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1949-10-18 Regular CC MinutesREGULAR MEETING OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ALAMEDA HELD TUESDAY EVENING, OCTOBER 18, 2.949 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, 1949, were approved as transcribed. WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS: 2. From Sheldon Conerly, Chairman of the Encinal Tenants Committee for Permanent Housing, requesting time at this meeting for a discussion of the permanent low -rent public housing situation. Councilman Jones moved that the time requested be given Mr. Conerly immediately prior to adjournment in order that the matter might be given the proper time. The motion was seconded by Councilman Osborn and unanimously carried. 3: From Tom Ray, Jr., requesting permission to retain a ten -foot fence recently erected at his used car lot which was newly established at 1927 Park Street. The matter was referred to the City Manager for investigation and report. 4:' From the Fernside Home Owners Association, requesting the Council to take the necessary steps to prohibit the continued use of Fernside Boulevard, between Ver- sailles Avenue and High Street, as a "truck highway ". At the request of the President, City Manager Froerer made a report on this situa- tion - stating the matter is now in the hands of the Police Department and is being carefully watched. He pointed out that while Fruitvale Avenue Bridge was closed for repairs, the trucks became accustomed to using Fernside Boulevard route, but every effort is being made to discourage the continued use of it. He stated that during the past weeks, police officers have been stationed along this route warning the truck operators against the . use of Fernside Boulevard, and also that there have been some tickets given in of repeated offenses. He stated, further, that the matter of putting up appropriate signs is being given attention and the situa- tion will undoubtedly be taken care of within the immediate future. OPENING OF BIDS: 5. Bids were presented and read for the project of installing a Storm Sewer on the East side of Peach Street, at Washington Street, in accordance with Specifications, Special Provisions and Plans therefor, No. PW 10- 49 -17, as follows: From McGuire and Hester Accompanied by a bid bond $1,980. From Hallum Construction Co. 2,296. Accompanied by a bid bond The bids were referred to the City Manager for further study and recommendation. REPORTS OF COMMITTEES: 6. From the City Manager, recommending that Harold R. Richards, Executive Secre- tary of the Civil Service Board be authorized to attend the Annual Conference of the Civil Service Assembly to be held in San Francisco, from October 24, through the 27th, 1949, and that q$25. be appropriated to take care of his expenses and those of any of the Civil Service Board members who might wish to attend. Councilman Jones moved the City Manager's recommendation be accepted; that Mr. Richards be authorized to attend the designated Conference and the sum of $25. be allowed for this purpose. 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. 7. the City Manager, stating the work in connection with the improvement of the Main Library Parking Lot has been satisfactorily completed, and recommending it be accepted and the Notice of Completion be filed. Councilman Anderson moved the City Manager's recommendation be adopted; that the work in question be accepted and the Notice of Completion be filed. The motion was seconded by Councilman Sweeney and unanimously carried. 8. From the City Manager, stating the work in connection with the installation of a Storm Sewer along the West boundary of Washington Park has been completed in a satisfactory manner and recommending it be accepted and the Notice of Completion be filed. Councilman Sweeney moved the City Manager's recommendation be followed; that the work on this project be accepted and the Notice of Completion be filed. The mo- tion was seconded by Councilman Osborn and unanimously carried. 9:Y''�'. From the City Manager, recommending a thirty -five day extension of time be granted to 0. C. Jones & Son, Contractors, for completion of the work in connection with the restoration of McKinley Park. Councilman Jones moved the City Manager's recommendation be followed and the ex- tension of time from October 15, 1949, to November 19, 1949, be granted to the designated contractors for completion of the work on this project. The motion was seconded by Councilman Anderson and unanimously carried. 10" From the Deputy City against Chester Du Boise, an offer of settlement in tual cost of damages, and the case. Attorney, with regard to the City's claim for damages as a result of an automobile collision. He stated that the amount of $619. has been made, which covers the ac- he requested permission to accept the offer and dismiss Councilman Sweeney moved that permission be granted the Deputy City Attorney to proceed with the acceptance of the offer and dismissal of the case. The motion was seconded by Councilman Anderson and unanimously carried. 11P From the City Planning Board, recommending the denial of an application for the reclassification of the southeast corner of Central Avenue and Grove Street - known as 2838 Central Avenue - from the "A -1" One- Family Dwelling District to the "B" Two -to -Four Family Dwelling District. Councilman Jones moved the recommendation of the Board be followed and the denial sustained. The motion was seconded by Councilman Sweeney and unanimously carried. 12 From Mayor Branscheid, nominating Reverend Herbert W. Neale to the office of member of the Social Service Board of the City of Alameda, for the term expiring June 30, 1952. The matter was referred to "Resolutions ". RESOLUTIONS: 13. The following resolution was introduced by Councilman Osborn, who moved its adoption: "Resolution No. 4090 Authorizing the Acquisition of Certain Real Property from Margaret Richter, a Widow, for Public Street and Highway 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. The City Manager explained the purpose of this acquisition was to provide for the straightening out of the jog at the intersection of San Jose and Versailles Avenue 14. The following resolution was introduced by Councilman Jones, who moved its adoption: "Resolution No. 4091 Accepting Conveyance from Margaret Richter, a Widow, of Certain Real Property and Consenting to the Recordation Thereof." 