HomeMy WebLinkAbout11041974November 4, 1974
The City Council of the City of Palo Alto feet on this date at 7:30 p.m.
in a regular meeting with Mayor Sher presiding.
Present: Beahrs, Berwald, Clay, Henderson,
Pearson, Rosenbaum, Sher (left at 7:45 p.m.),
Comstock (arrived 7:40 p.m.), Norton (arrived
7:45 p.m.)
Minutes of October 1 1974
Mayor Sher stated that a memorandum h .d been received from Naphtali
Knox, Director of Planning, requesting that the following changes
be trade in the minutes; Page 356, second paragraph, eighth line,
after "fifteen nill_on", insert "dollars"; Page 362, fifth paragraph,
fifth line, change °'::oore" t:o "Mohr"; Page 364, fourth paragraph,
last lire, correct the spell ng to "parking"; Page 365, first paragraph,
fourth line, change "ACT" to "AC"; Page 365, fifth paragraph, second
line after "follows:" insert "P'endfng creation of a rapid transit:
system"; Page 365, add "MOTION RESTATED:" immediately preceding last
paragraph; Page 3r.%3, second paragraph from the bottom, fifth line,
change "intersection" to "interchange"; Page 369, second paragraph
from the bottom, third line, change i'$400 or $500" to "$400,000 or
$500,000"; Page 3'I, before second vote on page (after Councilman
Clay "....in such terms as was stated...") add "Mr. Knox stated that
it would be better direction to the staff if Council changed 'construct'
to 'include in the Plan'." Councilman Comstock and his second accepted
the recommendation; Page 373, seventh paragraph, second to last line,
change "mater" to "matter".
MOTION: Mayor Sher moved, seconded by Henderson, that the above listed
corrections be reflected in the minutes of October 1, 1974.
The ration passed on a unanimous vote.
Vice Mayor Henderson referred to Page 60, second paragraph after
the voting, and asked that the word "include" be changed to "including".
Mayor Sher referred to the next to the last paragraph on Page 354
and asked that the word "and" be added after the word "first" in
the middle of the paragraph. In the next line, the word "while"
should be deleted. Can Page 373A, there is a reference in the second
paragraph to Councilman Rosenbaum that should be a reference to Mayor
Sher, and he asked that that change be made.
Councilman Berwald requested that the wording in the first line of
the first paragraph of Page 366 be changed from "concern about" to
"keen interest in". In the fourth line of that paragraph, "that
for should be corrected to "for that"; also, the word "a" should
be eliminated after "for that"; "communication" should become "communica-
tions"; and the two words "type of" should be eliminated. He stated
that the sixth line should be deleted, and the following sentence
inserted: "lie know today about urban design together with advanced
systems of communications".
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MOTION: Vice Mayor Henderson moved, seconded by Pearson, that the
minutes of October 1, 1974, be approved as corrected.
Willow Road (CNR:543:4)
Mayor Sher stated that he was employed by Stanford University as
3 tenured Professor of Law, and he was not employed directly or indirectly
by the Business or Financial Departments of the University. His
employment did not involve revenue raising or making decisions regarding
the use of Stanford land, and his duties were not in any other way
connected with the financial affairs of the University. Mayor Sher
said he had been advised by the City Attorney that he did not have
a conflict of interest under the law and could participate in matters
before Council concerning Wi1loW Road. However, Mayor Sher pointed
out that the proposed Willow Road project involves acquisition of
land from Stanford University, improvement of a street that would
benefit the University and businesses and residences located on Stanford
land, as well as the Stanford Hospital. The creation of an Assessment
District, contracts with the University, and the expenditure of city
money are also possible. t.ayor Sher felt that it would be advisable
for hip: to not participate in the dis'ussion and determination of
matters before Council at this reeting concerning Willow Road, and
so he would not do so. He asked Vice Mayor Henderson to chair the
meeting while this cutter was considered, which he agreed to do. Yayor
Sher left the Council Chambers and did not return.
Vice Mayor Henderson said it was his intention, as (:hair pan of the
Finance and Public Works Committee, to rake a report from the Cc:nittee;
and then he would place the three rece endations of the Committee
on the floor. Since there was no action from the Committee on Willow
Road itself, Vice Mayor Henderson would then put a motion on the
floor. Following that, he would call upon Councilman Rosenbaum to
give a set of motions which he had proposed in a memorandum to Council.
At that point, staff will give a presentation; and Council would
ask questions of staff. After that, the public would have an opportunity
to speak. Finally, Council would take its actions.
Vice Mayor Henderson noted some of the materials that had been received
in regard to this project. Co ncil had I:he formal report on Willow
Road Origin/Destination Survey of June, 1972; and it also had the
Willow Road Improvement Project recommendation by consulting engineers.
A staff report, Proposed Willow Road Project, dated August 14, 1974,
came to Council with the two formal reports. There was a petition
with 1,182 signatures; the petition had been signed at the Stanford
Shopping Center and was presented by Mr. Lengfeld of the Stanford
Shopping Center Merchants' Association. Couecil had a letter from
that organization dated October 8, another staff memo dated September
5, a letter from Mr. Alcorn dated October 14, a letter from Mr. Eyerly
for the University/Crescent Park Association dated October 25, another
staff report dated October 31, and a letter received at this meeting
from the Menlo Park Chamber of Commerce. Also, there were the minutes
of the Finance and Public Works Committee meting, Vice Mayor Henderson
thought the minutes probably reflected the greatest number of tie
votes in the history of any committee meeting; and as far as the
particular project was concerned, the Committee ended up with a "no
recommendation" to bring back to Council. There were three recommendations
trade by the Committee having to do with the Environmental Impact
Assessment.
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MOTION: Vice Mayor Henderson moved on behalf of the Finance and
Public Works Committee:
1) that Council receive the Environmental
Impact Assessment with the condition that
they be given a complete Environmental
Impact Statement before proceeding with
the protect;
2) that Council direct staff in making a
final EIR to devote particular attention
to the matter of air degradation, noise
pollution, possible loss of open green
area and trees, and barriers to pedestrians
and bicycle movement a ;ross the proposed
roadway, and that :staff suggest design
improvements to mitigate these environmental
problems;
3) that staff explore the possibility of
providing for pedestrians and cycle pathways
across the proposed roadway and separated
frori the road grade in conjunction with
pedestrian and cycle coven:ants across the
creek.
Vice :ayor Henderson said that these s:ert very general statements
and were to he applied to any EIR that is prepared for a specific
plan adopted by Council. For that reason, he thought whatever that
plan would he should be before Council; and Council would want to
vote on that prior to the consideration of the recommendations hem
the `o: ,ittee.
Vice Mayor Henderson read the following statement as presented in
his memorandum to Council members dated October 31, 1974:
"Not unexpectedly, the Finance and Public Works Committee members
were not able to reach a majority conclusion on the proposed Willow
Road Improvements Project. The committee members should not be criticized
too severely tor their lack of consensus, because the public is even
more divided on the aubject. At the committee meeting, probably
a majority of the speakers favored a position of .no improvements
at all. At the other extreme, we are hearing, again, much support
for a through route from Bayshore to 28O In essence, the Willow
Expressway (or Freeway) is still with us.
It was over three years ago that I introduced the motion to direct
staff to conduct a feasibility study concerning the possible widening
of Willow Road and its extension to El Camino Real. Shortly before
that, the voters in Menlo Park had emphatically rejected the Willow
Expressway concept, and Palo Alto voters had elected to their Council
three candidates who opposed the expressway. I recognized the problem
of congestion on the existing Willow Road and felt that it could
not be ignored. I sought a study of the situation and the feasibility
of a simple widening of the existing road to four lanes and an extension
through the Stanford Shopping Center parking lot to El Camino Real.
The proposalbrought to us includes a 90 -foot roadway between Arboretum
Road and the bridge on a right-of-way that already belongs to the
city. It includes, also, an extension of the 90 -foot roadway from
Arboretum to El Camino Real where the right-of-wRy has not been dedicated.
This segment would be a divided road running through the trees near
the creak (from 30 to 50 trees to be removed) and connecting at El
Camino with a full intersection to Alma Street.
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Since the committee was unable to make a recommendation, and since
1 initiated the study in 1971. I would like to propose some actions
to get the Council deliberations under way.
There is a problem that warrants immediate attention, the congestion
on Willow Road between Arboretum Road and the Alameda/Sand hell intersec-
tion. I propose that the Palo Alto section, Arbo)retum to the bridge,
be widened to a 60 -foot roadway that includes four twelve --foot auto
lazes, a two -foot median or divider and two five-foot bicycle lanes.
This roadway would be widened at the intersections to the Stanford
Medical Center and the Oak Creek Apartments to permit construction
of left turn lanes.
0-ne of the biggest complaints about the present traffic problem on
Willow Road is the difficulty in reaching the shopping center from
.Menlo Park, Atherton, Woodside, Los Altos, Los Altos }Tills and Highway
280. Palo Alto shoppers have direct access from El Camino Real,
and I do not hear complaints from them. Thus, this proposed widening
alleviates the biggest deterrent to shopping at Stanford by easing
the access from the nest. Obviously, the bridge will have to
be widened and some improvements will be needed between the bridge
and the Sar,d Hill Road intersection.
There are too rany problems to permit immediate extension of Willow
Road to El Camino. Our staff has -commented that the widening and
extension of Willow Road should be tied in with Stanford's completion
of Campus Drive to Junipero Serra Boulevard. Stanford hi.s notified
us that financial problems prohibit such extension in the near future.
Staff estinates that one-third of the traffic on a full Willow Road,
El. Camino to 280, will be through traffic. It could well be much
more. Immediately upon. opening, an estimated 4,000 cars that now
find their vay through Menlo Park to the Alameda soi.id use Willow
Road.. Recently, the Menlo Park City Council approved a preliminary
C-eieral Plan that includes promotion of more cot rice and industry
in the Sand Hill Road area, eliminates all proposed connections across
the creek to Willow Road and adds no through way from Bayshore to
280 except a Willow -Middlefield -Ravenswood route to El Camino. It
is not realistic to assume that travelers of this route would wind
on through Menlo and Santa Cruz Avenues if they have the alternative
of using Willow Road.
