HomeMy WebLinkAbout01201975CITY /
COUNCIL �
M}NUTES
Regular Meeting
January 20, 1975
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ITEM PACE
Executive Session 8 2 8
Regular Meeting of January 20, 1975 8 2 8
Minutes of December 23, 1974
Appointment to PACC
4221 Wilkie Way, Tentative Subdivision Map, Application
of John N. Pappas
3801 East Bayshore Road, Zane District P --C, Request of Sydney
M. Smith for Six Months Extension of the Development Schedule
Resolution re State Legislature Regulal.ing Practice of Massage
and Education of Massage Practitioners
Retirement of Anthony J. Poso
Expansion of Greer Park
Council and Committee Meeting Procedures
Request to Move Item 13 (Massage Establishment Ordinance)
Forward on the Agenda
Ordinance Relating to Fences, PAMC, Chapter 16.24
2600 East Baysbore Road, Application of James W. Foug for
Site and Design Control District Approval (Office Building)
•
Yacht Harbor Ordinance
Ordinance Amending.Title 18 of the Municipal Code to Permit
Ce:meteriee in the 0—S Zone
Draft Environmental Impact Statement Prepared by D.S. Coast
Guard for Dumbarton Bridge Replacem&ut Project
•
Adjournment
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1/20/75
January 20, 1975
The City Council of the City of Palo Alto met on this date at 6:50 p.m.
in an Executive Session with Mayor Sher presiding.
PRESENT: Beahrs, Berwald, Comstock,
Henderson, Norton, Pearson
Rosenbaum, Sher
ASSENT: Clay
The Executive Session adjourned at 7:35 p.m.
The City Council of the City of Palo Alto met on this date at 7:30 p.m.
in a regular meeting with Mayor Sher presiding.
PRESENT: Beahre, Berwald, Comstock,
Henderson, Norton, Pearson,
Rosenbaum, Sher
ABSENT: Clay
mutes of December 23. 3974
rinlEl.110prwlla.im.atm�wai.nsta�llo®�mu�a0r dc�.a
Vice Mayor Henderson requested that the words "around the stage"
be deleted from the first line of the fourth paragraph on page 752
and the word3 "in the restaurant" be inserted.
Mayor Sher referred to page 758, the last paragraph, and requested
that "State Senator" be iz:serted before "Gregorio" in the thirteenth
line. Regarding the sixth line from this bottom of the same paragraph,
Mayor Sher asked that "with representatives" be included just after
the words "study group".
Councilman Norton had two corrections for page 756. He noted that
the sentence stating that he left at 10:10 p.m. should appear after
the final vote on that page, rather than before it; and the last
vote on the page should indicate that he had voted "uo".
MOTION: Vice Mayor Henderson moved, seconded by Comstock, that the
minutes of December 23, 1974, be approved as corrected.
The motion passed on a unanimous vote.
Mayor Sher announced that during the Executive Session held just
trior to this ateting, the Council approved the nomination of Darlene
Y. King to the Palo Alto Child Cara Board of Directors,
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4221 WilkieWav, Tentative Subdivision
e �r�nlYp1ic :.pi.�.Ainuf �ohn N. ra3 7ji$8
Chairwoman Frances Brenner of the Plan.7ing Commission stated that
the one aspect of this subdivision which was left unresolved is the
side strip adjacent to Lot 100,. which is outside of this particular
subdivison. It was of concern to the Commission that the adoption
of the subdivision creates a corner lot out of Lot 100, and that
restricts the use of the side yard. The feeling ►gas that the lot
should have the protection of`a normal corner yard, that is to say -
have street trees and a parking< strip; but the problem of the parking
strip was not resolved by the Commission and was left to the staff
to decide. Mrs. Brenner said that the need for a regular street
related also to a need for diverting parking from Wilkie Way.
Napbtali Knox, Director of Planning, agreed that the major item in
question was the green strip. .:He. said he had taken a look at the
situation sing., the matter had. out of Commission, and he had some
alternatives which Council could consider. Mr. Knox stated the main
problem was there was a space eleven feet in width between Christie
Court and Lot 100, and the Planning Commission has directed that
there be some arrangement for adequate landscaping on the green strip.
The related problem is that the subdivision makes Lot 100 a corner
lot and makes its dwelling nun -conforming. The first alternative
would be to take the green strip adjacent to Lot 100 aid rake it
adjacent to Lot 1 of the subdivisA.oa. This would move the Christie
Court pavement and the curb next to Lot 100, and the dwelling there
would be about eight feet from automobile traffic. The green strip
would be partly within Lot 1 and partly in the public ri3ht-of--way.
Hr. Knox noted that this alternative would offer some good opportunity
for maintenance of the green strip. A second alternative would be
to add the green strip to Lot 100. This would burden that lot with
the responsibility for the green strip, but it would not guarantee
improvements or maintenance of improvements. Further, Mr. Knox pointed
out that Lot 100 has a six-foot fence on the side lot line; and after
adding this strip, a new fence could be only four feet high unless
it were kept sixteen feet back from the lot line, and the accessory
building on Lot 100 would still become non -conforming. A third alternative
would be to add the green strip to Lot 5. This would avoid making
a corner lot out of Lot 100, which is a plus; but it would burden
Lot 5 without really guaranteeing the landscaping or the maintenance
of the green strip by the owner of Lot 5. Mr. Knox said a fourth
alternative would be to require the developer to improve the green
strip based on Architectural Review Board comments, which the developer
must go through because this is more than a single-family development.
Based on the ARB review, a Roane Owners' Association or an Assessment
District could be required to maintain the green strip. Mr. Knox
noted that this particular alternative was discouraged by the City
Attorney's office and by the Department of Public Works as being
complicated, ponderous, and out of proportion with the iraportanee
of the problem. The fifth alternative mould be to require the developer
to improve the green strip based on the ARB review, but leave its
maintenance to adjacent owners. The last alternative would be to
construct a five --foot wide sidewalk next to the curb on the green
strip en the side of Christie Court. Mr. Knox said this would decrease
the green strip from ten feet to five feet in width, and the added
paving would reduce the problem.
Mayor Siner asked why Mr. Knox said that adding the strip to Lot 5
would not guarantee that it would be maintained.
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Mr. Knox responded that the strip was a very long appendage, and
he did not feel the owner would consider that pierce of land to be
actually a part of his property. Mr. Knox observed that many property
owners did net maintain the parking strip in front of their houses,
and that could be the feeling of this particular property owner if
this strip were made a part of his lot.
Samuel Halstead, 500 Santa Cruz Avenue, Menlo Park, Engineer for
the tentative map, commented that Council was working with the principle
and the financial burden of this strip; and he thought the principle
might be more important. Maintenance of the strip in perpetuity by
the city might be something that could be funded for a few hundred
dollars, and that would be an annuity that could be drawn upon for
this piece of land. If this suggestion made sense to Council, Mr.
Halstead recommended the third alternative mentioned by Mr. Knox
since that did the host kindly legal thing to Lot 100. Therefore,
Mr. Halstead saw the strip as being part of Lot 5, with the city
maintaining it as an easement.
Mayor Sher asked if the applicant in the first instance would be
willing to provide landscaping and an irrigation system.
Hr. Halstead responded that something modest that would make the
strip easy to •►aintain would he the proper thing.
MOTION: Councilman Comstock introduced the following resolution
and moved, seconded by Henderson, its adoption:
RESOLUTION NO.5054 entitled "RESOLUTION
Of THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
FOR THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT 4221 WILKIE
WAY IN THE CITY OF PALO ALTO AND GRANTING
EXCEPTIONS SUBJECT TO CONDITIONS"
:with the finding that no environmental impact will result from this
ac tioe.
Councilman Comstock thought the course of action suggested by Mr.
haisteed would be the only one that could be followed if there is
going to be a strip of dirt next to a fence. The immediately adjoining
neighbor would be in an "out -of -eight, out -of- .nd" position, and
the person across the street would be looking at what might be a
bare dirt patch. Councilman Comstock felt that everyone knew there
was quite a lot of variability in how owners maintained parking stripe
in (rout of their houses; therefore, he felt that alternative one
or three should be approved, with his preference being for the latter.
Councilwoman Pearson.did not think it would make too much difference
in Palo Alto if the sidewalk were put within at least one foot of
the fence and then have parking on the other side. She pointed out
that the developer is willing to put in the trees and the sprinkler -
systee, so the city would simply beve to see that the system was
turned on periodically. In her opinion, that would not be any different
from any of the parking strips now in Palo Alto. Councilwoman Pearson
expressed ber feeling that a sidewalk at least a foot away from the
fence would be necessary.
AMENDMENT; Councilwoman Pearson moved, seconded by 8ervald, that the
resolution be amended to add Cefiltion 10 stating there would be
a five-foot sidiiit within a foot of the fence, a parking strip
on the other side, vith tress and a dprinnkler system installed by
the developer, the system being automatically controlled and metered
to the City of Palo Alta.
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Councilman Beahrs asked if Councilwoman Pearson's intent was to eliminate
the perking strip eetirely.
Councilwoman Pearson responded there would be a five-foot sidewalk
and a five-foot parking strip.
Vice Mayor Henderson asked if there were any trees there presently
that the sidewalk would iaterfere with.
Mr. Knox replied there were no trees at this time.
Councilman Berwald did not think the sidewalk was necessary.
AMENDMENT TO AMENDMENT: Councilman Berwald moved, seconded by Comstock,
thant the sidewalk be deleted, making a full ten -foot landscaped strip.
Ruth Birgensmith, 4211 Wilkie Way, expressed concern about the sidewalk
because she felt a curbed sidewalk would encourage the parking of
automobiles close to her lot; and she thought this would make her
property not a corner lot.
Mayor Sher was not sure about that since this may be considered city
property and not be attached to Lot 5.
Mr. Knox commented that this would all be in city right--of-way, so
Lot 100 would become a corner lot. The only way Lot 100 could avoid
becoming a corner lot would be if the strip of land is attached to
Lot 5. If the land is, in fact, attached to Lot 5, there might be
the possibility of a landscape easement.
Mayor Sher explained that the motion contemplated involving the city
in order to inure the strip's maintenance.
Mrs. Birgensxmith observed that it would be favorable to her if the
lot were not a corner one. She called attention to the fact that
the developer was willing to put a sprinkling system in; but if the
money involved for that were given to the :caner of Lot 5, that would
certainly take care of the watering. At one time, Lot 5 was non-
conforming because it was toosmall; and Mrs. Birgensaith noted that
the addition of this strip might be a good thing.
