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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02101958the engineer's eitimate:, Resolution No, 295, determining. convenience and necessity; . and "ordering changes and modifications,.*as introduced, and on motion of A'litohefl . a.nd Bishop=, wns adopted by unanimous . vote on roll:: caii . City Hall, Palo Alto, California February 10, 1958 The Council of the City,` of Palo Alto met in regular session. on this date at 7:30 P ]I , with Vice Mayor Marshall presiding,` Roll ca ll as Polhows :. approved. . Present: Bishop, Byxbee,Ciesap, Davis,, Evans, Giffin, Marshall, Mitchell, Wavle, Rodgers, Ruppenthal, Stephens, Woodward. Absent Corcoran Porter. The minutes of the meeting of January 27, 1958, were Abatement -of Nuisance t (480.. Cambridge Avenue) The hearing at ;which", Prsnklin E. and' Beatrice Clark should: show cause why :tre building at:.48O Cambridge Avenue should not be declareda public ,;nuisance .had been continued from January 13, 1958 .to this date. The City Attorneya`dvis;ed that the building is being removed' and the,demolition will ;s;'oon' be completed. He recommended that the: proceedin:gs be; dismia:aed On motion of. Rodgers and Ruppenthal, the proceedings for abatement of this :nuisance were. dismissed , 57-11, Fabian Wa : ,et al The project: for acquisitions , and improvements under Project i 57-11, , Fabian way; et -al, .was .. reviewed by the City Manager: .This was, the time .and place set for a hearing on Resolution No. 2943 ;of preliminary' determination and of intention tomake changes .,and :modifications:, and .on Resolution of Intention No.. 2914. to make acquisitions ;sand'improvements. It was announced t:hst'soll. notices have; been published and posted as required by ,law. The City Clerk, reported,that no written protests have been received. The hearing was, .declared open. There being no one present who wished to speak or the matter,, the hearing was closed. A" report was read_ a byy the .City:, Manager on the bids received; on Project 57-11 at :10 00 A..M, on' :'this date, with the recommendation that the low bid.of the Freeman Paving Company in the amount of $397,923.17 be accepted. `- He advised that this figure is 25.8% under. c`a:11, 'Resolution.No. 2958.., designating the Commercial Officer as the .Collection Officer for' c;ollection: of assessments on Project 57-11,' was introduced and on mot';.on of Mitchell and Bishop, was, adopted by. unanimous vote on ,roll call. Resolution''No 2956,:and Order adopting Engineer's Report,, confirming the aesessment_and.;orde:ring the work and acquisitions,. wits introduced and on '.motion ,Of Mitchell and Bishop, was adopted by unanimous" :vote, on roll call Resolution :No': 2957, .awarding' the contract to Freeman Paving Company in accordance with its' bid, was introduced and on motion of Mitchell and Bishop, was adopted by unanimous vote on roll ar Pm. 267 The .City: Manager advised -that a resolution ordering reduction as8e :of. s,sments, in -view of the fact that the low bid :was below the 'engineer`'s estimate,_ will be presented for action :by the Council at the' next. meeting. The .City- Manager_ reported,- that the `staff has determined that=14-inch water mains should be installed in the area 'involved Project :( 5? -11 to : make it possible: to provide service in the future. to ;t'.he presently undeveloped. Area on the other side of the Ba.yshore. Highway..- Re: called` attention> to the City's policy that developers g:f,residential areas pay the cost of water mains up to 12-.inch,in size, »ndthat the cost of water maim of excess Size in irdus.tria:l; areas- is :determined; by,, negotiation. He advised that if the Council wished. to .'follow: the. `policy, aa.pplying :to residential devrelopment,: it ;.would' be necessary to authorize the'expenditure of $5,300;:00, :to p$.yt eor the: difference in size of the water mains ;It ways moved by Mitchell, seconded by Byxbee, and. carried by unanimous vote .on roll call, that an expenditure of $5,300.00 be authorizedfor this