HomeMy WebLinkAbout01271958O
City Hall, Palo Alto; California
January' 27 1558''
= The "Counei:l of-. the"`; City. of Palo Alto suet in regular session
yore thin date at ` 7:3.6 P.M., with Mayor Porter presiding. Roll call .
•>a a fobs":
resent,:'':
Bishop, Byxbee, Corcoran, Cresap, Davis, Evans,
Giffin,,, l►tara:hall, Mitchell, Nevis, Porter, Rodgers,
"Ruppenthal, Stephens, Woodward.
•
Absent
The
approved
Cancellation of Taxes
minutes of the:meeting of January 13, 1958, were.
on State Property
A request Wei received from( the State Division of Highways
for the cancellation, of taxes on certain property, acquired by the
;:.State' for freeway purposes,, being a portion of Lots '14 and 15,
Block: 6, Seale Tract
Or;- motion "of, Byxbee- and Stephens, the request was granted
and. it' "was directed `that said taxes be cancelled and that the .prod
perty be reasoved from the assessment rolls.
•
:Rabies Area
A letter Was received from the State Department of Public
Health advising that, in accordance with new provisions of the
California- iHealthand Safety Code, the existence of rabies In Santa:.
Clara County has been determined to constitute a public.heaalth f
hazard, .and that Santa Clara County has been declared to be a rabies li
Area the meaning, of Section 1901.2, effective January. 16, 195.
* see:page 265
Stop Sign..Fequest, Homer and Rya ;rerleg
A letter was received from Nathan C. Finch., 385 Homer
Avenue,- asking that serious consideration be given to` installing:
a stop sign on Homer Avenue at' its intersection with Waverley Street.
The City Manager pointed out that Homer Avenue is a one-
way street and that, signs are: installed stopping Waverley, for Homer.
:He recommended :that the request be forwarded to the representatives -
.:of De Leuw, Cather :& .Company who are now making a traffic study of
:the entire city, to get the advice of their traffic engineers before
taking- any action on the matter.' The Council accepted the" recommen-
dation of the City Manager and' referred the matter to "the' traffic
engineers with the suggestion that they investigate the question as
soon as possible_ and report back,
SurveY'servit 112,122L5.7=2-1.L aiiiLY.JilL.21
The City Manager called attention to the corxtract previous
approved by- the "Council Tor -the engineering services of .George:: S:
Nolte: for. Project No 57-1 Fabian Way, et Al, and .advised that
Mr. Nolte has provided the construction plans, specificaatiione ai d
.estimates in; accordance ;with the contract
The`City Manager reported that the, work load of the 'city
survey. crew . is such that.: it - will" not .be possible for these;, to `do the
control aand construction -staking fors project .of this size and eti11
"be able to do other corteiap1ated°work; and that it is-. desired- to
continue the services of; -:Mr, Nolte'as firm for the f e.ld staking of .the
Fabian yWay project` under a contract" at .;;the rate,: Of $20:j5. IN104''_ hour
'or a three-man 'survey crew with transportation_, - equipment
and 021,101.104;,'the total cost .of staking; for cantrol.-and 'construction
of all•;port.ions ,of +the•'.pro,ject not'°to exceed'the total -euu -of''-
*20,0 0.00. The` City" Hngineer' advised that this : :is a maximum figure
and that aervicea would be -rendered on an hourly basis; that there
1s considerable fill involved.and-it will require staking at least
three times before the .project is' finished.
After discussion, it was, moved by Nevis, seconded and
'carried'by unanimous vote"on roll call, that the proposal be accepted
and that •a resolution be adopted. authorizing the Mayor to execute
a,c.ontract with•George'S. Nolte for survey services as recommended.
North Palo Alto Water S stem
• The'City Manager reported that Committee No. 3 had instructed
h1, .during a.discussion of utilities furnished' outside the city,
to inquire whether, the .City of Menlo Park is' interested in: a:cquir-
ing 'the .North Palo:. Alto water dnstributbn system, pointing out that
the are, served _,by this -'system, has been annexed to Menlo Park. The
.C.Ity Manager advised that he has been informed•by Menlo Park offi-
cialss that they are interested and would appreciate having an
app.raiaal; swade of the property
The:. 'City. Manager reported: that an appraisal has been made
based on the formula 'used,by' the -Pacific Gas and Electric Company
and• approved,.by the. Public' Utilities, Commisss.ion, which is the re-
production. cost less depreciation. plus 3.5. per cent, and that ,the
4appra.iaal figure :is $59,691.30. He ' recommended that the Council
authorize the, appraisal, to be forwarded to the City of Menlo Park.'