I cannot accept the proposed routing 3f a Willow extension through
the trees near the creek. There is approximately 120 feet of open
space between the I. Magnin store and the nearest trees. A 60 -foot
roadway should fit through that space without loss of any trees and
then connect in at El Camino in a location that obviously prohibits
any connection to Alma Street. Most certainly, there is a lot of
work remaining in deciding what to do about three stop lights on
El Camino within a very short distance the present Shopping Center
intersection, the proposed WiilOw Road intersection, and the present
Alma intersection.
1 will not support any extension of Willow Road to El Camino that
would add traffic to Alma Street. In proposing the full intersection,
Staff speaks of adding only 2,000 cars a day to Alma and 500 to cross
streets 'leading out to Bayshore. Again, I see a potential for well
over 2,000 additional trips on Alma. Even if I accept that figure,
it is too much. There are too wavy forces working on Alma now, and
it can only lead to more pressure for a full blown expressway.
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Another :actor of much concern to me is that. consideration of this
improvement project has produced considerable discussion about the
Willow corridor and the need for a direct through route. Regardless
of what terms and phrases are used, this discussion really comes
down to a renewal of the Willow Expressway concept. I think that
such discussion is time wasted, and it encourages some people falsely.
Menlo Park residents are not going to support the expressway concept.
Neither are a majority of Palo Alto residents supportive. To talk
about an expressway causes some people who might support a Willow
Road extension to turn in opposition to it out of fear of its leading
to development of the final link to Bayshore."
Vice Mayor Henderson, in summary, said he was willing to trove ahead
with a widening of the present Willow Road to relieve the congestion;
and he was willing to support extension to El Camino under certain
conditions.
MOTION: Vice Mayor Henderson moved, seconded by Pearson, that Council
direct staff to prepare an Environeental Impact Report, a financing
program and preliminary plans for improvements to Willow Road between
Arboretum Road and S'n Francisquito Creek consisting of a four -lane
roadway and two bicycle lanes on a 60 -foot right -of --way with widening
at major intersections to include left turn lanes.
:':OfIO`; `:ice Mayor Henderson moved, seconded by Pearson, that Council
direct sta€f upon completion by Stanford of Campus Drive to Junipero
Serra Boulevard, to prepare an Environmental Impact Reports a financing
program and preliminary plans for the extension of Willow Road to
El Camino Real, such plans to include the following conditions:
a) The roadway will be four auto lanes and two
bicycle lanes on a 60 -foot right -cif -way with
widening for left turn lanes.
b) The connection at El Camino Real will be so
designed as to prohibit later connection to
Alma, Street or Palo Alto Avenue.
c) The extension will be routed over the present
parking area so as to eliminate or minimize
the loss of any trees.
Vice Mayor Henderson recognized Councilman Rosenbaum to comment on
the memorandum which he sent to Council encompassing the motions
which he intended to crake.
Councilman Rosenbaum said he would like to comment as to the differences
between what he would propose and what had been proposed by Vice
Mayor Henderson. He thought a connection should be made through
to El Camino so that people could stop driving through the Shopping
Center parking lot. Councilman Rosenbaum stated he was not sure
how that was ever allowed to happen, but it was obviously not a satisfac-
tory aituation. He could not see widening the road to four lanes
and then attempting to funnel people to El Cassino through the Shopping
Center. The other significant difference has to do with the cross
section. If a decision were made to stay with the 90 -foot cross
section at least from Arboretum to the creek as staff has proposed,
there would be tha opportunity for a much more attractive road than
a 60 -foot cross section voul4 allow.. Councilman Rosenbaum thought
this would be safer, and he could not see the reason for attempting
to make it narrower. ..If therm was a. worry that someone might look
to this road as part of an expressway or freeway in /the future, Council-
man Rosenbaum felt it should be recognized that pos6ibiiity was always
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there regardless of how the road would be built because the right-of-way
was there. Basically, the only thing that could be done to forestall
the possibility of anyone ever building anything there would be to
put up another 101 Alma right in the middle of the right-of-way similar
to what had been done a number of years ago on this side of F;1 Camino.
Finally, Councilman Rosenbaum said he would like to think of the
extension of Campus Drive as part of the Willow Read Improvement
Project. This is something Stanford has been thinking about; and,
in fact, it was on their map six or seven years ago. Action was
not taken at that time because of budgetary considerations. Councilman
Rosenbaum felt that a fair amount of the traffic on Willow was coming
from the Medical Center and Stanford facilities in that area. That
traffic, and especially cars heading south, could just as well get
out to Junipero Serra on Campus Drive as it could coming along Willow.
Councilman Rosenbaum said he would like to get some sort of a commitment
from Stanford that as part of this project, Campus Drive would be
extended to Junipero Serra.
SUBSTITUTE MOTION - Part 1: Councilman Rosenbaum moved, seconded
by Beahrs, that the Council approve in principle the concept of constructing
a four -lane Willow Road from its intersection with juniper° Serra
Boulevard in San Mateo County to El Camino Real., with the understanding
that traffic will not be allowed to cross El Camino to connect to
Palo Alto Avenue and Alma Street. From Juniper° Serra to Arboretum,
the cross section is to be as shown in the staff report of August
15, 1974: From Arboretum to El Camino, the cross section should
be reduced where necessary to minimize the use of land along the
creek and the removal of trees.
SUBSTITUTE MOTION -- Part 2: Councilman Rosenbaum moved,- seconded
by 8eahrs, that staff be directed to consult with Stanford and Menlo
Park to resGh understandings regarding improvements that will be
made by those entities within the Willow corridor. In particular:
a) Stanford Is to commit to construction of
at least two lanes of Campus Drive from its
present terminus near the Medical Center to
connect with Juniper° Serra Boulevard. This
commitment is to be fulfilled within a reason, -
able time and yiay be triggered by the level of
traffic on Willow Road or by the development
of new facilities on Stanford land in the
vicinity of Willow Road. The objective is to
insure that the extension of Campus Drive will
be completed before any intolerable level of
congestion is again experienced on Willow
Road.
b) With regard to Menlo Park, staff is to report
on the statue of improvements proposed along
the Willow -Middlefield -Ravenswood -Menlo -Santa
Crux, connection including a schedule for
completion of that route; report on methods
and prospects for widening Willow Road to
four lanes into San Mateo County and up to
the intersection of Juniper° Serra Boulevard;
and seine consideration and discussion of
bridge contentions between Menlo Park and Palo
Alto at Olive and Alma.
Staff is to report to Council on the results of these discussions
within one month.
SUBSTITUTE MOTION Part 3: Councilman Rosenbaum moved, seconded by
Befhrs, that staff proceed with the schematic design of an appropriate
alignment and cross section between Arboretum and El Camino, which
will make use of the existing roadway and will minimize the use of
land along the creek and the removal of mature trees.
Vice Mayor. Henderson stated that the three-part substitute motion
substituted for the two separate= motions that were previously placed
on the floor. He invited staff to make its presentation.
Naphtali Knox, Director of Planning, introduce=d Mr. Tom Brown of
the urban design firm of Brown/Heldt Associates, San Francisco.
Mr. Brown is subcontracted to Livingston and Blayney on the Comprehensive
Plan studies to work on the urban design element. Subsequent to
the time that the committee corcidered this item, staff became aware
of the expertise of the Brown/Heldt firm in design matters and of
some of the techniques they use to illustrate their concepts. It
seemed useful to staff to have Brown/Heldt take a look at the Willow
corridor between .luni.pero Serra Boulevard and El Camino and have
them attempt to illustrate visually for Council the various road
alignments that had teen talked about. In this way, indications
could be n e as to wh3t the alignments would do with regard to bypassing
the Shopping Center, interfering with trees, etc.
:ii. Brown stated that as urban design consultants to the city, his
fire was concerned with minimizing the -ITpact of the automobile and
development of facilities to serve the automobile in Palo Alto in
the future. However, this did not € -ean that there would he any benefits
derived by allowing bottlenecks or strictures to develop in specific
areas. :'!r. Brown said that the total automobile system should function
srcothly city wide; but hopefully, the growth or change .,^.f that system
would be .'animal in light of future city.' -ride development. As a
result of the study his firm had r de, Mr. Brown felt that the Willow
Road connection -- particularly at Stanford Shopping Center - does
represent a most severe bottleneck to city-wide smooth traffic flow.
!e said the slides he would show would illustrate a number of things,
one of thew being why he had come to that conclusion. Mr. Brown
pointed out that when dealing in terms of urban design, one perceives
the city, for the most part, from the streets and the arteries.
Therefore, the design quality of the routes was a vital concern.
There was quite a hit of improvement that should be made; and at
the same time, the development of new major arteries would be argued
for in the best possible way in terms of the visual experience one
has while using the roads. Mr. Brown: said this had some weight in
the evaluation made of Willow Road. An Mr. Brown continued his presenta-
tion, slides were shown to illustrate his comments. A slide was
shown of Willow Road as it now exists - a two-lane road that widens
out at every major connection to the apartments and to the Medical
Center providing for left hand turns and merges. At the Medical
Center, there is actually a four -lane section; but that narrows down
to a two-lane section, opens co a three -lane, returns to a two --lane,
etc. Mr. Brown stated that the design was erratic, was inadequate,
and had a generally unfinished appearance. The slides showed clearly
that the right-of-way was considerably wider than the present .Loute.
Mr. Brown said a series of alternatives had been developed that had
come to mind during discussions with staff. One of these would be the
development of the four lanes with no center median, or a very narrow
one. Results would be very similar to the two-lane undulating roadway
presently there because the left turn lanes and merging lanes are
necest.ary fairly continually along the site just to connect the present
adjacent developments. If the bridge were widened across the creek,
a number of trees would be eradicated immediately adjacent to the
two-lane stretch. Then the roadway would alternately widen out and
narrow down; and Mrr. Brown felt that would in visual terms, independent
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of the functional problees, present an uneven, curving road layout
with no provision for any future left turn. lanes that might be rDquired.
