HomeMy WebLinkAbout05211929City Hall, Palo Alto, California.
May 21, 1929
11e Council of the City of Palo Alto het- on. this date
at B p. m., :Apart cant to adjournment of May 14, 1929, with Mayor
Hoge presiding: Roll call as follows:
Present:-Bertsche, Cathcart, Christensen, Cottrell, Hoge,
Johnson, Kelly, Laus t en, Tho i i s , Thomas, Blood
Absent: Hobart, Jordan, Whisler, Wing.
On,-rnot.io.n of Lausten and Thomas, the minutes of the
meeting of 'ay 14,, 1.9290 -were approved.
Request°of -Bus Companies
Mr. McCurdy, .atto►rney for the Peninsula Rapid Transit
Company and th,e£"`Pacific Auto Stages, addressed the Council
concerning- the removal of the present bus station, stating that
the bus company has been::'ux able to date to find a suitable
location as a terminal, and requesting an extension of time for
the use of the present bus station.
This matter` was discussed, and on motion of Cathcart
and Ke11y, it. vas directed' that the bus companies, represented by
Mr. McCurdy,' be' permitted to continue to use the building that
they are now._;occupying until such time as the Board of Works
in a . diligent effort to improve University Avenue shall find
that it needs: the space, and in no event longer than the first of
July.
ro�ncerl :I f`er Float
Councilman.' Wood presented a communication concerning
the Palo Alto: float : which was entered in the F est-a- d:e las Rosas
parade in -San rose on May 18th by the Mayfield Exchange Club,
stating that the 'cost of this float was : 282.65, more than had
been expected and he: thought the bill should be paid by the City.
This matter has discussed, and attention was callea td the fact
that the CouneAl, -,_ss .wel,l as the Chamber of Commerce, had previously
decided not to .participate in the parade. A motion was made by
Cot t re11 and Christensen to refer this matter to the Chamber of
Commerce for a recommendation, since it has been the custom for
all dills paid_ from the Municipal Welfare Fund to be approved by
the Chamber of'Cotmeree. After further discussion, Councilman
Wood staked that he -would, take up the matter with ` the. Chamber of
Commerce himserf . `
Councilman Wood was excused at this time and was absent
during the rest- of the meeting.
Later.the the matter `of the bill presented r
pre,.en�ed by .�r.. Mood for
the float was ,brought up again, and on motion of Cottrell and
Christensen, was;,, referred by the Council to the Chamber of
Co amerce .
C.oneLre ,. ; , Franchi. se
The City` Attorney made a verbal re ort'� on. ,with' ;the off fic-ials :ot,�: the ' Pacific, Gas and Electric
l e his conference
nyconferencee
'' -
concer ning` thetr..i, t t. . use the streets of Palo Alto for
their' .power lines,, and _thee legal points involved with reference to
the work. started by said company in -rebuilding their lines on
• i"amilton A:venUp. ..:The= attorney of the Pacific Gas and Electric
Company :adoressed the Council asking that the company. be allowed
totoecompleteetheework of reconstruction already begun, and enter
into axe agreeiLent:later whereby the city would receive a certain
interest
Addition I
was not a.a
the peo pl
to territc
Pacific
by Mr. Ha!
awaiting t
right of t
lines in
Canvs
canvass of
councilmen
es teller:
1111, and
follows:
W. H. Kell:
elected col
of :'hosts
Bette)
concerning
government
being grant
City Attorr
Lettex
and referr
and City P1
Let tex
ing a chart
between Gal.
to the Cite
Hearin
0
City Engine
before the
Gas and Ele
Letter
- Company ree
on. certain :
the Board o:
Interest in: the poles.
Mr. M. 13. Hare;, "r>pres.enting the owners of Crescent Park
Addition No. 1, addressed .the Council stating that their proteat
was not against. the `line's. now -`.rested which furnish Dower to
the people in Palo Alto, .out :against the lines which carry power
to territory outside the City of Palo Alto. Mr. Kuster of the
Pacific Gas and Electric ...Company stated that the lines objected . to
y :.rr. Hare do serve certain consumers in. Palo Alto.
