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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01241966104 1/24/66 City Hall Palo Alto, California January 24, 1966 The Council of the City of Palo Alto met on this date in an ad- journed meeting from January 10, 1966. Mayor Arnold convened the meeting at 7:32 p.m. Present: Arnold, Beahrs, Comstock, Cooley, Debs, Dias, Flint, Pearson, Rohrs, Sher, Worthington. Absent: Rua; Woodward 8. Zone Change - 2211 Park Boulevard (65-ZC-19) The Planning Commission unanimously recommended adoption of an amendment to Section 3.02 of Ordinance No. 1324, the Zoning Ordinance, changing the zoning of certain publicly owned proper- ties to P -F and property known as 2211 Park Boulevard from P -F to M -1:S. After an explanation by the Planning Officer, Councilman Com- stock introduced and moved for first reading an ordinance entitled "Ordinance of the Council of the City of Palo Alto Amending Sec- tion 3.02 of Ordinance No. 1324, the Zoning Ordinance, Changing the Zoning of Certain Publicly Owned Property to P -F and Property Know n as 2211 Park Boulevard from P -F to M -1:S." The mo- tion was duly seconded and carried unanimously on a voice vote. 9. Lot Division - 2035-55 Bowdoin Street 65 -LIB -27) The Planning Commission unanimously recommended approval of the application of Y. L. and Isabel Rose for a subdivision of less than five lots (65-LD-27), subject to increasing the driveway to ten (10) feet and the recommendations o►f the City Engineer as follows: "Each parcel must have a separate water, gas, sewer and electric service. Any new utility facilities shall be installed underground. Approval should be subject to granting an ease- ment as shown on map (5' for Public Utilities) and furnishing evidence of payment of all payable City and County taxes. " (Engineering Bulletin 65-49) Planning Officer Fourcroy called attention to the exhibit displayed on the Council chamber wall and described the proposed lot di- vision. On motion of Debs, seconded by Rohrs and carried unanimously, the Council approved the application of Y. L. and Isabel Rose. 105 1/24/66 10.. Pra osed Amendment to Zonin Ordinance sta. .fishing Requirements for Parking Areas Councilman Comstock moved, seconded by Debs, the adoption of Ordinance No. 2274 entitled "Ordinance of the Council of the City of Palo Alto Amending Ordinance No. 1324, the Zoning Ordinance, by Adding Section 2'. i 1 Establishing Requirements for the Improve- ment and Maintenance of Parking Lots. " "in resvonse to question, the Planning Officer stated that no attempt had been made to solicit the reaction of property owners who might be affected by the ordinance. (Councilman Cooley left the roo:n during the discussion and did not return ...+t:l later in the meeting.) The ordinance was passed unanimously on a voice vote. 1 1 . Chamber of Commerce The Council received a report dated January 5, 196h on the feasi- bility of the City assuming the responsibility for the brochure printing and distribution z ctivitie s conducted by the Chamber of Commerce. On motioaz of Comstock. seconded by Debs, and carried on a ma- jority voice vote, the Council referred the report to the Committee on Planning and Procedures. 12. Civic Center The Council had received a mernorandcrn dated January 6, 1966 from the Assistant City Manager pertaining to a revised contract between the City of Palo Alto and Edward D. Stone for civic center architectural services. Assistant to the City Manager Riley re- ferred to the memorandum and requested clarification as to whether a branch library facility was to be included in the downtown civic center plan. Councilman Rohrs moved, seconded by Flint, that the contract as presented be approved. Councilman Worthington moved an amendment, seconded by Pear- son, that the proposed contract be amended as follows: that in Section 3. A(1), on page 2, the number 32,500 gross square feet be changed to read "31,200 gross square feet"; that on 1.age 3, in Section 3. A(3), a sentence be added: "The plans for the downtown site are to include 2, 300 net square feet of storage space equiva- lent to the basement area at the Newell-Embarcadero site. " After discussion, the amendment was declared carried on a majority voice vote. 106 1/24/66 Councilman Dias moved, seconded by Beahrs, that the Council direct that the contract include provision for library facilities in the proposed downtown it After d r.c.us-=-- _ _. .�. ��� o..,a� , ulC amendment was declared lost on a majority voice vote. The contract as amended was declared approved by the Council on a majority voice vote. 13. Claim for Dama es - Christina Ann Toner The City Attorney reported on the claim filed by Christina Ann Toner of 422 Willow Road, Menlo Park in the amount of $84. 