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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09111956Ctty Hall, Palo Alto, California Septembeir 11,.2:1.956 -The .Council of; t aion on .this dats: ,at .7..30. Call , as follows: , r Present3; , City',, of Palo Alto met in regular sea .X., with Mayor Porter presiding. Roll Corcoran, ' ,Cresap, Cummings;. r,';tiaitfin;_, Marshall, Porter, *thal, Simpson. Absent . : Mitcbisll;,; Xavis4 Connailman A3afin asked,;ahst. a :correction be made In the,. fourth paragraph on',the;7ast pag of the minutes of August 27, 1956, to read : that hs vsd' "that. the Counct?l go "on rsoord that when and: it • the swiss tax ;comes ` *ttit otivs, , 50$ of the proceeds would be rs turned to: tbs .:peopls; ,in i'sduetionN;,ot slectrio rates to residential,; oonauaers." It was so .ordered,. and as thus corrected the miautes`-of thai meeting' of °August . ,1956,,°;�rere approved.. Abatement of cNUisanae The':hearing at,.whlch Charles R. Bogle shall show causewhyj the ,,buiildi.rg at *32 Hawthorne: Ave'nua should not be declared a publics nuisanee ;ha d, °bon aontinned :from August 13; 1956, to this ;date. `The •City Attorney .reported that :U1r. Boyle has node le- proveaente to they building, to :.comply -with the, provisions of the Building Code. ; Upon bis�_rec.Osi sedation; it was moved -by `;Ruppenthel,,, seconded "by Dryadals.,,- and carried that the, proceedingslor abatements • of this . nuleanoe be :dismissed. rrojec't 55-11 Middlefield Roact et al'. (Width of Mayvieit Ave). 'This was the ".time Lori a hearing 'on Resolution No. 277IV of Preliaibary Determination and of Intention' to make changee • and aodi-- fications: in Project 55 11 to- provide for the. acquisition of ease- senta necessary to; ;;make Nmyriew Avenue, .a 6'0=Soot right of .way. The hearing vas declared -open.. :lir. Leroy Sill,: ?70 Nayview Avenue, spoke in favor of "a 60 foot right of way, so: that a •#0 -foot,. p�aavumsnt from curb to curb could e :provided. ;Mr. -'Vernon 'Ford, 77_e Nayview Avenue, :and Mr,. Frank' White, 788 Nayview Avenus,`spoke ip support of a 50 -foot right; of way. , There was considerable discussion regarding pavement widths; the traffic`-llow'on Mayview.Avenue, the location of utility •,rpolas on' this street, and the possibility ;of a compromise to.,astab'- -1isb `?a 50 -foot. right. of `way' but provide for a 40 -foot curb -to -curb pavement instead of 30' feet through an encroachment permit or ease-- ,tints. It was pointed .out. ,that .the original plans provided for the standard 60 -foot right 0, way and that the utility poles had been"'a.t , accordingly; that fit a 50 -foot right :of way is established . it would 'be necessary to re ocate� the poles at a cost to the • City:, of! approximately $600.00. . During further' disousis'ion, its appeared to be the general: opinion -of oouneil; ae ; `that` +a b0 foot .pavement from curb to' curb! tit necessary. It. waa rid aim Crfsap , - seconded by_ Cursngs, that_.: a n resol*tion.: to adop �provldingfor . abe acquisition of a 60 -foot_ right; ,of 'way with.,,enaroittihment "psr.its to be granted to property onners to .,prot at :!,'Fences,•and.'planting' located in -the 5. foot strip which' would be accittired for the street. iridening. fir rd told the �Counoil at. this point that he would al-: ..low the polo �stireenr prop bis erty ''and ": Mr. Whitt' s property to be. eel t: i• • •4 rty-, if the City wishes, itw Ttiia 'par l in14ns: with th* of r' pots on, My.- d had.refused t'o' grant . permi'salon:= to 60 --foot 'right of :way. • eiall on ,� the aotiaa: to adopt a :, resolution ,00t :rights, of `ray on Wayv1ew with .enoroaehaent: ownsrs ,.wben requested was .as folloeers::. Bishop,_; Bybee, Crisp?, Cummings, •Davis,, Drysdale,, Giffin,'. Porter, Ruppenthal, Simpson,. Corcoran Marshall,. Rodger ,. ?bf City` Attorney.ruled that the ,resolution had failed to pass, `as 12 roes. were :required to .modify the project. \� Resolution Jo 2776, establishing a 50 foot right of way t fors ails i.iw Jlvrreni*;°xitkpav! Gent frost: curb' to curb.' ,to 'be k0' feet,, anti requesting pi p'trty'.mrners :to furnish easements .for strrst, . :tr..a. poles ,ate other mtility: purposes,. was introduced. 