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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - October 29, 1975 SM?� CITY COUNCIL, CITY OF LODI CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS OCTOBER Z9, 1975 A special meeting of the City Council of the City of Lodi was held pursuant to written notice being mailed to each member of the City Council, KCRA TV News, the Stockton Record, the Lodi News Sentinel, Lodi Cable TV, and KCRA Radio Station at least 24 hours prior to the meeting in compliance with Section 54956 of the California Government Code. The meeting was called to order by Mayor Ben Schaffer at 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday, October 29, 1975 in the City Hall Council Chambers. ROLL CALL Present: Councilmen - EHRHARDT, HUGHES, KATNICH, PINKERTON and SCHAFFER (Mayor) Absent: Councilmen - None Also Present: City Manager Glaves, Assistant City Manager Glenn, City Attorney Mullen, Public Works Director Ronsko, and City Clerk Alice R e imc he INVOCATION The invocation was given by Councilman Ehrhardt. PLEDGE Mayor Schaffer led the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag. Representatives of the Southern Pacific Transpor- tation Company, who were present, were intro- duced as follows: INTRODUCTION OF Ken Dixon, Assistant Superintendent, Bakersfield, S. P. California REPRESENTATIVES Joe E. Neal, Superintendent, Bakersfield, California Bill Wilkinson, Senior Assistant Division Engineer, Bakersfield, California Henry Ortiz, Public Relations Department, San Francisco, California City Manager Glaves apprised the Council and representatives present_ from the Southern Pacific Company that the purpose of this meeting was to discuss the Southern Pacific Transportation Company (1) plans for a switch yard; (2) items of safety; and (3) maintenance of facilities in the City of Lodi. uVv Minutes of October 29, 1975, continued S. P. PLANS FOR Following introduc -on of the matter of plans for SWITCHYARD a switchyard by City Manager Glaves, questions were di-ected by Council to the Southern Pacific Transportation Cc. s:9.ff, Mr, Neal responded by stating that the relocation of the switchyards to the area between Harney- and Kettleman Lane is a project that has been under discussion for some time; that it is estimated that this project would mean expenditures of approximately $2, 000, 000 by the Southern Pacific Co. , and Mr. Neal indicated that the Company at this time just does not have the funds in the budget to go for- ward with the project. In response to Councilman Katnich's inquiry as to what the Southern Pacific's best estimate would be for a time schedule on this project, Mr. Neal replied that he didn't see any time schedule, that although it would increase efficiencies in Lodi's operations, it is far down on a list of major items being considered in San Francisco. Mr. Neal added that an estimated guess would be possibly 10 years. Mr. Neal went on to state that the Southern Pacific has tried to make some intelligent decisions in regards to the relocation of the switch- yard, but other than that, it is only in the planning stages. S. P. MORAL & Councilman Katnich questioned Mr. Neal as to what LEGAL OBLIGATION he felt were Southern Pacific's moral and legal TO COMMUNITY obligations to a community that it serves. Mr. Neal replied that the Southern Pacific Company feels that they have both a moral and legal obligation to any community they operate in and out of; that they are interested in creating a favorable corporate image as far as building upkeep and maintenance is con- cerned. Mr. Neal added that a lot of monies that Southern Pacific had set aside for housekeeping are no longer available, because of the economic situa- tion. Mr. Neal stated that Southern Pacific feels that they are a part of the community, and that since September 1974, the Company has spent $ 174, 000 in Lodi on street upgrading and crossings. BICYCLE PATHS Councilman Pinkerton stated that he would like to ALONG S. P. R/W TO see a bicycle path established along the railroad's MICKE GROVE right-of-way to Micke Grove and wondered if it PROPOSED would be possible to relieve the Southern Pacific Transportation Co. of liability so that this could be accomplished. Mr. Neal stated that the City can't absolve the Southern Pacific from liability. Councilman Pinkerton then requested that City Attorney Mullen give his opinion on this, and Mr. Mullen stated that the only way it could be done would be for the Southern Pacific Go. to grant an easement to the City of Lodi over a certain strip, and then the City would have to agree to hold the Southern Pacific Co. harmless, but that this would only cover property within the City Limits. -2- 41 Minutes Minutes of Oc`cber 2.9, 1975, continued Mr. Ortiz interjected that creating god will is something "we" ail value, but the problem is that there are train movements al3ng these rights-of- way and that the railroads have tried very hard over the years to es`.abli5 ''safety -first programs" to keep children away ircm raiirzads: and in this case, the railroad -culd be a party to enticing children to these rights -of-quay. LODI