This is in contrast to the basic design of a four -lane straight divided
arterial parkway the entire length, with a continuous ten or fifteen
feet center median providing for merge and left turn lanes as may
be regl'ired. By separating the two lanes, a median could be developed
that would be wide enough to preserve the trees; and :;r. Brown thought
the right of ;he roadway could snake between the existing trees in
the open area. These kinds of considerations have been important
throughout the study. With regard to the median, there are definite
safety arguments with which Brown/Hei.it concurred with. It separates
traffic, provides for the left turns and rierges, and prevents the viewing
of traffic, vehicular activity, and a wide expanse of asphalt. A slide
was shown of the area just past the apartments at the Medical Center;
and superimposed on that slide was the four -lane section with the
median, which fit well symmetrically within the right--of-way. `tr.
Brown said there was little else to mention about this stretch until
you got to Arboretum Road, where conditions change dramatically.
On the left there in a landscaped area in front of Bullock's store
which is part of the right-of-way, and Mr. Br'o. m showed a sketch
indicating the four -lane section passing through the .lawn area and
curving at the intersection to Arboretum, progressing up adjacent
to the center, past the gas station, and going up into the wooded
area to the north of the present paved area, air. Brown pointed out
that Stanford Shopping Center is one of the najor corercial areas
in the community, ar.d he thought that was of vital concern in =err:s
of urban design. The primary urban jesign study dews with traffic
ways and with cc ercial areas sine those are the areas to which
the public is most often exposed. He added that Stanford Slopping
Center suffers in terms of urban design in a number of ways. For
one thing, it is considered an old center and very outmoded. Some
of the problems that it has are the results of its initial design.
A unique fact about. the Center is its proximity to downtown Palo
Alto. These two areas could work in terns of comparative shopping
much more effectively if there were a better connection between them.
Ideally, this would he an arterial transit connection; but even an
automobile connection better than the present one would be an advantage.
Mr. Brown stated that there were two primary urban design considerations
that were applicable to the Shopping Center as it is today. One
is the minimal landscaping which rakes the Center very visible from
all of the peripheral routes. The second consideration is the inadequate
circulation that serves the Center; and there is no logical way to
upgrade the Center without significant improvement in its functional
capabilities, which would be primarily traffic access. Parking is
not well distributed at the Stanford Shopping Center. If it were
distributed, with a ring road, around the bulk of the stores rather
than to the west where Bullock's and Sak's are, the entire parking
situation would be greatly improved. Mr. Brown explained that the
ring read would be a separate circulation system independent o any
other city traffic and would he buffered from Cl Camino and Willow,
for instance, by approximately three or four hundred feet. The sidle
showed four hundred foot access roads that connect from Willow Road
and El Camino into the ring road. Mr. Brown hoped that the slide
presentation would help to put the discussions of Willow Road in
the context of what the needs of the Shopping Center really ,are.
The functional needs of this Shopping Center are combined with the
needs of an arterial connection to serve the city of Palo Alto.
In Mr. Brown's opinion, the preferable alternate is the one where
the route is separated into two widely spaced routes that allow for
flexibility in the routing to preserve the maximum number of trees,
with a wide center median through the tree area. The survey that
had been done . eh0w3 all of the trees, their species, and their size'
Such a route, however, would require the removal of thirty to thirty-
five good trees; but for the most part, it meanders remarkably -easily
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through the site within the confines of normal good traffic practice
without taking out as many trees as had been thought at the beginning
of the survey. Theevaluation of this alternative, which is Aiterna:ive
A, provides for adequate connections into the Shopping Center parking
lot and some stacking distance for peak hours. This is a critical
need if the Shopping Center is going to function well this close
to a major arterial; and the route separated from this vast sea of
parking is extremely desirable, since a buffer strip is needed between
a major arterial and a parking lot. The alternates that had been
mentioned involve either one or two-way traffic in the existing parking
lot :area. One of the alternates would use up space that presently
accommodates one hundred cars in the lot, and the other alternate
would reduce parking spaces by about one hundred and eighty. This
is -due to the fact that if you use the present Shopping Center edge
drive for a city arterial, you need then to develop a new Shopping
Center route that would move the end islands in thirty feet so traffic
circulation could continue in the rking lot. A more serious problem,
near the Magnin store, is that the entire length of the access drive
is eliminated by bringing the east bound route in that close to Magnin's.
There is no possibility for stacking lanes for egress, and there
would be a serious congestion problem. The most desirable parking
is in close to the stores, and that is where the traffic buildup
will he the greatest. Of course, the east bound traffic would always
feel as though it were in a parking lot since there would not be
a buffer strip. The other alternative puts the full four lanes with
a narrow center median and another divider strip between the parking
lot and the four -lane route all on Shopping Center property. This
plan would eliminate parking for over three hundred cars right around
the Magnin store where the most desirable parking is; however, it
does save all of the trees. Mr. Brown felt that outweighing all
of this was the traffic circulation problem around the Magnin store.
The traffic circulation syatem is precarious and inadequate around
the Shopping Center itself; in other words, not only is there. no
ring road, but there really is no parking lot at all connecting adequate
access between the east and west parking areas. There would be a
good deal of congestion coming from the Shopping Center on to Willow
Road and back in again from El Canino. Mr. Brown showed slides to
indicate the impact of the east bound and vest bound road through
the wooded areas, and he said the roadway would look much like Campus
Drive which is a widely separated four -lane arterial. As a result
of the evaluation, Mr. Brown felt that the scheme of a divided roadway
through the wooded area is the best solution to the problems as he
perceived them. It would work far better, functionally, for both
the city and the Shopping Center; and despite -the elimination of
some of the trees, the potential for a handsome and dramatic parkway
along thia route outweighs the negative impact of the route on the
wooded area.
Councilwoman Pearson said she would like to know where the road at
El Camino cones out in relation to Alma. She felt that end of the
road had been avoided.
Ben Pawloski, Director of the Public Worka Department, stated that
at Ed Camino the connection is shown as roughly opposite the Alma
Street connection. -
Councilwoman Pearson said she understood the proposal was that the
four -lane parkway would cone right to El Camino and be directly across
from the Alma intersection.
Mr. Pawloski responded that this vas correct.
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Councilwoman Pearson asked what relation it had to the one that was
supposed to be ignored in the report. Staff has said this is not
a final alignment or configuration, and yet there had been a twenty
minute presentation of that roadway which comes right out to Alma.
Mr. Pawloski said he was trying to emphasize the fact that staff
recognizes that a specific alignment has not been approved, and these
are proposed alignments for design study.
Councilman Beahrs did not think Council should foreclose the future
•opportunity to make reasonable adjustments with minimal expense on
any roadways in this area, and he was referring to Councilwoman Pearson's
comments with regard to Alma. He asked staff why it would not be
possible for the county to participate in the expense of the proposed
project, censidering that the project had regional significance.
George Sipel, City Manager, said it was his understanding aed recollection
that this particular road is not part of the county expressway system.
What remaining funds the county has for street and highway purposes
are being devoted to the remaining parts of the expressway system,
and those funds are quite limited.
Councilman Beahrs fait that sine: a large percentage of the clientele
of the Shcpping Center was from areas not contiguous to it, the matter
of getting financial assistance from the county should be explored.
Councilman Norton wanted to know if he were correct in his understanding
that none of the motions on the flour and none of those made in committee
would incorporate the staff plan of Ocr.ober 31 on the alignment between
Arboretum and El Camino.
Vice Mayor Henderson recollected that what was en the floor was very
close to what had been in committee. The staff recommendations were
very much like those heard tonight; that isr a divided road running
through the trees and connecting to Alma.
Councilman Clay noted that most of the comrente regarding the ring
toad concept had been made with regard to the impact on tho Shopping
Center. He asked Mr. Brown if he had any comments about the impact
east or west of that r Menlo Park/Sharon Heights area - or east of
El Camino.
Mr. Irown said the immediate environment of the route had been considered,
from : i Camino to the creek area. It vas felt that the creek between
Menlo Park and Palo Alto was an effective barrier, and there would
he very little impact on development across that creek. 4r. Brown
explained that was the closest connection of the route. to Menlo Park.
Beyond that, the entire route is well within Stanford land with a
considerable amount of open space on either side.
Councilman Clay asked Mr. Brown if he did not recommend the possible
plan of going through the Shopping Center parking lot because of
safety reasons, the resultant reduction in parking spaces, or aesthetics.
Mr. Brown responded that all of these reasons came to bear, and they
all seemed to argue on the same side of the question. Safety is
a consideration; but Mr.. Brown thought the primary problem was one
of routing city traffic through a parking lot, which results in congestion
that can only increase over the years. The sales volume and other
characteristics of the Shopping Center are not up to standard. Mr.
Brown considered the Shopping Center a viable and important part
of the city in terms of the citizens who use it, tax revenue, etc.;
and it needs help with regard to adequate access and egress. If
shoppers .do not have convenient traffic -routes, they go to competing
centers.
Councilman Clay said he had not heard how many trees would be removed
if Plan C were implemented.
Mr. Brown replied that .forty-three trees would have to be removed;
and of that number, thirty-three were in good condition. Further,
any of the alternatives would necessitate the removal of a number
of trees within that range.
Councilman Berwald asked Councilman Rosenbaum if he had deleted the
13st sentence of part 1) of his motion as stated in his memo of November 4,
Councilman Rosenbaum responded that he had deleted the reference
to the staff report concerning the cross section for the entire route.
His purpose was to give some flexibility so that the route from Arboretum
to El Camino need not follow the 90 -foot width.
Councilman Berwald asked if that were also Councilman Rosenbaum's
intent on part 3) .
Councilman Rosenbaum replied that he had two things in mind. Assuming
that Council would approve proceeding along these lines, he wanted
staff to work on this particular problem while other things were
going on; and the specific direction was to look at an alignment
and cross section which would rake use of the existing improvements
and minimize the removal of trees. Councilman Rosenbauri saw a possibility
that was not one of the choices offered, and he suggested that staff
might want to comment on it. Staff had proposed one possibility in
which the road heading east was pretty much the existing road, but
the road heading west ran through the trees; and his basic interest
was preserving as a continguous area as much land between the creek
and the road as possible. He explained that he was not really interested
in having the west hound roars run through the trees, but he was thinking
more about having it closer to the easterly road.
