HomeMy WebLinkAbout06111934The Council .of -the City of Palo Alto met in regular
session on this date at 8 p.m., with Mayor Thomas presiding.
Roll ` call as follows::
Present: Blom, Bonham, Cathcart, Christensen,, Collins,
Crandall, Judson, iiitchefl, Mosher,; Stephens, Thomas.
Absent: . ohnson, mealy, Thoits,00d.
The minutes of the meeting of May 14, 1934, were
approved.
Liquor Situation
The City Attorney made a verbal report upon the liquor
situation. Be, stated that a short time ago the ealifornia Avenue
Pharmacy -applied for a; licenseto, sell liauor, which was protested
by ' the -City of ` Palo Alto. A hearing was had before the State
Board ;of Equalization and ,,.the Board issued a ruling which, if not
contested,will permit liquor to be sold. on California .Avenue.
The Attorney aske4,,...if it was the Council's desire that he secure
a writ of ;certiorar? . and have the findings of the Board of
Equalization reviewed. : This matter was discussed, and on motion
of Cathcart and ilosher,..the City Attorney was directed to proceed
in any way:'he may . see fit to secure a court ruling upon the
action ' of, the Board of Equalization.
A check, was received from the estate controller in the
sum of 419.25, covering the City's apportionment for license tax
on liquor sales. the City Attorney stated that this was
presumably: the City's apportionment of license tax charged to
drug stores which.: sell liquor on prescription, this being for the
period from Lec. S' , 1933, to April 1, 1934. This check was
eecepted, and -it was directed that it be placed in the general
fund.
'ter` from Mayor of Santa Clara:
+ 'A,, letter :.was received from the Mayor of 6anta Clara
inviting the, :Mayor. and ;city officials to participate in the
ce ebr.ati.on to be. held in ;Santa Clara on the Fourth. of July.
The Mayor wasp requested to acknowledge this communication.
Heaves. Of Absence to Board Members
A communication was received from Prof. Eugene L. Grant,'
.member of -the-Board of Public Works, asking for a leave of
absence -during the months of July .and August. On motion of
I osher and Mitchelll this request was granted.
A request was received from air. A. W. Hoy, member of
the: Board of Public Safety asking; that he be granted a leave of
`absence '-for the months of July and August. On motion of Blois
and geshery this request was granted.
Councilmen Kelly and Thoits came at 8:10 p.m., and were
present curing the rest_of the meeting.
At ;this timey .Councilman Cathcart asked, that ,he be
' granted a leave . of absence during July, August and September,
and on motion.of Christenseen and Kelly, the request was granted.
limmi=NM-
Resignat
Appointm
A c
tendering her
Commercial Am
this resignat:
express to Idr;
services on t3
The
the Advisory I
caused by the
and Mosher, ti
The
Advisory Board
on motion of i
and the Mayor.
appreciation o
The .
on the Advisor:
tion of Rev. u:
nomination was
Letter fr:
A Con
the electrical
the masts of -ti
file.
Netter
A cir
Council concern
on file.
Letter fro:
K C Gml
Bond Act Commit'
Bond Act of 191:
appropriate r 10(
on certain lega:
for the City to
placed on file.
Letter f ron
A cirt.:
Association.conc
and placed on f i
Letter fr;^-
A circ
concerning the a
was placed on f i
Letters fro:
A Commi
California i&un_ic:
providing for pad
the League to as;
unemployment r Iel i
legislative progr
that this resolut
and action was de
committee.
Resignationsfrom .dvisory Board
Appointments to-., ,t1 :7i
A.c:omr unicat1cn, was received: from ,Mrs. Janet H. Evans
tendering her resignation, as ; a member< of the Advisory Board on
Comrnercial Amusements. 'On,.Motior of Mitchell and Mosher,'
this resignation ` was accepted and the Mayor was requested to
express to Mrs„ Evans; the app-rec.at:i ori., of the Council for hers
services ar, the. Board,
Th.e Mayor ,nominated: Mir.: ,Glenn W. Goddard as member . of
the Advisory Board ..on Commerciai Amusements, to fill the vacancy
caused by the re,si.gnation•of Mrs.�•` ,yarn. On motion of Collins
and Mosher, this nom1n,atiorr_was-Confirmed.