ARCH Councilman Ehrhardt questioned why the Southern BEAUTIFICA- Pacific has delayed in v.orking with the local TION PROGRAM Women's Club in the proposed Lodi Arch Beautification Program. Mr. Neal responded by stating that they have been correspcnding with these ladies and that presently they are waiting for the Women's Club to forward a landscaping plan for the area, which plan is supposedly be_ ng formulated by Delta College. Councilman Ehrhardt expressed his concern regarding a large unsightly hole that had been left following -the removal of a service station located on Southern S. P. PROPERTY Pacific property on the north side of the arch and asked N. SIDE OF why it had taken so long to correct this situation. Mr. LODI ARCH Neal stated that they had waited for the leasee to return the property to its original state as was required in his lease on this property with the Southern Pacific Company. After some period of time, when it became apparent that this was not going to be done by the leasee, the Southern Pacific Co. completed the work. Discussion followed regarding the City leasing this parcel of land for addi- tional parking, and other Southern Pacific property in the area. Following inquiries by Council and the City Attorney as to whether the City could do clean up and minor repair MAINTENANCE work to Southern Pacific property, Mr. Neal responded & REPAIRS TO by saying that the City could ask for and that the S. P. Southern Pacific Cc. could give the City a Beautification PROPERTY Lease on these properties; however, the City would then be responsible for liabilities occurring on these properties. Mr. Neal also apprised the City Council and staff that if the Southern Pacific would allow the City to get involved in some of the maintenance work on Southern Pacific property, that the Southern Pacific would then be in violation of their labor contracts. City Attorney 11,1ulien briefed the Council, staff, and Southern Pacific representatives on past and present BLOCKING OF City and State legislation regarding the blocking of rail - RAILROAD road crossings. Discussion foilowed on the matter with CROSSINGS Mr. Neal advising that the Scuthern Pacific's policy on railroad crossing blcckino is that "we" do not block crossings standing st:il for any more than 10 minutes, if "we" do, "we" instruct our train crews, and this is law, that they are to cut the crossings or make the breaks so that the traffic car. proceed. qtr. Neal stated that if there is an emergency- si.*uati:;a, it is the company's policy to ca11 the local police department advising them of the emergency situation; the location, and that the crossing will be blocked in excess of 10 minutes. Mr. Neal added that if you have a situation where a crossing has been blocked in excess of 10 minutes, a call giving the time, should be placed to Mr. Marsh, Local Trainmaster. -3- 262 Minutes of October 2.9, 1975, cc ti hued Mayor Schaffer then opened the meeting to hear from citizens who were in the audience. CITIZENS VOICE Paul Gage, 168 Hemlock Drive, Lod'_ stated that his OPPOSITION TO concern and the concern of those people with him in HARNEY - the audience is the locatior, cf the proposed switch- KETTLEMAN yard (between Kettleman and Harr_ey Lane, just south SWITCHYARD of Century Boulevard), as this location is exactly AREA opposite from their homes. lair. Gage stated that it is gratifying to hear that the Southern Pacific has made no firm commitments as to the location of the proposed yard and that it is hoped in the future when the Southern Pacific does select a site, that consideration will be given to housing, particularly in that area. Following an inquiry regarding possible switchyard sites, Mr. Neal stated that Victor would not be con- sidered as a possible site; however, it would not be out of the realm of possibility to locate at Acampo, Elk Grove, or as far south as Lathrop. Mr. Neal indicated that he would favor the Lathrop area. Mr. Neal added that a lot would depend on new industry and that certainly homes would be taken into consideration. -4- Mr. Ricky R. Shaeffer, 2113 Alpine Drive, Lodi admonished the Council for approving a residential district adjacent to the railroad track, where the Southern Pacific is planning to build a switchyard, and asked if the Council is going to continue approving subdi- vision adjacent to this railroad track. Councilman Hughes requested that the record reflect COUNCIL this statement so that if at some future time, a subdivi- ADMONISHED sion is being considered in a like situation that the FOR APPROV- record will reflect that Mr. Shaeffer chastised the ING SUBDI- Council strongly for this subdivision being approved. VISION Councilman Hughes indicated that information had been ADJACENT TO furnished the Council at the time this subdivision had been R.R. TRACKS approved indicating that it would not present a problem. Councilman Hughes reiterated that the Council is con- cerned about this situation and feels that this is something that will have to be watched in the future. SAFETY ITEMS Items of concern regarding safety within the City were OF CONCERN discussed. Councilman Katnich extended