It was. _moved, by Byxb'ee,-' seconded, by Mavis, that this
g.pprn.isal information• bel.eent to the -City of Menlo Park.
Councilman Ruppenthal 'Moved t,o. amend the motion to authorize
the City Manager. to ;negotiate, for the 'sale of this water system.
The amendment was seconded -by Mavis and carried
',The .motion es amended was then carried
especial Census;
A report was; made by the.Asaistant City Manager on the ad-
visab.i_lity of. hay.lrig a special census :taken. He stated that the
recorded, "population'` according to; t -he ; last 'special census is
approximately 41,000'.and: .that the present estimated population is
46,-909,;` that a: special census would cost approximately $6200,,09 but
the City would receive additional gas_tax funds and other revenue
from. ,the- State based on the"increa.sedrpopulation. •
After diacuesion, it, was moved by Giffin, seconded by.
„Byxbee, and carried by Unanimous vote on. roll call, that the
Bureau of the Census; be requested to,conduct a special census' or.,
. Palo -‘Alto .this spring'=and. that :a resolution authorizing the. Mayor
to-enter'..into a contract:" with. the. Bureau of the Census be adopted;.
The City Manager ,advised.' that the cost, of taking the census would'
be ;paid from ,the Contingent Fund:
:.South. Palo Alto ,Grade Separation
• The City Manager read, for .the information of'the Council,
a letter frank' the-, State Division of Highways with regard to pro
cedure on the grade.- separation projects, included in the 1958
ority•list, asad setting forth .the' required matters on which this
City must furnish, verification before request .for allocation af..
funds; .is considered..:. The :City' Manager advised that the staff. ±8
following'the-procedure a's outlined.
Resolution No._ 2951, authorizing the acquisition of two
-,additnnal_ parcels : or property ;for the South Palo Alto grade
-separation. project (Project •: 57-5) was introduced, and on motion o
• Byxb.ee and Bishops.; was •adopted by unanimous vote;. on roll call..
Proposed Cut -de -Sac, Mayview Homesitea
H. -A report was submitted by the _Planning Officer on his re-
' view of the ;access problem in'the :area south of Mayview Avenue
between Middlefield Road and Grove Avenue, which' was: referred to
0
him by the Council at a previous' meeting. He presented,a proposal
for consideration involving the development of a'cul-de-sac_ from
the southerly aide of Mayview Avenue to Adobe Creek, and .explained
the possibility :of .constructing. such:. a cul-de-sad' to = serve the 1»nd
facing it which :eould. be subdividedin a reasonable manner to pro-
vide lots of =,8000, sq." ft. ,minimum size. ..The Planning -:Officer ltd
.wised that. the'; e.u.l de-sa:c .asproposed would requ re'the relocation
of only two .small, structures which would` be in• the right of way.
A letter-:waa received from® several property owners in the
area, including Mrs.. V nelda-Manchester, 3833 Middlefield:Road;
Mrs. Agnes L.:Ten'Broeck, 3801 Middlefield Road-- Mr. Vincent Gozza,
710,Mayview Avenue,yand Mr: _George McDougall,. 3825 Middlefield Road,
objecting: to -the :proposal which would involve acquisition of - land
fro their properties for , the cul-de-sac and assessment t'or street
improvements. Mr. McDougall: addressed the council -presenting
further objections:to the: proposed' street.
On motion of Rodgers and Marshall, the matter was tabled.
There was a brief diacussion of the advisability of prow
hibiting any.lot splits .in the area, but no action was taken:.
Parking Restrictions at 3163 Middlefield Road
- a:report was made by -the Planning Officer-concerningthe
request of-Freelan A;. Ingelson, operator of Freeman Market,: for
reduction of: parking' restrict.ions- at 3163 Middlefield Road.-' The
.Planning OP,ficer pointed out that the letter in.which the request
as' submitted was; not written by the owner of the= property_ .and
there had; been no'official dedication 01' property adjoining the:.
market which is now_used for: automobile parking; that the area used
for parking.: 18 zoned R»3=G:and the parking area is'therefore a°non-
conforming :use. Under the circumstances the Planning. Officer recom-
mended, there -..be' no°change: in the present parking restrictions
affecting the reserved strip in the rear of the building: •
Aster discussion", and on motion of Stephens and Bishop,. the
onatterwras referred :to C®mmittee Na. 1 for further studyand review.
Freeway Agreement
The City.Manager. presented a proposed agreement with, the
State of C.a1ii".orria amending the Freeway Agreement dated December
28, 1953 covering . the portion of the Bays pore Freeway -between:
Embarcadero-- Road and 0:1 "mile ; southeast of San Antonio Road-, by the
addition of the extension of Fabian Way.
