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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - August 1, 1956q-3 CITY COUNCIL, CITY OF LODI COUNCIL CHAMBER, CITY HALL AUGUST 1, 1956 This regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Lodi held beginning at 8:00 o'clock p.m. of Wednesday, August 1, 1956; Councilmen Fuller, Hughes, Katzakian, Robinson and Mitchell (Mayor) present; none absent. City Attorney Mullen also present. PUBLIC HEARING SCHOOL CROSSING hfayor Mitchell received the consent of the City GUARDS Council to take up the school crossing guard question out of agenda order as a matter of con- venience to the interested persons in the audience. The City Clerk reported that the City Manager had conducted an investigation of the use of cross- ing guards in other cities and reported that 62% of the cities answering the questionnaire indi- cated they had some form of a crossing guard pro- gram. Councilman Fuller requested information as to the extent of the liability of school officials over the safety of pupils. Dr. H. Lawson Smith, Superintendent of Schools, replied that they were responsible only for crossings adjacent to the schools. Councilman Fuller pointed out that a recent change in the law gave the schools responsi- bility for pupils on crossing adjacent or near to the schools. Dr. Smith also stated that he did not favor sending pupils too far from the school for Junior Patrol dutv because it meant they missed too much classroom time. Councilman Katzakian stated he was concerned that the insti- tution of a program of adult crossing guards would be difficult to maintain on a reasonable level; if once started it would grow out of reason. He suggested that with the addition of radar equip- ment the problem could be met with increased traffic control and enforcement. Councilman Hughes stated that he felt the schools' program of volunteer guards was commendable, but felt if they were replaced with guards that were paid they would be subject to more complaints and criticism because people would expect more of them. Mrs. Stanley Whittaker stated that it was assumed that the crossing guards would have to qualify for the job by passing suitable examinations. Councilman Hughes suggested that installation of signal lights at the most dangerous corners would be help- ful. Mr. Isador Salaun, 431 E. Lodi Avenue, addressed the Council to state that he has watched children try to cross Lodi Avenue at Garfield Street and he felt the traffic was too fast to permit children to cross safely by themselves. He mentioned that some cars travel 50 to 60 miles an hour and try'to avoid slowing down or stopping to permit children to cross the street. Council- man Fuller stated this was a traffic enforcement problem and immediate steps should be taken to correct the situation. Councilman Robinson stated that he believed the crossing guards could be used at the Garfield -Lodi Avenue intersection and at the Kettleman Lane -Hutchins Street intersection, but that should be the limit. He pointed out that within a few weeks the cost of the program proposed by Mrs. Whittaker had increased from $2100 to WOO. He just didn't know where it would stop. Mrs. Whittaker stated the increase was due to the in- clusion of other schools in the program. She further pointed out that Hutchins Street had a speed limit of 35 miles an hour. The City Clerk stated that the speed limit had been established at 35 miles per hour after a speed survey by the Police Department several years ago, and suggested a Pew survey might be taken to determine if the situation had changed on the street as a result of subdivision develop- ment. After further discussion in which the Council reiterated its belief that stricter traffic enforce- ment was the real answer to the Droblem, Council- man Fuller moved, Robinson second, that no further action be taken on the crossing guard program at this time. The motion passed by unanimouse vote. CITY PLANNING COMMISSION ZONING COMNiISSION The City Clerk reported the followin- act`_ons by REPORTS the Zoning Committee: (1) The request for an automobile wrecking yard at 217 South Stockton Street was denied on the basis that it would be detrimental to the neighborhood. (2) A Use Permit was granted for a motel on north Cherokee Lane approximately 150 feet north of Murry Street. (3) After considerine the matter of the truck route on Oak Street, the Commission decided to taice no further action.until the high school construction was finished. (4) The Commission granted a variance to Dr. R. D. Mehlahaff to enlarge his office building at 414 West Pine Street. NORTH SACTO. ST When Mayor Mitchell called for discussion on the PARKING DIST. parking district on North Sacramento Street pro- posed by the City Planning Commission, Councilman Hughes stated that due to the fact that so many of the property owners were absent from the City, he felt it would be difficult to secure a good attendance of owners at this time. He then moved, Katzakian second, that the matter be scheduled for public hearing at the meeting of September 