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1945-10-16 Regular CC MinutesREGULAR MEETING OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY. OF ALAMEDA HELD TUESDAY EVENING, OCTOBER 16 , - - - - - - - 1945 The meeting convened at 8 :00 P. M. with President Branscheid presiding. ROLL CALL: The roll was called and Councilmen Howe, Jones, Osbo Branscheid, (5) , were noted present. Absent: None. Sweeney and President MINUTES: 1. The minutes of the regular meeting held October 2, 1945, were approved as transcribed. WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS: 2:' A copy of a letter from the Fernside Home Owners Association to the Key System was read, offering suggestions for the improvement of local and transbay transpor- tation. The communication was ordered placed on file with the rest of the correspondence relating to the transportation situation. OPENING OF BIDS: 3.� One bid was opened and read for the Installation of a Storm Water Pumping Plant at the north end of Grand Street, in accordance with Specifications, Special Provisions and Plans therefor, No. PW 10 -45 -5, as follows: From "Central California Construction Co. Accompanied by certified checks in amount of $7,015. 600. 100. The bid was referred to the City Manager and City Engineer for examination and recommendation. REPORTS OF COMMITTEES: 4: From the City Planning Board, recommending the reclassification of that cer- tain portion of the rear of lot known as 1304 Pearl Street, being the northeast corner of Pearl Street and Encinal Avenue, as specifically set forth, from the "A -1" One Family Dwelling District to the "D" Commercial District, for the purpose of enlarging the grocery store located on the property immediately adjoining to the east. The matter was referred to "Introduction of Ordinances." INTRODUCTION OF ORDINANCES: 5. Councilman Jones introduced the following ordinance, after which it was laid over under provision of law and the Charter: "Ordinance No. New Series An Ordinance Reclassifying Property by Adding Section 30 to Ordinance No. 725, New Series." 6. Councilman-Osborn introduced the following ordinance, after which it was laid over under provision of law and the charter: "Ordinance No. New Series An Ordinance Amending Section 10 of Ordinance No. 642, New Series, Entitled 'An Ordinance Establishing and Regulating the Civil Service System of the City of Alameda.," UNFINISHED BUSINESS: 7. The President called upon the City Manager for his report on the progress being made in the matter of the requested amending of Fire Zone Ordinance No. 727, New Series, in connection with the Robert W. Begley property situated on the northwest corner of Webster Street and Taylor Avenue, on which the erection of a service sta- tion is contemplated. Mr. McMillan reported that he had had a conference with the Board of Fire Under- writers and had learned that the construction of a service station at the point designated would not effect the insurance rates in the district, pointing out, however, that the station would have to be of standard construction and have all required safeguards. He stated that the question as to whether or not a service station should be permitted in this location is a matter for further thought and recommended that the provision prohibiting service stations in Fire Zone No. 1 be eliminated from the Fire Zone Ordinance - the thought being that if it is the desire to keep service stations out of this particular district, that matter should be covered by the zoning ordinance. Mr. Begley thanked Mr. McMillan for his interest in the matter and stated that he would like to report back to the Texas Oil Company that the erection of a service station on this property would be permitted. President Branscheid requested that he confer further with Mr. McMillan on the subject before making any commitments. Councilman Jones inquired as to whether or not it would be necessary to have the ordinance amended to eliminate the service station provision and suggested that if this were done, the Planning Board would come into the picture and take over from that point. Mr. McMillan pointed out, however, that under the present Zoning Ordinance the service station could go in if the prohibition were removed from the Fire Zone Ordinance. Thereupon Councilman Jones moved the City Attorney be requested to prepare the necessary amendment to the Fire Zone Ordinance. The motion was seconded by Councilman Osborn. The City Attorney then suggested that the motion be "that any restriction on the erection of service stations in Fire Zone No. 1 be eliminated from the ordinance." The amendment being acceptable to Councilmen Jones and Osborn, the. President put the question and the motion was unanimously carried. 