Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout11041935atio as Hall,; Palo Alto, California.. November: 4, 1935. The Council of . the . City of Palo Alto met on this .date t 7.30 p.m., pursuant to' adjournment of October 14, 1935, with 4ia,yor j so;n presiding. Roil call as follows: Present; _lois,: Bonham, Cathcart,Coll.i ns, Costello, Goddard., -Judson,. Mitchell, Mosher, Richards, SaisMan,r Stephens, Thoits, Thomas. Absent: Wood-. The; minutes of the meeting of October 14, 1935 approved. Reuest'of D se,ble3 American Veterans Major R. F. Morgan was present and addressed the Cou_ncil on behalf of the .Disabled American Veterans who are :.�s,king their annual drive for for funds one . tu_raay, November 9th.. :-e referred to a misunderstanding 'which arose on a previous: occasion between the police department and those soliciting' fun for this organization., and asked the support of the City Council in the present campaign. Hearing (Annexation of mbarcadero Anntal This was the time set for a hearing on the matter of the proposed annexation of the district known as TTEmbar cad.ero .nnex" to the City of Palo Alto,and property owners were given an opportunity, in accordance with the law, to protest against the annexation. Written protests were received from the owners of twenty-one parcels of property in the district proposed for. annexation. In this :connection` a letter was received from Andrew lv. ii ortholm stating that he wishes to ::.cave nis name caken off <- petition which, he . signed protesting against the annexation, as he is now in ,favor of annexation. Judge �. :lard was present .and addressed the Council on behalf of trze signers of the protest against annexation. The City Attorney explained the procedure which the Council is required ` to follow under the state law. It was reported that there are ninety-seven parcels of property in tne district, and that the Council must pass an ordinance calling an election in the district proposed for annexation n.Less the owners of a majority of the parcels of property protest against annexation. 2,1though the petition of protest :as not yet been checked, it appeared that the nuarber of pr otesta12 is was not sufficient to prevent the cal_ing of the election. The City Attorney stated that he would present tne ordinance calling : the election to the Council at its reu/ar ..ieeting on Tuesday, November 12, 1935. Hearing cRezoning. Power- Plant Site) This was also, the time set for a nearing upon the me t ter of ` rezoning the. Power -'Plant Site from first residential co industrial zone. The .legal notice of this hearing, nice w,ts published 'i.n accordance with the provisions of the zo:lira; ordinance, was read. A letter eras received from Henry Colombat, owner of property at 1405 : apkins bven;2.e, "protesting against the removal of the Butane Plant 'froth i.ts-- bresent location on Middlefield hoad a to a site adjacent to the Power Plant. Mr. Howard Stevens and two other property owners in the zone of interest were present and objected to the removal of the Butane rlant to the Power Plant site. Aleference was made to the report of Committee 14o. 1 recommencing that : the Gas Distributing Center and Butane Plant be located at the Power Plant site as recommended by the Board of Works. This matter was discussed at length by the Council. The Director of Utilities explained vvny the Board of Works selected; she Power iilan.t site as the logical locationfor tae Gas Distributing Center and. Butane Plant, and gave estimates of costfor moving the plant to this site as compared v;itn its removal toother proposed locations, particularly to a site in the leiayfield District, which would cost about twice as much and also involve the purchase of land from the Southern Pacific Company. It is also pointed out that it was believed the tanks would ' not be a serious detriment to the neighborhood as they would be placed near the present Power Plant and screened by planting, and ;that a street would be between the tanks and the nearest residences, which is not tie case in the present location on Middlefield Road, where houses are immediately adjacent to the Butane Plant. Tne proposed ordinance changing the zone in which the Power Plant Site is located from first residential to industrial zone was given first reading. Petition .to. Improve Wellesley Street A petition fromcertain property owners for the improvement of Wellesley Street from the park to California Avenue with an oil macadam surface was referred to the Board of Works and Committee No. I.: Annual Report of Community' Center Commission The annual report of the Community Center Commission for the fiscal year 1934-35 was received, and a copy of this report was presented to each council member. Basis for Computing Gas Tax Allocation A communication was received from the State Department of Public Works advising that the basis for .computing the apportionment of the gas tax allocation will be the population for. the City of Palo Alto as given in the last federal census, i.e., 13,652. This letter was placed on file. Embarcad.ero Suburb A report was received from the Planning Commission stating that it believes the construction of the proposed Embarcadero Road subway as proposed by Drr wing No. P -498-l5 or the State Aighway Commission would result in a serious traffic hazard, and recommending that the subway be constructed along the center line of Embarcdc.ero Road, anti that no traffic lane connecting Aign Street and Alma Street be constructed on Embarcadero; Road. A report was received from the Board of Safety rec_ommendir..g t=hat the plans of -the State Highway Commission be modified 'because these plans involve a. subway trig t is 40 feet off center from t'r e middle of Embarcadero Road and c 4e an undesirable -.traff is hazard, and alsp because of , the hazard involved _ by the -creation• of a 29 -foot lane on Embarcadero ito d. The Board by the P3. line of E these cna the plan line of E the neces Council, that the r moving the of Embarca reported t and :4r. A. go asade. get a ruli power to a meet the c and to neg; Department the subway, of Public i agreement i Celif ornia Board of ,r; o State in re;:hat talis A separate from the Eo, subway and definitely .