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City,Hall, Palo Alto, California,
December 2, 1J35.
The Council of. the City of . Palo Alto met in- special.
s ese' on on this date at 7:30 p.m., pursuant to the f
olloi'1ihg
n1-1_, mayor of the City of Palo Alto, J- hereby call
a special meeting of the Council of the City of
al.o Alto, to convene at the council ci/amber in the
city nail in the City of Palo Alto, at the hour of,
7:3u p.m., Londay, December 2, 19)5, for the
purpose of considering the resolution of necessity
for a bona issue for a new lower Plant, and for the
consideration of such other business as may come
before the Council."
i1ayor duason presided, and roll call was as follows:
Present: Blois, Bonham:, Cathcart, Collins, Costello,Geddard,
Judson, Mitchell, :posher, ± ichards, 6aisman,
Stephens, Thoits, Thomas, Vuood .
Absent: None.
The minutes of the meetings of i ovember 4 and 12, 1'935,
e.rc approved.
.:eee uti.n of Necessity for bond Is ,.;s for eoeer a,'t.
P - ,
1 t
Wile special order of the day was the consideration of
resolution of necessity for a bond issue for the construction
a new rower elant .
A report was received from the board of Public '}works
ece :i:^e;lu ng the submission to the people of an eighteen -year
eond issue for w•360,000 for the enlargement of the idiesel electric
ee.lerating pant to a capacity sufficient to carry Palo Alto's
cau, and transmitting the report of the Director of utilities
r'cgaraing the economic savings possible from the construction
of t .is plant, together with the report of Lester ;a. Ready and
Carl A. J,leinze, consulting engineers.
A report was also received from Committee
e ecommen(ing the approval of the recommendation of the board of
horns and the adoption of the resolution of neces ity for a
aond issue for the installation of the biesel electric is generating
The proposed resolution entitled, "Resolution
�eterm.lning that the Public Interest Necessity
�n�er..., � and Lemanci the
-.cq uisition, Construction and Completion of the following
A4u:hicipa.l Improvement of the City of Palo Alto, to ';it: Llectric-
u :;ieratin g g Works, including 'Power Plant, Subs w Substations, Transformers R' o
'tors, o'tors, Tral"isP1 iss ion'Lines, Conduits, Wires, Switches:-
4,eehinery, Apparatus, . ixtures, Equipment, Lands, Rights--of-Way _
:i.. other V:arxel Properties and Structures ieceesary or Lonvenient
'City of. and
iJr Jupu�.`�i.ng Saic, y vino •alto its Inhabitants with
tlec L ici ty for Wight, heat and Power, e tide Coet of wnic'', will
te'o great too be paid out ; of the ordinary annuaj. income and
.elenue. ox said City„, Was read.
:i'nis matter � . To� was- d.iScussea at length. Reference was
by Co uncilma mas to a statement in to:aight t s issue ' oT' the
Alto Timis( to. they eff }eett that•t ier e was -a possibility
�lof
VC'•rr cent, reduction.in �Iw; the holesale rate of electric energy
purchased from the Y. G. E. 'lie thought that if there is eny
foundation for this statement, tne matter should be investigate:.
and fully considered before action is taken on the resolution
of necessity.
Opposition was expressed by certain members of the
-Council to the proposea bond issue. Some council members
were O.1 the opinion that the question should be settled by a
vote of the electors; others declared their intention to vote
against the resolution because tney via not believe that the
construction of a new power plant vas a necessity at this time.
Councilman Thomas again referred to the question of
the wholesale rate and stated that he would like to know if
the City could be assured of a reduction. Councilman Thoits
made a motion, seconded by iyood, that the Board. of 'corks be
requested to investigate this question ana report to the cdounc:,h
at the meetmeet4hg next Monday night, and that action on the
resolution of necessity be postponed until tnat time.
This motion was aiscussed. The Mayor stated that
was opposed to postponing action as the Board .of korks has
investigated the-who.i.e question thoroughly andhe dim not bel �ve
they could obtain any additional information in a week. The
Mayor further stated that the statement concerning a possible
reduction in the wholesale rate for electric energy arose from
the fact that' five cities in California have joined together
in a request to the Railroad Commission for a nearing on the
matter :of a 'reduction in rates. Counci.iman ; Cathcart stated
ghat; he does not see no the Board of Works could get an
advance opinion on this matter from the Railroad 4ommission
withina week.
A vote was then t=aken on the motion tp postpone action
'for a week while the Board of Works investigates the matter,
the vote on roil call being as follows:
Ayes: Collins, Sa.1.sman,
Thoits, 'Thomas,' food.
Noes: Blois, Bonham, Cathcart, Costello, uoduarc.,
,r.