The. res;i.gnation;, of R.ev. Oscar. F. Green . from the
Advisorya:Board on eomrner.cia1 ";Amusements was also .received, and
aa motion of. Kelly :and StephensA. this.aresignation was accepted
and the Mayor was requested to. express : to .Rev,. Green the
appreciation -of the ;A ouncil -for ;hls- services
The Mayor nominated, _rev. Stanley Morrison to membership
on the Advisory 'Board, to f ill the vacancy' caused by the resigna-
tion of Rev., - Green, ";arid.' on,. motion of -Mosher and Mitchell, this:
nomination was , conflrrned
Fetter from Suoervisor. (Dooley
Acominuricati.on ,from Supervisor C. P.Cooley complimenting
the electrical department of theCity :for its work in lowering
the masts .of the flagpole -on the' Circle was read and placed on
file.
•
Letter from iortkern "Ca .ifornia Business Council
A circular letter from the Northern California Business
council concerning liquor '`: control measures was received and placed
on file.
Letter from 1915 improvement Bond Act wonvnittee
A communication ;.was received from the 1915 Improvement
Rana aict Committee concerning; delinquencies under the Improvement
Bond Act of 1915, and requesting the City of Palo Alto to
appropriate . ICG.CO for further work of the Commit tee, in carrying
on ;certain legal, matters: ,in court. it was not thought advisable
for the City to enter this controversy, and the letter was
placed on file.
Letter from Auto
A circularletter from the California State Automobile
-
association concerning the cost of signing highways was received
and placed on file.
Letter from -National, Llunicirt e
A . cir,cular. .letter from the . National Municipal League
concerning the advantages..of Membership in this organization
.gas placed .on file.
Letters from Lea:u.e of Municipalitiea
A communication WAS- received from the League of
California Municipalities asking; that the Council pass a resolutioh
providing for payment of 475.CO:" intoa special emergency fund of
the League to assist in defraying expenses in connection with the
unemploymentrelief program of. the League: and to finance the
.iegiSlative program in Sacramento .:_iii; -:1935. It, was announced
that this resolution- is now hefore Commit.tee No. :4 for considerati
and action was- deferred until a report is received from the
committee.
� � _ . .ate•°`'""y"'..
'letter ;was' also received from the League of
Ca .ifornia Munic3pal;it.ies enclosing a number of questionnaires
listingsuggested topics for. discussion at the next convention
of .the. League1, Ito be he'd' in Pasadena in September. The pity-
Clerk. was requested to .hand these questionnaires to any -councilmen
who -wish' toanswer them.'
Tribute to Councilman Thous
The Mayor spoke a'few words in tribute. to Councilman
E. C. Thoits: who will ;have completed twenty-fiv.e years of
continuous service on the City Council on June 30, 1934, having
been „-a..Member of the first Council elected under the Freeholders'
Charter.
The Mayor broughtup the suggestion that an open house
be held when: citizens. may come to inspect the city hall and the
various: departments and blants of the city government and
familiarize ‘ then►selves , with the operation of the 'different
departments. He stated that an open house day is held in
Berkeley and Pasadena and has been very successful in these cities.
The matter was discussed, and on motion of Judson_and Thoits,
the Mayor was authorized to appoint a committee to make arrange-
ments for an open house day. The Mayor appointed Councilman
Collins as chairman "of this committee, the full membership of the
committee to b� a:nno:unced later.
On :motion , of Collins and Christensen, the Boards and
-Commissions were requested to, designate their execut:.ve officers
to participate in the necessary arrangements.
Re Moving Building on Fisher Property
The City= Attorney brought up the matter of the .moving
of the building *the Fisher property at the corner of -
Camtal. dgeak enue -ap ,.::L1 Camino Heal, necessitated by the work
now i:n :pr.ogress' of`widening and: improving E1 Camino. Real.
He .stated A -hat it:.. ad been recommended that the building he
moved ten: feet: to the south so as to provide for a 60 -foot
street on ;cambur'fdge, A.v'enue if .and when the street is widened and
paved.; that the City dims 18 feet of land adjoining _the Fisher
property on the south, and it has been proposed that the City
transfer _ 'ten feet; of its land to the Fisher . Estat,e in exchange
for ;ten :feet or:th of the property, to be used for street
purposes 1at'er.,
Th'i.s ,,was discussed, and on motion of Thoits and. Mosher
the City : ttorney :wa-s authorized to appear in theguardianship
proceedi s and,:state that the City is ready to exchange ten feet
of its property- for a: ten foot strip of the Fisher property` on
C bridg-c: Avienue. and the Mayor and Cit.� Clerk were authorized to
a.exedute tbe':necessary` :deed to the .Fisher Estate, this.. by
unanimous -vote on rol call.
Transfer for' `.owing Signal ights
commuication was received from the Director of
-Utilities;.. transm tting .a request, which has been approved by all
tthe : members: of tie. Board of r orks, that 4150.00 be transferred
from the Pole= `•Fund Revolving Fund to a special fund for the
purpose :.of moving=the, sig;na1 lights at the corner of California
Avenue and ..El Camino , :On motion of Mosher :and Mitchell,
this request was ;approved' and the transferauthorized, by
unanimous vote. on-- rol call.
