1972-01-04 Regular CC Minutes41_
REGULAR MEETING OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ALAMEDA
HELD TUESDAY JANUARY 4, 1972
The meeting convened at 7:30 o'clock p.m. with President La Croix presiding. The Pledge of
Allegiance was led by Councilman Longaker and was followed by a most inspiring Invocation delivered
by The Reverend Dr. Francis W. Thompson, Minister of the First Congregational Church.
ROLL CALL:
The roll was called and Councilmen Fore, Levy, Longaker, McCall and President La Croix, Jr., (5),
were noted present. Absent: None.
MINUTES:
1. The minutes of the regular meeting held December 21, 1971, were approved as transcribed.
REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS:
2. From the City Manager, recommending public improvements in connection with Parcel Map No. 520 be
accepted and the developer be released from his bond. This Map covered division of property at the
southwest corner of San Antonio Avenue and Bay Street.
Councilman McCall moved the recommendation be adopted, that the public improvements in connection with
said Parcel Map be accepted and the developer be released from his bond. Councilman Levy seconded the
motion which carried on the following roll call vote. Ayes: Five. Noes: None. Absent: None.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS:
3. President La Croix commented that the matter of creating additional off- street parking facilities,
about which the Council had received a communication from the Alameda Chamber of Commerce and a presenta-
tion by Mr. John F. Hanson, Jr., Attorney, at its meeting of December 21, would come up for further
discussion and consideration at the next regular meeting on January 18.
NEW BUSINESS:
4., Councilman Levy stated he had visited "Christmas Tree Lane" on Thompson Avenue between High Street
and Fernside Boulevard during the Holiday Season and the display was a great credit to the residents of
the block and to the City.
President La Croix said he and his family had also visited the block. He remarked that City Engineer
Mark Hanna had acted as Santa Claus on the block and he had received many fine comments on Mr. Hanna's
performance in the role. He said he had had the privilege of acting as a judge in the lighting contest,
which event is held each year by the Bureau of Electricity, and he felt the City could be very proud of
the efforts of its citizens in this program.
5. Councilman McCall said he had taken his grandchildren for a ride through the City during the
Holiday Season and he felt the participation in the lighting decoration program had been overwhelming.
6. Councilman McCall said he had presumed that the old Fruitvale Bridge would be lifted off its base
and taken by barge to the salvage yard nearby for demolition. He said he had noted that the dismantling
was being done piece by piece at the site of the Bridge in the middle of the Estuary, whereas the comp-
lete structure could have been removed some time ago.
Councilman McCall remarked that the Park and High Street Bridges would be closed presently for certain
repairs but, fortunately, the Board of Supervisors planned to expend the necessary extra funds to have
the work done on Sundays. He said it seemed strange to him that the maintenance work had not been
programmed so that only one bridge would have to be closed within a year's period.
Upon inquiry, Mr. Hanna stated he had no information on this question, although it would probably have
been advisable to delay the repairs until the Fruitvale Bridge had been replaced.
7. 'ti President La Croix commented upon the resignation of Mr. C. Richard Bartalini, President of the
Board of Education. He said he felt Mr. Bartalini had served the City extremely diligently and well
throughout his young adult life.
Councilman Longaker, who had known Mr. Bartalini as a student in the City schools, said he had been very
proud of his efforts since he had been appointed as a member of the Board of Education in 1965, had sub-
sequently won election in 1969 by an overwhelming vote and served as President of the Board since that
year. He said he had watched with pride as this young man had matured into a community leader and he
moved that a resolution be prepared for adoption by the City Council commending Mr. Bartalini upon his
service to the City. Councilman McCall seconded the motion which on roll call carried unanimously.
The Clerk was requested to prepare an appropriate resolution for action by the Council at its next
regular meeting on January 18.
RESOLUTIONS:
8. The following resolution was introduced by Councilman McCall, who moved its adoption:
"Resolution No. 7873
Declaring Copies of the Uniform Building Code, 1970 Edition, Placed on
File with the City Clerk to be Public Records; Setting the Time and Place
of Public Hearing on the Adoption of Said Code by Reference, and Directing
Publication of Notice of Said Hearing."
The motion to adopt said resolution was seconded by Councilman Levy.
It was stated the hearing on this matter would be held at the next regular meeting on January 18,
1972. Mr. Baird Heffron, Chief of the Building Inspections Division, was to be present to explain
the changes in the proposed ordinance adopting the 1970 Edition of the Building Code.
Councilman Levy questioned the propriety of introducing the ordinance at this meeting, prior to holding
the public hearing on the matter.
City Attorney Cunningham stated the hearing was required prior to the enaction of the ordinance and,
with the City's two -step system, the enaction would not take place until after the hearing. He said
if there should be any question and it was felt the ordinance should be held over, this could be
done; however, non- controversial matters of a similar type had been handled in this manner in the past
without protest.
The question was put and the motion carried on the following roll call vote. Ayes: Five. Noes:
None. Absent: None.
9. V The following resolution was introduced by Councilman Longaker, who moved its adoption:
"Resolution No. 7874
Resolution of the Council of the City of Alameda in Appreciation and
Commendation of Earl R. Strathman for His Service to the City."
The motion to adopt said resolution was seconded by Councilman Levy and carried on the following roll
call vote. Ayes: Five. Noes: None. Absent: None.
The President declared the foregoing resolutions adopted.
INTRODUCTION OF ORDINANCES:
10. Councilman McCall moved the following ordinance be introduced, after which it would be laid over
under provision of law and the Charter:
"Ordinance No.
New Series
An Ordinance Amending the Alameda Municipal Code by Amending Subsection (3)
of Section 14 -212 Thereof, Relating to Fire Zone No. 1."