19, 1956 and that notices be mailed to all property owners. The motion was passed by unanimous vote. COM1viUNICATIONS LODI C. OF C. Letter from the Chamber of Commerce, dated July EXPEND. REPORT 302 1956, submitting a report of expenditures for the fiscal year 1955-56 allowable under the terms of the contract between the Lodi District Chamber of Commerce and the City of Lodi. It was pointed out in the letter that 1956-57 plans call for expanded advertising in the industrial field as well as sponsorship of several events that will focus attention on the City of Lodi. ADVERTISING FOR Councilman Fuller asked if the funds given to the INDUSTRY Chamber of Commerce were sufficient to promote industrial development in the City_ of Lodi. He suggested that the Chamber should have enough monev to advertise the Citv on a national scale. Councilman Robinson pointed out that the Industrial Committee of the Chamber of Commerce does every- thing in its power to bring industry to Lodi. City Clerk Glaves also pointed out that advertising is not the major problem to be met. he Pointed out that suitable sites at firma Prices should be available before funds are spent"on large scale advertising. ABC LICENSE Application for transfer of Alcholic Beverage License for On -sale Genral by Robert Fleck and Walter Steyaert for B & W Club at 7 S. Scaramento Street.. WATEh SUnVEY A letter from Tom H. Louttit, Attorney for the Mokelumne River Irrigation District, stating that the Corps of Engineers was allowed a discretionary fund of $1,000,000 for flood control projects in the entire State of California. He stated that since the Mikelumne River Survey is now high in priority, it is contemplated that the Chief of Engineers will.allocate $103,000 for the Mokelumne River-Cosumnes niver Survey. He asked that the Chairman of the board of Supervisors and the Mayor of Lodi write letters to Senators Knowland and Kuchel and to Congressman Johnson asking these Congressional representatives to call the matter to the attention of the Chief of the Corps of Engineers in Washington D. C. so that there will be some public record locally for this request of $103,000. The matter was referred to the Mayor for letters to the Congressional representatives, on the motion of Councilman Robinson, Hughes second. SIDEWALKS LOWE'S The City Attorney reported that he had received an VILLAGE offer for the repair of sidewalks -in Lowe's Village from its developers. The original sidewalk installa- tion was inferior and considerable damage has been suffered since its installation. The City Engineer has estimated that repairs to the sidewalk would cost $602 and has recommended that the City do the work for that amount. The City Attorne was authorized to proceed with the agreemtn(with the understanding that the City would accept the $602 for repair of the sidewalks rresently showing damage, but was not accepting responsiblity for any future damage that might occur. hEPORTS OF CITY MANAGER CENTRAL AVE. The City Clerk read a letter from the Southern OPENING Pacific Company regarding the "ity's request to open and improve Central Avenue over the railroad tracks to Lockeford Street. The Southern Pacific Company letter stated that a rough estimate of the cost to cross its right of i;myr would be $20,000 including signal installation. It also stated that permission for the opening must be obtained from the Public Utilities Commission and such request would'be opposed by the Company. On the motion of Councilman Robins, Katzakian second, the letter was ordered filed. LODI LAIC PyRKINn � The City h'anarer submitted a reuoest from the FEE Superintendent of Recreation for permission to establish a $.25 fee for parking within the confines of Lodi Lake Park during the Pacific Coast Water Ski Champi6ns4ips to be held in the Park. on August 3-5, 1956. The request provided that there would be no charge to persons wishing to park outside the Park and enter on foot. The parking fee was Pro- posed as a means of helping to recover a portion of the cost incurred in sponsoring the meet. The 4�0 SPECS. FOR PAVING Specifications were submitted for the reconstruction S. HUTCHINS ST., of South Hutchins Street between Cardinal Street HAM LANE AND ELN, and Kettleman, Elm Street between Pacific and ST. request was granted on the motion of Councilman Robinson, Hughes second. AGREEMENT GAS TAX The Supplemental Memorandum of Agreement for FUNDS Expenditure of Gas Tax Allocation For Major -Streets for 1955-56 was approved and the Mayor was author - RES. NO. 1952 ized to sign ori behalf of the City by the adoption ADOPTED of Resolution No. 1952 on the motion of Councilman Robinson, Hughes second., HIGH SCHOOL The City Clerk reported that a single bid had STORM SEWER been received for the installation of storm BID REJECTED sewers at Lodi Union High School from Swinford and Rasmussen Construction Company for the total of $3,120.J0. Since the City Engineer estimated VACATION OF the cost at $1,900.00, the City Clerk recommended FLORA ST. that the bid be rejected and the work performed by force account. The motion