Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - March 17, 19543-10 CITY COUNCIL, CITY OF LODI COUNCIL C10SER, CITY HALL ;MARCH 17, 1954 This regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Lodi held beginning at 8:00 o'clock p.m. of 'Wednesday, march 17, 1954; Councilmen Hillman, Preszler, Rinn, Robinson and Richey (bhyor) present; none absent. City Manager Weller and City Attorney M.u11en were also present. Minutes of the previous meeting of March 3, 1954, were deferred until the next regular meeting. C0.MM(NICATIONS CHAMBER Letter from the Lodi District Chamber of Commerce stating FAVORS that at a recent special meeting of the Chamber of Commerce MASTER Board of Directors the future growth and development of PLAY the City of Lodi and the Lodi District was'discussed. By unanimous action, the Board of Directors have gone on record commending the thinking that provided the City with expert assistance in drawing plans £or"Lodi's future development and applauding the sound expenditure of public funds for this purpose. In addition, however, the Chamber questioned the advisability of interruption of the planning short of investigation into the industrial potential of the immediate surrounding area. The letter, signed by Mr. Ben W. Schaffer, President closed by suggesting that further work be done in the investigation of the possibilities of industrial expansion and development in areas outside the confines of the city limits. Mayor Richey expressed the appreciation of the City Council for the words of confidence and announced that the letter would be given consideration in future actions of the City Council. PARK SITE Letter from Mx. Ray Van Buskirk, Chairman of the Recreation ACQUISITION Commission, referring to the joint meeting between the Recreation Commission and the City Council on :arch 1, 1954, at which time the desirability of acquiring land adjacent to school sites for use as recreational purposes was discussed. Mr. Van Buskirk suggested that it would be desirable that a definite written understanding should be reached by the City and the schools with respect to the size of the joint areas required, the methods of financing their acquisition and other details of maintenance and development. In closing the letter he urged that the City Council proceed immediately toward discussion and agreement with the school boards, in view of the fact that the schools undertake the acquisition of new school sites in the near future. Mayor Richey stated that the suggestion was very timely and asked if the City Council wished a joint meeting with the school boards. At the suggestion of Councilman Rinn, the City Manager was instructed to answer the communication and indicate the intention of the City Council to work with the schools and explore the possibility of scheduling a special meeting with the school boards. LCC,CVD Mr. Weller read a letter from the City of M4 rced reminding MEETING the City Council of the regular meeting of the Central Valley Division of the League of California Cities to be held in the City of ?Merced on April 15, 1954. A subsequent letter from the City of.1%brced postponed the date of the meeting to April 22, 1954, in order to not conflict with Easter week. Minutes of March 17, 1954 continued. 31 KIT CARSON A letter from the Kit Carson Pass Association urging the City PASS Uouncil to take part in a move to improve Highway 88 through Kit Carson Pass to an all -year highway. Uouncilman Robinson stated that he believed such a move would be beneficial to the City of Lodi since Highway 88 could be linked to Highway 12 which passes through the City of Lodi connecting the San Francisco Bay Area to the Sierra Mountains. It was pointed out that it has been the general policy to turn this type of request down. The council then agreed to respond to the request individually and to refer the letter to the Lodi District Chamber of Commerce for action. FIR: DEPT. A letter from the Lodi Academy expressing its appreciation to COKM=ED the Fire Department, and to Mr. Eproson particularly, for the helpful suggestions regarding fire prevention. Vx. 'Weller added that he would send the letter to the Fire Chief for the indicated action. RZPORTS OF THE CITY I=NAGER FPtAL M_U A final map entitled "Windsor Tract", certified by the City WINDSOR TRACT Engineer as substantially complying with the tentative map approved by the City Planning Commission, was approved for recordation and the streets and easements therein acdeoted as City streets on the motion of Councilman Robinson, Hillman second. This acceptance is subject to improvement of the streets to City standards before they will be accepted for maintenance by the City. Mayor Richey then signed the map. GARBAGE The Council then considered contract with the Sanitary City CONTRACT Scavenger Company for the collection of garbage -within the City RENEYED which will expire March 31, 1954. The operators of the Scavenger Company have requested an extension of the present contract for a five-year period. The City Council discussed the alternatives of extending the present contract or of entering into a new contract. 