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HomeMy WebLinkAbout05061935City Hall, Palo Alto, California, May S, 1935. The Council of the City of Pala Alto met on this date: at 7:50 p.m. , pursuant to ad j ourx ment of April 8, 1935, with Mayor Thomas presiding. Ro11 call as follows: present: Absent: approved. Blois, Bonham, Brown, Collins, Crandall, Judson, Kelly, Mitchell, Mosher, Thoits, Thomas. Cathcart, Green, Stephens, Wood. The minutes of the meeting of April 8, 1935, were Ordinance for Electi.o-n of Councilmen The special order of the day was the consideration of the ordinance callinga. general municipal election to be held on May 14, 1935, for the Purpose -of electing seven councilmen as members of the Council of the City of Palo Alto, five for the term of six years and two for the tern of four years from and after July 1, 1935. Ordinance No. 647, providing` for a municipal election for the purpose of electing seven councilmen, was read, and on motion of Mosher and Collins, was adopted by unanimous vote on roll call. The certification of the City Clerk as to the nomination of candidates and verification of nomination petitions as required by the ordinances of the City was received and placed on file. Councilman Cathcart came at 7:45 p.m., and was present during the rest of the meeting. Extension of California. Avenue A communication was received from Katherine D. Emery asking if a decision has been :reached on her proposal previously presented in regard to the opening and extension of California Avenue from Webster Street to Middlefield Road. It was reported that Committee No. 1, to which this matter was previously referred, had not yet presented a report or recommendation. The matter was again referred to Committee No. 1, and action by the Council was deferred until the next meeting. Eecuest to L ht Baseball Field A letter was received from the Palo Alto Chamber of Commerce recommending that a lighted baseball field be established an El Camino Park. This matter was referred to Committee No. 3. Presentation of Fla by V g Veterans communication was read from George Liddicoat Chairman of the Palo Alto United Veteran Council, ' stating that the Veterans Council wished td —present a flag to the City Council, at this meeting, xt 8 p.m., members of the United Veterans Council appeared. Bev. Stanley Morrison:` presented the flag on beralf of the Veterans. Mayor Thomas accepted the flag with an expression of appreciation, and the ceremony ended with the pledge to the flag by members of the Council and the audience. Invitation to Mothers' Day observance A ,co.mmunica.tion was received from the Peninsula Citizens Committee inviting the Council and citizens of Palo Alto to :attend exercises at St. ,Joseph's military Academy at Belmont in observance of Mothers' Day on Sunday, May 12, 1935. Letter from Red Cross A letter was received from the Red Cross accepting with gratitude the offer of space in the southwest wing of the old Community, House for the use of the local chapter of the Red Cross, and announcing the appointment of a committeecomposed of Mrs. J. W. Mitchell, £rs. E. u. Reeb and :fir. B. C. Thoits to cooperate with' the Veterans Building Commission and City authorities in arranging for the necessary alterations. T its letter was placed on file. Request for Appro'triat ion by une.moloyment Committee A letter vas received from the Mayor's Committee on. Unemployment Relief reporting a balance on hand of 497.20, and asking for an appropriation of k;100.00 to take care of emergency cases in need of relief during the month of June. This vas referred to Committees ado. 3 and loo. 4. Claim for Damages to e utomobile A claim forfomeaamages to their automobile as a result of a :collision with a car operated by a city employe, in the amount of $104.04, was receive4 from har. . and Mrs. M. Sartain, through their attorney Frank Lee Crist. this was referred to the boarc of Public Works and City Attorney for a report. Resolution of Bar Association A Association made a : full engagingin extend :toa present the, resolution was received from the:Palo Alto Bar recommending that the office of City Attorney be time position, that the City Attorney be barred from. the private practice of law, and that the Council committee of the Bar Association an opportunity to matter to the Council. The .Mayor "stated that he has received a communication .From Judge Hardy, secretary of the Bar Association, advising that if the Council desires