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HomeMy WebLinkAbout12091935230: City Hall, Palo Alto, California December 9, 1935 ' . The Council of the City of Palo Alto met in regular session on this date at 7:30 p.m., with Mayor` Judson pre.sidir7 Roll: call a5 ollow-s: - ��. Present: Absent: .ziois, Bonham, Collins, Costello, Judson, Mitchell, kosher, Richards, Salsm.an, Stephens, Thoits. Cathcart, Goddard, Thomas, Wood. Meeting Of Peninsula Division of Municipal. League. communication was received from H. H. President of the Peninsula Division of the League Municipalities, concerning the next meeting of th Division to be, held in San Bruno, at uncle Tom's Thursday, •D oember 19th, at 6:45 p.m. Council officials who; expect to attend this meeting were notify the City Clerk. claim of Mrs. A. S. Ellio,tt A letter was received from Judge Edward �. 4 �,c .; E. =l:lydy concerning the claim of rs . A. S . Elliott for 415.0.00 to pay doctor's bilis for 'tr'eatment of injuries she received in . . caused by a broken piece in the �G'� p sidewalk on,�ollc�ge Avenue. The City Attorney informed the Council that' this injury occurred on viarch 14, 1935, Inc that the claim had been denied by t: insurance company because it had not been filed within ninety days from the date of the injury required by law. On motion of as Collins and Cos this Ll:l.a matter tt per was referred to Committee 1\10. 5 for study and report to the Council, with the request that all correspondence on this subject, the City Attorney and City Engineer may have, be brought before the committee' at the time the matter is considered. resignation from Advisory moard A ..ester was received Edmund his resignation t'i'Oi.. A. Buchanan t%t%�c::::n g: ation a member of the Advisory 1zoard on Low ^^1G1 Amusements. Cn motion of Mo ;h.er ane R was accepted. Ile City Clerk was rec,uestea to notify Mr. Buchanan and also Major :pct' eely, secretary of the Advisory =J 4: , of this action. Smith, of Cal iy ornie e Peninsula Cabin, on members and city requested to nea.rin byRailroad Commission re Rates for Da Tra A letter was received from the League of California y Municipalities concerning a hearing to be held on December in San.. Francisco. by the Railroad Commission in the matter o_• establishing rates,. rules and regulations f JY' i dump t �,ruCct: "ire The League 'advitedthat if the proposed rates are enforces the cost ' of u� P.A. projects to cities will be materially r.:ee A copy of•the order of the pail n relating ng sec. Railroad oad Commission rel n this hearing, was: �i:1 ��ti..b �c p so received. This matter was referred City Attorney'and City -Engineer. Project -of Recreational Building for Mayfield. ;2.7'; A letter was received from the Chairman of Board suggesting that consideration be given to the possibility of - transferring : the project for a recreational building at Mayfield from a W.P.A. project to a P.W.A. project and that a request be made for the allocation of ±edera,l, funds to pay portion -of the most, of this improvement. This wag -referred to the Board of Public Works and Committee lvo. 1. Bill f. enclosing a that this b_ referred to Letter A Council of t hospitalizat Paving A recommending purpose of p; Seneca Stree. on this S s ub j E No. 4. lie e s u�.. f c A the attertlo: Street betwee ✓mitting Buie that the sum tnis purpose. Deasy A r epproving a 1, the ground - us l field, and re( This matter ,, e ma t- r A rE ing t ha t the C va9, 660.00 of Paving Project 1935. • The Bo in the near fu for this work, the gas tax al involved. Th paving of Mild. Highway. and a At the withdrawing the Public Torks A< C o u;lc :, give: to the i resolution of which resolutic December 2nd'e necessity. If. Council, Cou.nc.1 procedure, rcf authority of th Project as reco referring also • Bill from Chamber of. Commerce for Macs A letter :was received from the Chamber of Commerce enclosing a bill of $26.7,8 far city maps, with the request that this bill be paid` from t ie Publicity Fund. This was r eferr. ed to Committee o . 4. Letter from .Bos,tital Council of New York A letter addressed to the Mayor from the hospital Council of the City of New York., commenting upon Palo Alto's ospitalization plan, was received and placed on file. Palo Alto l Avenue A report was received from the Board of"Works recommending that the sum of $1,636.00 be appropriated for the purpuee of paving the City's share of Palo Alto Avenue between =:enece street and Yale 6treet,and transmittirl.: J bulletin 1 A�o � 29 en t_.:;.s subject. `'rhis was referred to Committees �Qm:nittees =4o. 1 and .Leeurf .cing Emerson Street A report was received from the Board of Works calling. the attention of the .Council to .the need of resurfacing son Str e t between Lytton Avenue and Hawthorne ans- ,� . e avenue, and tru.ns- ✓ :hitting Bulletin J»o . 