8( President Branscheid requested the City Manager to make a short report on transportation. Mr. McMillan stated the check had been finished on what has ac- tually happened in the west end. He said the survey showed that during the period from 6 :30 to 8 :30 a. m. thirty -one schedules arrived from the Naval Air Station at the corner of Lincoln Avenue and Webster Street - ten of the buses were empty and sixteen had light loads. All buses were diverted at this point and put into the Alameda service. As to the ten empty buses, he suggested it would be a good plan to operate and divert them back to Central Avenue to eliminate the long walk which commuters have to make from that point to catch a bus. He stated this could be done and that the Key System will take it under advisement, remarking that arrangements have been made for a conference during the present week with the Key System Dis- patcher, Operations Chief and Public Relations Manager. Mr. McMillan reported also on the terminal building in San Francisco, stating that the Key System has submitted plans for the construction of this facility and the only thing holding up the work is the absence of State approval for the construction on its property. He was of the opinion, though, that this approval would be given within a very short time.. On the matter of additional service, Mr. McMillan reported that as a result of the City's survey, the Key System has added five trips to the evening service and that on October 15 two schedules were added to the "T ", "W" and "0" lines and commencing October 21, the "0" line in the evening will put on a fifteen - minute schedule in place of the twenty - minute headway now in effect. Mr. Frank Gottstein addressed the Council and stated that in listening to the report of the City Manager on the transportation problem, he was sorry that noth- ing was said about the routing of buses from east of Park Street over the Park Street Bridge. Mr. McMillan quoted figures on the Oakland -San Francisco Bay Bridge traffic to show that traffic on the bus and truck lanes has not increased since the war but that there are 7,000 army and navy vehicles using the lower deck of the bridge each day, which naturally slows down bus travel. Councilman Sweeney requested that in the conference to be held with the Key Sys- tem, the matter of rerouting the east end buses over the Park Street Bridge be discussed and that a report be made to the Council on any developments along this line. NEW BUSINESS: 9. Councilman Jones stated that the newspapers had recently published a list of new Post Offices to be erected in the State of California and that Alameda was not included on that list. He stated that Alameda and Santa Rosa are the two most congested Post Offices in the State of California at the present time but that in spite of this fact, no new Post Office facilities have been provided for our City. He stated that in his opinion the Council should write a letter to our Congressmen Miller asking him to investigate the reasons for passing up Alameda and suggesting that perhaps through his good offices, we might receive some consideration along this line. Councilman Jones thereupon moved the City Manager be requested to write to Con- gressman Miller on behalf of the City Council stating that following a careful investigation of the needs of the City of Alameda, the Council is on record as requesting that the City be put on the list for a new Post Office Building. The motion was seconded by Councilman Howe. At this point, President Branscheid stated that when the present Post Office Building was erected, the total annual receipts of the Post Office were in the neighborhood of $100,000. and that at the present time, for the current calendar year, the receipts have exceeded $500,000. He stated also that a City of this size should have a building sufficiently large to accommodate other Federal offices, such as the Internal Revenue, Social Security, etcetera, and that from this standpoint alone a new Post Office Building is not only desirable but is necessary. The question being called for, the motion was put and unanimously carried. 1O' City Manager reported that the City has now acquired a new addresso- graph and asked permission to negotiate for the sale of the old machine. Councilman Osborn moved the City. Manager be allowed to negotiate for the sale of the used addressograph, as the City has acquired a new one. The motion was seconded by Councilman Sweeney and unanimously carried. RESOLUTIONS: 11. The following resolution was introduced by Councilman Sweeney, who moved its adoption: "Resolution No. 3239 Creating the Position of Police Officer-Chief Radio Officer in the Police Department of the City of Alameda, Prescribing the Duties and Fixing the Salary Thereof." 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: None. Thereupon the President declared said resolution duly adopted and passed. 