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. 15. The following resolution was introduced by Councilman Sweeney, who moved its adoption: "Resolution No. 4092 Accepting Conveyance from John M. Olson and Cathrine A. Olson, His Wife, of Certain Real Property and Consenting to the Recordation Thereof." 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 Osborn, who moved its adoption: "Resolution No. 4093 Adopting Specifications and Provisions for Furnishing One New Latest Model 3/4 Ton Pick -Up Truck with Canopy to the City of Alameda for the Street Department, Calling for Bids and Directing the City Clerk to Advertise Same." The motion to adopt said resolution was seconded by Councilman Jones 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 Osborn, who moved its adoption: "Resolution No. 4094 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 San Francisco, and Appro- priating Funds Therefor." The motion to adopt said resolution was seconded by Councilman Jones 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 Anderson, who moved its adoption: "Resolution No. 4095 Transferring $5,000.00 from the Cash Basis Fund to the East Bay Municipal Utility District Fund." The motion to adopt said resolution was seconded by Councilman Jones 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. 19. The following resolution was introduced by Councilman Sweeney, who moved its adoption: "Resolution No. 4096 Appointing Member of the Social Service Board." 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. ORDINANCES FOR PASSAGE: 20. "Ordinance No. 984, New Series An Ordinance Reclassifying Property by Adding Section 53 to Ordinance No. 725, New Series. President Branscheid inquired if there were any persons in the Chamber objecting to the reclassification of this property. There was no response. Thereupon Councilman Osborn 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 Anderson, Jones, Osborn, Sweeney and President Branscheid, (5). Noes: None. Absent: None. 21. "Ordinance No. 985, New Series An Ordinance Reclassifying Property by Addin Section 54 to Ordinance No. 725, New Series. President Branscheid again inquired if there were fication of this property. There being no response, Councilman Sweeney moved read. The motion was seconded by Councilman Csbo the following vote. Ayes: Councilmen Anderson, President Branscheid, (5). Noes: None. Absent: any objections to the reclassi - the ordinance be adopted as rn and on roll call carried by Jones, Osborn, Sweeney and None. FILING: 22. Specifications - No. MS 10 -49 -11 - For Furnishing One New 3/4 Ton Pick -Up Truck with Canopy. BILLS: 23. An itemized List of Claims against the City of Alameda and the several de- partments thereof, in the total amounts as follows, was presented to the City Council at this meeting: General Department, $7,849.80; Police Department, $2,281.52; Fire Department, $733.40; Street Department, ?1,559.71; Health Department, $718.62; First Aid Department, $23.31; Recreation Department, ?483.45; Park Department, $2,654.19; Golf Course Department, $1,039.78; Social Service Department, $36.72; Parking Meter Fund, x''16.16; Store Depart- ment, $949.06; Pound Department, $40.58; Civil Service Department, $67.53; East Bay Municipal Utility District Fund, $2,001.42; Special Street Lighting Funds, $179.89; Traffic Safety Fund, $379.75; Gas Tax No. 1 Fund, $77.96; Gas Tax No. 2 Fund, $3,070.35; Washington Park Storm Sewer Fund, $1,204.25; Bay Farm Island Sewer Fund, 10,595.G4. Councilman Jones moved the bills as itemized in the List of Claims filed with the City Clerk on October 18, 1949, and submitted to the Council at this time, be allowed and paid. 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 point, President Branscheid stated the Council would now hear from Mr. Conerly in the matter of permanent low -rent housing in Alameda. Mr. Conerly read a prepared statement as follows: "There is still an acute demand for housing in Alameda. And 5,000 Alameda families, residents of the temporary war housing projects, face real hardship when these temporary buildings are removed. These facts plus the fact that cities can now get help from the Federal Government under the Housing Act of 1949 to build new and permanent low -cost housing, are the reasons why the Encinal Tenants Committee for Perma- nent Housing demands the following program: 1 - The Alameda City Council must immediately request federal assistance under the Housing Act of 1949 in constructing 5,000 permanent low -rent housing units to replace the temporary housing. 2 - By resolution the Alameda City Council must prohibit dis- crimination against tenants in such new housing by rea- son of race, color, creed, national origin or ancestry. 