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1965-10-05 Regular CC MinutesREGULAR MEETING OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ALAMEDA HELD TUESDAY EVENING OCTOBER 5, 1965 The meeting convened at 7:30 o'clock p.m. with President Godfrey presiding. The Pledge of Alle- giance was led by Councilman La Croix and was followed by an inspiring Invocation delivered by The Reverend Mr. Bernard Mott, Assistant Pastor, First Methodist Church. ROLL CALL: The roll was called and Councilmen Bartley, La Croix, Jr.. McCall, Rose and President Godfrey, (5), were noted present. Absent: None. MINUTES: 1. The minutes of the regular meeting held September 21, and the special meeting held September 29, 1965, were approved as transcribed. WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS: � 2, From the Alameda Unified School District, signed by Mr. Charles A. Briscoe, Assistant Superin- tendent, requesting cancellation of City taxes on certain property acquired for the expansion of Haight School. 3/ From The Ballet Arts Foundation, signed by Mr. Robert B. Turner, President, requesting that the City allocate $500. toward the operation of said Foundation for the remainder of the current year. The City Clerk was instructed to acknowledge this communication with the information that the City did not have any funds for support of this type of activity. Also, the suggestion was to be made that, in the future, such requests be made directly to the Alameda Chamber of Commerce in January in order to be given consideration during its ensuing budget seaaions. 4. From R. Borgman Sales Company, signed by Mr, R. Borgnmo, requesting permission to stage a fire- , works display at the South Shore Center on October 15, 1965, It was stated that the necessary cleor- aoce would be obtained from the Police and Fire Departments and adequate public liability insurance covering both persons and property would be provided. There being no objections, the President asked the Clerk to acknowledge this request, indicating the Council's approval and the granting of said permission to conduct the fireworks display after the Chiefs of Police and Fire had cleared the matter. Further, that proper public liability insurance be provided and approved by the City Attorney. It was so ordered. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS: 5. Mr. Frank Gottstein, 731 Haight Avenue, addressed the Council with regard to the present paving of Webster Street which necessitated the detour of traffic around on Pope 3treat. He stated this latter street was in terrible condition. He also reiterated his plea that the elevation of Webster Street should be raised while there was this opportunity to do it economically before further build- ingo would be involved along the route. HEARINGS: 6V The matter was called up concerning the Appeal from the decision of the Planning Board to deny the application for a variance to permit certain additional construction on the property of the First Christian Reformed Church at 2914 Encinal Avenue. The Appeal was filed by Mr. Stanley Doerame on behalf of said Church. Upon request, Mr. Donald Johnson, Planning Director, reviewed the history of this case. He pointed up that the main variance was an encroachment of ten feet into the rear yard of the Church property. He felt it was a substantial addition to the existing Church building since it would be two and one- half stories in height. Mr. Johnson emphasized that neither the Planning Board nor the Planning Staff could make any particular finding of hardship - except insofar as the Church was an unusual use. The President then called upon the City Attorney, who stated the le l issue before the City Council was whether or not the action of the Planning Board under Section ll-16l(6) and (e) of the Alameda Municipal Code should be affirmed, modified or reversed - and the desired action could be taken by motion. Upon invitation to any proponents of the question to address the Council, Mr. Stanley Boersma, 1901 Central Avenue, spoke in favor of the plans of the Church. He pointed up the need for the additional classrooms proposed to be erected. Mr. Robert Bode, 2916 Fillmore Street, emphasized that the addition to the Church would provide a second means of egress for the children in the event of fire. He also suggested that the remaining yard area be paved. The President then called for any opponents to the question and Mrs. Thelma MacKenzie, 2913 Madison Street, registered her strong protest against any further encroachment by the Church into its required rear yard area. She mentioned that the Church had created a parking problem for many years. She also objected to the noise resulting from the various Church and Sunday School activities going on all during the week. 449 There being no further speakers on this matter, President Godfrey declared the Hearing closed. The Council then entered into a lengthy discussion with the Church representatives and Mrs. MacKenzie in a sympathetic effort to arrive at some mutually satisfactory arrangement for achieving the Church's purpose without the need for so much encroachment. Mr. Johnson also clarified certain points for the better understanding of those concerned. It was felt by the Churchmen that no suggested course of action could be accepted or determined upon at this time without further study. Councilman McCall then moved that the City Council uphold the ruling of the Planning Board and the Appeal be denied. The motion was seconded by Councilman Rose and carried on the following roll call vote. Ayes: Five, Noes: None. Absent: None. REPORTS OF OFFICERS BOARDS ETCETERA: �° /, From the City Manager, reporting all work satisfactorily completed on the project of Installing Culverts on Mound Street at Encinal Avenue and at Madison Street - recommending it be accepted and the Notice of Completion be ordered filed. Councilman Rose moved the recommendation be approved; that the work on said project be accepted and the Notice of Completion be filed. The motion was seconded by Councilman McCall and carried on the following roll call vote. Ayes: Five, Noes: None. Absent: None. 8. From the City Manager, reporting all work satisfactorily completed on the project of Installing an Electrically Operated Aluminum Apparatus Door at Fire Station No. 2 - recommending it be accepted and the Notice of Completion be ordered filed. Councilman Rose moved the recommendation be adopted; that the work on the designated project be accepted and the Notice of Completion be filed. The motion was seconded by Councilman McCall and oar- ried_nn the following roll call vote. Ayes: Five. Noes: None. Absent: None. ^/ � 9. From the City Manager, recommending the contract be awarded to John D. Buestad, low bidder, for certain Carpentry Work at Godfrey Park at the total cost of $2,194, Councilman Rose moved the recommendation be followed; that the contract be awarded to the bidder indi- cated for the specified project at the price quoted. The motion was seconded by Councilman McCall and carried on the following roll cull vote. Ayes: Five, Noes: None. Absent: None. v~ lO. From the City Planning Board, signed by the Secretary, recomoendin be reclassification of cer- tain property from the yR-5°, General Apartment Diatrict, to the ^/C-2,^, Central Business District. The property was owned by Morrison Bros. Improvement Co. and situated southwesterly of Webster Street at Central Avenue. The Hearing on this matter was set for the next meeting of the City Council, to be held October 19, 1965. 11. From the City Manager, recommending contract be awarded to Gallagher & Burk, Inc., lop bidder, for the project of Reconstructing a Portion of Fernside Boulevard, between Harvard and Cornell Drives, at the total cost of $5,220. Councilman La Croix moved the recommendation be adopted; that the contract be awarded to the designated firm for the specified project at the price quoted. The motion was seconded by Councilman Bartley and on roll call carried by the following vote. Ayes: Five. Noes: None. Absent: None. l2,~ From Mr. Carl W. Hamilton, Librarian, submitting on behalf of the Library Board, the Annual Reports of the Library for 1964-65. The reporta were noted with interest and ordered filed. RESOLUTIONS: 13^ The following resolution was introduced by Councilman Rose, who moved its adoption: "Resolution No. 6854 Directing Payment of Sum Not Exceeding Eight Dollars ($8.00) Per Month to Hospital Service of California and the Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Inc., on Behalf of Eligible and Participating Employees of the City of Alameda." The motion to adopt said resolution was seconded by Councilman La Croix and on roll call carried by the following vote. Ayes: Five, Noes: None. Absent: None. 14. The following resolution was introduced by Councilman La Croix, who moved its adoption: 'Resolution No. 6855 Adopting Specifications, Special Provisions and Plans for Reconstruction of Culverts on Fernaide Boulevard from Versailles Avenue to Fairview Avenue, ( Calling for Bids and Directing City Clerk to Advertise Same.'' The motion to adopt said resolution was seconded by Councilman Bartley and on roll call carried by the following vote. Ayes: Five. Noes: None. Absent: None. 15. The following resolution was introduced by Councilman La Croix, who moved its adoption: "Resolution No. 6856 Adopting Specifications, Special Provisions and Plans for Painting and Decorating of Portions of the City Hall, Calling for Bids and Directing City Clerk to Advertise Come." The motion to adopt said resolution was seconded by Councilman Bartley and on roll call carried by the following vote. Ayes: Five. Noes: None. Absent: None. 16. The following resolution was introduced by Councilman La Croix, who moved its adoption: "Resolution No. 6857 Adopting Specifications for Furnishing to the City of Alameda Two (2) Three Unit Power Mowers, for Park Department, Calling for Bids and Directing City Clerk to Advertise Same." The motion to adopt said resolution was seconded by Councilman Bartley and on roll call carried by the following vote. Ayes: Five. Noes: 0ooe, Absent: None. 17. The following resolution was introduced by Councilman McCall, who moved its adoption: "Resolution No. 6858 Authorizing Execution of Contract with Alameda Chamber of Commerce for Advertising for the Fiscal Year Ending June 30, l966` and Appropriating Therefor the Sum of $16,600.00 or as Much Thereof as May be Required.' The motion to adopt said resolution was seconded by Councilman Bartley and on roll call carried by the following vote. Ayes: Five. Noes: None. Absent: None. 18. The following resolution was introduced by Councilman La Croix, who moved its adoption: "Resolution No. 6859 Authorizing Execution of Agreement with State of California Providing for Joint Participation in Construction of Improvements to State Highway Route 81 Along Northerly Side of Otis Drive, Easterly of Mound Street." The motion to adopt said resolution was seconded by Councilman Bartley and on roll call carried by the following vote. Ayes: Five. Noes: None. Absent: None. 19. The following resolution was introduced by Councilman Bartley, who moved its adoption: "Resolution No. 6860 Cancelling City Taxes on Property Acquired by the Alameda