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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10221956City Hall, Palo Alto, California October 22, 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, Cresap, Cummings, Drysdale, Giffin, Marshall, Mitchell, Porter, Rodgers, Ruppenthal. Absent: Corcoran, Davis, Navis, Simpson.-, The minutes of the meeting of October 8, 1956, were ap- proved. Pedestrian Safety Award Mr. John Beck, Manager of the Palo Alto Office of the Cal-! ifornia`State Automobile Association, presented an award in behalf- of the American Automobile Association for excellence of Pedestrian l Record -in 1955, commending the City of Palo Alto`for its outstanding record for the past four years of. no pedestrian deaths, as reported' in the AAA National Pedestrian Protection Contest. It was moved by Drysdale, seconded and carried that a let -1 ter be sent to the_ American Automobile Association thanking them forl-: sponsoring the contest and making it possible for the City to re- j ceive this award. Weed Abatement This was the time and place set for hearl:ng of objections to the proposed destruction or removal of weeds. It was reported that the Clerk has filed an affidavit of publication of the notice `*of this hearing. The hearing was declared open. There being no one present ,who wished to be heard on the matter, the hearing was closed. Resolution No. 2787, ordering weed nuisance abated, was in troduced, and on motion of Bishop and Cummings, -was adopted by unan- imous vote on roll call. Flood Control A letter was received from Donald K. Currlin,:Manager- Counsel of the Santa Clara County Flood Control and Water. Conserva- tion District, expressing appreciation for the Council's endorsement of the bond issue and advising that the District will do everything possible to expedite flood control work in the Northwest Zone. The letter was filed. Letter from Matadero Mosquito Abatement District re Abandoned Cesspools and'Septic Tanks" A letter was received from the Matadero Mosquito Abatement Districtsuggesting that the Council enact legislation to require abandoned cesspools or septic tanks to be filled in, sealed or re - 'roved. This was referred to Committee No. 1. Ordinance of`"East Palo Alto Sanitary District The City Manager presented Ordinance'NO..Z adopted by the East Palo Alto Sanitary District, regulating the use of sanitary sewers, which has been submitted to.the City Council for approval in compliance with, the contract between the City and the District. The 'City Manager advised that the ordinance has been reviewed by Mr. May who endorses it as being,a very sound ordinance. On motion of Mitchell and Drysdale, the ordinance was ap- • 1.1 36 Sewer Construction and Service Agreement with Stanford A report was,received from Committee No. 1 recommending approval and execution of the agreement between the City and Stan- ford University covering sewer construction and sewer service, sub- ject:to certain modifications in Paragraph: 2(c), the second para- graph on Page 6 under:Paragraph 8, and Paragraph 12. Councilman Byxbee, Chairman of Committee No. 1, reviewed the committees' recom- mendations. ;The City Manager made a report for thestaff, as re-' quested by Committee No. 1:, regarding costs of sewage treatment and the method of billing which the staff feels is fair to both parties under present conditions. On motion of Mitchell and Drysdale, a resolution approving the agreement as modified and authorizing the Mayor to sign it on behalf of the City was adopted by unanimous vote on roll call. (Councilman Davis came at this time, 7.45 P.M., and was present for the rest of the meeting.) Storm Drainage Prograri for Stanford Lands A report was received from Committee No. 1 recommending approval of a modified storm drainage program for the Stanford lands', including the Stanford Medical Center, the Palo Alto Hospi- tal, the Professional -Administrative Area, the Shopping Center, and a portion of the Campus, a total area of 167 acres. On motion of Byxbee and Cummings, this storm drainage pro- gram was approved. The City -Attorney advised that a written agree- ment will be prepared later covering the storm drainage system and costs. Amendment to Building Code (Repeal of Sec. 5108) A report was received from Committee .No. 1 recommending adoption of the proposed ordinance repealing Section 5108 of the Building Code relating to incinerators. Ordinance No. 1719, repealing Section 5108 of the Building