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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02081937City Hall, Palo n1to, Califor3!ia, February 8, 1937. The Council" "of the City of Palo Alto met in regular session on this gateat: 7:30 P.M., with Mayor Judson presiding. call as follows: Present: Blois, Collins, Costello, Judson, Mitchell, itosher, Saisman, Stephens, Thomas. Absent: Bonham, Goddard, Richards, Thoits, Wood. The minutes of the meeting of January 11, 1937, were Resignation of Dr. Slater a communication was received Srom Dr. Harvey 1. Slater, tendering Lis resignation as a member of the Board of r'ublic Safety. On motion of Thomas and Mosher, this resignation was occeptea with regret, and the City Clerk was airected to express vo or. Slater ti.e appreciation of the Council for his long and useful services. retiition to Repair Santa Rita. Road: A petition from a number of property owners on Santa Rita Road in the Lmbarcadero Annex, requesting that this road be repaired, was referred to the Board of Public Works. L te:r s Enaorsina Candidate 4'or Council A .Letter was received from the Stanford-ralo Alto Branch of the American Association of University Women recommending the appointment of a woman to fill the vacancy now existing on the .Lty Council. Letters were received from the ralo Alto Business and erofessional Women's Club, from the l!tioma.n's Clue of :Salo Alto, _nd from Pro -America,, endorsing iLr s. Paul Berner as a candidate i'U1 the vacancy on the Council. ae i.ter from Planning Section of hesic ents Club A letter was received from Dr. James G. harp, Chairman tie City Planning, Section of the Palo Alto Residents Club, it=a e resolution passed by said Club approving the proposal to ELta-dish a parking area on the Community Center grounds and se,ggesting that all parking at the Community Center after 10 P.I. cG unaer police supervision; also recorPmending that parking in t:.e.• circular approach drive at the Community Center be prohibited. This letter was referred to the Boara of Public Works, f: et. is at present considering plans for the establishment of parking area on the Community Center grounds. i,c;:t :rs :Endorsing Plan for "Municipal Natatorium Letters were received from John D. Appleby, a4orman Smith; -. B. Crady, I. B. Hann, Glenn: Kenyon, Vv. A. Reed, George S. Aiken, �Ktert G. Schenck, E. S. Best Dorothy Richards, Pa.uJ. E. Engelcke, :ra:azt H. Gibson, N. lesser, YClair Nolan, Chas. dildebrecht, -3;.ise C. land, and . the Cardinal Hotel, endoxsing the plan for a 1;nicipal Natatorium, as recently suggested to the Council by L . E. 0..' La Montagne. It was noted thatCo��il d r ttee % o . 3 now has this :matter _ o..oer'carn.sider atiori, but has not yet made a report. ClGim of John T. Simpkin for Damages A, claim was filed by John T. Simpkin, against the City of Palo Alto and the Board of Trustees of Stanford University, for "damages in the amount of $100,000.00 on account of injuries incurred when: he fell from a sun porch on the second floor of the Palo " Alto Hospital. This claim was referred to the City :attorney for > an opinion and recommendation. Legislative Bulletin from League Legislative Bulletin #4 from the League of California Municipalities, addressed to the City Council and City Attorney, relating to "Limitation on City Liability" vas received, this bulletin requesting certain information relating to claims against the City for damages resulting from defective condition of streets or public property. Tnis bulletin was referred to the City Attorney for a reply. Pecuest from Women's Service L eaue for AooroDriation A communication was received from the Women's Service LeAgue, requesting that the Council share the expense of the salary of the Secretary and appropriate $25.00 a month for this purpose. An opinion was received from the City Attorney on this matter, advising that the City has no authority to make a donation of public funds to a private organization. A report was received from Committee io. 4 on tnis matter, recommending, in view of the opinion of the City Attorney, that the request be denied. On motion of Mitchell and Thomas, the recommendation of the committee was approved and the request denied. On motion of Thomas and Collins, the Mayor's office wats'requested to negotiate with the Vorks Progress Administration and endeavor to secure an appropriation of Federal funds to take care of the expenses of the Women's Service League. Appropriation to Assessor's Office Appointment of Deputy Assessor A communication was received from the City assessor requesting that Mr. William Jessop be retained as assistant in the Assessor's office for the remainder of the fiscal year, and that $600.00 be appropriated to