HomeMy WebLinkAbout11121940T,he Council. 'of the. City of Palo. Alto met- in regular
Session on this date at f.":30 P.M., . with..Mayor Blots presiding.
Roll ca11' as. follows:
Present Bentrott, Blois, Cashel, Cypier., Goddard, Hoy,
Mrs : Mernea , : F1chards, : Southvood, ..'ho ts, Thomas.
Absent: , ;,Costello, Mitchell, Reed -and Wood.
The- zminutesof the meetings of October' and 28 19 40,
were :approved.
Delinquent. Taaes. on .Mvrick Prcpert
A . letter was receive: from Frank:` Lee Cis .st concerning
delinquent .taxes on 'Lots 56, 58 and 60, Paul .Subdivision;
bolo : to. the.`. estate,: of '{ llia;� Myrick,: and offering $-1100.00
as a comproM1se of the' amount due the City This ' as referred.
tci Committee No. 5 and the City Attorney.
; Claiz of Norman C. . Organ, Jr
A communication was received from Jensen & : Eo� s_tein,
attorne-s, filinga . claim on behalf of Nornan: C. Ortnan, -Jr.,
for changes for personal injuries in the count of $26,138.84.
T2 i s c ::aim was referred to Committee :.'o, 5 . and. the City Attorney.
gIaIum .rated - Street, Signs
A cc iunicat!or: ,from Miss M. PaMeli.a Clough., suggesting
the installation ofilluminated street. 'signs, was .;referred to
.Comosittee No. and,:t ;e 'hoard of Safety.
MeetLag` of uati oval: ins ti tuts of Manicipai Law Officers
A letterwas received. from Pay, L. C:hesebro, City
At<torney. of ,Los. Angeles and Regional Vice -President of the
National Institute of Municipal. Law Officers., rucom zendin.g
that the, City;Attorney be sent to the meeting of this organization
.to be:'held in. Washington,D. C., from December, 5 to 7, 1.940.
On, motion of Richards and Mrs. Merrier, ier, the Council
authorized the City Attorney to attend this meeting, this action
being taken. on'roll call vote, all present voting Aye except
Cyphex., who votedNo.
It :was .pointed. out that there is , $75.00 in the City
Attorney's budget for traveling expenses which can be used
to help. pay the :expenses of this trip. On motion of Thoits and
Richards, Land- by unanimous vote on roll cal: , an additional
appropriation not to exceed $175.00 was made from the Contingent
Fund for this purpose.
(Councilman Costello carte at this time, 7:15 P.M.,
and was present for the rest of the meeting.
Councilman Wood care at this .time and was present
during part of the meeting. )
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Street. Plan for South Oregon Tract
A 'petition was received,;;" with .1$' 'signatures, from
property owners on Colorado Avenue in the South Oregon Tract,
requesting the. Counci 'to `'reconsider the assessments on Colorado
Avenue in, connection ,w,itti .the:, procedure for widening., opening and
closing of streets :.ia, this ..tract;:
Mr. Da1 -somas, : Mr..Marvin Vandervoort and Mrs.. W. H.
Beaudoin, interected. property ‘ owners, addressed the Council,
stating : that they felt there were irregu1ari ties in some of the
assessments 'arid that they had been 'unable to get a -satisfactory
explanation.
It was pointed: out by the: City Attorney that the
assessments :had been approved by the; Council after .:a public
hearing had. been held, : and that all legal requirements, in regard
to posting and publishing •notices had been complied with:
A suggestion: was made that representatives: of the
Engineering; Department meet with a :group of the property:. owners
and the commissioners :for the purpose of giving the property
owners a proper explanation as to the assessments and damages
in ,connection with this procedure. Arthur James of the
Engineering Department was requested to follow this; suggestion
and make an effortto, clarify the matter to the satisfaction of
the property.' owners.