85 for personal injuries sustained in a fall at Mitchell Park on September 19, 1965 while whil 965 e she was attending a church picnic. From his inves- tigation,with the assistance of the Recreation Department, he con- cluded neither the City nor its employees were negligent in this matter and recommended that Council so find and reject the claim in its entirety. On motion of Debs, seconded by Dias and ca-ried unanimously, the Council rejected the claim of Christina Ann Toner in its entirety. 14. Claim for Damages - Richard A. Schweinsberger The City Attorney reported on a claim for damages filed by Richard A. Schweinsberger of 2051 Amherst Street in the amount of $33. 61 for damage to his bicycle. Upon investigation, the City Attorney concluded there was no liability on the part of the City and recom- mended that the claim be denied in its entirety and the claimant advised to fiie-his claim with the State Department of Public Works. Councilman Comstock moved to accept the recommendation of the City Attorney and deny the claim of Richard A. Schweinsberger in its entirety. The motion was seconded by Dias and carried unani- mously on a voice vote. 15. Claim for Damages -Mary O. Wilson The City Attorney reported on the claim filed by Mary O. Wilson of 7? Morton Way, in the sum of $104. 75 for fees in connection with a plugged sewer line from August 31 through October 8, 1965 at 71 Morton Way, due to tree roots. After investigation, :.th the assistance of the City's Water -Gas -Sewer Department, he con- cluded there had been no negligence on the part of the City and recommended that the Council so find and reject the claim in its entirety. On motion of Beahrs. seconded by Dias, and carried unanimously on a voice vote, the Council denied the claim of Mary O. Wilson. in ito entirety. 107 1/24/66 16. Claim for Damages - Raymond C. Kuentzel The City Attorney . -,ported on a claim filed by Raymond C. Kuent- --zel_nf_2075 Limewizni-Drive; San -Jose in the sum of $21.54 for damages to his automobile when it collided while backing up with a City vehicle also backing up in the City parking lot at Emerson and Lytton Streets on April 7, 19f:5. After investigation he con- cluded the claim was rot a proper charge against the City and recommended that the Council so find and reject the claim in its entirety. On motion of Rohrs, seconded by Debs, and carried unanimously on a voice vote, the Councii denied the claim of Raymond C. Kuent- zel in its entirety. 17. Pa�.o hlto-Stanford Hospital Center Councilman Cooley was not present at this time but had requested that his motion be presented as follows: "I move i zat th€ Mayor be instructed to write the President of Stanford University remind- ing hirn that the Council has been waiting for eight months to hear the University's wishes in regard to the hospital and requesting action." The motion was seconded by Dias and was declared carried on a majority voice vote. 2.4. Mayor Arnold moved, seconded by Rohrs, that the Mayor be author- ized to appoint a Council committee charged with defining and re- fining Palo Alto's responsibilities for the medical care of the corn- munity. This includes, but is not limited to, the following: 1. Continuing the partnership with Stanford in a joint operation as at present. 2. Divorce from Stanford with separate opera- tions at the existing medical center (including Hoover Pavilion). 3. Divorce from Stanford and sale or lease of medical center facilities to Stanford and with Palo Alto using the proceeds to provide what- ever facilities are necessary as additions to Hoover Pavilion. This would contemplate the City as operator in one form or another. 4. Divorce from Stanford with sale or lease of medical center facilities to Stanford and with Palo Alto using the proceeds as part of the considezation of annexation to the El Camino Hospital District. During the discussion, Mr. Robert H. Klein, President of the Palo Alto -Stanford Hospital Center Board of Directors, stated it would be a great advantage to the Board to have the Council (1) de- fine its goals and -objectives and (2) point out how the goals could be achieved. 