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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04091956409 City Hall, Palo Alto, California April 9, 1956 proved. Electrical Code This was the time tor a hearing on the proposed adoption of the National.Electrical Code, 1953 Edition, with amendments. A proposed ordinance adopting the National Electrical Code by refer- ence and incorporating the amendments recommended by the special committee which has been'studying the matter, was presented for con- sideration The hearing was declared open. Mr. Stephen G. Moore a general contractor, addressed the Council regarding the requirements in the code pertaining to wiring methods for multiple housing, and. objected to the amendment proposed in Section 3001 of the:Electri.cal Code, Section 17, of the°`ordinance recommended by the special com- mittee. ` He filed a letter from the. Pacific Fire Rating: Bureau which stated that'their'rating methods provide no means of penalizing knob and tube wiring in habitational occupancies of less than twenty' units. Mr. John Shaddle, electrical inspector, explained the rea- sons for :the committee's recommendation in this particular regula- tion. There being no others to speak on the matter, the hearing -was closed. The Council of the City of Palo Alto met in regular ses- sion on this date at 7:301,,m., with Mayor Porter presiding,. Roll call as follows: Present: Byxbee, Cresap, Cummings, Davis, Drysdale, Giffin, Marshall, Mitchell, Nevis, Porter, Rodgers, Ruppen- thal,, Simpson. Absent: Bishop, Corcoran. The minutes of the meeting of March 26, 1956, were ap-- On motion of Cummings and Cresap, the proposed ordinance was accepted for first reading and referred to Committee No. I. Amendment to Zoning.:Ordinance (Retail Sales in R -3-P) A report was received from the Planning Commission recom- mending that a proposedamendment to Section 8B.02 of the Zoning Or- dinance to prohibit retail sales of any goods, drugs, or merchandise in connection with any use in an R -3-P zone be not adopted. Consid- eration of this item was deferred to the next regular meeting. Zone Change Aaplication (Cooper) A report was received from the Planning Commission recom- mending that the, application of William J. Cooper for a change of district of a portion of Lot 78, Wooster Subdivision, known as 779 Loma Verde Avenue, from:R-1, Single Family Residence District, to R-2, Limited Apartment District, be denied. At the request of W. Frank Cristo attorney, this matter was referred to Committee No, 1. Project• 52-1-3,- Off -Street Parking, University Avenue District This was the 'time set for a hearing on proposed modifica- tions to Project:52-13 to acquire properties on both sides of Uni versity Avenue between Alma and High Streets in Blocks 4 and 5. Matr tern in connection with proposed modifications to the project in- volving the. acquisition of other parking lots in the district had been continued to, -this. date. Letters -protesting, the taking of their properties: on the- Circ.le-were- received -from John F. Demeter and from Fred H.: Smith, H. Perry:Smith and Earle F. Smith, Letters.objecting to the taking of:frontage properties. on -the Circle -and University Avenue -for park- 4113 ing purposes were received .from the. following merchants on the Cir- clec- Bungey ,Travel, Inc -, :Pappas Bros. operating the Or pheum Cate, Dalton Realty Company, and Dorothy E. Paulson operating the Excelsi- or'Sales Company. As the report on studies being made by the staff on traf- fic and parking plans for the area has not yet been completed, it was. suggested by the,Cityr Manager that the hearing be continued to the next meeting. On motion of Mitchell and Cresap, the hearing on modifica tions to Project 52-13 and, all matters in connection with the proj- ect were continued to the next regular Council meeting on April 23, 1956. Bond Election The Council was informed'.of the receipt of a certified co- py of a resolution adopted by the Board of Supervisors on April 2, 1956, providing for the consolidation of the Special Municipal Bond Election of the City of Palo,Altc with the State and County Primary Election to be held on June 5, 1956. A letter was received from the South Palo Alto Civic Club