Code, was given second reading, and on motion of Byxbee and Cummings was adopted on roll call, with 11 Ayes, Ruppenthal voting No. Amendment to Yacht Club Lease A report was received from Committee No. 1 recommending approval of an amendment to the lease of the Palo Alto Yacht Club to add a small parcel of land to the area covered by the existing lease. On motion of Byxbee and Cummings`, a resolution approving amendment to the description in the lease between the City and the Palo Alto Yacht Club and authorizing the Mayor to' execute the same in behalf of the City was adopted by unanimous vote on roll call. Christmas Decoration Program A report was received from Committee No. 3 recommending that the City participate in the Christmas decoration program for .the business districts by contributing labor and electricity in a total amount not to exceed $2500.00, and that the distribution be made as follow: University Avenue District California Avenue District Stanford -Shopping Center Town and=' country Village Midtown District $ 900.00 400.00 500.00 00.00 300.00 Committee No. 3 recommended that a transfer of an amount not to exceed $2500.00 be made for this purpose from the Special Projects Fund. 3f The committee reported that it made these recommendations subject to the formation of assessment districts for the financing of Christmas decorations in the future. Councilman Bishop, Chairman of Committee No. 3, explained that a proposal for the establishment of assessment districts was discussed with representatives of the Chamber of Commerce and'the ` merchants and that a program will -be worked out and presented to the Council later for approval. Mr. Bishop stated that someaof the business areas might:not use any funds,this'year if allocated, to them because they may be unable to raise the additional amount need ed for the decoration program. The City Manager called attention to the fact that any funds appropriated by the City must be.used only on public property, and that the labor and electricity referred toin the recommendation of .the Committee concerns only electrical installations as in the past. He advised that the voluntary assessment districts proposed to be established will take care of the total expense of the Christ- mas decoration program in future years. On motion of Bishop and Byxbee, the recommendation of Com- mittee No. 3 for participation in this year's Christma.s:program and the transfer of a sum not to exceed $2500.00 for this purpose from the Special Projects Fund to Account 123E, Publicity, was adopted on roll call vote', with 12 Ayes, Navis not voting on the motion. (Councilman Navis had arrived at 8:00 P.M. as the vote was being taken on the motion.) .This action was taken by the Council with the understanding that assessment districts will be formed for the fi- nancing of the Christmas decoration program in the business dis- tricts in:the future, and that this is the last year in which the City will participate in the cost. Application for Zone Change (Unger) A report was received from the Planning Commission recom- mending denial of the application of Charles Unger et al. for the rezoning of Lots 1 to 7 and portion of Lots 8 and 9, Mayview Home - sites, Tract 19, being property facing Middlefield Road between Fast Meadow Drive and Mayview Avenue, from R-1:3-8 to R-4, Genera'_ Apart-' ment District. The Acting. Planning Officer explained the views of the Planning Commission on the matter, advising that the Commission felt it would not; be to the. best interests of the City to rezone the; property and that"the action was taken by a unanimous vote. The Council was informed that letters have been received from thirty-two property owners opposing Mr. Unger's petition and objecting to any change from R-1 zoning. Mr. Gene Schobinger, 3303 St.' Michaels Court, spokesman for a group of Protestants, urged the Council to uphold the master plan and to make no deviation -from R-1 zoning along Middlefield Road. A:letter was received from Mr. Unger requesting the Coun- cil to postpone'considera.tion of the matter'for one month in order to give him an opportunity to provide council members with data per-i tinent to the question. Mr. Unger was present and asked the Council; to postpone action, advising that there are seven property owners involved in the application and they would like to retain some one to represent them in presenting their case to the Council. It was moved by Drysdale, seconded by Navis, and carried