HomeMy WebLinkAbout08131934City Hall, Palo Alto, California,
August 13,, 1934.
The Council of, the City of Palo Alto met in regular
sessionon this date at`7:3O p.m., with Mayor Thomas presiding.
Roll call a„ follows.
Present: Blois;: Bonham,.: Collins, Crandall, 'ohnson, Judson,
Kelly, l itehe11, Stephens, Thoits, Thomas.
.bsent: Cathcart, Christensen, Mosher, Wood..
approved.
The minutes of the meeting ,' of July 16, 1934, were
Budget for 1934-=35
a
The special order of the day was the consideration of
the proposed budget for the.,f±scal year 1934-1935.' Attention
was called to the notice published' on August 7, 1934, that the
Council would hold.,a hearing''a.t this time upon the budget, to:;
which all citizens were invited:;
communication was read'
and Means Committee . presenting the
asked if there was any ,one: present
be heard; but no one.responded.
from the Chairman of the Ways
proposed budget. The Mayor
,in, the audience who wished to
Resolution No, 10?4,adopting the budget for the fiscal
year 1934-35, was read, and a; motion was made by Thoits and.
Bonham to adopt. the resolution. ;
Councilman Kelly, Chairman of Committee No. 3,
stated that he had receivedseveral letters from citizens
protesting against the reduction of the Book Fund of the Library
'Budget from w,58Q0 v^0. to 35000.00: ` The report of Committee
No. 3 on this matter was read, the committee recommending the
adoption of the proposed Library Budget, with the statement that
we members of the committee favor the returr= of the book
appropriation to 3.5840.00, the same as last year's, and oppose
its reduction to 45000.00.
Councilman Collins pointed out that there are certain
recommendations in the report of Committee No. 1 concerning
budget appropriations. It was explained in this connection
that the items recommended by Committee No. 1 are included in the
proposed budget.
Resolution No. 1074,_ adopting the budget for the year
1934-35, was then adopted by unanimous vote on roll call.
ettr from Merchants Assn. on Business Licenses
A letter was received from the Merchants Association
referring to their letter of December 11, 1933, asking that, a
license be imposed onall merchants entering into business in
Palo Alto for a short period :and : thata bond be deposited to
show good faith of all merchants starting in business in Palo
Alto, and requesting that some ac=tion .be taken on this matter.
It was reported that this matter has been before
Committee %o..2 at several meetings; that an ordinance prepared
on this ratter hadnot been satisfactory to the committee, but
that the matter has not .been .neglected and is still on the
committee's docket, and that the committee .. at its last meeting
decided to arrange for ; a .hearing onthis mater to be held
Probably in October.
v
Recuest of Disaster Relief Committee for rood Depot
A;:com iication was received from the Disaster Relief
Committee of the American Red Cross Society, requesting permission
to use the :;former Palo Alto Shelter as a food kitchen and depot,
if and when it becomes necessary. This was referred to the
Mayor t s Committee on Unemployment Relief.
et:: from Mayfield Service Club on Utility Bills
A letter was received from the Mayfield Service Club
concerning;, a report that the office for the collection of utility
bills for the ; Mayfield District will be closed in the near future,
and recommending that this service be continued, with the state-
ment that 3. L. Ingram had made an offer to make these collections
at his office at 456 California .venue at no cost to the city.
The Utilities Collector reported that 147 utility bills
out of a total of 1500 bills for the Mayfield District were
collected during the ten days this month in which the office was
open; that many, ,customers are mailing in their payments and others
come to the city hall to pay their bills.
matter was referred to the Board of Public Works.
tter from Citizens' Committee of Eureka
A communication from the Citizens' Committee of Eureka
requesting information concerning work done' for the City: of Palo
Alto by the Western e11 Drilling uompariy of San Jose., was
referred to the Board' of: Works for reply.
Opening Washington iivenue
A report wa !received from the Board of Works transmitting
Bulletin. No. 9 concerning the opening of Washington Avenue to
Webster Street, with the information that 50 per cent of the
property owners do not wish to bear any of the expense for the
opening of the street, and under the circumstances it would not
be possible to extend the street by the present street opening acts.