Councilman Berwald said that staff had already given'a schematic
design of what he assumed they assessed as an appropriate alignment
and cross section between Arboretuu and El Camino which would minimize
the use of the land along the creek and the removal of mature trees.
That would not make use, particularly, of the existing roadway; and
Councilman Berwald wondered how staff interpreted the directions
in parts 1) and 3) of Councilman Rosenbaum's motion.
Mr. Knox stated chat one of the alignments shown on the screen by
Mr. Brown showed the east bound roadway in the parking lot and the
west bound roadway going through the trees, and there was a fair
amount of separation there as the roadway meandered through the trees,
Following Councilman Rosenbaum's thinking, you could bring the west
bound roadway a little closer to the Shopping Center and narrow tile
median between the two parts. Mr. Knox thought that the loss of
trees might be about the same, and he said that alignment was one
t'n t staff had not studied. They had studied whether or not four
lanes could be gotten in on the existing paving of the parking lot,
and that would be a bad traffic situation considering that cars wo_id
be moving in and out of the lot on to the roadway as well as bringing
other traffic on the roadway. Staff studied the straight 90 -foot
aiignrnt through the trees, and they also looked at an alignment
where both the east bound and west bound roadways went through the
trees. The latter alignment, which staff preferred, did not take
all that many trees. It tookthirty-three to forty trees depending
on whether or not all the diseased trees were counted, but it left
a very handsome parkway and a stream -side linear park to the north
of the roadway. Mr. Knox said he bad not had time for his own views
to become formulated since he had not seen the slice show until Just
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before this meeting; but he thought the essential aspects that Mr.
Browr;i had shown tonight are that the city ought to build a handsome
roadway; a roadway from which one could look at a Shopping Center
through a screen of trees; and that in the straight stretch of the
roadway from Arboretum west, there .is a fairly well delineated right-
ofaway for which some trees have already been planted. Mr. Knox
felt it would be desirable to have a median divided roadway in that
stretch. He said he would interpret parts 1) and 3) of Councilman
Rosenbaum's motion to mean that staff's studies were not concluded,
and that they were to find the best alignment. Of course, any specific
direction that Council wanted co give staff in terms of which alignments
it founi satisfactory based on Mr. Brown's presentation would be
most helpful to staff, the consultants, and the engineers.
Councilman Berwald said it appeared evident that staff thought, and
most of Co.ncil agrees, that intrusion upon the creek should he minimized;
but he understood that staff believed there should be some screening
between the parking lot and the roadway.
Mr. Knox responded that this ;;as a proper incetpretation of the staff's
view.
Councllr:an Serw dd asked how close the roadway would come to the
creek.
F.s . Pawloski responded that near El Camino Real, ths edge of the west
bound roadway would be twenty to thirty feet from the creek hank.
Councilnvn Berwald asked if any of the trees that would have to be
cbsiterated because of tte roadway could be coved satisfactorily.
Mr. Brown responded that all of the trees for which there was concern
were mature trees, and there was no possible ;gay that they could
be relocated. Some of the trees were diseased; some of the mature
trees have limited remaining life.; and some of the younger trees
would be very significant in ten or fifteen years. It was hard to
wake a decision sometimes as to whether the short range or long range
view should be taken. As it turned out, the major attempt would
be to save the mature trees.
Councilwoman Pearson said she could not agree with Mir. Pawloskl's
statement because she could see the line of the creek and the line
of the road; and in some places, there appeared to be only a distance
of ten feet between the two. Councilwoman Pearson referred to Mr.
Brown's comments regarding the livelihood of the Stanford Shopping
Center and its ability to compete with other shopping centers in
the area. She asked if he were saying that unless the road is enlarged,
the Stanford Shopping Center would go out of business.
Mr. Brown responded that he was not saying that, but that the Shopping
Center suffered in terms of sales; and that kind of problem can always.
be traced to accessibility and parking. He said that the Stanford
Shopping Center had the most difficult access of any center he knew
of in the entire San Francisco bay area.
Councilwoman Pearson said it would probably be a corollary to downtown
Palo Alto, which now has rising sales. She thought the Shopping
Center would probably stay in business, but it just would not make
as much money. Councilwoman Pearson asked if the Nanning Commission
would be involved with reviewing any of the alternatives.
5 7 5
11/4/ 74
Frances Brenner, Chairwoman of the Planning Commission, responded
that if the Council wished them to do so, the Commission would welcome
an opportunity to review whatever Council sent them.
1
1
Councilwoman Pearson said it seemed to her that the Planning Commission
would have a hand in reviewing any plane that came before Council.
She asked staff what the state had said as to whether or not they
would allow a half an intersection at El Camino and Alma.
Ted Noguchi, Traffic Engineer, said he had checked with the state
on an unofficial basis; and they indicated they saw no particular
problem with that kind of design.
Councilwoman Pearson asked Mr. Brown what would be wrong with a
one-way road around the perimeter of Stanford Shopping Center.
Mr. Brown said that fot the most part, people tend to want to come
into an area close to the relative direction from which they approach
the center and park near the stores and then go out the same way.
The schece he had referred to in his presentation would allow access
at that point, but no egress. A driver would have to go around
the center and cc e cut anothr way. It could be done; but it is
not desirable, e.n' the biggest problen is congestion. There would
be no nove'zent at all west bound around the center; so people who
had that mute in mind would have to either go out on to E1 Camino
or all the ay arc::nd, through the parking lot, and out another
way. L e is re driving that takes place, the z:ore_ congestion there
Is, ,add the more ptob1e =s there are.
Councilwoman Pearson stated that there had been an Ecological Study
of San Fran.cisgaiito Creek paid for by Palo Alto and Menlo Park.
There mere a nur.i'e� of recolamen atiens in that report; and in 1965,
staff said it mould get back to Council with some appropriate recommenda-
tions. She pointed out that the repeat lead such things in mind
as a linear park. Councilman Berwald had made a motion supporting
the continuance of rreekside parks and keeping them as natural as
possible; and Councilwoman Pearson recalled that she had seconded
that motion. It seemed to Councilwoman Pearson that if the road
came that close, it would be impossible to have such a park, She
asked what had happened en this and the request from the citizen
for paths along San Fraecisquitoo Creek. Councilwoman Pearson brought
this up because she felt the city was slowly eliminating San Francisquito
Creek as the last remaining natural creek in the area.
Mr. Sipel responded that the other assignments staff had held a
higher priority, but the creek had not suffeaed from complete neglect.
Staff had talked to Stanford about that area on two or three different
occasions, and it ie part of studies going on with the Comprehensive:
Plan.
Councilwoman Pearson asked ii that meant studies for San Franci:aquito
Creek from El Camino up to there the bridge is.
Mr. Sipel said he thought the study included the whole of San francisquito
Creek; and anything that staff could do to try to keep it in its
natural state, they would try to do.
Mr. Knox added that the thin grey stripe shown on the map that was sent
to Council are paths, and the location of those could be altered
considerably more easily than the location of the roadway which
has to have certain curvatures for traffic purposes. Re referred
to Councilwoman Peaarson's comment that she understood the drawing
to indicate the road to be in ten feet of the top of the creek,
and Mr. Pawloski's figures referred to where the roadway was in
5 7 b
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relation to the week bank. The thinner lines at the edge of the
right-of-way are paths, and they would become the beginning of a
streamside linear park system.
Vice Mayor Henderson asked "r. Booth to repeat for Council the contract
terms with Stanford in relation to the agreement that now exists, what
Stanford's part would be in such a scheme, hog: much of the road they would be
responsible for, etc.
Robert Booth, City Attorney, responded that, in essence, wherever
Stanford has been required to put a 90 -foot right-of-way, they are
required :o pay one hundred percent of the costs. The costs scale
down roughly to something like if Stanford contributes 71Z of the
right--of'-way, they would pay approximately 78% of the costs; or if
they were contributing 19% of the right--of-way, they would be contribu-
ting 21% of the costs. Mr. Booth said this agreement was worked out
in 1969, and it is still operative.
Vice Mayor Henderson invited members of the public to speak to Council.
Lewis Lengfeld, President of the Stanford Shopping Center Association,
said in answer to ounci1L,c..^?n cearson's question, that nobody wculd
be closing .S.acy's, the Fnporiun, or any of the other stores; but
to the extent that access to the Shopping Center is limited, business
is cut down. Mr. Lengfeld di; not think that this fact helped downtown
Palo Alto; but it did help San Antonia Shopping Center which was
in another town, and Redwood Shores in another tour, etc. In the
end, lioitedi business at the Stanford Shopping Center does hurt Palo
Alto':: revenues. He stated that it was very important that something
be done about the twenty year old problem of Willow Road. .!r. Lengfeld
pointed out that the present Willow connection through the parking
lot is not a dedicated street, but it is merely a peripheral road
in the parking lot. He mentioned that the state upset everybody
by trying to produce a Willow Expressway, which nobody really wanted.
Less than 3: of the traffic on Willow is going through Palo Alto
beyond Middlefield, but about 3O of it is going down Willow on its
way to downtown Palo Alto. Mr. Lengfeld stated that the members
of the Association would be delighted to have more trees in the parking
lot, and they would also be Teased to see the road go through the
trees. Further, they would like to see access to the proposed park
along the creek. At present, the creek is at such a distance from
Willow Road that it is not a safe place for people to go.
Louis R. Goldsmith, 1462 Edgewood Drive, Palo Alto Housing Corporation,
said his comments concerned the possibilities for suggested housing
that might he built along Willow Road. Numerous suggestions had
been made through ehe years, some of them for row/moderate income
housing. Some very preliminary discussions had been held recently
with Stanford administration. Mr. Goldsmith said that housing that
would be oriented toward people who work at Stanford, the Shopping
Center, the Medical Center, the industrial Park, or even in the city
of PalAlto, or toward Graduate Students and the elderly, would not
have the great impact men traffic that is often assumed. Bicycle
lanes would be an advantage, and perhaps a minibus system could be
set up if -there were a sufficient concentration of housing. Perhaps
some people would walk to nearby jobs. Mr. Goldsmith r3tated that
it was important to have good access to housing,` and Council should
keep in wind the possibility that maybe someday there would be a
substantial addition to housing in that area,
Chris Serafin, 1736 Oak Creek Drive, spoke in favor of the Willow
Road expansion because of the congestion of t:hi traffic immediately
in front of the apartments there, the polluti.O.i that the congestion
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creates, and the impossible traffic situation that exists at rueh
hours. Ms. Serafin was in favor of the extension of 'pillow Road
to El Camino to facilitate not having to drive through residential
streets in order to gain access to any northern part of the peninsula.