to refer this matter to a committee the Bar Association will be glad to present their information to the committee instead of to the Council. un motion of Cathcart and Bonrarn, the Aayor was requested to : appoint' a special committee for the consideration of this matter). the "committee to be as large as,, in the Mayor's judgment, ,.it ` shoZld_ .be. The mayor later announced that this .special, committee would be composed of the chairmen of the five standing committees of the Council,- Councilmen Cathcart, Collins, Kelly,, Judson and Mitchell. Insurance Policy of Bus Company An insurance policy of the Indemnity Insurance Coap -:IY was pres.e:ntea by Floyd Pearson, manager of the Palo Alto Transi.t Company,, to take the place of a, former policy issued -by the Globe Indemnity Company which expired March 30, 1935. The City Attorney recommended that this exchange of policies be approved. Qn . motion of goSher and Bonham, the exchange of policies was authorized. recommer Univers i- r e c ommenc and City was read. approved execute call. recommends that cert ns Socia'te Council '. Company f Lispensi.n, Associate recommen)d. with the and Clerk read, and the .aayor fle nimo w Land tZ ansmi tti and imp-ov that it be may be ta.S the cost 'o property :..�. of the Boa.. early con:e proposed ;.1 and improv; approval of appropriate ana road we general e ur on the recc Center Grot whether thi fiscal year n ap'p'roving a. tor plantjz uJ with regard and t hli s aim; the general committee ,v; ewer Rental Agreement report was received from the Board of Public ti+orks recommending that the sewer rental agreement with ta.rford University be executed in its present form. Committee loo. recommended that the agreement be approved ana that the Mayor ana city clerk be autnorized toexecute the agreement. The sewer rental agreement with Stanford University was read. On motion of Thoits and Mosher, the agreement was approved and the idayor and City Clerk were authorized to execute same on behalf of the City, by unanimous vote on roll call. -ease with Standard Oil Co A report was received from the Board of Works recommenaing that the proposal for a cancellation of a part of that certain lease agreement dated December 10, 1934, with the Associated Air Services, eta., be accepted, and that the Council lease a certain portion of land to the Standard oil Company for e period of ten years, to be used as a Gasoline eespensing btation. A communication was read from the Associated Air Services, Ltd. on this matter. A report was received from Committee No. 1 recommending that the ;proposal be accepted and that the lease with the Standard Oil Company be approved, and that tY2.e dayor and clerk be authorized to execute the lease. he lease was read, and on motion of Mitchell. ana Bonham, was adopted, and the 1ayor and Clerk were . authorized to execute same, by unanimous vote on roll call. eaadscapin„ 'ommuna ty Center Grounds A report was received from the boaed of tyorks transmitting Bulletin 1+o. 68 covering the cost of landscaping and improving the Community Center Grounds with the request that it be given early consideration in order that advantage may be taken of the planting season and SERA assistance; the cost of this work to , be U270.00 G0 and the lighting of the property $970.00. Committee .No l recommended that the recommendation of the Board of works that; its report on this matter be given early consideration be approved:. Committee No. 4 reported that it approved the plan. proposed in the report of the Board of Works .torlandscaping and improving the Community Center .Grounds subject to the approval of the rlanning Commission, and recommended that the appropriation of 42270.00 forlandscaping, sprinkling,planting ana road work be taken. from the unappropriated balance fthe general :und. l' The'committee that it delayed action on the recommendation for x;9'70.00 for lighting the Community Center Grounds for the immediate present, depending upon venether thas is to b.e.done curing' this fiscal year or next 'iscel year. A report was received from the ri nning Commission approving and recommending for adoption the proposed plan roe. planting around the Community Center. 