cover Mr. Jessop's salary ana also for the cost of replacing and reconditioning •additional maps in the block books; also recommending the appointment of Miss Alvina Larsen as Deputy Assessor in order that some one vested with official authority till be present while the Assessor is -absent: from the office on field work duty. A,reportwas received from Committee No. 4 recommencing that $600.00 be appropriated from the Contingent Fund for the purpose of paying the salary of the Assessor's assistant for the remainder of the fiscal year and for the cost of replacing and Tec_ onditioning maps in the block books. On motion of Thomas and Mosher, this recommendation was adopted and the appropriation authorized from the Contingent Fund, by unanimous vote on roll call. :On motion of Mitchell and Salsman, the appointment of Miss', Larsen. as Deputy Assessor was confirmed, by unanimous vote or roll call. Councilman Richards cable at 7:50 P.M., and was prtsant .during the;:re:stof the meeting. Commerc the Service referre T: recommel Branch use. re nest the Vet( of Work buildini 1=s? ing for Departs e funds. and that agreem€n Clerk to Mosher a the Coua parts oY' Act. consider matter t:: ana to proposed the Speci irotest 1 1132 of t r of errEd Or;.: ing for a parking o Community to Commit City ty, ^ies of ty. _` rn1a arney, his against rvice he this on 379 r opr•opriation requested from Publicity Fund A communication was received from the Chamber of Commerce requesting that an appropriation of $100.00 be mane from Publicity Fund for the purpose of renewing the "Ask Ir. Foster Service for the first: six months of this year. This. was referred to Committee No. 4. Transfer of Library Funds A report was received from the :Board of Works recommending that the surf of 6165.28 remaining in the Mayfield branch Library Fund be transferred to the Library Board for their use. This was referred to Committee No. 4. Use of Veterans Bui1cigg_ n report was received from the Board of Works re:,uesting the Council for a st&temen',of policy as to the use of the Veterans building, this being a prerequisite for the Board o� Works to prepare a WPA project for improvements to the .cluing. This was referred to Committee l'o. 3. Aereem.ent for Expenditure of` Gas Tax Funds A report was submitted by the Board of Works recommend- ing for approval a memorandum of agreement with the State ;epar tment of Public Works for expenditure of the 4 cent gas tax funds. Committee No. 1 recommended this agreement be approved .wnd that the Mayor and City Clerk be authorized to execute the aUr eement. Resolution No. 1133, authorizing the layor and City Clerk to execute the agreement," was read, and on motion of Mosher -and Collins, was adopted by unanimous vote on roll call. Construction of Sidewalks A report was received from the Board of Works requesting the Council to authorize the construction of sidewalks in various parts of the city to be done under the 1911 Street .L provement Act. Tire Council was informed that the Board wished to coasiaer this :natter further before action is taken, and the :atter was taeref ore referred back to the Board of eublic Works enc. to Committee No. 1. He:ort on Imrovetent in Lewis Subdivision 1 A report was submitted by the City Engineer on the proposed improvement in the Lewis Subdivision as required by, t e Special Assessment Investigation, Limitation and Majority Protest Act of 131, prepared in accordance with Resolution Ao . 1132 of the Council passed on January 11, 1937. This was referred to Committee No. 1. Ordinance. Regulating Traffic on Community Center Driveway A report was received from tae Board of Safety recommend- ing for adoption a proposed ordinance reguiating traffic and parking on the CommunityCenter driveway. The proposed ordinance:regulating traffic on the Community Center Driveway. was giv:eri first reading and referred to Comittee No. "20 Appropriation for Fire Alarm Box A. report eras received from the Boara of Safety request- ing the Council to appropriate the sum of X430.00 to Account No: 127-99 for the purpose of instal.ing a fire alarm box at Middlefield Road and California Avenue, near the new Junior his; School. Committee Nt. 4 recommended that this item be included in the' 1967-38- budget.: Councilman Thomas, Chairman of Committee No. 4, informed the .Council that, although the school will not be completed and in use until September, he believed there was some justification for proceeding with the installation of the fire alarm :box at the present time so that fire protection will be available while the building is under construction. The matter was, discussed, and on motion of Thomas and -litchell, the appropriation of $430.00 was authorized from the Contingent