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1950-10-17 Regular CC MinutesREGULAR MEETING OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ALAMEDA HELD TUESDAY EVENING OCTOBER 17, - - - - - - - -- 1950 The meeting convened at 8 :00 o'clock P. M. with President Branscheid presiding. ROLL CALL: The roll was called and Councilmen Anderson, Jones, Osborn, Sweeney and Presi- dent Branscheid, (5), were noted present. Absent: None. MINUTES: 1. The minutes of the regular meeting held October 4, 1950, were approved as transcribed. WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS: 2. From Middleton, Hiller and Hackleman, concerning certain suggested changes in the City's accounting and financing procedures. Councilman Jones moved this matter be referred to the Committee of the Whole for further consideration. The motion was seconded by Councilman Osborn and unanimously carried. 3( From the Alameda Christian Grammar School, 2226 Pacific Avenue, requesting per- mission to extend the fences on its property to enlarge the play area for its in- creased enrollment of children. Councilman Osborn moved this request be referred to the City Manager for study and recommendation. 4. From the Alameda Junior Chamber of Commerce, endorsing the proposed rezoning of certain land on Bay Farm Island in order that the firm of Johnson, Drake & Piper, Inc. might proceed with its plans for a 15,000,000.'development of an apartment house area. By order of the President, this communication was referred to the City Planning Board. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS: 5' Mr. MacDonald addressed the Council, stating that about one year ago, he wrote a letter about the bad condition of sidewalks and while he had received a response thereto, nothing has been done in the matter of correcting the condition complained of. He stated the sidewalks of the City are still in bad shape and pointed out that Berkeley and San Leandro have had judgments taken against them by reason of accidents suffered through negligence in repairing defective sidewalks. President Branscheid stated this matter would be referred to the City Manager and asked Mr. MacDonald to call Mr. Froerer's attention to any particular bad spots he had in mind, pointing out that we do have a sidewalk inspector who covers the City, but it would help to have Mr. MacDonald point out any specific spots so that it would not be necessary to comb over the entire City. Councilman Jones suggested the City Manager might like to make a statement on the subject. Mr. Froerer stated the City does not have an inspector to walk the streets looking for bad sidewalks. He stated, however, the City does ask its employees to report any bad sidewalks and reports from citizens as to such matters are welcomed. He remarked that he would be very pleased if Mr. MacDonald would come to his office and go over this matter completely and suggested he might go out on the streets with Mr. MacDonald to make a cursory inspection. 6. At this point in the proceedings, President Branscheid stated that if there were no objections, and considering the deep interest that every good American has in the pronouncements of the President of the United States during these parlous times, he would call a recess and provide for the reception of the broadcast of the President's address from San Francisco. Mr. Frank Gottstein stated he would like to have the meeting referred back to "Oral Communications" at the conclusion of the address. There being no objections, a recess was taken for the purpose of permitting the Council and audience to listen to the President's address. REPORTS OF COMMITTEES 7. From Mr. R. E. Bosshard, tendering his resignation as a member of the Board of Education, effective October 14, 1950. Councilman Jones moved Mr. Bosshard's resignation as a member of this Board be accepted with regret and that a vote of -thanks be extended to him for his many years of faithful service to the City. The motion was seconded by Councilman Osborn. Councilman Sweeney stated that Mr. Bosshard was a very close personal friend and his resignation and removal from the City will be a loss to the City of a most sincere citizen. Councilman Sweeney stated that, in his opinion, everything Mr. Bosshard did was for the benefit of the City of Alameda. President Branscheid commented that this is one of the unfortunate circumstances through which the City must pass and that it will be a source of regret to everybody who knew Mr. Bosshard. He then put the question and the motion was unanimously carried. 