On motion of Mitchell and Johnson, this report was
accepted and i.t was decided that no action would be taken .on the
matter of opening Vvashington Avenue. This would, therefore,
remove the matter from the docket of Committee No. 1. which had
also had the matter under consideration.
Pope_ Street' Br. ` 4
A. report was received from the Board of Works transmitting
to the Council.:the`plans prepared by San Mateo County and
estimates .of, cost for reconstructing the bridge at Pope. Street,
and straightening the creek channel, as an S.E.E.A. project.
Txti� :was referred back to the . Board of Works with. the request that
the Board: make an engineer's report on the plans and estimates of
cost;' the matter' then to be considered by Committee No. 1.
Councilman Wood came at 8 p.m.
Ordnance
Alteration of Store Fronts
A report was . received from the Board of
ing the adoption, of:a proposed ordinance amending
the Building. Code:. ';providing for the alteration of
buildings of :TypeS` 4 and 5 in Fire Zone No. 1.
was given first -.reading and referred to Committee.
Committee' ,No. 2.
Works recommend -
Section 1602 of
fronts of
This ordinanceyy
N o . 1 and
Hazar
Administra
occupied b:
Project No
be providec
allowed to
ing that t
building; t
from this .o
that might
should be b
T
Board of Wo
Committees
reports are
A
Board of Sa
reimburse t
the former
Committee N
of Judson ar
Shelter Fund
Condit"_
A'
that the oak
University A'
need attentia
This wz.:s ref l
El Can i2
Thf
Camino Real 1
of Fmbarcade�
and Collins,
referred to 1
Extensic
A I
the extension
Bayshore Bigi
the City's sY
No. 1.
Obs truc.i
A z
of obstructic
was referred
Removal
The
a par tnershii
office from t
Building, the
of the Attorn
the new boat
unanimous vot
Hazards at Federal Building
A communication was received from the Emergency Belief
Administration concerning conditions at the Federal wilding,
occupied by employees of the Women's Service League and of S.E.R.A
Project No. 43-D1-30, recommending that two outside fire escapes
be provided from the second floor and that automobiles not be.
allowed to park inside the building
A report was received from the Board of Safety recommen
ing that three additional fireescapes be provided in the Federal
building; that all automobiles should be excluded in the day time
from this building except city cars and trucks; that any cars
that might receive authority to be inside the building at night
should be backed in.
It was announced that this matter is now before the
Board of Works for estimates of cost, and is also to come before
Committees No. 1, No. 2 and No. 4. Action was defeved until
reports are received from these bodies.
_'_+Joy ocr ration for Blankets
A communication was received from the Chairman of the
Board of Safety, requesting the Council to appropriate $5.00 to
reimburse the War Department for 25 blankets lost or stolen from
the former Shelter, this to come from the Shelter Fund.
Committee No. 4 recommended this request be approved. On motion
of Judson and Thoits, this appropriation was authorized from the
Shelter Fund, by unanimous vote . on roll call.,
Condition of Oak Trees
A report was received from the Planning commission
that the oak trees in the area near the. Standard Oil Station at
University Avenue and El Camino Peal are in poor condition and
need attention, two of the trees. being doad and one diseased.:.
This was referred to the Board of Works.
El Camino Real Bell
The City Planning Commission recommended that the El
Camino Real bell be placed near the oak tree in the intersection
of Bmbar cadero Road and El Camino Real. On mot -ion of Judson
and Collins, this recommendation was approved and the matter
referred to the Board of .Works for execution.
Extension of :x'3.1? orb Road
A report from -the City Planning Commission concerning
the extension of Willow Road,as a direct connection between the
Bayshore Highway. and El Camino' Real, with estimates of cost for
the City's share of the -work, ..was read and referred to Committee
No. 1.
Obstructions - Hedges' and: Trees
A report rom the r lanning Commission containing a list .
of obstructions, such as hedges, . tr ee;s etc., with their locations
was referred to the Superintendent of: Streets.
Re .:,oval. of City Attorney's -Off ice
The City Attorney announced that he had recently formed
a partnership with. very Ho re at.torney, and had removed his
office from the Bank ',of _ America Building to the Mbd;i.co-Dental
Luilding, there being no Additional expense to the city for rent
of the Attorney's office+ On motion of Mitchell and Johnson,
the new location was approved as the City Attorney's office, by
unanimous ;rote on . roll' call-.