108 1/24/66 Councilman Pearson moved, seconded by Flint, that the matter of writing a fetter to the President of Stanford, and the letter received from Mr. Klein dated December 23, 1965 be referred to the Com- mittee on Finance. After discussion, the motion lost on the fc,ilow- ing roll call vote: Aye5: Comstock, Debs, Flint, Pear son,Worthington. Noes: Arnold, Beahrs, Dias, Rohrs, Sher. The Mayor' a motion failed on the following roll call vote: Ayes: Arnold, Beahrs, Dias, Rohrs. Noes: Comstock___ Debs, Fih t n.,_ _ _ _ Sher, Worthington. _ ».3t, � �a� sin, miner, 1+Yortiungton. Vice Mayor Debs moved and it was duly seconded that the letter from Mr. Klein dated December 23, 1965 be referred to the Fi- nance Committee to be taken up at the time that the Board of Trus- tees replies to the letter which the Mayor is authorized to send under Item 17 of the Agenda. The motion was declared carried on a majority voice vote. 18. Charter Amendments Councilman Worthington moved, seconded by Flint, that the Coun- cil place on the ballot of the next election, either special or regu- lar, a proposal for an amendment to the Charter, the effect of said amendment would be (1) that the hiring and dismissal of all Council - appointed officer.°s require a vote of the majority of the Council; (2) that said officers serve under contracts, the terms of which would be 1, 2, 3 or 4 years at the discretion of the majority of the Council. After discussion, Councilman Comstock requested that the motion b'e ' divide d- 'into. two parts, to which Councilman Worthington agreed and he restated the first motion as follows: that the Coun- cil place on the ballot of the . next election an amendment the effect cf which would be that the hiring and dismissal of all Council - appointed officers require a vote of the majority of the Council. The motion carried on the following roll call vote: Ayes: Arnold, Comstock, Debs, Flint, Pearson, Sher, Worthington. Noes: Beahrs, Dias, Rohrs. Councilman Worthington moved, seconded by Debs, that the Coun- cil place on the ballot of the next election an amendment to the Charter the effect of which would be that all Council -appointed officers would serve under contract, the terms of winch would be 1, 2, 3 or 4 years at the discretion of the majority of the Council. i 109 1/24/66 Councilman Rohrs moved an amendment, seconded by Pearson, that the minimum contract would be two years with renewals at four years. The amendment carried on the following roll call vote: Ayes: Comstock, Debs, Pearson, Rohrs, Sher, Worthington. Noes: Arnold, Beahrs, Dias, Flint. The motion as amended then carried on the following roll call vote: Ayes: Comstock, Debs, Flint, Pearson, Rohrs, Sher, Worthington. Noes: Arnold, Beahrs, Dias. i 20. Sanitary Sewers Vice Mayor Debs moved that the staff be instructed to provide an interim report on the three places in the City where the sanitary sewers are surcharged in conditions of heavy run-off, on the cur- rent Stanford University storm wat& r contribution to the sanitary sewer, and that the report be referred to the Finance Committee to be considered with the sewer/water rate study. The motion was seconded by Flint and was declared carried on a majority voice vote. 21. City Clerk Vice Mayor Debs moved, seconded by Flint, that the Council in- struct the Clerk to summarize the records and duties transferred from the jurisdiction of the Clerk since January 1962 to date, and that the report be referred to the Planning and Procedures Com- mittee. Altar discussion, the motion carried on the following roll call vote: Ayes: Comstock, Debs, Flint, Pearson, Sher, Worthington. Noes: Arnold, Beahrs, Dias, Rohrs. Abstain: 'Cooley (who returned to the meeting just before the roll call.) School Auditorium The Council received a letter dated December 20, 1965 from Mrs. Queene Anurian, Chairman of the Palo Alto Citizens for a Cultural Center, suggesting th:..t the City Council join the Palo Alto Unified School District in conatru.ctin o a 2500 -seat auditorium when Palo Alto High School is rebuilt, 110 1/24/66 Councilman Dias mentioned that her report as a member of the School Board -City Council Liaison Committee covered discussions of this possibility and th ' Board members felt that dual involvement should be re-evaluated and the level of responsibility reviewed. Councilman Pearso:i moved, seconded by Debs, that the request from the Palo Alto Citizens for a Cultural Center to finance the auditorium be referred to the Public Works Committee. The mo- tica was declared carried on a majority voice vote. Local Agency Formation Commission The Council received the Annual Report of the Local Agency For- mation Commission witha covering letter which requested the Council "to reach the earliest possible agreement with Los Altos Hills and Mountain View on those unincorporated areas that are contiguous to both cities." Councilman Comstock moved, seconded by Rohrs and carried unardienously, that the Council rei r the report and letter to the Planning and Procedures Committee. Oral Communications Mr. E. B. Linsley, 445 Sherman Avenv.e, stated that since his name had appeared in the newspaper as the organizer of a new political group, he thought the Council might like to meet him. The Council adjourned to an executive session at 9:35 p. m. APPROVED: Mayor Edward S. Arnold ATTEST: City Clerk