: to art .:on Likhting ..Tennis Courts
eport vas r ec-eived from the Board of . Works trans-
, mitti:ng a` ra- rt.,`f'rom: the_ Director of iiities concerning
estimates of Acos:t'.: of1ighting two tennis courts . in Rinconada
Park . This,: .a&=referred; to. Committees No. 1 and No. 4.
•
v.4. A :.1
reco mendiz
No. . 548 rei
ordinance v
Trans*
requesting
Maintenance
vacuum clea
was authori
Extens
A
recommendiry
connect wit?
Board of Wo:
for recommei
:%han:; e
• recommending
Churchill A\
Waverley St:c
A
recommended
Report
recently app
of meeting n
Boards and L
so that thei
Council meat
change had b
that no char,
ih
that the hou:
meetings of
Night
n (
Commission rE
baseball diar
2500.00 for
addition to z
Commission
feasible, as
the latter lc
its
and no report
this matter w
Cou
and was absen
A- r
that the Plum;
the committee
corrections al
made - in the si
Ordinance tm Co: troa. i=of Do;
_A report was re.ceiv. .:from the Board. of Public. Safety
recommending for adoption: ,a proposea" .ordinance amending Or
\io. 548 .relat,ir� to control ;arid i:oersi propose;
� - of -dogs. This proposed
ordinance was._ given first ;;reading <and . referred to Committee o. 2.
Transfer o' ';. Librar y aFund-s,...
a c:ornmunicat-ion was 'received from the .Library Board,
requesting' that j70.0O-be transferred from - the .Building
b aintenance fund . to the Equipment `:; unc.' in order to
vacuum cleaner. .:On .mo•tion.. of< Mitchell -and Zelly„
thpuis transfer
s
was authorized' :by : .unanimousvote on ,ro-li cam, Ys this
.Extension of Y ashen&ton'.'Avenue.
A report was :reserved • from, th'e City Planning Commission'
recommending.. that: ' aski
xigtoxx rveraue be:; extended tnrough to
connect with Webster Streets This matter was referred to the
Board of Works: for e.stimat,es. o`f;. cost >and to .Commi.ttee No. 1
for reeo Jmendation.. s:_to: pr edure:.‘
Change of ; e'taack Line,
. report eras received . from . the City Planning Commission
recommending that the, setback -line on the. northwesterly side , of
Churchill venue for a';:distance of ,.250 feet northeasterly from
Waverley Street bechanged- from 65 feet to 24 feet.
ti. proposed ardi.nance 'changing the setback line as
recommended was given first reading:.,
Report of Committee on keeting, N.ignts
The Mayor made a verbal report for the special committee
recently appointed to consider the -,matter of a possible change
of meeting nights for Council meeti s, reportin,g'that the
Boards and Commissions' bad agreed —to re -arrange their schedules
so that their meetings .would not occur on 'the same days as
Council meetings and therefore the necessity for the suggested
change had been obviated,. and the committee decided to reco mend
that no change be made at this. time. This report was approved.
the Mayor offered as a suggestion, for consideration
that thehour of 7:30 p.m. be set, as the time for all council
meetings of the year.
Ni _t .baseball
x communication was received from the Community :.enter
Commission reporting that theestimated cost of moving the
baseball diamond and lights to the high school or to Mayfield is
x2500.00 for moving and 4400.00 for yearly maintenance, in
addition to the cost of: a field house,,, and therefore, the
Commission felt that no other place .except rd Camino Park is
feasible, as thetotal cost : to move the night baseball lights to.;
the latter location is only, 4300.00.
as thi's matter had been referred to the Board of Works
a d no report has yet' been -..received.' from that body,
this matter was :delayed.
action on
Councilman Christensen left at this tine, 8:50 p.m.
and was absent for a portion:` of the meeting.
Plumbing
.es.c report was .received- from, Committee. No. 1 recommending
that the Plumbing . Code as now `presented be adopted by the Council.:
the. Committee reported that it had made; :certain .typagraph,ica1
corrections and changes in phrasing, but ;that no change had been
made in the substance of theordinance as first presented to the
C.ountil. Committee No. 2 also recommended theapproval of
this : Plumbing. Code.
Ordinance No:, 631, entitled "Official Plumbing Code
of :the:City of'Palo Alto", was considered, and on motion of
Thoits and Judson, was adopted as an emergency ordinance by
unanimous voteon roll call, this ordinance to take effect
immediately.