31 on thiis subject, the .board reconr. that +� - ��endixlg t. ,, one sum of $2,000.00 be set up in the 1936-37 . budget for t is purpose. This was referred to Co tees and No. % Lease with Southern Pacific re Lighting i..a.1;,,-�M -,. �; Y•t J== a .:i C�'. b u..j..l Yield A report was received from the Board of Works epproving a lease with .,he. Southern Pacific company covering. the ground used in connection 'vvith the lighting of the baseball field, and recommending this lease to the Council for approval. I is matter was referred, to Committee io. 1. P.W.A. Projects and Federal Grants A report was received from the Board of Works recommend- ing that the Council request P.W.A. authorities to allocate 1,600.0v of the X218,100' Power Plant Grant to the Street Paving Project which was i approved by the Council ' } in September, The Board pointed out that work can be started on'this in the near future, and that the balance of the funds needed :.'or t_eis work, amounting to $23,970.00, is Palo Alto's share of the gas tax allocation, so that city funds are not directly involved. The street improvement contemplated is for the paving of Middlefield Road, Oregon Avenue, strips along the ignwar and a block" on Alma Street.. At this, time the : City Attorney presented a resolution "zthdraY:ing the application for ,a grant of $218,100 from the Public arks Administration for the Power .eia.nt project. Councilman Thoits stated that before consideration is el. �'e-1 to the above resolution, he wished to re -:introduce the resolution of necessity for: a bond issue for a new Power Plant,. 6elic h resolution was lostonroll .call at the .aeeting on eecember 2nd, and moved`: the adoption of this resolution of necessity. In re -introducing this >resolution before the Council, Councilman Thoits Outlined briefly the history of the: eroeP '.::re, referring '.`'.,o the application m t aLlt.:�Qri , made by �3:tt.. Mayor upon authority of the Council for a Federal grant for the rower Plant xoject as recommended' b;, tie Board of corks and 'soar ittee 1, rei e; ring also to the ,fact that the ;gre,nt of 8218,100 was allowed, :that an economic study of the project was made by ,,ester S. Ready and that the Board of Works after considering his report recommendedthat the Council commence a bond procedure. he pointed: out the advantages to be gained by the; city in possessing its, own generating plant, and it was his opinion that the voters should be given: the opportunity to express themselves on the matter of a: bond issue for this purpose. Dr. Wood came at 8:05 p.m. and was present during the rest of the meeting. The City Xt torney advised that it, was not proper to re -introduce the resolution which was lost at the last meeting, but to introduce a new resolution of necessity bearing the same title as the former one, and containing the same provisions, dated as of today, December 9, 1935. At the request of Councilman Costello, at 8:15 p.m., the Council took a recess of five minutes. The Council reconvene; at 8:20 p.m. Councilman uoddard came at this time and was present during the rest of the meeting. The new resolution of necessity, introduced by Councji em Thoits, was considered at length. Councilman aalsman expressed his belief that the people should nave the right to vote upon teis mutter. The mayor referred to the fact that certain council members could riot subscribe to the statement contained ..n the resolution declaring the necessity for the construction of a nel Power Plant. councilman Thoits maintained that the resolutionef necessity is required by lam to be worded in certain terms and is the first step in the bond procedure. Councilman Thomas came at 8:30 p.m. and was present during the rest of the meeting. Councilman Costello stated that he felt the whole had been given careful consideration previously and there was no occasion to discuss it again. Councilman Collins explained .' is position, having voted as a member of Committee Ao. 1 to r eco ueno. the resolution of necessity .tor passage and then voting against the resolution at the last meeting because he felt that if the bond issue is voted upon by the people it should be placed before them.; with the endorsement of the council members on the proposition; he started that ne did not feel justified in changi us vote at this time but would be glad to have the matter kept on the docket for further consideration. Councilman iuood expressed his belief that municipal ownership of utilities is a good investment for the City and ,pate: that he is in favor of the notion to adopt the resolution. 