Street Improvement Program; for 1940
A report was received from the Board of Works recommends.
that the plans and specifications for the street impro 'erment
Grogram for 1940 be approved and that the resolution of intention
for this work be. ;adopt.d...
and; specifications;:. ,be; deferred: pending ; consider€ tion of a change
in: the improvement' procedure;: ordinance. The Committee. recommended
that the City. Attorney" ;be :instructed.- to . formulate such: -revisions
in the ordinance e::s: will:conform conform to the suggestions, made in letter
of November 6th from Ernest; Wilson, and that the City ,Attorney be
authorized to bring in Kirkbri.de & Wilson as consultants on this
procedure
0 t recommendations of
n zno ;�.o . of �� t ott a n n r nd Ho the
�D
Committee No;':1 ,ere accepted
Co lttee Now 1, recommended_ that action on 'the plans
Opening Also; : i n: Block":29.
A! report vas received from, the Board ofWorks' trans
nt t'ting to., the Council, without recommendation, Bulletin 60
containing information in regard to various plans, with estimates
of cost, for. the opening: of an alley in Block 29.
In connection.. With this tatter, :the Buuildi Inspector
was instructed by the: Council.: on 0ctober 28th to withhold. the
building : perinit, .requested• -,by: the owner of property nn ` Waverley
Street in Block 2, pending further iustructons ` from the Council.
The petition ".from mer bants: 021 Univers.itT' Avenue for the opening
of,an alley i-n this : biook: had: previously . been referred to the
Board .of Works ;.:Flanning �Coi :s i:on .and: Committee No.
A report vas received from the,Planning. ning. Commission,.
which, mitt late this afternoon; adv'Lsing that it has considered
the petition and that it seems `impos.a:b1e to acquire,.the.;
additional ten -foot :width to , add: to the :existing ten -foot
Passageway: withoutyPreventig contemplated :improvements. The
Commission ,rec exded that an alley 2d feet wide be established
from Waverley Street at the rear of the stores on University
Avenue .to, the Pales: Alto Furniture Company 4s building, thence
18 feet wide' at r ght angles to the Episcopal Church property,
including., a turn -around : extending from the limits of the alley
to A', line-: parallel with the, rear of the Varsity' Theatre.
.e Commission pointed out that this would also serve the stores
between -'the Varsity Theatre and the Palo Alto Furniture Company,
and:: advised:.: -that the matter of an alley extending to Cowper Street
Hamilton: -Avenue ;would be considered along with a proposed parking
area at< some ;future date.
Thee Oi.ty Attorney informed the Council that the
mandamus proceedings instituted in court have :been continued
until next Monday,,November 18th, and that the -Permit can not
be withheld longer unl:es.s the Council starts proceedings
immediately' to open the alley.
M Hayd Leve, attorney for the Palo Alto . Furnitur e
'Company, reported::that itis not possible to purchase ten feet
from. the: Episcopal Church so that an exchange of ::land co old , be
made -writh. the : owner; of. the proposed building.
ti,,
ir. Frank Crist, attorney for the George H. Louis
Realty ;Company., owner of the property upon which the proposed
.building is :to be located, addressed the Council.- He stated.
that ..whi e . the alley is not needed to serve"` this particular
property'.-;' hi;s : client iswilling to have ten feet taken from the
-southeasterly side of the property,, if teen- feet is also taken
from the churchproperty, so that the alley could run straight
through the block-.
After considerable discussion upon the plan
recoz'n tended by the Planning Commission, the "probable cost of
an .alley" opening procedure and other points involved in this
problem, it . was moved by Thoits, seconded by Richards and
carried that the matter be referred to Committee No. I and the
Board of Works for further cons::4derat 'on and report at an
adjourned meeting' to' be held on Friday, November 15th, at 7:30
P.+I in' the amity." Hall,
Councilman Wood left at this time, 9:00 P.M., and
was absent during the rest of the meeting. )
Bids on' City Proper
A ..report was received from the Board of Works trans-
mitting Bulletin No. 54 with information on the cost of repair'.:
Bryant Street in order to make the property, which was formerly
part of Nevada Avenue, suitable for a building lot.