purpose, in view of the fact that the' larger Mains are not. required' for this particular area but `would be in stalled .for possible use in the future- to serve other areas. Letter.1rotn Palo Alto -Citizens' Association re Electric Rates:' The Vice::Nhyor read a; letter, ? copy of which hard" been sent to eac=h council member,, from Harvey Nixon, Fresident> of the - Palo,•Alto C;itlzens' ,` Astiociation, asking that a reduction be -made in ._ the:. elect'ric:.rates ._' - :Mr. Nixon referred to a. letter of October: 31,_ :1957,. =in which the Citizens' "Association Tasked for anCopportunity to discuss :finances, and policies with Committee No. 3. Councilman Bishop, Chairman of Committee No,.: 3, advised that he had recei=ved a :letter from Mrs Stephanie Casaurang, then president of the Association, -last October that sifter, di'sjcussing ,'the -matte r: with the: mayor and ` council' members, it had been decided' throat the members of Committee .No. 3 and any other council members who wished to..do so would ol.,etirta4with the group; that he had talked with Mrs-. Casaurang by phoneTaked her to let him know when the Association wished to have *the committee members meet with them and that 'to date he had -not heard from her or any member of, the organization. 0n.:motion of; Navis and Rodgers, the letter from Mr. Nixon was `referred to,Commi'ttee No. 3. It was directed that Mr. Nixon be notified .when the: committee meets to consider the matter. He3xcopter Service for Bazr Area A.:vletter waas received from the Palo Alto Chamber of Com- :merce,recoMmending that the Council take action to support the pro- posal for establiehment•`of helicopter' service in the' San Francisco Bay Area, and transmitting:a report of the Bay Area Aviation Com- mittee of the Sn,Fraancisco:Bay Area Council on their study of hell- copter service. Mr. William McKaig, a Palo Alto representative on the Aviation Committee, waes:presentto answer questions if the Council. desired further information. Itwas moved by Rodgers, seconded by Bishop, and: carried that the Council support the proposal for establishment:of°:helicopter service and that communications to this effect be sent to the Civil -Aeronautics Board and the Sin Francisco Bay Area Council. Cancellation of Taxes on Flood Control District Proraerty A request was received from the Santa Clara County Flood Control and Water Conservation District for the cancellation of taxes.;on certain properties acquired by the District for flood con - :trot purposes, being the Hall property on Matadero Creek`4nd the Smith property on Dry Creek. On motion of Ruppentha.l and Navis, the taxes on said property were cancelled. Bids on Hospital Site Improvements (Storm and Sanitary Sewers) reportAwea s.ubmitted:;by the'City Manager on bids received on,February 6,._'1958 for the ineta11Rtjon of storm sewers and Beni 7. tary sewers for ithe Palo Alto-Stenfard Hospital, .with the informa- tion that -.the_ low -bid wa'e that o1' ;Piano Brothers, Inc. in the amount of.- $6,761;,:10. The City.M nage;r advised: that -he would like to have action on this. -matter deferred ;unt;i.l ,the next meeting when he would have e - report on the .cost split between the City and Stanford for this wnnir r . It was moved by Rodgers., ;seconded and carried that the: matter be continues until the next regular Council meeting on February :24 , 195 Bids'on.Projects 57=7, 57 -8 -and 57-13, Parking Lots The City Ma,nagerreportedon the bids received on February,7i 1958, for, the construction of three parking lots, the area at the corner of Hopkins; Avenue:and Newell Road which is tied in with the improvements.for=Rinconada Park, and the parking lots for the new main librsay;And branch library, with the recommends- tion that: the low ]aid, of Freeman Paving Company in the amount of $33,706.