On Motion of Byxbee.andRodgers, a resolution approving
this Freeway Agreement, and authorizing the Mayor to execute it in
behalf of the pity was adopted by unanimous vote on roll call.
.B Scouts (City Government Day)
The City Manager announced that February 11,-,1958, has been
established, as "City Government Day". for the Boy Scouts and that
..nineteen Eagle Scout.awill spend the day with nineteen department
heads; that:,before then they will have two orientation meetings
to get baaic:.information-on the city government.
Stockton Place Park
The City Manager recommended that the Council authorize
the purchase of a atripof land 9 x 95 feet, being a portion of
Lot 1.28, Wooster Subdivision, abutting the Louis Road entrance to
Stockton:Plac.e Park site Prom the Sterling Park Corporation (Andres
0dds.tad) for .the sum` of 4100,00.
On eotion o€ Byxbee, duly seconded, the purchase of this'
.`strip`. of .land ,was authorized' by unanimous vote on roll-ca11.
•
, Stanford Convaleacent Hoiee 4 .Gas System:. Purchase and Water Rate •
A report ,.was aubiwitted by the' City Manager on the value of
;the gas system 'Which serves. ,the -:Stanford' Convalescent:: Home, with
• the recomeendation of the staff that.: these facilities be purchased
from the :Pacific- Gas • and Electric Company at- the . price set. by the
• Company of. 415$8..00.._
On motion of Nevis _ and Giffin, .: the purchase of this gas
system from the -Pacific .Gas : and.:Electric Company was approved as
reconnffiended, by, vote -on roll .call„ with 14. Ayes, Mitchell not. voting
The City Manager 10 reportedon the problem involved in
the water rate:: for: the :Stanford Convalescent Home . which, is served
by two, systems,•',one for domestic water and, the other for Irrigation'
and :fire supply. It was .explained that the Convalescent Homewa.ss,,
formerly served water free 'cif charge by Stanford University, : but
as . a result of 'the development of Stanford's administrative and
professional area'_ and the Medical -Center and. `Hospital, it was
necessary for Stanford: -to revise their water system and it is .no.
longexr praetZcal for Stanford to furnish water service to the. Home
and they have "applied too the: City for water service; that the Con-
valescent Home has participated'; in the cost of the water main on
Arboretum Road and hasp`"borne the additional expense to extend the
water main to connect to their .existing domestic and irrigation
systems.
It was : further`. stated : 1n the • report that there is meter
for the water used::.for domestic purposes but if the irrigation
water is to be metered ,it: would: require the installation of a"
special meter at- -an: expenditure of $3,000.00 or the rebuilding of
the fire and irrigation,syetem which would be a hardship on the;.
Convalescent Home at this time.
It was recommended.. by the staff that on a temporary basis,
the monthly water bill to, the,: Convalescent Home for domestic water
servl ce be ,doubled to coiropensate' the City for -irrigation irrigation water until
such time as it 3s feasible fort -he Convalescent Home to rebuild,
their fire system,: it having been estimated that the average annual
use for irrigation -is equal to the domestic usage.
After: discussion, it was moved.: .by Nevis, seconded by'
Byxbee, and carried,.:that the. Convalescent Home be billed on the
--basis as recommended, with the understanding this is an interim
policy and -that improvements to. -the water system necessary to
;Meter all ch8 rgea
,Usperamstassalissmokspom mustbe".provided by the Convalescent Home in
the near; future.
Rickey's Hotel tUe Permit Letter from Jos. Ehrlich
The.City Manager -called attention.to the letter received
by `the Council in November from Joseph Ehrlich, President of the
Charleston Meadows Hoane0wncrs Association, concerning the use
permit condition pertaining to the lighting of Rickey's new hotel
building .and. objecting :to'lighting that is visible from the Charles-
ton' Meadows residential: area. `Titre City Manager 'reported that the
matter had.."Z.+een referred. to Mr Rickey and that he had had his
architect get , in touch :'with` `Mr. Ehrlich, and that after a meeting
between -Mr,.,Rickey's representatives and Mr;. --Ehrlich they reported
that the problem had been resolved to the satisfaction of all con-
cerned
"Purchase of ".Property
:The Assistant City Manager ,_�recotmnended the purchase of all
of Lot 6 and -°portion" of Lot.:7:, : Block' 7: Hawxhurst Subdivision,
from Pablo and Augus_tiria C.. Espinosa; advising that this property
is"needed for the`>.grade :s;eparatiotn:.project,
It was moved, seconded. and carried by :unanimous vote on
roll call that the City :.1Manager be. authorized to sign a. contract
for: the purchase of this ;propertya .