Fund forthis purpose, by unanimous vote on roll call. Sketch Plans of Library • A communication was received from the Chairman of the L rary. Board transmitting sketch plans showing possible rearrangements of space in the Library, as requested by the Council on January 11, 1937, also suggesting consideration of the future_ utility of the entire building, and asking permission to prepare and submit estimates of cost of proposed additions which the Beare woula like to make as a PWA project. Ttiis matter was referred to Committee No. 1 and Committee No. 3, reference to be made later to the Board of Public Works. n-eeuest for Non -conforming Permit A report was received from the Planning Commission recothending that a non -conforming permit be -issued to sirs. . r. ..ruse of 374 Kingsley Avenue for the rebuilding of a garage in a new location On her property. A proposedordinance, granting a non -conforming permit to, Mrs. Kruse, was :given first reading and referred to Committee too. 1. Chan .e of Setback Line. Mies Grace i'oorbaugh was present and addressed the Council in regard to her request for a change of setback line on her property on the northerly corner of Guinaa Street and Forest Avenue from 24 feet to 11 feet, on the northeasterly side :of Guinda Street for a distance of 75 feet northwesterly from: For, est Avenue.. The Council was informedthat the Planning Commission had considered this matter at its last meeting but as yet nee. made no recommendation on the matter. It appeared that, through a misunderstanding in regard o tie number ,of houses to be built by :Miss Poorbaugh, a number of property o«ners in the zone of interest had made protests to the Planning' Commission against this change of setback line, but had since withdrawn their objections. Miss Poorcaugn states that she, ;wishestq egin building immediately and would appreciate early: action .on this matter. The matter was discussed at length, and explanations were made by Mr. C. h. Ashworth Gnu Ir. Arthur James, members o the Planning Commission. On motion of Mosher and Richards, Ordinance No. 703, changing the Street from northwester, emergency ox ,Pro c ec A taat no amen relating to setback line Costello, th Co present d ari he aloe A 1 that action c Avenue and el Acacia Averree tracks, be de property in acquisition o that the Sutt On motion of Re Exter. o:: a representet- Corporation Y< be removed ifrc petitioners, matter be re2iv tr the Council v companies ona The committee till submit i thee the sum o the Specia.. Ga ads tax funds Thomas and Sal transfer autho, '/PA Pee; ti re, that, inasmuch ena street dra:; aut cri ties, cal for an appropre cost of tams we this report was At tee granted to ::he of osed ect. Guest RIO 't1 tided 381 changing the setback line on the . northeasterly side of Guinda Street from 24 feet to 11 feetfor a distance of 75 feet northwesterly from Forest Avenue, was read and adopted as an emergency orcinance by unanimous vote on roll ca.d . ;✓rocec ere re Setback. Line C n s A.rep.ort was received from Committee .o. i recommending rw amendment be made at this time to Ordinance boo. 640, reeating to the . procedure to be followed in the consideration of seteecr: line changes. On recommendation on of Salsman and t e Costello, the recommendation of the committee was approved will Councilman hood came at this time, 8:40 P.1.1 and was ell, present daring the rest of the meeting. gent c C.i.osi n' Portions of First Street and J eaci . r_venue k report was received : from Committee No. 1 recommending :hat action on the matter of closing First Street between Portage hreaue and the Southern Pacific tracks and also that portion of Acacia Avenue between Lot 14, ,Block 15, and the Southern Pacific tracks, be deferred until the quiet title suit to certain property in block 5, Sunnyside Addition, is settled and the ac aisition of this property by the City has been completed, and gnat the Sutter P acking , Co ipany :be informed accordingly. On :potion of Thomas and Blois,this report was , acopted. Re Extension of C orporetjo: '. Yard Road Dorn u ttee No. 1 reported„ that it had been advised by a representative of the petitioners for the extension of the C ration Yard Road that itis their desire that this matter ce removed from the docket until re -introduced by the _ petitioners, and the committee therefore recommended that the on ' .natter he removed' from the docket. It was so ordered. �. A. e in :ro_uoaals on Retirement System A report was received from Committee Igo. 4 informing t e Council that it nas received proposals from five insurance to < 4O ;an:ies on a retirement system for Palo Alto city employees. The committee is making further studies of these proposals and fdi submit