4, The: reso- lution ti to" op a�itber t'hat:;if. any of the required" easements?" are not granted .to'' the °City,:_ the Council ,,considen1 th.T,uatter- and take appropriate ;action. On motion:of of Ruppenthal ' andl 'trs '. Cor • cbran, this ,',risolutioniiias radopted ;by :mullions vote` on, Troll call.' ' PrOJect 52-33,' .0ff=Btr.et :Parking, University Avenue,.Diat ict. X11 st in: connection with .Project 52.13, ni` Resolutions Hcs 2706, k°2710k and 2735 of Preliminary Determination and of' `Intention ,to ;m k Changes and Modifications, had been '-contin= ued lroa Aigt1'3, 1956, to this date. ,Councilman Cnwdn`t, Chairman of Committee. No 2, reported that the committee had studied the survey presented : by. the Downtown'' Palo Alto Association and .'wads the following recommendations to the Council t,: ng properti;es : be acquired. for o . ` =fA1.10Mi, a t`�' a�tree't:' lots in District, 52-13: ,_. ki, 42, 60, 61, 62' and 63, :Block'k .Bast:,. 'loeek- bounded by University, High;.Lytton', and frontage through ;the .block- from icrson) ._ 1,h 5, 6, 20, 21, 22 = and, 23, and the southeast- feet of Lot 7, Block 4 west (the=block' bound - by Vnivorsity, - High, :Lytton and Alma:, -r 100 ft. •lr=1041r:on . High and: 112* ft. frontage or (3) Lots 7, 8,-= 9, 10, 11, and:, 12, Block 12 -West, (the, block bounded by:'th:iv-ersity, &Berson, Hamilton, and Mamma ,-- tercel. 'of 150 feet frontage on the northeast side of liners= s )v..;. ' 51, 52, ;53, 54 and 553. the eoutbeast.rly 10, &Zat 6, and:: the northwesterly; 2571,W, of Lots i an4 •g0,' Block 5, Eaet (the ble r :bounded, by: = High, Hamilton and Emerson a paiael 160 ft.: fr Ontage on _ the northeast side ot',High- wtith, a: 25 -Foot : lot. 'extendingthrough -"to 18, 19 20: 21, and ':22, and portion: of West Ithe block bounded by University., Ha siltow .-- a parcel: of approkimitely" intage on Alma Street and 125 feet on 4 That the; nalaie- of ^the rogras be similar : to that of 'Project 52 , except :that.'theadditional cost in excess. of. the east t rlhiich scan nk. financed by parking sister._ re, anus shall be borne by the, property owners:. in the district Co iltt ,C ng .adv lred. abet tl a committee agreed : exists laiises trhould :bs . buy . that:.: "�- "'rtspe4tel�, :that theCity should - tip-, s i Teases whirs- fea`s.ible, :sod . thaw; where -parking is: not required: =set-.: diately, the lessees could be pernitted to remain until the termine- tionn- of, their lease . It was moved by Cu1ings, seconded t--, Drysdale, that the . recommendations of Committee afo..:2 be;°adopted. A ,map wassubmitted shots ing .. .the �arcelm proposed to be! ac quired -in the five, blocks, upder <coneiderstion, indicating that when fully developed the proposed parking lots would provide 350 spaces. In a :discussion re rdfi � ngex=iting leases, the City Attor- ney advised that •,a lessee is „entitled to compenrtation only it the C leaser .has;` value:; that the market value,, of leases= should be determined by .an appraiser, and it rwould be .,quite possible that a lease ti:aey have ;no • sarke t' val=ue: at 411 'Councilman: Giffin :stated ,that , he had voted for the. recoil- mendat'ion in -Committee No. 2; but aft r further study he was not satisfied- with; the .,deoic on. He calied attention to the traffic plan for one g ay streets which was referred to Committee No.: 2 at the last: Council meeting, end`;on which'".tire committee had taken no ac-- tion.. H. : moved that the , ,.recommef�tiow of -Committee -No.. 2 regarding! the acquisition.of pn pai'Jdn�t 1� beh; land,_; on the -sable until- after" :son} sideration and action has been._ taken:,,:on the :recommendations in the report, from the Planning ;Department on. "Traffic and Parking in the: University Avenne iness D atri'ct" 01' April; 1956. There was no; second`,- to the inotio . , Councilman 'binning' expleined that Committee No. 2 propos- es to continue its study ,of the proposed .traffic :plan and the sug- gestion for - die onal rk . g .