=88 be-acoepted. It -was moved by,,Navis, ,sec:onded and carried by unanimous -- vote on roll call,::that the bid of Freeman Paving Company be accepted and that: the' Mayor be authorized to sign the contract. Lease with West Coast Glass Company The Council con.sidered:a proposed lease with the West Coast Glass Company, 541_ High Street, covering portions of Lots 47, 50 and. -51, 81ock`.5., fora term of four months commencing Fzbr4O'ry. 1,:` 1958: On motion• 6f Nevis and Byxbee,`a resolution authorizing the Mayor ,to execute this lease in behalf of the City was adopted:= by unsanimous, vote_,or. ro;ll:: c 11. Non -Resident Fees for: "Use of City -Dump -The City Manager c'aled attention to the incinerator soon to be :put into operatlonby the South County Garbage and Refuse Disposal District •of. San';Mateo County, and submitted information on comparative ,rates to` be charged -by the. District And hours of opera- tion.' iiis report showed;, that ;; the hours.during which the public " might :use::the fa.cil;ities©f the ;District a:re as follows: Tuesday through Friday, inc'l,usive,. between 12:00'moon and 5:00 P.M.; Saturday between 900 A.M.and 5:-00 PMM ,>,and Pm Sunday between 8:00 A.M.and e for,: non=residents are as South County District Passenger cars. Passenger car .and single axle uti-lity:trailer, not exceeding -14 yards Pickup truck and trailer Trucks up to and including two -ton rated capacity Trucks or Trailers up to and including five -ton rated capacity - single loads $1.00 1.00 2.00 2.50 2.00 6.00 2.00 The 'Ct yManagpr, advised that Menlo Park,_ Atherton and Eaa3t F>alo ,Alto do not belong' to' the South S -n Mateo County District, ti rd thaLHthe` Bay,Roae dump Sn East -:Palo Alto will be closed when the new incinerator- is put.in 'operation.' He pointed out that there may !be a problem --if many, people in the area not included in the District decide to use the. _Palo' Alto --refuse disposal area because of its convenient;location, cheaper rates and longer hours of operation. - After discussion :Ordinance No. 1777 amending Section_31.19 o f Codified Ordinances No. 5:esta,blishing fees and use of the city dump, to increase. the rates for non-residents to conform: to the rates' .established by.,,the South County Garbage and Refuse -Disposal District of.:: San ,Ma.teo! County,, was introduced, and on motion of ]Mitchell a and. Ruppentha.l, was adopted' as an emergency ordinance by u nanimous .vote, on roll: call: P-eerlea3-tSt ge.1 A plica.tion The .City: Manager presented, for the information of the Council, .a ._copy `of :an, application of the Peerless Stages, :Inc. re- aues'thg authority =to decrease service presently in: effect between -Palo -Alto.and C'enterville, California, and advised that a hearing on the. matter:will be held; bythe. Public Utilities CoMmission. amendments to Building Code and Ordinances re fences and..:;: 1antinq at Intersections .A:: report was ..received from, Committee No:. ;1_ recommending that the. proposed ordinances'' amending Section 1506 of the Building Code::regulating: `height "of fences 'at intersections, and amending 'Section 32 :;13 of Codified::Ordinance No. 5 regulating.' -planting at intersections be not -"adopted- <. It was pointed out that the pro- poaed_amendments provide;for the same restrictions to apply to•inter sections :of :any: public= street -with a driveway or roadway._ entering publie school . property: as: are .effective at intersections of public streets . The City, Manager reported that a letter has been received ' from. _Dr. Henry 'M. °Gunn, Superintendent of Schools, > asking that action on. the : mat.ter- bey postponed, until representatives of the, Board of Education :can be heard either by the Council or Committee No. 1, and' calling _ �a ttention to ;their desire to work out a mutual program ;whic:h would. solve the:.hazard which exists at the inter-, section of _cEast -Meadow Drive. and the driveway to the Wilbur Junior ;High School It Wass moved' by:Navis, seconded and carried that, thee - matter, b:e referre d. back to Committee No. 1 and that the -committee' ;be instructedto arrange a 'meeting with representatives of the SchoolBoard.' =Amenda:nent ` to Bodo Code (Sky Signs ) :A:report was received from Committee No. 1 recommending the !adoption 'of a proposed ord=inance, amending Subsection (C)' of Section .1605 . of- the Buliding Code Pertaining to Sky Signs'." Ordinance No.:1778-amending Section 4605 of the Building Code was: givens -'second 'reaad.ing," aand on motion of Byxbee -and Navis", 'was. -.adopted, ,`by unaniiwous .vote: on roll call On -motion of Byxb"ee and Rodgers, the question of consider- i.ni4-an :amendment: t:o limit the size of sky signs was referred to Committee Aesndaent to Building Code (Open House and Directional Signs) A report was submitted by Committee No. 1 recommending adoption of the, proposed ordinance amending Item (3) of Subsection (d) of Section 16O1 -of the'Building Code pertaining to Open House and Direc.tiona3l 'Signs, with the following amendments Thnt the size of such signs' be not exceeding four square feet in ,area, sand that directional 8i s shall not exceed three in number and shall not be :posted, before>.b 00 A.M.' or after' 8:00 P.M. .The City-Manseger reported d, that he ha checked with the City lot Los Altoa and learned•.talat their: regulations limit the size of ouch ;signs to 8 x:- 30� inthes,:.tnst they may be posted between 9::00. A.M.` - and 7,:00 P:.,M. , provided a: , deS gn .ted sa..les person: is in attenadance on the: pr o erty; and that permtte.<.for.• suc.h'signa must be obtained at a fee of $2.00.r Ordinance No 1779, . amending Section x+601 of the Building' Code. regulating .Open Rouse and:.Directional Signs, as amended by,. Committee No 1, was .given second reading, and on motion of Byxbee 'and Rodgers, was adopted by unanimous, vote on roll call. Zone C ha',gee Ts ukR aw.a )� Committee No 1 ` submitted a recommendation, for the rezoning of property of George and Florence - Tsukagawa, located adjacent to- Dinah's Shack and Adobe :Creek being a portion, of Rancho Rincon de San Francisquito, front -R-1 to ':.C-3:5' end R- 0 up to a line parallel to and 30 feet from the. center line of Adobe Creek The Chairman of Committee No. 1 reviewed the proposed zone changes and access. road :pattern, and explained that the 30 feet adjacent to the center line.. of the Creek is reserved for flood control purposes :0rdinance-:No ;17$0 amending the Zone M p to provide for said zone changes ws given second reading, and on motion of Byxbee and `Rodgers;,, was adopted by unanimaus'.;vote on roll cell. Zone C�,�an e App:licetions.; Bloc% k (Newell and Conrad) A reportwas received, from the Planning Commission recom- mending that the application. of Dr. James Newell for a change of zone: from R-3. :to R-5 for, Lots 16, 17 and 18, Block 34, University Park, bounded by. Palo;, Alto Avenue,, Tasso Street, Ruthven Avenue and Webster Street; be approved, and the Commission advised that it re- affirms the ,policy : reflected,, in, the:,'General Plan which establishes the area bounded: more or less , by ;Middlefield Road, San Francisquito !Creek, Alma Street and Lytton Avenue, as a medium density apartment -area. The Planning. Commission also; recommended that the applica- tion of Guy R. and Grace M. Conrad for change of zone from R-1 to R-5 for Lots 13 and, 14, Block' 34.,' University Park, corner of Cowper Street and Palo Alto Avenue,: ` known as 500 Palo Alto Avenue, be approved. On _motion of Mitchell and Woodward, proposed ordinances providing for these zone "-cha�ngee : as recommended were accepted for first reading. Councilman: Byxbee ssxggested that the Planning Commission e. asked to:conalder the rezoiing of the entire area in this part f the City for;.apartmente The Planning officer reported that: he Planning. Commission has °estab•lished a program whic a it expects -" o follow in the ensuing months and it will depend on their work (*),ad ..as; -to when they would be able to consider the matter; that: they re undertaking a review of, the entire ,General Plan and a study of he California Avenue business district, and then a study of the. niversity.: Avenue business district;. that the Commission could see o reason to ho.ldeup the development as proposed in the Newell and onred applications: since . i,t fits it with the, General Plan. ! ; Councilman Navis stated that>:a., matter of basic policy is :involved and. he would like .to • have °Committee No. 1 review the mutter ith respect :to whether `there` should..be a, lower or higher density of partments in: the,.:,area After further. discussion it was roved by Avis and seconded that. these: proposed: 'zone changes be referred to omMittee No.: 1- for 7review' with : respec:t to the density of the apart-, ent zoning.