On .motion Qathcart.. and Kelly, action was deferred
awaiting .a final' report fromsthe City Attorney as to the legal.
right of the Paeiflc Gas and:Ele`ctric Company to construct power
lines in the City of Palo Alto.
Canvass of ' Elec ti dn: Returns
The ,Mayor :announced that this was the time set for the
canvass of the returns -of .the second municipal electior/for
councilmen held" on 'Ya.y .20, 1929a and appointed Thoits and Johnson
s tellers'. The. total number of ballots cast was found to be
1111, and the number of votes received by each candidate was as
follows:,
Earl C .:.Thomas 699
W." n;: Ke;:ly 593
C.. 8. 'Wing. 524
F. G Hoge 225 -
Ordinance No. 454, declaring that Earl C Thomas and
W. H. Kelly, having received the hi ghe s t number of votes; were '.
elected, councilmen,.for the six year term, was read, and on motion:
of Thoits and Johnson, was .adopted by unanimous vote on roll call,.
7.
j,ly ^` Letter. from fir'. Madison
rY
Letter from Mr. Jenkins
A co mntmioation was received from Attorney D. . a Jenkins
concerning the -sUi"t of Mrs. Black :against members of the city
government .which came to a conclusion on May 13th by a non -suit
being -granted,, e.:preasing' apprecation for the services of the
City Attorneys office .during the trial. This Was placed on file.
A cosm.tnioation ; wras received from Ralph W. Madison
and referred to the Board of Public Safety. Board of Public 'Forks
and City Planning Commission.
Letter from Mr. Schomberg:
A setter was received. from Mr. S. F. Schonberg, request-
ing a change of setback line on his property on Kingsley Avenue, •
between ,Glands and Fulton Streets in Block 94. This was referred
to the City .Planning Commission.
Hearing on Gas Rates
City
On notion of Bertsche and Johnson, the City Attorney and
C Engineer .were authorized to represent the City at the hearing
before= the Railroad Conntvissicn on the petition of the Pacific
Gas and Electric Company for an increas .n the gas rates.
Letter from Pacific Tel, & Tel .Co .
A communication from the Pacific Telephone and Telegraph
Co'pang requesting permission to- place poles, anchors and conduit
on certain; streets in the City of; Palo Alto was referred to
the Board of Public Works.
Letter from Dr:.Alderton
A letter from Dr. and Mrs. H. A. Alderton requesting
s ge of setback line: on their property at the corner of
Addlton• ,even to and Channing: Avenue was referred to the City
Planning: Commission. ;
Report of Committee No 1
The report of. Committee No. 1 recommending that the
Council adopt a proposed ordinance modifying Sect{on 1011 a
of ,Codified Ordinance N4,.3 relating to side yard area was
continued to a later•meeting, at the request of the chairman of
Committee No 1.
A report was received from Committee No. 1 recommending
the adoption of the plat of "South Court Addition" and' recommend-
ing that the ordinance establishing setback lines in -South Court
Addition be adopted. On motion of Lausten and Bert•sche, the
plat of South Court Addition was adopted by unanimous vote on
roll .ca11.
On motion of Kelly and Christensen, it was directed
that a hearing be held 'by .:t..e Council on June 10, 1929, at 8 p.m.,
the City Hall, on the matter of establishing setback lines in
South Court Addition, the City Clerk to give the necessary
notices of this hearing.
reporteras received from Committee it tee No. 1 recommending
the adop Vion :of the proposed; ordinance relating to the naming of
alleys in the ,C;i.ty; of Palo ,Alto. This ordinance was given, first
reading and, continued to a later meeting.
A report was also received from Committee No. 1
recommending the adoption of ,al resole,ti,ormnconeerning the opening
of, an. alley, in Block 50, College Terrace. On motion of T•hoits
and 'Christensen,: the report of the committee was approved
Resolution No 748, adopting the map for :opening an
alley in. B.iook.:50;., College Terrace, was read, and on motion of
T.ho its and .bertsche ,. was _ passed by unanimous vote on roll call.