advising that it had voted unanimously to endorse the forthcoming improvement bond issues. Gifts to Children's Library It was announced that a portrait of a sea captain's daugh- ter, a sun dial for the. Secret Garden at the Children's Ilbrary, and the sum of $50.00 to. erect a pedestal for the sun dial, were be- queathed to the Children's Library in the will of Ruth Morgan Sted- man. On motion of Byxbee and Rodgers, the Council accepted these gifts and authorized the Mayor to execute an acknowledgment. It was also directed that a letter of appreciation be sent to Mr. Morgan Stedman, the executor of the Estate of Ruth Morgan Stedman. Dumbarton Bridge Toll The Council acknowledged receipt of a resolution passed by' the Council of the City of Newark urging the California Toll Bridge Authority to reduce the tol1,:for•passenger vehicles on the Dumbarton Bridge, and requesting other local agencies to support this action. Yacht Club Cruise A letter was:received from the Palo Alto Yacht Club thank- ing the Council for its support of the Yacht Harbor and for the com- pletion of new berthing facilities, and inviting the members of the Council to sail with the fleet on a short cruise of lower San. Fran- cisco Bay, to be arranged for the early part of May. This invitation was accepted by the Council. Annexations to -Mountain View Notices were received,from the County Boundary Commission of proposals for annexation flf -certain. territory to the City of Moun- tain View, designated as Montalto #1, Boranda #6 and Miramonte #13. Parking Restriction on Middlefield Road A letter was r..eceived'from the First Christian Church, 2890 Middlefield Road, concerning the ordinance recently adopted which prohibits parking on Middlefield Road every day from. 8:00 to -6:00 p`.m., and requesting that the ordinance be amended to permit parting on Sundays on that portion. of Middlefield Road between the. IHerbert Hoover School property and.Matadero Canal. 411 The City Manager advised that the Traffic Committee feels that there is as much traffic on Midd7,efield Road on Sundays as on the average week day, and the committee would appreciate it if the Council would delay action on the Church's request fora period of time to give an (*portunity to observe the effect and benefits of the "no -parking" ordinance. On motion of Bybee and Nevis, the Council withheld actiorj until it can be determined how the ordinance is working out. Mar- shall voted No on the motion. r Public Rest Rooms A letter was received from Mrs. E. P. Hunt, Chairman of the Area Beautification Committee of the Palo Alto Chamber.of,Com- merce, concerning the need for public rest rooms in the downtown business tlittrict47 and recommending that such facilities be include in the proposed branch library building in the downtown area... . This was referred to Committee No. 2. West Meadow Park Site A report was..made by the Assistant to the City Manager re- garding the acquisition of.a park site in the area between:West Mea- dow Drive and Francisco Way and westerly of the Southern Pacific right of way. He advised that the area proposed to be acquired con-, tains approximately 5.3k acres, being a portion of the Rancho Rinconl de San Francisco, and will. include sufficient. land to:provide for. the partial continuation' of a street to ultimately extend Park Bou- levard. The park itself would have an area of 4.67 acres. Resolution No..; 2721, determining that the g public interest • and necessity require, for public use, certain land for park purpos- es, was introduced, and on motion of Mitchell and Cummings,, was a- dopted by unanimous vote on roll call. Amendments to Sewer Agreements with Stanford The City Manager, presented a request from Stanford Univer- sity for an .amendment to.