1945-07-03 Regular CC MinutesREGULAR MEETING OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ALAMEDA
HELD TUESDAY EVENING, JULY 3 , - - - - - - - - - 1945
The meeting convened at 8 :00 P. M. with President Branscheid presiding.
ROLL CALL:
The roll was called and Councilmen Howe, Jones, Osborn, Sweeney and President
Branscheid, (5) , were noted present. Absent: None.
MINUTES:
1. The minutes of the adjourned regular meetings held June 26, and June 29, 1945,
were approved as transcribed.
WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS:
2'' From Local No. 689, International Association of Fire Fighters, addressed to
the City Manager, expressing appreciation to the City Manager and Council for
their recent action to better the working conditions of the Alameda Fire Department.
The communication was noted and ordered filed.
3( From Key System, addressed to the City Manager, outlining program for the
construction of bus loading areas in San Francisco and Oakland.
President Branscheid stated that this letter from the Key System was in response
to a letter written by the City Manager, asking for an explanation of the delay
in the construction of the loading zone in Oakland, as well as in San Francisco;
also why the curtailment of service during the week of June 17. He remarked that
this was one of the routine matters which the Council has to keep after continu-
ously in order to assure the citizens of Alameda the best possible transportation
service.
4. From the County Coroner, addressed to the City Manager, offering an explana-
tion for the elimination of the deputy coronership in the City of Alameda.
Following the reading of this communication, Councilman Jones stated that from his
point of view the letter did not contain a satisfactory answer to the City's ob-
jection to the removal of the deputy coroner in Alameda, stating that the primary
consideration is the proper care of cases of sudden death in the City and that
there is no objection to the coroner's jurisdiction. He further stated that the
City cannot assume any responsibility for the conditions that will arise from
this action on the part of the coroner and which will cause considerable incon-
venience to the people of the City. Councilman Jones said that he felt we should
again express to the coroner our extreme dissatisfaction with his solution of
this problem and moved that we send a letter to the coroner setting forth our
unwillingness to accept his conclusions. The motion was seconded by Councilman
Osborn.
Mr. Frank Gottstein asked for permission to speak on the matter and suggested
that the coroner would be entirely agreeable to rotating the deputy coronership
in the City of Alameda on an annual basis. He felt that politics had entered
into the situation and thought that Dr. Emerson was being poorly advised.
President Branscheid remarked that the Council is not taking a political slant
on this matter, but is basing its action simply on the fact that the City is
being deprived of a service it has had for many years and on the further fact
that the action is entitely unwarranted in view of our great increase in popu-
lation.
Mr. George Hagy, one of the local morticians, stated that he believed a county
officer should be able to operate his own office just as well as any city officer
should be able to do - according to his own ideas and to the best interests of
the people he is serving - and he could not see why the City should inject itself
into this situation. He said he has checked on the matter and finds that it
takes the coroner's office from 15 to 20 minutes to answer a call to the City of
Alameda and that in view of this fact there was no reason for the maintenance of
a deputy coroner here.
Councilman Osborn stated that his opposition was based not on any question of
which mortician in the City would get the coroner's business, but entirely on
the fact that in his opinion it is going to be definitely detrimental to the
best interests of the residents of Alameda. He said he felt the City Council
should make every protest it can against this change because the statements
contained in the coroner's letter are not satisfactory and do not explain the
conditions as they actually exist.
The President thereupon put the question and the motion was unanimously carried.
OPENING OF BIDS:
5. Bids were presented and read for the project of the resurfacing of Gibbons
Drive, in accordance with Specifions, Special Provisions and Plans No. PW 6-45-4,
as follows:
From Independent Construction Co., Ltd.
Accompanied by certified check in amount of - $1,200.
From Heafey-Moore Co.
Accompanied by certified check in amount of - $1,200.
The bids were referred to the City Manager and City Engineer for study and
recommendation.
REPORTS OF COMMITTEES:
6" Mayor Branscheid, nominating Miss Mildred S. Meyers to the office of
member of the City Planning Board of the City of Alameda for a term commencing
July 1, 1945, and expiring June 30, 1950.
The matter was referred to "Resolutions."
The President spoke of Mr. S. M. Haslett's long service on this Board and the fact
that he did not wish reappointment and the loss to the City in his decision to no
longer serve as a member of the City Planning Board.
7" Mayor Branscheid, nominating Mrs. P. S. Barton and Mrs. Frank Weeden
to the office of members of the Social Service Board of the City of Alameda for
terms commencing July 1, 1945, and expiring June 30, 1948.
The matter was referred to "Resolutions."
8. From the City Manager, recommending that the rate submitted by the Alameda
Times-Star for legal advertising during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1946,
be accepted.
Councilman Howe moved the recommendation of the City Manager be approved; that
contract for legal advertising be awarded to the Alameda Times-Star for the
period specified. The motion was seconded by Councilman Jones and on roll call
carried by the following vote. Ayes: Councilmen Howe, Jones, Osborn Sweeney
and President Branscheid, (5). Noes: None. Absent: None.
9" the City Planning Board, recommending denial of petition for reclassi-
fication of certain property situated on the south side of Central Avenue between
Fourth and Fifth Streets - known as old "Sunny Cove Beach" - from the "C" Multiple
Dwelling District to the "E" General Business District.