Transfer for. Truck
report'Was received from Committee No. 1 recommending
that a. lightdelivery truck be purchased .for the Water Division at
a cost not to. . exc'e:ed $550.'00, as previously , recommended 'by Board
of Works this sum "to; be transferred from. the Equipment Account.
Committee No;. 4` bade: a similar recommendation, with the suggestion
that - the transfer be ,made from the Car Account. On notion of
Judson and" shoits.,: the reports were approved and the transfer
authorized from the Car Account, by unanimous vote on roll call.
A : report was received. from Committee No. 1 stating that,
the Council havingalready taken action in appropriating funds
for the completion of the sewer project, the Committee finds
nothing in the reports of costs submitted by the Board of. Public
Works: which: require further action by the Council. This report
was accepted.
Night Baseball
report ;'as submitted by Committee No. 1 recommending
that an appropriation be made sufficient to place night baseball
at the Mayfield Grammar School site. A similar recommendation
was received from Committee 1o. 3.
On motion of Mitchell and Bonham, the recommendation to
locate . the night baseball equipment at the Mayfield school grounds
was approved, and the Board of Works was asked to submit revised
estimates of cost, these to be referred to Committee No. 4.
Crossing at Palo Alto venue
A report_w.sreceived from Committee No. 1 recommending
that the amount budgeted for the improvement of the lighting of
the crossing at Palo Alto Avenue and connecting paths be
approved, but that plans for the construction of a pedestrian
crossing over the railroad at this point be postponed. On motion
of ':Wood and: Mitchell, this report was approved.
Stanford Avenue Storm ;ewer
C,onmittee:No. 3 recommended that a fund, of $8000 be
included in the 1934-35 budget for the purchase of materials,
unaery an S.E.R. A`a; project, for the Stanford Avenue storm seer
:extension.. It eras pointed out that this item was included in
the budget;. pr;eviously adopted.
Compen'sati,on Insurance on Sewer Project,
r,ep.ort was' received from Committee No. 1 recommending
that: cos 4:s of compensation insurance be included in the costs of
the sewer p.roj:ect and that an amount, to be' determined later be
included n,the. 1934-Z 5 ,budget to cover costs of compensation
insurance. on 'the' City's sewer project. The.:'C i.irman of
Committee , 'o. 4 -stated that an amount of $18041.09 was included
-in tie budget for this. purpose.
Flare Pole
Com mittee No. I recommended that the sum of `$640.00
be if'clud'ed in the 1934-35 budget for the re --conditioning: and re -
erec=ting of the flag pole at the Circle. Its has reported' that
thus` <acount,: as provided for this purpose in the budget just
adopted:.:
the suth
earthqua
also in
?la
that,:, in
Univeraj.
Commiss-J,
reducing
back to
Car;.
Bay.
T�-i =r
e
in which
Bayshore
Rin_conada
report f:rl
lighting •
Co unt t7
sentirnen;.
The matteri
12,
League re
months for
Project No
local need
letter was
Un.e-mployme.
in the pro'
such grant
the grantiz
to be used
o. 4 repot
amount nee
used for r
Collins, t:
of $530.00,
on roll cal
A
Une zpl ymen'
situation i?
to take car4
September 1(
this revues;
CoMmittee Nc
_.
$530.00 w., s
:gar thcuake Survey
A recommendation was received from Comittee No. 1.
the sum of $500.00 be included in the 1934-35 budget for an
earthquake survey :in the commercial, district. This amount is
also in the budget just adopted..
P1antins` of Irian :e
A report was reee).ved from Committee No. 1 recommending
that, in order to reduce ,the expense in improving the triangle at
University venue and Ei Camino Real, the Council ask the ylanning
Commission to reconsider the matter of grading wit:ri a view of
reducing the amount of, fill required. This . matter was referred`
back to the Planning Commission with the comm- ttee t s report.