Committee No. 1 recommended that the Council make a
public call, for bids for the two lots made by the closing of
Nevada Avenue, one lot facing Bryant Street and one facing
Ramona Street, the Council to reservee the right to reject any
all bids.
On motion of Cypher and Richards, the ' recommendation of
Committee No. I was adopted, and the City Clerk was instructed
to publish _a :notice,. by two insertions in the Palo Alto Tines
in the month: of January, 1941, that bids on these lots will he
received by the Council atits regular meeting in February.
Widening. Alma Street
A report was received from the Board of Works trans-
mitting -,Bulletin No. 51 relating to the widening of Alma Street
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between University; Avenue and Palo Alto Avenue, advising that
the., present pl&n calls- far. the widening of Alma. Street from
Everett -Avenue to P'orest.,Avenue,, and that as soon as gas tax
funds are available it is planned to widen Alma Street from
Everett: Avenue, to. Palo Alto; Avenue.
Committee' NO. " .1 reported that it has considered the
petition from property owners requesting the widening of Alma
Street from,Everett: Avenue to Palo Alto Avenue, and that` t has
been Informed by the Board, :of: Works that it is planned to widen
this portion of::Alma Street as soon as gas tax funds are
available, which v 13. be in the fiscal year 1942-43.
The Planning :Commission, reported that it is in favor
of the wid.enng of .Alma Street between Everett and Palo Alto
Avenues, and recommended that: tire` work be performed when gas tax
funds are available..'
. The' City -Clerk; was instr►uctee-to notify the petitioners
to this effect;
Pay-,.Sah.edules., Fire and, `Police Departments
A` report, ewas r,Pce.ved From. the Board of Safety -re-
.
submittingthe' schedule of :pay for the Fire Department and a
revised schedule of pay for the : Police Department, and requesting
that -an appropriation of $3:, 26.0.00 be made to cover these
salary incr.ease:s.for the period January 1, 1941 to June 30, 1941.
This was referred to -Committees No. 2 and No. 4.
A report was -:,received. from the Planning Commission
recommer ding - that the, .city flagpole be re -set in front ' of the
Veterans' ,;Building,:. replacing -the one that is now there. The
Commission concurs =in : the 'desire of the Native Sons that the
flagpole be:re-set ;in` a suitable and prominent location and feels
that the recommended:site in front of the Treterans', Building
is the nost.;advantageous for the citizens as well as the veterans.
It is.the Comrsl:s;sjons und-er'stan:djng that the custodian of, the
Veterans.' Bui..1d.1ng will be responsible for the care of the .flag..
Tn= this'. connection a letter was received from the
united. Veterans' Council suggesting that the flagpole now In
front of the Veterans' Building.be placed in the City Hall' park.
The Deputy City 'Engineer informed the Council that
it would. cost about.:$500'.0a to r:e-_set the large flagpole ;.n front
of the Veterans' Bui dI gand that there were no funds available
for this .purpose: The:..zm,atter.was..then :referred to ,Committee
No:. 4.
Request:;: for ::N'on-eonformiz,rTr ermi t
A repor : was received .from , the 'Planning Comrnissj.on .
recommending" that: t)ie requeest` of the> Church of .Jesus' Christ -Of
Latter- Da:y ,Saints -; for: a,. zon :conforming permit be denied.:
The Commission st:ated:• that if,; thi s, req zest were granted, `;it would
violate the ordinance regulating ,the area- of lot .coverage and
would also be in violation of the setback regulations as'
contained in Section 1011-E of' the Zoning Ordinance; and thatin
order to properly: accede; to- the re.quest 'it would be necess ary to
change the ord1nances,: regulating -,'area coverage and setback
requirements'.
