Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout03121956a93 City Hall, Palo Alto., California March 12, 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: Present: Bishop, Byxbee, Corcoran, Cresap-, Cummings, Davis, Drysdale, Giffin, Marshall, Mitchell', Navis, Porter, Rodgers, Ruppenthal, Simpson. Absent: None. Minutes of February 2.7 and March 5z 1956 Councilman Cummings stated that at the last meeting on March 5, 1956, he requested that the record show that the.report of the Capital Improvement Program Committee included a recommendation that long term capital improvements, particularly for the utilities, should be financed by bond issues and that short term improvements should be paid for from the general fund; that this was omitted from the minutes and he would like to have them corrected. Councilman Mitchell, Chairman of theCapital Improvement Program Committee, ad- vised that the,commi.ttee'did not make'that recommendation in their report. Councilman Nevis stated that he had remarked during the dis- .cussion that the committee had used this financing plan as the basis of their thinking,<,in regard to the electric utility improvements, but had not Said that the committee made that recommendation. Coun- ;cilman Cummings' stated that for three years he has tried to get a pol1cy established -for the record, and now that the capital program for the next five years is being considered, he would like to have ir! writing'the thinktnS'which developed this particular financing. On motion:of Cresap and Nevis, the minutes of March 5, 1956, were corrected to include in the record a statement made by ,Councilman Cummings to the effect that he understood that"the'Capi- tal Improvement Program Committee had trade their recommendation on the proposed electric utilitybond issue on the basis that long term capital improvements should' be financed by bond issues and that .short term improvements should be financed by general fund revenues. Councilwoman Corcoran suggested that a tape recording be made of the minutes so there would be a complete record of ail dis- :cussion for reference. Mrs. Corcoran stated that she had noted another omission from the: minutes and'that washer reference to the drainage problems ;which are --created by the development of industrial land which she had made during the discussion of the zoning of Stanford lands which drai.n:into'Matadero Creek. On motion of'Marshall and Cummings, the Jninutes of February 27, 1956, were corrected to include this state - vent of<Mrs Corcoran: As thus corrected, the minutes of the meetings of February ;27, 1956, and March; 5, 1956o -were approved. =At•this point_ Mrs. Corcoran advised that the financing of the park a_nd recreation program should be clarified when the bond is.4 sue' it submitted to the voters, stating that.she feels care'should be taken not to -.mislead the voters into thinking that the "$300-;000, ;the amount rof the proposed bond issue, is the total amount to_be spent on parks and recreation. Project 54,43, Street Lighting Reconstruction, District: SII This was the time for a hearing on the. proposed' mod flca tion of Project5k 8 to provide for a certain type of lighting on El ; Canino, Real from `Stanford-: Avenue to Sheridan Avenue; The hearing was declared open. There ,being no one present who wished .to speak. :10n the matter, the hearing was closed. No written communications or ;protests were received.. 394 Resolution No:, 2714, determining convenience and necessity and ordering the modification, Project 54-8, Street Lighting Recon- struction, was introduced, and on motion of Drysdale and Nevis, was adopted by unanimous vote on roll ca11. Electrical Code This was the time set for a hearing on the proposed adop- tion of the National' Electrical Code, 1953 Edition, with certain a- mendments. At the request of the special committee which is not yet ready to make its report on the proposed amendments to the code, the matter was continued to the next regular Council meeting on March 26; 1956. South Palo Alto Grade: Separation The Mayor suggested that the question of submitting a bond proposal to the voters for a portion of the cost of a grade separa- tion in South Palo Alto be deferred, pending further study of an overall -program which might include consideration of a grade separa- tion a,t-El Camino Real and Page.Mill Road and the widening of Oregon 'Avenue, and a study of the financing of such a project which might be partially paid for by.an assessment district of the industrial Irearea which would be`benefited by±the improvement in traffic circula tion. The Mayor suggested appointment of a city-wide committee to. work with'the Council and staff in