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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04091934approved. The. Council of the City of Palo Alto met in regular session on this date at 5 p.m. with Mayor Thomas presiding. Roll call.as- follows: Present: Blois, Bonham, 4hristensen, uollins, Crandall, Johnson, Judson, Kelly, Mitchell, Mosher, Thoits, 'Thomas, V ood, Absent. ;Cathcart, Stephens. The minutes of the meeting of March. 12, 1934, were Letter from Ec,onomi,c ;xchange ee A. letter was received from the Peninsula Economic Exchange ` asking; that the taxes on the building occupied by the Exchange: at 735 Emerson :atreet be reduced to the minimum. The. City Attorney explained that the law does not permit the C:oaxn it to treat this property in any manner different from its _treatment of any other property in the city, and it would therefore' be impossible to grant the request. The City Clerk was directed to so inform the Exchange. Letter from Attor;ie- of .rs.:e'rances Wa-ner a letter was received from Edward M. Fellows, Attorney for Mrs, Frances ie. Wagner, relating to collection of a judgment assigned to Mrs. Wagner by W. . Guernsey in connection with '• the widening of Cambridge :,venue, in the . sum of ?00.00: On motion of Mitchell and Johnson, this mett_r was referred to:'Committee No. 1 and the City attorney. etter from Water i'ronerties CU.,ntd. A communication from the Water Properties Compeny, Ltd., concerning the proposed development of the American River Project, was referred to the Board of Public Works. Rebort on'Western Conference on Government The Mayor made ;gin oral report upon the subjects discussed at the. Western ,,onference on Government held in Berkeley on March 28,29 and 3U, 1034. Resignation of R r.Beal from Plan: fine' Commission . communication was received from' Mr. R. R. Beal submitting .his resignation from the City Planning Commission. The Mayor stated that Mr. Baal's letter was dated January 29th, bt at the Mayor's request Mr. Beal had withheld his resignation until this time in order that . he might assist the Planning Commission in its consideration of certain important matters before it, and the Mayor expressed., his; appreciation to Mr. Beal. for continuing to serve during February and March. Oh motion of Johnson and Thoits, the resignation ;ors accepted, and the Mayor was requested to express to Mr. Beal the 'Council's appreciation for his services to the City. The Mayor nominated Mr. 'z. :.axon Clark, Jr., to. ,znembersraip';on the Planning Commission to fill the -vacancy by ,:,the r.,es gnation of Mr. Beal. On motion -of 'Molts and this appointment was confirmed by the Council. City Plan to serve of Collin Resi tendering .musement accepted the Advil t i on of Xi nominatia in r Engineer 0 of Palo Al. County the the cost :istrict. visors had payable to that this Petit asking for as he is o required t nttoi n v, allowed. was approvi call. i�epox' status of ' projects :L ndministra' preparator: projects 1i. projects u yet been s; the Piar nfn Education, including . further meeting of Purch tothe mat way purpos 3122 feet ±lghway, b advising t: balance of Board furt, Gamble and this right to the Bay committees reported : t At the request of C9i ci1man. Bonham, member of the City Planning Commission, the 'Mayor nor inated Mr. E. L. liter to serve as Mr. Bonhar's deputy ort the Commission. On motion of Collins and Mosher, this nomination was confirmed. cesignatiorr from Advisory Board. A communication was received from MrS.,Mary C. McIntosh tendering her resignation from the Advisory Board on Commercial Amusements. On motion of Kelly and - Mosher, this resignation was accepted, with an .expressior of :appreciation for her services. The Mayor nominated -"Mrs. Frank G. Short as a member of the Advisory Board, to fill the vacancy :caused. by the resigna- tion of Mrs. :r:cintosh,, and on motion . of Johnson and Kelly, this nomination was confired In re Highway lmRrovement ti letterwas received from Col. J. H. Skeggs, Distract Engineer of the Livision of Highways, requesting that the City. of Paso Alto secure from the Board of Supervisors of Santa Clara County the 0000.00 appropriated by the County as its share of the cost of the improvement of El Camino Real in the ,Mayfield Listrict. The. City r ttorney reported that the Board of Super- visors nad advised that they would draw a warrant for this sum payable to the C'ity as soon . as the contract for the work is let and that this arrangement was satisfactory to Col. Ske ;;;s. Petition for refund of License A petition was received from Zavid T. Hackett, askirn fora refund of v5.00 paid by him, as book agent's license, as he is operating under the _Interstate Commerce Act and is not required to pay a license fee. Upon the advice of the City ttorney, .:ommi.ttee No.. 2 recommended that this refund be _allowed. On