unanimously that the recommendation of the Planning Commission be adopted and the zone change application be denied. e (Councilman Simpson carne at 8:10 P.M. and was present for the rest of'the meeting.) Application for Zone Change (Grebmeier) A report was received from the Planning Commission recom- mending denial of the application of the Grebmeier Manufacturing Company et al. for the rezoning of a.portion of Rancho Rincon de San 38 F„ancisquito_on Middlefield Road west of San Antonio Road, known as 4150 and 4145 Middlefield.Road and 699 San Antonio Road, from R-1: B -8:A and P -C to C -3-S, General Commercial District., The Acting Planning Officer explained the views of the Planning Commission. Mr. William Love, attorney representing the Grebmeier Manu- facturing Company, addressed the Council in support of the applica- tion and filed a petition with 113 signatures of property owners fa- voring the rezoning of the property:in question to commercial use. After discussion, it was moved by Mitchell, seconded by Drysdale, and carried that the recommendation of the Planning Com- mission for denial of the application be upheld. Zone Change on Stanford Lands A report was received from the Planning Commission recom- mending approval of the zone change proposal on the initiative of the Planning Commission to rezone a certain area of Stanford lands in the vicinity of Willow and Arboretum Roads from C-3, General Commercial, to R-4,, General Apartment District, and another parcel from R-4 to C-3. It was explained that this involves land near the new Hos pital site; that the zoning was previously approved by the Council in principle and that this particular zone change provides for a change in the zone, district lines 'which was inadvertently omitted from the amendment to the zone map previously adopted. A proposed ordinance providing for the zone change as rec- ommended was accepted, for first reading. Landscape Architects for Parks Councilman Cresap made an oral report for the special com- mittee_ appointed to interview landscape architects to design several city parks. The committee was composed of Councilman Cresap, Chair- man; Councilmen Marshall and Mitchell, Councilwoman Corcoran,,Nrs. Hayes Newby and Mr. Joseph Best. The following recommendations were made by the committee: (1) That Herbert J. Kopp, Allan'H. Reid and Kathryn Imlay Stedman of Palo Alto be commissioned as associates to design three neighborhood parks (Hoover Park, Stockton Park and' East Meadow.Park); (2) That Eckbo, Royston and Williams,; of San Francisco be employed to design Charleston Meadows Park and' the. improvements to Rinconada Park; and (3) That Mrs. Helen Norman Proctor of Palo Alto be engaged to design Eleanor Park. Councilman Byxbee objected to the employment of a San Fran- cisco firm, stating that he feels local talent should be used on all of the parks. On motion of Cresap and:Mitchell, the recommendation of the spec:.a1 committee for the employment of landscape architects as pro- posed for designing the various parks was adopted, with Byxbee, Cum- mings and Ruppenthal voting No on the motion.: Letters from DeLeuw, Cather & Co. re SPA Grade Separation The City Manager read a letter from Gustave E. J. Jamart, Staff Engineer of DeLeuw, Cather & Company, answering some questions which had been raised regarding their report and plan for a grade separation In the South Palo Alto area, reviewing the disadvantages and estimated costs of providing a grade separation by elevating the railroad tracks. Another letter from DeLeuw, gather & Company was presented y the City Manager, submitting a proposal for engineering services in connection with a further study of the west terminus of the Oregon venue -Page -Mill Road grade separation project. This was referred to ommlttee No. 1 for consideration and report. 