8. From the City Manager, requesting authority to dispose of certain discarded pumping equipment at the Golf Course. Councilman Jones stated it was his understanding that the value of the equipment would be in the neighborhood of $450. and he moved the City Manager be given au- thority to dispose of it. The motion was seconded by Councilman Osborn and unani- mously carried. Councilman Anderson inquired as to whether or not this equipment could be used else- where in the City. He was informed by Mr. Froerer there was no other City property on which it could be used. 9. From the City Manager, recommending that Mrs. Cecelia Robinson, Policewoman, be authorized to attend the Convention of Women Peace Officers' Association, to be held at Pasadena, from October 25, to 27, 1950, and that a sum not to exceed %90. be appropriated for this purpose. Councilman Anderson moved the City Manager's recommendation be approved; that Mrs. Robinson be authorized to attend the specified convention and the sum of 90. be appropriated for her expenses. The motion was seconded by Councilman Osborn and on roll call carried by the following vote. Ayes: Councilmen Anderson, Jones, Osborn, Sweeney and President Branscheid, (5). Noes: None. Absent: None. 10 From the City Planning Board, recommending the reclassification of property from the "A -1" to the 'B" Dwelling District for the purpose of allowing the existing dwelling to be remodeled to include two three -room apartments in the basement. The property is known as 767 Buena Vista Avenue, and is more specifically described in the petition. Councilman Anderson moved the City Planning Board's recommendation be adopted and the property in question be reclassified as set forth. The motion was seconded by Councilman Jones and unanimously carried. The matter was then referred to "Introduction of Ordinances." 11 From the City Manager, stating that all work in connection with the repair of fire damage and the construction of a steel wire mesh fence at the Armory Building has been satisfactorily completed and recommending it be accepted and the Notice of Completion be ordered filed. Councilman Osborn moved the City Manager's recommendation be followed; that the work on this project be accepted and the Notice of Completion be filed. The motion was seconded by Councilman Sweeney and unanimously carried. INTRODUCTION OF ORDINANCES: 12. Councilman Jones introduced the following ordinance, after which it was laid over under provisions of law and the Charter: "Ordinance No. New Series W BUSINESS: An Ordinance Reclassifying Property by Addin Section 60 to Ordinance No. 725, New Series. (Known as 767 Buena Vista Avenue) 13. President Branscheid stated that, in accordance with the provisions of the Charter, he desired to place in nomination a man to fill the office of member of the Board of Education of the City of Alameda, vacated by the resignation of Mr. R. E. Bosshard. He stated he would propose the name of Mr. Marvin Rosefield of the Rosefield Packing Company, who is a substantial executive, President of the Rotary Club, and active in many civic affairs. He remarked that it was a personal pleasure to him to place Mr. Rosefield in nomination for this office. Councilman Osborn moved the nomination be confirmed. The motion was seconded by Councilman Sweeney and on roll call carried by the following vote. Ayes: Council- men Anderson, Jones, Osborn, Sweeney and President Branscheid, (5). Noes: None. Absent: None . . RESOLUTIONS: 14. The following resolution was introduced by Councilman Jones, who moved its adoption: "Resolution No. 4254 Cancelling City Taxes on Property Acquired by the. City of Alameda for Municipal Purposes." The motion to adopt said resolution was seconded by Councilman Anderson and on roll call carried by the following vote. Ayes: Councilmen Anderson, Jones, Osborn, Sweeney. and President Branscheid, (5). Noes: None. Absent: None. Thereupon the President declared said resolution duly adopted and passed. 15. The following resolution was introduced by Councilman Osborn, who moved its adoption: "Resolution No. 4255 Requesting Cancellation of County Taxes on Property Acquired by the City of Alameda for Municipal Purposes." The motion to adopt said resolution was seconded by Councilman Sweeney and on roll call carried by the following vote. Ayes: Councilmen Anderson, Jones, Osborn, Sweeney and President Branscheid, (5). Noes: None. Absent: None. Thereupon the President declared said resolution duly adopted and passed. 16. The following resolution was introduced by Councilman Jones, who moved its adoption: "Resolution No. 4256 Approving and Authorizing the Execution of an Agreement with the State of California for Maintenance of State Highway in the City of Alameda, Effective as of July 1, 1950." The motion to adopt said resolution was seconded by Councilman Anderson and on roll call carried by the following vote. Ayes: Councilmen Anderson, Jones, Osborn, Sweeney and President Branscheid, (5). Noes: None. Absent: None. Thereupon the President declared said resolution duly adopted and passed. 