Ca:abriGge Avenue Widening
denim;
:ea./shore ' Highway Signs
i W sir_ iennis..Courts. in .linconada : Park
Committee No. 1 requested the : Council for further time
in which to :consider the matter of widening Cambridge Avenue,
3ayshore Highway signs, and the lighting of tennis courts in
Pir_conada Park.
In connection with the last item, the Mayor presented
report from Committee No. 3, recommending that the matter of
li;;hting tennis courts in Rinconada Park be referred to the
Community Center Commission for inquiry as to neighborhood
sentiment, the Commission: toreport' back to Committee £o. 3.
The matter was so referred tothe Community Center Co =mission.
,,
�.t-aueSt of Service League
A communication; was received from the omen a s Service
League reeuestieLg an appropriation of $150.00 a month for three
months for the purpose of purchasing materials for S. E. R. A.
Project No. 43-D1-30, the completed garments to be given to the
local needy through authorized channels. In this connection a
letter was read from the Chairman_ of the Mayor's. Committee on
Unemployment Relief, stating it does not think this matter is
in the provinceof the Mayor's Committee , but is favorable to
such grant by the Council.
A report was received from Committee No. 3 approving
the granting of an appropriation of a suitable amount for materials
to be used in this S.L.R.A., project. The. Chairman of Committee
«4o. 4 reportedthat it had been ascertained that the actual
mount needed was $1lO.op per month ($10.00 of this amount to be b-`
used for rent of sewing machines). On notion of Judson and
Collins, the sum of $11:0.4.00 per month for three months, or a total
of $330.00, wasappropriated for this purpose, by unanimous vote
on roll call
Unemployment Funds.
A report was:,received from_ the Mayor's Committee on
Unemployment Relief reporting ' ;n improvement in .the unemployment
situation in Palo Alto, -and asking for an ;appropriation of $530.00
to take care of eighteen cases. for the period from. August 13th to
September 10th., Co ittee' No._: 3 submitted a report approving
this request. A similar recommendation was received from
Co::;mittee No. 4,:
On motion of> Judson, and Johnson, an appropriation of
x-540.00 was made for thiwpurpose,- by.- unan mous vote on roll call.
Y
for Mayc r T s Committee
A.- communication was received from the Mayor's Committee
on Unemployment Relief requesting a budget allowance of $1800.00
for administration pzrpos'es for the year 1934-35, and itemizing cover i n
the proposed" expenees to be included in this amount. . report stated
was received fromeCOmmittee No. 4, recommending that the. sun of officia
$450.00be allowed to cover three months' expenses,. further docuncen
demands to be considered when made. On Motion of Kelly and the May,
Bonham, this report ways approved and the appropriation authorized, connect
by unanimous vote on roll call.
Proposal for Unemployed to Work Out Utility Bills
A communication was received from the Chairman of the
Board of Public Works concerning the reduction in the list of men
eligible for employment through Mr. John's office and the necessi-
ty for making other plans to procure labor for park maintenance;
also pointing out : that many of the unemployed" are indebted to
the Utilities Department in various amounts, the total at present
being. about $1140.00. The reeuest was made that the Council
appropriate the sum of $570.00 per month for two months to be
expended for labor ::wider certain regulations (employment to be
given to only those ho owe utility bills, and arrangements to
be made to have check paid at Utilities desk and endorsed and
paid to 'Utilities Department) .
This matter was discussed) and ,on motion of Kelly and
Collins was referred to Committees loos . 3, 4 and 5.
Reeuest for __tellers
A report was received from Committee No. 4 recomrmerd.: g
that the reeuest of the Disaster Relief Committee for $72.00
to cover the cost -of six stretchers be referred back with
suggestion to>investgate possibility of securing used stretchers
at " a lower cost. The Chairman of Committee No. 4 reported that
he had conferred with the chairman of the Disaster Relief
Committee on t'ris matter and expected to receive further informa-
tion later.' The matter was left in the hands of Committee e;o. 4.
In re Playgrounds and ILunicioal Pool
A communication from the Community Center Comrission
with reference to letter from Parent -Teachers Association of
June 4th relating to playgrounds and the . municipal swimming pool,
the Commission recommending that the pool be operated by the
Recreation Department, was referred to the Board of .Public works.