0n motion of Thoits and Judson, the recorznenaation eitn regard to the appropriation of $2270.00 .as approved, and this amount was allowed from the . unappropriated balance of the general fund, in accordance with the recommendation o o ittee .Lio. 4, this by unanimous vote on roil call. .rlppropria•tion to Storm Seer Account A report was received from the Board of Works recommending that an appropriation of 4750.00 be made ,to the Storm Sewer Account for the purpose of paying off an, overage of approximately 4250'.00 for the construction of the Stanford Avenue storm: 'sewers, -ana for materials and expense forthe construction of a concrete culvert at the intersection of Page Mill Road and Alma Street, as a SERAproject. Committee_.No. 1 recommended the approval of this report:, and Committee i'o. 4 also approved the recommendation, the sum of $750.00: for this purpose to be taken from the unappropriated laalance of the General Fund. On motion of. Brown and .aitchell, the recommendation was approved and- the 4750:00 appropriated by unanimous vote on roll call. .aopropriationto Complete Airport A report was: received from the board of Works trans- mitting Bulietin No. 72 recommending that an additional appropriation of $3500.00 be mace to complete the moving of buildings, grading of the airport site ana strengthening of dykes at the municipal airport. A report was received from Committee No. 4 approving this request ana recommending that this amount of 43500.00 to complete work ou tne airport be taken from the Plaza Fund. l'nis matter had not yet been before Committee No. 1, as the committee had nad no opportunity to have a meeting since the matter was referred -to it by the aayor on May bra. After considerable discussion, on motion of Thoits and Judson, the sum of 41000.00 was appropriated toward the work of completing the airport, pending a report from Committee No. 1 at the next meeting, this amount to be taken from the. Plaza Fund, all voting Aye on this motion except Mosher, who voted No. Location- of'. Employment vff ice A report was received from the Board of Yorks transmitting a letter from the Chairman of the Community LentLr Commission requesting that a location be granted in Warehouse No. 2 for the employment agency of the Community Center Commission. The =Boardreported that it would cost 4300.00 to make a room in the warehouse suitable for an office, and suggested that a more desirable location would be the section allotted to the hecreation Department in the veterans' Bealding, the cost to remodel this office being not more than $150.00 Committee No.. i reported that it had delayed action on this matter pendingaadvice as to wdiether the Council has to:yen action as to the separation of the two offices. Committee 410- 4 reported that it wo aid defer action pending the determination of the policy as to where the office of the employment bureau :is to be located;: further that it approvea the expenditure of the money required by whiehever project is decided upon by the Council, the money to be taken from the Contingent Fund. The matter was discussed and a motion was made by La.thcart, seconded by Bonham, that tne sum of 4300.00 be appropriated for the necessary d,iterations in warehouse No. 2. Councilman.; Judson stated that it had just been called to his attention that the `.S.E.:R.A. of Tice, naw aocated in the Vetex•.(1s' Building, and the Amploym:ent Bureau of the Community Center use the same records .and, it was therefore advisable that the alto _y, offices be located in the ` same building if possible. After further discussion, the matter of the location of the EmployJent Bureau,was as referred back to the special committee on dispos=t)n of the ,old Community house, composed of the chairmen of the five standi g. :committees of .:the. Council. Councilman Mosher requests: that: the:` committee also study the matter of the importance of this nmployme) e"10propriz A rc recommending t Stairway l'and Venetian blind the city hall. that this re,d the recommends vote on roil c nrei a ceficit in t] purchase of max an appropriatic deficit ana poi fiscal year. Comm i approved, and the money to be general fund. ti:on was approv, , unappropriated. rte Fire w repc ing that a piece to dispose of, t The Boara furthe requested to ext as to protect al including the al Plant and the Pe, Committees oio. J. A repo: haaetin ao. 70 c recommencing that budget, the tot i Comcnitteea No. .i. The boar sl;gestions emb:)d Engineer of the b, on page 414 or brat possible moment. of Sa, ety and Cora k�us 4.1 mitti report distributing -k e Committees No. .i. a recommending report ending that Seale avenue be c_u 'westerly line of C; Seale addition No. 1191194444. this Employment Bureau. tl)propM nation for Venetian Blinds A