The' Building Inspector expla in:ed the plan for a proposed
addition to the :church at 771 Addison Avenue. The City
Attorney advised -that the _non-conforr ing:ordinance did not apply
in this case, and that the request could not be granted without
an amendment to the Zoning ordinance.
On motion of Mrs. Merner and: Bentrott ,. the report of C;
;.;.Commission was adopted.
Parking Lot a t Swimming Poo?
A ;repot : was .received from Committee tttee No. - 1 .recommending
'that,::;an, ; appropriation note'.to exceed $800 0o, `be be:made to provide
for;, the; s .rfaoing :o f . the': parking lot at the swimming pool.
This matter was referred to Committee No. 4.
Looati ors for Red Cross
:A:;:report was received from Committee. No. 1 recommending
the :approval : of a, . site adjacent to the Animal., Shelter for a new
Red. Crow building,, the details as to the exacts extent of the
property to be leased to the Red Cross to be decided when
definite :plans are available. In this connection. the committee
~, reported' that -a:` letter has ,been received from Stanford University
giving its coxisoa.it': to the subleasing of a site to the Red Cross,
and a letter has been received from the Coast Printing
Corporation: stating that -it will be agreeable to them, when thew
lease' is transferred, to relinquish the area immediately adjacent
to the Animal Shelter.
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Onmotion of Mrs. Merner and Bentrott, , the report of readiA
Committee No:.1 was adopted. was ad,
Ass ignanent of. Lease -with Coast Printin: Corporation
A report, was received from Committee No. 1, recommending,
inn : consideration of the Coast Printing Corporation releasing the respec'
area, or the:: new Red Cross building, that the City consent to of Ben`
theas-signment of the lease from the Coast Printing Corporation
to 'Mtr' :-.and Ara.. Jean Blum, with the understanding -that the Coast
Printing: Corporation shall not be released from its obligation and Th:
-to pay -.:rent:- under, the lease, this action to be subject to the second
approval, of the-- Board of Works and City Attorney. adopte(
:.On motion of Thoits and Hoy, Resolution No. 1299 Re
authorizing` the: assignment of this lease ih accordance with
the recommendation of Committee No. 1 was adopted by unanimous
vote of all` :councilmen present (Councilman Thomas was absent Departs
from the room ;during this roll call.) recei c
Trucks Ord1nanee Bo
,An,ordinance repealing Ordinance No. 827 (the emergency
ordinance adopted :July 8, 1940, permitting trucking on
Embarcadero ;Road for the purpose of hauling material from the
underpass):was presented, and a motion was made by Mrs. Merner,
seconded by Southwood, that this be adopted as an emergency
ordinance.
.The.Deputy .City- Engineer advised that there is still
some ,trucking to :be donefrom the parking areas on Alma Street,
-And that . trucks hauling paving materials for work -on : Alma Street
and :the Circle may. wish to use Embarcadero:Road:: It was
suggested that for this reason the ordinance :be not repealed
until all the hauling is completed.
-The motion to adopt the ordinance repealing Ordinance
No:` 827 was withdrawn., and the ordinance was given first
reading, with the understanding that it. will be presented for
second ; readingwhen the hauling is completed.
on Unit
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Chairman :of Pianni Corum ss1..an
Ordinance No. 839, amending Section 638 of Codified
Ordinance No. :4;-- to provide for the, election of a chairman of
the Planning, ,Commission, was -.given second reading, and on
motion of Goddard and Thoits, was adopted by ,.unanimous vote on
roll call.
Allen- in .Block -12:
Ordinance :No. 840 relating to the alley in the
northeast one-half. of Block 12, was given second reading
Upon advice:": of the City Attorney, :it: was directed that a paragraph
be added to this ordinance : stating that all ordinances in conflict
with the provisions of this ordinance are hereby repealed.
On motion of, Mrs. Merner and Southwood, this ordinance
was adopted by u~ :animcus vote on roll 6.11.