=;mbarcadero an 'r . .A A. J : g_l::ay -rg o= advised thee in charge o tae time al center line Emcarca.aero is and State of appeared fro adopts this~ plans as nov: mane by so:r:e agreement n importance o and the City St ;E• Hig w'a the Council would be in call G a spec:, resolution a agreement, ; at tae next : called. ant and the its :ucb. if :ie las ned nd and-:. nt :he Board of Safety approved_ the changes in the plans suggested by the Planning Cormissi,on1showing the subway along the center lineof Embarcader.o Road, and recommended to the Council that these changes be adopted The roard of Works also submitted a report approving tae plan to align: the center :`line of the subway with the center _Line of Embarcadero xroad s,rid;' reconmen ing ,to the Council that tae necessary land , be: acquired. & report was read ,from the special committee of the Council, appointed by the Mayor„ on October 19th, recommending that the revised plan of the Board of Works which ^provides for moving the centerline of t.he subway over to the center line of Embarcadero Road, be approved. The special committee reported that it requested the City Engineer, City Attorney and .fir. A. E. Roth, Comptroller .of atanford. University, to. go as a delegation to Sacramento on Octooer list, in order to ;;eta ruling from the State Board of Equalization as to the Lityr l s power to I:Xe appropriations from the unappropriated balance to meet trie costs of acquiring land for the proposed improvement, and to negotiate , with the officials of the State rlzghv ay Department ±'or the necessary changes in the detailed plans for the subway. A letter. dated October .ist, from the '6tate Department of Public Works, concerning -".the proposed subway and form -of agreement between- the. City of Palo Alto and the 6tate of C: ii±ornia was received. A report, dated November 4th, was received from the Loarc of Works, approving the a:g:reement between the City and State in reference to the - E.nbax*cadero subway, and recommending' hat this agreement be adopted and executed by the City Council. • separate report of the 'same date, November 4th, was received from the . ,oard of works submitting the plans of the bmbarcadero subway and atating that. the:board wishes to go on recorc. as - definitely approving theplarnto align the subway with fbarcader•o Koad. Thee Board. advised that the City : ngineer a ci : r . A. E. Roth have interviewed Mr. C. H. Purceii, 6tate . Engineer, in regard to this matter, and Mr. = urcell has a viseci that it the. Public Works Administration euthori ties. in charge of this work will permit a two-weess extension over t ,e tine aiiowed, definite steps will be taken to have the center line of the -sunray coincide with the center line o± Em •ar•caaero Road. Tne proposedagreement between the `Pity of .eal.o Alto aria 5taLe of California was read by the City Attor Bey. It wcearea from the wording of the agreement that if the Council adopts this agreement .the City would be bound to accept the plans as now drawn with the subway off center. Objection was Wwdc by some members ` of the Council to considering this agreement until it has been before Committee y\io . 1. The importance of early .action on this agreement was pointed out, nd the City .Lngineer> was requested to ascertain corn • ;,c. Highway Department officials whether or not action by tf.e Council at its next reg filar meeting on Tuesday, movember 12th,, :),,_.d be in sufficient tierce; if not, it would be necessary to cell a special council meEting later during this cheek. The rnatJer..of this agreement, together witri she res=olution authorizing the iLayor and City Clerk to execute .the agreement, then referred to Committee No. 1 for a report ae one next regular meeting, or at ' a special meeting if one is ca=lled. 218.. ormnuriity Kitchen A report was received from the Board of Public safety on the Re with, reference to the expenses of the Community Ki_ tcnen, the system on Board recommending that the salary of Mr. Walter ,Ionn for ne v.hic., has administration of the Colr:m,.n.i ty iii. tc he:_ be fixed ` at „;l :0.00 der prepares aontn, the ` City to ` provide for him when en needed a city car if for esti= one is available, that when -r. John uses nis own car it be at Richards, his own; expense. It Y.as pointed out that a previous report expressio on the same subject is now before Committee i`o. 2, and this splendid report was' also r referred to Committee No. 2. Denial of Requests for Special Building permits 3ui.leti.n file, wit .6=` report was received from the Planning • Commission this repo recommending that the requests of E. iii. Sanford :._nd . F. Wiesjahn for 'prmission to build garages with :Living quarters