to reject the bid and authorize the completion of the project was made by Councilman Katzakian, Fuller second. The motion passed by unanimous vote. CRESCENT MANOR Two bids were reported received for the paving PAVING AWARD in Crescent Manor. Low bidder was Rice Bros. with a bid of $7,749.00 with a bid from Claude C. Wood RES. NO. 1953 Company for 48,925.00. Resolution No. 1953, ADOPTED awarding the contract to Rice Bros. was. adopted SET -BACK on the motion of Councilman Katzakian, Fuller second. SPECS. FOR PAVING Specifications were submitted for the reconstruction S. HUTCHINS ST., of South Hutchins Street between Cardinal Street HAM LANE AND ELN, and Kettleman, Elm Street between Pacific and ST. Corinth Avenue, and Ham Lane between Southern Pacific Company right of way and Turner hoad. The City Clerk reported that contemplated improvement of the Mills -Holly -Turner Road intersection was being deferred due to delay in receiving approval from the Southern Pacific Company and the Public Utilities Commission. Approval of the specifications for the three projects submitted was voted on the motion of Councilman Hughes, Fuller second. ORD. NO. 562 Ordinance No. 562, entitled "ORDERING THE VACATION ADOPTED OF THAT PORTION OF.FLORA STREET LYING itiEST OF DiAIN STREET", having been introduced in regular meeting of July 18, 1956, was brought up for VACATION OF passage on the motion of Councilman Katzakian, FLORA ST. Hughes second. Second reading was omitted after reading by title, and. vas then passed, adopted and ordered to print by the following vote: AYES: Councilmen - Fuller, Hughes, Katzakian, Robinson and Mitchell NOES: Councilmen - None ABSENT: Councilmen - None Ordinance No. 562 was then signed by Mayor Mitchell in approval thereof. W. LODI AVENUE SET -BACK ORDINANCE NO. 563, ENTITLED "REPEALING ORDINANCE NO. 456 ENTITLED "ESTABLISHING A BUILDING SET- BACK LINE ON THE NOhTH SIDE OF WEST LODI AVENUE FROX SOUTHERJ1 PHCIFIC ivkIN LINE RIGHT OF WAY TO SOUTH HUTCHINS SThEET" AND SECTION 2 OF ORDINANCE NO. 386 ENTITLED "iJ:,LNDING THE ZONE DISTRICT MAP OF THE CITY OF LODI BY ALTERING THE ZONE BOUNDARY q_T OF THE CITY OF LODI BY ALTERING THE ZONE BOUNDARY LINES DISPLAYED THEREON AND 'REZONING AND RECLASSIFY- ING CERTAIN PROPERTIES ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF WEST LODI AVENUE BETWEEN SCHOOL STREET AND HUTCHINS STRILET TO BE IN THE COI 6I _RCIr.L DISTRICT ZONE AND ALSO ESTABLISHING A BUILDING SET BACK LINE FROM THE CENTER LINE OF SAID STREET" AND ESTABLISHING THE BUILDING SET -BACK LINE ON EST LODI AVENUE BE- 7vv'EEN: SOUTHEkN PACIFIC COMPANY MAINLINE RIGHT OF WAY AND SOUTH SCHOOL STREET, SOUTH SCHOOL STRLLT AND cOUTH HUTCHINS STREET IN THE CITY OF LODI," was brought up for adoption. Councilman Robinson stated that he would like to postpone the adoption of this ordinance until such time as it could be determined if the property owners on the South side of Lodi Avenue between School and Sacramento Streets fulfilled their promises to dedicate land for the street widening. He then moved, Katzakian second, that the adoption of Ordinance No. 563 be deferred to the next regular meeting. The motion passed by unanimous vote. SIDE, YARD SET- The City Clerk read a memorandum from the Secretary BACK AMEND TO of the Planning Commission outlining the changes ZONING ORD. sought in the amendment to the side yard setback requirement of the Zoning Ordinance. The present side yard setback requirement in residential dis- tricts of 10% of the width of the lot has not been enforced because of the ambiguous wording of the section. The Planning Commission wishes to remove this provision and clarify the minimum set back requiremtn. The change does not affect the curent operating policy but rather affects the literal wording of the ordinance. ONE WAY ALLEYS Ordinance No. 564, providing for one way alleys in the downtown business district was then brought ORDINANCE NO. 564 up for adoption. Councilman Fuller asked if the ADOPTED adoption of this ordinance would prevent the park- ing of merchants' delivery and service cars and trucks in the alley. It was explained that Ordinance No. 564 would provide for one-way alleys as specified, but this can only be enforced when signs are posted in the specified alleys. It was further explained that Ordinance No. 493, the Traffic Ordinance, now prohibits parking in alleys, but this prohibition is ohly enforceable when signs are hosted. Councilman Fuller protested that to prohibit the parking of trucks in alleys would work a hardship on these merchants who have no other place to park trucks which are reouired in the business. It was pointed cut that a truck would be permitted to park in the alley during the time it is being loaded or unlaoded, but could not be parked when not in use. City Attorney Mullen pointed out that the effect of adoption of Ordinance No. 564 is only to designate alleys for one way traffic and specify the direction in which the traffic can travel. Ordinance N8. 56L entitled "AA? ORDINANCE AA NDIP.