Gas Appliance and Heating Ordinance
A report was received from Committee No. 1 recommending
that the, proposed ,Gas Appliance and Heating Ordinance, with the
omission of ;sections 608, 609, 610 and 611 of the original
ordinance be; adopted. Committee No. 2 also recommended the
pa:s:sageaof this ordinance.
Cn<. motion' of Mitchell and Bonham, the -following sectiois
of .the ordinance which was previously presented for first
real ing were Ornit'te►d:- Sec. 608. Formula for Computing Size;
..sec.: 809-.:-' Formula to ;Determine Warm Air. Pipe Size for Each Room,
See. -..610 liista11Ation of Registers; and Sec.: 611. Lengthand
Rise :of.:Pipes'. Booster Fans.
Copies of the proposed ordinance as amended by
Committee No 1., ;with sections renumbered .'so as. to have: chapters
and: sections conform : to the Building Code, were presented to
each councilman.
After `" consideration, on motion of Thoits and Collins,
Ordinance No. 632, entitled "Gas Appliance and Heating Ordinance",
was adopted as amended, as an emergency ordinance to go into
effect i ediatelyy, by unanimous vote on roll call.
Councilman Christensen returned at this time,, 9:10 p.m.
In re. Minutes:' -and records
Councilman Christensen brought up the matter of the
keeping 'of records and zni.nutes of the various boards and
commissions'„ and called attention to the ' fact that the minutes
=of the . Library Board and of the community Center 'omnnission
are not kept`in -the city hall in charge of the city clerk.
'This matter was discussed, and on motion of Christensen and
liosher, the matter was referred to Committee No. 5, the City
Clerk and City Attorney to investigate and make a report to the
Council as to the method of keeping the records and minutes of
the -Library Board and the Community Center Commission.
Counci.lman Wood came at 9:15 ,p.m..
be &spita1 Dud r ee t
otidn of ; Chr%.sten yen and Mosher; the Council
x'os;p ta1.. budget be .bound up with regular
xa`t b. d retire e t and in.t:eF e: t .ch.arg.e_s for
" sptal Yea part : of: the. %osp1tal' . tudg_et, but
et'not to be part of yheecity budget
orinance
ox ;
acqus
;'t'ioxa
0j)erat::ng Account for et ar Jelant
Councilma.n Christensen also brought up the matter of
the operating account about to be set up and charged. to :Stanford
University. for the- use of the sewer and treatment plant, ana
expressed- the opinion that the details of the agreement should
be .worked out irnmediately. Councilman Thoits suggested that
the discussion of this tatter be deferred .until the sewer
project is completed and paid for.
Upon suggestion of the Mayor, the matter was called
attention .of the ' City attorney and Board of Works with
reques t
questior
and ope.i
Jniversi
plant be
mailed t
and was
hep
be taken
was appr:
hece
concernir,
Committer
matter is
the Counc
this repc
that 415C
on Unempl
July 1st.
committee;
Coating en'
vt1i..
that an e.;
l.eagde to
was recei•d
On motion
the appror
vote on rc
Aopro
request fr
a.ppropriat.
insurance:
in this coz
the reques
4115.36.wal
to be taker
b a.: e.
an approprj
';ficials
was receive
approved.
authorized
request for a report:: It was also directed that a list of
questions prepared by` Couxicil:Man ';Christensen concerning. tne rental
and operating account about to be set' up and, charged:.to Stanford.
university for the ja:int use -of otheatreatment and outfall sewer
plant be transmit:tea. tci the Board of Works, and that copies he
mailed to each . member;: 0f the Council.,. •
Councilmap uhr3."stensen left at this time, 9t30 p m ; .
and was absent during the rest of the meeting.
Report on Trucking . Ordinance.
report:- from Committee pro. 2 recommending that no action
be taken with reference t`o the ordinance relating to heavy. ; trucking
was approved.
Report on -Fire Apparatus
referring to a. resolution of the Board of Safety
concerning authority of taking ' the fire apparatus out of the city,
Committee too. 2 recommended that, in view of the fact that this
matter is entirely within the authority of the Board of Safety,
the Council take no action. .On motion o, Mitchell and Stephens,
this report was accepted..,
appropriation to Unemployment committee
x report was . received from Committee No. 3 recommending
that 4150.00 be approprjated as requested by the Mayor's Committee
on Unemployment elelief to, cover administration expenses up to
July lst. c:ommittee:, No. 4 .concurred in this recommendation.
Un motion of, Collins and Bonham, the reports of these
committees wereaccepted and the appropriation authorized from the
Contingent Fund, by unanimous vote on roll call.