She mentioned how inconvenient it was for residents of the Oak Creek
Apartments to get anywhere outside the immediate environment. Ms.
Serafin thought that a walkway along the proposed road to the Center
would be a very positive addition.
B. Paul Heidrick, President of Bullock's, said the new extension
would greatly relieve the bottleneck caused by the number of people
who came south on El Camino and made a right turn into the Shopping
Center. Mr. Heidrick stated that the number of people who worked
for Bullock's and lived ii Palo Alto amounted to slightly over twenty-
five percent of the staff. He pointed out that these persons were
sales people, stock people; and they heldthose kinds of jcbe that
he thought the Council would be very interested in creating and keeping
in the city of Palo Alto. As the vitality of the Center diminishes,
those kinds of jobs would become fewer.
Jim Steele, Palo Alto Chamber of Commerce, indicated the unanimous
consent and approval by the Board of Directors for the extension
of Willow Road to El Calnino. One of the concerns for the Shopping
Center was the quality of the participating };usine_sses thee; and
'.Mr. Steele thought it was in the vest intetests of e';cryo:ie to have
the highest quality of representation possible. Mr. Steele reiterated
that this proposal was perhaps a first step along the way to the
creation of something in the Willow corridor that would be an answer
to many of the traffic problems that face Menlo Park and Palo Alto.
Barbara McBride, 11x5 University Avenue, expressed the concern of
pareets on University Avenue for the safety of their children as
a result of the heavy traffic situation there. Mrs. McBride stated
that an adult escorted the school children across the street every
morning because the peak traffic was so severe. She asked that Council
get a complete traffic impact study, and that University Avenue not.
be burdened with more cars until there is more study :jade of an east/west
corridor.
John Alcorn, 1970 Edgewood Drive, said he had heard a lot of discussion
about the impact of this project on the environment, the Shopping
Center, etc., but he had not heard anything about the impact on those
people who had to drive this route to get to and from work. Traffic
congestion had become intolerable to the drivers who had no alternative
route to use in getting to their places of employment. Mr. Alcorn
read a petition that he planned to circulate among drivers who felt
that something had to be done to alleviate their prablem.s. He pointed
out that the longer the city put off the needed improvements, the
costlier they would finally be.
Charles Lusk, 1085 University Avenue, said that those persons who
were in favor of a Willow corridor were not talking about a freeway
or an expressway. he said they visualized something like Vice Mayor
He:nderson's proposal of a 60 -foot right--of-way with four lanes.
F{e stated that the Menlo Park Planning Commission had endorsed improvements
along Willow Road or the eastern side of El Camino between Bayshore
and Middlefield, including frontage roads for access. Mr. Lusk felt
that inspection would show that the right-of-way on Willow Road is
greater than that of University Avenue for which there are no frontage
roads. In his opinion, any kind of a four-way access from aayshore
to Middlefield and utilising the existing right-of-way of Willow
to Alma wo sld be more than adequate to meet the needs of the traffic
as shown uy the submitted studies, Mr. Lusk thought that sights
should be lowered to something that would be acceptable to the residents
and businesses of Men'.o Park, Stanford, and Palo Alto,
57$
11/4/74
Craig Calkins, 900 Welch Road, felt that someone needed to speal.
for the professional and business people in the Stanford Professional
Center. Mr. Calkins said he did not like to drive through the Stanford
Shopping Center parking lot, but sometimes that was the only way
he could manage to get to and from his place of business. It was
his hope that Palo Alto would take the present opportunity to engage
the cooperation of Menlo Park and lead toward a successful culmination
of an effort to get some through way from 101 to 280.
Councilwoman Pearson recalled that Mr. Noguchi had done an impact
Report for the Comprehensive Plan that included projections for 1991
if everything were left alone, if Willow were widened from Arboretum
to San Francisquite Creek, and if Willow were widened from El Camino
to San Francisquito Creek. She asked Mr. Noguchi what, it all these
three situations, the projected impact was on University Avenue.
Mr. Nr-guchi responded that an analysis of the impact on University
Avenue was made, particularly east of Middlefield Road. The analysis
showed that there would be a slight increase in traffic on University
Avenue, with or without the connection of Willow Road to El Camino
Real.
Councilwoman Pearson stated that if it is left as is, traffic will
increase on University Avenue; and if Willow Road is widened fro::l
Arboretum to San Francisquito Creek, or from El Camino and open it
up to San Francisquito Creek, the change on University Avenue would
be virtuality nil. Councilwoman Pearson sa'.d that here was the Willow
Road problem all over again; and it anyone thought it had been going
on for only twenty years, -he was wrong because it had been at least
thirty-five years. She said that twenty-three years ago, she left
Sand Hill Road because the Willow Freeway was imminent. With regard
to the landscaping at the Stanford Shopping Center, Councilwoman
Pearson recalled that at that time numerous letters written to the
Palo Alto Times about the chopping down of the magnificent Oaks in
the parking lot. Several dozen Oaks had been chopped down; a few
of the Oaks were saved, and islands were put around them, but they
died. Those trees were several hundred years old, ard Stanford should
be commended for the twenty year old Oaks now there. Councilwoman
Pearson hoped the aim was not to emulate Eastridge, which she considered
the grossest shopping center in the area. She recalled that the
original recommendation from the Willow Road Committee was for a
modest little road, and that went from 84 to 90 to 100 to 110 to
142 to 156 feet. As things progressed it was 110 feet on Stanford
land where the Shopping Center is. In 1971, the Menlo Park citizens
rose up against it and said that Palo Alto was putting a terrible
freeway through there, and the road was expandable to the freeway.
This would have destroyed approximately 400 housing units, and that
included those that were in Palo Alto. Councilwoman Pearson noted
that the state had since that time removed the freeway from its plans,
but the freeway idea was still haunting everyone. The pressure is
always there to build this cross-town route, and now there is Dumbarton
Bridge at the other erd. Menlo Park has always been in favor of
the cross-town route, especially that section between El Canino and
Middlefield Road because that is the section. that is in Palo Alto.
Menlo Park is. now pursuing the rebuilding of Willow Road between
Middlefield aura Bayshote. That will result in two fifteen foot lanes,
a divider, and frontage roads. This• is about a 90 -foot right-of-way,
and this is equivalent: to the little cross --town road that the Willow
Road Committee had in mind at one time.- Councilwoman Pearson said
that. it was always pointed out to the Willow Road Committee that
that would be expandable to six lanes. T'he- propoa.l to use the 90 -
foot right -of --way and connect to El. Camino Real is only twenty feet
sway fro the proposal that the city had; and it is located along
S 7 9
11/4/74
the same configuration, curves and all. Councilwoman Pearson stated
that Dumbarton Bridge is a threat at the eastern end. On the west
side, there was Sand Hill Road which was improved from 280 to the
creek; and we would connect from the creek to El Camino Real. On
the east side there would be the new Dumbarton Bridge, East Palo
Alto will rebuild Willow Road, Menlo Park will rebuild it from bsyshore
to Middlefield, and that leaves the one little link where Palo Alto
Is involved. That is a real threat to Palo Alto; and there will
he tremendous pressure to open up that Alma Street link, thus getting
the last little link for the Willow Expressway. If she remembered
correctly, Councilwoman Pearson said that 112 housing units were
eliminated in Palo Alto. When the little Willow Road Committee thing
was done, which took three or four years, there was a report on the
ecology of San Francisquito Creek. That report stated that any surface
road or creekbed that would be proposed would certainly destroy toe
creek; and the recommendation was to upgrade the state of the creek,
and eliminating the trees along San Francisquito Creek is certainly
not retaining this natural creek. The recommendation was that only
an elevated road could save it, or no road at all. On page two of
Councilman Rosenbau.m's memorandum, Councilwoman Pearson found that
she had a problem with 2 (a) of the motion in that neither Stanford
nor Menlo Park were tied down, It was her hope that Palo Alto would
not take any steps toward construction until both : '_enlo Park and
Stanford started ir:piementi1Ng their commitments,
AMENDMENT': Councilwoman Pearson moved, seconded by Comstock, that
in regard to part. 1) of the Rosenbaum notion, the words "with the
cross section shown in the August 15, 1974 staff report" be deleted,
apd that there be added "in that section from Arboretum to El Canino
that one road will be the present rood which is on the parking lot
and the other road will be through the trees as far away from the
creek .as possible".
Vice Mayor Henderson asked Councilman Rosenbaum to explain why similar
parts of 1) and 3) of his motion would not do just as well if they
were combined.
Councilman Rosenbaum responded that in part 1), he was looking for
Council to set a policy; and in part 3), he was directing staff to
attempt to do the work. He agreed that whatever went into part 1)
cou:-d just as well go into part 3) .
AMENDMENT RESTATED: Councilwoman Pearson moved, seconded by Comstock,
that in regard to parts 1) and 3) of the Rosenbaum motion, the words
"with the cross section shown in the August 15, 1974 staff report"
be deleted, and that it say "from Arboretum to El Camino the cross
section should be that one road be the present parking lot road and
the other road will be through the trees, thereby minimizing the
use of land along the creek and the removal of trees".
Councilman 1lerwald suggested that part 1) of the Rosenbaum motion
end after the words "Alma Strews", and that would be the policy.