Mr. H. Albert George, Attorney, represented the petitioner in this matter and
reviewed the evidence submitted at the hearing before the Planning Board on June
27, 1945, explained the sketches in connection with the application and outlined
all details regarding the district location of the property. He also explained
in full the plans of the petitioner concerning the development of this property
into an amusement park.
Upon completion of Mr. George's presentation of the matter, the President invited
those in the audience who opposed the contemplated rezoning to address the Council.
Mr. John G. Dorward, Mrs. Ada Daggett, Mr. E. R. Sanford and Mr. Frank Gottstein
all spoke in opposition to the rezoning - their principal objection being to the
opening of a public dance hall in that residential neighborhood.
Communications submitted by two of the protestants were also read.
Mr. George made his rebuttal, following which Councilman Jones moved the petition
for the reclassification of that certain property described above be denied, in
accordance with the recommendation of the City Planning Board. The motion was
seconded by Councilman Sweeney and on roll call carried by the following vote.
Ayes: Councilmen Howe, Jones, Osborn, Sweeney and President Branscheid, (5).
Noes: None. Absent: None.
10:' From Chief Doran and members of the Alameda Police Department, expressing
their thanks for the Council's recent action in adjusting their wages and hours.
The President expressed the Council's appreciation of this acknowledgement and
ordered the communication filed.
11. From Fred J. Croll, Auditor and Assessor, submitting gross assessment figures
of the City of Alameda for the year 1945, estimated to be $35,832,425.
The City Manager thereupon commented on the matter of the veterans' exemptions,
stating that after the last war the veterans' exemptions represented 5% of the
property appearing on the tax rolls.. He_further observed that after the ter-
mination of the present war the percentage would probably be up to between 15
and 20 per cent. He stated that this matter pointed up a very serious problem
in municipal financing.
NEW BUSINESS:
12. Councilman Jones brought up the matter of awarding contract for the monthly
auditing of City financial transactions and moved this contract be awarded to
the firm of Goodell, Byers & Henry, Certified Public Accountants. The motion
was seconded by Councilman Osborn.
Councilman Jones commented on the fact that this firm has done the City's audit-
ing for the past ten years and Councilman Osborn stated that inasmuch as the
services rendered by this firm have been highly satisfactory, he felt it would
be inadvisable to make any change at this time.
The motion was then put and on roll call carried by the following vote. Ayes:
Councilmen Howe, Jones, Osborn, Sweeney and President Branscheid, (5). Noes:
None. Absent: None.
RESOLUTIONS:
13. The following resolution was introduced by Councilman S eeney, who moved
its adoption:
"Resolution No. 3180
Appointing Member of the City Planning Board."
The motion to adopt said resolution was seconded by Councilman Howe and on roll
call carried by the following vote. Ayes: Councilmen Howe, Jones, Osborn,
Sweeney and President Branscheid, (5). Noes: None. Absent: Thereupon the
President declared said resolution duly adopted and passed.
14. The following resolution was introduced by Councilman Osborn, who moved
its adoption:
"Resolution No. 3181
Appointing Members of the Social Service Board."
The motion to adopt said resolution was
roll call carried by the following vote
Sweeney and President Branscheid, (5).
President declared said resolution duly
Seconded by Councilman Sweeney and on
. Ayes: Councilmen Howe, Jones, Osborn,
Noes: None. Absent: Thereupon the
adopted and passed.
15. The following resolution was introduced by Councilman Howe, who moved its
adoption:
"Resolution No. 3182
Expressing to Mr. S. M. Haslett the Appreciation
of the City of Alameda for His Services as a
Member of the City Planning Board.
The motion to adopt said resolution was seconded by Councilman Jones and on
roll call carried by the following vote. Ayes: Councilmen Howe, Jones, Osborn,
Sweeney and President Branscheid, (5), Noes: None. Absent: Thereupon the
President declared said resolution duly adopted and passed.
"The Council of the City of Alameda has learned with
great regret of the decision of S. M. Haslett to not accept
reappointment to the City Planning Board, and being mindful
of the twenty years of faithful and devoted service rendered
to the City by Mr. Haslett as a member of the City Planning
Board and its predecessor, the City Planning Commission;
"NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Council of
the City of Alameda wishes to, and does hereby, express to
Mr. Haslett its deep sense of appreciation and sincere thanks
for the great ability brought by him to the performance of
his duties as a member and President of the City Planning
Board, and extends to him its heartiest congratulations on
the completion of a splendid job.
"BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this Resolution be
spread in full upon the minutes of this meeting and that a
copy thereof be transmitted to Mr. Haslett that it may give
to him a visible record of the sentiments herein expressed."
16. At this time, President Branscheid expressed the appreciation of the Council
in having so many of our citizens present at this meeting and stated that the
Council is always willing to consider the problems of the people and invited
their future attendance at Council meetings.
ADJOURNMENT:
17. There being no further business to transact, the Council adjourned to
assemble in regular session on Tuesday evening, July 17, 1945, at 8:00 P. M.
Respectfully submitted,
ity Clerk