motion of Kelly and Johnson, the recommendation was approved and the refund authorized, by unanimous vote on roll call. Report on and S.,t.t3.A..' Projects • At this time the Mayor presented a resume of the present status of the C. W. A. projects whichhave now become incomplete projects under the Works _Bivision of the State Emergency Relief ;:dmioistration, and of thecontemplated projects on which preparatory work is now being done. He presented a lit of projects which are being considered as possible S. E. R. A. projects under the new program, applications for which have not yet been submitted, as suggested by the City Engineer's office, the Planning Commission, Community Center, Library, Board of Education, VY"onen's Service League, and other city departments, including research work for the ";Finance and. muditing Committees. further report on this .:.matter ;wi1l be submitted at the next meeting of the Council. Purchasing strip on Embareadero :foal for Serer report was received from. the Board of Works relating to the matter of purchasing a ten =foot stripfor sewer right of was,' purposes on ;mbareadero road,. ;the. Board recommending that. 422 feet of this; right of. way, me :.red. from the Bayshore Highway, be purchased' at ,:a "total cost of .; 1742.00, the Board advising that v1248.00 coul,.:d;be; taken fro 'the Sewer run;, the Jaiance of 4,494.00 to be paid : oat: of "general city funds. The ='oard further reported thwat, other agreements with the Seale, emble and 'ivertson ;interests are being negotiated to complete tail riLnt of :gay from the easterly .`city .limits rear Newell Road the Bayshore Highway. This'( report of `` the Board; of Works had been referred to 1�1 Vormittees No. - - . . . 1 amd lUo. 4 for consideration. r, Committee iyo. 4 reported that it approved; the recommendation, contingent upon its approval by Committee No. 1 and the Council. Committee No. I returned the .recommendation of the. Board to the Council without redommendation. The natter was di sous sea, and. Councilman Thoi is model moti;on, .to .appropriate sa525.50 from the unappropriated balance of the G:eneral• .Findin order to secure the necessary strip from the Bayibore °U .ghway to Lou. s Road, which would take care of the present construction job, the remainder to be handled at a fit ee date. This motion wasseconded by Mitchell, .and discussed. Councilman Collins stated that he wished to go on record as being in accord with securing a private right of wry for the sewer line, but objected to ctakirig money from the Genera: Fund to pay these additional costs, in addition to the bond ISSUE and the funds 'provided by the Federal Government. The previous motion was withdrawn, and a motion neele by Collins, seconded'by Bo_nhani, approving the purchase of a ten - foot strip ' of land from Louis Road to the Eayshor e Highway, provided the funds for the payment thereof can be taken from the Sewer . Fund, ' was passed by unanimous vote on roll call. Accounting 4y -stem A report : was received from Committee No. 5 recommending that the offer bf"Skinner and Hammond to set up the accrual system of accounting at a cost of 45O.CO to 500.00, .n accord- ance with their letter of March 9, 1934, be accepted, the amount to be included in ' the budget for 1334-35. On motion of Collirs and Christensen, the report of Committee No. 5 was accepted, and the suggestion was made to Committee No. 4 that this ..mount be included inthe new budget. Ordinance' On Tax Penalties a report was received from ::ommittee No. 5 recommending that the proposed`-. ordinance amending Ordinance No. 565 relating to tax delinquencies and redemption penalties be adopted es en emergency ordinance Ordinance No. 626, amenciing certain sections of Ordinance No. 565, relating to tax de1ingaencies and penalties, and to redemption" of property sold for taxes, was read and considered. It was explained that this ordinance changes the penalties eharge'd by the City to conform with the present penalties charged by the County,- eight per cent on the first installment of: taaxes instead of ten per cent,- and three per cent on' all taxes remaining unpaid. on April 20th instead of five per cent; and further, provides that for the redemption of property sold ''for taxes a penalty of one per cent per month shall be char ed if redeemed within five years from Jtay 1st of the year of sale, and : if not redeemed within five years, a penalty of one Per cent per month. for period of .jive years and then one-half of one per cent per month thereafter to the time of redemption,, plus fifty. cents for each redemption certificate : issued. On, motion of Mosher and Bonham this ordinance was adopted as an emergency ordinance by unanimous mous vote on roll call. Sewex:eneed' With :reference to continuation of sewer work pending the re:eeipt of funds from• time Federal Grant, Committee No. 5 recommended that the work be pushed to completion, and that the Sewer Fund.'tbeecarried ` in reed ink until funds are available. On Motion ofy"Tha t:s And Bonham, this recommendation was approved. At : this -time , 9:45 p.m., the Council took a recess wee- Committee No.: met 'to consider certain matters referred to et. No. 3 w Ord ing that i.and 2, to the (t by Comm ordinan Johnson son unaniaou and was .ti a right -- the City recommen Pacific this lett ing that, executed City .Attc and the e received., deed for were pies a..4171 the Cou:c departmen authorize being for addition Was appro Mitchell authorize lied %n;; the C lights ar that the this loca was appro appro.