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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10101938n a On motion of Cypher and Bonham, the resignation was accepted and it was directed- that a letter of thanks and appreciation for his services`:be sent to' Dr. Thomas. ra, On motion of., Bonham and Cashel, the election of a member of tre Board: of Safety to fill the unexpired term of Dr. Thomas was postponed until the next meeting. Leto Counciiaarx-Blois . A request was received from Councilman J. B. Blois for leave of absence for three' -weeks withimrmiSsion to leave state. On motionof - Ri hands and Bonham this request was granted. City tall,; Palo Alto, California, October 10, 1938. Roll call as follows: Present: Bonham, Cashel, Collins, Costello, Cypher,Coddard„ Mrs. Merrier, Mitchell, ,Mosher, Richards, Saisman, yhoits. The Council of the City of Palo Alto znet in regular session on this date at 7:30 P.2.1 with Mayor Salsman presiding. Absent: Blois, Thomas approved. The minutes of the meeting ` of September 28, 19.x, were • Resina:;,i.on: ofd -_Dr. 'fnoma 5 A communication -was 'receiveC? from Dr. Jerome B. Thomas tendering his `resignation as a'r ember of the Board of Public Safety, to take effect before the end of the present month. bequest for .Befund on Licenses A letter from Catherine Gere, former owner of the Pantry Shelf Delicatessen, requesting a refund of $4.75 on, f'o.od license and $3.20 on tobacco license, was referred to Corwnittee No. 5. San Francisco'Peninsula, Inc. , A communication was received from the Peninsula Dever,oprent Committee of the Chamber; of Commerce concerning . the plan of activities of San ;Fr,ancisco Peninsula' Inc.. and requesting the` Council to `epp'ropriate the sumof 41500.0: for the City's participation in the publicity program planned by this organization. Mr. W. .M. Kelley, representing the Chamber of Cormierce,, aadressed the Council briefly in r. egard to the program of this; organization and requested permission to .s zbmit details of the plan to Committee, No. 4 when the .matter istl considered by the committee. - - Tnis matter was referred to Committee iio. 4, and it as directed that .der`. Kelley and Mr. Donovan of the Chamber of Commerce ?be invited to appear before Committee ITo. 4 when the ::aes tion is considered.' Wounci.lman Wood c<~ -.le at this time, 7:40 P.2.0 and was present during part of the meeting.) Sign on :: Bs.yshore. Highway A CommOnication was received from the Chamber of L'omMeree concerning the need for a new illuminated directional sign at the intersection -of University Avenue and the Bayshore Highway, .submitting data on the type of sign, desired and cost estimates,;:` with, information in regard to permit for the location of the ,sign, an the state highway right-of-way, and with comments on the, opinions of other organizations relative to the proposal. The total estimated cost of the proposed sign is $80Z.00.; A letter was also received from A. Groves, Chairman of the East Palo Alto Chamber of Commerce, urging the City to install and mainxain a large illuminated sign at the University Avenue intersection, of the Baysnore Highway. Reference was made to the report submitted by Committee No. 1 to the Council on September 12, 1938, the committee reporting that the need for a new Palo Alto direction- al sign 'at the intersection of university Avenue aria the Eayshore Highway is recognized, and recommending that .a contri- bution. toward the sign be made on the basis of some contribution by the groups which are advocating the sign. Action was postponed by the Council at that time upon the request of the Chamber of Commerce,; pending receipt of further information which they are ` submitting v:ith their communication received on this gate.,, Reference was also made to the communication receive= by the Council on September 28, 1938, from 2r. K. B l cL'ougail, written <on :. behalf of a number of residents on University Avenue,abjecting to the proposal to erect a large sign at the University Avenue intersection. Mr. McDougall was present and addressed the Council, suggesting that, if a ,large directional sign is installed at the : University -Avenue .:intersection, new signs be erected also at the Middlefield Road and Embarcadero Road entrances to the city, and that, if the rope Street bridge is widened and rebuilt, signs: be; erected ' to divert some of the southbound traffic via. ;the:: Pope Street bridge; thus. the . traffic entering the City. from :the. Baysnore Highway would be distributed over several streets. He urged that favorable consideration.: be given to tnis suggestion, :and stated that he and other University Avenue residents would