0n motion o1_:Lau.stez. and Bertsche, the City Attorney was
requested to prepare a :resolution of intention on this matter
under the Street .,U.pering: ' A'ct..
Concerning South Ore ;yin`. Avenue Tract
R repot :;eras received from. the City Planning
Commission recommending the adoption of a map showing streets in
i the South Oregon Avenue Tract,. recommending that all,_of said
tract_be zonedas first residential, and recommending that the
setback line inap be approved by the Council.
A proposed ordinance,approring map of the-. South
U,r•egon Avenue Tract and showing streets therein proposed to
becorsie open publie. Street, of.` the City of Palo A'lto,:. was given
first reading. :On ztotionfo.f Tholts, and Cottrel,:l;, a hearing
was set on this .matter arLd. also on the .recto renda.tions of the
•Piarining ' CoMmissiou. concerning zoning and setback- lines._ for this
tract to .:be -held on June 1`0, 1929., at 8 p. m. in the -City Hall,
the City Clerk :to _ publish :the, notice as required for; this hearing.
Report of:-8ospita1; Coe n1ttee
A :repeat was received from the. Special Hospital
diommittee concerning ,,the .financing of the proposed new hospital,
stating that `'the zount received in pledges, to date amounts to
$128;,442.00, and that the; total will probably be increased to
-4,150,,000:00. • The report:: 'farther stated that the estimated cost
of construe
beds is 4.
11
election bi
eiectors ti
250,000 fc
the hospitE
report. nt
necessity
of Palo Alt
:250,000 fc
Cottrell w;',
Mx
as to- votir
go so ,far t
polling pis
On
when the Co
27th, 1929,,
passing the
Concern
A
reco;nmendin
to rescind
Avenue, be
Thomas -that
Th
that he was
Commission,
of the prop
forced 'to• s
line, -when
property 1z:
of 7 feet w
has a veste,
side of hi s
his oninicn
limitations
setback lin,
made to ado
withdrawn.
0J
was instruc.
preparation
line on Lot:
as to make
front line e
this matter
Hall.
Leases
A c
of Stanford -
"il Company
sites at TJni
having been
of constructing and equipping a hospital with a
beds is;- 450,000,00, to ",oe financed as fellows:
To be;" derivedfrom pledges
pale pf old' hospital and salvage
of equipment_ and supplies
:o.be"raised by a bond issue
capacity of 100
X150,000
50,000
250,000
36'
It <was therefore recommended by the committee th"at an
election be called to be held early in June, submitting to the
electors the proposition of issuing bonds in the amount of
x:250,000 for the constructibneef a new hospital. Dr. Lee, member o
the hospital committee, addressed the Council in connection with.t
report. Resolution of Intention No. 749, determining the
necessity for the construction of a hospital building for the City
of Pale Alto, and the creation of a bonded indebtedness of
;250,000 for this ;purpose, was read, and on motion of Thoits 'and
Cottrell was passed by unanimous vote on roll call.
Mr. W. L. Peet suggested that the city be re=districted
as to voting precincts, so that the people would not have to'
go so far' to vote`, it being this opinclon that if there .were more
polling places a, larger .vo'te would be cast.
Qn motion ofK fly and:.-Bertsche, it was directed that
when the Council adjourn, i t adjourn to meet next Monday, May
27th, e 92'99 at 8 p. 'm " i.n : the "City Hall, for the purpose of
?easing 'the ordinance calling thebond election.
Concerning Setback Line, Change
A report _was received from the City Planning Commission
recommending that the request of the Sullivan Realty Company
to res tnd th'e"setback line on Lots 20 and 21, Block 9, on homer
Pvenue, ibe .not" granted. A motion was made by Thoits and Mrs.
Thetas;that"tris recommendation be adopted.