�ing SUL3 of �:rrs Lighting -- electron avenue, :i budget fo 3n motion and the t unanimous Th.e`• Council re -convened at 9:35 p.m., with Councilmen Collins, .; to son and welly .absent for> a few minutes while �o jt No. 3 was still in sessie .. t�r:�.inance on Jtil zty B1J 3 5 repert .was received. fr*am;-the Board of Forks recommend- ing that the proposed ordinance "amercing - Sec 558., Paragraphs 1 and 2, of Codified Ordinance No. 3, :be adopted, this relating to the collection of, utility=bii. s.` : . Reports were submitted by ;;ommittee No. 1 andCorc ittee No. 5. recommending that this ordinance be adopted as an emerg:ency'ordinance. This ordinance` o.; 627> was read, - and on motion of,.: Johnson and Wood, was adopt' dap c� as. an :emergency: ordinance by unanimous vote of all councilmen present. Counci?man. Christensen leftat this time, 9:40 p.m and was absent during the rest of '" the meeting. night of bay from Morgan -Cyster: Co. A report was .received from the Board. of Works approving a right-of-way agreement with the Morgan Oyster Company granting the City a right -of --way : through :their lard for sewer purposes, recommending to the Council that this be accepted. ► A letter,addressed to tbe City Engineer, from the Pacific Portland Cement Company concerning this matter was ' read, this letter enclosing e copy of deed for examination, and advis- ing that if this copy is satisfactory the original will be executed by the officers of the Morgan Oyster Company. The City Attorney advised that the form of this deed be approved and the executed copy be accepted by resolution when it is received. On motion of Tho:its. and Mosher, the form of tbis deed for right -of --way was .approved. Councilmen Collins., Judson and .belly now returned and were present during the rest of .the. meeting. A report was received from the Board of Works informing the Council that there is a ..balance due on the park and street department truck amounting to 1.125. r3, and recommending that it authorize this amount to be paid, from Stores Account "C", this being for the purchase of a larger truck costing .125.73 in addition to the appropriation' previously allowed. This was approved by Committees- No. I ;and No. 4. On motion of Mitcnei1 and Bonham, these reports were approved and the transfer authorized, by ananimot s vote on roll call. lectroliers at Post Office' A report was received from the Board of vVorks inform- ing the Council that the Board of Safety reports that additional lights are needed near the Post Office building, and recommending that the (.:it..,� bear . tbe cost: of installing two electroliers at this location, estimated to cost iit575.00. This recommendation was approved by Committee No. ` 1. Committee No. 4 submitted a report on this matter, approving the action of the Board. of :Worksin transferring the sum.; of w575.00 from the Power Capital:Account to the Street. eightine utilization `'Account for the purpose of installing two eiectrolier s in front :of the Post Office, building on Hamilton Yvenue, it being understood : that this sum .is to be placed in the budget for next y:ear. to replace the sum used at this time. - On Notion of Kelly and ltchefl, { these reports were approved and the transfer of funds authorized for this purpose, by unanimous vote .on roll. ca'll,'. "� Transfer of Funds for Truck 4. • ..µ . Tr orou ' hfare to 'Connect Ri hwav s A report :was received from the Board of forks report:.,.. that . the matter cif a thoroughfare to connect the Ba•,rho e Highway T s and 1 Camino Read., referred by the Council to the Board on December :11, ,1953, . does not seem likely of fulfillment at the pre sent :time . , This report was :placed on file. Widening Embar9adero Roar Referring to the matter of widening Embarcadero Road from' the city:limits ;to the Bayshore Highway to 86 feet as recommended by tree County_ Planning Commission, the Board of Works informed the Coaunoil that it believes it would be impossible to .secure land ; throughdeeds to widen Ernbarcadero Road to this width at this time, but the. Board felt it might be possible for the County .P1annir Comanission to establish setback linesfor this width, in .order.to