its final report at a later meeting. he ine rid rimy ssion n„ad regard lumber" sta to- e,. h stated preoiste Lions fibers OI 700, 'r risfer t Gas Tax Fund A report was received from committee No. 4 recommending =:at t:ie sum of $14,000.00 `' be transferred from the Plaza Fundto e Specia4. Gas max rand, ;the. Plaza Fund to be reimbursed when ges tex f unc.s from the State become available. On motion of - 4O k;S and Salsman, this recommendation was approved and the transfer authorized, by unanimous vote on roll call. ee Proelect for Siaei a.i..k Repair and Street Lraina, e x report was submitted; by Committee No. 4 recommending teat, inasmuch as the proposed `1PA project for sidewalk repair z.ea street drainage has not yet been approved by Feaeral Y'UV. crities, consideration'' of the request of the Board of Works for an appropriation of $8:000.00 to pay the City's share of the eos t of this work be postponed. On motion of aLosher and Sa?- sman, t is report was approved. ve Wes .:on. Ramos 'at:'fndereass — At the . requ,es:t..: ox uommi ttee No. 4, further time was i:eeited to the coimitte in' -Which to consider the recommendation_ of the - Board of Safety that gates be installed -on each ramp at the Embarcadero Underpass at a cost of x;11£.36 for the two gates. Airort rroect itesL2rfacw n . hrnerson Street +.na Reconstruction of Dave -Pr- Referring to the "Airpor rc j ec t°i and to the nr% eject for.; resurfacing Emerson Street and Reconstruction of Pavewentsr, Committee No. % recommended that no action be taken`: on these projects in their present state. Tne Chairman of .Committee No. 4 explainedthat these items had been on the committee's docket for months and the committee wished to have then removed from the,docket. It was so ordered. Ordinance on Registration of Eicycies Ordinance No. 701, amending Ordinance ho. 672 relative to the Registration of Bicycles, was given second reading. On motion of Richards and Saisman, triis ordinance was adopted by unanimous vote on roil tail. Reports of officials Reports from the Department of Public Works, the Department. of Public Safety, Auaitor. and Treasurer, for the month of January, 1937, were received and places. on file. Councilman Thoits cane at 8:45 P.2.„ and was present dozing therest of the meeting. Election of Council Member The Council now proceeded to the election of a council member to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Mr. A. M. Cathcart. Councilman Thomas at tr .s time referred to the letters read to the Council earlier in the meeting from certain organizations endorsing a candidate, and pointed out trot this is the firsttime to his knowledge that a personal endorsement has been . made officially by an organization; that this is a privilege which no councilman rias ever, taken at a council meeting and he hoped that this would not establish a precedent. Councilmen Blois and Stephens were appointed tellers. The result of the first ballot vvas as follows: Mrs. Paul Merner Wm. M. Kelley E. P. Cashel A. R. lasters The second ballot was as follows: Mrs. Merner Mr. Kelley Mr. Cashel The third ballot Was as f'o1.Lows: Mrs. Merner Mr. Kelley Mr. Cashel 5 votes 5 TT 1 it 'i 6 votes 5 ti 5 ,rotes. 6 1S. 1 ct T'h meeting. The member of the by the resign June 30, 139 On 10 votes and received a ma, Board of Pubii .wont-iv vn were approved unanimous vote adjourned. On mo TTz.ST le�C�u txo'gates.t Pavements e ni.ro ject ave.tents , these. ittee tteex s." .n removed 2 relative ing. adopted the ✓ the le. a council Mr. A. a. the letters in treat this or s.ement s is a knc it (precedent.. a.te:lers Cws: present The result of the fourth ballot ,s as foJ.jov;:s: Mrs. erner gr. iCeiiey gr. Cashel. 6 votes '5 votes i vote ,ruing. i-urther balloting was postponed until the next Electron of . ember of Board of Safety The Council then proceeded to to e• election of a :-ember of the Board :of Public Safety to fill the vacancy caused c; the resignation of Dr. H. 2. Slater, for the term ending June 30, 1939. On the first ballot, Mr. A. M. Cathcart received` iv votes and Mr. Will .am Jilbext ? vote,, ;fir. Cathcart having received a majority was . declared elected as a member of the Board of Public Safety. 1.onthly Bills On motion of Mitchell, and Richerds, the following bills and vrarr�znt approved uhanimous vote s authorized in payment of the saihe, by• on roll call: a° ro Bancroft -Whitney Company 88 Bann. of America 25.00 5.00, �e5.C30 City of Palo Alto 41..05, dayor C. H. Judson. Shepard t s Citations 17.00 .00 Travelers Insurance Co. :10.34. Ai. , A. Stratton . City of Palo. Alto .e..48 .-' Palo Alto osp :te:1 3.00 1693. E. � ..Dort, Sheriff 75 75. Gds ourxled . On motion of Sa smart and Richards, the Council APPROVED: 383.