- The vote -on roll call wes'as follows: Ayes: Davis; Giffin, Navia, : Ruppentha l , Noes.: Bishop;.; Cresap, ,Evans; Marshall, Mi.tc'he11, Rodgers; Stephens, =•:Woodward . Not' Vothg:_. �, Byxbee e .The motion was; declared -lost: :e.«t' yc•,xr�sxax.. a,rf,e��+,.n.,,.gnw�e.�v (The Council took a, recess at this time .9 .15. P, M.:, and reconvened at 9:30 P:. M.. j During thediscussion of; the' Conrad zone_ change appllca- tion referencewae uaade''to 'a letter addressed to the Council,.from 1 John 3. d` Rose Mary O'Brien, 480 Palo Alto Avenue, approving the c .s�.nhange_ of .zone and the,. proposal for construction of apnrtmente.. Lot Division . Appliaati:on (E rdy A' report: wasreceived from Committee No ladvising that it , has given further consideration tothe application; of : P iul Hardy for division of portion_ of Rancho . Rincon de San Frnnciequito, ,, known as 41294a Camino Way, and `concurs with the Planning:. C.ammission in recomme.nding ,denial ;of" the application. The Chairman explained that the col4atteerecommended denial in view of the fact that there is no dedbated' ,stree-t leading. into the area. iotl•on of Byxbee•''and Mitchell, the report of Committee No. l'was accepted and the application was denied. Lat Livtsions . (Jary Drewes and Voorhiell A report: eras .submitted by Committee No. 1 stating that it has considered: the application of Frank R. and Josephine, Jarvis for lot division : of portion of ;Lot llk, Wooster Subdivision, on Ross Road near Matadero Creek,, and; has received a report from --the staff .'can Its, Study of the area es :to ingress and egress, including the Jarvis ,, Drewes and Voorhies: properties . .Committee No,, 1 recommended that the owners of properties for :which lot divisions were granted on November 12, 1957 (w . E. Drewes and- W H. Voorhies) be notified of the intention to rescind these lot divisions .and •that a. hearing on, the matter be held. The committee- €also. "recommended .that nofurther lot divisions be made in that areas until en assessment d'istrict is formed for the develop- mentof a.; c.ul-de sac;;_ street' as proposed in a plan submitted by the staff to provide." proper access to the area. Ori motion 15i7 Byxbee and Navis, it was directed that W_. E: Dre', e.s- and W . HI `Voorhies be notified of the intention to rescind . the lot divisions previously granted to them, and' that a 'hearingwould be held onthe matter on February 2k, 1958 'A' rro:t1or. was �made:by Byxbee, seconded and carried, that cons d'erat on •,tae given - to the .-formation of an assessment' district for the 'devel,opaent` of a cul-de-sac street as proposed in a :p t -an reviewed by the Planning" Officer. In this conne:ction Councilman Byxbee, Chairman of Committee _No. >1, reported that the committee has asked" the: Planning Officer' to review:el'l undeveloped areas in the city where: roads will be. needed when these areas are'developed, a.nd advised that serious :thought -8116;11d. be -given a.s ;to what type of roads anould :be required, as access .t:o .t'hese areas, -especially where apartment build1ngs_'may``. be constructed, Varia_ne: Aplfcatior. inberg) A report rwas.., recei`red from the Planning Comiiasion: advis lrg' that. it' concurs in' the, findings made by the Zoning ,Administrat or .ancininanimOusly.recommends: that the. Council uphold ;the 'deniar;by `the :Zoning Ad inis;trafor of:"theapplication of SidneyFeinberg for- a variarice to allow t he construuction of an addition to the house ,at 6Tk Wildwood _Lane to project eight feet into the required`` rear. yard where otherwise a projection ;o'f. six' feet is permitted., A. letter was. retetved .from