'After all councilmen who desired t,o express their vie4s had .done, so, a roll call was taken on the resolution of necessity with the following result: Salesman, Thoits, Thomas, Wood. Noes: Blois, Bonham, Collins, Costelio, Goddard, Judson,,itchell,Mosher,Richards, Sephens. The resolution was declared lost. Resolution No. 1093, withdrawing the application Known as _Docket California 1417, City of Palo .Alto (Electric Power Plant§ for :4218,100, was read, and on motion: of Mitchel:l and Mosher, was adopted by the following vote on roll -call: the re-aiio Works B 19:5, a - to meet on mo tJ. to appo standix Public with th concern, of the P Project the Boar to &seer A motion be taken _nstalla increase think it mess tl aiscussi subject report of request t Power .ela e tae s;; any mea.su aliocatio turned ba authorize that the :°aking a above mot to requees grant of appiicati to the Pa. adopted b, r41. recommend Universite iar_e at F. stop si .m and r elvi. pions rec, att e_ his :mend st eyes: Blois,, Bonham, Costello, Goddard, son,- ' itche jS„ kosher, Richards, Stephens P, eloes: Collins, Salsman., Thoits, Thomas, Wood. The mayor then read the second item :;f the report of the Board of Works recommending that the Council request a re -allocation of $18,000 of the Power 2lant Grant to the 'ublic Works Building Project approved by the Council in September, L:;65, and suggesting that a committee of the Council be appointed to meet with the Board todiscuss plans for this project. „n motion of Mitchell and Richards, the Isyor vvas authorized to appoint a special committee or to designate one of the standing committees to discuss this matter with the Board of Public Works The Mayor requested Committee lop 1 to meet Y:itn the Board. of Works in the consideration of this matter. A report was; then read- from the Board of Works concerning the desirability ity. of making a request to haee a portion the Power riant Grant re -allocated to the Street Lighting Project for which application has not yet been made to the P.W.A. , �..e board suggesting that this matter be referred to a committee to ascertain how the City's snare of the project could be raised. A metion was made by; Mitchell, seconded by Thomas, that no action e taken on this matter, it being their opinion that the installation_ of a modern street lighting system would cause an increase in the tax rate to which they objected, and they did not think it was worth while for a committee to study the matter w:! ess the City plans to proceed with the improvement. after lisc-tiss Yon, it was decided that no action '' ouLt be taken on this subject at this time. Tne mayor then referred back to the first item in report of. the Board of Works recommending that the Council recjuest the P.W.A. authorities to allocate l9 600.00 of the over Plan Grant to the Street Paving Project. It vas moved by Thomas, seconded by Mitchell, that . it be the sense of the Council that the Board of Works should use any measures which to them seem fitting to bring about a re- ell.ocation of a portion of the. $218,100 grant,which has now been turned back to the government,for any projects h.eretoiore. authorized by the Council. It was then reported to the council: that the P. ti .A. office in San Francisco requested a resolution Iak .ng a definite request for re -allocation of funds, and the above motion was withdrawn. Resolution Ao. 1094, authorizing the Boers of iorks to request the. Public Works Administration to divert from the ;I'en v of. S c18,100 made to the Electric Potter slant .eroject, apPlicetior, for which has been ,withdrawn., the sun: of x;19,600.00 to the Paving and Resurfacing Streets Project, was read, and adopted byunanimous vote on roll call. Traffic Regulations A report was received from the Board of Safety :re:conmenaing that the parking space on the south side of University avenue, located,. immediately rest of the pe;::estrian lane at Florence Street be *designated a five-minute parking spare. The Board of Safety, also recommended that a four-way stop signal be installed at the intersection. of Middlefield Road and Melville Avenue. Tne City Attorney explained that the above recommenda- tions require resolutionohi.ch' he would prepare and present to 'the Beard of Safety for adoption and lamer to the Council for the Council t s; approval.. A. recommendation was also received from ,the Board of Safety that the- concrete posts at the intersection. 'of Middlefield Road ,and` Melville; Avenue be removed and sugges .ing that the. manager of. the -Community Kitchen be requested to have his men do this work.. The Attorney advised that this matter could be taken `care ox by the board itself and there,was no need for actin by the Cruncil. The board of 6afety also recommendedthat no change be made in traffic regulations in Southgate for the present. Cla motion of Thomas and kosher, this recommendation was approved. Community Kitchen Fxoenscs A report was received from Committee No. 4 reco.nmendir 'that the sum of $260.00 be appropriated to the Beard of. Safety for the purpose of paying the salary of the Manager of the Community KI"tcren; for the months of November and ecember, 1935, at the rate of $120.00 per month, the extra $20.00 being to meet car allowance for the month of August, 1935, this approprL.