Councilman Fore seconded the motion which carried on the following roll call vote. Ayes: Five. Noes:
None. Absent: None.
It was stated this change had been requested by the Fire Department and the ordinance met with its
approval.
11. Councilman Levy moved the following ordinance be introduced, after which it would be laid over
under provision of law and the Charter:
"Ordinance No.
New Series
An Ordinance Adopting by Reference the Uniform Building Code, Volume I,
1970 Edition, Copyright 1970 by International Conference of Building Officials,
with Amendments, Additions and Deletions Thereof, as the Primary Code; and
Volume I Appendix, Chapter 49, Volume I Appendix, Chapter 57, and Volume IV,
'Dangerous Buildings,' of Said Uniform Building Code, Each Referred to in Said
Primary Code as the Secondary Code; Regulating the Erection, Construction,
Enlargement, Alteration, Repair, Moving, Removal, Conversion, Demolition,
Occupancy, Equipment, Use, Height, Area, and Maintenance of Buildings or
Structures in the City of Alameda; Providing for the Issuance of Permits and
Collection of Fees Therefor; Declaring and Establishing a Fire District;
Providing Penalties for Violation Thereof, and Repealing Ordinance No. 1510,
New Series, and All Other Ordinances and Portions of Ordinances in Conflict
Herewith."
The motion was seconded by Councilman Longaker and carried on the following roll call vote. Ayes: Five.
Noes: None. Absent: None.
The City Clerk was directed to insert in the appropriate blank spaces in the ordinance the number of
the Resolution heretofore adopted.
343
ORDINANCES FOR PASSAGE:
12. "Ordinance No. 1658,
New Series
An Ordinance Reclassifying and Rezoning Certain Property Within the
City of Alameda by Amending Zoning Ordinance No. 1277, New Series."
(From C -2, Central Business, to R -5, General Apartment District -
2507, 2513 and 2515 Central Avenue - Herbert A. Jackson)
Councilman Longaker moved the ordinance be passed as submitted. The motion was seconded by Councilman
McCall and carried on the following roll call vote. Ayes: Five. Noes: None. Absent: None.
BILLS:
13. An itemized List of Claims against the City of Alameda and the Departments thereof, in the total
amount of $44,835.39, was presented to the Council at this meeting.
The List was accompanied by certification from the Acting City Manager that the Claims shown were correct.
Councilman Levy moved the bills as itemized in the List of Claims filed with the City Clerk on January 4,
1972, and presented to the City Council at this meeting, be allowed and paid. The motion was seconded
by Councilman McCall and carried on the following roll call vote. Ayes: Five. Noes: None. Absent:
None.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS, GENERAL:
14. Mr. Frank Gottstein, 731 Haight Avenue, spoke in reference to his previous complaint on a fence
adjacent to the condominium development at the foot of Ninth Street at Portola Avenue. He said President
La Croix had met him and inspected the fence, but that he had a copy of a memorandum dated August 3, 1971,
from the Building Inspector to the Planning Department indicating that a portion of the fence had been
constructed at a height of six feet four inches for approximately twenty feet. He said the four inches
in height meant a great deal to him as it provided a view of San Francisco Bay and he would therefore
continue to fight for it.
President La Croix suggested that other members of the Council inspect the fence and he appointed Council-
men Levy and Longaker as a committee to do so and to report their findings back to the Council as to
whether or not the fence was a legal structure.
15.', Mrs. Joy Osborne, 656 Westline Drive, raised the question of design control and the regulation of
revolving signs. She said she was disturbed at the approach of the Planning Board to the subject.
It was stated the Planning Board had been charged at the last joint meeting of the Council and the Board
on October 5, 1970, with development of a proper amendment on these and other aspects of the zoning
ordinance.
Mrs. Osborne suggested that the study be divided into several sections in order that the sign ordinance
might be passed early in the program and before consideration of the subject of architectural control.
President La Croix stated he would discuss the matter with the Planning Director.
16.V Mr. John Barni, 1364 East Shore Drive, brought up the question of the Business License Ordinance,
which had not been revised since 1956 although property taxes had increased a great deal in that time.
He asked that the Council consider such a revision.
Mr. Barni said there were times when parking spaces were very scarce around the business area, that some
people found it convenient to park all day in a City parking lot or on the street and pay a $1 fine.
He suggested that the amount of the fine for overtime parking be investigated.
17. G' Mr. Gottstein stated he had received from the City a receipt for a $1 inspection fee at a cost of
eight cents for mailing, whereas the charge for this inspection by the City of Oakland was $5.25. He
suggested that these fees be raised.
Assistant City Manager Goss was requested to submit a report on this matter.
18. President La Croix stated he had received a flyer from the new Islander Lodge at Park and Central
Avenues indicating that one of the reasons it was possible to hold the cost of its room to a minimum of
$10 was that the City had no motel or hotel tax; this was also a source of revenue which might be consi-
dered again at this time.
19. At the suggestion of Councilman McCall, Mr. Goss was requested to prepare an analysis with regard
to the Business License Tax in surrounding cities.
FILING:
20. Affidavit of City Manager and Chief of Police - Re Police Secret Fund for Period from July 1, 1971,
through December 31, 1971.
21. Three copies - Uniform Building Code, 1970 Edition, Volume I, with Appendix.
Three copies - Uniform Building Code, 1970 Edition, Volume IV.
22. President La Croix thanked those in attendance at this short meeting and commented that there
were several items which would come up for attention at the next regular meeting of the City Council
on January 18. He extended greetings for a Happy New Year to all.
ADJOURNMENT:
23. There being no further business to come before the meeting, the Council adjourned, to assemble
in regular session on Tuesday, January 18, 1972, at 7:30 o'clock p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
City Clerk