Mr. Feinberg'asking that the. Council ;defer ;its consideration of this matter until the next meet- ing. The City Attorney recommended that a hearing be set 'on this matter for the March 11thmeeting. Of the Council: and that notices of the hearing be sealt to the applicant and to all property. owners in, the zone of:. interest It WAS moved by-:Rodgers,,'.seconded and carried that a hear- frig be held 'on this variance application on :I arch 10, 1958, at 7::30. Amendments to ZoninsiOrdinance, A report was subnn1"tted by the Planning; Commission una.ni- mously'recommenc.ing that Sections.5 17 R -E), 6,1 (R-1), 7.18 (R-2), 8:18 (,R-3�C), 8 .3 (.RT3.) .83 17.:(R-3 P), 8C. 18(a (R-5) and 9.18(d) (R=4): 'or the Zoning:.Ordinance be amended; or added to, as might be appropriate,, so':: that.. required` parking may not be provided in the first' ten feet of.; :side 'yard: which .abuts a ;street; and that the parking requirement;. for churches :or religious' institutions be one s:paee for each four.:- seats instead' of one spaee for each five seats. On motion ;off :. Mitchell; and Byxbee, a proposed ordinance -pro- viding for.these amendments to,the Zoning- Ordinance was accepted for • first_ rending. Travel Insurance A report was receivedd'from Committee No. 3 recommending, that - a: travel accident policy,'for death -Nand dismemberment coverage. be;,provided under: Plan. B, applying:to Council members,. Planning Commission members and .all':employees of the City, while traveling_ outside the Cityon'City business, at an annual premium of $686-;.00: The City Managerrecommended that the provision for 24 -hour coverage which applies; to.the :Mayor and City Tanager be extended, to include -the "Vice Mayor which : would `=cost an additional $82.50, or a. total :Annual. p"ryemium >o ` $768 50. The. City Manager advised that this coverage was' offered `on a"one-year batis only. On Motion of Bishop And. Rodgers, the recommendation w,a.s`'' iadopted and. -the insurinee-'p.olicywas authorized, to include the Vice Ms_ayor; as well asthe Mayor and, City Manager on 24 -hour coverage.` ,It was explained that . the'. expenditure. would be paid from the Con- tingent gund. Projects Resolution, : Io ;2959 of. Preliminary Determination and of Intention to make changes and`'modifl,.cattons , Project No. 57-1, Page Kill Road, ,:was: introduced, and: on'>motion. of Byxbee and Rodgers, was adopted= on roll esil by unar.1mous vote of all members present. Resolution No.: 2960 of Preliminary Determination and of Intention to make changes ::and•":modifications, Project No. 56-8, Wilkie -Way, et al, was introduced, and on motion of Byxbee and Rodgers, was adopted onroll call by unanimous: -vote of all council members present. . ResoXutic No -: 2961: of Preliminary Determination and of Intention, to' make oranges ;at modifications, Project No. 56-14, niversity Avenue Street;-Lightirig .District, was introduced, and on otion of Byxbee and Rodgers,' was adopted on roll call by unanimous ote of -a all council' dember 3 `present. Resolution. No. 2962 of Preliminary Determination and of SIntention to. Make .changes and'. modifications, Project No. 53-6, treet Lighting Reconetructlon..District Two, was introduced, and on fiction of Byxbee: and"";Rodgers, was adopted on roll call by unanimous rote:ofa11 council ,Members; present Resolution: ,No:. 2963 of Preliminary Determination and of intention to - make changes and" modifications , Project No. 54-8, Street Lighting Reconstruction Distriet III, was introduced, and on motion. bf. Byxbee and' Rodger, Was adopted; on roll call by unanimous vote of I11 council' members► >present. (.'here- were 12 Ayes on each resolution, Ruppenthal being absent 7durin these, roll: calls Fie dal not: return to tb.e,.._meet t kas explained tint each resolution provided for hear1ng to. be held <on February 2k, 1958, on the propo ed .changes and modifications' to` order the acquisition of the. street lighting facill=tles in,' each :pro feet,.. and authorized the Controller to make. ; such fund, trans tern are ; m iy be-; necessary to implement said changes- , and ;modifications, ;and that,,: these'proc.e.edir,gs would complete..the legal .,steps. in: Connection wits., the installation of aaclli.ties :by the distxlicts. and'their,.a:cqulsition'by the City. Amend-tsent to.Sac 1,'.111 of Codified Ordinance No: ropos,ed ordlnanoe amending: Section 19.111 of Codified Ordinance `No. 5'pest+aining e=to parking • regulations was- .