C. E. Birgenemitb, 4211 Wilkie Way, asked if his taxes would be increased
if his lot became a corner one and whether a lot becomes non -conforming
unless there is a sixteen foot setback
Robert Booth, City Attorney, thought the proposal to add the strip
to Lot 5 and have an easement created in the city, once Mr. Pappas
has done the landscaping and installed an automatic watering system,
was acceptable. Mr. Booth added that Lot 100's becoming a corner
lot would not have much effect, if any at: all, on the Birgensaitb's
taxes; however, adding property to the existing lot might tend to
increase taxes by a small amount.
Councilwoman Pearson stated that since a sidewalk was not wanted,
she would be willing te delete that part of her amendment.
AMENDMENT TO AMENDMENT WITUDRAW : Couuci1 an Berwald, and Councilman
Comstock as she seconder, agreed to withdraw the amendment to delete
the sidewalk.
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Councilwoman Pearson spoke to the possibility of leaving this strip
as part of Lot 5. She said that if she had purchased Lot 5 with that
long strip down the side, she would be really annoyed if she had to
maintain. it. Ia such a case, Councilwoman Pearson thought the owner
would consider the city responsible for maintenance. She felt the
strip should be landscaped, and the city should be responsible for
keeping the strip green.
AMENDMENT RESTATED: Councilwoman Pearson moved, seconded by Berwald,
that Condition No. 10 be added to the Resolution stating that the
developer shall landscape and improve the green strip located between
the proposed street (Christie Court) aad.Lot.100 (which lies north
of the proposed subdivision) in accordanes.with the requiresenta of
the City of Palo Alto Architectural. Raves. Board. Such improvements
shall include street trees and ground, over,• and may include decorative
paving and an underground sprinkler. ayatea to be automatically controlled
and metered to the City of Palo Alto.
AMENDMENT TO THE AMENDMENT: Councilsan` Ber ald moved, seconded by
Comstock, that the strip be attached to.lot-5, with a landscape easement
granted to the City of Palo Alto.
The amendment to the amendment passed on a t:.ru.animous vote.
The amendment as amended passed on a unanimous vote.
The resolution as amended was adopted on a unanimous vote.
3801 East Bayshore its d L Zone
District P C Re nest .of - S die
M. Snit or Six Mont Extensa on
o 1eveog nt c.aue
MOTION: Councilman Comstock introduced the following resolution and
rived, seconded by Berwald, its adoption:
RESOLUTION NO. 5052 entitled "RESOLUTION
OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
AMENDING ORDINANCE li0. 2665 TO axIEND THE
DEvuopmarr SCHEDULE FOR THE P -C DISTRICT
AT 3801 EAST BATSEORE ROAD"
The resolution was adopted on a unanimous vote.
Resolution
ice of Masse e
of Mass- e rrec ti
MOTIJ(: Councilman Berweld introduced the following resolution and
moved, seconded by Comstock, its adoptions:
RESOLUTION NO. 5053 entitled "RESOLUTION
OF T E CECIL OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
MEMORIALIZING THE CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE
TO ENACT LEGISLATION REGULATING THE
PRACTICE OF MASSAGE AND THE EDUCATION OF
MASSAGE PRACTITIONERS01
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Mayor Sher stated he opposed the drafting of the resolution, and he
would vote against it. He explained that in his experience with the
State Licensing Agencies, there is a tendency of the licensees to
gain control of the agency. Instead of always acting in the public
interest, the agencies sometimes acted in the interest of the licensee.
Therefore, Mayor Sher was not inclined to memorialize the Legislature
to create still another licensing agency.
Councilman Berwald thought Mayor Sher's comments were well taken.
He said he was a foe of any public regulation except when it is absolutely
necessary. In this case, however, there was one owner of a legitimate
massage parlor who implored Council to pass the ordinance, since those
who were not legitimate passage parlor operators were ruining the
business for .those who were. Councilman Berwald comMerted that there
would be uniformity of requirements in this particular business if
the state did the regulating.
The resolution was adopted on the following vote:
AYES: Beahray Berwald, Comstock,
Henderson, Pearson, Rosenbaum
NOES: Sher
ABSTAIN: Norton
Retirement of .Ar,tl�an .i. Poso 4CMR:105:5)
y��y.�11.�.arnq�u..Qw+�c�war iMQiro ro.. r�
MOTION: Councilwoman Pearson introduced the following resolution
a.d moved, seconded by Norton, its adoption:
RESOLUTION NO, 5051 entitled "RESOLUTIOF
OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
EXPRESSING APPRECIATION TO ANTHONY J.
POSO UPON HIS RETIREMENT"
The resolution was adopted on a unanimous vote,
See pg. 924
Vice mayor Henderson, Chairman of the Finance send Public Works Department,
recalled that last summer the Committee and Council approved acquisition
of approximately fifteen acres of lend around the existing five -acre
Greer Park for expansion purposes, and directed staff to negotiate
purchase of the ].and, Also, staff was directed to develop a preliminary
plan for the park to show need for new facilities and to develop the
cost feasibility iu solving the drainage problems. Vice Mayor Henderson
noted that the ataff report covering these items, dated December 5,
1914, WAS the subject of the Decaier 10 sating of the Committee.
Vice Mayor Henderson stated that the drainage problem is solvable
et a lower cost than anticipated if the entire park area is worked
on at the sa:se time according to the study done by Whaley Associates.
The need for new facilities such as baseball and softball diamonds,
soccer fielde, and tennis courts is clear from data in the staff report;
and the park deficiency figures for this area of town justify establishing
en new district park. Vice Mayor Henderson reported that staff had
completed negotiations for the property, and the firm of Ribera and
Sue, Inc. has developed a preliminary plan in close cooperation with
residents of the area. That plan has been endorsed unanimously by
those attending a residents' meeting and by the Finance and Public
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Works Committee. Staff made full recommendations to the Committee,
of which three were sent to Council with minor changee. Vice Mayor
Henderson commented that staff recommended authorizing funds in the
1975-76 Capital Improvements Budget for lighting a softball field
at Wilbur Junior High School, and that is an item that should be included
in the proposed budget for next year since it was not directly related
to the Greer Park situation. The first action before Council concerns
authorization -for purchase of the land. Originally, approximately
four acres of land at Colorado Avenue and West Bayshore Frontage Road
owned by ONC was to be excluded. Other land owned by ONC, the drive-
in theater property, and the Pellegrini and Nearon properties were
to be purchased. Staff recommended the purchase of four acres at
Colorado and West Bayshore and the exclusion of 2.04 acres of Pellegrini
and Nearon properties. After much discussion, the Committee agreed
on the four acres but also added the three-quarters of an acre of
Nearon property, still excluding the Pellegrinl one and one -quarter
acres. Vice Mayorr Henderson noted that the total recommended purchase
was 16+ acres, making a total pack of 21+ acres, This year's Capital
Improvements Budget contains one and a quarter million dollars to
cover purchase of this land, and staff has indicated that the purchase
can be completed within that budgeted amount. The Went Bayshore Residents
Association urgee the inclusion of the Pellegrini property,
Vice Mayor Henderson continued that the second proposed action concerns
development of the new park. The Committee recommends that the 197S-
76 Capital Improvement Program Budget Proposal include an amount for
a Phase 1 development plan that includes grading, drainage, irrigation,
turfing, utilities, pathways, security lighting, minimum plantings,
basic parking, and restrooms. ills approach has been strongly recommended
by the consultant and staff as the best way to insure proper drainage
and to provide usable recreation areas at the earliest date. Vice
Mayor Henderson noted that Council :members had a memorandum from Council --
man Rosenbaum concerning an alternative approach. The final staff
recommendation called for additional phased development of the park
over an extended period of time based on future recreation needs.
The Committee added that the basis should be future recreation needs
and availability of funds. Then the Committee added that the entire
-
developmsent be completed within five years; and that was a split vote -
Beahrs and Berwald for, said Henderson against. Vice Mayor Henderson
felt Council needed to be aware of the additional costs for park maintenance
and recreational supervisor that will follow purchase and development
of this park. Costs for the present five -acre park are about $13,000
per year. When the park is fully developed, the costs will be about
$96,000 per year. If the park is developed in its first phase as
proposed by the Committee, the increased costs would be approximately
half the ultimate increase. The community building would be a significant
cost differential, both in :maintenance costs and pressure for additional
recreational supervision.
MOTION: Vice Mayor Henderson moved on behalf of the Finance and Public
Works Committee
s) that staff be authorized to purchase
for dedicated park property approxi-
mately 16+ scree of lad which includes
all the parcel* shown on the slap except
the Peiiigrini property;
b) that Council direct staff ,to include in
the proposed Capital. Improvement Pudget
for 1975-76 an a unt to cover a Phase
Ons development plan for Greer Park that
would include grading, drainage, irriga-
tton, turfing, utilities, pathways,
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security lighting, minimum plantings,
basic parking, and restrooms;
c) that additional phases of development of
Greer Park be done over an extended period
of time based on future studies of recrea-
tion needs and the availability of funds,
the entire development to be completed
within five years.
For benefit of the audience, Councilman Rosenbaum stated that he sent
a memorandum to Council members suggesting the possibility of a ,second
alternative for the Phase I development. He had in mind not snaking
any decision at this meeting, but directing staff to prepare some
sketches and coat estimates on at alternative that would perhaps provide
e small building and some tennis courts in lieu of converting the
entire area to turf. To provide background, Councilman Rosenbaum
said it seemed to him there had been a remarkable escalation in this
park. Two years ago, Council directed staff to try to add five acres
to the park and put in some district -type facilities; and one-half
million dollars was appropriated for that. There had been some discussion
es to whether to expand toward Colorado Avenue or the Drive -In, and
a decision had been made to expand in both directions. Councilman
Rosenbaum recalled that at that time there was some rationale for acquiring
all the land, and they had to do with the need for additional community -
wide facilities. The problem, was brought up about the lack of playing
fields for Little League, soccer, etc. Staff was asked to do a survey
to determine whether or not existing fields could meet such community
needs, and staff reported back that existing ;school fields were sufficient
for the soccer leagues. Little League found a field at Hoover School;
and although they had just a one year lease there, Councilman Rosenbaum
felt that if the school were to abandon that site, that would be very
high on Council's priorities for purchase. With regard to softball,
Mr. Bruns identified a site at Wilbur Junior High School that could
be lighted. Later, Councilman Rosenbaum and Mr. Bruns found another
site at Wilbur, one at El Camino Park where a softball diamond could
be placed, and mother at Palo Alto High School. The conclusion was
that there really vas no need for additional softball diamonds. For
some reason, the proposed park plans include a baseball diamond the
same size as Candlestick Park. There are seven baseball fields at
the present time, and that is sufficient for the needs of the community.