�:z.._... . .. :�...�,_
26;5
A: report was made bY the AssistantCity Manager on the
1•.ocat on' of;:propertlee. sunder consideration 8s sites ,for the re-
location of ;apartment,; buildings - which musti be moved .from. the area
affected: -.by the grade' separation project. He advised that it is.the
recommendation:`of the staff that property previously. purchased by
the•City on Grant Avenue and Park Boulevard be not considered as a
site on -w ch'to;put the.apartment buildings, which:are now located
`:on Higb Street. near Oregon Avenue.. Heals*, stated that the proposal
to relocate .some of the buildings en:a site on Loma Verde Avenue
between Baeraon and:Ramona Streets had been dropped as .the property
; was net zoned.:for two-story apartment buildings.
The Assistant : City:. Manager reported that an option had beeni
secured "for the: purccha;se of : two lots on Alma Street which were pro-
perly.zonedfor'apartments, and recommended that this property,
being -Lots' 19 and '20'„" Block 48, Seale Subdivision No. 2, be purchased
from O iver W. Johnson for: the sum of $16,000.00 plus title costs..
On motion of Creeap and Marshall, the City Manager was
authorized to purchase these lots by, unanimous vote on -roll call,
for the. purpose of relocating,two of the apartment:: --buildings now
located-on"High:Street-near Oregon Avenue which the City is acouir"
ing,in-connection with the underpass"project.
Frank Walt lease
The Assistant City'Manager presented a lease with.Frank
Walt covering: percela-"-of property in Block 5 which. have been,
acquired by . the City for a". parking . lot in Project 52-13. He' out-
lined theterms ofthe lea a agreement which provides that Frank.
Walt Motors can continue to use the property until August: 1, 1958,
at a. monthly renta3 of -$200.00;; that the City shall :get,::possession
of the Alaa Street property on August 1,, 1958, and : that Mr.: tea It
has ,an: option'to use the' High- Street property until January 1, 1959,
a at ;monthly rental of -$600.'00,
On motion -.of :Byxbee..:and Mavis, and by unanimous vote. on
roll call, a- resolution ' approving this lease and -authorizing tre
Mayor to signs it. in behalf of the City was adopted'.'
Youth Conference..
Councilwoman - C:orcoran ,was authorized, to attend ,the Youth:
Conference : to bee :held in ; Sacramento on February 11 and 12, 1958,
as ,epresentativ.e" of the>:City.
(The Council took a ::receaa at this time, 900 P.,L,
and rec"onvened". at 9:.10 P.M.)
Lot Division:(Baer`).:
The.:application of ,C"har'? es R. Baer fora lot "division of
portion of Lot 78, Wooster Subdivision, had been continued "from
,previous meetings.
The.: Planning:.Officer reviewed a revised plan submitted by
Mr. Baer providing for a division of the property into two lots
with a cul-de-sac Tire , -Planning Officer recommended .,acceptance of
the. ropoaed; lot; division Sub jest to improvement . and. dedication of
the 45 foot wide cul de --sac as shown on the plan, with an 80 -foot
turn -around:,; and , to modification of: the drawing to provide for:. a
20 -foot; radius.' connecting the turn -around with the: street proper
and: -for a: lO-foot radius connecting the northeasterly line of the
proposed street with :Loma- Verde Avenue; also subject to the . granting
of public"::,utilitiee . easements'," the payment or segregation of bond
assessments,,:and to;, turnisbing evidence of payment of all payable
city and county taxes. And Tweed -abatement charges
Mr Baer, was ,present and advised that the conditions as
proposed are acceptable to him.
:Onlmotion of:Cresap,.duly seconded, the lot division of
Mr Baer's:propert Wes approved in accordance with the Planning
i..i
O� r s recommendation.
Application for Zone Cha a Lanin"
Action on, the application of Paul-Laning for the rezoning
of a portion of his property on Middlefield Roadnear San Antonio
Rod.'from; -L-M.S':D to 0-2:& -had' been " continued 'from previous meet-
ings.
The Planning" 0fticer reported that the 'Planning, Commmission'
had received a letter' from" flr. '-Lanines attorney stating that a
comprehensive ,plan for the "development of a"ll of. Mr. 'Laning's pro
petty' is being' undertaken and: asking `that ".the present: application
-fora zone change of. a. portion of the property -be dismissed without
prejudice to' the filing at' any' time of a subsequent application.
involving the same property.
A report was received from the Planning Commission recommend
ing -that- t.he, present' zoning of L-M;'S:D be retained`.