17. The following resolution was introduced by Councilman Jones, who moved its adoption: "Resolution No. 4257 Authorizing Attendance of Members of the Council, Officers and Employees of the City of Alameda at the Annual Conference of the League of California Cities to be Held at Los Angeles, and Appropriating Funds Therefor." The motion to adopt said resolution was seconded by Councilman Osborn and on roll call carried by the following vote. Ayes: Councilmen Anderson, Jones, Osborn, Sweeney and President Branscheid, (5). Noes: None. Absent: None. Thereupon the President declared said resolution duly adopted and passed. 18. The following resolution was introduced by Councilman Jones, who moved its adoption: "Resolution No. 4258 Amending Resolution No. 4220, Adopted June 29, 1950." The motion to adopt said resolution was seconded by Councilman Osborn and on roll call carried by the following vote. Ayes: Councilmen Anderson, Jones, Osborn, Sweeney and President Branscheid, (5). Noes: None. Absent: Thereupon the President declared said resolution duly adopted and passed. 19. The following resolution was introduced by Councilman Anderson, who moved its adoption: "Resolution No. 4259 Cancelling City Taxes on Property Acquired by the City of Alameda for Municipal Purposes." The motion to adopt said resolution was seconded by Councilman Osborn and on roll call carried by the following vote. Ayes: Councilmen Anderson, Jones, Osborn, Sweeney and President Branscheid, (5). Noes: None. Absent: None. Thereupon the President declared said resolution duly adopted and passed. 20. The following resolution was introduced by Councilman Osborn, who moved its adoption: "Resolution No. 4260 Requesting Cancellation of County Taxes on Property Acquired by the City of Alameda for Municipal Purposes." f The motion to adopt said resolution was seconded by Councilman Sweeney and on roll call carried by the following vote. Ayes: Councilmen Anderson, Jones, Osborn, Sweeney and President Branscheid, (5). Noes: None. Absent: None. The President thereupon declared said resolution duly adopted and passed. 21. The following resolution was introduced by Councilman Jones, who moved its adoption: "Resolution No. 4261 Endorsing the Formation of a Regional Civil Defense Planning Board and the Appointment of a Full Time State Employee as Civil Defense Coordinator for Mutual Aid Region No. 3." The motion to adopt said resolution was seconded by Councilman Sweeney and on roll call carried by the following vote. Ayes: Councilmen Anderson, Jones, Osborn, Sweeney and President Branscheid, (5). Noes: None. Absent: None. Thereupon the President declared said resolution duly adopted and passed. Councilman Jones requested the City Manager to explain this matter. Mr. Froerer stated this is the result of action taken at a meeting of representatives of the nine County Governments and the Cities within the Bay Area Counties, who felt it would be advisable to have a coordinator line up the civil defense for Mutual Aid Region No. 3. 22. The following resolution was introduced by Councilman Jones, who moved its adoption: "Resolution No. 4262 Appointing an Acting City Manager in the Absence of the City Manager, ft The motion to adopt said resolution was seconded by Councilman Sweeney and on roll call carried by the following vote. Ayes: Councilmen Anderson, Jones Osborn, Sweeney and President Branscheid, (5). Noes: None. Absent: None. Thereupon the President declared said resolution duly adopted and passed. ORDINANCES FOR PASSAGE: 23. "Ordinance No. 1011 Repealing Ordinance No. 1007, New Series. It (Loyalty Oath - Ordinance Superseded by State La,w). Councilman Sweeney moved the ordinance be adopted as read. The motion was seconded by Councilman Anderson and'on roll call carried by the following vote. Ayes: Councilmen Anderson, Jones, Osborn, Sweeney and President Branscheid, (5). Noes: None. Absent: None. 24 At this time, President Branscheid noticed the presence of a group of Boy Scouts in the audience. He welcomed them and inquired as to whether or not they had anything to offer to the Council. The Scoutmaster in charge of the group stated the boys were present this evening in pursuance of their studies of civic affairs and had attended this meeting simply to observe the City Council in action. President Branscheid extended a cordial invitation to the group to return for fur - ther observation at any time. FILING: 25. Auditor's Financial Report - First Quarter of 1950 -51. 