accomplish this widening at some future date. This: was referred to the City Planning Commission for its information. and study. A report was received from the Board of Works approving the revised agreement for 'pole line with the Pacific Gas and':E=1»eetric : Conpany 'together with supplementary agreement covering ..the marking nd lighting, of structures,. and recommending that:the oan l ccegt . th revised agreement andask fora fully executed suppletenta;ry ag,reemen t as pointed : out i:n a letter to the Director: of Jti12 ies from C. E. Prouty, Manager of the band Department o€ the; PG :,1;. Co, A report was also received on this matter from Committee NO: 1 recommending for execution the corrected_ grant of right, of w .y as'submitted by Mr. i routy, and further: recomend- ing . that =the 'Cou aea3 . acce.pt the supplemental agreement covering the height andmar.king of structures near the Palo AJ.to Airport. TheiaA:reement and _letter from Mr. Prouty:Were tv presented ' and.'considerel. A resolution authorizing the Mayor ,and ;ity .Clerkk i-d. sig:n.the proposed: grant of right of way for this, ,pole Tline was read,' and on motion; of Tboits, and Mosher, leas adopted 'by- :unanimous vote , .on roll call. In re Night : Baseball At aT :i o Park A letter_ vias. re-c:ei.ved from Miss ss Y dindman,. Superin- tendent of the Pa: o.,. 1to.. Hospital., protesting against'' the; proposed removal of the:. iigbts from Rinconada . Park to El : Camino Park 'for night baseball. letter was received o this matter from , .:Lloyd Al_len,; . Chaarrnan of the. Community Center Commission, stating ,that the Commission feels that the objections of the Hospital are not jus;tif iabie, that they are unable to locate a more suitable. site,and. request immediate action On this ma-tter. Committee No. 3, to whom this matter had been r eferreu, reported that it had taken no action as yet and wished to give an opportunity: to Mis.'s:.Eindman for a hearing before ; the committee before making a. recommendation. Action on .this Natter was :postponed until the next meeting. earth aance on Radio -Messages —A report was, ,received from the Board. of,: Safety recommending, that:: the .:proposed ordinance making it Unlawful to communicate pvlioe radio messages be adopted. Ordinance low. 8.28, making it unlawful to ,communicate ,police rad2.o messages,; was read, and on motion of Wood and Kelly, was ,passed as -an energency: ordinance by unanimous vote on roll cell:. Ordinance Cn A repor recommending that line on Middlefie for first readiab as follows: That t Middlefield Road b of 75 feet southea for the next 25 fe Ordinanc above recommended, was adopted by urm4 Offer of Pet/. A report the offer of Peter pit land, the con accepted and the l had previously bee Planning iommis si o nesolution of At the r resolution of the the Council: ?'neso Wide Advisory Comm in joint meeting a February, 1934, ao no divisional lea;; respecting matters natters, without. f. Municipalities wit] action which will : Municipalities." Counci1r : was absent during Unemployment . A commun. on Unemployment re. carry on relief wo: May 14th, and 1=0 the committee desi approprition requ of the utilities b Committs be allowed. Comm referred, returned tion. It was r utility bill of .;.8; the Mayor's Commit - with tae Women's' a women of Palo Alto funds. This mat Kelly and Collins, uappropriated bal Ay. except Mitchel urain: nee Chan `ing 5e"aback Line A report was:;. rec.el ved from. the City, Planning Commission recommending that t:he :proposed; ora:in.an:ce changing the setback., line on Middlefield; Road, :corner of Teranyson� kven:ue, ac Axe: ersted for first reading at . the: last meeting of the Council, be amended as follows That the setback, line Cora : the southwesterly side .;of Middiefield z oad be changed :from -24feet to 11 feet for a distance of 75 feet southeasterly< from Tennyson A:venu_e, and . to 16 feet' for the next 25 feet-. Ordinance No. 629, charging this setback line as, above recommended, was read,, and, on motion of Mosher and Bonham, was adopted by unanimous. 'vote on roll: cal. Offer of Peter -Faber- Not Accepted report was received from Committee No. 1 relating;, to the offer of Peter .caber to ::sell to the City 25 acres of borro pitland, the committee recommending ;that the offer be not accepted and the land be not purchased. Si4ilar recommendations nod previously been received` from the. Board of Works and. Planning Commission. The report ; was approved. i esclation of Municipal League on Legislative Policy r,t the request of.. Committee No-. 