On, ,motion of Mavis and Ruppenthal,.the recommendation7 of
the Planning Comsise-ion- for retention' of the present zoning was,
adopted, and the application was , dismissed'tithout prejudice to
the .filing`a't any 'time` of a" subsequent application involving the
same property,.
Variance; 1528.8yron Street (Dawson)
A reportwa,s ace vied from the ‘Planning Commission recom-
mending theapproval: of.the-application of Donald and Eleanor
Dawson, -1528 Byron Street,: for aEvariance::to.,permit side and rear
lots.lines to have a- foot'`setback instead. of the 6 feet required,
and -for the aside street Bethaa to be: 10 feet instead' .of 20' feet,
with the -following modifications 1'), elimination of the setback
on the: interior aide line; 2) no variance from the rear setback
-requireient of - 6 feet";" 3') : granti xg of variance from the street -side
setback, line from :20 feet to "10 feet; and 4) the carport to be `moved
to within 8 feet of. the existing garage and made square with the
house
Oh :motion ' of .:Rodgers, duly :seconded, the variance was
granted,• in accordance with the recommendation of the Planning
Commission.
'Deeds
following deeds"were'presented by the City Attorney:
Quit Claim Deed to Charming W. Cathcart, Martha J.
Cathcart, Margaret E. Cook, A. T. Cook and Valley
Title Company, covering:portion of Lots 15 and 16,
Curtner Tract, Parcel 186, Project 55-11.
Quit Claim Deed to Channing W. Cathcart, Martha J.
Cathcart and Valley Title Company, portion of Lot 14,
Curtner Tract, Parcel 186A, Project 55-11.
3. Grant Deed to ChanningW. Cathcart, Martha J. Cathcart
and Valley, -Title Company, :portion of Lot 15, Curtner
Tract, portion of Parcel 186, Project 55-11.
4. Grant Deed to Robert H. Taylor and Charlene G. Taylor
covering portion of the Seale -Wooster Canal, pursuant
to agreement of July 12, 1956, with Slatt and Turkel
Quit Clain Deed to Estate of Joseph F. Nunes covering
Lot 32, Hiock 45, University Park.
After explanation of these deeds by the City Attorney, it
was moved by Mitchell, seconded and. tarried by unanimous vote on
roll call, that resolutions authorizing the Mayor to execute these
deeds be adopted.
41
Resolution` of (Intention No. 2952 to abandon a=public.
utilities easement it . portion of Lot';.1*0, Wooster Subdivision,
being a strip; -of nand .15 feet' wide along Louis Road, was introduced,/
and on Notion of Bishop:and:Mitchell, vas adopted by' Unanimous vote
on roll cell; `'This resolution gets a hearing on the proposed aband-
onment 'for Februarr 24; 1958.;,
Amendment to >Huildin Code (Signs )
A proposed ordinance amendingSection 4601 of -the Building
- C,ode;-relative:to the uae of Open House and`Directional Signs was
,aoceptedfor first reading and referred:to-Committee No. 1. .The
City•Attorney advised- that...the PaloAlto Real Estate Board has .re-
quested. -an amendment of the code to permit such signs:
Project:57-11 Fabian Way, yet' al
:The Council was ;informed that it would be necessary to 1
re -adopt; the: prevailing.wage: scale for Project 57-11 as there were l
errors in the wage scale previously adopted and tore -advertise
for<bids to be received. on 'February 10, 1958 instead of February 7,
1958.'
Resolution No.':2953:rescinding Resolution No. 2946 and
establishing Prevailing Wage Scale for Project 57-11 was introduced
and on motion duly made and seconded, was adopted by vote on roll
call, with 14 Ayes,'1arsha11 not voting on the motion.
Resolution No. 2954 rescinding Resolution No. 2948 and
calling for sealed, proposals to be received at 10:00 A.M. Monday,
February 10, 1958, and considered by the Council at its meeting
on February 10, 1958, at 7:30 P.M., was introduced and on motion
duly made and seconded, was adopted on roll call, with 14 Ayes,
Marshall not voting on the motion.
Trinity River.Project
At.the request of Councilman
a `brief: report on -the hearing` held in
C.ongres.sional Committee regarding the
sentativea :of. the.Northern California
attended the hearing.
Davis, the City Manager gave
Washington last week by .a
Trinity River Project. Repre
Municipal Electric Association
I
There being no further business to come before the Council,)
the meeting was declared adjourned at 9:45 P.M.
•
APPROVED:/
(continued.from page 259)
On motion of : Bishop and Nevis, this was referred to the
County Health :Officer: to ,provide the State Department of Public
Health with the -info/ union requested.
Mayor