be: glad to cooperate with the City and the Chamber of Commerce in working out a satisfactory plan. Be askedthat the Council defer action on appropriating money for the University Avenue sign until the matter of erecting signs at other locations has been considered. On motion of Mitchell and Mosher, the matter was referred to Committee No. 1, with the direction that the committee hold a hearing on this ;matter and give all persons interested in the sign question an opportunity to be heard. The communication and data from the, Chamber of Commerce were also referred to Committee No. 4 and the boar: of Works. Apolication i'or Cs.ean e of _one : ver oreen :Park) An, application was submitted -by Dr.: Charles les Shattinger and others for the rezoning of Lots 1, 2, , 4, ,5, and 6, block 8, Evergreen Park` Pram ` First Residential to Co aercial Zone: :;it no ,setback .dines. • A report was received on this matter-: o;sj the Planning Commission, recommending that the application to rezD=ie these lots She Commis Block 8, Third Res_i a joint he; recommenda. meeting of Pew 4 that it na adjacent .tc Council to of 125 feet Tae Boara r be closed. to close Fi, westerly lie A eeninsula .B3 of Colored I proposed di! closing, etc Or of the Board Tr from the Fen Advancement action and e project rece paving of Fi. A a tne Council 1 tion of plan; the Board of is closed. this report t The by some coon docket so tha available. of plans, vz.t: ly %15CG.0G. :The c=orks was 1 On:11 referred to Cc efter-the fir:, on 5] and Committee aka red uiremeri 'hayfield Distr lisp :ff a ae 71G�Z"�A:9�ii these lots from First Residential . to Co. smercial Zone be denied. r.e Cori c.sion. recommende4 nawev:er, thaw'; Lots 1, 2, 6„ 4, 5 and 6 Block 8, Evergreen .Park,, be rezoned from First Residential to Third Residential Zone., On motion of Thoits. and RiC.hards, it was directed that a jJint bearing be ;geld :on tile, application and on the initiative recommendation of the 'Planning Commission, at the next regular meeting o'f the Couai:l,gat 7:30 P.M., Monday, November 14, 1938, Petition to Close p..ortion of Fife , ,veine A report. w►as recevedd, !nom the Board of Works advisi .. L P by property owners _ ��� it ryas considered the eti,tion� °s�mi.tted adjacent to and in the vicinity of Fife Avenge, petitioning the Council to take proceedings to close Fife Avenue for a distance of 125 feet westerly f'ro the. ' esteriy- Line of Lincoln Avenue. ::e Board reported that this street, is needed and can not properly be closed. The ela .,ning Commis:sion, recommended that the petition to close Fife Avenue for . a. distance. of : 125 feet westerly from the westerly line of Lincoln Avenue be denied.. A communication was read in this connection, from the eeninsula Branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, stating that it is "deeply concerned with the proposed discriminatory use of W.P.A. paving; funds, Fife Avenue . closing, etc,' On notion of Mrs. Memel. axed. Mosher, the recommendations of the Board of Works and Planning ;Commission were adopted. The Mayor was requested to answer the communication from tae Peninsula Branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, .advising them of the Council's action and explaining the situation in regard to the paving project recently approved by the Council which included the paving of Fife Avenue. layfield Fire Station A report was received from the Board of Works advising tie Council that the Board has no. funds available for the prepara- tion of plans for a new Mayfield Fire Station as requested by the Board of Safety, and that the date for filing PWA applications is closed. n motion was made by Mosher, seconded by Bonham, that this report be received and filed. The matter was discussed, and the opinion was expressed by so;ae council member, s that. > the matter should be kept on the docket so that it could be reconsidered if and when funds are available. The Deputy City Engineer advised that the preparation of plans, with supervision' by an architect, would cost approximate - .y k1500.00. The motion to receive and. file the report of the Board v orks was then w5 thdsa rn.:. On motion of 'Molts and' Goddard, the matter was referred to Committee No. 4 with request for a report shortly after the first of the calendar year. On motion. of ;Col:i.ins wxd ' Bonham, the Board of Safety fla Committee o. were asked to prepare a program of the needs aria requirements in connection with the new fire station in the Gi`'iela District. Street Ligliting: In, regard to the letter of September 2, 138, from the Palo Alto Residents Club concerning street lighting, the Board of eublic Works submitted a report advising that