was given second reading, and a emotion was made by Mitchell, second- ed by'Drysdale, for the adoption of the ordinance. The <motion .was carried and the ordinance adopted by the following vote on roll call: Ayes: Bishop, Byxbee, Cresap, Davis, Drysdale, Marshall, Mitchell, Nevis, Ruppenthal, Simpson. Noes: Corcoran, Cummings, Giffin, Rodgers. Not Voting: Porter. (Councilman Nevis left at this time, 8:45 p.m., and was absent for part of the meeting. -(The Council took.a recess at this time and re- - convened at 9 :.00 p.m.) Project 52--13: Off- Street Parking, University Avenue District. This was the tirme:aet for a hearing' on, proposed changes: :and modifications in Project 52-13, in accordance with Resolution of Intention''' No. - 2706'.. adopted by the Council on.February 6, "1956. The modificationsepropoaed ='by eaid. resolution provide for the acquisi- tion of. parking lore ; through the center of Blocks and 5 from Alma Street to High: Street, lots on the northeasterly side of.High Street -between University>`and Hamilton Avenues including the corner of Ham- t$2 ilton and High,.and the property on the southerly corner of Hamilton! Avenue and-8terson Street.. A letter was received from the Tide Water Associated Oil Company, owner of theproperty on the southerly corner of Hamilton and Emerson,: pointing out that this site which is occupied by a serv- ice station provides for parking a considerable number of cars at the :present time, and asking the Council to exclude their property from the areas proposed for acquisition. A letterwas also received from Mr. Jules H. Bernheim, own- er of property facing University Avenue, formerly occupied by Roos Bros., and some lots facing High Street in the same block. Mr. Bern - helm stressed the need for adequate off-street parking to rehabilitate the properties in the first two blocks of University Avenue, and urged the Council to take action immediately. Councilman Marshall presented a report from Committee No. 2 which had been asked to make a special study of the matter. The committee recommended as follows: 1.. That the properties on the south side of University Avenue between -Alma Street and High Street, described ' as Lote. 2„,2,:23,'24,25 and 26, Block 5, University Park,, be acquired through an assessment district pro cedure for off -Street parking purposes. 2. That the Council state that its policy is to acquire the properties on the. north side of University Avenue between Alma.:Street and High Street, described as Lots 1, 2, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28 and 29, Block k, University Park, and that the staff be requested to submit a re- port to the Council on alternative methods of financ- ing the acquisition;. 3. That the staff be requested to prepare plans and lay- outs showing how these two areas can be used as park- ing lots, these plans to be submitted to the Council by April 1, 1956, at the same time that reports on traf- fic circulation and on the urban renewal program study are submitted. A motion was made by: Marshall, seconded by Drysdale, that the Council go on record as favoring: the acquisition of the proper- ties on the.south side of-Univerait7.Avenue in Block 5. Councilman Cummings advised that he:would be in favor of acquiring and develop- ing both sides of University Avenue between Alma and High Streets- if the financing can be worked out, and suggested that action should be delayed until the staff can present plans for the layout of the park- ing lots and their financing. After discussion, the motion was carried by the following vote: on roll call Ayes: Bishop,`Cresap, Davis, Drysdale, Giffin, Marshall, Mitchell, Porter, Rodgers, Ruppenthal. Noes: Cummings Not Voting: Byxbew,, Corcoran Absent during' roll call: Navis, Simpson. A motion was -then., made by Bishop, seconded by Drysdale, that the properties on the north aide of University Avenue between Alma and High Streets'in..Block:t be:acquired. Mr. Bishop stated that he thought part of the cost could be paid from parking meter revenue` in the same way that Project 52-1$ is being financed. After discussion, itwas moved by Cresap, seconded by Da vis, and carried that the motion be tabled. There was further dlscussion of the whole problem and ref- erence was made: to the previous requiest for studies and report by the staff an:traffic circulation and.redevelopeent of the Circle and Uni- versity Avenue -area at the entrance' to :the City. 383 It wasmovedby,Mitchell, seconded andcarried- that. -mat-: tern in connection withthe proposed modifications to Project 52-•13 involving thee' acquisition <of four parking lots as set ,.