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1955-01-11 Special CC MinutesSPECIAL MEETING OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ALAMEDA HELD TUESDAY EVENING, JANUARY 11, 1955 The meeting convened at 7:00 o'clock P. M. with President Anderson presiding. The Pledge of Allegiance was lead by City Clerk Shirley H. Tennier. ROLL CALL: The roll was called and Councilmen Haag, Jones, McCall, Moresi and President Anderson, (5), were noted present. Absent: None. The Clerk read the Call and Notice of Special Meeting, setting forth speci- fically the purpose therefor - receipt of copies of which had been acknowledged by each of the Councilmen. The Affidavit of Service, signed by Officer Vernon M. Lilley, was on file. UNFINISHED BUSINESS: 1: The matter of the Golf Course Bond Issue in the amount of 700,000. was called up for consideration. Upon request, City Attorney Clark explained that he and the City Manager had dis- cussed this matter with the Bond Consultants, Orrick, Dahlquist, Neff & Sutcliffe, and had arranged with this firm to prepare the necessary resolutions and ordinances to enable this issue to be placed on the ballot of the March Election. He stated the only requirement at this time, if the Council wishes to act, would be a motion to authorize the Special Counsel to proceed. Councilman Jones made a motion to this effect, which was seconded by Councilman Moresi and on roll call carried by the following vote. Ayes: Councilmen Haag, Jones McCall, Moresi and President Anderson, (5). Noes: None. Absent: None. The matter of a Charter Amendment concerning City-residence requirements for full-time City Employees was presented for action. A communication was read from the Alameda Municipal Civil Service Employees Associa- tion, signed by Charles H. Schwab, President, requesting that the City Council ini- tiate a change in the Residential Requirements for Alameda City Employees. It was pointed out that the principal reason for desiring to have the present restrictions lifted is the difficulty in obtaining new low-cost homes. It was suggested that con- sideration be given to a fifteen mile limit and also that the change be adopted as an amendment to the Charter rather than as an individual ordinance. A communication was also read from the Triangle Club of Alameda, Inc., signed by Bennett Erdahl, Secretary, requesting the Council to consider an Amendment to the Charter to permit employees to live approximately fifteen miles from the City - this would allow them to find new, low-cost homes which are not available in Alameda The City Attorney stated one approach would be the outright repeal of the existing requirement of residence within the City and the other would be to give permission for employees to live anywhere within a radius of fifteen miles of the City. He said it is up to the Council to decide as to how it shall be handled. Councilman Jones stated that this proposition has been initiated by the City Employ- ees and he moved the City Attorney be instructed to draw up the necessary documents to make the change for consideration of the people at the coming City Election. The motion was seconded by Councilman McCall. Mr. Frank Gottstein vociferously expressed his opposition to the entire proposal. Mr. Charles Schwab, as representative of the City Employees, was called upon. He pointed out that less than ten percent of City Employees now live outside of Alameda. He stated this violation of the City Charter has been going on for some years and there is now this opportunity to honorably settle the matter by presenting it for a vote of the people. He emphasized the Employees realize that if it does not pass, they will be the ones to suffer - either by losing their jobs or their homes. The question was then called for and on roll call the motion carried by the following vote. Ayes: Councilmen Haag, Jones, McCall, Moresi and President Anderson, (5). Noes: None, Absent: None. NEW BUSINESS: 3. The matter was presented with regard to a Charter Amendment to provide for Off- Street Parking Revenue Bonds. Communications were read from Mr. Edmund B. MacDonald, the Off-Street Parking Commit- tee, the Alameda Chamber of Commerce and the Alameda Real Estate Board - all submitting their endorsement of placing such an amendment on the ballot of the City Election to be held March 8, 1955. The City Manager was called upon to outline the situation. He explained that the proposed Charter amendment is one which would authorize the issuance of revenue bonds by resolution of the City Council. The funds to retire these bonds - the net reve- nues, or any part thereof - are set up as a pledge for the redemption of this obli- gation. It is estimated that the average net revenue to the City, from parking meters, over and above maintenance costs, annually is about $36,000. An example that was suggested by Stone & Youngberg, Municipal Financial Consultants, was the amount of $360,000. for the bond issue, though this entire amount would not be used at once. The actual sum needed would be $22,000. annually, based upon the bond issue. He pointed out that, if the City wishes to enjoy a relatively low, - or the lowest, rate of interest that might be secured on these bonds - it would be necessary to pledge the entire revenue. If that is done, the cost of this money would be less than if some limitation were made. The City would probably be restricted to the amount of $360,000. by virtue of the fact that, in order to make the bonds attractive, the net revenues would warrant about that sum of money. President Anderson stated this proposed Charter amendment is to furnish off-street parking. It means that the people give the Council power to go ahead and put in park- ing lots to the limited extent of about $360,000. That is the maximum amount - and what is contemplated is actually in the neighborhood of $260,000. Another thing the Charter amendment would do is to allow the Council to