� i�ng"'-when' further information regarding traffia. flow, number of parking spaces;. which would be available and, • other;facts are presented Councilman Byxbee suggested there be some.discussion on 'the ;advisability, of..enlarging the propossd;,-park- in ti fot in': Block 5 l br ast aequiring. the property along the easterly side or Hiatt }Street"',5up : to.: Hamilton' Avenue and- dropping the proposal to acquirethe property on Daimon :Streit. in -:Block 12. Hr-- Cummings. advised :that Ythe,r'eonclusion was drawn from the survey that shoppers :; want' a parking, -lot .;it each block. In answer ate r questions rarised h Councilman Cresap regard- ing the.survey, ?Mr:. Don_ Bt'bb.ro, commented_ on the survey lade. for the n -t Doworn •Palo Alto "Association', and:°spoke -in 'support of the' parking. program` ;recommended ;by" ",C:oi■si ttee No'. 2 ; ' (Councilman ]==grim arri.ved'. during this discussion, at 8015..1-.1t..,,,and was' present for the rest of the meeting_. . ., A moll call' `wota on'°the.motion•made by Cummings and Drys- dale.,to ;adopt the .reco ndations of Committee No. 2 was taken. as tollorrs;:: et Bishop, Corcoran, -Cummings, Davis, Drysdale, Marshall;, Navis, Porter, Rodgers, Ruppenthal. Noes".:. Byxbesi . Cresap, ,Giffin:.: mpson.was absent during the roll call. ) The 'motion_ was _ declared modify the project • There xis.=further discussion of the question, Mr., Flint,. a merchant at`:531 Em s erson Street, stated that the urvey,waa_ taken during Itheaumeer wbich::•is.:itiot the busiest ,tivie of the year.. Mr.. Ira,; 9andperl --:'2271Dartaouth :Street,- objected to the acquiring of property where lausineta people will be forced to move., -°.:A motion was :made by Cresap, and seconded, that Parcel; 4 as indicated on .(the map, located on the northeast side >of:'High Street between University and Hamilton Avenues, be acquired. The vote on roll all was , as follows: Ayes:°Byxbee Corcoran, Cresap, Rodgers, Ruppenthal. Hoes: ,$iahop, Cummings,; Davis, Drysdale, -Giffin, Marshall, Porter. (Simpson was absent during the roll call.) The motion was lost. • ,A. motion was then 'made by Cresap, seconded -by Byxbee, that the original motion '.to adopt the recommendations of Committee, No:. 2' be reconsidered. Mrs l�tsrvin Handler, attorney for 'Frank Walt Motors,, ad-` ' viaed that his 'Client has opposed the acquisition of:property;in Block 5 `W"est wrhiccb'iis occupied by this automobile agency, but: if it is clearly ;nndareitood that 'the City will :reapectz: their iaase rhi:ch: runs to October 15,>:1960, so that they will be protected, to that date, they will. ,have no `further objection. The Mayor,,-, pointed` out that leaseholders will •be' given. zceon- sideratjonand individual cases will be reviewed; that where parking is ,not 1 uediately required the City may respect existing. leases. - ..Mr. �. T..:Roi, a merchant at 535-5 7 Emerson ;Streets. pre - a, _p rented etition signed by;:approximately 10 people protesting the taki -of '.prperty:Aiccup:ied :by small businesses After more discussion,.the motion to reconsider the origi- :nal .motion to`:adopt.: the :recommendations of Committee No:. 2 Mai ried. `. 'The roll cal], vote on the original motion to adopt the recommendations of Committee No. 2 for acquisition and financing of ,parking lote'in five blocks was as follows: es' Bishop , Byxbee,' Corcoran, Cresap, Cummings, Da'vis•, Drysdale, Marshall, Navia, Porter, Rodgers, Ruppen- thal. Not Voting: 'Giffin. (Simpson ass absent during the roll call.) The motion was carried. (A recess was taken at this time, 9:25 P.M., and the Council reconvened at 9:35 P.M.) Thee, , City Attorney advised that the property in Block 4 East,, .de's`ignated se•Parcel on, the map, was not included in ;previ- ous resolutions, of intention to' make changes and modifications, so it would- be necessary to'.adopt a resolution and set hearing on this. particular' modification-.):,. :,Resolution ,No°. 2777 of Preliminary Determination- and:.of intention to sake ,Changes and 'Modifications to .Project 52-13 :bar; .quirixtg Lots 35 ;.. #C'. er ' t2, 60,. 