This'matter w^s discussed, Councilman Cathcart stating
that he was opposed to th'e recommendation of the Planning
Commission,. because be believed it would amount to confiscation
of the property fron 'a legal standpoint if Mr. Sullivan were'H
forced to set his:: new building back 7 feet from the property
line, when the concrete buildings on either side are built to the
pro.oerty ' line, having been connstructed before the setback dine
of.7efeetl was established. It was also stated that Mr. Sullivan
has a vested right..in the party: walls of the buildings gn either
side of his Property, The:City Attorney reported that it was
his opinion that the Planning Commission had gone beyondits
limitations in this case and that the matter of maintaining this
setback line would not stand in a court. The motion previously
made to adopt the recommendation of the Planning Commission was
w i thdr. awn .
On motion of Cathcart and ertsche, theCity Attorney
was instructed to take the necessary proceedings, including the
preparation -of the necessary .ordinance, to modify the setback
line on. ";Lots 20 and 21, Block 9, on Homer Avenue, in such a way
as to make the setback line on that property an extension of the
front line of the -adjacent buildings, and a hearing was: fixed on
this matter for next Monday, May 27, 1929, at 8 p. m. in the City
Hall.
Leases :wi th Oil Ccmaane s
Acommunication was received from A. E. Roth, ;o iptroll,er
of Stanford University, enclosing the leases with the Standard
vil : Company and Shell Oil Company covering their service station
sites at University Avenue and:. El Camino Real, these leases
having been approved by the Board of Trustees of Stanford Jniversit
y•
elV
On..motion:of Kelly and Christensen, a resolution
approving the lease with the Standard Oil Company and authorizing
it to be executed by the Mayor, and City Clerk was read and passed
by unanimous vote on rol l call.
A resolution approving the lease with the Shell Oil
Company and authorizing its execution by the Mayor and City Clerk
was read, and on motion of Kelly and Johnson, was adopted by
unanimous - vote on roll, call.
Claims Allowed
0r motion of, Cottrell and Christensen, a claim it the
,amount of $2:4.04 for pay ,of election officers and rent of
polling. place for the municipal elections held 'on May 13 'and may
20, 1;929,e Was allowed and warrant authorized in payment of same,
by unaninious vote on roll call.
On'motion of Bertsche and Thoits, the bill of $600.00
.from Attorney D. T. Jenkins for services in the Black case,
in accordanceewith terms agreed upon by the cor«anittee, vas
allowed by unanimous veto on roll call, to be taken from the
contingent fund as previously appropriated.
Charter Ordinances (Second Reading)
Several ordinances prepared by the charter committee
were presented for s'evond reading. Councilman Kelly stated
that he was,notprepared to vote on these ordinances .yet as he
would _like more time to consider them.
,Ordinance No. 455, concerning the stated meetings of
the various' boards and committees of the Councils was given
second reading and discussed. On motion of. Cathcart and
Bert:ache', the ordinance.' was adopted on roll call, all voting Aye
except. y, ,Kell who: voted No.
A -mo'tion. was: made to adopt the proposed ordinance
relating to the office of Office Manager. This ordinance was
discussed: but:action -w.as. deferred to a later meeting':
Donslderatio --was: also deferred .on. the ordinancesestablishing a
Bureau of tnfermatlion 'and Complaints, an ordinance:' relating to
the `duties of ; the' City Clerk, , and an ordinance relative Ito
election ,of -deputies to the executive officers.
On motion of Bertsche and Thoits, the Council adjourned
7, 1929, at 8 p. m. in the City Fall.
Approved:
ir,
It 8 p.
Oge pre:
Pr(,
Abs
was the r_
purpose o
Hess -of $,
the Cit:r
Attorney.
the South
on this
in favor c
campaign,,
voters are
bond issue
questions
with part;i
equipment
site. Co -
committee,
spoke in r::
infor_ratio:
hospital F�
operation
points in c
Reynolds al
by Cottrell
coming elec
On motion o
were author.
precincts, 1
registered
of the elecl
of hisler
tiOns of thr
0
456, calling
as amended,
':ear in
changing the
between E -e
received fro
to meet the
matter before
•and Johnson,
Sullivan, oxn