.Judson„ .y tchell, Mosher, Richards, Stephens..
The motion was lost.
Uouncilman Thoits, seconded by Stephens, then movea
that the resolution of necessity be adopted. The vote on
roil call •vas as follows;
Ayes: Sa,sman, Thoits, .-chomas, Wood.
:Noes; blois, zonham, Catncart, Collins, st.ello,
uoadard, ,i uasorh, Mitchell, posher, Ricraras,
'tephens.
The resolution was declared lost.
Proices S ✓m Butane. Plant and Rezoning rower aouse r
A communication vas received from Frank e,ee
attorney, representing a number of property owners in :lbs. ?�=
who fee,. 'that' they did not have a f u! l hearing. upon the ma ter
of rezoning the power house site to industrial zone, prole et-
further -against the moving of the butane Plant to this eoeetae
and asking the Council for a reconsideration Of this matter.
reference was made to the fact that a nearing v.as
held on•the matter of rezoning the rower house site on -‘cove. -,e=
4, 935,, at which -property owners were invited to be prese..t•
The minutes of the meeting of i‘lovember 4th in regard to this
hearing- were read, and it was noted that,after the nearing
held and consideration given to the matter -by the Councl.:., the
orainac
aaopted
the Uas
on this
adaressi
of neari
a6 rota:
::latter .
the ge- E
epovrtui
protest:,
ana mar.
t °ma , ti.z
from .ir.
ee
cal ee or n
0Utstand
n.cis me.
that one
any coun
3raered
•the Count
Coun4r ref
vacancy <
Judson.
.as abser
this date
that bias
V
construct
been re.oe
and r ig.ilt
ena the:.
tme Cite
i rom the
the City
or a rev:
aespite t:
offset aij
be e:eti
the pr ese_,
emoarceeee
urging pro
proposed s
C=ol. Ske�b
by the 6t -
was read,
roles calk,
voted ao
...S any
tigated,
tion.
the
s
y a
vote
the
time.
ri or
if
hoits
be
4 he
believe
The
_bi.e
from
her
the
vec
Par4,
natter
esting
cation.
ter.
iaS
v esa�k)er
sent.
this
Ag was
i the
ordinance rezoning the rower dousesite to industrial zone was
adopted as an emergency ordinance and decision was made to move
t e -Jas Distributing Center and Butane Plant to this Location.
Mr. Crist was present and addressed the council
on this matter. Judge h. D. Lakin was also present, and
addressed the Council on behalf of Wars. Grace 1,, Seale, ow'ner....
Di nearby property, who objected to the zonilg of this district
es industrial. Loth speakers asked treat the Council give the
.aa 4ter further consideration.
• his utter was- discussed by- the Council and it was
the gencrc:i_ opinion of tree counc;i..;. members that .ui'f icient
opportunity nad been giver. to property owners to present their
fro vests at the e ;.,. ing ..e1ci for• this purpose on ,iovember 4th
and tt1G.t i'u.;J. co:'),tided ation had been given to the .'natter at
t.c at time. un.:'ot1oxl: o.t' Cathcart ana �+�+itcheil, the communication
from .l.r. Crist was placed on' file.
?uU.:.ie:..tion:03 Addresses •at Zeague ConvWn ion
A communication -was received from the -eague of
OG..iifoariia ul1icipalities concerning the publication of the
outstanding addresses given •at. the '.1 35 League Convention,.
;; hich may be purchased. for w1.50 per copy. Tne iiayor stated -
that one copy had already. been ordered by the City, and that if•
any councilman wished another cod y for himself it ~could be -
oruered ::'or him if .he woula so inform the City Clerk.
:: PN i ntment to Rapid Transit Coin :it tree:
A co:l;nunication was received from the Mayor informing. -
the Council that he has appointed lir. C. E. Ashworth as .anta Clara
County representative. on the -Rapid Transit Committee to fill the
vacancy caused by the withdrawal from this committee oi` ayor•
Judson.
Councilman Collins left at this time, 5:30 p.m., ana
"Gs absent curing the rest of the meeting.
ens l or F ',mar cadero •Suubw-
The City itttorney read a telegram he had received on
this date from C. H. Purcell, Stake highway .ngineer, stating
teat bias will be opened on December a,195, for the
construction of the Ernbarcactero Subway, that no agreement has
been received from •the City covering additional construction
area right of way costs should it be possible to change the plans
are that no award of contract will be made until the attitude of
the City is itnown.
'itn reference to this telegram, a report was received
from the Board of Works recommending against an agreement by
the City to pay an indeterminate increases construction cost,
for a revised alignment of -the subway. The .oars stated that,
:. s ite the .fact that it favors a center line alignment over an
offs alignment for the subway, it aid not feel that the City
ti.i -f.0 assume this indeterminate obligation vbb.ich may turn out
;,o be extremely expensive, ,anal therefore recommended approval of
the present plans of the State Highway Department for the •
L.nbarcadero Subway with an offset alignment.