report was rec:e.ivedfrom the board of n recommending that a trans2 er of 4,185.00 be made f ors Stairway Island to the i7 Tom the ui�.aing Maintenance . and in order that Venetian blinds may be installed on the lower southwest front of the city hall.. Committee No. 1 and Committee No. 4 recommended that this request be approved. vn motion of Thoits and Judson, the recommendation was approved and the t �•� vote on xroll ca11, , 1r unsl er authorized, by all voting ng I.ye except Aelosher, who voted No. AJNro er iation to - Park De L a° A report was received from the Board of 'narks concerning a deficit in the Punk Lepartment Supply Fund occasioned by the purchase of many supplies for S.l'..fi labor, end requesting an appropriation of 4500.00 for r..ccount 149.- 7 to cover this deficit aria for the cost of supplies for the remainder of this fiscal year. deficit Committee No. 1 recommended that this request be approved, and Committee No 4 also approved the recommendation, the money to be taken from the unappropriated ger_ex•al fund. On motion. of a balance of the tine was approved o.11ins and Thoits, the recommenda- tion and the: appropriation allowed from the unappropriated balance, by unanimous vote on roll call. Ile Fire be Police ±drotection to outside ,fro-erties e. report was received from the Board of Works recommend- ing that a piece of fire apparatus which , to dispose of, be retained for use at at the Palo .F�.toCAiref port. iz•es The Board further :recommended; that the Board 'of Safety be requested to extend its police and fire department activities so; as to protect all city ° owned property outside the city limits, including the .airport, the Yacht Harbor, the Sewage Lreatment. Plant and the Pao Alto ,Hospital.. This matter was referred to Committees AO. I and No. ti. C��a�.it��enter S�rixL`�.i,er S, �.Ls.L em A report was .received from the Board of Works transmitti, coeletin 1"o. 70 concerning the Community -enter Sprinkler recommending that Plan "i." and t'lan ”C” included e iinith System, budget, the total cost being 1595.00 beT isyw asdref err ed1o5- 6 LJ:fi.mittees and 4. No. ;�o. to The Board of Works further recommended that the suggestions embodied in the letter from .fir. S, l,. Engineer of the board` of Fire Underwriters usr�, Chief, on Engineer 41 riters of the .Pacific, outiined.i 4 of Bulletin NO 70, be `carried out at the earliest ossible moment. This recommendation was r of 'Sa.ety and Committee No. 2, ei'erred to the board ,Jas Distr ibutin.. Center and - Butane Plant n report was received, from the Board of Works trans- .littirQ Bulletin lv o . 71 concerning the relocation of the gas distributing center and Butane Plant. This was referred to 0omzuttees; No 1 and No. 4. e —n. e of setback Lin on Seale veiiuF e report was xeceived from the Planning Commission recommending that the setback lin S:ele Avenue be changed'; from ,3-p fee;t cto' 20southeasterlyfe h side hof - Nesterly .line of Cowper, Street too . the full depth of m- ote.L,Biock ••�41e ndQ�.t_�on . No.,7. . Aix this .mployn:ent Bureau. appropriation ;for venetian Blinds A report was received from the .00ara of iuorks recommending that a transfer of : 185.O0 be made from the Stairway and to the bulging Maintenance x'und in order that venetian blindsmay be installed on the lover southwest front of the city :a11. Committee.: No. :1 and Committee No. 4 recommended teat this request be approved. vn motion of Thoits and Judson, the recommendation was approved :and the transfer authorized, by vote on roil ca: i., all voting aye except Cosner, who voted No Aparouriation to Park :Dept.Supely-Fund A report was received from the -oare of 'Jvorks concerning a aef cit in the Park 'epartment supply Fund occasioned by the purchase of many supplies for 5 E.R.A. labor, end requesting an appropriation of 4,500.00 .for Account 149-17 to cover this deficit ana for the cost of • supplies' •for the remainder of this fiscal year. Committee No. 1 recommended that this request be. approved, and Committee No. 4 also approved the recommendation, the money to be taken.. from tine unappropriated balance of the' general fund. On motion.of.Coliirs and Thoits, the recommenda-' tion was approved and the appropriation allowed from the unappropriated balance, by unanimous vote on roll call., xie Fire & Police Protection to Outside Pro- erties report vas received from the Board of Works recommend- ing that a piece of fire .apparatus, which the Fire Chief desires to dispose