an invitation to Mr. Dixon to lunch with him and other members of the Council, after which Mr. Dixon will be given a tour to point out those areas regarding safety within the community that are of concern to the City Council. Council- man Katnich indicated that he hoped that this could be done in the near future. Mr. Neal assured Councilman Katnich that Mr. Dixon would accept this invitation. S. P. RE PRE- Councilman Ehrhardt also extended an invitation to Mr. SENTATIVE TO Dixon to attend a local Safety Council meeting. Mr. Neal MEET WITH also assured the Council that Mr. Dixon would be accept - SAFETY ing this invitation. COUNCIL -4- Minutes of October 29, 1975, continued JOINT OPERATED Mayor Schaffer questioned whether it might be TRACK USAGE possible for the railrcads to share the Southern SUGGESTED Pacific's Lockeford Street line, thereby elimin- TO ELIMINATE ating the need for the Lodi Avenue line, stress- LODI AVENUE LINE ing that Lodi Avenue is the major east -west street in Lodi, and that this ioint use of the Lockeford Street line would certainly be of bene- fit and for the betterment of the community. Mr. Neal indicated that it was certainly within the realm of possibility that this could be done as there are a lot of joint operated tracks in California. It was suggested that those involved get together to see what arrangements could be made toward this pro- posal. Nir. Dixon stated that he had attended a meeting earlier where the trackage in the middle of Lodi had been discussed. Mr. Dison apprised the Council that the Central California Traction comes down Lodi Avenue for two reasons: 1) to interchange cars with the Southern Pacific and 2) to serve several industries in that same area. Mr. Dixon stressed that trackage in the middle of any street is a bad situation - that trains and vehicles are not that compatible. AREA OF TOKAY & A lengthy discussion was held regarding the area of KETTLEMAN LANE tracks between Tokay and Kettleman Lane and the FOR SWITCHING possible use of that area for switching. Mr. Neal DISCUSSED stated that there are two problems with that area: 1) width of the right -of -way in which to put the facilities needed by the Southern Pacific Co. 2) and that the distance between Tokay and Kettleman Lane in terms of todays trains is no: long. Many questions regarding the possible use of this area for switching were posed by the City Council to the Southern Pacific Company representatives and considerable discussion followed. CONCERN EX- The subject of communications and methods of PRESSED RE LINES keeping better lines of communication open between OF COMMUNICATION the City and the Southern Pacific was discussed. Following a request by City Manager Glaves, Mr. Neal promised to forward a list of Southern Pacific personnel, who the City should contact regarding specific matters.. CITY CLERK Atthe request of Councilman Katnich, the City Clerk DIRECTED TO SEND was directed to forward a copy of the minutes of this COPIES OF MINUTES meeting to all representatives present from the TO S. P. REPRE- Southern Pacific Company. SENTATIVES Mayor Schaffer requested that the Southern Pacific MAYOR REQUESTS Transportation Company provide the City with informa- INFORMATION ON tion regarding the volume of railroad cars going out of R.R. CAR COUNT Lodi in a year's period of time, Mr. Neal stated that this information will be forthcoming shortly; however, Mr. Neal pointed out that a car count is not a good basis, as it is possible to load three of the old stan- dard size car pay loads in one of the mechanical reefers being used today„ -5- Minutes of October 2a, 1975, continued PLANNING & The importance of the railroads and the City working RAILROAD together in future p-ining for the City was discussed INPUT by Council and represen`.at°-res cf the Southern DISCUSSED Pacific Co. Mr. Giaves stated that 't was a real trajedy that it didn't occur to all of "us" in 1952, when the General Plans of the City were being discussed to have included the railroad much more intimately for their input into designing the community. Further discussion on this subject followed, with Mayor Schaffer directing Public Works Director R.onsko to supply the Southern Pacific Trans pertati-on Co. with information regarding the City's General Plan. CROSSING The installation of gates across railroad crossings and GATES/ the possible closure of three crossir_gs within the City CLOSING OF was discussed with questions being d'_rected to Staff CROSSINGS and Southern Pacific representatives. MUTUAL With Council's concurrence, Mayor Schaffer directed COOPERATION staff to cooperate fully with the Southern Pacific and PROMISED BY stated that the City would be looking forward to future S. P. & CITY meetings with the Southern Pacific. Mr. Neal stated that he feels the establishing of lines of communication had been accomplished by the airing of mutual problems by both the Southern Pacific and the City and promised cooperation with the City on problems of mutual concern. There being no further business to come before the Council, Mayor Schaffer adjourned the meeting at 10:20 P.M. 1.,� ALICE M. REINICHE City Clerk -6-