He then suggested that part 3) say something like "ataff should proceed
with schematic design of an appropriate alignment approximately as
shown in the staff report of August 15, €974" and then continue with
the section "From Arboretum to El Camino to be reduced...". He asked
if this were agreeable. Councilman iserwald said he was considering
say amendment that would say "From Junifero Serra to Arboretum, the
crow section is to be approximately as shown in the staff report
of August 15, 1974"; and the change here was the adding of the word
:'approximately". He thought he might make a substitute amendment
to the effect that staff is to proceed with a schematic design of
an appropriate alignment and cross section between Arboretum and
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5 8 0
11/4/74
El Camino, to be designed in such a manner that would protect the
creek, creek beds, and adjacent land and would allow for an ample
and relatively quiet linear park along the creek; result in minimum
removal of trees and yet provide a reasonable open green area between
the southerly perimeter of the proposed right-of-way and the Stanford
Shopping Center parking lot.
Vice Mayor Henderson asked Councilwoman Peet son, since she
-had an amendment on the floor, whether she agreed with the
changes in parts 1) and 3) of the Rosenbaum motion
AMENDMENT WITHDRAWN: Councilwoman Pearson agreed and said
withdraw her amendment and reintroduce :it at a later time.
already
suggested
she would
Vice Mayor Henderson stated that part 1) of the Rosenbaum motion
would now read as follows. That the Council approve in principle
the concept of constructing a four -lane Willow Road from Its intersection
with Junipero Serra Boulevard in San Mateo County to El Camino Real,
with the understanding that traffic will not be allowed to cross
El Camino to connect to Palo Alto Avenue and Alma Street.
Vice Mayor Hende.cson, hearing no comments on the newly stated part
1), suggested that Council take into corsideration part 2) of the
Rosenbaum notion.
AMENDMENT: Councilwoman Pearsor moved, seconded by Henderson, that
the second sentence of (a) under part 2) of the substitute notion be
changed to read as follows: "This commitment is to be fulfilled
prior to Palo Alto beginning construction of the Willow widening."
Councilman Comstock asked if the revised wording meant that Palo
Alto wanted to have back fro Stanford a commitment as to what the
construction timetable would be before Palo Alto proceeded t:irther
with this project.
Councilwoman Pearson responded that she wanted to know when Stanford
planned to start construction of Campus Drive before Palo Alto would
proceed with the project.
Vice Mayor Henderson asked if Councilwoman Pearson wanted a statement
of commitment or fulfillment of commitment.
Councilman Comstock commented chat his •questions had that in minds
because Stanford might come back with a three or four year timetable.
If so, did that mean that Palo Alto would wait that long before beginning
construction.
Councilwoman Pearson explained she was saying that before Palo Alto
begins construction of the widening of Willow Road, Stanford will
begin construction of Campus Drive.
Councilman Beahrs pointer out that Council had heard a number of
times over recent weeks that Stanford has financial problems, and
it is not prepared to immediately carry forward its implementation
of Campus Drive improvements. eCouncilmaz: Beahrs considered the suggested
amendment as an effort to_ harass Stanford and to veto any implementation
of the wain question before Council. He considered Councilman Rosenbaum's
proposal to be fair and realistic, and it should he passed without amend-
ment. Councilman Beahrs felt that within a reasonable time of any
obvious increase in traffic prtb1ema in the Willow Road area, Stanford
would proceed to do something about Carpus Drive. Further, he staged
he did not remember two dozen trees being cent out of the Stanford
Shopping Center; but rather, he remembered that area as slitay field..
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11/4/74
Councilman Comstock said that the motion without the amendment would
mean that Council would get the information it needed, and then
it could decide on its own timing for the project. He understood
Councilman Rosenbaum's concern, and he shared it, to be that Palo
Alto did not want this to be a unilateral exercise on its part.
Councilman Comstock did not believe that Councilman Rosenbaum's
or Councilwoman Pearson's proposal had any intent other t'ian to
try to establish some relationship between the timing of this project
and other projects that ultimately will be necessary to meet an
overall traffic problem. The point is the same in each case; but
personally, he felt that Councilman Rosenbaum's motion would get
Council to the place where it could make a decision.
Vice Mayor Henderson read (a) of part 2) of the Rosenbaum motion
as amended by Councilwoman Pearson: "Stanford is to commit to construc-
tion of at least two lanes of Campus Drive from its present terminus
near the Medical Center to connect with Juniper° Serra Boulevard.
Construction is to begin prior to Palo Alto beginning construction
of the proposed Willow widening. The objective is to insure that
the extension. of Campus Drive will be completed before a.ny intolerable
level of congestion is again experienced ;:ti Willow Roa_i."
Councilman Rosenbaum pointed out that there is a sentence on the
end of part 2) of his motion that staff is to report to Council
on the results of these discussions within one month. He explained
that he wanted t: leave things reasonably flexible. Staff would
talk to Stanford and come back to"Council with soma definite numbers
rather than the relatively vague phrases that he had in his motion..
The city was looking for a definite time period. Maybe the city
would be happy with Stanford's response, and maybe it would not;
but this was the sort of process that he expected to have take place.
Councilman Rosenbaum said that it may turn out that what Councilwoman
Pearson was proposing would come to pass; bot for the :moment, he
would like to leave his motion as it was.
Councilwoman Pearson agreed that the discussions with Stanford should
continue; but she felt :that if Council passed her amendment, that
would be a strong indication that Palo Alto would not move unilaterally.
This may get Campus Drive some impetus for being moved up on Stanford's
schedule.
The amendment failed on the following vote:
AYES: Henderson, Pearson
NOES Beahrs, Berwald,-Clay, Comstock,
Rosenbaum, Norton
AMENDMENT: Councilwoman Pearson moved, seconded by Henderson, that
(b) under part 2) of Councilman Rosenbaum's motf.on read As follows:
"With regard to Menlo Park, staff is to report on the status of
improvements proposed along the Willow -Middlefield -Ravenswood -Menlo -
Santa Cruz connection including a schedule for completion of that
route; methods and construction schedule for widening Willow Road
to four lanes into San Mateo County and up to the intersection of
Junipero Serra Boulevard; and construction approval by Menlo Park
and Stanford for bridge connetions between Menlo Park and Palo
Alto at Olive and AImn;.and-Communication to Menlo Park of Palo
Alto's intent to begin construction of the Willow widening upon
completion of the aforementioned routes and bridges".
Councilman Norton said it seemed to him that this last phrase would,
in effect, place the timing of the construction of the project with
Neilo Park. They could hold it up or veto it by failing to do their
5 8 2
.11/4/74
part of the construction of the bridges, and he was not sure he
was willing to have that be the case. Ccuncilman Norton agreed
that there should be some commitment and understanding that those
would be carried forward, but he did not want to make Palo Alto's
part dependent upon what Menlo Park does.
Councilwoman Pearson commented that Menlo Park traditionally has
done nothing, and they would not do anything if Palo Alto widened
Willow Road. She felt that it was just that clear. Councilwoman
Pearson said it was up to Palo Alto to say that if Menlo Park wanted
some relief for its town, Palo Alto could help them out by widening
Willow Read as soon as they do what they say they are going to do.
She pointed out that Menlo Park always backed off, and she just
did not went Palo Alto to do these things unilaterally.
Councilman Norton stated that the gist of the Rosenbaum motion as
originally worded asked for timetables from Menlo Park, and he saw
no reason to have the bridges treated differently from the first
part which deals with the improvements along the Willow -Ravenswood,
etc., corridor, and the completion of widening of Willow €nom the
county line to Junipero Serra. He could see no reason to suddenly
switch the whole sense of the thing to depend upon the completion
of the Willow foot pates or bicycle bridges. That was not in the
spirit of the rest of the motion, so he would not be able to vote
for the a:endr..ent . However, (ounc i ^an Norton said he was interested,
too, in hav{ng some understanding that nenio Park is committed to
the building of those bridges - the Alma and the Olive connections.
AMENDMENT TO AMENDMENT: Vice Mayor Henderson roved that the wording
after "Olive and Alma" be deleted.
The amendment to the amendment failed for lack of a second.
Councilman Rosenbaum said that Councilman Norton mentioned bicycle
bridges at Olive and Alma, but he was thinking of real bridges there.
Menlo Park may or may not be willing to give that serious consideration,
but he wanted to hear that soon so Council would have that knowledge.
The amendment failed on the following vote:
AYES: Henderson, Pearson
NOES: Fseahre, iier-waid, Clay,
Comstock, Norton, Rosenbaum
AMENDMENT: Councilwoman Pearson moved, seconded by Henderson, that
part 3) of the motion dealing with the section from Arboretum to
El Camino, state that the cross section should be that one road
be the present parking lot road and the other road vill be through
the trees, thereby minimizing the use of land along the creek and
the removal of trees.
Vice Mayor Henderson restated that if the amendment passes part 3)
of the motion would then read: "From Junipero Serra to Arboretum,
the cross section is to be as shown in the staff report of August 15, 1974.
From Arboretum to El Camino, one road would be the present parking
lot road and the other road will be through the trees, thereby minimizing
the Use of land along the creek and the removal of trees".
SUBSTITUTE AMENDMENTS: Councilman lierweld moved, seconded by Eeahrs,
that part 3) of the Rosenbaum motion read as follows: "From Junipero
Serra to Arboretum the cross section is to be approximately as shown
in the staff report of August 15, 1974. From Arboretum to El Camino,
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11/6!74
the staff is directed to proceed with a schematic design of an appropriate
alignment and cross section that will consider the use of the existing
roadway; protect the creek, creek banks, and adjacent land in a
manner which will allow for an ample and relatively quiet linear
park along'the creek; result in minimum removal of trees and yet
provide a reasonable open green area between the southerly perimeter
of the proposed right-of-way and the Stanford Shopping Center parking
lot".
Councilman Beahrs said that proceedings seemed to be going forward
under the assumption that Palo Alto owns this land, and he wanted
to know who was going to put up the money to buy it.
Councilman Comstock said that none of the proposed alignments take
a].1 the land between the perimeter of the existing parking lot and
the creek. In all of the cases, there are some lands that are not
occupied by the road right -of -gray. As he understood the motions,
they vary somewhat as to what land is left in the right-of-way.