^ OP.DINANCE NC. 493 ENTITLED 'AN ORDINANCE OF THE. CITY OF LODI REGULATING TRAFFIC UPON THE PUBLIC z:TREETS, ETC. ' BY AlvLNDING SECTION 190 OF 6AID ORDINANCE ALD ZFECIFYING CERTAIN ONE. -WAY ALLEYS", having been introduced in a regular meeting held July 18, 1956, was brought up for massage on the motion of Councilman Robinson, Katzakian second. Second reading was omitted after reading by title, and Eli was then passed, adopted and ordered to print by the following vote: AYES: Councilmen - Fuller, Hughes, Katzakian, Robinson and Mitchell NOES: Councilmen - None ABSENT: Councilmen - None Ordinance No. 564 was then signed by Mayor Mitchell in approval thereof. NO PARKIIyG IN Councilman Robinson then stated he felt parking ALLEYS should be prohibited in the downtown alleys immediately and proposed that since the prohibition was already contained in Ordinance No. 493, the "No Parking" signs be eredted as soon as possible. Councilman Fuller agreed that as long as the Coun- cil wanted parking prohibited the signs should be erected as soon as possible. Councilman Robinson then moved, Fuller second that the City Engineer post the "No Parking" -signs in the downtown alleys as soon as possible. The motion carried by unani- mous vote. OBSOLETE Mayor Mitchell then informed the City Council that LOCOMOTIVE there was a possibility the City could get an obso- lete locomotive from the Southern Pacific Company. He stated that the Company had given locomotives to several cities and these had been placed in parks as stationary playground ebuipment. He stated further, that he believed this would be done at no cost to the City. The matter was referred to the Recreation Commission for rec- ommendation. BUSINESS LICENSE Mayor Mitchell stated he felt a survey was nec- essary to determine how many busineses were operat- ing in the City without a business license. The City Clerk said that such a survey would require a great deal of time and might not be worth the expense, but he would dicuss the matter with the Finance Director to see what could be done. HOLLY DR. Mayor Mitchell stated he wanted to discuss the OPENING possibility of opening of Holly Drive between Crescent and Fairmont Avenues. He pointed out that the decision to put the street through the George Washinotcn Schcol grounds was :made at the time the City Council approved the tentative map of Bel Air Subdivision No. 1 and the subdividers reserved land to `r;:dF •it t: - sc::eol. C_t-- At:.crne;r I;ullen pointed out that under existing policy the abutting property owners are required to dedicate one-half of a 50 foot right of way, including curb, gutter and sidewalk. It seems this is the principal obstacle to accomplish the opening of the street since the Elementary School Board does not want to bear the expense of the street improvements. Councilman Robinson then suggested that the City Manager prepare a report on the cost of the street opening. The suggestion was accepted by the City Council. -' REESE APTD. TO Mayor Mitchell announced that he would appoint Mr. itEC. COM:. David J. Reese to the Recreation Commission vice Mr. Lloyd Patton. The appointment was approved on the motion of Councilman Fuller, Robinson second. LIQ ShIK< ING POOL Mayor Mitchell stated he felt the City Council should proceed with the building of a swimming pool before next summer. The City Clerk explained that the Recreation Department had prepared pre- liminary sketches of the pool desired, but detailed plans and specifications would have to be prepared before construction bids could be requested. 'He stated that a pocl construction firm would design a pool for the City free providing the City wo,:ld give them the contract. It would be possible for the City's Engineering Department to prepare the plans and specifications; however the Citv has no one experienced in swimming pool design. The City Clerk read a memorandum from the Superin- tendent of Recreation stating that he felt plans could be drawn by an experienced architect for approximately $2,400 and that for an additional ;800 the plans could be used for a second pool, all including inspection by the architect. On the motion of Councilman Robinson, Fuller second, the Council voted to authorize the Recreation Commission to negotiate with an architect on the basis that the plans developed would belong to the City of Lodi for use on future pool con- struction. CAPITAL OUTLAY Councilman Robinson stated he felt it was time the PROGRAM Council decided to build a fire house, and he felt the logical site for the building would be on the Emerson School grounds. -Councilman Hughes stated he felt this decision should be made after the Council established a capital outlay program. City Attorney bullen suggested that a date be set for discussion of the capital outlay program and that the meeting be limited to the discussion of the development of priorities of projects rather than sites. It was agreed that a date for discus- sion of the capital outlay program shoud be set at the August 15th meeting of the City Coundil. The meeting was then adjourned on the motion of Councilman Fuller. ATTLST: HENRY A. GLAVE R. City Clerk