Chan ;e of Zone, ,Block 31
O,rdlnanc No 841, rezoning Lots 14 to 30 inclusive
and Lots 48 to 64. inclusive, Block 31, Palo Alto, from Second
Residential Zone to Third. Residential Zone, was given. second
reading. On motion. of Mrs. Kerner . and Southwood, this . ordinance
was adopted by. unanimous vote on roll call.
Fire Zones
Ordinance No. 842, amending the Building Code with
respect to fire zones, erasgiven-second reading, and on motion
of Bentrott and Hoy, :.was adopted by unanimous vote on roll call.
Ordinance No.. 843 establishing Fire Zones One, Two
and Three within the limits of the City of Palo Alto, was given,.
second reading_and on_: mot ion of Thomas and Bentrott, was
adopted by unanimous voteon roll. call.
Reports of :Officials
The reports of the_, Department of Public Wor °s, .. the
Department of_ Public Safety, the Auditor and Treasurer, were
received andplaced on file.
Extension.. of Busin..ess
ne,. on University Avenue,
The matter of the' extension of the business district
or: University Avenue was considered. Reference was made to
the public baring held by the Council on October 28th upon
two questions (1) the petition to rezone the property from
Cowper Street to Middlefield Road, from e. point midway between
University Avenue and Lytton Avenue to a point midway between
University Avenue and Hamilton Avenue, being portions of
.Blocks 37, 38, 4.2 and 43, Palo Alto, from First, Second and
"'bird Residential Zones (Zones A, B and. C) to Comore, cial Zone
(Zone D);. and (2) the recommendation of the City Planning
Commission that this :property be rezoned to Business. District,
Zone D-1.
Several: , Ommunications on this matter, received since
the p:abli.c,; hear tag waa 'held,' were read to the Counci? . -
There was a 1et:ter from- ,Mrs Norab A. Burnett, 615 Middlefield
Road, ob; ectingHtoH.the exten,s:i.on of the business district to
:�Iiadlefi old Road. A , letter° from Mrs. Stanley Forbes,
1151 University, .A.venue, contained the suggestion thaw - the City
buy sufficient land,: to make a; small park to serve as a buffer-
betwmen the business. Zone and the residential district on:
University' Avenue. Mrs. Nettie S. Faulkner, 439 Tasso Street;
protested.' .against the rezoning of University Avenue from Cower
Street to-` Middlefield Road :as; Commercial Zone, and expressed
her hope taatif this district is rezoned it be zoned as
• sines.s. District, :Zone D-1, in order to; exclude service stations,
garages and. 'similar businesses:. There- was' also a letter froTM
Johz Madsen and Jessie B. Madsen, 765 Harniiton Avenue,
protesting :against sthe 'rezoning of Univers:it, Avenue between
Cowper' and Middlefield forecoz ercial purpose,.
Reference was made to the Planting. Commission's
recommendation which is as follows: That the portions of
Blocks • 37, .` 38," 42 , a:nd 43 under consideration be rezoned to
Business :District, Zone D l; that this property be included in_
Fire. Zone No.' 1:; that this part of University Avenue be' widened
"to 'at least 85 feet` in width, and that alleys of 'sufficient
-width-parallel to university Avenue be provided through each
block.
Committee 'No.' 1 'also recomnended that this property
be rezoned ' to Business District, ZoneD-1,;; that it be included
in- Fire Zone No'. 1; that this part of University Avenue be
vi:de'hed to 85' feet,, and that if possible alleys of sufficient
width- parallel to University Avenue be provided' through each
lock.: The'committee called attention to'the•extremely high
cost of opening alleys through these blocks; and reported that
it felt; it may not, be practical to finance' the alley development.
On notion of Cypher, a proposed ordinance rezoning
the property under consideration, being portions of Blocks 37,
389.7 42» -and' 43, to Business District, Zone Dl, was given first
reading:
On- motion of Cypher, a proposed ordinance providing
that his property be yncluded in Fire Zone.'No. 1 was also
gi"ve'n .=first ` reading.