Councilman Rosenbaum pointed out that the original rationale for converting
so much land to turf just did not exist, He still felt the decision
to bey all the land was a good one, but he questioned whether Council
should go along at this time with Phase 1 as proposed. Councilman
Rosenbaum suggested that what some of tie residents in that area wanted when
the subject first came up, was some sort of city presence in the form
of a small building. Aiao, there has always been a demand for tennis
courts theme. It vas Councilman Rosenbaum's hope that a second alternative
would be prepared to be compared with the first one, and that it would
be reviewed by the Finance and Public Works Commission in cooperation
with the public. Council would then be able to look at two alternatives.
Councils 3eshrs hoped that members of the public would comment on
the exclusion of the Peliegrini pxoperty since he inns somewhat disposed
to purchase that too,
Mayor Sher invited members of the aedience to address Council.
Roger J. Marzul..la, Attorney, 12 South First Street, San Jose, represented
the owners of the Pellegrini property. Hepainted out that the Greer
Perk ec.quiaitio n is not a new idea►. Several years ago, Mr. Pellegriai -
now deceased - approached Council with plans for rezoning of this
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property to multiple dwelling use. The p1ens were turned down in
part on the rationale that this land might someday be used for a park.
Two years ago, the owners again approached Council with the surge idea
of using the property for multiple dwellings. Once again, the idea
was turned down because of the possibility of the city eventually
acquiring the property for a park. Mr. Marzulla stated that a few
months ago, the owners were approached by the acquisitions egent for
the city requesting that they sign an option for the purpose of the
city's acquiring park property; and the option was signed. At the
Finance and Public Works Committee meeting, the owners found that
after five yearo of hearing they could not have their property rezoned
because of the possibility of a park being built there, the city was
no longer interested in acquiring it for that purpose. Mr. Marzulla
noted that twenty-two acres of contiguous open space in the heart
of Palo Alto was unique, and to exclude this one piece of property
in favor of permitting it to be developed into an apartment project
is not the beat use of a unique opportunity. It was Mr.. Marzull&'s
opinion that if the Pelligrini property were exclude4 prom park use,
the prircipal aspect of open space would be neglected becaune so much
of the land to be acquired would be used for tennis courts and the
like. Mr. Marzulla thought it was obvious that if the property were
not acquired at this tine for park use, it would be forever lost to
the city.
Vice Mayor Henderson referred to the triangle on the map and asked
just what the acreage was of the ONC property as you would go straight
across to Colorado:
Keith Bruns, Director of the Recreation Department, responded that
piece of land was 1.3 acres in size.
Councilman Rosenbaum considered it important to make the point that
the proposals for rezoning of the Pellegrini property were turned
down on their merits, and there never was any discussion about park
use for that land.
Orville Miller, 1161 Colorado Avenue, stated that the extra land was
needed for the park for the benefit of the many children in that immediate
area.
Robert Anania, 1069 Moreno Avenue, strongly urged Council to approve
the recosmendations from the Committee as submitted. However, if
Council desired to add the Pellegrini property, he would support that.
He pointed out that the West Bayahare area is a high residential one,
and there was a critical need for additional recreational space and
facilities. Secondly, Mr. Mania noted that in this era of a growing
energy crunch, citizens would be looking to their own communities
to meet all of their human needs. Developing a park complex would
provide for recreation, leisure time fulfillment, physical activity,
and other social requirements. It was Mr. Ananie' a feeling that the
cost would be offset many times over in the future by a reduction
in social problems.
S. L. Corcbado, 926 Colonial Lane, stated that everyone involved agreed
that a park was needed. If a viable district park were to be developed,
it was important to lay down the foundation first; and that foundation
is ell the proper drainage, irrigation, sloping land, etc. Mr. Corchado
strongly recommended that: Council adopt the proposal from the Finance
end Public Works Committee accepting all three items as one package.
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Erk Reimnitz, 914 Van Auken Circle, said it appeared that some people
feel there is no real drainage problem in the existing park; but the
fact is that under average year-round conditions, the land area is
so soggy that no one can find a place to sit down. This problem is
largely related to inadequate grading and the fact that a thin bed
of artificial fill rests on a bed of impervious clay. Mr. Reimnitz
feared that grading in the ::astern portion of the park might make
conditions in the western portion worse than they are at present.
He said the problem could be delayed over a five year time period
if Council did not mind calling part of the park a bog and having
a large percentage of dissatisfied citizens who had to enter the park
from that side. Mr. Reimnitz thought it would be unwise to begin
development in one area of the park before the entire foundation eras
completed. It wae clear from the consultant's report that the proposed
topography after grading, and the drainage pipes of a given diameter
and slope, are meant to be an integral part of the drainage systems
for the total area, From a practical viewpoint, a piecemeal approach
would be more expensive than a total approach. In Mr. Reimnitz' view,
grading and drainage for the total area and a limited amount of landscaping
is a logical first step in developing the park.
Kate Hooker, 3648 Evergreen Drive, President of Palo Alto Little League,
said that a field had been found at Hoover School for leagues; and
other school fields had been found for practice use. She feared that
if schools were closed and sold, it would be difficult to find new
playing fields, Mrs. Hooker noted that the situation with soccer
la very much the same, and she pointed out that the number: of soccer
teams and players had doubled in the past year. The soccer teams
were using school district fields too, except for El Camino Park.
Use of El Camino Park had to be discontinued because of its poor condition.
At this point, for example, there are sometimes as many as five Wilbur
soccer games plus six practices scheduled on a typical Wednesday.
Barbara Hopkins, 1040 Moffett Circle, Chairwoman of the Wese Bayshore
Residents Association Park Committee, noted that Greer Park expansion
had been unanimously supported by Council over the past two years.
The Association hoped that Council would vote to proceed with the
next steps in making Greer Park a quality district park that will
be used and enjoyed by all of Palo Alto. The need for the park was
critical because of the numbers of children and young people who live
in the immediate vicinity of the park. Mrs. Hopkins stated the negative
aspects of the existing park and expressed the opinion that the park
clearly needs to be rebuilt from scratch. She spoke in favor of more
playing fields for organized sports, and she thought it lade sense
to combine the city needs for more playing fields with the immediate
neighborhood's need for a high quality park. The Association considered
Plan A, developed by Ribera and Sue, to be an outstanding plan; and
Mrs. Hopkins urged Council to adopt Flag A as the basic plan for the
development of Greer Park. She pointed out that the importance of
the foundation that would include drainage, irrigation, etc., could
hardly be over:eatimated. The West Bayshore Residents Association
urged Council to approve the phased development in order to make Greer
Park a quality district park, and to approve the recommendation of
the Finance and Public Works Committee for iced :ate land acquisition
and Phase 1 development of the park.
Vice Mayor Henderson caked if the Association had discussed Schematic
C, which would take off the top upper right head corner of land.
Mrs. Eopkina responded that the problem in that plan was the location
of the tennis courts was not advantageous because of the wind direction.
Also there was strong feeling about access to the park from Bayshore
and Frontage Roads rather than Colorado, which was the rationale for
not having a driveway from Colorado.
837
1/20/75
David Jones, 2599 Louis Road, recalled that he had spoken to Council
many times about the deteriorating traffic situation in Palo Alto
and specifically, on Louis Road. Even so, he wholly supported Greer
Park - which will probably generate more traffic on Louis Road - because
a district park was needed, not high density apartments. He stated
hie preference for the sanity of pleased; resideptial, recreational
traffic to pathological traffic of transient members of a high density
development.
Fraek Manfredi, 219 Addison Avenue, ncted that he had advocated for
a long time building no more houses is Palo Alto and making mini -parks
out of every piece of property that exists. &e recommended that the
property be acquired by eminent domain.
Mayor Sher stated that Part (a) of the Committee's recommendation
was before Council.
Councilman eerwald thought the decision to include the Nearon property
and to exclude the Pellegrini property was a sound one from a planning
standpoint for the park, from an economic standpoint, and from the
standpoint that it was necessary to balance the need for open space
and the need for housing. The need for the Pellegrini land for this
park has not been shown, but the need for housing has, Apparently,
the neighborhood was happy with the decision; and Councilman Berwa1d
con=sidered Part (a) was just exactly the right motion to pass.
Councilman Beahrs pointed out that this area, more than any other
in Palo Alto, was highly impacted with unusually dense housing, For
that reason, he would regret seeing any housing developed on the Pellegrini
property.
AME.h'1) )ENT: Councilman Beahrs coved that Part a) of the motion be amended to
add the Pellegrini property for purposes of negotiation.
The ameedment died for lack of a second.
Couenellnara Comstock agreed with COUUCilMall Rosenbaum's consents; and
he stated that the development proposals for the Pellegriniproperty,
as far as he was concerned, were ccnsidered on their merits and .rejected.
Part (a) of the motion parsed on a unanimous vote.
Mayor Sher stated that Part (b) of the motion was before Council.
Councilman Rosenbaum said there were five million dollars in the unallocated
Capital Improvement lucid, and the projection was that nothing would
be added. Phase 1 development of the park. beyond the purchase of
the property vas estimated to be 1.3 million dollars. Perhaps when
this wawa looked at with all of the other proposed Capital Improvements,
Council would decide to spend the 1.3 million dollars. That is a
possibility, but Councilman Rosenbaum was suggesting that there be
available to Council a considerably lower cost s.lternetive which would
provide some of the improvements for which people had been expressing
a need. If this really could not be done, and if it were absolutely
necessary to develop all twenty acres to get the proper drainage,
then there could be no alternative. Offhand, Councilman Rosenbaum
felt sure that if someone owned five or e x acres, they could develop
their property - properly drained - without adversely affecting everybody
else. He commented that he considered his earlier remarks about the
reed for * softball end baseball held valid. In any case, the land
would be there; and as needs developed, they could be provided for
on the land.
838
1/20/75
AMENDMENT: Councilman Rosenbaum moved Part b) be amended to direct
staff to prepare a second alternative for Phase I development of the
park calling for development of approximately five or six acres along
the Colorado Avenue frontage with tennis courts and a small building.
The amendment died for lack of a second.
Councilman Berwald remarked that he shared stoma of Councilman Rosenbaum" s
feelings. He did not second the amendment because he was convinced
that the drainage problems were such that it would be much more costly
to ettempt to handle them on a portion of the property at a time.
Councilman Berwald was etill in favor of a small buildin3, and he
thought the Bayshore Residents Association would like to ha•se one
as early as possible since there is no place to store equipment.