61 . -.62 and 63, Block 4,; ;:Dnivereity Park, anCsttting,September 24, 1956, as date; of hearing, war intro- duced .and. ;adopted: runaniaoua voteon roll call:. Traffic, -Plan ' t' : 4i It was ;noved,.,by, Giffin that ;the Council adopt that pant:-ofy the=. traffic and g: parkin :report. of ,April, 1956, designated for tame- diete action, _recognizing win., principle..: the ��need. for a, systes ripheral,- acces'e ,and ;parking streets,' designating one-way'arterials,i designating ;;certain ;arter�lal ;:streets, and. removing :parking from : cer-., tain streets, and thati'an intsnsive.,anrvey be. conducted iraediately on the' advisability of; g;' rstabiishin diagonal parking. to, bey effectivel. as soon as possible. There was no::second'`to the motion. - ng - . iscussion thatthe swam would be .instructed' to make. a detailed study of the proposed periph- eral street plan . and �disgonal;�;parkiag, , ;and., report within thirty days, the inforiet'ion prepared' by the' staff to be reviewed by Com- Amittee No. 2 to which t'te,traffic plan report was previously re- 'ferred. A letter from the -Palo Alto.. Transfer:i Storage Company, which is located at'the corner of High; Street and Homer Avenue, con - 'warning;.; ef1eet�- on- �the;;_loading�.and. unloading" of their trucks if High` Street': is: made .a -:=one way., arterial with traffic flowing Fouth,` was referred to Committee ;No. '2. San Antonio..Grade-Crossingz It 'was announcsd:.that: a .copy -,has been received from the. Sate ::Public IItilities y,00 1—ssion of' an Order' instituting inveatiga- tion-into_.the grede�-erossing at San Antonio Road and the Southern Pacific railroad tracks, and. ordering a public .hearing to be held- at: a time= and place to be designated later. he City Manager advised -that the City would be represented : at the hearing; Bus -Service Letters .were read :'from . Irene .Hardin, 801 Middlefield Road,. ,and, ,Mrs. Aline E..::Bridges•, 1143 Bryant Street, expressing their concern 'about ,they:Mosa;ibility that bus service may be further curtailed or discontinued. It was: announced that::officia;la of Redwood City are going to arrange a.:meeting at. which representatives of cities served by the Peninsula Transit Lines will be in attendance to discuss the bus' transportation problea,.and that Pala Alto Will be represented at the 4seting. The matter was placedonthe agenda of Committee No 3 to betia arisid'ered subae:quenta to the' meeting of the cities ! representa- , .. Mrs. Corcoran stated that('in her opinion the bus situation< and the: number of cars -"`parking in the .downtown area: are related to each other, and suggested that steps be taken to enlist the coopera- tion of merchants ;in am::effort,.ta get: more employees of stores and business places to use the buses instead of driving their cars:to work. She thought it might be possible to arrange ,for reduced bus fares for employees Rifle `Range 'Request A . letter wail recalled from Phyllis Walker, Editor of ` the Ravenswood `Post, ' requesting permission to use certain Bay lands for a rifle range 'for :small boys The City Manager reported that this matter had been brought to the. attention of Committee No.3 several months ago, and it 'was ,the :.decision5:>oof` Coittee: Mo.: 3 that the. land in question which :is in San :Mateo A County and owned by' the City be not used for this :purpo`ee. The -,:land is. already under lease fore farming purposes . The City ,Manager advised. that the person who is negotiat;: } trig with „the City for ;the; leasing of the yacht harbor, area ,1s,• think-i ping-ofincluding°a rifle range in his development;, and also that he would•diselo's , the ,matterwi.th Mr. Macabee who is leasing, the flood basin area. to" see if he is interested in having a rifle riinge:, . The Cityy:.Manager was asked ,to reply to Mrs. Na ter. Annexation to 'Menlo Park A co ioation,"was received from the City Attorney of Menlo . Park_ 5ubaitting notice;::o„' proposed annexation; of t�srritory. diaignated as I,ande of =Fin1.T to the City of Menlo Park, and re -A, questing;;that the.:Consent to Annexation be executed by the Mayor and returned. A-:reaolution;authorizing the Mayor to execute:theConsent was adopted on `roll Call, with 13 Ayes, Marshall voting No. Report on Bids for Substation F A re port was lade by the City Manager on bids rece•tved 'on August 30,, 1956, for furnishing and delivering a unit type subeta.