HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - November 17, 1954372
CITY COUNCIL, CITY OF LODI
COUNCIL CHAMBER, CITY HALL
NOVEMBER 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, November 17,
1954; Councilmen Hughes, Mitchell, Richey, Robinson and Fuller
(Mayor) present; none absent. City Manager Weller and City
Attorney Mullen also present.
COMMUNICATIONS
S.D.A. Letter from the Northern California Conference
LETTER of Seventh Day Adventists, dated November 1, 1954
thanking the Chief of Police and the Police Depar�-
ment for the help received in connection with the
Pathfinder parade held in Lodi on October 24.
HIGH TWELVE
Letter from the California Association of High
CLUB LETTER
Twelve Clubs, dated November 10, 1954, expressing
heartfelt thanks to the City Officials of the City
of Lodi for having helped make the 1954 Convention
in the City of Lodi a success. Appreciation was
particularly expressed for the help of the Chief
of Police and the Police Department.
S -D DAY
Letter from Governor Knight calling attention to
the fact that December 15, 1954 has been designated
"Safe Driving Day" by President Eisenhower, and
asking that a local director for the campaign be
appointed to serve the City of Lodi. Mr. Weller
reported that Mayor Fuller had appointed Mr. Don
E. Berry as the local S -D Day director and had
so notified Governor Knight. The City Council
acknowledged receipt of the letter and authorized
Mayor Fuller to cooperate as necessary.
SACRAMENTO
Letter from the Sacramento Chamber of Commerce
CHAMBER OF
inviting the City Council to be guests of the
COMMERCE
Sacramento Chamber at a dinner to be given at
the Hotel Lodi on November 23, 1954.
NORUM
Letter from the Pacific Coast Building Officials
APPOINTED
Conference, dated November 10, 1954, informing the
TO CODE
City Manager that Mr. Wallace Norum, City Building
COMMITTEE
Official, had been appointed a member of the Code
Changes Committee at the Executive Board meeting
held on October 8, 1954. The Council's support
of Mr. Norum's attendance at the meeting of the
Code Changes Committee was requested. The Council
acknowledged receipt of the letter and the honor
accrued to the City by Mr. Norum's selection.
PUBLIC
HEARING
STADIUM
Mr. Jack Hoggatt, Secretary -Manager of the Lodi
SEAT
District Chamber of Commerce, was recognized by
CONTRACT
the Mayor and granted permission to read a letter
to the City Council from Mr. Ben W. Schaffer,
President of the Chamber of Commerce. The letter
set out the circumstances under which the Chamber
and the City of Lodi negotiated a contract on
June 2, 1949, for the construction of additional
seats in the Lodi Stadium by the Chamber of Commerce
and the terms for repayment by the City out of
revenues from inter -collegiate football games.
The letter also explained the various circumstances
which have arisen to reduce the revenue from the
inter -collegiate football games and thus slow the
repayment of the costs of the seat construction.
171
Minutes of November 17, 1954 continued. 3
Mr. Schaffer stated that at the present time the
Chamber is indebted in the sum of .$17,550.00 with
no source of funds through the City contract and
no prospect of any in the future. In his letter
Mr. Schaffer proposed that the existing contract
be declared null and void and a new contract be
drawn that would provide the following:
1. A contract period beginning July 1,
1954 and ending June 30, 1959. This agreement
would be subject to review in event of local
or national emergency as determined by the
City Council.
2. The City will pay to the Chamber all
head tax receipts from the stadium during that
time.
3. This money shall be paid to the Chamber
in convenient installments to be used by them
solely to retire the principal on outstanding
notes.
4. The Chamber will appropriate from its
general fund during this time the sum of $700
annually which will be applied against their
indebtedness.
5. The Chamber will exert every effort to
promote additional usages of the Stadium. Full-
est assistance will be given already scheduled
events to increase attendance and the advertis-
ing and publicity power of the Chamber will be
thrown behind events that are or can be staged
in the Stadium.
Councilman Robinson asked if the Council is to
understand that at the end of five years the City
will not have any further obligation for the payment
of the cost of the seats. Mr. Foggatt replied that
he was sure that that was the intent of the Chamber
of Commerce. Councilman Robinson then moved, Mitchell
second, that the matter be referred to the City
Manager and City Attorney for the drafting of a
new contract in line with the proposal of the Chamber
of Commerce. The motion carried unanimously.
I.B.E.W.
Mr. Harry M. Brown addressed the City Council to say
REQUEST_ WAGE,
that he represented the City employees belonging to
INCREASE
Local 1245 of the International Brotherhood of Elec-
trical Workers. He stated that the Union had sub-
mitted a proposal for wage increase, increased vaca-
tions, safety program, health insurance paid by the
City, etc. He stated that he had not heard from the
City Manager and was now asking.that the City Council
give these matters its consideration. Mr. Weller
stated that he had informed the Union's representa-
tive, Mr. Hansen, that he could not justify a request
to the City Council for a wage increase at this time.