Such a building could also serve as a nucleus for those children from
homes where both parents were employed. Councilman Bervald commented
that (b) was so open that it did not decide what finally was to he
done, and there was plenty of room for discussion. He hoped there
would be minimum plantings;; and since there would be a lot of children
using the park from the immediate neighborhood, perhaps the building
could be substituted for some of the parking. Councilman Berwald concluded
that the minimum grading and the minimum planting should be gone ahead
with in order to get the park ready for use.
Vice Mayor Henderson referred to the fact that it had been brought
out twice that baseball and softball diamonds were not needed. He
pointed out that it needed to be remembered that such diamonds were
not used just for formal games; but they were also used for impromptu
games.
Part (b) of the emotion passed on a unanimous vote.
Mayor Sher stated that Part (c) of the motion was before Council.
Vice Mayor Henderson was concerned about proposed additional phases
of the park being based upon recreational needs and availability of
funds and then have added to that a time limit of five years for the
entire project. It was his hope that everything would be completed
within five years, but it was necessary to remember that the city
might be entering a period of severe budget restrictions. Vice Mayor
Henderson thought the tennis courts should be in the tennis court
program, and perhaps the community building would be just too such
to be managed in a specified period. In his opinion, the time span
should be left open. There would be able pressure from the residents
of the area to proceed as rapidly as possible, but Vice Mayor Henderson
felt Council should have the freedom to place it in line with other
priorities.
AST: Vice Mayor Henderson moved, seconded by Se.ahre, that the
Beards "the entire development to he completed within five years" be
deleted from Part (c) of th:e motion.
Councilman teahrs felt sure the public appreciated Council's problem
and that perhaps choir help would be needed in passing a bond issue
to get some of the wanted aspects that could not be amortized out
of current earning,. Be stated that sow of the younger people should
have the pleasure cf payin.g for some improvements themselves.
Council an Bervald indicated support of the Committee's recommendation
as it appears en the agenda, and he pointed out that it expressed
an intent only. No ordinance would be paaaed to say that the park
had to be completed in five years, but Councilman Bervald felt the
residents deserved some firm statement of intent. Taking out the
8 3 9
1/20/75
time period may .leave the matter dangling for future Councils, and
Councilman Berwald would like to see Part (c) passeci as stated in
the original. motion.
Counci1zae Comstock understood the idea that generated the time limit;
on the other hand, just a few years ago the laet facilities were added
to Mitchell Park. He considered that to be an object lesson that
the development of facilities would reflect the needs of the area.
The Finance and Public Works Committee would be looking at the Capital
Improvement Program over the next five yearn. At this point, Councilman
Comstock did not think a statement of colleting the project in five
years was necessary. He thought the people interested in Greer Park
knew very well that they had not attended their last meeting on the
subject. This project could not be wedged in arbitrarily among the
other priorities in the Five Year Capital Improvement Program review.
Mayor Sher commented that he would support the
opinion, the way the time period was stated in
there was a commitment to complete the project
he thought it was better to have the action be
being done based on recreational needs and the
amendment. In his
the original motion,
in five years; and
in terms of the work
availability of funds.
The amendment t.o the motion passed on the following vote:
AYES: Beahrs, Comstock, Henderson,
Norton, Pearson, Rosenbaum, Sher
NOES: Berwald
Part (c) of the motion, as amended, passed on a unanimous vote.
Council Comm_ ee Meeting Procedures
Councilwoman Pearson, Chairwoman of the Policy and Procedures Committee,
said if there is one thing Palo Alto City Council meetings were noted
for, it is length. This is due to very important ingredients. One
of them is a very active citizenry which insists on participating
and making its wishes known, and that is what Council wants and expecte.
Another aspect is that Palo Alto's Council is the largest one except
for Los Angeles, and each member is a leader who campeignv even if
there is just one person in the audience. The issues do tae longer
than ever these days, and there are few things that Council can do
to shorten the meetings. Councilwoman Pearson said the recoemendaticns
from the Policy and Procedures Committee may speed things up, but
she thought the real answer was with Council. It vas not really neceu.ary
to speak to each item three or four times. The recommendations from
the Committee included the following: a) that the Council implement
a two-part consent calendar --the first :section to contain the following:
second readings of ordinances, setting of hearing dates, vacation
of easements, unsniaeouaa planning Commission recommendations and awards
of contracts; and the second section to be devoted to actions and
referrals to Committees, Boards and Commissions; and that any item
can be removed from Consent Calendar at request of any Council .ember
and the item would fall into the agenda at the and of its normal ; otegory;
b) that an amendment to the procedure rules be made to permit the
City Manager, with the prior approval of the Mayor, to designate on
tee agenda of the City Council meetings tat an item or itera shall
be taken up at a specified time; c) that the City Council amend the
procedural rules to permit the Council to determine, by a majority
vote, immediately after the break, those items on the agenda which
are to be continued to future meetings; d) that the City Council end
e40
1/20/75
the procedural rules to provide a fifteen minute limit of oral communications
at the start of each meeting wherein the public may speak to any item
that is not on the agenda; e) that Section 2.04.230 of the Palo Alto
Municipal Code pertaining to standing committee dates be amended as
follows: The Policy and Procedures Committee meetings shell be scheduled
for the first and third Tuesdays of every month, and the Finance and
Public Works Committee tweeting dates shall be scheduled for second
and fourth Tuesdays of each month.
MOTION: Councilwoman Pearson introduced the following ordinance and
moved, seconded by Comstock, its approval for first reading:
ORDINANCE OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
PALO ALTO AMNDING VARIOUS SECTIONS OF
TITLE 2 OF THE PALO ALTO MUNICIPAL CODE
TO PROVIDE FOR A CONSENT CALENDAR, CHANGE
THE TIME OF ORAL COMMUNICATIONS, ESTABLISH
COMMITTEE MATING DAYS, ESTABLISH SPECIFIED
TIME FOR AGENDA ITEMS, AND PROVIDE FOR
CONTINUATION OF AGENDA ITEMS
Councilwoman Pearson referred to the statement on the first page of
the ordinance which said that any Council member may request that
an individual item be removed from the consent calendar, in which
case that item shall be considered immediately following New Business.
She stated that the Committee decided that the item would fall into
the agenda at the end of its normal category.
City Attorney Booth suggested that a change could be made so that
the sentence would read: "Any Council member nay request that an
individual item be removed from the consent calendar, in which case
that item shall be considered in the place en the agenda it would
have otherwise appeared".
Mayor Sher asked if this wording meant at the end of the category
under which it otherwise would appear.
Councilwoman Pearson noted that Mayor Sher's remarks reflected the
recommendation and intent of the Committee.
Mr. Booth stated that this recommendation from the Committee would
be ,lade clear in that part of the ordinance.
Mayor Sher referred to Paragraph 3 of the ordinance, under Section
1, which said: "The oral communication period at the beginning shall
be limited to three speakers"; and he asked Councilwoman Pearson if
that agreed with the Committee's recommendation,
Councilwoman Pearson responded that Committee members had not talked
about whether it should be limited to any number of speakers, but had
merely recommended that the period at the beginning of the meeting
should be for fifteen minutes.
See pg. 924
Mayor Sher explained that part of the ordinance should read that the
period should be limited to fifteen minutes, and that part referring
to three speakers or whichever occurs first ehou.d be deleted,
Councilwoman Pearson .agreed with this understanding.
Mayor Sher noted that there would be a fifteen minute limit; and if
there were not enough speakers from the audience to use up that, time,
Council could proceed with the agenda.
8 4 1
1/20/75
Mayor Sher referred to Section 5 of the ordinance which states: "Upon
said hour, the Council may suspend consideration of the item that
should be then under discussion or complete consideration of such
item". Mayor Sher suggested the wording should be "Or may complete
consideration of such item" and then "ui st commence consideration
of the item for which a time was specified". Otherwise, it looks
as though it is not mandatory but is at the discretion of Council.
Councilwoman Pearson agreed with Mayor Sher's comments.
Councilwoman Pearson said that Section 6 did not quite reflect what
t':e Committee had said. Committee did not say: "When additional meetings
are necessary, the Chairman of each Committee may call a meeting for
the next regular scheduled Tuesday". The Committee said that the
Committee Chairman could call a meeting, period. Such a meeting might
be on some other day, because they did occasionally meet on Wednesdays,
Thursdays, etc. Also, a Chairman could cancel a meeting.
Mayor Sher said the understanding was that the wording "for the next
regular scheduled Tuesday" would be deleted.
Mayor Sher stated that with these changes, the ordinance reflected
the recotandations of the Committee; therefore, the ordinance as
changed was before Council for first reading.
Vice Mayor Henderson expressed concern that one group o,= people would
come in and use up the entire fifteen minute period set aside at- the
beginning of the meeting for Oral. Communications.
AMENDMENT: Vice Mayor Henderson ,roved, seconded by Beahrs, that the
oral communications period at the beginning of the meeting be limited
to fifteen minutes and to one speaker per subject. If there is an
overflow on the subject, the speakers would be heard under Oral
Communications at the end of the meeting.
Councilman Fseahre thought Vice Mayor Henderson was trying to be fair.
If proponents had fifteen minutes, then opponents of the same subject
should have fifteen minutes.
Mayor Sher observed that the motion spoke to oral communications on
any subject other than the item on the agenda, and he did not feel
there was any reason to assume people would organize on -a particular
subject. Furthermore, no actions would be taken under oral communications.
The amt failed on the following vote:
AYES: Beahrs, Henderson
ROES: Bervald, Comstock, Nor eon,
Pearson, Rosenbaum, Sher
AMENDMENT: Councilman ;Remold moved, seconded by Rosenbaum, that
the following words be adopted: "Oral communication will be resumed
as the item just prior to adjournment of the string".
Mayor Sher understood that this would an that if there were no speakers
during the first fifteen minutes, you would still have oral communications
at the end of the meeting and give audience members an opportunity
to be heard.
Councilman Rosenbaum stated that this wan the intent of the Committee
too, and it very specifically did not want to eliminate oral communications
at the end of the seating.
842
1/20/75
Councilman Norton asked Councilman Berwald to consider saying that
"oral communications would be resumed at the regular place on the
agenda".
AMENDMENT RESTATED: Councilman Serwald moved, seconded by Rosenbaum,
that the following language be adopted: "Oral communications would
be resumed at the regular place on the agenda".
The amendment passed on a unanimous vote.
Mayor Sher referred to the recommendation that certain items may be
continued when agenda is reviewed after the, recess and asked Mr. Booth
if the item could be continued as a block under "Unfinished Business"
or as a certain agenda number on the :next agenda.
Mr. Booth responded that items could be continued -to any place on
the next agenda and in any order, the only difference being that Council
would not have to bring such items up by motion before dealing with
them.