- tion to be taken from the Contingent Fund. The committee recommended further that tie Bard of Safety be requested to make G. definite z'eeuest for funds to oover the Community, Kitc_nen° s expenses curing the remainder of the fiscal year, such request to include a ::sufficient amoelat for transportation. Or` Motion of iitcheil and Richards, the above recommendations were approved and the appropriation allowed, by unanimous vote ` on roll call. Widens 1g Matadero Creek .'ridge Referring to the matter of widening i atadero Creek Bridge at rima. '6treet and to the recommendation of the Board o Works that the cost of this improvement amounting to V63.00 .,r be put in the budget for 136-37, Committee fro. 4 rec.uestea the Council to refer this to the board of Works for inclusion in their proposed budget for 1936-37 in order that the coy._ tt,e may ;consider it at that time. The committee's report was approvedand the matter so referred to the Boardof Works.v1 Vde tcbran for Community r 7. i`L Centx .i report was received from om Committee ttee No. 4 r ecom en ai g that the request of the Community Center Commission that a watchman be employed at the 0ommunity Center for a period of liVe .ours each evening be approved, and that anappropriation not to exceed' ,v6O0.00 be made for this purpose for the remainder of this fiscal year, this amount to be taken from the Contingent is m.d. On motion of Mitchell and Bonham, this recommendation was approved and the appropriation ..utrorized, by unanimous vote on roll call. Reimbursement to Community Kitchen re; Cobbling Project report was received. that an appropriation of $15.00 Kitchen for power and light used Project,' this amount to be taken This recommendation was approved by " unanimous 'vote ' on roll call. from 6ommittee :. O , recommenoi be made to` reimburrse the Co d:La_n.. by the S.B.'R.A. Cobbling from the Contingent' Fund. and the appropriation c uthorizei. that the from the of 4% Ci automobii of Thomas the trans Ex,e t:at the -.o ;;ashi.: City, and purpose f Jiosher, t authorizes Auciir that Skini accounts bid of $12 ..itcheil G Claim that no ac Fidelity t some month: and r ecomr4 to the insi - .x that a for taxes nim, ana a. eiaapo.l WI which, throe recorded ox in the wcnl •saber duril L Gl� In re report rec4 and Communi been taken, Commission uti..ize tre Survey repc Community C proceed at Commission' in the prel the Board o ccordinati0 as may be d regular Col; the Board of. Safety .for adoption and later to the Council for the Council t s aperoval A rec:ommendat on wa.s also received" from the Board of Safety that tie ;concrete posts at the intersection of Middlefield Road end Melville Avenue be removed and suggesting that the raana er of the Community Kitchen be requested to have his men co this work -'The. Attorney advised that this matter could be taken care of •by the Board itself and there was no need for action by the= Council "The Board of Safety also reeo ezlded that no: change be made in. traffic regulations in Southgate' for the pre . en . Lin 'motion : of Thomas' and `Mosher, this recommendation was 'approved. oiaturj : ty 8i tche i-: .•xpenseS -A report w«s received fret Committee No. 4 recommending 'that .the s-; . of $60.00 be appropriated to t;,kie sioard of. Safety for the "pur''pose :of paying the salary of <t he ;manager of the Community Kitchen: for the oaths of November and ?%ecember, 1935, at the rate of ;180.00 per month, the extra $20.00 being to rieet car -allowance for the month of August" :1935, _`ti :s ap_propriG- tior -:co be taker. from the Contingent Fund. The committee recommended. furtherthat the Board cf Safety be reciaested to make a definite request for funds to cove: the "Commw ity " •tcrent s expenses during the.remainder of the fiscal year,' such request to include a sufficient amount for transportata.On.. .Ori :motion of aitchell and Richards, the above recommendations were approved and the appropriation allowed, by unanimous vote on roll call. idening Matadero Creek Bridge Referring to the matter of widening ¥atacero Creek Bridge> at Alma Street and. to the recommendation of the Board. o. Works - that tri,e cost of this improvement amounting to .760.00 be put in,-th"e::budget for 1936-37, Committee No. i requested the Council to refer this to the Board of..; Works for inclusion in their proposed" budget for 1936-3'7 in order that the co itt‘:e -may, .consider it at that time. The committee's report mGAS / approved and: the latter so