these studies. On motion of Cresap.and. Mitchell, the matter was deferred. to the second meeting in June -- June,25, 1956. In making the mo- tion, Councilman Cresap statedthat he hoped action could be taken to submit the South Palo Alto grade separation project to the voters at the November election. Bond Proposals A letter was received from the Army and Navy Women's Club of Palo Alto stating they -;have passed a resolution that "sewage and: drainage should be the firat consideration, and these should be on'a separate bond issue."' Mr. William H. McKaig,.2525 Waverley Street, addressed the; Council urging that the five bond issues be com1^ined into one propos al. Be presented information on the experience of other cities which have submitted bondissues to the voters as a "package" instead of having' separate measures on the" ballot. Further: consideration of ' tie bond proposals and capital im- provement program was postponed to the latter part of the meeting:af- ter other -items on' the agenda have been acted on. Governor's Conference on Children and Youth The Mayor read a letter; from Governor Goodwin J. Knight re -- !questing the Council:to'send-.-a representative to the Conference on tChildren'ard Youth .to be held in Sacramento on April 4 and 5, 1956. At the Mayor's' suggestion, it was moved, seconded and carried that 1Councilwoman Corcoran be authorized.to attend this conference as reg- resentative of the 'Council . Junior Museum Addition The City Manager reported, for the Council's information, that the.sta!ff intends to .proceed with the construction of an addi- tion to the Junior Museum in accordance with the budget, and that an architect will be employed for preparation of the plans. He advised that the' Controller has made a cheek of the inventory list of mater- ials- to be transferred from: the Advisory Board of the Junior Museum to the City of PaloAlto, in accordance with a previous arrangement. 1i_ Golf Professional The, City'Manager recommended that the Council approve the appointment of_ Mr. 'Patrick `Mahoney .as golf professional` -at the Palo Alto Municipal;Qolf Course, and authorize the Mayor to, enter into a three --year c.ontract..with >Mr. Mahoney. He advised that'-he'had had the,ald of an:advisory citizens' committee in considering applicants ;for the position. The provisions of the contract were reviewed. On motion of Bishop and Byxbee, and by unanimous vote on roll call, therecom- mendation of the City Manager. was accepted and the Mayor was author- ized to enter into the contract with Mr. Mahoney. On'motion of Rodgers and Marshall, the citizens' golf com- mittee was commended'for its splendid work. Lease with PALO CLUB The City Mana=ger advised that there is a clause in;the, golf professional:'e contract giving him exclusive use and control of the driving`range at: the'Palo- Alto golf course with the exception that it sha=ll,be subject to.a ten-year lease of not:.. pore than six tees and a portion of the driving range to be used by the: PALO CLUB for its annual "Hole -In -One" contest, at tames to be'spec:ified in the : lease The HCity.Manager stated that Mr. Mahoney has`. no- objec- tion:to this arrangement. The City.,Manager advised that the PALO CLUB has offered' to pay the sum of $2000,Min advance for a ten-year lease -to assure the, clubof a future location for its annual tournament. :He recom mended that he be authoriz=ed to negotiate and enter into such'a ' lease.. On motion ofBishop and Byxbee, and by unanimous vote on roll cail,;the City Manager was authorized to enter into a ten-year lease with:the PALO CLUB fora certain period each year, for the use ;of certain:tees and portion of the driving range, for the sum of $2,000.00 payable in advance. Restaurant Concession at Golf Course The City Manager recommended that the contract for operat- ing the restaurant concession in the Golf Course Clubhouse be award- ed to Mr. James J. Saitta. The provisions of the contract, which is for a period of five years, were reviewed. It was moved by Simpson, seconded and carried by unanimous vote of a1.1coundil members present, that the Mayor be authorized to enter intothe contract with Mr. Saitta for the restaurant: conces- ' sion at the Golf Course. (Dr. Davis was absent during this roll call.) Landscaping, Golf. Course Clubhouse In reply to a request from Councilman Byxbee for informa- tion regarding landscaping the area around the Golf Course club- house, the City:Manager reported that the original landscaping plan was rejected becausethere were not sufficient funds available; that a ,plan for the patio: has been submitted by Mr. Eichler and a plan for landscaping the area on the outside of the building has been