`,,Agreement Na. 560 entered into on February 9, 1953, .between the City' of Palo Alto and Stanford, University which provided for extension of sewer..main to serve the Eastman Kodak` plant on Page Mill Road, so that the sewage load of the campus may • be relieved by a temporary connection to this line. The City:.Manag- er pointed out that the.University is committed to the construction I of a large trunk line to Larry sewage from the recently annexed areas and other Stanford lands which may be annexed to. .the City, and hopes to baild a portion of the trunk line system by September, 1956, but is making the request for a temporary connection because of the urgency of the problem at this time. The City :Manager recommended that the amendment be ap-' . proved under the following general conditions: That :the: authoriza tion be"granted`on ;a=temporary basis with the understanding that the Additional •construction•of .'the overall installation will take place in the immediate -future- on a predetermined time schedule,, 'that` a me- tering station approved -by the City of Palo Alto be installed:at. Point B where campus sewage would enter the proposed trunk line, and that -a: ;cash contribution be- made for enlargement of the line to the. 'plant.. The .City Manager'recommended that the line be authorized for const'ruct1on:and that the existing agreement be amended so the con- nectioi can be made to the sewer main on Page Mill Road under the general terms outlined: Mr.--Alf>Brandin, Business Manager of Stanford University, spoke briefly in support 01' the request, advising that additional capacity -it needed for campus sewage by September, 1956. The City Manager further recommended that an amendment be made in Agreement No. 131., the original sewer rental agreement with Stanford University, by substituting a more descriptive term for the word "property" in"Section IIof'the:agreement. He suggested the words "Stanford. campus lands" r:or'a:° more suitable term to be supplied by the City Attorney be used in the agreement. It was moved, seconded and carried that Agreements No. 1.3i: and 560 be amended in accordance with -the recommendations of the City Manager, and that. _the !siayor be authorized to sign the amendments in i behalf of -the City. Creek and Levee Rehabilitation A request was presented by the C_lty Manager for authoriza- tion for payment of royalties involved in connection with four con- tracts which the Corps- of Engineers has let for bank and levee reha- bilitation in the City of Palo` Alto (two contracts on San Francis- quitoCreek and two on Matadero Creek), and :for the payment of $14- 000.00 for extra cos..ts.iinvolved in providing access to San Francis- quito Creek. It was explained that the royalties are the land' own. er's,fees for quarry rights, and that the City's share of the work, through royalties may amount to around $5,000.00 or $7,000.00. It was moved by Byxbee, seconded, and carried by unanimous. vote enroll call that the payment of royalties involved be author-` -ized and that the payment' of` X1,000.00 for extra costs in providing Creek access ; be authorized. Transfers, Sewage Treatment Plant Services The City Manager,requestecl approval of transfers of $10,- 000.00`from the Sewer Treatment 'Plant Reserve Fund to Account 5341 and $10,000.00 from the Unappropriated Balance of the Sewer Fund to Account 5341, to provide funds necessary to pay for the engineering services presently under contract for the expansion of the treatment plant. and trunk lines. On motion of Mitchell and Drysdale, these transfers of funds were authorized by unanimous vote on roll call. Transfers for Park Department Equipment The City Manager recommended a transfer. of $9,380.00 from the Unappropriated Reserve to Account 901-99 for the purchase of an aerial ladder truck andri'ecessary attachments, including hydraulic - pruning tools, for the Park Department, and for the transfer of 00 from Account 149E to Account ' 1k9F for the replacement of a 3 H.P. chain saw. On motion of Byxbee and Marshall, these transfers were au- thorized by unanimous --vote on roll call. Berthing Fees at Yacht Harbor A report was submitted by the City Manager regarding the new berthing facilities atthe Harbor, estimated annual costs for op- eration of the Harbor, and possible fee schedules for the new berths. He recommended a trial,rate of $54.00 per berth per quarter for the four 40 -foot berths, and $45.00 per berth per quarter for the twelve 30 -foot berths It was moved by Mitchell, seconded and carried that this. fee schedule for the Harbor be approved as recommended by the City Manager. Reserve Parking in Block 38 Lot The'City Manager reported that a communication has been filed by 39 people who desire-a;section of the parking lot in Block 38 to be designated -as reserved,parking, with in -and -out privileges, for which they are willing to pay $12.00 per space per quarter in ad- vance. The City Manager recommended; that a certain portion of the parking. lot: in Biock 38' be' set aside for such reserved parking as an experiment; 413 After discussion, it was moved byRuppenthale,; s'ecorded by Byxbee, and carried:that the plan as proposed be tried on an experi-L mental basis.