2, the following. resolution of the League of California Municipalities was read to the Council: "nesalved that the Board of Directors and the State 'aide Advisory :%ommittee of the League of C4ifornia Municipalities in joint meeting assembled at San Francisco this 13th day of February, 1934, do hereby respectfully request that no cities and no divisional leagues adopt resolutions or make recommendations respecting matters of legislation and.. policy, excepting local matters, without first advising wits the League of California i4unicipalities with purpose :in view 'of securing unanimity of action which will redound to the benefit of :11 California: rr: nicipaiities." councilman Wood left at this time, 10:15 p.m., and was absent during the rest of the meeting. Unemployment Relief A communication was received from the Mayor's Committee o:; Unemployment Relief requesting an appropriation of 4500.00 to carry on relief work for women for the period from April 9th to May 14th, and 1400.00 for unemployed men for the name period; the committee desiring it to be :.understood that no part of the appropriation requested for women is to be applied to the payment' of the utilities bill: of the Women's Service i,eague. Committee : No. 3 recommended:. that the appropriations to allowed. Committee No. 4,„ to which the matter had also been: referred, returned the request to the Council without recommenda- tion. it wasreported ,that the Women's. Service League owes a utility bill of 483-.45 for two :nonths,, andAwas explained that the .ayor's Committee' on Unenplayroen': Relief has no connection with the Woments-Serviee'Leaguel ether. than to certify those women of Palo Alto who; are, eligible' for work, paid for from. city funds. This natter was discussed at length, and on motion; of jelly and Collins, the sums.requested: were appropriated from the unappropriated balance by vote :on~ roll call, all present voting except Mitchell who votedN,o... b P 1 Committee No. 3 submitted a report prepared by the City ,' At:torney .exprevsin; his opinion .that the operation of the Palo Alto Shelter is: properly 'within the duties ,of the Board of Public 'Safety, and -.also 'a 'financial report of the Shelter from July 1, 1933to March' 12, .1934, prepared by the Auditor, these being presented inanswer, to . Councilman Bonham ° s . communication received by. the Counci1 ' on March 12th, Mr. Bonham stated that the. financial report does not completely answer his questions concerning theappropriations given to the Shelter in the worth or February, .and these ,questions of accounting were referred to the Auditor: ir. Hoy,, member of the Board of Safety was present and stated that noappropriation is being asked for the operation of the. Shelter_; this month, as enough donations have been received for .this purpose...: He stated that,, inaddition to oaring for a certain number of:itinerants, the Shelter is provy;:ing meals for a ;;number of local men and undernourished school children, furnishing wood to needy families and repairing sloes for them. He asked the Council to decide whether or not the Shelter should ' be continued after May lst Further consideration of the Shelter was deferred until y the. next ;meeting., Grant Dee `Accepted A grant Feed was presented from Thoits, G.t'Jidn�.nn, Francis. M..;Shaw; an.d:, Bessie Gordon Shaw, covering 0.58 acres in the Butler Tract purchased by the City for sewer purposes. ',A` -`resolution accepting this deed was read, and on motion of Mi.tche,l.l and' Kelly,:. was adopted on roll. call, �ounciln:an Thoits not voL,ing�s •_ - A:<grant deed was presented from Luella Butler covering 0.76 acres purchased for sewer purposes. n resolution ,accepting this; ,eed was read, and on motion of Mitchell and Kell;,, was passed by 'unanimous vote on roll call. Ou motion of Mosher and Kelly, the Mayor and City Clerk were authorized to sign lease contracts with the Burroughs .Adding Machine Company for the purchase: of a utility billing, ma..cbir e,.; and. wwithkthe Aadressograpri Company for the purchase of addre.5sograph equipment. ;Bond. of. —Mrs.. y=eece Aenlaced 0n motion of Kelly and Judson, a bond with the Nations? Surety. Corporation lb the amount of 4v1O00.CO covering. alarian C. Beene,, to replace preset bond of ; 5UU.0O, the. premium to be the same,. was accepted.. ep®rta of Offi:cial.s The reports of the i epartment of public Works, the Department of .Public;, Safety, Auditor and Treasurer, for the month of .I arch,: 1934, were received and pl.acewon file. Bills Approved :On motion of Mosher and Judson, the following were approved and warrants authorized in payment of the unanimous vote on roll call: American Ci:ty Magazine Bank of America healing t.onRand, Inc. S3onakeres printing :douse Henry A. .Spaulding w2.CO 25.00 83.78 9.05 1.00 bills :-;:tale, by Attest• OOP un 4 1;ttest: Stanford 'vniversity .+arl L. Thomas Travelers Insurance Coy. C. :: kshworth iiorabi.n Oil & Burner Co. A.Lvina I.. Larsen Carl A Maier National Municipal League Palo Hospital :earl C. Thomas ,ti $0.82 25.00 214.82, C� 7.80 21.52 15.00 3.60 5.00 1322.50 20.00 un motion of Mosher, the; Council adjourned. City Clerk.