- tion, with the; recommendation that the bid of the General Electric Company for Schedule B, Seotion 1, =be accepted in the amount of. .$205,75=.59 ina`-1udingg sales 'tax, and "that the bid of Westinghouse_ Elerctric'Corporation for Soho_dole A, Section II for the supervisor and -alarm systew b. aooented in the amount of $8,212.1.9.� It was roved by Biehop, seconded and carried .by luminous vote on roll call that the bids be.;accepted as recommended by the' City Manager,; and .•that the Mayor . be authorized to execute :tie :car. tracts. Junior Museum Addition The City Manager announced that the addition to the Junior Museum has beenCompleted,-and -'that the Recreation Department ex- tends an,invitation"to council members and their families to attend an open house at the Junior Museum on Saturday and, Sunday, September 22 and 23i'1956, from 2:30 to 5:00 P.M. + Through Highways (Park Boulevard and Page Mill Road): :The ; City ;Aanager, :presented -a proposed ordinance-. recoumend- ed _by the Traffic -Committee. designating Park Boulevard '.Eros: 'El •.,Ca main : Real: to California Avenue, and. Page Mill Road from Alma . Street. to the southwes',terly cite liaite as Through Highways. . a Mme. Corcoran: suggested that consideration' be given, to tabliahirg ;-pedestrian • walkway►s across Park Boulevard at either end of Peers Paik.toprotect;small children and pedeetriana.;.It was thought thil'augges:tion should be considered by the Traffic Comsat- tee and their= Committee No. 2. 'The proposed..ordinance was' accepted for first reading 'and: referred to Committee No. 2,. Lease for` New-Hospitalk-Site Copi s,of:theproposed lease between the City of Palo Alt and Stanfordr MUaiversity , for the site of the new Hospital, a :,parcel of 22.292 acres, had been sent .to council members previously for their review. ,The ;lease:•waa referred to Committee No.; 4 for considera- tion and report,, and at the request of Councilman Bishop mat : also referred;to,sCommittee _Mo.. 3, and it was suggested the committees meet:in "joint session on the ,matter. ' Sales Tax A resolution authorizing:the Mayor to execute agreement, for ;State administration of the local sales and use tax, .to _be of 1 {jj " stive when` the City ordinance a fe and "tile County `ordinance' become et' fective, Was introduced. ?he"City Attorney advised that this agree-' lent -should be ,executed' In order "to protect the City's interesta•: On motion of•,Byxbee, duly seconded, the resolution was adopted on roll call, with :13' A es., Ruppenthal voting No. Agreement with PG&E `for- Relocation of Gas Line The City r ;Manage presented,a letter agreement between the City" of Paulo A to Viand the Pacific' ass :fie Electric • CoMpany for rel;oca-' tion' of gas; line on ;frontage::` rOid ad jacent: to the Ba"yshor_e Freeway sputh 01 Aiarilto Avenue,:tn order to clear the flow line of,the'pro= posed' "ratori drain. The "estiiated`coet" toz the City of relocating 'these facilities is $6 200.00. A resolution approving the agreement and authorizing the: Mayor to execute it in behalf -of the City was introduced and adopted by unanimous vote onrroll call. California -Avenue'Grade Crossing Repairs The-City"Manager'ealled attention to protests and criti- cisms made --by the mercbants:of South Palo Alto concerning the incon- venience caused by the closing of ;the. grade crossing at California Avenue during repairs which were made in the day time instead of at night," and the"tact that they,were not: notified in advance that the crossing was going to be closad during business hours. It was explained by theCity Manager that the City does not issue permits for such work; that the Public Utilities Commission has jurisdiction over such matters, and the City has no control over the time when such work is done. Councilman Bishop asked that a letter be written to the South Palo Alto Merchants Association