` (The` Council• took a recess at this time, &.40 P.M., and reconvened at 8 55 P.M.) ) Hospital Agreement A report was received from. Committee No. 3 recommending approval and execution :of an agreement between the City .of Palo Alt and the Boards of Trustees. of< Stanford University for operation of the joint- Palo : Alto. -Stanford Hospital Center. This agreement was prepared by the special committee appointed for the purpose, and has been approved by Committee No. 3 with certain minor amendments. Itwas moved by Mitchell,, seconded by Cresap, that --the agreement be approved. in principle as presented, and that -the City Attorney be authorzed'-to consult with representatives'of Stanford University concerning, any changes in wording, the agreement to be returned to the Council through Committee No. 3 for final action.. Dr'. W. Norman Sears, Chief of Staff of the Palo Alto Hos- pital, addressed the; Council concerning the views of the doctors relative to the hospital program, and advised that a majority of th medical staff are in favor of the proposed agreement and'the eight - member Board (four to be' appointed by the City and four by Stanford for operation of the Hospital Center, provided there is a committee appointed by the Council to whom the Palo Alto Hospital staff may appeal in the event of a dispute. Councilman Davis moved that the agreement as submitted be amended by substituting the words "combined operation of" for the word "combining" in the first line of the" third WHEREAS on .Page 1, and by changing the words "City and Stanford shall construct and op- erate a joint hospital" in Paragraph 1, Hospital Center, on Page 1, to read City and Stanford shall construct hospitals and operate them jointly." The motion was seconded by Rodgers. After discussion, the amendments suggested by Councilman Davis were approved in principle. Byxbee voted No on the motion. During the discussion he had stated that he is definitely iri favor of the new hospital and the integration with Stanford, but:doee not approve of a single -governing board to operate both hospitals' and would rather have the Palo Alto Hospital operated as a city depart- ment under the City Manager and -an advisory commission. • Theratlon to approve the agreement, as amended, in prin- ciple was, then, carried, Byxbee voting No. On motion of Davis and Mitchell, the City Attorney was asked to draft an amendment to the Administrative Code ;to provide. for -another, .standing -committee of the Council, to be. known as Come mi.ttee Noe k, to deal with hospital problems, (Councilman. Simpson left at this time, 9:34 P.Mee and was= absent for the rest of the meeting.) Agreement .for_"P1de.-Gate Plans :-'The City Manager ` pres'ented an agreement between the. Santa Clara; County Plood C:ontro.l and Water Conservation District -and the City of Palo Alto. relative ..to the preparation of contract plans and specifications Tor -,tide -gates to be installed in the Palo Alto Tid- al Basin:. On motion .of:Mitchell and Marshall, the.Mayor was,author- ized to sign this agreement by unanimous vote on roll call,. 41.4 Bids on Hospital Parking Lot Consideration of the,bids received on April 6, 1956, for the construction of:a parking lot at the Palo Alto Hospital was de- ferred to the` next regular meeting on April 23, 1956. Tax Story in San Francisco Chronicle • The:City Manager called attention to an article in the San; Francisco Chronicle -of April 8, 1956, concerning property taxes and= assessments, with a`tax comparison table and other tax information_ pertaining to.Peninsula c:lties. Council members requested that they be furnished. with a copy of this ar, ticle for their information. Golf Course Fees The City Manager recommended the following schedule of rates