26. Agreement - Between State and City, for Highway Maintenance. BILLS: 27. An itemized List of Claims against the City of Alameda and the several Depart- ments thereof, in the total amounts as follows, was submitted to the City Council at this meetingl General Departments, 6,914.83• Parking Meter Fund, $29.45; Police Department, $1,592.12; Fire Department, 5414.30; Health Department, $921.50; First Aid Department, $35.05; Street Department, $3,449.49; Pur- chasing Department, $709.60; Recreation. Department, X393.51;. Golf Course Department, $1,423.42; Park Department, 01,480.06; Civil Defense Department, $579.51; Social Service Department, p24.80; Pound Department, $29.17; Civil Service Department, $15.; Traffic Safety Fund, $2,609.44; Capital Outlays Fund, $859.20; East Bay Municipal Utilit District Fund, $2,030.08; Gas Tax No. 1 Fund, $67.09; Gas Tax No. 2 Fund, 178.68; Engineering Department Deposit Fund, $30. Councilman Jones moved the bills as itemized in the List of Claims filed with the City Clerk on October 17, 1950, be allowed and paid. The motion was seconded by Councilman Anderson and on roll call carried by the following vote. Ayes: Coun- cilmen Anderson, Jones, Osborn, Sweeney and President Branscheid, (5). Noes: None. Absent: None. HEARINGS: 28. The matter was called up concerning the adoption of Sections 3 and 4 of the Bay Farm Island Master Plan - with regard to Streets and Boulevards and cross sections of Streets and Boulevards. The Clerk read the Notice of the Hearing and the Affidavit of Publication was ordered filed. The matter was presented by Mr. Kenneth F. Jones, Planning Consultant, and a Court Stenographer was present to record his remarks. The transcript of this hearing, made by said reporter, is by reference, made a part of the minutes of this meeting. Following Mr. Jones'presentation, Councilman. Jones moved the matter be continued to the next meeting of the Council on November 8. The motion was seconded by Councilman Sweeney. Councilman Jones, with the permission of Councilman Sweeney, then withdrew his motion - stating he wished to make a different motion. Councilman Jones thereupon moved that Section 3 of the Master Plan of Bay Farm Island be adopted. The motion was seconded by Councilman Sweeney and on roll call carried by the following vote. Ayes: Councilmen Anderson, Jones, Osborn, Sweeney and President Branscheid, (5). Noes: None. Absent: None. Councilman Jones then moved the matter of Section 4 of the Bay Farm Island Master Plan be continued for decision only to the meeting of November 8. There being no second to this motion, Councilman Osborn moved that Section 4 be altered to make the streets of minor importance 32 feet wide. The motion was seconded by Councilman Sweeney. City Attorney Whitney suggested this matter should be referred to the City Plan- ning Board. Whereupon, Councilman Osborn, with the consent of his second, withdrew the motion and reframed the motion to read that the Council return Section 4 of the Bay Farm Island Master Plan to the Planning Board with the recommendation that streets of minor importance be not less than 32 feet wide. The motion was seconded by Coun- silman Sweeney and unanimously carried. 29. President Branscheid pointed out that the next regular Council meeting night falls on November 7, which is Election Day and therefore, the meeting scheduled for that night will be held on Wednesday, November 8. 30. At Mr. Gottstein's request, the meeting was referred back to "Oral Communica tions." Mr. Gottstein addressed the Council on the subject of a second tube or some other type of Estuary crossing, charging that the Council had been inactive in the mat- ter and had done nothing constructive toward getting a second tube for the City. He stated that several times he had asked for an expression by the Council on the matter of doing something about getting a second tube and taking action against the Toll Bridge Authority for having failed to give the City of Alameda a connec- tion to the present Bay Bridge, but that there had been no comment and he wished to ask each Councilman tonight to express himself on the matter. Councilman Jones pointed out to Mr. Gottste meetings, the efforts expended by the Counc of getting another tube, had been gone into sonal knowledge the Council and City Manage never ceased to be active in the matter of . in that in his presence at many Council it and by the City Manager in the matter and that to Mr. Gottstein's own per - r have been active for years - and have endeavoring to get another tube. As to the matter of bringing action against the Toll Bridge Authority, Councilman Jones expressed the opinion that there was some doubt that such legal action would do any good. Councilman Sweeney suggested that Mr. Gottstein read some of the minutes of the Council meetings and get acquainted with what is going on in this matter. President Branscheid reviewed in detail the of getting a second tube and challenged Mr. has been inactive - and at this point, over Branscheid adjourned the meeting. ADJOURNMENT: activities of the Council in the matter Gottstein's statement that the Council Mr. Gottstein's protest, President 31. There being no further business to come before the meeting, the Council ad- journed, to assemble in regular session on Wednesday evening, November 8, 1950, at 8 :00 o'clock. Respectful '' bmitted, y Clerk