Councilman Berwald thought that the intent of Section 6-(A) was that
where there are conflicts in schedvl frg. vssurfous. meetings, that the
night be chosen where there would be the leant conflicts. In his
own case, that would be the fourth Tuesday.
Recommendations (a) through (e) and the ordinance, as corrected, were
approved for first reading on a unanimous vote.
Mayor Sher noted that his memorandum to the Committee, dated December 17,
was distributed to the members of Council. }ie.recormrended that the
Committee consider six points dealing with the conduct of Council
members at meetings. Since there were no recommendations on these points,
it was his intention to move some additions to the printed policy
guidelines for Council procedure.
MOTION: Mayor Sheer :::roved, seconded by Berwaald,that during the question
period following_ presentation of an it W. etssaif, Committee Chairpersons,
or Planning.Commission members, etc,,Connall.membeers should limit
themselves to. quest. volts intended, to.•olasily: t e proposed action or
to obtain additional information moat. -Haired in the supporting documents,
and should not ask argumentative questiona.or. ugage in debate.
Mayor Sher commented that the Chairman has to enforce runts, but he
viewed his motion and others he would be. sinking as reminders.
Councilman Norton stated he agreed in spirit, and he thought it was
proper procedure to do exactly what Mayor Sher proposed. Further,
Councilman Norton felt that Mayor Sher had been doing an excellent
job in enforcing the rules of procedure; but he feared that Council
was getting too strait jacketed in saying what ::::embers of Council
could and could not do. He did not nee the need for this particular
provision; and he could not see how Council would ever be able to
prevent Councilman beahre from taking a etateaert in the or of a
question, for instance, and other minor aberrations from the rules.
Councilman Norton said he would vote against the motions.
Councilmen Beahrs agreed that the motion would be an infringement
on the Mehra' style. Be thought this kind of rule would be hard to
police and would put an extreme burden on the Chair.
843
1/20/75
9
Mayor Sher observed that his motion was not aimed at any particular
member of the Council; it was not designed as a strait jacket but
as a guideline; and it seemed to him that it would be useful to have
this concept on the record as a policy guideline.
The motion failed on the following vote:
AYES: Comstock, Henderson, Sher
NOES: Beahrs, Berwald, Norton,
Pearson, Rosenbaum
MOTION: Mayor Sher moved, seconded by Comstock, as a policy guideline
that during the period when Council debates en item, Council membere
should endeavor to make their statements as short as possible, avoid
repetition of points already made by themselves or others, and - generally
speaking - should seek recognition to speak only once.
Councilman Berwald expressed the opinion that these were things which
the Mayor could advise Council on; and to the best of their ability,
Council members would abide by his suggestion; but he did not want such
rules to be put into an official document of the City of Palo Alto.
He thought the motion was something of an infringement on the liberty
of Council members to talk, and there were tines when any one of Council
sight want to speak twice.
Mayor Sher 'responded chat this was not an official document but a
statement of policy guidelines for Council's conduct. This suggestion
was no infringement compared to those which were already listed as
policy guidelines, and the motion includes the words "generally speaking"
with regard to each Council member speaking just once.
The motion failed on the following vote:
AYES: Beahrs, Comstock, iianderscn, Sher
NOES: Berwald, Pearson, Norton, Rosenbaum
Re»vest to Move Item 13 Massa=e Establishment
Forward on the Agenda Gilt:
MOTION: Mayor Sher moved, seconded by Comstock, that Item 13 on the
agenda (Massage Establishment Ordinance - Administrative Procedures)
be brought forward for considaretion at this time.
The motion passed on a unanimous vote.
MOTION: Mayor Sher moved, seconded by Comstock, approval of the administrative
procedures for implementation of the ordinance to regulate massage
establishments, Chapter 4.54 of the Palo Alto Municipal Code.
The motion passed ou the following vote:
AYES: Beahrs, Bervald, Comstock,
Henderson, Pearson, Sher,
Rosenbaum
NOES: Norton
844
1/20/75
Ordinance Relating to Fences,
FA1`4C Chapter 15. .
Councilman Comstock stated that he would not participate in the discussion
or the voting on this item.
Councilwoman Pearson, Chairwoman of the Policy and Procedures Committee,
said that this ordinance would provide for an exception or variance
procedure which the city has never had. She did not consider the
ordinance to be very clear as to what could and could not be done;
but it appeared that applicants for a variance could appeal to the
Al , or they could discuss a request for an exception with someone
in the Building Department.
MOTION: Councilwoman Pearson, on behalf of the Policy and Procedurea
Committee, introduced the following ordinance and moved its approval
for first reading:
ORDINANCE OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
PALO ALTO REPEALING AND ADDING CHAPTER
16.24 TO THE PALO ALTO MUNICIPAL CODE
RELATING TO FENCES
Councilman Norton understood that the ordinance plus the *memorandum
Subsection (E) of QAO was being changed from the ordinance version
to the memorandum version, and he asked if that were correct.
Councilwoman Pearson responded that this understanding was correct.
Councilman Norton, referring to Page 2 of the memorandum, noted that
(E) starts out with reference to ten days after receipt of the recommenda-
tion of the ARB; and he assumed that referred back to (D) in the preceding
section. As (E) is written, it appears that if a person applies for
a variance from the fence ordinance, th€n under sub -subsection (1),
the Building Official shall grant the exception if he finds one of
the following: exceptional convenience of the applicant - which could
be assumed in every case, by (a) increasing privacy - which could
be assumed in every case, (b) increasing security -- which could be
found in every such case, or (c) decreasing the transmission of noise -
which would be found in every case, etc. Councilman Norton was making
the point that the applicant would go through the procees, but when
he establishes that the fence conveniences him, plus increases privacy,
security, or decreases noise, the Building Inspector has no choice
but to grant the permit for a variance. It seemed to Councilman Norton
that the impact on the community would be so ;,rent that the entire
matter ought to go to the Planning Commission. An almost mandatory
situation of granting permits for fences to be built right up against
the sidewalk, perhaps, should not be taken lightly. He was really
concerned that the Building Inspector would have very little latitude
in this matter.
Stan Novicki, Chief Building Inspector, responded that the Architectural
Review Board is to ►-eview all of the applications for exception and
to take all of the circumataacess into consideration before making
a recommendation for approval or denial. He pointed out that the
second section, E-2, requires that the Building Official shall deny
an exception if he determines that the proposed exception will be
detrimental to the abutting property owners by denying them air or
light, if the exception will constitute s hazard, or if it would be
csaceptually incompatible with the design of the immediate neighborhood.
845
1/20/75
It seemed to Councilman Norton that E-1 and E-2 were inconsistent.
Under E-1, the Building Inspector is told he has to grant the exception
if the requirements mentioned there were met. Under E-2, he is told
he shall deny it if the proposed exception were found to be conceptually
incompatible, etc. If all of these findings were made, the Building
Inspector would not know what to do.
City Attorney Booth thought a lot of this process would be a balancing
of the one against the other heading towards the goal of granting
perwits for exceptions that would not be in violation of E-2, but
would meet the standards of E-1. A change could be made in the wording
so that if the provisions of 2 were not met, that would make the conditions
in 1 not applicable.
Councilwoman Pearson reported that this was a matter that became very
difficult in the Committee. She did not think the draft was very
good, and she would like the Attorney to go over it and bring back
an ordinance that is clearer.
MOTION: Mayor Sher moved, seconded by Pearson*., that thla matter be
referred back to the city staff for clarification of the points that
had been raised and for purposes of incorporating in the proposed
amendments the suggestions contained in the City Attorney's memorandum
of January 16, 1975.
The referral motion passed on a unanimous vote. (Councilman Comstock
not participating.)
Mayor Sher apologized for not having members of the audience address
Council earlier in the discussion, and he invited them to do so.
Barry Schuyler, 2399 Carmel Drive, ,moved hack to Palo Alto a year
and a half ago into a house that did not have a six-foot fence. Within
four months, Mr. Schuyler had approximately three thousand dollars
worth of goods stolen from his house. He asked the city for permission
to build a six-foot fence, and he was told there was no authority
for the isauance of suca a waiver; therefore, a permit would not be
granted. Mr. Schuyler said he built the fence anyway; and since tha
fence had been constructed, he had nothing more stolen. He asked
Council to seriously consider passing the proposal that would make
exceptions to the .fence ordinance possible.
Peter Carpenter, 425 Lowell Aveuue, spoke in sup;aort of the exception
procesa. He thought s► reasonable guide should be used with regard
to an exception procedure, and Mr. Carpenter approved of the language
used in the staff report of January 16. That letter removes an unnecessary
restriction with respect to fences adjacent to driveways. Re had done
a survey and found that as many as 252 of the fences in the city violate
the earlier language with respect to a fence within twelve feet of
the driveway. 14r. Carpenter thought Councilman Norton and Mr. Booth's
comments about some balance between E-1 and E-2 were imperative.
He brought out the point that California law indicates that the denial
of air and light its not a property right except in those cases -where
fences are ere :ted over ten feet in height. ie. Carpenter hoped that
the new language would provide the building officials with some flexibility
in being able to achieve the necessary balances.
Councilman Norton asked Mrs. Brenner whether she felt a substantial
nester of six. -foot fences at the eidewelk line created a situation
that ought to be referred to the Planning Commission. For purposes
of openness, the pattern to date has be= that within the twenty -foot
setback, fences are limited to four feet in height. The Planning
Commission might feel that the pattern ought to be changed, but Councilman
Morton wanted to know if Mrs. Brener saw an over-all impact.
846
1/20/75
Mrs. Brenner responded that she felt there would be an over-all impact.
When fences are under discussion, the design of the neighborhood -
for instance - is always taken into consideration. If six-foot side
yard fences suddenly appeared, Mrs. Brenner thought that would disrupt
a neighborhood to a great extent.
Councilman Norton thought the impact of a great number of six-foot
fences being built across front yards would Zse significant..
MOTION: Councilman Norton moved, seconded by Beahrs, that the new
language drafted by staff be referred to the Planning Commission.
Mayor Sher ruled the motion in order even though the previous action
had already been taken.
The referral motion passed on a unanimous vote. (Councilman Comstock
not participating.)
2600 Bast Ba3pshote Deal Aoo c n
o times W. Foua for _ate and Desk
Control District Approval (Office B41,446g).
..
Frances Brener, Chairwoman of the Planning Commission, recalled there
was a subdivision procedure on this lot; and the Commission recommended
denial because it felt it would be setting itself up for a series
of variances in order to accommodate maximum coverage which always
becomes minimum. The creation of this lot went through denial by
the Planning Commission and by the Council; however, in a re -survey,
the lot was estimated to be a full acre, and the lot ,split was granted
at the staff level. The matter comes back now with e project on it.