-forth in Reso lution of -Intention No, 2706 be continued to April 9-,'-„1956: I It was moved by Mitchell, and seconded, that` Resolution o4 Intention No. 2710 be adopted, proposing to modify the project by the acquisition of the properties on both sides of'University-Avenue from Alma to High.Streets`in Blocks 4 and 5, setting hearing on these modifications for April 9, 1956. The resolution was adopted on roll -call ,with •'-12' Ayes, Byxbee not voting on the motion, and Na- vis and Simpson^being absent -during the roll call. The..staff was requested to report at the April:9t.h meeting on traffic and parking -plans for the area, with parking lot. layouts and alternative methods of financing the program. Matadoro Creek Studies In response to a request from Mrs.. Corcoran for:informa- tion, theCity"Manager,,reported that the Santa Clara County Flood_ Control -District has'retained the services of a consulting engineer to make a study of Matadero Creek and make recommendations to - the County for needed improvements, for possible inclusion `in the pro posed bond,i's;sue, lie also.reported that the Board of Supervisors on this date authorized'a at_ady'.t,o be made by the engineering staff of the Santa Clara -County Flood Control District of a dam site on Meta- deco Creek. (Councilmen Navis and Simpson returned at.this time, 9:.45 p.m.-, and were present for the rest of the -meeting.) Project 5-, California Ave. District, Off -Street Parkin This_was the time for a hearing on proposed modifications to Project 55-5, to change the total estimated cost of the project from $217,'000:00 to $2k5,;000.03. There being no one to speak on thl matter, the hearing was declared closed. Resolution No, 2711, determining convenience and.necessity and ordering; changes and modifications in Project 55-5, was intro duced, and on motion of Mitchell and Ruppenthal, was adopted by rol call,'with 14 Ayes, Bishop, not voting on the motion. Library Program Mrs..`Hayes:Newby, Chairman of the Membership Committee of the Pala Alto Citizens'.Library Action Committee, read a report to the Council on the progress of this committee's studies and its aim to have construction:of new library facilities started in 1956. The Mayor advised that the Capital Improvement:Program , Committee is presently engaged in working out proposed financing methods for capital'requiremetts for the next five-year period, and that the. Library program•is high or. the priority list: Counoilman.;Ruppenthal called attention to the Library studies made by citizens' committees and the League of Women Voters„ and stated that he-felt;itis time the Council began to make a study ofthe library needs andfacilities. He suggested that it might be advisable to engage:the services of a library consultant and an ar- chitectTto provide.theCouncil.with necessary information and -an- swers to -questions that will -arise. He asked that the whole --matter be refer'ed `to .Committee No.:2 for a complete study and report back to the Council. After discussion., the question was referred to Committee No. 2 toy meet wick the= citizens' . comaittees and reviewr- the situatiol with regard to the library program:. 4 284 .Atthis'time &letter *as::acknowledged from the Palo Alto: Branch,,: American Association of;University Women, recommending that the Council make; financial provision: at the, earliest possible, date in 1956 for a complete:citylibrary system,, including a new,main l -- brary and two branches, as recoimended by the citizens' library cow,' mittee. Garbage Service A leiter:was received from. Paul Madsen, President of the -- Palo Alto Sanitation Service, requesting an opportunity to meet with the Council for a discuaeionTof'tho'garbage collection service and. - rates. It was agreed that the Mayor would set a time for Mr. Madsen - to meet with the Council for consideration -of this matter. Electric Contract The Mayor read a letter from H. D. Welter, Chairman of the: Northern California Municipal Electric Association, expressing the appreciation of the member citiesof-,the Association for the contri- bution of City Manager Keithleyduringthe negotiations resulting in the new- electric contract,: -and thanking the Council for authorizing Mr. Keithley's participation. Amendment to Secondhand Sales Ordinance The -City Manager:presented a proposed ordinance amending Article 12 of Codified Ordinance No-. 5 of the City of Palo Alto regu- lating pawnbrokers and secondhand dealers, with recommendations from: the Chief of. - Police:for:=the adoption of these amendments in order to provide adequate regulations to assist the Police Department in the investigation of thefts and recovery of stolen property. The proposed ordinance was accepted for first reading. Transfer of Funds Upon recommendation of -the City Manager, it was moved by Rodgers, seconded by Bishopp, and carried by unanimous vote on roll call,, that the sum of $5,,349.00 be transferred from the Special Pro -j=• ects Account 123 to Account 132F.(Adobe.