put in parking lots if needed during an "off-election" year, without holding a special election which would cost about $7,000. If this power is given to the Council, progress can be made without having to pay the penalty of election costs. Councilman Jones stated he is hopeful that a satisfactory solution can be worked out for establishing off-street parking. He pointed out, however, that the Golf Course Bond Issue will also be before the people at the same time and that proposition will take a two-thirds majority vote to pass - and he felt the Press is favorable to this proposal. He wondered about the advisability of submitting a Charter amendment to give the City Council the authority to indicate the location of off-street parking areas. He said the plan is to use the revenue from parking meters - and it must be remembered that, heretofore, the moneys received from parking meters have gone into the General Fund and have helped to keep the tax rate down. Now, if the Council pledges itself to use all of the parking meters revenue for off-street parking, the tax rate would be affected. Also, he felt this proposition would be telling the voters to give author- ity to the Council to choose the places, where off-street parking is to be - and he questioned if it were right and proper for members of the Council to spend money with- out having an expression from the people in this respect. He emphasized, however, that as far as putting the proposition on the ballot is concerned, he did not want to obstruct that phase of the matter. Councilman Moresi stated that the pledging of all of the parking meter funds would be done in order to assure the City of the total maximum amount of $360,000. at the lowest possible interest rate. The amount figured on at the present time is 826o, 000. and $22,000. of the parking meter funds would be used. She said she understood that financial consultants had been hired to make a complete survey of this situation and they would recommend the desirable locations for establishing parking lots. The City Manager corroborated Councilman Moresi's understanding, explaining that Stone & Youngberg had been employed to make a thorough analysis of the matter. Councilman Haag concurred that the matter of the Council deciding where the parking lots should be located, upon advice from Stone & Youngberg, is the only way it can be done. He felt that if the City has employed experts, who are acknowledged as such, and whose work has been ruled satisfactory - there should be no objection from the people. He pointed out, however, that merely placing this amendment on the ballot does not necessarily mean success, and he strongly urged that every businessman pre- sent get busy and work for its passage. Mr. Stanley D. Whitney, Attorney, addressed the Council on behalf of the merchants of Alameda, of which there was a large representation in the audience. He stated the problem of off-street parking has been present for a number of years and the City still does not have any parking lots. He pointed out that for every customer the local businessman loses, the City loses sales tax - also, personal property taxes as the merchants/ inventories go down. He filed with the Clerk a list of forty- three business firms, representatives of which could not attend this meeting, but whow ere in favor of placing this amendment on the ballot. He urged that the Coun- cil place this matter on the ballot and let the people decide. Councilman Jones stated he wanted the fact made very clear that he is not opposed to the proposition of off-street parking - his question had been not "Should we have off- street parking?" but "What method should the City use in gaining such parking?" Messrs. Richard Thunder, Realtor; Frank Gottstein; Herb. Levithol, Manager of Gal- lenkamps; George W. Hansen, President of Alameda City Taxpayers' League, Inc.;and Elmer Tilton, Chairman of the Off-Street Parking Committee, spoke in support of the proposed Charter amendment. • President Anderson summarized the discussion by stating that all that is being asked is to give the voters a chance to say, "Yes, we will trust the City Council to spend 1360,000. to provide off-street parking". The City budget is about 13,000,000. and he felt the Council could handle 360,000. very easily and do a fine job. He said that all may not be interested directly in parking but all are interested in Alameda. When a certain job is to be done one hires an expert - and the City Council needed advice on off-street parking so it employed a firm trained in this field. Councilman Moresi moved the City Attorney be authorized to draw up the necessary documents for a Charter amendment that can be voted upon by the Council at its next meeting. The City Attorney explained that this matter falls within the category of the bond issue action and the motion should authorize the same Special Counsel to prepare the necessary papers for this amendment. Councilman Moresi amended her motion accordingly; it was then seconded by Councilman McCall and on roll call carried by the following vote. Ayes: Councilmen Haag, Jones, McCall, Moresi and President Anderson, (5). Noes: None. Absent: None. The decision of the Council was heartily applauded. RESOLUTIONS: The following resolution was introduced by Councilman Jones, who moved its adoption: "Resolution No. 5031 Appointing T. A. Greig Commissioner of the Housing Authority of the City of Alameda." The motion to adopt said resolution was seconded by Councilman McCall and on roll call carried by the following vote. Ayes: Councilmen Haag, Jones, McCall, Moresi and President Anderson, (5). Noes: None. Absent: None. Thereupon the President declared said resolution duly adopted and passed. ADJOURNMENT: 5. There being no further business to come before the meeting, the Council adjourned - to assemble in regular session on Tuesday evening, January 18, 1955, at 8:00 o'clock. Resp HIRLE H. TE INTER Cit:c Clerk i