-introduced, and onn':mouton . of Rodgers a.nd 'Cresap, ws accepted for- first 'read- ins. 11ontrily _Reports .. The monthly report of the Controller for January,' 1958,' ;was •received,and.filed The monthly rreport of the Planning Officer on action taken in Janua:ry on applications for lot divisions was received .and placed on file. The monthly report of the Zoning Administrator or action. taken in : hnuary on applications for variances and use permits Was received a,nd placed on file. Study of Downtown Area. Councilman Stephens called attention to the statement made .earlier in 'the' meet ng _by the Planning Officer ' egnrdtng the program of the -Planning Commission for the ensuing months which includes a study of: the: California Avenue district and mater on a study. of the University:Avenue aren , Rnd advised that'he feels it is' very, important. thnt the University Avenue study be undertaken immediately and :that: the City take the initiative and provide leadership' ii helping -to -work work out a. solution to the problems of the, University Avenue'. business district. A motion was nude by Stephens, seconded by Nevis, that the matter be- referred .,,to Committee No . 1 to work with the ..P1 arming Commission and interested groups, incuding the Downtown Palo Alto. Association, Chamber of Commerce, property owners and merchants, and to take.leadership, in studying thewhole problem affecting the University, ;Avenue district and its future, and do everything :passiblf to find. a 'solution -During discussion of the motion, it wns brought out by council members and the .City Manager that the Council and staff have spent much: time and given:. "a great deal of study during the past several years 'to the question, and have considered a number of plans including the Kump plan,. for.. the. downtown district which was.rejected� Councilman Byxbee suggested : that there might be a review' ,of :the type of facilities which theCity should offer to the University:Avenue area, -and :suggested, conaiderati.on' of'a civic center type,.>of :develop- I sent "in the :downtown. aree which tight' include a branch' library, an auditorium.a'nd a 'meeting place ` for veterans' groups Councilman Evans'` moved to amend the previous motion to provide. that Committee 'No 1':<consider whether there is some way .in .'which the. Council swan take leadership in helping to find.* solutionto the: University Avenue: , problem and .what means would be: a ppropria to .;:. 'Ithe =amendment was seconded:: and carried. The motion as 'amended was then carried. Councilman Byxoee, Chairman of Committee No. 1, nn_nounced that the .committee would meet'; to discuss the question next Monday, I'ebruary,,"17, 1958, at 7;30 P M. and invited interested property owners, merchaTnts ;and organetzatiors to.attend and express their `vie'.$ . Zko X.A• " Testing..Service Project;57=1i, Fabian Way The City Manager referred to the policy for obtaining profesainnal services,. and. advised thatt the City needs the' services of a testing laboratory for the: testing of -;soil, in:connection2_with the Fabian. Way project; that; there -is one .local laboratory, Testing Controls;, Inc. of: Palo Alto, which he would, like to use. He asked for. instructions as to, whether the, procedure of advertising and • interviewing applicantsshoula .be followed or if he could be auth- orized t.o use the local::laboratory. t was .moved:,by Byxbee, seconded and carried that the - City Manager be authorized to uoethe services of the Testing ;Controls,- Inca laboratory for the Fabian Way testing job. There being. no farther business to come before the Council, the meeting was declared adjourned at 10:30 P.M.