referred to the Board of V; orks . '4,atchinatz for Community Center A report was received: from Committee :No. 4 recommencing that 'the request of the Community Center Commission that a watchman` be 'employed at the Corm unity Center for a period of -live hours each evening be approved, and that an appropriation not �c exceed 4600.00:' be, for this purpose for the remainder of t:.;- fiscal years _ this amount to be taken from the Contingent x una. Oz:.; motion' of 'Mitchell and Bonham, this recommendation vias approved -and .'tile appropriation authorized, by unanimous vote on role. `_call. Reimbursement to Co;.mi.t.alit v Kitchen re Cobbling Pro; ect report .was received from Committee igo. 4 recoramenci ro that an .appr:opri:ation. of $15.00 be made to reimburse the coa.aunity Kitchen for power and light used by the .S.i:.R.A. Cobbling Project, . this amount to be taken from the Contingent Fund. This recommendation was apprtved and the appropriation authorized by unanimous : vote on roll call. that thh from •thi of 4 C: automob: of Thom he tray Ex: the to ::ast.i City, ax purpose losher, authori that Ski account. bid of ., .tit c he.i1 Ci that no F1de.Lit-J some mor: and recc to the :i that a t for Saxe him, , unc JiaapoJi v►hich, ti recorded :ir: the z lu;er In report r and Comer be en tak COMZiS6i atl.Lize Survey r Com unit proceed Co: miss. in the p the Boa: coordi na. as may b regular to '.L ansfer in .P ice Funds A report was : received from: Committee 14o. 4recomrending tact the request .of the , Board of S'af'ety for transfer of 4116.00 :roe. tije roiice l :aergen ytiunc to the :Cap.;taa -'und • to take care of 1t/ City handlingcharg:es- on . the purchase of poi o e 4 utomobil.es be approved and the :transfer ;er authorized. On motion of Thomas and Richards, this recommendation was approved and the transfer authorized; 'by'Unanimous vote on roll call. Excenses City Attorney toWashington h report was: received from Committee No. 4 recommending taat tree expenses of the City Attorney on a trip for the City to ;;asaa.n ton D. C. during the month of NovernberP be paid by the ✓ity, ana tn.at the sum of 4365.00 be appropriated for this purpose from tine Contingent Fund. On motion of Thomas and losner, this recommendation was approved ana the appropriation authorized, by unanimous vote on roll ` call. Audit dit of City Accounts -- . report was received from Committee -4o. 5 recommending that Skinner . a:nd Hammond be retained to audit the City's accounts and the .dospital . accounts for 1936.3k7, and that their ofd of $1200.00 for this audit be accepted. Lin motion of itcheil and Richards, this recommendation was approved. alaim of Dr. Job sozi . report' was received' from.Co.mmittee No. 5 recommending that no action be : taken on t:he letter from the United States Fidelity ana Guaranty :Companytat present,relating to injury some months ago to .Dr. Edith Johnson at the Palo alto ? ospital ; ana recommending that the claim: of Dr.. ')orinson be turned over', to the insurance company. This report was approved. Tax Refunds r report was received from Committee No. 5 recommending that a tax refund of 43.50 be allowed to Mr. W. R. Bonham :or taxes paid by him on an automobile incorrectly assessed to aim, and also that a tax refund of $6.00 be allowed to gr. L .Pau. {apoii who had filedan affidavit . for veteran's tax exemption ' ich, trrough an oversight iri;the Assessor's office, was not recorded on the assessment roll. These claims were included -a the monthly bills approved by Committee No. 5 to be presented: aG4er during this meeting. .. In re Recreation Survey Report reference was made by the A.ayor to ;re preliminary report recently ..received from the Survey Committee on recreation a: d CommunityCenter activities, upon which no action has yet ae i taken, and it. 'was stated ,:that the Community Center tomaissian has asked the Council for authority to proceed to ati .ize the information contained in this preliminary report. 4. motion was made. by C,o...kins' that the xkecreatio: u voy report be taken, from .the files and referred to the Ccaraini ty Center Commission ti ith request that the Com ission proceed at . once to make plans ,for the reorganization of; the Co emission's activities iii all lines and to use such material in the prelianary report • as maybe useful in the work; to contact the Board . of Education with a vier • of considering such. coordination of effort in the -matter of recreational activities as may be desirable; and to report results to the Council at the reP'ular Council .meeting on January 13th. -..1,-,, ,,c.4:;kip."7,7'.;:cilZst 2,-.:ac..::,,,',,i'ft";7:,.',.„ , : zi.r:d4i,ats.:'''' 'ea, I:421p e, beo G Cary %.7:11:iii:154s2:e2r.1..ict, Z1,,:e1-.2' r ya22. 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