He did rot think that any of the proposals mentioned contemplated
acquiring the remaining spaces as part or" the protect. Councilman
Comstock said they would remain lands in the hands of Stanford,
as they are now; and the maintenance, use, etc., of those lands
will be controlled by Stanford. :;it; regard to Councilman Berwald's
substitute notion, Councilman Co stock responded that he preferred
Part 3) of Councilman Rosenbaum's original Eotion. In the presentation
this evening, Council was told that the road would look so very
good going through the woods, but he was not so sure that the woods
would lock so very good with the road going through them; and that
was his concern. He noted that the existing parking lot perimeter
has a two-lane road on it. Although it was not a designated street,
it functioned as a two-lane road. In addition, at the end of the
Magnin store, there is a two-lane road; and that is a place where
traffic circulation can occur. Councflr.an Comstock pointed out
that between the Magnin store and the edge of the existing parking
lot, there are four lanes that can !e used by people who are circulating
through the parking lot. As Stanford knows all too well, it is
sort of a secondary unofficial route from El Camino to Willow Road,
particularly during the early morning hours. His reason for supporting
the Rosenbaum motion was that he felt a lithe unsettled by the
presentation Council had heard at this meeting. A lot of drawings
and slides were shown at this meeting and also at the committee
meeting, and Council had received a lot of reports. A lot of enthusiastic
support on the part of the staff had been presented for the right-
of-way that they recommended. Councilman Comstock felt that staff
had .a very great head of steam up about this one particular right-
of-way. He preferred Councilman Rosenbaum's ideas because he would
.like to see the whole thing take a little different direction.
Councilman Comstock found the evening's presentation enlightening
to the extent that the ideas presented about highway access as opposed
to periplaerat access about the circumference of the Shopping Center,
and the rather mind -boggling concept of moving Sak's and Bullock's
back across the road, unsettled him to the extent that he looked
at the proposed alignment and the nearest buildings. He found that
the separation does leave room for the construction of some modest
form of a ring road. Perhaps that is none of Council's affair,
but his interest in supporting what Councilman Rosenbaum has in
mind was that he wanted to see drawings and detailed work about
an alternative alignment.
Councilman Berwald thought the disagreement between Councilman Comstock
and himself was the extent to which his motion differed from Councilman
Rosenbaum's. He explained that the main thrust of his motion was
to combine the two pieces of the motion - 1) and 3) -- into one integrated
5 d 4
11/4/74
whole. The second change was to strengthen the language regarding
the creek and the creek beds, etc., and he thought that was in the
spirit of Councilman Rosenbaum's motion. Councilman Berwald said
he would not approve any roadway within thirty feet of the creek.
He pointed out that the only change he made with regard to the existing
roadway was to change "make use of the existing roadway" to "consider
use of the existing roadway". The spirit of the entire Rosenbaum
motion was one of discussion, reaching an understanding, and leaving
the staff to work out satisfactory arrangements. Councilman Berwaid
said it was impossible for Council to design a road at a Council
meeting; therefore, anything in the motion that would be rigid as
far as the alignment was concerned, would probably be unworkable.
The other difference was that he thought it would be a rather poor
design to put the roadway so close and not have any insulation between
the Shopping Center and the roadway, so he was suggesting a reasonable
open green area. Councilman Berwaid did not really feel his mocion
changed Councilman Rosenbaum's motion very much, but he would like
hiss to comment.
Councilman Rosenbaum said there was merit to the Beraald Amendment.
He thought that what was really important was what staff understood
their assignment to be. If staff looks at the road and the amount
of land between the creek and the parking lot, he thought they would
find they could do different things in different areas. ;;ear El
Camino, if any reasonable amount of land were to be saved between
the creek and the new road, it seemed clear that the existing piece
of road needed to be used. If you get further in, for example -
past I. Magnin, there is a fair amount of land between the parking
lot and the creek; and Councilman Rosenbaum would not see any objection
to running the road part way in there so you could get some screening
in between the road and the parking lot. It was not obvious to
Councilman Rosenbaum chat it would be necessary to run the road
along the perimeter all the way to Arboretum.
Mr. Pawloski said that with regard to that portion of the roadway
between Arboretum and El Camino, it should be mentioned that this
project is somewhat unique in that the major portion of the financing
will be done by Assessment District. Therefore, during discussions
about the roadway alignment, its useability and how the route functions
came into play. Fundamental to an Assessment District is the need
to demonstrate benefit received, and that is one of the reasons
why the proposal has shown it outside of the parking lot. There
is some impairment of function and benefit received if you talk
about putting the roadway on the parking lot -
Councilmen .Beaters did not feel Councilman Rosenbaum's motion was
quite as adequate to the need as Councilman Berwald's, and he preferred
a program that would allow as many options as possible. He stated
that he was discouraged about the fact that hundreds of thousands
of dollars were spent for the best in staff talent, and then Council
turned a deaf ear to their recommendations.
Councilwoman Pearson said the last time there was a discussion of
moving willow Road out to El Camino, one of the questions was whether
or not this would be a dedicated road. She asked whether it had,
i.adeed, become a dedicated road.
Mr. Pawloski responded affirmatively.
Councilwoman Pearson asked if the same thing would be true if the
roadway went through the parking lot.
Mr. pawloeki responded affirmatively.
585
II/4/7'
The Berwald substitute amendment passed or: the following vote:
AYES: Beahrs, Berwald, Clay,
Norton, Rosenbaum
NOES: Comstock, Henderson, Pearson
Councilwoman Pearson asked how much the cost would be for the signal
at El Canino Real and who would pay for it.
Mr. Pawloski responded that the total estimated cost of improvements
at El Camino and Willow was $189,000, of which staff estimated $94,000
would be the state contribution.
Councilwoman Pearson wanted to know if the state would be willing
to pay for it.
Mr. Sipel said staff would not be able to answer that until they
get back to the state. This was something staff would do in the
normal course of working on the assignment.
Councilwoman Pearson asked if the: cost would go into, the Assessment
District if the state decided not to pay for it.
Mr. Sipel responded that would be ore alternative, or the city cf
Pala Alto would have to pick up that expense.
Councilman Clay brought up the subject of a link between El Camino
and 101. Based on what he had read aed heard over the last several
weeks, he felt the subject should be explored just a bit further.
Councilman Clay said he supported the motions that had been discussed
so far, but he thought that they constituted just a partial solution
to the problem. The bottlenecks were being shifted; and he would
be willing to go along with that, providing that the city would
get at the longer term solution in reasonably shortorder. He stated
that his impression from Palo Altans was that they wanted a Willow
link. It appeared to him that the link would be such an,obvious
solution to the problems} for both Menlo Park and Palo Alto that
if all the parties could start with a common objective, then something
constructive might happen.
AMENDMENT: Councilman Clay moved, seconded by Berwald, that (b)
of part 2) of the motion be amended to delete the words, "With regard
to Menlo Park, staff is to report on the status of improvements
proposed along the Willow -Middlefield -Ravenswood -Menlo -Santa Cruz
connection" and substitute the words, "With regard to Menlo Park,
staff is to discuss with Menlo Park the matter of general improvements
in the Willow corridor including the proposed improvements along
Willow-Middlefield-RavenswoodeMenlo--Santa Cruz connection".
Councilman Comstock asked Councilman Clay what he would expect the
range of discussions to be that staff would have with the Menlo
Park staff.
Councilman Clay responded that he vas starting from the position
that if somehow the link could be approved between El Camino and
Bayahare, then major traffic problems would be solved for both communities.
Councilman Glay would like for the staff to not be limited in the
alternatives that it would discuss with the Menlo Park staff, and
then come back to Council with recommendations ranging from specifics
that might have taken place to suggestions that perhaps discussions
should take place on other levels, such as the Planning Commission.
586
11/4/74
Councilwoman Pearson said that Councilman Clay was talking about
the section of the Willow corridor from El Camino, and that was
the section that went through Palo Alto; or he was talking about
connecting to the present Willow Road that goes through Menlo Park;
or he was talking about Willow -Middlefield -Ravenswood -Menlo -Santa
Cruz connection. If he wanted to ask Menlo Park to talk about a
possible corridor between El Camino and Middlefield on the Palo
Alto side, she would not be able to support that at all. If he
was talking about having Palo Alto's staff discussing use of Menlo
Park's present Willow Road, the answer from Menlo Park would be
"no"; but if he wanted staff to talk about it being on Palo Alto's
side, they would say "yes". If Willow Road is widened at Stanford,
the Dumbarton Bridge is built, Menlo Park widens down to Middlefield
and points the arrow into Palo Alto at that point, then everyone
would come down and demand that the connection between El Camino
and Middlefield be put in.
Councilman Clay stated that the Willow corridor as defined during
Comprehensive Plan discussions was defined as being one mile wide,
and he assumed that would include the specifics as stated in (h)
of part 2 of the Rosenbaum motion. Also, Councilman Clay thought
conditions might have changed since this subject was last discussed;
and both communities night now have a clearer perception of the
problem. If both communities do recognize the problem and start
discussions with a cormmon objective of solving traffic problems,
then they would arrive at a solution which would he beneficial to
both parties.
Vice Mayor Henderson said he understood that what he was hearing
from Councilman Clay was an all out push for a Willow Expressway.
Vice Mayor Henderson stated that he wanted a simple widening of
the road, an eventual extension under certain circumstances, and
no connection across. He agreed with Councilwoman• -Pearson that
such discussions would be a total waste o` time because Menlo Park
voted this idea down in 1971 most emphatically, and he saw no point
in expanding the motion to include what he considered a move to
get the Willow Expressway moving.
Couacilman Beaters said he did not think Councilman Clay said anything
at ell about a. Willow Expressway.
The amendment to 2) (b) passed on the following vote:
AYES: &talira, Berwa1d, Clay,
Comstock, Norton
NOES: Henderson, Pearson,
Rosenbaum
AMENDMENT: Councilman Eerwa`d moved, seconded by Rosenbaum, that
part 4) be added to the motion to state that staff explore with
Stanford, Menlo Park, and San Mateo and Santa C1.ra Counties the
natter of public transit and other alternatives to ameliorate growth
of vehicular trips on the Willow Road area, particularly between
El Camino and 280.
Councilwoman Pearson requested that the question be divided.