and fees for the Palo Alto Municipal Golf Course: Rates: The rate for all week days until 3:30 P.M. Pacific Standard Time, or 4:30 P.M. Daylight Saving Time . . . $ 1.50 The rate for all week -ends and holi- days until 3:30 P.M. Pacific Standard Time, or 4:30 P.M. Daylight Saving Time . . $ 2.50 The daily rate after 3:30 P.M. PST, or 4:30 P.M. DST . $ 1.00 A non -transferable monthly card, not good when week -end or holiday rates are in effect, may be purchased by Palo Alto residents and original golf course_ subscribers only. (Monthly cards to be purchased from the Com- mercial,Officer.): . $ 8.00 Reservations The fee per person for reservations $ .25 Rules regarding reservations were read. It was moved by`Ruppenthal, seconded by Byxbee, and car- ried that these rates be put into effect on a trial basis. Llbrax-j ,pProgram Councilman Cummings, Chairman of Committee No. 2, reported that the committee had met with members of the Citizens' Representa- tive Library Action Committee and other interested persons regarding the library program, and unanious1y recommended in principle the ac- ceptance of the proposal of the Library Action Committee for an im- proved library system for Palo Alto. This involves the building of a new main library: probably on the City Hall property, a branch li- brary in the south part of the city, probably in Mitchell Park or. adjacent thereto, the maintenance of a branch in the University Ave- nue District in the existing building until such time as better fa- cilities might be provided, and the maintenance of the existing branch in College Terrace and the Children's Library at the Commun- ity Center. Mr. Cummings advised that further discussion will be had at a later date to determine the exact location of the main li- brary and the branch in the :eouth part of town, after further study of cost figures and other information. On motion of Cummings and Byxbee, the recommendation of Committee No. 2 was adopted. mending' A report ��-- o,� district b way �� from 14-1-4,' of the froM �T trio* ng' that the property application o Marianothe Planning of th t a t the southeasterly' oa I 'g Evangelista or t,. Residence theast It r tri adopted " andthe o � on ` of , General AAar the e t DI s end for a e,t a�` apps ea ah � tment str ��' cult Wilkie e 'yng t�oh and pct ura� Y R Cpt denied" Navin' the s b$ deny D s Terrace. �# report ��e` ;$�oc�" � recommendation d rrace" E�pxav eel' the - received Coll was v Record from the �'la er�ace Orr -motion of nn�n Y le was app.oved°n aP Survey of 13loc.k ion fie Tentative cheZ and g,: College �uQ Cna "er RuApenthal, th,t fit$ mendingz the tthe was submitted s Record or Sur., lion that and .0 Tentative b, mated the .e 'report Wooster Nip or y the P mum , as sc�e tr�et�pattern*Subd�v Cooper ann�. he abandonment b d s hd'e1 qA r► subject .be elan,, be Court, ed of s he divider, tlen,t to the le�ct to aid out approved being map z ecom as "recommended ec Of ,;ex '' the the lot sizes show, witthe p rag. of ,t4 J and sUb, ist� easements Of `granting of public ben °n the en a and Lome`V -Eichl•er' the c�met�t Palo Alto, utxt the p ¢p, d�sg- Verde Avenue hd property' r ee which Interfere feed the expeiee nse proper a ty gin rater eme ni der development. outs Road and in e subdivider this �� t sub . o.� veto ���, � and question der 4P ve o the p'�'-'nt n Cummings ca .r.on t pin the CouncilEichler ` X� �.$'���ng$ no contains 3fi 1� located tract axeh�t can houses, a sed objections noted that the iota" er Rich There and econtra/ consider a the moved deneI to the s2 s e and to rd to adoption of the tentative o ar2other Rich_ r the tr C4u� the motion. plans and jn nt$tye of 040 and 7,000 The glean Neese ana �'ar a ce set n unt bp�ng 7 x,000 a �'`nh i bra ll coxrstz,, 8 up an ' 'eels ,000. s gttar� "�, g 0�`�'�c ht up thM �et��,n, meat 6,000 guar$ Pe $et, Ara r re Gaes i an squat et t b$b.c red t tsar; a back to 8 k#nde_faot, o�"�ze. Cnot more the, x¢ lot ,size in s ma matte , and.moy a. src * c�lma than l6, is will s for 1 tl on was eonde for A xbd � q o s s Qd be 36 e; rcanded nIter considerable by Cum atto approvadrr g' dha 1 he s e o,� the ho�carried that discussion, ��sc dot sizes 1n �'er"red p� rr e us he 1 ('t was to discuss hat hot su Council, resolveW ti moved area"' Cove 4' moved he by Cr�agp, zee. itsel by into Ca test, , dos ale re second Commit- % follows, tills ubdon sizes nab to thed e �� v$s that ;� n. The not lessCouncil that the Cflm,. Ay Cre$a a vote an 7, 000 th e Noes � he / , C�xas ng�, Da ll call was � r . Yxbp Davis, Giffin,. fP ' Rodgers Drysdale, 1n The;, motjan wy . e, Marshall, ATi Na�Z8, Ruppen_ Durial ng the ens declared loft" tcrell' porter'` the present membersOng' d�sC�t -....,--.....