1;7. Leonard Cain and Mr. Robert Litts were present to represent the operators of the Scavenger Company. Since _ the present contract covers only the collection and disposal of domestic and commercial garbage, the Council explored the possibilities of revising the contract to grant an exclusive contract to the Company under the provisions of Ordinance No. 383 as amended. This would include refuse from cannery, packing and shipping installations within the City. City Attorney YU22en stated that it was his recollection that the City could legally grant an exclusive contract. Mr. Litts protested that, in dis- cussing the provisions of the Garbage Ordinance, the Uouncil was getting off the subject and that he was interested in seeing that action was taken on the contract itself, leaving the revision of the ordinance, if necessary, to a later date. Mayor Richey replied that the Council only wishes to determine the provisions of the ordinance under which the contract is granted, and that action on the contract will be considered when the question of whether a new contract granting exclusive franchise is possible under the existing ordinance. Councilman Rirn asked the representatives of the Scavenger Company if the Lompany had an interest in an exclusive contract. Mr. Cain replied that the Scavenger Company would like any additional protection that could be afforded; however, it would be satisfied to renew the contract under the present ordinance. Mr. Weller pointed oat that the Council had expressed interest in affording protection to the Scavenger Uompany, but it was also interested in seeing that all revenue from cannery waste be shown on the financial statement of the Company. This can be written into the contract. Mx. Litts replied that this would be satisfactory to the Company. — Councilman Hillman suggested that all revenue from the Company be included in a quarterly financial statement to be submitted to the City Council. Councilman Rinn stated that in the past the method of accounting used by the Scavenger Company has not ;3 ktnutes of March 17, 1954 continued. been all that it should be. He added that the CityCouncil would rot want to be faced with a recuest for a 10 to 20 cert increase in a matter of six months or so. Mr. Cain replied that the Company now has a proposal for incentive pay to en- courage interest on the part of the employees in the service rendered. Councilman Rinn then asked if Mr. Cain frankly felt that the crises which have arisen with the Company in the past will be eliminated in the future. Mr. Cain replied that he could not predict the future, but that the Company now has a stable financial picture and is in a better condition to carry on than it has had in the past. Mr. Cain then asked if a quarterly report would be required. He pointed out that he would be willing to report quarterly, but he was also interested in holding down the expenses. councilman Preszler then moved that the present contract with the Sanitary City Scavenger Company be renewed for a period'of five years with the provision that all revenues of the Company be included in a report to be submitted to the City Council once a year or at such other times as the City Council may direct. The motion was seconded by Councilman Robinson and passed by a unanimous vote. CLAIMS Claims in the amount of $50,189.48 were approved on the motion of CoinciL.an Robinson, Hillman second. FREEWAY :&. Weller then reported that he had discussed the proposed AGREEMENT Freeway Agreement with the District Engineer of the Division of Highways regarding the City Council's position relating to the designation of interchanges and grade separations at this time. The District Engineer, Mr. John Meyer, suggested that the agreement stand as proposed, but that the map appended to the agreement be altered to remove the interchange shown at Pine Street and substitute a grade separation at this point. The City Council could then reserve the right to request either an interchange or a grade separation at some point between Kettlemnn Iane and Victor Road at a future date. Mr. Weller added that Mr. Meyer felt that the decision on the locations should be made within the next two years. The Council agreed that the City should reserve the right to designate a separation at Pine Street and at some other location between Kettleman Lane and Victor Road, or a separation at Pine Street and an interchange at some other location in the area, or that Pine Street be re- designated as an interchange point. On the motion of Councilman Robinson, Rinn second, the Council voted to authorize the Mayor to sign the Freeway Agreement and that said agreement should be -forwarded under a cover letter setting forth the views of the City Council regarding the location of grade separations and interchanges between Kettleman Lane and Victor Road. WIDENING Mr. Weller reported that the City Engineer had investigated S. LEE AVE. the possibilities of widening Lee Avenue between Tine and Oak streets. The report indicated that a jog in the right of way exists at the alley between the above two streets and in order to remove the jog more right of way would have to be acquired. However, there is sufficient right of way on the east side of Lee Avenue north of the alley to widen the paved width. Council- man Robinson stated that he felt that it is important to take out the -.jog on the east side of the street north of the alley by setting the sidewalk back to the property line. This was agreed upon by the Council. M nutes of March 17, 1954, continued. CITY PLANNING COMMISSION Mr. Weller presented the following report from the Zoning Committee of the Planning Commission: BUDDIST CHURCH The Zoning committee approved a request from the Buddist ADJUST.IIENT Church for an adjustment of the off-street requirements of the Zoning Ordinance to require only 16 off-street parking spaces rather than the 20 which would normally be required under the provision of the ordinance. The Zoning Committee felt that this substantially met the requirements of the ordinance. At its meeting of March 8, 1954, the Planning "ommission held REEZONI`IG IA a public hearing on the proposed rezoning of Lots 24, 25, 46 WI,NDSOR TRACT and 47 of the Windsor Tract from the R-2 District to the R-3. There being no protests to the proposed rezoning, the Commission voted to approve the request. On. the motion of Councilman Rinn, Hill*..an second, the Council voted to set April 7, 1954, as the date for a public hearing before the City Council on the proposed rezoning. The meeting was adjourned.at 9:50 p.m. on the motion of Councilman Rinn. n ATTL.ST•-)L HENRY GLAVES, JR City Clerk -