pre- pared by the city staff, and as soon as final figures are available on the cost of other itema., a check will be made to determine how much landscaping can:.be provided with the money that is left. Inter -City Council Dues The Oity Manager presented a bill from Philip T. Lawlor, Secretary -Treasurer ,of: the- Inter -City Council of Santa C lara C=ounty, in -- the,: amount af< *50 00: for dues for the year 1956. It was moved, seconded and carried by unanimous vote on roll call that this. bill be paid 396 AVM Uniform Sales Tax: The'Mayor'announced that a notice had been received fror Frank. H.'Thiil, County: Executive', of an informal meeting to beheld by the Board of --Supervisors on: Monday., March 19th, at 2:00 P.M. In the hearing- room .:of • the Board of Supervisors in San Jose, at which time the -interest of =the cities of Santa Clara County in the matter of the uniform sales tax will be discussed. The Mayor.. stated. that:Councilman Cresap,and the City Manag= er plan to .attend the meeting, and: `'that any other council members are welcome to attend if they wish to do so. (Councilman Davis returned at this time, 8:25 P.M., and was present -for the rest of the meeting.) Audit of Accounts A report :was received from Committee No. 3 recommending the acceptance of the proposal, of, Skinner & Hammond for the audit of.the City's accounts and records for the" fiscal year ending June 30, 1956., for a. total fee'of=$2,900.A0. A motion was made by Mitchell, second- ed by Rodgers, that the recommendation be adopted. Councilman.:Drysdale advised that he is dissatisfied with the report of Committee No,. 3 and feels the Council is not taking the proper`action in continuing with the same auditing firm for so many years; that the committee had interviewed another firm and that he had been informed later- by a representative of the firm that they' were not interested It submitting a proposal because of the rudeness of one council member. The motion to accept the proposal of Skinner & Hammond for the audit for this fisca lyear was adopted on roll call, with 13 Ayes, Drysdale voting No and Airs. Corcoran not voting on the motion., Councilman Mitchell stated that Mr. Drysdale was not alone, in beingdissatisfie -with: the present arrangement, and suggested the, matter,be considered again next year. Mrs. Corcoran advised that she did not vote on the motion because she, felt it is a question she was. not prepared to vote on, and she suggested the Council start looking into the matter of the audit:earlier next year in order to give it proper consideration. Zone Change Application (Dymond) A repc►rt was received from the Planning Commission recom- mending that the application of Jack and Kathryn Dymond for the re- zoning of the northwest' corner of:'Middlefield Road and Sutter Avenue from R -3-G, Residential- Garden Apartment District, to C-3, General Commercial District, be denied: Mr. John M. Donegan,. attorney representing Mr. and Mrs. Dy-- mond, asked that action be deferred:by the Council and that the mat ter be referred to a committee if the Council decides to return.to the committee system. On motion of Cresap and Drysdale, the matter was postponed to the next regular Council meeting on March 26, 1956. Final Map of Tract No -1696 A report; -was received from the Planning Commission recom- mending approval- of the final:., map' of Tract No. 1696, being portion of Lots 112 and 115, Wooster Subdivision, on Louis Road, subject to rec- ommendations of the City Engineer for provision of public utilities ea:sementa, the dedication of the 30 -foot half section of Matadero Creek, the improvement of Matadero•Creek to a cross section approved by the City Engineer, const:^uction:of:a 6 -foot high solid board red-- wood fence along -the creek,': and to` changing the names of David Ave- nue : and David P=lace 297 It'wae pointed out in the discussion that the Santa Clara County Flood Control.Distriet..is involved in the improvement of Ma- tadero Creek. The City Attorney advised that if the dedication is made to the City, it. can be transferred to the County Flood Control District. Res.olutien No. 2715 approving the map of Tract No. 1696 was introduced., and on motion of Marshall and Cummings was adopted - on roll call:, with 13 Ayes, Drysdale voting No, and Simpson not vot-� ing on the motion. Records. of Survey A report was received from the Planning Commission recom- mendin as follows: (1)' That the final Record of Survey of Lots 1, 2, 3, k, 5 -and 5, Block 2`,'Tract 1580, be approved; (2), That the final Record' of Srvey of. Lot 2, Tract 1234, be approved: subject to : furnishing evidenceaof payment of 1955-56 city and county taxes and • to