of, be retained for use at the Palo ,alto Airport. and, the Boara further recommended that the Board .of Safety be requested to extend its police and fire department activities so as to protect all city owned property outside the city limits including the Airport, the .Yacht- Harbor, the Sewage Treatment Plant and the Palo Alto Hospital. This matter was referred to Committees No. 1 and ao. 2. er Community "enter Sprinkler System o A report was received from the Board of Works transmitti zueletin -tio. 70 concerning the Community L,enter Sprinkler system, recommending that Plan "An and elan "C" be included in the 1935-35 budget, the total cost being 41395.00. This w4s referred to Committees No. l and Ao. 4. The Board of Works further recommended that the suggestions embodied in the letter from Mr. S. rush, Chief Engineer of the board of Fire Underwriters of the Pacific, eut fined on page 414 of Bulletin No. X70, be carried out at the earliest possibie moment. This recommendation was referred to the Board of Sa.: ety and Committee No. 2 Uas Distributing' Center and °Butane Plant A report was received from the Board of Works trans- mitting bulletin o 71 concerning the relocation of the gas distributing center and :Butane Plant.- This was referred o Comaittees No. 1 and ao. ;4 �nan;e of Setback Line on Seale 'hvellue r report was received from the Planning. Commission recommending that the setback line on -the southeasterly side of Seale ,avenue- be' changed. _.f'ro-m 30 feet to 20 feet_ from the south- esterly line' of Cowper:. Street to the full depth of -got 1,B ock 1, eaye Addition. No. 7 Ordinance No. 648, changing the settack.line on the southeasterly side of Seale Avenue between Cowper and iiaverley was read Streets from 30 Feet, to 20 feet for a distance of 100 feet the recomt southwesterly from Cowper Street, was read, and on motion of Hospitaii. Mosher and Judson was .adopted as an emergency ordinance, by be made pE unanimous: vote on; roll call. person be excess of Opening of Washington Avenue be greatex provided t A report was received from the '...anning Commission for not ac recommending that.. Washington Avenue from its present termination that, in c to Webster Street be opened. I'E.is was referred to Committee concerning No. 1. persons vo containing Propositio permanent A `_report v a: '.,received from. the Planning Commission r'al.o Ayto? mm reco ending that;, the use of a portion of - the old hospital site adjacent to the .bovl,inggreen be allowed for croquet courts. T This was ; r.eferr ed to the Community Center Commission. roll call: Chan�e <of Setbac eine on Jlellohg x>venue X: recommendation 4vas received from the £lanning Commission that the, setback line on the southeasterly side of Kellogg" avenue, beginning at a point 75 feet northeasterly from the=.northeasterly line. of Byron Street for a distance of 37 feet northeasterly . be ;c±iang.ed from 24 feet, to U. feet. :Ordinance yo .:.649, changing this setbaCx line as ec_ommended,_ was : read, and on motion of Mosher.'. and Kitchell was adopted` ass an: emergency ordinance by unanimous vote on roii, call. Committee Report on .Letter from 'T'ypo raphical onion ReferrIng to the letter from Palo Alto Typogra.phlcai Union No. 521 -requesting that the City purchase all printing and ;printing `:suppl.ies from Palo Alto firms, Committee lvo. i reported that it funds that local printers are . receiving a preferenc.e on all city work except where" the difference in price is too great to justify placing the business with a local firm, and recommended that no action be taken on the request. On ;motion;: of Mitchell and Brown, this report was accepted and placed .-;ox file. in re Merchants: League Request for Or:_inance on itinerant. vendors Committee No. ` informed the Council that it has twice considered, the recuest of the Palo .alto Merchants .►,eague for tfie adoption of an ord=inance prop,sed by the League which would pro .t uninvited: soliciting and pedaling by transients, and tre Committee requests further time in ora.er .to give people interested a chance to be present at a discussion of this matter. The request for further time was granted. Continuance ilan report . wa s received from L ommi.,ttee No. . 