above, at Q04 Coper Street and 575 iay.tnorne Avenue, urino th respectively, be denied. It 1",us pointed. out t c:c:t this i - a question 'involving the buil.din ordinances, and upoil rec best rf jrdi: the Board of Works had been referred to the Planning Commission Rem:" for its opinion. On motion of Mitchell and Cathcart, the report of the Planning Commission was referred to the coare. of Worksfor its information. necessity L15 tribut: Recue.st for Setback Change iiot Granted nas been : that a corecommending -6hat the request of J. L. hawley for change of _,_-_,e plint setback line on: the southeast side of Hawthorne Avenue for a consideral distance of 75 feet southw,sterly froill Cov,per Street from ii ec:, to 7i feet be not granted. On motioo, of Bonham and Collins, this report was approved. Ordinance on Reorganization of Advisory Board. ..--A.report was received from Committee i4o. _3 reco;t endi^; for first reading the ordim:nce relative to thte - r'eorganiz2 tio^ of , the ,d.visory Board on Commercial Amusements as finally approved:�by Comrnittee Jdo. 3. The proposed ordinance entitled rr Ordinance - e „z,.:L..d "An .1�'Ciin::_ 1C Cfi_._^� ,z,nd 'Su lementing Certain Sections of Codified e nP b e ,, c�iy i..d Ordinance with Reference to the Aeoranization, Powers and Duties of ____ 'Adv=isory board on Commercial .ousements and -Theatre and Regulation-S-4 v' • A s given first reading. Ao ro'oriation for Cobblino. Project -A report was received from Committee No. 3 reco; that •an. apptoA riation not to exceed x',15.00 be made to rei-:ib zrse the Community . K:itchen for pov: er and light •used. by the S . 1.._ Cobbling Project. Action was deferred on this matter until -report 'is -received' from Committee J4o. 4 to which it w s s.lso referred. Ordinance Changing, Setback Line The proposed ordinance, previously recommended by Planning -Commission, c'+..;._P_":.ng the setback line on the north eG� side• of: California Avenue from 30 feet to 24 feet for t 51.74 feet southwesterly "'_ b � St - from Webster ...St w Street, e'�., ::.:'3.u. O.. i; .� ,1 _. west side o' ;r;ebster Street from M : e for to 20'feet e -t � or _. distance of 75 feet northwesterly from C% ;lii.orn3,a -Avenue, • iven second. reading. � e� inQ. On motion of Mitchell- �i.tchell and 10 _ � .;. -ordinance `(Ordinance JNo. 6.04) was passed by unanimous vote on roll.'cali , lhol ts, SE the zone residentia or iii nce. residentia ordinance Collins, t uas Distri Plant site Tnis was d all voting Re SyL title s pit the W icen1' has been question .,. payment fo: to Ccmmitt: City ilttor on this mat Attest: C Bulletins on EleotrolierSystem and Street 'ig sting Refe: c7;nce was' made to - oard of )Yorks bulletin l'o, 22 on the Removal of ,Poles and Installation of an L.lectrolier . ys tem on Li Ca.0 ao Real in the iayf iela District, a, copy o ,.hi ch has been sent to ,'each 'councilman. Lis bulletin. 1:as p l.ep4+.'r. ed by the Board of Works at the request of the Council i'or estimates of cost 'on. this matter. On motion of -usher and 't :`e ac accepted and placed. o:'1 file, with an 1�I1c: G. y l,lil5 report v�aa expression of appreciation to the Board of vor' .s for this splendid report. On motion of Mitchell and Richards, board of Works ?ulletin NO. 89 on .Street Lighting vas accepted ar . placed on f4 with file, r, ^t' thanks of the Council to the Board of Worksforthis report. Councilman Wood came at 9:30 p.m. and was present t;. i[ i the rest of the meeting. Ordinanc✓e Ci'la]ngin Zone oyf� Power . Playn�t] Site, Removal of Gas DistriY✓ut nP Center and Butane Plant -1 r' 7 The Director' of Utilities ities called attention to the necessity for early action on the matter of moving the 6' .s 1-'istributing Cent ->r and Butane Pant. lie stated tk at applicatic been made to the P.W.A. for a grant for this o-)rpJ ct and a contract for the work must be lot by December 14th, in• __:'.`coi't,,ance with the regulations or. the P.474 • A. ' 'also that m oe plant is to be moved to othe,Power Plant site, early consideration sho La be given to the matter of rezoning- this. Ate. This matter was discussed, c.nd a. motion was maue by .ho ;,::a, secondedby Mitchell, that the ordinance c oa,r ing tJ. zone gone in which the Power Plant site located ... �1C: {. is V L r 0 f11 first T.eside`J.tial to industrial zone be adopted as a.l.i emergency ordilance. Ordinance 665, changing this zone from first 1. sideatial to industrial, was then as an r :y n y ;D;3SSL('1 emergency E C ordinance by unanimous vote on roll call. v motion was then made by Thoits, secondee. by X01 sins, that the recommendation of Committee No. J. that the s Die= -r Cent L 2bUt3.2:�, ex' and Butane Plant be ::tloVco to the over Pi%nt site as recommended by the Board of Works be adopted. was discussed, and the motion was carried o f roll call, ail voting Aye except Mosher and Sal man who vot,eo No. Re Suit by Mr .s . Wagner The City Attorney brought up the matter of a quiet title suit brought by Mrs. Francs Wagner in connection with te idening of Cambridge Avenue, and stated. that trial the i� al. =:s bee-i =. ismissed. The Attorney reported that t riere is a. 4.7 'stjon to be decided with reference to the land and possible a;;" ent for it, and at his suggestion the matter v.as referred to Committee No. 1 for consideration and recomm 'ndo. Lion. The City Attorney advised that he would make a detailed report o; this mutter to the committee. On motion of Thomas and ; osier, the Council adjourned.