-_-_,..........„..3:_„-----_-_-_______. �-� thus nga th aru wt t tpsa an i t was i`�--::.",- °lent. �'"sha c h Subdzv porn �u I "'" -- �;. Id b� a l to ae ezt �n good had oo out » se ^ -. to pro d Psi th l1 ed wx t r.. e , -- � � �Y� th � end . ^!%p�, • � rr -----,..„,....„------_______,---....„--41- ipp'y v u w S It was moved by Rodgers eeconded and carried that.the Com» mittee of the Whole recommend to the council that with the exception`of this subd viaion e the minimum lot size shall be 7000'square feet'for the City of Palo Alto. It was then moved -by Cresap, seconded by Rodgers, that the Committee of the Whole -reconvene as the Council.) On motion of Marshall' Cooper Court, being portions of was approved in accordance with Commission. There were 10 Ayes Davis not voting. `and Mitchell, the tentative map of Lots 106 and 107, Wooster SubdivisYne the recommendation of the Planning on the motion, Cummings Voting No -and On motion of Byxbee, the suggestion of Cummings for an or- dinance setting up an architectural control board was referred to Committee No. 1 and Committee No. 3 for study, with the understand- ing that the matter would first be considered by Committee No. 1 and then be referred to Committee No. 3. The recommendation.of the Committee of the Whole regarding: 7,000 square -foot minimum lot'.sizes was referred to the Planning Come mission inasmuch as, an;'amendment;to the Zoning Ordinance is involved:, Final Map of Tract No. 172:2' Meadowpark Unit No. 5 A report," was received from the Planting Commission recom- mending approval of the final, map of`Tract No. 1722, Meadowpark Unit No. 5, subject to'furnishing'additional public utilities easements, the designation of the 10 -foot easement along the easterly boundary as a drainage easeaent, and furnishing additional 10 -foot drainage easements as necessary, and further,:that the name of Montrose Ave- nue be changed to Louis Road to conform with the present pattern of Louis Road. A letter was received from George S. Nolte, engineer for the subdivider, requesting' three Months' extension for the filing of the final 'map of this tract. The request was granted and action de f erred . A proposed ordinance changing the name of Montrose Avenue to Louis Road was accepted for first reading. Design Control Plan A report was re;eived from» the Planning Commission recom- mending that the design control application of the C and C Home Builders for a four -unit apartment on portion of Lots 4, 5 and 6,. Bleck,k, Stanford City; be approved. It Was moved, ..seconded and carried that the recommendation be adopted and t'ie'plan approved: Amendment to Zoning Ordinance - L -M Uses A report`was submitted by.the Planning Commission recom- mending that Section 15.04 be;added to. the L -f Regulations of the Zoning Ordinance to read: "Uses 'Allowed with,a Use Permit - a. Serv- iceStations," A proposed ordinance` amending Article 15 of the Zon ing Ordinance was accepted for first reading. Purchase of Treasury Bills Resolution No. 2722authorizing the Treasurer to purchase $100,000 U.S. Treasury Bills dated. March 26 1956, due June 21, 1956, at 2.09 per cent discount basis, for $99,496.62, was intro- duced and passed by unanimous vote on roll call. Project 55-5, California Parking Bonds Resolution No.: 2723<amending Resolution No. 2708 for the- issuance of bonds under Project, 55-5, to provide that the bonds shall be dated May .15 1956, was introduced and passed by unanimous ''4 vote on roll call.. 417 Secondhand Sales Ordinance Ordinance No. 2677, amending Article 12 of Codified Ordi- nance No,:5 regulating pawnbrokers and secondhand dealers, was giv- en second. reading.. Councilman Rodgers reported that the specialcommi.ttee had considered the provisions of the ordinance at a