explaining the situation. South Palo Alto Grade Separation Councilman Drysdale asked the status of the engineering report on the South Palo Alto grade separation project. The Mayor advised that the primary objective this year is the overall traffic plan and consideration of the problem from both an interim and a long range standpoint. He reported that tentative arrangements are being:made for a meeting of Committee No. 1 on Oc- tober 1, 1956, at which the engineering firm of DeLeuw, Cather and Company will submit their report and plans. (If the report is not ready for submission on October"let, the meeting for this purpose will be held on October 15, 1956.) Tentative _Map .A report was received from the Planning Commission recom- mending approval of:the amended tentative map for the subdivision of Lots 99 and 100, Wooster Subdivision, subject to granting of public utility easements as required by the City Engineer. On motion of Drysdale and Byxbee, the map was approved in accordance iith the Planning Commission's recommendation. Lot Division A report was received from the Planning Commission recom- mending that the lot division application of J. J. and Mae Kale, 855 Marshall Drive, be approved, subject to the removal of the existing garage, the granting of a public utility easement and the payment of county taxes. On motion of Drysdale and Byxbee, the recommendation was adopted. Design Control A report was received from the Planning Commission recom- mending that the design control application of Phillip C. Mooers to build a 3 -unit apartment at 28k1 -k3 -k5 Alma Street be approved as submitted. On motion of Drysdale and Byxbee, the recommendation was adopted. Traffic Code The proposed Traffic Code, Article 19 of Codified Ordi- nance No, 5, as revised in -Accordance with Council action at the last meeting, was presented for first reading. It was moved by Rodgers, seconded by Mrs. Corcoran, that the action taken at the last meeting regarding the fee for night parking on the streets be reconsidered. After discussion, it was moved and seconded that the pres- ent fee of $1.00 for six months be retained. The motion was carried by the following vote on roll call: Ayes: Bishop, Byxbee, Corcoran, Cresap, Drysdale, Marshall, Porter, Rodgers, Ruppenthal. Noes: Cummings, Davis, Giffin, Mavis, Simps.on'. Amendment to Fire Prevention Code A proposed ordinance amending Section 17.701 of Codified Ordinance Nos.5 regulating'installation of liquefied petroleum gas-, tanks for emergency standby for industrial operations was accepted' for first reading. Amendment to Building Code (Incinerators) The proposed ordinance repealing Section 5108 of the Building Code was presented'for second reading. Councilman Navis called; at- tention to thew advisability: of taking action which would reduce the amount of burning by incinerators and suggested that this matter be reconsidered with the thought of taking action to implement Section 5108 of the Building Code. After discussion, the matter was -referred to Committee No 1. Monthly Reports The monthly report or the Controller for August, 1956, was received and placed on file. The monthly report of the Planning Officer on action taken in August on, applications for redivision of lots, and the monthly report of the Zoning Administrator on action taken in August. on ap- plications for variances and use permits, were received'and tiled.. Planning Commission Appointment The Mayor nominated Mr. Roland Sharpe for reappointment aai, a member of the. City Planning Commission for `�a four-year_ term. It i was moved, seconded and carried, that the nomiha ion be confirmed% Leave to Planning Officer The City. Manager reported that he has, granted a leave of absence to Elton..R. Atdrews, Planning Officer, for a period of ap- proximately three months,commencing on or about October 1, 1956; that Mr. Andrews will be on loan from the City of Palo Alto to:the State of California and will serve as local planning consultant in the State Department of. Finance. 20 There being no other business to come before the Council, the meeting was adjourned at 10:30 P.M. ATTEST: .� ;