4 recommending that the x4oSPitalization- clan be continued .until the 60th of June; there ]being 'apparently sufficient funds remaining in the popriation to :cover the cost. On motion of 2 tchell andrio,.r.t y this: report was approver. by unanimous vote on roll ca}._. rropo6i.tion On :ballot re Ho eital Benefit Plan A reportwas received from Committee ivo. 4 recoraaen4- ingthat the question ofadopting t:n,e spitalization benefit Plan as recommended : by the Special Committee on iiospi talizaticm be submitted at the coming election to the electors of Palo Alto as, a question ofpolicy of the City. L eec covering_ a this deed_c referred tc Oraina creating t1 motion of roll call. Commission, and on motic ordinance b5 J_'.c as :embers c representiztg the Comaiux t represent.xti and .eliy, t ,Jrdire n Or( relating to Building Cod( unanimous vol ports Xne month of npri v n, Resolution, £ o.:1078,.relating to osp:.ializa.t :on Fund,' ley was read . and discussed at length. 'his resolution recited the recommendation.recently made by the peo:ia . uommitt. e on Bospitalizat.ion that the `>nospita benefits to ! aio Alto residents be made permanent and that -the the flat benefit o ' 2.50 per day per person be applied to: a l per diem, charges except those in excess of $8.00 per day,. provided that in no case shall benefits be .grea.ter than ii.fty° per cent; of the per diem charge, and provided that said benefits shall "be available to each. person n for not more than .21 days in ;each year.; The resolution ,prcvi. es ration; that, in order; to get an expression from the voters of the City ee t this plaxi, a ':separat;e ballot be presented: toail persons voting at the general municipal election on May 14, 1935, containing the .following' question under the title of Proposition a°. _,1: t.uo you ;favor the establishment of a permanent hospital benefit plan for the citizens of the City of n i ealo A.:.to?er site This resolution was adopted by the following vote on roll call: Ayes: Blois, Bonham, audson, 4elly, Li.tchell, Aosher, Cathcart, Thoits, Thomas. Noes: brown, Collins, Crandall. eec from .R.�Grieb A deed was .presented from L. , H. and Anna Grieb, covering a portion of Lot 46, Block 47, on Pilo Alto Avenue, this deed correcting a former deed now on tile. This was i was referred to the' Board of Public forks. a. :et-al.Ln Ordinance Repealing Ordinance Jtio. 646 Ordinance .No. 650, :; repealing Ordinance A. . 646 creating the Veterans Building Coxr nission,v;as read, and on motion of .crown and ,xo:nham,`'was , passed by unanimous vote on roll call. cal ng price firms, and rant trice 'or the d the Jr• in.ance, CreatingVeterans Blinding Lor.mission Ordinance 41o., 651, creating the Veterans Building eo:rmission and setting forth, its .powers and duties, was read, ana on motion of Mitchell aid Aosher, was adopted as an emergency oraia nce by unanimous. vote onroll call. The layor announced the appointment of the following as members of the Veterans Building uommission. The ;iayor representing the City' Council, Major E. Grisell representing the Commnni ty i:enter:: Commission„. and Major R. R. organ as representative of the .Veterans Council. on motion of Cathcart and ;Kelly, these appointments were ,confirmed. Ordinance £ o. 652, repealing Ordinance 1`J. 636, relating to Paragraph. (e) .of',,Section. 1602 of the ea10 Alto builc.ing Code, ws.s given° second reading,- and adopted by , ua unanimous vote on roll. call of, the Eeoorts af' C`fficia. s.. ca3:3 The reports of : the Auditor and Treasurer forthe: month. . of April, 1935, were received and placed on file. ZiliS .x 0proved un motion of flitch l and Kell e following bills and warrants authorized in payment of the same: City of Palo Alto 4P20.45 City of Palo alto 28.30 San Jose Abstract Co . 15.00 .Alma 't. inson 1.80 Bancroft-i hitney L•o. 11.68 Automobile Registration ;Ser.. 85.47 'rofessior al building., Inc-. 25.00 Public auianagement 4.00 E. A. Stuart 3.84 Sionaker's Printing riouse 11.27 ilLayar Earl C . Thomas 25.00 The Travelers Insurance Co. 179.17 American City Sagazine 2.00 '' oh . A Springer 9.03 Pacific Tel. a Telg. Co. 6.35 City of Palo Alto 150.00 Palo Alto 'spitai 992.00 ;ire c ztment of City Officials' Coun_cilman Cathcart called attention_ to the policy of electing ,.city officials for an indefinite period, this policy 'having' been established last year, after it had been the custom for many : years to elect officials for a one-year period, and: suggested that this matter be reconsidered. The matter was referred to a special committee composed of the chairmen of the ':five ''Standing committees Of 'the Council. On. motion of Losher and boni m, the L' =oil adjourned. Approve City Clerk sess Roil lack Aay Attes