the Board will proceed to make installations as provided in the budget for the improvement of the street lighting on California Avenue easterly from Alma Street. This report was received and placed on file. r'our--wad_ Sto,P Sign .a report from the Board of Safety, recommending that a four-way stop sign be placed at the intersection of Louis Road and Oregon Avenue, was referred to Committee io. 2. Enforcement of Trucking Orainance A report was received from the board of Safety tr=ansmitt'ing, for the Council's information a copy of letter written to Mr. " K. R. AlicDougall. in acknowledgment of his letter to the Board of September 23, 1938, relating to enforcement of the, existing ordinance regulating truck traffic on certain streets. Amendment to Zoning g Ordinance A report was; received from the Planning Commission recommending that Section 1011-E of the Zoning Ordinance be revised to read as follows: "Section -1011-E. No building permitted in `Zones A, B, or C shall be erected on a lot area of less than 4,700 square feet; provided, however, that the construction of such building shall be permitted on a lot of less area if such lot was of legal record in the office of the County Recorder of Santa Clara County prior to the effective date of: this ordinance; provided, further, that there two or moi e of such lots are adjacent to one another that the lot lines may be re-established so that new lots will be created in a number not to exceed. the original number, each new lot to have an area not less than that - of the smallest of the original lots. When two or more buildings (excluding private garages, or storerooms) are erected on the same lot, each building midst have an individual lot area of at least 41700 square feet, and buildings may be erected on each of such resubdivided lots. nProvided, further, that rooms for sleeping quarters only, not including an apartment or apartments, as 'apartment' is herein defined, will ' be permitted over garages. The garages herein referred to are those permitted under Section 1002, subsection 8, of this"orainance." A proposed ordinance amending Section 1011:--E of the Palo Alto Zoning Ordinance was given first reading and referred to Committee No. 1. Driveways for Service Stations and par4ing Lots A report 'was received from Committee luo. 2 recommend- ing that the proposed ordinance amending the Palo Alto Bui_ding, Code by adding thereto Section 4510 regulating driveways for service stations and parking lots, as amended by Committee ``O. 4, be adopted. ordinance relative Code by ac service si repealing to parkin reading,. objected t the commit originally first read Board of S reading on stations, suggested stations a: and Board repealing was introal Orain� that Sectic gambling be state law. Codified. %).r relative to the Board o Co sti A that the Ci. the consi ti t• ballot whicj analysis to 0: approved anc council men al amendment 3e a committee considering gives the Fe income from suggested to present law information. Committee io: 2' a] so.recommended thata companion ordinance' repealing Section 368a of Codified Ordinance ho. 3, relative to parking in front -of .oily stations,. be adopted A proposed -ordinance amending the Palo Alto Building Code by adding thereto Section 4510 regulating drivewaysfor service stations and -parking. lots, , and a proposed ordnance repealing Section 368a of Codified Ordinance loo. 3 relative to parking in front of oil stations, were presented for second rearing. Councilman ..Cyp-her, Chairman. of Committee No. 2, objected to giving second reading to the ordinance as amended by the committee, since it is materially changed from the ordinance originally proposed, ana "suggested'trat it obe introduced for. first . reading and referred back to the Board of Works and Board of Safety for their consideration. The original ordinance, which was given first reading on June 13, 19;38, ;regulating' driveways for service stations, parking lotsand 'garages, and the proposed ordinance. suggested by Commiittee: zoo. 2,, regulating driveways for service tations and parking lots, were ;referred to the Board of Works arid Board of Safety, -toge with th .the companion ordinance repealing Section 368x- of Codified_ 0:rdi'r anee liTo. 3. The proposed ordinance recommended by Committee was introduced "for first ."heading. - . .councilman 'Costello left at this time, 8:15 P.M., and was absent curing the rest of the meeting.) Ordinance re Cainbli-n A report wa.s. received- from" Coc ttee duo . recommending. that Section. 