Col. J H. Skeggs, :division Engineer of the 6tate
ighway i%epartment, was present- and, addressed the Council,
urging •prompt action in -the-adoption of the puns for the
ropo(sled subway.- This -matter was discussed at length with-
(;ol . keb g s .•Resolution. zvo. 1092, adopting the plans as • pre.pared .
the 6tateiligbway Department i`or• the Embarca,dero .load Sul v4ay,
,gas read, and on 'motion o ' Mosher and. Bonham) was adopted .on:
X0!`1- Cail, a1i present -voting- Aye except Sc.�- 1
.1
• voted Ao. �an and 'l hol:t5; wnJ
e.ouncil,man Wood left at this time, 9 p.m., ana za;;
absent during the rest of the meeting.
Transfer in ioiice Fends
report was received from the Board of Public Saes
recorzirr�iend n�? ti�at470.00 be transferred from the *y
}� Salary tae E'qu Jment +`account of the 'e purpose
Boas or Safety for the purpose
Pose
nj' 1nstai;iing a radio on one of the police:notar,,cycies.
On.'motion. of mitcheli and Saisman, this was approved and
transfer.authorized by unanimous vote on roJ.i call.
rrdinance Amending section rye G mbiin
A report was received from Committee ly 2
a.' recommend
a change in Section 252 of Coaifiea Ordinance Ao. 3 to include
prevision for the termination of bowling
Ordinance Ao. 667, amending Section 252 of Codified
Ordinance 'o. 3 relating to gambling, which adds ;bowiingT' to
the various games listed in this section and provides for its
termination at 11:00 p.m. instead of midnight,. was given second
reading. After discussion, on motion of Cathcart and 6alsman,
this orair1anc,e '-was adopted by unanimous vote on roll call.
r-urther Time Granted Committee ido.2 on Foliove..ng items
to e
.t the request of Committee loo. 2 it :was granted
further time, on the matter of resolution relating to use of Taxi
stands, on the matter of diagonal parking on the Circle and.
onthe proposed ordinance relating to solicitors and peddlers.
Watchman at � Community House
e 'er-'ring to the request previously received fro Coamm y
Center . Com:nissjin, the employment of a watchman at the Community
Center grounds -and Community House every evening, Committee
reported that it has given consideration to this request anr: ±'ee_s
that this is a matter of public safety and should be acted upon
by Committee Ao. 2.
on this matter Committee ido. 2 submi ,tea a report
expressing approval oz' tne principle of maintaining a vvatcrman
evenings at the Community £LOUSe.
This matter was also re.fe:•rea by the Aiaayer to
Committee No. 4, and action was deferrea penning a report from.
this committee.
(dare of i.ibrary Grounds
A report was received fromCora:rzittee ldo. 3 expresz;ing
approval or the proposal or the Library Board to transfer the
care of the Library grounds to tne Board of Works inasmuch 4s
the Charter seems to place the maintenance of grounds and panes
under the care of the Board of korks. A motion was made by
Mitchell, seconded by Aosher, that the report be approved and
the transfer of the care of these grounds be authorized.
Objection was made by Councilman Thomas to taking action at trlis
meeting, because a report has not yet been received from tne
Board of Works on this matter and it is not yet known what
transfers of func.s may be needed L
. F� 'he. notion was t
/'hen
and the matter was referred to the otitd of Works and Committee
No. 1, no action to be taken uatii reports are received from
these bodies.
:recreational S ar ✓e'a Baru i ° s i port
report was receivea from Committee loo.
that the pia.lo Alto Recreational Survey Committee's pre.nimi ,dry
report be received and no action be taken at present,._ . : ' g:1 motion
of Thomas .and Bonham, the report of Committee 3 was a )erJVEµ•
rec o:mie:rd= 4
C omit t l
duties
present(
have an
the Clia:
time, ac
adjou's'nE
n:. ice re jdvisor y Board
d
:ety ine proposed ordinance, previously recommended by
ant Committee 4,4o. 3, relating to the reorganization, powers and
ose duties of the Advisory Board on Commercial Amusements, was
presented far second reading. .s the Council wished to
have an explanation, of the provisions of this ordinance from
the Chairman of Committee Bo,. 3 who was not present at this
time, action was deferred until the next meeting.
adjourned.
Attest
o 1unnit
r1..vY
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3. l s
cr
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his
"awn,
e.e
d irig
tied.
On motion of Thomas any. Aosher, the Council
City (;le.C'.0