meeting with secondhand dealers, and recommended the adoption of the ordinance with certain amendments. On,motion of Rodgers and Mitchell, the ordinance as -.rec- ommended by the special committee was adopted by unanimous vote on roll call. Arterial Stop' Sign on Castilleja Avenue Ordinance No. 1678, establishing an arterial stop sign on Castilleja Avenue at its intersection with Park Boulevard, stopping southbound. CastiilejaAvenue traffic, was given second reading and adopted by unanimous vote on roll call. Parking Meter Rates in Block 29 Ordinance No. 1679, amending Ordinance No. 1132;estab1ish-1 ing parking meter rates in the Hamilton Avenue parking lot in Block 29 was given second reading and adopted by unanimous vote on roll call. Amendments to Fire Zone Maw Ordinarce:.No: l6$0, amending the Fire Zone Map -by adding thereto the area included in Stanford Annexation No. 4, was given second reading, and on motion of Mitchell and Ruppenthal, was adopt ed by unanimous vote on roll call. *See next:page. Claims for Damages Reports were received from the City Attorney en claims for flood damage from the following: Mr. and Mrs. John P. Kiraly, 1002 Amarillo Avenue, in the amount of $50,000.00; Mr. John La - Plante►, 1032 Amarillo Avenue, in the amount of $20,000.00; Miss Ruth Danielsen, 1044 Amarillo Avenue, in the amount of $15,000:00; and Mr and, Mrs. David M. Allen, 501 Greer Road, in the amount of $9,250.00. The City Attorney advised that in his opinion there is no liability on the part of the City, since the damages were not th result of any dangerous or defective condition of City property. On motion ofByxbee and Navis, the reports of the City At -1 torney were acoepted and the claims denied. Monthly Reports. The -monthly report of the Controller for March, 1956, was received and placed on file. The monthly report of the Planning Officer on on applications for redivision of lots was received and placed on file. action taken The monthly report of the Zoning Administrator on action taken on applications for variances and use permits was received and filed. Quitclaim Deed to E. Gear The City Attorney presented a Quitclaims Deed from the City' of Palo Alto to E. Gear for the purpose of divesting the grantor from any and'all interest itmay have acquired by an Interlocutory Judgment in Eminent Domain entered in the Superior Court and filed 418 for record on April 16, 1930, Action No. 35604, in the case of City of Palo Alto vs. g. M.` Cuthbert8on et al. It was explained that the; property involved is a four -foot strip on the northwesterly side`of Cambridge Avenue. A resolution authorizing the Mayor to execute this quit- claim deed on behalf of the City was introduced and passed by unani-` mous vote on roll call. East' Meadow Drive Crossing The City Attorney:advised that Resolution No. 2179 adopted; at the last meeting authorizing submission of a request to the Pub- ' lie' Utilities Commission> for 'a'llocation of funds from the Crossing. Protection Fund'for`"the East •Meadow Drive crossing should be:re scinded and a new resolution adopted authorizing the submission of an amended application. On motion of Marshall and Ruppenthal, Resolution No. 2179 was rescinded. Resolution No. 272k, authorizing submission of request to the Public Utilities Commission and authorizing the Mayor to execute the request on behalf of the, City, for allocation of funds from the Crossing' Protection Fund in the'.maximum amount of $4,500.00, was in- troduced, and on motion of Drysdale and Cummings, was adopted by u- nanimous vote on roll call: C;'.tizens' Committee for Civic Improvements The Mayor announced that a Citizens' Committee for Civic Improvements is being organized, to be headed by Councilman Cresap, for the purpose of acquainting the voters with the need for passage of the bond propositions to be voted on at the June 5th election. There being no further business to come before the Coun- cil, the meeting was declared adjourned at 10:45 P.M. APPROVED:2f ATTEST: yor *Ordinance No. /681, amending the Fire Zone Map by including the area in the P -C District at Amarillo Avenue and the Bayshore Highway, was given second reading, and on motion of Mitchell and Ruppenthal, was adopted by unanimous vote on roll call.