In re ,Tennis Courts
Of
Pe
DepartmE
of July,
Attorney
Council -
deeds.
was absc:
were al:'_c
ananimou:
Authi
the paymes
A -communication was received from the Community Center of the Mas
Co r ission transmitting a petition from the Community Tennis as the :gay
Players", concerning " the condition of the tennis courts, particular-
ly" in regard to the annoyance caused by loose gravel and by the
back -stops being. `located too low and too close to the base lines,
:recuesting that 'these conditions be corrected. This was
referred to the Board of Works, ;. tendering
On motion
regret, Ln
Johnson ex
and thani..i:
it` Clam Deed of Highgay Property
A quit claim deed to t.rte State of California of a
small parcel of land containing 0.004 xr z of an acre, on El
Camino Real` at Cambridge Avenue, was presented by the City
Attorney ancd .referred to Committee No. 1.
R"es-
;ras consieo
aDpropria
s i =•i.lar to
ue WaS inf C
this p urp .D.
Officials' Bonds
The City Attorney brought up the matter of a new bond.
covering city officials, as approved by Committee No. 5, and
stated that the companies issuingthebond request that some
official be authorized to sign the bond and other necessary
documents ments from time to time. On motion of Johnson and Bonham,
the Mayor was authorized to ;sin all necessary documents in this
connection, to be advised on these matters by the City Attorney.
_.v;,orts of Officials
The reports of the Department of Public Works, the
cpartMen_t of ;Public Safety, Auditor and Treasurer for the month
of July, 1934, were received and placed on file.
rooertr Acuuired by Tax Deeds
Upon the suggestion of Councilman Kelly, the City
Attorney was asked to investigate and make a report to the
Council on the titles of properties acquired by the City by
deeds.
tax
Councilman Johnson left at this time, 9:30 p.m., and
.vas absent during the rest of the meeting.
eonthlv
l�s
On motion of Mitchell and Bonham, the
were allowed and warrants authorized in payment
unanimous vote on roll call:
Bancroft Whitney Company.
Melvin Roberts & horwor th
Bank of America
Municipal Finance Officers Assn.
Palo Alto Times
Stanford University
Mayor Earl C. Thomas
Travelers Insurance Co.
Underwood Elliott Fisher Co
Western Loose Leaf Co.
Palo Alto Hospital
Bancroft Whitney Company
Alvina Larsen
1_athorjzation for Col. Hoyden's Salary
On motion of Judson and. Bonham the Council authorized
the payment of salary of Col, R. N. Hayden, special representative
of the Mayor, from the Contingent Fund for succeeding months,
as the Mayor directs, this by unanimous vote on roll call.
e .gin wtion of Councilman `J oh son
A communication was read from Councilman A. Tin, Johnson
tendering his resignation as a member of the City Council.
o-:1 motion of Judson and .Kelly, this resignation was accepted Ihith
regret, and the Mayor was requested to communicate with Mr.
Johnson expressing the regrets of the Council for his resignation
e -d thanking him for his services while a member of the Council.
following bills
of the same, by
6.84
X11
23.93
25.00
10.00
5.00
1.38
25.00
219.02
6.38
127.10
10.00
2.92
18.75
nos octal tz,ation Fund
Councilman Wood, who was not present while the budget
:as considered and adopted, asked, whether there has been any
aappropriation made , in the budget: for a hospitalization fund,
d,
,jainilar to the fund Set aside for this purpose last January.
t -e was informed that no appropriation was mc.ae in the budgetfor
is purpose.
On motion of Mitchell and Bonham, the Mayor was
authorized, to appo nt a special committee to study the results
of .the os;t :: ishment of the Hospitalization Fund for the six
tidonthS period from January 1 to June' 30, 1934, and report
the .r. 'indings to the Council as soon as may be convenient.
adjourned.
On notion of Thoits and Bonham, the Council
lerk
session
the tax
1934-193j
coring b,
Pre
Abs1
follows:
Year 1934-,
and on mot
ordinance 3
Peso.:.;
formerly (;c
referred to
loss great'
that he ') a_d
be placed b
a
unanimous vi
for Llva C.
there to r.ex
Hobart's fa
of
di.
th
of:
ell
re -
a