Jtii t_y bills for Women's Service League
h report was received from ..Committee No. 3 recommending
that an appropriation of :.125.15 be made to the Women's Service
aeague to pay for three months' utility bills now due. A report
was received from Committee .Ao.. 4 with a similar recommendation.
Un motion of Mitchell and; Bonham,the:a, reports were approved and
the appropriation allowed from the Contingent Fund, by unanimous
vote on roll call.
ppropriatior to Community Center Commission
A report was received from Committee No. 4 approving ;a
request from the Community: Center Commission for an extra
appropriation of $1.15.36, which includes 458.55 for additional
insurance on the Community Theatre, and 456.31 for supplies.
:n this connection, Committee Ao. 5 •reported that it approved
the request for additional, insurance on the Community Theatre.
Un motion of %tchell and Mosher, this appropriation of
o115.36 was authorized by unanimoua `'.vote on roll call, this _amount
to be taken from the unappropriated balance.
Badges for Delegates
Referr . to, a request from the Chamber of Commerce for
an appropriation of . 016.25'gor badges to delegates of the Building
�f f icials Conference to be he'd, in :Palo alto n August,
was Bast, a report
received from. Committee; NO.,
4 recommending thatthis be
approved. On motion of Thai is and. Judson, this appropriation was
authorized f ram the L'ublic ity Fund-, ` by unanimous vote on roll call.
id.
w�.th
.A report was received from. Committee No. 5 approving
the request of ,Floyd" Pearson, Manager of the : Palo Alto Transit
Company, to`re.place his. public liability policy issued by to
United States f'i'delity :and Guaranty Company which expired. on
March 30 `1934, r by a policy,: issued by the G lobe : Indemni. ty Company
On motion of Mitchell and Bonham this report Was approved.
%ouncilnan :!'~wood: left at 9:45 p.m. and was absent during
the rest, of the meeting
Agreement :and Deedwith Mackay Radio & Telegraph Co.
On;.rotior of Thoits and Bonham, the Mayor and City
Clerk were,aathorized to execute an agreement with the Mackay .
Aadi:o and Telegraph Company in connection with right-of-way for
sewer purposes.:'.;.
Jnmoton of Collins and Bonham, a resolution accepting
a -deed; of right-of-way from the Mackay Company .was passed by
unanimous vote on roll cull.
heeds or dedication were presented from Q. and A.D.
Pancera, Alvy L. and;;Mabel Plantz, Mary E. Morton, and W. D. and
Mary E. Lyn, covering a ten -foot strip on Embarcadero Road
acquired for sewer and utility purposes. On motion ; of Thoits
and Mitchell, resolutions accepting these deeds were adopted by
unanimous vote on roll call.
reports of the Department of Public -Yorks_, the
Pubic;: Safety, Auditor and Treasurer, .for the month
were 'received and placed on file.
On'.motion ,of Collins and Bonham, the following bills
were. allowed and' warrants authorized in payment of the same, by
unanimous vote on roll call:
,American City magazine 2.00
Bank of America 25.00 ,
Stanford bookstore 1.00
alanaker's Printing House 45.58
F.: � ... Stuart: 41.51
NIA3Tor Earl;, u.. Thomas 25.00
T.ravelers itsurance Co. 216.02
W. `E.. Neilson & Sons 1.25
Mabel:McBride 33.6.0
Public. ;Manaigement 2.50
.i rn-oldRurwe11 21.60
Bancroft -Whitney Co. 5.84_
Ohio. Municipal ueague 2.00
Fender Moss Co. 12.00
Palo. Alto., hospital 1621.50
Palo Alto' News 194.00
Palo -";Alto: Times 194.00
.lvina`.,Larsen ' 14.25
hdj'ournm;en.t to June: 29, 1944
Cn`mot on of Thoits and Mosher, the Council adjourned
to meet on ,P�riday, ' June 29, 1934,. at 7:30 p.m. in the City Hall.
Approved.
Mayor
7
at 7:30 p.n
Mayor Thoma
Preser
Absent
r:
approved.
Closin
0:
and the Audi
of funds to
1934, thiz t
Ordinan
A
for adoption
the Public L,
Jr i
proceedings
Commission sI
office, was
as an emery; ex
It
minutes of th
City Clerk.
Tax r e'' u
A r
that a refund
over-assessmej
Jn motion of
refund author:
JrdinancF
Com:
ordinance char
7:30 p.m.
Council shalli
hour of 7:30 p
Christensen an
unanimous vote
Ordinance
n r
the adoption ,)i
time for whic?z
This proposed c
lio. 3, providin
two years begin
discussed.
adoption of t2: i
further discuss