Councilman Beahrs asked if this action were really necessary since
such a study had been under way for some time, and he did not think
that any particular attention would be given to Palo Alto's little
secant of r oad.
3 8 7
11ft /74
Councilman Berwald explained that he added it because he thought
that whenever road mileage was added in Palo Alto, the city should
recognize expressly the reed for, and benefits of, public transit
on those roads.
Mr. Sigel commented that the substance of Councilman Berwcld's amendment
would be covered in the study that Palo Alto, Stanford, Menlo Park,
and East Palo Alto world be initiating in the very near future:
Councilman Comstock said he would vote for the individual motions
with some degree of discomfort. One of the representations that
had been made at the committee meeting and this meeting focuses
on the Shopping Center, the Medical Center, and other destinations
on the campus, and draws heavily on the origin/destination studies
that have been done. This was done to make the point that the issue
here is traffic coming into this corner of the community primarily
from areas outside of the community, and that the objective of this
project is not to facilitate through traffic, but to facilitate
access to the Medical Center, the Shopping Center, and those environs
on the campus, Many people are coming from the Woodside/Menlo Park
area, etc., through this corridor. If some substantial change is
made in this area, there would be entirely different origin/destination
data than there is today. Very strong representations have been
:jade to Council all the way along from residents of University Avenue,
and they are speaking in terms of this project facilitating, the
access from beyond the co:rmonity in the direction of Interstate
280, They are firmly convinced that they would see a commensurate
increase in traffic on University, Embarcadero, etc. This Is all
against a background of existing concern. Councilman Comstock predicted
that whatever happened on Willow Road, Council would hear a great
deal more in the very near future from the residents on University
Avenue and E barcadero Road. Vhen they begin to mobilize their
opinions, feelings, and desires for action, they would make the
pressure Council has been subjected to in College Terrace and other
streets seem rather bland. It is just a matter of time until they
become coherent in their requests for relief. Councilman Comstock
said he felt a little shaky about whether the origin and destination
studies would hold up in actual practice,. One way or the other, -
he thought the city would find itself dealing with extreme traffic
problems on these streets; and the Council would be taking much
more extreme measures than it is now. Councilman Comstock said
these things to express his concern, and he thought the concerns
expressed by the residents were valid ones. He was not sure whether
the situation would be made worse by this project, but he wras worried
about that. Councilman Comstock stated that he mentioned the Medical
Center a few times because he felt the focus had been placed so
heavily on the Shopping Center. The Medical Center is a growing
employment center, and it generates a substantial amount of traffic.
He did not think Stanford would want to slight that as another source
of problems and as a need for relief, not to mention housing in
the corridor already. Councilman Comstock thought this•w'as the reasons
why the issue of Campus Drive was important and +shy •Co.mcii would -
be looking for a very specific response on that. He reminded everyone
that in 1953-54, University• Avenue was a very viable shopping center
with a lot of front -rank stores; and it was also a place.with hideous
traffic problems. What has happened is that a lot of the front- -
rank stores and the hideous traffic problems have been moved over
to the Shopping Center. The Shopping Center was built rapidly,
occupied rapidly, and had a devastating effect ova the commercial
prospects of University Avenue from which that area ire just recently
recovering. councilman Co ateck commented that he was not eayir g
this to indf sate this was "a chance to get even, but ,only to assure.
people that he was going to try to treat -this problem has sensitively
5 8 8
11/4/74
as he could. However, he wanted to be sure that people from the
Shopping Center and Stanford understood that if six or eight months
from now, the City Council begins to do some intriguing things on
University Avenue, those things would be done in response to existing
problems and perhaps not even in anticipation of problems yet to
be generated. For staff's benefit, Councilman Comstock said he
was quite serious about his concerns regarding how the connection
between Arboretum and El Camino would be handled. He appreciated
the work staff had done up to this point, and he hoped staff would
appreciate and be responsive to the motions that had been made and
the concerns that had been expressed. Although he voted for the
motion to make a broader approach to Menlo Park, Councilman Comstock
felt he had to say that he did it with an extreme degree of pessimism.
If anything seemed clear to him, it is the position of the City
Council; and he thought that had been plainly exemplified by the
preliminary plan. He had no objections to going to Menlo Park and
asking these kinds of questions, but he thought Mr. Sipel would
be back very shortly with a very direct ans+,er.
Counci:non Berwald stated that everyone on the Council was concerned
about traffic, and the citizens had expressed their concerns also;
but it seemed to him that in the past there: were some statistics
showing that over a number of years - 19b4 - 1972 -- the Willow Road
traffic increased apptoxi :ately forty percent, while University
Avenue traffic Increased Just a very small percent and Lytton and
Lmbarce ►ero experienced a decrease. Perhaps it would be a good
idea to have some: updatings of the traffic situation in those areas.
Councilclan Berwald, referring to the Comprehensive Plan, expressed
some disappointment with the decision regarding the industrial area.
The thought occurred to him that consultants were employed for a
number of reasons by the city, and he thought it might be wise for
Council to consider engaging a consultant to determine how to keep the
city's residential, commercial, and industrial areas viable in order
to prevent slums in those three arias. More than that, Councilman
&erwald considered it very important that the city not deny residents
an attractive entiro* ent, but at the same time, not deny then, -lobs.
Some day, Council should take a look at whether it was addressing
the question adequately enough en how to maintain a viable commercial
area.
Councilwoman Pearson thought that the motion on the floor would
pass, and the result would be that the staff would bt' out drafting
a schematic design of s.:me alignment of the road. Council did not
quite know where the road was going to go at the moment, but that
information would be coming back. It therefore seemed to her that
it would be appropriate that this design go before the Planning
Commission so that body can cry back to Council with some comments
and recommendations regarding the alignment, bicycle paths, pedestrian
and bicycle bridges, etc.
MOTION: Councilwoman Pearson moved, seconded by Comstock, that
part 6) be added to the motion that the preliminary design be referred
to the Planning Commission for its coxmaents and recommendations
to the Council.
The motion failed on the following vote:
AYES: Comstock, Henderson,
Pearson, Rosenbaum
NOES: Beahrs, Berwald, Clay,
Norton
5 8 9
11/4/74
Vice Mayor Henderson stated a keen sense of disappointment in that
he had initiated a proposal for the widening and extension of Willow
Road, and he wanted very much to fol.lcw through and support such
action. But V:ce Mayor Henderson said he felt he was being offered
a package that was just too big. He felt Council was setting up
another pressure cooker for a Willow Expressway. Trees would be
wiped oat unnecessarily, and the road would be connected to El Camino
pointing right at Alma. New pressures would take care of that connection
in a relatively short time. Vice Mayor Henderson could not believe
that discusaions were being opened up again with Menlo Park on the
Willow corridor when the people wcrked as hard as they lid in 1971
to halt the expressway threat. They certainly should t,ot have to
fight it again within four years, and this is what Coanci1 was going
to cause them to have to do. He said he was really sorry that he
could not support the plan before Council, because he did want to
take some action to alleviate the present congestion on Willow Road.
Councilwoman Pearson stated that it was obvious to her that Willow
Road would not change any of the traffic patterns in the basic residential
area of Palo Alto, and that includes University Avenue and Eabarcade_o
Road. All Council was doing was accelerating the day when Willow
Expressway will become a reality, and Willow Road as Council determined
it tonight, would exert great pressure on this Council to build
a final link. There will not be any place else to put it except
through the north end of Palo Alto, and it certainly will not be
in Menlo Park. She re'nnuee Council me7,bers that Menlo Park did
not have a single freeway or expressway through the thole town.
Palo Alto will have two expressways, one highway, and two freeways;
and Councilwoman Pearson thought that was too much for dinky little
Palo Alto; and the community was paying a very heavy price in pollution,
noise, traffic, and everything else.
Ccrutci1 an Beahrs said that term years ago some r mb rs of Council
had plenty of opportunity to take care of University Avenue and
Embarcadero Road. The whole problem could have been settled if
some Council members had enough moral courage to do the right thing
ten years ago. He stated he was against spending the taxpayer's
money for special urban planning a fo*ts, since Council was disposed
to do its own planning:.
Part 1) of the motion regarding the recommendation of the Finance
and Public Works Committee passed on a unanimous vote.
Part 2) of the motion regarding the recommendation of the Finance
and Public Works Committee passed on a unanimous vote.
Part 3) of the motion regarding the recommendation of the Finance
and Public Works Committee passed on a unanimous vote.
The 3er-wald Substitute amendment on transit passed on the following
vote:
AYES: Beahrs, Berwa1d, Clay,
Comstock, Henderson,
Pearson, Rosenbaum
NOES: Norton
The three-part Rosenbaum motion as amended passed on the following
vote:
AYES: Beahrs, 5erwald, Clay,
Comstock, Norton, Rosenbal
NOES: Henderson, Pearson
5 9 0
11/4/14
Re uest to Move Oral Communications
orwar on a aen a
MOTION: Councilwoman Pearson moved, seconded by Berwald, that oral
communications be moved forward on the agenda.
The motion passed on a unanimous vote.
aritflajossaliatimmaili.
1. John D. Snow, 105 Lowell Avenue, addressed Council members
regarding the attitude of City Hall toward the Veterans
in Palo Alto. Specifically, Mr. Snow requested that something
be done about the leaks in the roof of their building.
Vice Mayor Henderson ruled that action could be taken on this matter
under Oral Communications.
MOTION: Councilman Berwald moved, seconded by Beahrs, that it is
the sense of the Council that the Veterans should have a roof over
their heads that does not leak and that the CouiIcil ask the City
Manager to resolve the problem, and if he needs counsel to come
back to Council at the next meeting.
The motion passed on a unanimous vote. (Comstock, Norton, and Sher
absent.)
MOTION: Councilman Berwald moved, seconded by Pearson, that staff
prepare a suitable proclamation or resolution honoring Veterans
on Veterans Day, November 11.
The motion passed or a unanimous vote. (Comstock, Norton, and Sher
absent.)
Ad i_ourument
The meeting adjourned at 12:25 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., Monday, November
11th, with Item #2 to appear first on the agenda.
ATThS T : APPROVE:
"vme)litA ti"
Mayor
5 9 1
11/4/74