3 - Further, the Alameda City Council must immediately rezone for housing the present project lands and make these lands available for gradual construction of permanent replacements, the present tenants receiving first prefer- ence in the new housing. "If the City Council does otherwise, it is turning its back upon one - third of its citizens, now living in temporary housing, and is passing up millions of dollars such new housing construction would bring to Alameda in jobs and in trade for the small businessmen of the City. r Following the presentation of this statement, Mr. Wayne Hultgren addressed the Council, pointing out that if the City should take advantage of the 1949 Federal Housing law, it would be a step in the direction of providing housing, not for outsiders, but for one -third of the present population of the City of Alameda. He stated, further, that more than one -half of the people in the projects are veterans. He urged immediate action by the Council in the direction of qualify- ing under the 1949 Housing Law, pointing out the City of Oakland has qualified and asked for 3,000 units; San Francisco for 3,000 units and Richmond for 4,250. He further outlined the procedure for making application for Federal Funds for this purpose and the means of getting land for the construction of the buildings and requested that the group he represented be given some idea as to what the Council will do in the matter. President Branscheid inquired if any others wished to speak on this subject, and there being no response, he stated the Council was thoroughly familiar with the situation and it is one that has been pending for a number of years. He pointed out that it is a very serious problem, bound up in numerous technicalities and requiring profound study. He stated the matter had been taken up several times by representatives of the Coun- cil with the Senators and Agencies in Washington, in an effort to work out an ad- justment of the entire situation. He said that Mr. Dobbs, who is the head of the Federal Housing Agency, is to come out to the West Coast immediately following the adjournment of Congress, to inves- tigate and discuss with the Council the perplexing situation with which the City is faced. He stated, further, that until such time as the City has a definite idea as to what the Federal Government will do in the matter, it is not in a position to take any action. He stated that Mr. Dobbs should be out here very shortly and the matter will be followed through within a reasonable time thereafter. Mrs. Wayne Hultgren inquired as to what Mr. Dobbs would do when he arrives here and President Branscheid answered that the housing is under control of the Federal Government and before the City takes any position in the matter, it wants to be cer- tain as to where it stands and where the Government stands and that until the City has a definite understanding as to the replacement of the temporary housing and how it is going to be accomplished, it is not in a position to do very much about the problem. President Branscheid also stated that the Council is fully aware of the action taken by some other cities, but pointed out there are certain problems that have a bearing on the entire picture as far as the City of Alameda is concerned and they cannot be balanced out as easily as might appear to some people. He reiterated that the Coun- cil will follow through on this matter but that it must have something definite to report before it can make any commitment. Councilman Jones stated he was at a meeting in Berkeley recently which dealt with this housing problem and it was at that time the City Manager's report in connec- tion with the Federal investigation of the possibility of continuing the sub- standard housing was prepared. He stated the City of Alameda took the very firm stand that the replacement housing must be standard housing and further, that the situation in Alameda, Richmond and possibly Vallejo is very similar in that we have a large proportion of our population involved. Consequently, there are numerous problems which cannot be met in the same fashion as Oakland and San Francisco ap- pear to be meeting theirs. Councilman Jones brought to the attention of the group the fact that out of a popu- lation of 72,000 people, only about ten or eleven thousand are paying taxes at the present time and that the cost of the requested housing would be beyond the capa- city of the tax - paying citizens to bear. He stated that is the reason why the City Manager has taken the position that it is a Federal problem and Federal responsi- bility. Councilman Jones stated that the problem in Alameda is a special one and one which has been discussed with the Senators and Congressmen representing this section of the country. He pointed out that the Council is fully aware of the problem; it feels that special legislation is required to care for it; and it should be clear to all concerned that it is a special situation calling for such special legisla - tion. He suggested that it might be proper that the statement read by Mr. Conerly be submitted in writing to the Council. At this point, Mr. Hultgren presented copies of the statement to the Council. Councilman Jones opined that Mr. Dobbs should be here quite soon and stated that the Council is anxious to do something about housing because it does not want the temporary housing here any longer than is necessary, but that it wants the perma- nent housing on a proper basis - on a basis that the citizens of the City can handle. He offered it as his opinion that within a matter of weeks, or perhaps at the next meeting, the Council should have heard from Mr. Dobbs and stated that he wished to impress upon everybody interested that the matter is before the Coun- cil in a very active form and the Council is hopeful that the results to be ob- tained from a conference with Mr. Dobbs will be to the benefit of the people of Alameda as a whole. He thereupon moved the adjournment of the meeting. 25. The President recognized Mr. Howard Mordell, who stated he represented the Disabled American Veterans of Alameda, who are planning an Armistice Ball at the Hotel Alameda in connection with that organization's Forget -Me -Not Drive to help disabled veterans. He stated there would be a "Beauty Contest" in which the Mayor and City Manager have tentatively consented to be judges and asked that all members of the Council signify their willingness to serve on the Board of Judges. President Branscheid assured Mr. Mordell that the City would do everything possible to make the affair a great success. The President thereupon put the question on the motion to adjourn and it was unani- mously carried. ADJOURNMENT: 26. There being no further business to come before the meeting, the Council adjourned, to assemble in regular session on Tuesday evening, November 1, 1949, at 8:00 o'clock.