39 T. Resolution on Parking and Use of Streets The City Attorney presented a resolution in which the existing regulations on parking, including parking zones and time limits, and on the use of certain streets have been combined in one master resolution. He explained that in the future all sueh regulations would be made as amendments to' the master resolution so that the ma -1 teri.al would be easily available. This Resolution, No. 2788, was introduced, and on motion of Mitchell andNavis was adopted by unanimous vote on roll call. Resolution (Land for Veterans' Administration Sewer) Resolution No. 2789, finding and determining that the pub- lic interest and necessity require certain land for sanitary sewer purposes, for the Veterans.' Administration sewer line,, was.intro- duced, and on motion of Byxbee and Rodgers, was adopted by unanimous vote on roll call of;all council members present. (Davis was absent during this roll call. Resolution for Power Line Easement to Sewer Treatment Plant Resolution No. 2790 of Intention to make acquisition and improvements for power line easement to the sewer treatment plant was introduced, and on motion of Mitchell and Byxbee, was adopted by unanimous vote on roll call of all members present. (Dav1swavab- sent during the roll call.) Hanover Street Arterial Resolution No. ev sed A proposed ordinance establishing Hanover Street as an ar- terial had been accepted for first reading at the last meeting. The City Attorney reported that Resolution No. 2788 just adopted had in- cluded'a provision to make Hanover a through street. A number of people from the College Terrace area were present and asked to be heard on the :natter. Mr. 0. G. Villard, 2050 Dartmouth Street, spoke of the concern of College Terrace resi- dents over the proposal to establish Hanover as an arterial street, stating that they strongly object to making Hanover a through street and feel that stop signs should be erected on Hanover at California and at College Avenues to. slow down the traffic. Mr. Richard Friedman, 2068 Hanover. Street, also objected to making Hanover a through street. He and Mr. Villard recommended that four-way stop signs be erected at the intersections of Hanover and California and'at Hanover and College. The City Manager advised that the Police Department Is concerned about the increase of traffic on Hanover Street and has • asked that it be made an arterial. Councilman Cummings suggested that if the Council decides to make Hanover an arterial, the situa- tion should be reviewed after six months to see what traffic condi- tions have developed and whether or not undue traffic hazards have resulted. During the discussion which followed it was the general opinion that four-way stop signs should be erected at the intersec- tion of California Avenue and Hanover Street. It was moved by Rodgers, seconded by Marshall; and carried' that Resolution No. 2788 be reconsidered. It was then moved by Rodgers, seconded by Marshall, that Resolution No. 2788 be amended to provide that four-way stop signs be established at California Avenue and Hanover Street, and that Resolution No. 2788 as revised be re -adopted. The motion was car- Tied:by unanimous vote on roll call. • ��: r .. �,��; , �� _ f .:tea, �.,.�...w ��rd.F��'�aGiS� . 1'. 40 Amendment to Article 8, Guns and Explosives Ordinance No. 1720, amending Article 8 of Codified Ordi- nance No. 5, regulating the use" of guns and explosives, was given second reading, and on motion of Byxbee and Mitchell, was adopted by, unanimous vote'of.all council members present, (Cresap and Cummings* were absent during this roll call.) Zoning of Stanford Annexation No. 6 Ordinance No. 1721, establishing the zoning of Stanford Annexation No. 6, was given second reading, and on motion of Mitch- ell and Drysdale, was adopted by unanimous vote on roll call of all members present. (Cresap and Cummings were absent during the roll call.) Appointment to Planning Commission The Mayor nominated Edward -V. Arbuckle .for appointment.as a member of the Planning Commission to" fill the vacancy for the term ending June 30, 1957. On motion ox Simpson and Byxbee, this nomina- tion was confirmed. Hospital "Site Councilman Byxbee stated that he has noted that Committees, No. 3 and No. 4 have asked that consideration be given to purchasing the land on which the new Hospital is to be built instead of leasing it from Stanford University, and.he thought it was time that the Council discusses the matter and makes up its mind whether there is to be a lease of the site. or a friendly condemnation suit to acquire the property. The Mayor advised that Committee No. 4 is going to. discuss the matter with representatives of the Stanford Board of Trustees and that consideration on both approaches is being contin--, ued . Councilman Drysdale asked if it would be helpful to have a vote of the Council on approval of the lease. He moved that the mat- ter be handled by execution of a lease rather than purchase of the land. The motion was seconded by Cummings, but was withdrawn and no vote was taken. The meeting was declared. adjourned a.t 9:10 P.M. ATTEST: �4�d/ "� y r erk