252 of Codified Ordinance NO.:3 relating to gambling be .repealed, Since the ratter is already covered by state law. - A proposed ordinance repealing Section 252 of, Codified vrdlnance mo. 3, as amended by Ordinance loo. 667, relative to gambling, was given first reading and referred to the Board of Safety: Constitutional al Amendments` A report was received from Committee quo. 2 recommending that the City Attorney be:',reuested to make an analysis of the constitutional amendments; to be placed on the november ballot which affect .municipalities, and give a copy of his analysis to each member of the Council. On motion of Mrs. Merne'r and Richards, the report was approved and the City Attorney;. was requested to furnish each. council member with a brief report.. `on the proposed constitution- al amendments which ;directlyaffect municipalities. The Mayor referred to his appointment as a member of a committee of the League of California Municipalities which is considering a ruling of the united States Supreme Court which :lves the Federal Government the power to tax city bonds, the aelcom.e from utilities nA the salaries of city employees. He. s ;ages ted that the : City Attorney prepare a brief summary of the present law in regard to .t is important .matter for the Counc11 t s f e:ormation. Traffic.. Conditions near Depot A report _was received from Committee etio. 2 recommend- ing that the attention of the Board of Safety be directed to the traffic conditions on the west side of the tracks on University ^venue, near the depot grounds, and that considera- tion be given ; to the proper marking of the pavement or the stationing of a traffic officer at this location during the hours of greatest congestion. On motion of Thoits and Cypher, this report was approved and the matter referred to the Board of Safety. B.oscitsl. 'ends A report was received from Committee .»o. 5 in regara to the matter of handling Hospital funds, recommending to the Council as follows.: (1) That the Council authorize by resolution the retention by Stanford University as operator of the r'alo Alto uospital of the sum of 425,000.00 to serve as a working fund to be. used to defray current expenses and to. purchase necessary equipment, in accordance with the provision of Paragraph 4 of the agreement between the City and Stanford university relating to the mangement and operation of the Palo Alto hospital. That all funds turned over to the City under the provision of Paragraph 4 of the agreement be set up as the "Palo Alto Hospital Special Fund". (2) Resolution No. 1226, authorizing Stanford University to retain certain profits from the operation of the hospital as a' working fund., was read, and on motion of Mitchell and Mrs. ' Merner, ':was adopted on roll call, all present voting Aye except Cypher who voted No. On motion of Mitchell and Richards, ; the Council approved the recommendation of Committee No. 5 that all funds turned over' to the . City under the provision of Paragraph -4 of the agreement : be set up as the "Palo Alto Hospital Special Fund", and authorized the setting up of this fund, by unanimous vote on roll call. Hospitalization Insurance Playa Committee ho. 5 reported , that the suggestion m.ae by Dr. Wood that the City make a contribution from the hospitaliza- tion fund toward the payment of the premiums on hospitalization insurance policies of Palo Alto residents can not be ,carried out, since the `opinion has 'been expressed by , the City Attorney that a contribution by the City toward individual hospitaliza- tion insurance premiums can not he legally made. On motion of Mitchell and Richards, this report was placed on file. (Councilman Wood left at 8:30 P.M., and was absent for part of the meeting•.) A' i t :of City,, �:c'counts A report was received from Committee ho. 5 reco:.mendi ° the acceptance of the annual audit of accounts prepared by Skinner & Hammond, covering the city books and hospital accounts for the fiscal year 1937-38. On motion of Mosier and Colii3~s: this'report was accepted. recommend; of $1200.0 account: ; of MitcheJ unanimous Tax Cuthbertsc notice on Committee has redeem report iva.s Repor Department month of S, Con•:,i3 work in co was adoptec continued for the puz reception that word Admini s tra2 project, a: iI authorizing and give no allotment,. adopted on• who voted N Nurses C: of Mrs. Lou adjoining t' taken on tiz: 1938. Committee aNc principle;. v offer doee r location fox Utility sere heating, and included. some mi sureJ e imposed, and reconsider i its action eirs.• Stern seconded ,by Stern, recE'.i• her offer to Committee isio, mace a report A report was also received. from Committee fdo. 5 recommending that the o1 of ':Skinner & Hammon in the amount of .200.00 for. -the :audit of the city books and hospital accounts for the fiscal year 1938-39 be accepted. 