Mrs. Brenner noted that the maximum coverage in the ordinance now
is interpreted as the minimum, and the Commission is faced with a
multitude of variances recommended by staff which were requested in
order to rationalize parking requirements. Therefore, the Planning
Commission suggesting sharing the challenge of rationalizing this
with the ABB; and the Commission asked the ARB to comment to Council
with respect to landscaping, elevations, and the design of the building.
Councilman Berwald pointed out that the Environmental Impact Assessment
considered the ambient noise level to be high enough to be a disturbance
to those working in the building. The Assessment suggested this could
be mitigated by extra soundproofing, but Councilman Berwald did not
see that the matter had been taken care of in any of the conditions.
Mrs. Bremer responded that it had been the Commission's hope that
this problem would be approached through architectural design and
landscaping, If Council feels that the additional treatment suggested
by the ARB is appropriate, that should be incorporated as an amendment.
MOTION: Councilman Berwald moved, seconded by Beahrs, that a sixth
condition be added, with exact wording of this condition to be developed
by staff, to insure that there is adequate soundproofing to protect
employees from over -ambient sound le )els.
Mrs. Brenner coa ted that the variance which allowed the building
to be five feet from the property instead of twenty had some bearing
on this problem.
The motion passed on a unanimous vote.
8 4 7
I/20/75
Councilman Berwald remarked that the parking for the handicapped is
over on the left, and the ramp for them is on the right; and he thought
the parking should be adjacent to the ramp;
James Foug, developer and architect for the building, said that in
discussions with the ARB, he suggested that some sidewalk area at
that portion of the building be eliminated and be replaced with landscaping
and a space for parking for the handicapped. If the landscaping were
not there, there could be a sidewalk from the parking space and a
ramp that would lead to the front door on the right of the building.
Mr. Foug did not think anyone would consider it an imposition to get
out of a car there, and by means of a wheelchair, down the paved area
to the rte; however, if Council wanted the parking for the handicapped
to be nearer the front door, he would be happy to put it there.
MOTION: Councilman Berwald moved, seconded by Pearson, that staff
work out an arrangement t with the applicant AO that parking for the
handicapped void be as close ae possible to the ram.
The motion paned on a unanimous vote.
MOTION: Councilman Berwald moved, seconded by Pearson, that Council
uphold the recommendation of the Planning Commission, as amended and to
include ARB recommendations, to approve the application of James W.
Foug for Site and Design Control District approval of an office building
at 2600 East Bayshore Road subject to the five conditions set forth
in the Planning Department staff report of December 13, 1974, and
an additional condition requesting that the ARB comment to the Council
with respect to the landscaping, elevations and design of the building;
and includins the two motions passed earlier and finds no significant
environmental impact.
The motion including the sixth condition and location of parking for the
handicapped to be as close as possible to the ramp, passed on a unanimous
vote.
Mach. Harbor Ordinance (CMR:120:5)
Mayor Sher said that since he had been involved in this matter in
Council. and also in carrying the Council's action to the board of
Supervisors, he would like to make some comments. The subject was
last before Council on October 21; and at that time, Council elopted
a multi -part motion relating to dredginge, berths, etc:. Mayor Sher
reminded Council that it authorized two score dredginge with motions
that said: (1) there would be two more dredgings with the spoils from
the first dredging to be disposed of re Phase 1 - (b) , (c) , and (d) ,
and Phase 11 - (a) and (b) as recommended by the Planning Commission;
and (2) that excess dry spoils would be deposited at the refuse disposal
area just west of the Yacht Harbor, and use of this material to construct
periphery dikes to contain future hydraulic dredging spoils should
await the EIR on the refuse disposal area. Finally, there was a motion
that there would be a second dredging providing that a suitable disposal
site cold be found for the spoils and that the neceaeary permits
could be obtained. Mayor Sher stated that in regard to bertha under
5-a, the action of Council was todeletethe 86 presently proposed
berths and any proposed in the future, with than understanding that
the city will consider the addition of nee berths if (1) a long terse
solution is found to the disposal of the spoils, (2) expansion of
tha harbor 1s consistent with the Bsylands Raster Phan which is to
be developed, and (3) expansion of the harbor le consistent with the
requirements of the Airport Land Usa Commission. Mayor Sher noted
that all of the Council action went forward to the board of Supervisors,
8 4 8
1/20/75
together with a general statement that any communication to the county
should be accompanied by what has been done over the past recent meetings,
emphasizing Palo Alto's determination to try to keep the harbor cper;
and participate cooperatively in achieving short and long-term engineering
solutions to the Yacht harbor problem, and to hers maintain the Yacht
1L rbor amid its environment as a valuable regional asset, and that
City Council was serious about accomplishing this without filling
any additional marsh areas. Council took those actions, and the county
responded to them by preparing a memorandum dated November 26, 1974,
which was the transmittal memorandum to the Board of Supervisors.
In that memorandum, Mr. Amyx made some recommendations regarding the
86 berths and where the spoils would go. On page 1, Mr. Amyx makes
this statement: "With the knowledge that approval of the Harbor Project
by BCDC and the U. S. Corps of Army Fngineers will in part be dependent
upon the applicaeion being supported jointly by the city and the county,
ft is suggested that some of the actions taken by the Council might
be re -worded to present a more positive interest in the project".
On page 3 of his memorandum, Mr. Amyx makes points (2) , (3) , and (4)
relating to the spoils and the berths. Point (2) reads: "Request
that the City Council give consideration to a re -wording of the proposed
amendment to the Lease Agreement with reference to the additional
berthing; and paint (3) reads: "Request that the City Council give
consideration to a re -wording of Section 5-A of its minute order of
October 21, 1974, in which the 86 addit oval berths are deleted".
Point (4) is: "Request that the city approve the use of a portion
of the refuse disposal ,-area for one future hydraulic dredging spoils
site, subject to meeting requirements of the U. S. Corps of Army Engineers
and the Water Quality Control Bat rd". :Mayor Sher commented that he
received a copy of this memorandum just a few days prior to the time
that the natter was scheduled to be heard by the County Board of Supervisors;
and 'ne discussed sox: of the points with one or two members of Council,
specifically in regard to the 86 additional berths and what the feeling
would be about the part of the motion that deleted those, and whether
there would be any objection to having them come back into the Master
Plan providing that the same conditions that would be attached to
any additional berths, be attached to those 86. After having consulted
with several members of Council, Mayor Sher attended the meeting of
the Board of Supervisors and made a statement. He wanted to share
this atatesuent with the other members of Council because there had
been aoeee misunderstanding about what he said at the meeting. Mayor sher's
statement to the Supervisors was ma follows: "We in the city share
with Mr. Amyx the desire to present the beat possible case to BCDC
and the U. S. Corps of Army Enuioseers when applying for approval of
the necessary permits. If, as Mr. Amyx suggests in his third recommenda-
tion, a re -wording of point 5-A of the City Council action concerning
the proposed 86 additional berths would be helpful in this regard,
I think Council would be prepared to consider and likely approve a
re -wording". Mayor Steer interjected here that that appraisal was
based on his conversations with Council members and an actions that
had been taken at the Council meeting were some members were prepared
to go abed and approve the 86 berths outright. Continuing with his
statement, Mayor Sher read: "What is desired, as I understand it,
is a statement by the Council that the 86 additional berths may be
shown in the Master Plan, but be subject to approval by the city after
the three specified conditions have been eat, one of which - approval
by the Airport Land Use Commission - has already been meet, as Mr.
Amyx points out in Lis report. If Council were to make this change
in its motion action, then it would follow as a matter of course that
the proposed Lease Amendment would be re -worded to reflect the change,
as Mr. Amyx suggests in his recommendation No. 2. In regard to Mr.
Aiyx'a point No. 4, the City Council did, in fact, approve an additional
dredging beyond the one currently proposed with the spoils to be deposited
849
1/4/75
in the refuse disposal area subject to the findings of the EIR and,
of course, also subject to the requirewnts of the Corps of Engineers
and the Water Quality Control Board. I call your attention to point
(1) of the City Council action, several parts of which are relevant
to this point. Point (1) starts out with the statement that the Council
authorize two more dredgings, and there follows a statement under
the paragraph commencing with the words 'Phase 1d' to the effect that
the excess dry spoils moved in connection with the first dredging
be used to contain future hydraulic dredging spoils, subject to the
EIR on the refuse disposal area. Finally, the second paragraph under
the heading Phase 2-d reads as follows: 'There will be a second dredging
provided that a suitable disposal site can be found for the spoils
and that the necessary permits could be obtained'. These statements,
taken together, make it clear that the Council has already taken the
action Mr. Amyx recommends in his point No. 4. In my view, it is
preferable to keep to a minimum the number of action items that City
Council is asked to modify at this late dare. If, however, Mr. Amyx
and the Board think it important to re -word this matter in sone way,
perhaps by bringing these various statements together in a single
statement, I believe the Council would be prepared to consider such
a re -wording". Mayor Sher stressed that that was all he said on the
subjects of the 86 berths and the deposit of the spoils. He wade no
commitment that Council would do anything, but said that he believed
the Council would be prepared to consider acme of the recofnm nded
wordings.
Mayor Sher referred to the blue sheet in the packet, Suggested Revision
to Yacht Harbor Motion of 10/21174, and said that Paragraph 1) was
the staff recommendation concerning the spoils. It was Mayor Sher's
view that the proposed wording in that paragraph does not reflect
what the Council did at the previous meeting, and it did not bring
together the various parts of Council action relating to the spoils
from the second dredging. He thought it could be made to conform
to Council's desires if it included that there would be a second dredging
providing that a suitable disposal site could be found for the spoils
and that the necessary permits be obtained. Mayor Sher noted that
the language does refer to the necessary permits but does not mention
a suitable disposal site. Mayor Sher recommended, in order to accommodate
Mr. Amyx' view for a more positive re -wording, that Council change
ite previous action by having this read: "There will be a second
dredging with spoila deposited at the refuse disposal site subject
to a determination that this is a suitable disposal site and subject
to obtaining the necessary permits. Alternative disposal sites and
methods will be explored in the interim". Mayor Sher felt that the
last sentence does reflect what Council said, which was that if better
places were found, there had been no firm commitment to put the spoils
in the refuse disposal site even if the permits could be obtained.