The matter of providing alleys in these blocks and
the widening of University Avenue was discussed:. It was
p:ointed.eut that the Planning Commission is now making a
study of ,the question of alleys in the "business. district, and
that the. -future. widening of University Avenue is.:'protected by City of
se-tback. lines already established. street,
the Rev
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base, t,
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Santa C
He advi
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to use
cancel]
was di.:
Scouts
Mc
-The opinion was expressed by Councilman Thomas that
it was not good city planning to permit business uses on twc
corners of "University Avenue and "Middlefield Road;. ; as, provided
in the proposed ordinance, while the other two corners on the
northeasterly side ` of Middlefield Road remain in the first
resicenti.al" zone.
A motion' was made by Th:oits, seconded by Thomas,
that the Planning' e mzission be recuested to make a study of.
the treatment of the property between the commercial zone and
the firsts residential zone on University ` Avenue:. with a view to
providing a ;:buffer After discussion, the ti,,cite "on this motion
was -as follows
Ayers : Blois, Hoy, Richards, Thoits, Thornas.
Roes: Bentrott, Cashel, Costello, Cypher, Goddard,
Berner, Southwood.
The motion was declared lost.
J he ' communication from Mrs. ,ti t an ley 'For°beis suggest ins
that the::tiity buy ' sufiici.env land , to make a small park to serve
as a buffer between the business zone and -the residential
zone ,on 'University Avenue was referred by -the Mayor to the
Planning 'Commission.
vote on
warrant
Friday,
ATTEST:
er:
t i on.i.
fry
ned
Sea Scout Base:
Reference was -.made ,by, the. City Attorney to the. lease
with the Stanford Area-. Council. of 'Boy' Scouts x or a sea scout
base, which was approved'at the last Council meeting, and to
the fact that . th3 s ;lease covers . land formerly leased to the
Santa Clara ` County, Council.. of 'Boy Scouts on. March 12, 1:934.
He advised that in order to " correct the records the. Santa
Clara County Council: should be notified that the grant of
to :use. certain Baysb"ore lands, dated ''March 12, 1934, is
cancelled. On motion ; of 'Goddard and Richards, the .CIty Clerk.
was directed to notify the Santa Clara County Council.of Boy'.
Scouts to this effect.
Monthii 'Bill.s
On motion :of: Thoit:s and Godd.rd, and by a itmox:s .
vote on roll call, the following bills were: approved , and
�., warrants s authorized: in payment of the same:
` + Bancr o i ft -i� t�i. neg ..Company:. $ 2.42
Bank , f' America. 25.00
Mayor: 3-.::B.' Blois . 25.00
-t. � �. City 'of, . Palo: w �:Alto , . 05
r• ent.', Mrs. Capitols Dresden 25..02
W. E. Neilson 8e .Son 8.O.C)
Palo Alto .Times 11.00
37, Palo, Alto Times 13.00
st ' Patrick & ,.Mo.ise Klinkner Co. 3.19
Travelers:1nsurance: Co. 213.24
Travelers Insurance Co 79.71
Palo_ }.P lto Nati anal Bank 28.32
Palo Alto: National. Bank 10,003.33 .
American Inst tote* of: Planners 2.00
City .;.of Palo Alto.. 169.17
Cornish :Carey 250..0)
Palo -Alto .:lospital. 1,'782.00'
It was directed that the warrant made out to the
City of Palo Alto in the amount of $? ::
69.17, which covers
street assesszients in, the South Oregon Tract, be charged-., to
the Revolving -Fund,
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at
0
ded.
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On motion the Council adjourned, to :meet at 7:30 P.M.,
M rf day, Novembor 15,: 1940; in the city. hall.
ATTEST:
APPROVED:
Mayor
er
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