12. The following resolution was introduced by Councilman Jones, who moved its adoption: "Resolution No. 3240 Adopting Specifications, Special Provisions and Plans for Constructing and Painting a Wood Frame Equipment Shelter Building at the City of Alameda Corporation Yard on Grand Street, Calling for Bids, and Directing the City Clerk to Advertise Same." 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: None. Thereupon the President declared said resolution duly adopted and passed. 13. The following resolution was introduced by Councilman Howe, who moved its adoption: "Resolution No. 3241 Authorizing City Attorney and City Manager to Negotiate and Discharge Claims of City with Respect to Government Island Suit." The motion to adopt said resolution was seconded by Councilman Osborn and on roll call carried by the following vote. Ayes: Councilmen Howe, Jones, Osborn, Sweeney and President Branscheid, (5). Noes: None. Absent: None. 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. 3242 Authorizing the City Attorney of the City of Alameda to File Stipulation in Eminent Domain Action Instituted by the United States of America." The motion to adopt said resolution 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. Thereupon the President declared said resolution duly adopted and passed. 15. The following resolution was introduced by Councilman Sweeney, who moved its adoption: "Resolution No. 3243 Authorizing the City Attorney of the City of Alameda to File Stipulation in Eminent Domain Action Instituted by the United States of America." 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: None. Thereupon the President declared said resolution duly adopted and passed. 16. The following resolution was introduced by Councilman Osborn, who moved its adoption: "Resolution No. 3244 Authorizing the City Attorney of the City of Alameda to File Stipulation in Eminent Domain Action Instituted by the United States of America." 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: None. Thereupon the President declared said resolution duly adopted and passed. ORDINANCES FOR PASSAGE: 17. "Ordinance No. 879, New Series An Ordinance Amending Section 14 of Ordinance No. 642, New Series, Entitled, 'An Ordinance Establishing and Regulating the Civil Service System of the City of Alameda,' by Amending Sub - Paragraph (b) of Paragraph (2) of Sub - Section (h) Thereof, and Adding a New Paragraph to Said Sub - Section (h) to be Known as Paragraph (4)." Councilman Howe moved the ordinance be adopted as read. 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. Thereupon the President declared said ordinance duly adopted and passed. 18. "Ordinance No. 880, New Series An Ordinance Amending Ordinance No. 673, New Series, Entitled 'An Ordinance Establishing a Retirement, Pension and Insurance System for Officers and Em- ployees of the City of Alameda'." Councilman Osborn moved the ordinance be adopted as read. The motion was seconded by Councilman Howe and on roll call carried by the following vote. Ayes: Coun- cilmen Howe, Jones, Osborn, Sweeney and President Branscheid, (5). Noes: None. Absent: None. FILING: 19. Auditor's Balance Sheet - Month ending September 30, 1945. 20. Specifications No. PW 10 -45 -6 - For Construction and Painting of frame equipment Shelter Building at Corporation Yard. BILLS: 21. An itemized List of Claims against the City of Alameda and the several depart- ments thereof in the total amounts as follows, was presented to the Council at this meeting: General Departments, $4,539.12; Civilian Defense Department, $97.05; Police Department, $1,465.59; Civil Service Department, $18.25; Pound Depart- ment, 561.90• Fire Department, $699.; Street Department, $1,744.87; Health Department, $345.29; Recreation Department, $1,093.77; Federal Recreation Facilities, $189.91; Park Department, $1,667.64; Golf Course Department, $1,452.12; Store Department, $635.72; Social Service Department, $29.35;, Initiative Relief Fund, S40.; Street Improvement Fund, $3,404.70; Gas Tax No. 2 Fund, $10,075.45; East Bay Municipal Utility District Fund, $2,452.95. Councilman Howe moved the bills as itemized in the List of Claims filed with the City Clerk on October 16, 1945, and presented to the Council at this time, be allowed and paid. The motion was seconded by Councilman Osborn and on roll call carried by the following vote. Ayes: Councilmen Howe, Jones, Osborn, Sweeney and President Branscheid, (5). Noes: None. Absent: None. ADJOURNMENT: 22. At this point, the City Manager stated that he was anxious to get the in- stallation of the Storm Water Pumping Plant started and suggested that an ad- journed meeting of the Council be held sometime during the coming week to deter- mine whether or not the contract should be awarded. Thereupon Councilman Sweeney moved the meeting be adjourned to assemble in ad- journed regular session at 6:00 P. M., Tuesday, October 23, 1945. The motion was seconded by Councilman Jones and unanimously carried. Resp; t °/, ubmitted, ity Clerk