With that one change, Mayor Sher would be willing to vote for the
proposed wording. He wen on to say that the originsl action with
regard to the berths wee to delete the 86 presently proposed berths
and any proposed itt the future, with the understanding that the city
would consider the addition of new berths subject to three conditions -
one of which van the long-term solution to the disposal of the spoils,
another was awaiting the Baylande Master Plan which is to be developed
to soaks sure the expansion of the harbor is consistent with that plan,
and the third was approval of the berths by the Airport Land Use Commission.
The proposeed wording to put the matter in a more affirmative way would
be to allow the 86 additional bertha to be shown in the Master Plan,
but there would be approval or construction of the only after the three
conditions are met. Mayor Sher explained that this was not a substantive
change since none of the berths could be built without approval of
Council, and Council would not give its approval unless the conditions
had bean mat. Mayor, Sher pointed out that in the Master Plan attached
850
1/20/75
.:o the Lease, dotted lines were shown for all the additional berths,
and that was a mistake. Even if the proposed re -wording occurs, only
the first two dots representing 86 berths should be shown in the Master
Plan. Another error was that the earlier date of September 7, 1973
was on the Master Plan, and actually tonight's date should be on the
Plan if it is adopted. Regarding the Lease Amendment, Mayor Sher
noted it simply said "additional berths" shall be approved subject
to conditions. It should state "eighty-six additional berths may be
shown on the Master Plan subject to the three conditions". Mayor
Sher pointed out that the maps attached to the proposed ordinance
showed the road configuration at a height of 7', and Council action
had set the height at 61/2'. He realized that the height of 7' was
to indicate the height of the road before it solidified, but he thought
the map should show the final approved height of 61/2'.
MOTION: Mayor Sher moved, seconded by Berwald, that the wording with
regard to a second dredging be revised to read as follows: "there
will be a second dredging with spoils to be deposited at the refuse
disposal site subject to a determination thet this is a suitable disposal
site and subject to obtaining the necessary permits. Alternative
disposal sites and methods will be explored in the interim."
Councilman Comstock commented that the Supervisors did not enact Mr.
Amyx' recommendations; and, in fact, did not give favorable consideration
to three of his recommendations which, among other things, related
to this particular subject. This put Council in the position of being
asked to do something without knowing whether or not the Supervisors
would approve it. Another comment on this specific item is that one
of the things Council attempted to do in wording teas particular motion
was to avoid entanglement in the EIR process that is involved with
the analysis of the refuse disposal area. Councilman Comstock recalled
that there had been a lot of discussions about more future dredgings
and where all the spoils would be taken - possibly Mountain View.
His own feeling was that the ;cording as shown here avoidel those kinds
of complications, and he saw the proposed change much more limiting
thank leaving it in the more qualified sense. Councilman Comstock
felt Mayor Sher's motion was not only aiming the spoils for the refuse
disposal area but was also tying it to the EIR process, which has
its own peculiar timetable.
Mayor Sher remarked that if the Board of Supervisors had acted on
this, the action probably would have been to hold up applytg for
the permit from BCDC until City Council satisfied the points that
Mr. Amyx had raised. It was clear to Mayor Sher that the Board of
Supervisors were very concerned, and they asked him a number of questions
about this matter. Also, he thought is had been made clear that if
Council made the changes, a supplement would be filed with the application.
The Board went ahead with the application, but Mayor Sher understood
that the hope was there could be some accommodations made for the
points raised by Mr. Amyx. Mayor Sher did not feel his notion was
a commitment or that it went any further than what Council actually
did, but he did think it brought together the points about the second
dredging that appear several places in the action which Council had
taken. If you looked at 1-D regarding using the present dry spoils,
you would find that the subject .is already tied in with the EIR for
the refuse disposal sites but there is the clear suggestion that subsequent
dred,uings_wouid be hydraulic ones that would be placed in the refuse
disposal site. At an earlier time, when Mayor Sher was not on the
Council, the Council approved a second dredging with the spoils to
go to the refuse disposal site; therefore, it was not a new idea.
Mayor Sher stated that it would be appropriate to hear from members
of the public at this time.
8 5 1
1/20/75
Joseph Carleton, 2350 Ross Road, speaking for the Loma Prieta Chapter
of the Sierra Club, thought that this whole matter had been settled
at the October 21st meeting. The 86 berths were deliberately deleted;
and in his opinion, with good reason. Mr. Carleton did not see any
reason to feel obligated to accommodate Mr. Amyx' plan, which he regarded
as being a bit too grandiose. Mr. Amyx wants the plans to be presented
in a very positive way to get them pushed through, and Palo Alto is
not necessarily in agreement with those plans. Mr. Carleton could
see no reason for putting the 86 berths back in. It had been his
experience that things placed in a Master Plan have a tray of taking
on permanency. He also commented on the fact that the second dredging
would be done in approximately 1979, and the spoils would be initially
be placed on the completed refuse area. Later, it would be put on
the remaining forty acres; and that can last about eight years. Mr.
Carleton pointed out that it takes about three or four years for the
spoils to dry. By the time they were dry, the other area would be
filled; and this would create a problem of where the spoils would
be placed, Mr. Carleton hoped that Council would not adopt the wording
recommended by staff since approval had already been given by the
Airport Land Use Commission; and mentioning that as a condition gave
some false assurance that this might be a way of slowing down the
process. The Loma Prieta Chapter of the Sierra Club would like to
see the wording left as it was on October 2lst and the 86 berths deleted.
Elizabeth Peterson, 1180 Harker Avenue, stated that the Palo Alto
baylands are a unique and precious wilderness area; and the Nature_
Interpretive Center served as a model for citiea all around the bay.
Ms. Peteraon's rna concern war that there is still no Comprehensive
Plan for the baylands, and she felt that doing things in a piecemeal
way was slowly corroding the quality of the baylands. She asked Council
to insist upon a Comprehensive Plan before approving auy more piecemeal
projects.
Harriett Mundy, 757 Ten.ayson Avenue, pointed out that Mr. Amyx had
said that unless the 86 berths would be included in the plan, he did
not feel that he could recommend to the Board of Supervisors that
even the dredging be done. That decision was made openly, and Council
should stick with it. Ms. Mundy asked for some specific information
regarding the Faber Tract since the amendment to the lease did not
mention it at all. She wanted to be certain that the spoils would
not be deposited in the Faber Tract.
James Hudak responded for staff that there would be no problem with
this.
Ma. Mundy feltthat the statement saying that the mapping of the potential
sediment deposition areas could be developed for the existing condition
and for the best channel connecting the flood etorage basin with the
harbor was a real threat to Palo Alto's basin, This would be ,just
one more in a long line of things that had been done that had ended
up being very detrimental to the baylands.
Dr. Carl Ellertson, 780 Seale Avenue, noted that 1,400 siguatures
had been presented to Council asking for cooperation with the county
its the development of the harbor and its maintenance, and in carrying
forward a logical plan for the entire area of the Palo Alto Harbor
Recreational /.rea. He had hoped that from such cooperation would
come a inter Plan that would satisfy environmentalists, conservationists,
and yachtsmen. Dr. Ellertson urged the continuation of cooperation
with the county. He could understand that the county would want to
have more berths there for the additional revenue which would help
8 5 2
1/20/73
to maintain the harbor. He thought it paid for itself rather well
along the way, but a little more money would be welcome. Theref .e,
he thought it would be wise to leave in the revised statement the
possibility of. 86 berths. With regard to the flood control basin,
Dr. Ellertson thought studies might show that the old way was the
best way, and that siltation could be decreased by reverting to the
old channels which once kept the harbor open.
Another citizen addressed Council and said she had observed that. Council
constantly referred to, but never acted upon, solutions to long-range
problems. Rather than voting on any more berths or dredgings, Council
should set up a group whose aim would be to solve long-range problems.
Such a group could do soils engineering studies on the mud which would
reveal whether or not the mud would be usable in a cut and fill operation.
It could also look into the possibility of hydraulic transportation
of spoils of some distance, and so on. She thought I. Ellertson
was probably incorrect in saying that the Yacht Harbor pays its way
at all when you consider that a dredging costs $300,000.
Mayor Sher stated this his motion was before Council for consideration.
Councilwoman Pearson liked the original wording, and she was worried
about saying that the wet spoils would be dumped in the reuse area.
She pointed this out because the second dredging would be hydraulic
dredging, and it would not be dry spoils. Palo Alto was already in
trouble at the dump, and Councilwoman Pearson thought the city should
be very careful about saying what would go over there. She indicated
her willingness to consider the whole thing the way it was originally,
that there would be a second dredging providing that a suitable disposal
site could be found for the spoils and the necessary permits obtained.
Councilwoman Pearson noted that tais would leave the door open fcr
some flexibility in the matter, and she was not willing to say that
the spoils would be definitely placed in the refuse disposal area.
The :pity at present was trying to extricate itself from the constant
dumping there, which the Corps of Engineers says has been illegal
for some time. Councilwoman Pearson felt much more comfortable with
the broader original wording, and she gave the BCDC credit for seeing
through the ruse that was being used here.
Vice ?mayor Henderson commented that what Council authorized originally
spoke of the first dredging, with the dry spoils going in the refuse
disposal area. Construction of periphery dikes in the refuse area
was talked about if there would be EIR clearance to contain future
hydraulic dredging spells. Vice Mayor Henderson could see that might
be the best way to dump it, but that is not saying that Council would
authorize the second dredging to be in the refuse area. For that
scatter, it could be the tenth dredging down the lime. With the proposed
statement, Council was giving the refuse area first priority; and
he would rather leave that decision wide open.
The motion passed on the following vote:
AYES: Beahrs, Berwald, Norton, Sher,
Rosenbaum
NOES: Comstock, Henderson Pearson
MOT/ON: Mayor Sher moved, seconded by Beahrs, that the 86 additional
berths may be shown on the Master Plan, but the city will consider
approval of those berths and others proposed in the future only after
the following conditions have been satisfied: (1) a long term solution
is found to dispose of the spoils, (2) expansion of the harbor is
consistent with the Baylands Master Plan which is to be developed,
sad (3) expension of the harbor is consistent with the requirements
of the Airport Land Use Commission.
853
1/20/75
Mayor Sher stated hie belief that this motion w;.s not a substantive
change in any way from the action Council had previously taken. There
would be no expansion of the harbor unless such expansion would be
consistent with the Baylands Master Plan. Responding to some of the
speakers from the audience, Mayor Sher assured them that Council had
authorized an overall. Master Plan which would control berths, expansion,
etc, Mayor Sher considered himself to be one of the many who had been
working to protect the baylands or a long time, and he would not
knowingly take any action which he thought would jeopardize the ecology
of the baylands or the natueal areas. In his view, his motio:i consisted
only of drawing a lime on a Master Plan. There was no approval, and
the matter did not even appear on the Park Dedication Ordinance.