-Creek) for the acquisition of property in conjunction with the.Adobe Creek relocation project. Bids on Temporary Hospital Additions Further consideration was given to the bids received on temporary bui]ding additions to the Palo'Alto Hospital. A report was received from,the:PaloAlto Hoepital.Committee, to which the bids had been referred for. review :urging the. Council to proceed with the: project even though -the bids were:about 30 percent. in excess of the architect d: 's estimates, and 8tating that the Committee is of the opin- ion that there is a good possibility of regaining the total expendi Lure.. A letter was : received from; Dr. W. Norman Sears, Chief of the Medical Staff of the Palo Alto Hospital, urging approval of the project and requesting that there be no reduction in the number of temporary beds and that the original number contemplated (92) be pro- vided. The City.Manager pointed:, out:that the buildings will be temporary and mustbe`deoolished;at:the end of 30 months, and that the amount ot:approximately :$180U.,000.0.O,to..be spent on these tempo-. nary -:facilities-- 15 money originally planned to help pay off the bond- ed indebtedness onthe.newhospital building„ so it is important that thief expenditure be regained in`the operation of the temporary facilities. Questions regarding theplansa ;. and, the bids were answered. by the architect,,. Paul Huston, and information on the need. for the temporary beds and the result -of a questionnaire circulated among the doctors as to the number of patients who would be hospitalized 385 if there were room for the was furnished by Walter Oliver, .direc- tor of the Hospital. Councilman Nevis questioned whether or not it will be possible to regain>the: cost, and asked: that: a: review of the ' whole situation be made at` the time the teaaporary buildings are' dis7 continued to determine`whether the expenditure is recovered by -the ! income from the additional beds.' The City Manager recommended that if the Council wishes• to proceed with the project, the bid of Don Gordon for the construc- tion contract, ass:electrical work, plumbing and heating, and sprinkler 'syetsa, be' accepted' in ` the. amount of $79,272:0.0 that the: bid of Kay ElectricCoapany for the electrical' work in the: amount: of $]3,87k.00 be accepted,; and; that the:.bids on' the plumbing .and*heat- ing and on, the sprinkler. eyatei be' rejected, with the understanding that new bids on these -`items will be taken after the bui-ldings.:are moved -to the site It' was moved by Mitchell, seconded and carried by 'unani . mous vote on'roll call„ that:the recommendations of the City:Manage be adopted:,, that the bids of'Don Gordon and the Kay Electric Compa- - ny be,:;aecepted as 'r'ec'owawended and` the. Mayor be authorized to sign the contracts for this work, : anal that expenditures for this purpose be authorized from the Hospital Improvement Fund and from funds sup- plied by the Palo -Alto Hospital. It was, pointed out that inasomeh as the.project is a re- modeling job, ,`some change orders may be required as the work pro ceeds. Contract for Sewage Plant Expansion Design A report was made by the City Manager on negotiations,witti Mr. Harry. N. Jenks for consulting engineering services in the prepa4. ration of the plans for the expansion of the sewage treatment plant. He advised` that Mr. Jenks will perform these services for a fee of 40 of the cost of the project estimated to be $370,000.00, with the understanding that $16,650.00 would be the maximum fee. On motion of Mitchell and Byxbee, and by unanimous vote on roll call, :the Mayor was authorized to sign the contract with Mr. Jenks on this basis. • San Francisquito Creek Studies The City Manager reported that the Board of Supervisors has authorized engineering studies to be made of San Francisquito Creek and has ae:ked_.the.County Executive and the Manager- Counsel of the County Flood Control District to submit recommendations to the Board on methods of financing rip -rapping at strategic locations on Sap Franciecqui:to Creek. at an estimated cost of $26,000-.00 Which the Corps of Engineers has d'eterained to be a sufficient sum for the rip -rapping needed at this tile. Repair SJork on San Francisquito and Matadero Creeks Resolution No. 2712 authorizing the Mayor to execute re- quests for assistance and.aeeuranees of local cooperation for the. repair work to be accoepliehed by the Corps of Engineers, D.S. Army, along. Matadero and, -San Francisquito Creeks was introduced-, and on motion of Mrs. Corcoran .and'Ruppenthal, was adopted by unanimous vote on roll call. Project 54-8, Street Lighting Reconstruction, District III Resolution No. 2713 of preliminary determination and of intention to modify Project 54-8 to provide for a certain type of t lighting on El Camino Real from Stanford Avenue to Sheridan Avenue,; was introduced and adopted by unanimous vote on roll call. The res-i elution provides for a hearing to be held on the proposed modifica- i tion on March 12, 1956. 386 Oui iclaim peed (Larso ,On, motion of .Simpson and :Marshall,, and by unanimous vote on roll call, : the Council adopted a, resolution authorizing the Mayor:: to execute a Quitclaim., Deed to Jonas A. Larson for certain tax -deed- ed property,beinga. portion of Lot 150 Wooster Subdivision, Assess- ment Numbers 11735-11736; Sale No. 50124. Meeting Schedule The Mayor pointed out ..that this is the last meeting of the' experimental period, of weekly Council meetings, ,and asked whether the Council wishes to adjourn this meeting to next Monday or have its next meeting on arch 12th, the date of the first regular March meeting. It was moved by Byxbee, seconded and carried that the next meeting be held on March 12th,at which -time the situation with re- gard to Council and committee meetings will be reviewed. There being' no further business to come before the Coun- cil, the meeting was adjourned at 10:55 p.m. APPROVED Mayor auw