granti"ng'pub:l1c.utilities easements as shown in red on the map; •(3) That the tentative --Record of Survey of Block 4+9, College Ter- race, be approved subject to payment or segregation of street light- ing assessments, Project:51-8, and to furnishing evidence of payment of city and county taxes for 1955-56. On ;motion of Mitchell and Cummings, these recommendations of the:Planning Commission were adopted. Design Control A report was submitted by the Planning Commission" recom- mending approval of design control plans for an apartment building to be. erected on Lot 1, portion of Lot 30 and portion of abandoned street, Block 9, Stanford City, known as 3091 to 3099 Emerson Street. On- motion` of.'Mitchell and Marshall, the Commission's rec- ommendation>for approval of -these plans was adopted. Purchase of Treasury Bilis Resolution No, 2716, authorizing the Treasurer to purchasel $200,000 U.S. Treasury Bills, due June 7, 1J56, for $198,902,00, west introduced., and or, motion of Mitchell and Cummings, was adopted by unanimous vote on roll.` call Zone Changes Palo Alto Drive -In Theatre 0rdinance No. 16714., rezoning property of the Palo. Alto Drive-InrTheatre £rom;:R-i to P-C,was given second reading,_ and on motion of Cummings and Marshall, was adopted by unanimous vote on roll call.. Amendment - to Codified Ordinance No. 5 _.(Pawnbrokers and Secondhand Dealers) The, proposed ordinance amending Article 12 of Codified Or- dinance No, .5'r-egulating:.pawrbrokers and secondhand dealers was pre- ; rented for second- reading.. Mr. H. V:. Roberta, who conducts a secondhand' goods and used furniture business at 2372 El Camino Real, addressed the Coun- cil. He questioned the.necessity for the amendments and objected to certainprovision's of the proposed ordinance which he thought would be a hardship on"dlealers Of used goods, particularly those who take in used' = go•.ads intrade. He objected to some of the record -keeping required' nd'to t:he; requirement that goods be held twenty days be- fore they- :car. be sold Mr. Rlintaof :the Flint Music Company also addressed the Council in protest toa some of the provisions of the propo ed..ordi- nance, particularly with'regard to holding the goods twenty days be- foresale. • 398 A letter was received:frorn.E. H. DeFrees, President of De Frees Office Equipment, asking, thatused office furniture be exempt from the`provislohs---of the proposed ordinance. Mr. J`. P. Swartz, 2805 El Camino Real, told the Council he feels that the proposed ordinance should be revised to exempt stores`. which buy secondhand articles from dealers in wholesale secondhand goods: The City. Attorney explained that the proposed ordinance would clarify the present regulations and contain amendments which would assist the Poli.ce'Department in enforcement of the regulations. He pointed out that:there wou1,1 be`some hardship on individual deal-` ers who would .be"required to keep records and make reports, and ad vised that some -Adjustments in the ordinance may be desirable and that some of the hardshtp: would be eliminated if stores dealing.in secondhand goods incidental to their principal business are exempt,. The Chief of -.Police stated that it would be satisfactory to exempt office .furniture in addition to. the 'other exemptions in Section 12.03. He pointed- out the importance of'requiring goods to be held for twen ty days to assist the Police Department in their investigation of thefts and the recovery of;sto"len property. The Mayor asked Councilmen Rodgers, Marshall and Bishop to serve as a special committee to -investigate this question, to meet with the people concerned. and with the City Attorney and Chief of Police, and report back to -the Council. Action on the ordinance was: deferred. pending their report. (The Council took a recessat this time, 9:05 P.M., and reconvened at 9:20 P.M.) Uniform Building Code Ordinance No-. 1675, adopting by reference the Uniform Building Code, 1955 Edition, with certain amendments, was given sec;• and reading, and on motion of Simpson, duly seconded, was adopted by unanimous vote on roll call of all council members present. (Mrs. Corcoran was absent luring this roll call.) Monthly Reports The monthly report of the Controller for February, 1956, was received and placed on file. The monthly report of the Planning Officer on action taken In February on applications for redivis.ion of lots, and the monthly report of the Zoning Administrator on action taken in February on ap- plications for variances and use permits, were received and placed on file. Refunds Upon recommendation of the Controller, it was moved by Mit- chell, seconded by Drysdale, and carried by unanimous vote on roll call, that