0n motion of Mitchell and. Bonham, this recommendation was adopted by unanimous aous vote on roll .call.' Tax , Sakt_,Totice, yS,. .CU,t 'bertson Relating to the communication from Mr. S. 4. C utnbertson in which he xaakes: inquiry concerning, the tax sale notice on his property at` the corner of'Grant and Third Streets, Committee Ao. 5 reported to -the Council that. Bar. Cutnbertson :as redeemed this property by payment of taxes due. This report was accepted. Reoorts of Officials The reports of the Department of Public u+orks, the Department of Public; Safety, Auditor and Treasurer for the :aonth of September, 1938, were received and placed on file. Continuation of Hearin PWA, Pavin Protect Reference was made to Resolution No. 1225 ordering work in connection with the PWA street paving which was adopted by the Council ` on September 28, 1938, and which continued the 'nearing held on that date to October 10, 1938, 1 or the purpose of determining and .ding date for the reception of sealed proposals. The Council was informed that word has not yet been received from the Public Works Administration in regard to the application for a grant on this project, and that it is necessary to continue the matter. Resolution No. 1227, continuing the hearing, and authorizing the City Clerk to fix the day for opening bids and give notice thereof, upon the making of the PWA grant allotment, was read, and on motion. of Collins and 4osher adopted on roll call all present voting Aye except Cashel, who voted No. (Councilman Wood returned at this time, 8:40 P.M., and was present during the rest of the .meeting.) Nurses Home Councilman. Thoits brought up the matter of the offer of Mrs. Louis Stern to ' build a nurses' rest home on property adjoining the Palo Alto spita1, and referred to the action taken on this matter by the Council at its meeting on August 8, 1938. The Council at that time Committee approved the report of o. 1 which recommended that the offer be accepted in principle, with the understanding that this acceptance of the offer does not involve theapproval of a definite plan and .vocation for the building, and with the understanding that all utility services, sewer connections covered paved heating, and all necessary appurtenances and furnishings be i C ude . Mr. Thoits expressed the opinion that there is some misunderstanding as tothe effect of the conditions =imposed, and. felt it would be advisable , reconsider its t•on. Re ble for the Council to Its action taken on .August 8,oved c gu 1938, oncerning thel offer reconsider fder etre-. Stern to build a nurses' rest home. This motion Ras seconded by Richards, and discussed. Reference was made to the communication from Mrs. Stern, received by the Council on September 12th, withdrawing :ler offerto build a nurses' rest home, and to the fact that mane a report. do 1 to which the letter was referred, has not yet Committee The motion to -reconsider the Council's action of August 8, '1938, to regard to this matter, was .carried. :A motion vas then made by Tboits, seconded by Mrs. Merner, that the original motion mace to adopt the report- of Committee Ao. 1 be amended by striking from, the report the recommendation that the cost of the . covered paved walk way and the utility services be furnished by the donor. Afterfurther discussion, Councilman Mitchell moved an anmendmentto this motion that the matter be referred to Committee No.. 1 for further report at the next ieeting. This amendment was seconded by Bonham and carried, and the litter was referred back to Committee No. 1 for;: a report at the next meeting. Monthly;:. Fill„ <0.0 .mot3.on of Mitchell and Bonham, the- follov irig bills were approved and warrants authorized 'in _payment of the same by unanimous vote on roll call: adjourned.. ATTEST: Da�n� C. Baker 7ItG Co. 37.u52 Bancroft-'nitney o 2.94 Bank: :of .America 25.00 City of Palo Alto 11.40 trs.:Capitola Dresden 26.63 Kee Lox Mfg. Co. 5.22 iii'ayor-, Byrl R. Salsman 25.00 Slonaker!s Printing douse .52 Stanford university Press 15.97 The Travelers Insurance Co. 187,87 City of Palo Alto 4500.00 City of Palo Alto 4300.00 City of palo Alto 8374.00 John B. Springer, k'o1ice Judge 10.29 Palo Alto Bospital 1691.00 Skinner be ka.ammond 1200.00 • n °motion of Goddard and Bonham, the Council r►,Sara� session on Foli call Pre. e r s e f approved matters: 5 and to Co Rerc' Planning Cc e:,idenitja t tela from First: the prope:: speak on property .� t the Council Zone as __e commercial recd y: endz.t to mhdrd s: Change of z.,� siml ar pet ✓Nat d that time al and t • t .r. `his explained felt that commercial . ta: ord c,_ ._. • om Commercial -7 '-rap used ord. Evergreen Pte: Lone, upon �nr+rr�i c �; �j,,� • v