Unified School District for Public Purposes." Councilman Rose seconded the motion and inquired what the assessed value of the property in question was which would hereby be removed from the_City tax rolls. Speaking on the question, Councilman McCall said he thought the citizens should be made aware of the ' burden under which the City of Alameda operated due to the fact that so much of the property was exempt from taxation in view of the fact that it was owned by the Federal Government, State or City or some School District or Church. President Godfrey remarked that whenever he spoke before a group he made a point of bringing out the fact that almost forty per cent of the property within the City was tax exempt. Be asked Mr. Weller - to obtain the information requested. The question was then put and the motion to adopt said resolution was carried on the following roll call vote. Ayes: Five. Noes: None. Absent: None. � 20. The following resolution was introduced by Councilman Bartley, who moved its adoption: "Resolution No. 6861 Endorsing Peralta Junior College Bond Electi-on and Urging Citizens of Alameda to Vote Affirmatively Thereon." The motion to adopt said resolution was seconded by Councilman La Croix. Speaking on the question, Councilman McCall commented that he was not opposed to supporting the election or this particular resolution but he did feel that the taxpayers should know what the tax was they were presently paying, and what the possible maximum could be, toward the operation of the Junior Colleges District. He said he was greatly alarmed about the financial burden of many elderly people who were on fixed incomes and he strongly expressed his opinion that the people should be informed about how much all of these projects within the area such as the Rapid Transit District and the Coliseum, as well as the Junior Colleges, were costing in taxes. Be said he had asked the City Attorney to prepare an explanation of this matter. Mr. Cunningham then recited the pertinent figures and pointed out that this information was contained in the literature which accompanied the copies of the resolution furnished each Councilman. / attempt to give the public more information on this phase of the Bond Election. Councilman McCall felt the people should have this type of information and the Junior Collage support- ers should furnish on explanation. Councilman Rose concurred. It was agreed this could be clarified if a "pie" were published which indicated the breakdown of a dollar into percentage amounts of taxes for various items. There was further discussion about dissemination of this information at this late date - with the Bond Election to be held October 19. It was suggested that probably the Alameda County Taxpayers Associa- tion would be the logical organization to do this job. Mr. Weller was asked to consult with @r. Cunningham and indicate to the Taxpayers Association that the City Council had suggested that it Councilman McCall also inquired if, in establishing four campuses as a result of the bond funds, there would be an excess of administrative personnel instead of consolidating these offices to direct opera- tions from one source in the District. He felt the monies might be eaten up in "high-powered adminis- trative cootp" rather than providing more education. The question was then put and the motion to adopt said resolution was carried on the following roll call vote. Ayes: Councilmen Bartley, La Croix, Rose and President Godfrey, (4). Noes: None. Not Voting: Councilman McCall, (1). Absent: None. The President then declared all of the foregoing resolutions adopted. ORDINANCES FOR PASSAGE: 21. "Ordinance No. 1516, New Series An Ordinance Amending the Alameda Municipal Code by Adding Sections 11-3123.1, 11-3123.2 and 11-2123,3 Thereto, Requiring Preliminary Soil Report of Sub- divisions and Specifying the Conditions •Doder Which a Soil Investigation of Each Lot is Required.' Councilman McCall moved the ordinance be adopted as submitted. The motion was seconded by Councilman. La Croix and on roll call carried by the following vote. Ayes: Five, Noes: Nooe, Absent: None. �ILI0C: 22. Agreement between City of Alameda and Alameda Chamber of Commerce - for Advertising for City during 1965-66. 23. Agreement between City of Alameda and State of California, Department of Public Works, Divi- sion of Highways - Construction of Certain Improvement to State Route 61 (Otis Drive). 24. Annual Library Report for Fiscal Year 1964-85. 25. Specifications, Special Provisions and Plans No. PW 9-65-24 - Reconstruction of Culverts on Fernside Boulevard from Versailles Avenue to Fairview Avenue. 26. Specifications, Special Provisions and Plans No. PW 10-85-27 - Painting and Decorating Portions of the City 8all, 27. •Specifications No. MS 10-65-18 - Two Three-Unit Power Mower for Park Department. BILLS: 28. An itemized List of Claims against the City of Alameda and the Departments thereof, in the total amount of $42^237,09, was presented to the Council at this meeting. The List was accompanied by certification from the City Manager that the Claims shown were correct-. Councilman McCall moved the bills as itemized in the List of Claims filed with the City Clerk on October 5, 1965, and presented to the Council at this meeting, be allowed and paid. The motion was seconded by Councilman La Croix and on roll call carried by the following vote. Ayes: Five. Noes: None, Absent: None. 29. There being no further business to coma before the meeting, the Council adjourned - to assemble in regular session on Tuesday evening, October 19, 1965. at 7:30 o'clock. ^ Respectfully submitted, 451