the following refunds be authorized: $18.00 to McMillan Mortgage Company for lot cleaning charge on Tax Bill No. 11068, and $20.43 to Isaac and Monalee H. Reiswlg on street lighting assessment, Bill No. 772-A. Claims for Damages A report was received from the City Attorney regarding the claim filed by Mr. Max M._ Van'Patten in the sum of $62.16 for damag-' es to his automobile when 'it was involved in a collision with a po- lice car on January 25, 1956. The City, Attorney advised that in his opinion there was contributory negligence on the part of the claim- ant and therefore there is:no liability on the part of the City. It; was moved by Mitchell, seconded and carried that the report of the City Attorney be accepted and the claim denied. 399 The City Attorney also submitted a report on the claim filed by Angel Y'. Miranda in.the sum of $17,500.00 for injuries sus- tained when an explosion'occurred in a manhole in which he was work ing near the intersection of Bryant Street and Colorado Avenue. Th City Attorney advised that he had investigated the matter and finds! that 'the City had no notice of any dangerous or defective condition' in this area; that any'damage to the City's gas lines occurred as al result of operations of the Pacific Telephone & Telegraph Company, and that the accident was due to the negligence of Mr. Miranda; that in the City Attorney's opinion there is no liability on the part of the City. It was moved by Byxbee, seconded and carried that the re -f port of the City Attorney be accepted and the claim be denied.: Meeting Schedule The Mayor pointed out that the two -month experimental pe-1 riod of weekly Council meetings has ended and that it is time for 1 the Council to discuss whether or not it will continue to meet ever Monday and dispense with committee meetings, or return to the commit- tee system and have Council meetings twice a month, on the second j and fourth Mondays of each month. He asked for opinions and discus sion on'the question. Councilman Rodgers stated that he is in favor of returning to the system in use prior to January 1, 1956, with Council meetings on the second and fourth Mondays and the use of standing committees,. as he felt council members get more information during committee meetings and can accomplish the business with more dispatch. Councilman Drysdale pointed out that the Council has had the opportunity to try both systems; that under the weekly Council I meeting system the members know that every Monday evening is taken for a. Council meeting, leaving the rest of the week free for other 1 activities and engagements. He favored the new plan of weekly Coun-1 cil meetings. Councilmen Simpson, Mitchell and Nevis concurred. A suggestion was made by Councilman Ruppenthal that open. committee meetings be tried for two months, pointing out that items occasionally come up which can not very well be studied properly in a Council meeting. Councilman Bishop advised that the weekly Council meetings are desirable but thought that the committees should not be aban- doned and certain problems should be referred to committees for study. He favored Council meetings every Monday with committee meetings .when necessary. A motion was made by Councilman Davis that the,present or -II dinance providing'for open meetings of standing committees and of thle Council as a committee of .the whole be expanded. to provide that any committee appolnted:by the Council or by the Mayor be open to the public at any time, that two members of such committee request it. There. wasnosecond to. the motion. Later Dr. Davis stated that his intention was that the request for an open meeting of a'special com- mittee"should.be made by two council members on the committee. It had been pointed out that special committees are usually composed of, both council members and laymen. NL„s. Corcoran commented on the advantages of committee meetings which'.give more opportunity for study and information be- fore Council action is taken. She suggested open committee meetings be tried for two months, and then the Council, having tried both sys.. tems, would be in a better position to make a decision. A suggestion was made by Cresap that the Council:meet ev- ery other week as a, Committee of the Whole, not in the C'ouncil"" roan, but in'the committee room or in the basement where council members can sit around a;table and. talk things over in an informal manner.; • that if`this plan were -adopted it be understood that at any time.. the Mayor can appoint a special committee if he wishes for particularly,! difficult or<special problems. Councilman Simpson advised that the suggestion has merit,- but pointed out that the requirement for open ,�•a: m u,��.w, , AN," 400 meetings would probably makeit necessary to use the council room to accommodate the public, and it would be difficult to have the type of informal meetings Mr. Cresap had in mind. Mr. Simpson stated he would strongly favor returning to twice -a -month Council meetings and the committee system if committee meetings were closed to the public except for persons who are invited to furnish the committee with in- formation on subjects in which they are interested. Mr. Cummings favored the return to the committee system for more complete discussion of the various subjects which the Coun- cil must consider. Mr. Marshall reviewed the situation with regard to committees during his years on. the, Council, and stated that he thought the Council discussed matters more fully in front of the au- dience at Council meetings than they did in committee meetings. He favored the weekly Council meeting system. The Mayor suggested consideration of a plan to hold regu- lar Council meetings on the second and fourth Mondays, with a com- mittee of the whole meeting on the first Monday of each month for discussion of policy and long range programs and with meetings of standing committees during the third week of the month on matters which might be referred to them. A motion was made by Bishop, sec- onded by Mrs. Corcoran, that the plan suggested by the Mayor be fol- lowed. The motion was lost by a voice vote. A motion was then made by Cummings, seconded by Byxbee, that the Council return to the committee system, with regular Coun- cil meetings on the second and fourth Mondays. The motion was car- ried by the following vote on roll call: Ayes: Bishop, Byxbee, Corcoran, Cresap, Cummings, Davis, Giffin, Porter, Rodgers, Ruppenthal. Noes: Drysdale, Marshall, Mitchell, Nevis, Simpson. The suggestion made by Councilman Davis regarding open' meetings for special committees was referred by the Mayor to Commit-' tee No.,3 for consideration.. Capital Improvement Program Proposed Bond issues The City Manager.referred to a statement at a recent Coun- cil meeting that the Council had not yet started to make its own study on the Ii.brary needs and. facilities, and reported for the rec ord that Committee No. 2 had held a meeting in August, 1955, with the Citizens' Library Committee for a review of their report and a discussion of the library program. Councilman Byxbee suggested that consideration be given to bonding' some of the improvements for the water and gas departments in order to provide -some flexibility over the next few years. He pointed out that :some contingencies may arise for which general funds will be needed, such as the redevelopment of the Circle area which is now being studied., Councilman Mitchell stated that there is a possibility of a sales tax and if that is adopted it would provide a great deal of flexibility in -the future. .The Mayor advised that Mr. Byxbee's suggestions are well taken, -but in view of the time sched- ule involved with regard to getting bond issues on the June ballot, it would be advisable to defer consideration of any additional items to a later date. The City Attorney explained the procedure for the bond pro- ceedings, stating that the first:step is adoption of a resolution de- termining the necessity for the improvements and that they will re- quire expenditures greater than the .amount allowed therefor by the annual tax levy; that at a subsequent meeting the ordinance submit- ting the bond issues to the voterse would be adopted, and that such ordinance should be adopted by March 26th if the election is to be consolidated with the June 5th primary election. ResolutionNo. 2717 entitled "Resolution Determining that the Public Interest and Necessity. Demand the Acquisition, Construc- 401 tion and. Completion by the City of Palo Alto, of Eaeh-of: the Poi- ?owingeMuniclpal Improvements within the City of Palo Alto, to wits (1) -Sewer Collection. and -Treatment System; (2), Electric D1stribu- tion System; t3) -Storm Sewer and Drainage System; (k).A Main Li-. brery and Branch Libraries; (5) Public Parks, Playgrounds and Rec- reationa.l Centers; Determining that the Acquisition, Construction �. and Coopletion of saidMunicipal Improvements, and Each of Them; is Necessary an, d C,onvenient,. to carry out the Objects, Purposes and. Pow.4 ens of the;saide City;- and Determining that the Acquisition,, Ceree struction and•Complet:ion''.of said Municipal Improvements, and Each of Them; will Require an Expenditure Greater than the amount Allowed Therefor by the Annual Tax. Levy" was introduced. It was moved by Drysdale and sec-orded that this resolution, which provides for fide separate bond proposals, be adopted. Councilman_ Cummings stated that he believes the people should voteon all large expenditures, and that the Park and Recre- ation bonciissue.:should be enlarged to include all the funds neces- sary to finanee:the:program; that when the grade separation bond is sue is put on the ballot, it should be for the total cost of the project and not for a portion of it. Mrs. Corcoran as.ked'a question as to the rei.ation of the Planning:Commission to the capital improve- tent.program,`and items pointed out that all of the proposed im- provements are included in the Interim General Plan. Councilman Cresap advised that he thought it should be made clear to the public that the bond issues should not be consid- ered as a referendum but as approval to borrow money for the proj- ects; that it is possible to go ahead and carry out the projects even though the bonds were defeated. He referred particularly to the sewer and utility bonds for needed improvements and expansion. The City Manager also pointed out that the Council should be aware of the fact that if the sewer bond issue should fail, the Council would still have the responsibility of doing the work; that the sew- age plant improvements must be made as required by state law, and the work would have to be financed by some other method if the bond issue is not approved. Councilman Navis urged the Council to reconsider its ac- tion to place the five bond issues as separate items on the ballot, and moved that the motion to adopt the resolution be amended to pro- vide that the five measures be combined into one proposal. The a- mendment was seconded by Mrs. Corcoran but was lost by a voice vote. roll call. Resolution No. 2717 was then adopted by unanimous vote on It was then moved by Mrs. Corcoran, seconded and carried, that the Planning Commission be requested to consider the proposals so that it may concur with the program. The Mayor announced that the action taken tonight obviates the necessity for another Council meeting tomorrow evening. South Palo Alto Grade Separation - Traffic Circulation A motion was made by Bishop, seconded by Davis, that the Mayor be authorized to appoint a committee to study the grade sepa- ration project and the traffic problem in the area, the committee' to be appointed on an area basis, with instructions to report back to the Council in June when the matter is to come before the Council for discussion. Councilman Nevis pointed out that the grade separation is tied in with other problems which affect the overall program; that if a committee is appointed it should investigate the whole problem of trafficcircuiation, and should consider the Oregon Avenue situa- tion only as it relates to the whole problem. Mrr. Bishop advised that he did not have the overall problem in mind in making the mo- tion; that hewould suggest the study be confined to the area be- tween Churchill Avenue and East Meadow Drive. 40? • The. City Manager pointed out that technical traffic prob.; lems are involved and any study should.cover a greater area than -just the City of Palo' Alto; , that' a lay' committee' would find it difficult to limit its.study°to a segment the' area. The City Manager advised that the Interim General Plan -contains recommendations for traffic flow and these recommendations are being developed by the staff; al so that -De Leuw,:-Cather & Company has to submit a written report as part of their.contract in connection with:the South Palo Alto grade separation study, and-until'this.material is available there would be nothing of 'value for a committee to •review and discuss. The Mayor advised -that the committee which he suggested earlier during this meeting would be a bread committee to study all the findings in regard to• an overall traffic circulation plan, with recommendations to the Council for the financing of the plan. Mr. Bishop remarked that- his reason for suggesting the appointment of a committee at this time was to get'some action on the grade separa- tion as soon as possible,as he hoped there could be a proposal -for the underpass on the November ballot if a decision is made to have a bond issue for all or -.-a portion of the cost. After further discussion, and without a formal vote on the matter, it was agreed thatthe matter would be referred to Committee No. 1 for study before any further action is taken. Deputy City Clerks for Loyalty Oaths It was moved by Rodgers, seconded by Mavis, and carried that Mrs. Eleanor Sutras and Mrs. Robert Grinnell be appointed as deputy city clerks for the purpose of signing loyalty oaths of vol- unteers for the Ground Observer Corps. There being no further business to come before:the Council, the meeting was adjourned at 11:00 P.M.