Mayor Sher stressed that the lease to which the plan is attached contains
the same language, making it clear that the 86 berths may be shown
on the plan but may not be constructed or approved by Council until
the three stated conditions had been met.
Councilwoman Pearson stated her preference for the original language.
She commented that these was no way that she would ever approve three
or four hundred berths; and the most she would agree to would be the
proposed 86, and she would do that very reluctantly. It was inconceivable
to Councilwoman Pearson to put that many boats out there with the
expectation of continual dredgings to keep the harbor open. Sooner
or later, everyone w,suld have to face up to the fact that the harbor
waa a dead issue, The only way it would last would be if it had millions
of dollars poured into it, and Councilwoman Pearson said that would
be irresponsible.
AMENDMENT: Councilwoman Pearson moved, seconded by Henderson, that
the words "and others proposed in the future" be deleted from the
motion.
The amendment passed on the following vote:
AYES: Comstock, Henderson, Pearson,
Rosenbaum, Sher
NOES. Beahrs, Berwald, Norton
Mayor Sher stated that his amotioa, as amended, was before Council.
Vice Mayor Henderson stated that he had supported conoideration of
the 86 berths if the three conditions were met, but he had added that
he would not commit himself in any way beyond 86 berths. The amendment
eliminated that commitment; however, he could not support having the
86 berths appear on any present map. To Vice Mayor Henderson, that
was too much of a danger that it would, in fact, happen. In his opinion,
there was no reason to have the berths appear on the map; a positive
statement had been made that the berths would be considered, if the
conditions were met. Then, another map could be drawn.
Councilman Berwald said that a lot of statements had bean made that
he did not really understand; for instance, there seemed to be the
feeling that the marsh vas being invaded. He asked if there were
anything convected with the 86 berths that mould destroy any marshland.
Mr. Hudak responded that there are some fringes of maxeh grass along
the slope where the new berths would be built, but no major marsh
areas would be affected.
Councilman Berwald asked if there would be any degradation of the
open water by the construction of 86 bertha.
854
1/20/75
Mr. Rockwell explained that there would be no fill connected with
those berths.
Councilman Berwald commented that when the city entered into the agreement
with the county on the Yacht Harbor, he assumed the purpose of that
was to develop a more adequate regional type of Yacht Harbor. He
did not see that anything that was being done was contrary to that
agreement; in fact, Councilman Berwald thought that if Couacil did
not allow the construction of 86 additional berths, the city would
be severely limiting the usefulness of the harbor as a regional recreational
facility.
Councilman Comstock noted for the record that the same request was
made of the Board of Supervisors, and they declined to act an it.
He saw two things happening. First, the wording of the October 21st
motion would be revised if Mayor Skier's motion were approved. Councilman
Comstock assumed from the wording of the motion that the intention
was that Exhibit (B) would reflect 86 berths by showing some kind
of lines or labeling; whereas, the oii.ginal action taken by the Council
would have Exhibit (B) shown without any indication of berths in those
areas. The effect of this action, therefore, is to change the amendment
to the agreement; but the effect also would be to present to the ECM
a different picture of the application and proposed development than
would have occurred as a result of the October 21st action. Specifically,
BCDC would see a development plan which shows a certain number of
berths that would not have been indicated by the Council action of
October 21. Councilman Comstock added that obviously, the location
as to where the spoilt would go - as amended - dces tot show up on
Exhibit (B) because that is beyond the lease area. What Council was
doing was modifying the application for BCDC, and whether the modification
enhanced the application probably depended upon the individual commissioners.
Councilman Comstock thought it was clear that everybody went away
from the October 21st meeting thinking that the application would
not show those berths; that is not now the case, and that would be
found out in due course. This was too bad, in Councilman Comstock' e
opinion, because the city was in a way telling the Commission it would
do something that, in fact, the city was not at all sure it was going
to do. He observed that the action taken on October 21st was really
more to the point. The issue that still hes not been faced is what
would be done with all the spoils over the next thirty or forty years.
Councilman Comstock remarked the city would be hard pressed to tell
BCDC that it had a long tern program. Palo Alto had committed itself
to possibly two dredgiuga; that might be enough to put the berths
in, but in another four to eight years the boats would all be grounded
at low tide. Councilman Comstock was not sure that Council would
be misleading BCDC, but he hoped they would be perceptive enough to
realize that the map showing 86 berths and the existing berths vas
really a very short term situation. Councilman Comstock concluded
by stating support for the October motion.
Councilman Rosenbaum, in recaliiug comments made at the October 21st
meeting, gemmed to think the big concern vas not for the berths themselves
but for things that would be the result of the berths, such as additional
parking needs. The fleeter plan was going to refer very specifically
to parking, etc., but Coivacil did not really feel that if such things
could be taken care of, the 86 berths would in themselves be detribental.
Councilmea Rosenbaum saw no reason to object to the proposed wording.
Mayor Sher responded to Councilman Comstock's remarks about possibly
misleading BCDC. The map showing the berths that may or may not be
built would go to bCDC attached to a lease which will contain the
explanatory and conditional language with regard to the bertha.
855
1/20/75
Councilman Comstock felt he had to say in all candor that he hoped
someone besides Mr. Amyx would go to BCDC to make such points clear,
because Mr. Amyx was honest about his feelings regarding the berths.
The motion as amended passed on the following tote:
AYES: Beahrs, Berwald, Norton,
Rosenbaum, Sher
NOES: Comstock, Henderson, Pearson
MOTION: Mayor Sher moved, seconded by Beahrs, that the following
changes be made in the Lease Agreement: "Eighty-six additional berths"
should appear at the beginning of the sentence, second paragraph,
page 2; the date should be changed to January 20, 1975; the line change
showing the berthing areas in the southern part of the lease boundary
as representing the 86 berths should indicate that the first two dots
represent 86 berths, and the others should be deleted; and in 3(B)
f there should be a positive statement that no spoils be deposited in
the Faber Tract.
r
AMENDMENT: Councilman Comstock moved, seconded by Pearson, to remove
from Exhibit (B) of the Master Plan any area designated for parking
south of the area actually used for parking.
The amendment passed on the following vote:
AYES: Berwald, Comstock, Henderson,
Norton, Pearson, Rosenbaum, Sher
NOES: Beahrs
AMENDMENT: Councilwoman Pearson moved, seconded by Comstock, that
the lease line follow the bank of the lagoon so that it takes in the
whole lagoon.
The amendment passed on a unanimous vote.
The motion to approve the lease as amended and with changes incorporated
passed on the following vote:
AYES: Beahrs, Bervaid, Norton,
Pearson, Rosenbaum, Sher
NOES: Comstock, Henderson
.07.7.: 770 ew ri`.rc.04.f'.et 0
MOTION: : Mayor Sher introduced the following ordinance and ueo'ted,
seconded by Comstock, that it be adopted with corrections made in
the maps to show the road height at 64' (compacted) rather than 7':
ORDINANCE tO. 2838 entitled "ORDINANCE
OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
APPROVING AND ADOPTING PLANS FOR THE
IMPROVMENT OF THE PALO ALTO YACHT R"
Mr. Rockwall commented that the drawings were construction drawings;
and the rood would be built at 7' with the anticipation that it would
compact to 64', as required.
Mayor Sher responded that he wants to show the road as being 64' on
the map, but with a note to that number indicating that would be the
height after compaction. Also, Mayor Sher wanted it to be understood
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that this motion regarding the Park Dedication Ordinance assumed the
changes made in connection with the Lease would be shown in the ordinance.
The ordinance, including the one change in the road height, and with
the understanding that the changes made in connection with the Lease
would be incorporated into the ordinance, vas adopted on a unanimous
vote.
MOTION: Mayor Sher moved, seconded by Councilman Beahrs, to approve
the agreement with the county to participate in the mathematical study
of tidal flow though the Yacht Harbor..
Councilwoman Pearson commented that she was not adverse to having
the study go through, but she wanted it to do so with the full knowledge
that people are taking issue with the possibility of having an "S"
channel in the flood basin and constructing an outlet works to the
Yacht Harbor, The EIR'a were interesting to Councilwoman Pearson.
Page 25 of the Waste Disposal EIR talks about the 600 acne flood basin
being designated as a wet land preserve. It goes on to state that
its primary use is as €a flood control facility, but its use as a wet
land and will life habitat sanctuary is of major importance. Contradicting
that, page 610 of the Yacht Harbor EIR talks about using the flood
basin as a run-off for the effluent from the dump, and then goes on
to talk about using it as a disposal site for 200,000 cubic yards
of the dredgings from the Yacht Harbor. These are the kinds of things
that point up the fact that there needed, to be a Comprehensive Plan
for the baylanda, and Councilwoman Pearson wanted to be sure that
when the consultant did his mathematical model, he did not lose sight
of the fact that when you are talking about the flood basin you are
not just talking about a place that collects water aed is supposedly
ugly. The members of the audience who had spoken to Council had indicated
what Councilwoman Pearson felt; and that was that every time pan does
something in the bayl.nds, he destroys something of irreplaceable
value. For the sake of the Palo Alto Baylands, man needed to stop
trying to improve on nature.
The motion passed on a unanimous vote.
ii0TICN: Mayor Sher moved, seconded by Henderson, approval of the
amendment to the agreement with the Water Resources Engineers to authorize
them to undertake the mathematical model of the Yacht Harbor.
The motion passed an a unanimous vote,
rdinance M endin Title 18 of the
n t e •' ne
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MOTION: Councilman Comstock introduced the following ordinance and
moved, seconded by Pearson, its adoption:
ORDINANCE NO.
2837 entitled "ORDINANCE
OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
AMENDING TITLE 18 OF THE PALO ALTO
MUNICIPAL CODE TO ADD A NEW SUBSECTION 5
TO SECTION 18.71.060 (USES REQUIRING USE
PERMITS) TO PERMIT CEMETERIES IN THE 0-S
DISTRICT"
The ordinance was adopted on the following vote:
AYES: Comstock, Henderson, Norton,
Pearson, Rosenbaum, Sher
NOES: Beahrs, Bervald
e
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Draft Environmental act Statement
re are . . Coast Guard for
2e men ct (CMR:125:5)
MOTION: Councilman Berwald moved, seconded by Comstock, that Council
direct staff to write to the U. S. Coast Guard requesting that additions
as enumerated on page two of CMR:125:5 be included in the final EIS.
The motion passed on a unanimous vote.
Ad 1 Duman::
The meeting of January 20, 1975 adjourned to 7:30 p.m., January 27,
with item No, 12 to appear first on the agenda.
ATTEST: APPROVE:
Mayor
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