He also stated that he had informed the City Council
of his decision to make no recommendation at this
time. On the motion of Councilman Richey, Robinson
second, the Council voted unanimously to accept
the City Manager's recommendation.
VACATION OF -
Mr. Robert H. Rinn addressed the City Council to
12 -FOOT STRIP
state that he represented a party affected by the
DROPPED
proposed abandonment of the roadway extending from
Louie Avenue to Turner Road. He pointed out that
said proposed abandonment would serve no useful
purpose, as stated in the petition submitted to the
374 Minutes of November 17, 1954 continued.
City Council, inasmuch as the 12 -foot strip would
be maintained as a private access road until such
time as the private parties abandon their interest.
City Attorney Mullen agreed that the abandonment of
the road strip as a public street would not effect
the physical closing of the street as long as the
private parties maintain their interest. Council-
man Robinson then moved that the Ordinance of
Intention, Ordinance No. 518, not be adopted, and
that the number 518 be released for assignment to
a future ordinance. The motion passed unanimously.
FINAL MAP
As a part of the above discussion, the Council
OF "CORDA
examined the final map of the Corda Tract. City
TRACT"
Attorney Mullen suggested that the map should be
APPROVED
amended to show a reference to the deed or deeds
which created the 12 -foot roadway strip along the
west side of Tract 5 of the Burr's Addition. On
the motion of Councilman Hughes, Mitchell second,
the Council voted to authorize the Mayor to sign
said final map subject to the approval of the
City Attorney.
REPORTS
OF THE CITY MANAGER
DRIVEWAY
The City Manager stated that he had received a
LOTS 4 & 5,
request from Mr. John Habeck, 303 Cypress Street,
BLK 1, LODI
for permission to construct a forty -foot driveway
BARNHART TRACT entrance for Lots 4 and 5, Block 1, of the Lodi
Barnhart Tract. Mr. Habeck plans the construction
of a soft drink stand on the property and -wished
the driveway as an entrance to the off-street
parking lot. On the motion of Councilman Robinson,
Richey second, the Council granted the request.
CITY MANAGER Mr. Weller then explained that it becomes necessary
AUTHORIZED TO from time to time to discount, write off, or other -
ADJUST UTILITY wise adjust utility bills. He asked that the City
BILLS Council authorize the Administration to make such
adjustments when found to be necessary. On the
motion of Councilman Hughes, Richey second, the
City Council voted to delegate the authority to
adjust utility bills to the City Manager.
FUGAZI The City Manager reported that a storm sewer is
EASEMENT needed on the extension of Sunset Drive between
APPROVED Locust Street and Lockeford Street in order to
drain newly subdivided land north of Lockeford
Street. 'This will require crossing private property
which is potential subdivision land. However, the
owners of the property feel that they should not
be asked to grant an easement without some consid-
eration. They propose that they grant the easement
to the City free of cost to the City, but that
the City should agree to relocate the line at the
City's expense in the event future subdivision
of land requires such relocation. The Council
voted to approve the arrangement as proposed on
the motion of Councilman Mitchell, Robinson second.
APPROVE LEASE The City Manager reported that the State Department
OF EMPLOYMENT of Employment had indicated its willingness to
OFFICE extend its present lease of the City -owned building
at 125 north Stockton Street. The Department of
RES. #1844 Employment proposes a lease for five years under
ADOPTED the same terms and conditions as the present one-
year lease. On the motion of Councilman Richey,
Hughes second, the Council voted to adopt Resolu-
tion No. 1844, authorizing the Mayor to execute
the lease on behalf of the City of Lodi.
Minutes of November 17, 1954 continued. 37
REJECT Mr. Weller reported that one bid had been received
BIDS FOR for the 75 c.f.m. compressor from the Edward R.
COMPRESSOR Bacon Company in the amount of $2,054.85. Mr. Weller
stated that he had since received information that
the City Could buy a slightly used compressor in a
larger unit for approximately $2,500. This price
was reported to include additional accessories, too.
He therefore recommended that the bid by Edward R.
Bacon Company be rejected and he be authorized to
purchase on the open market. He pointed out that
the City purchases a great deal of equipment from
the Edward R. Bacon Company and he believed it
would hold the bid offer open. On the motion of
Councilman Robinson, Richey second, the Council
voted to approve the City Manager's recommendation.
AWARD The City Manager reported that bids had been received
BUSINESS for the business coupe for the Engineering Depart -
COUPE ment from Loewen Auto Company and Krieger Motor
Company. Loewen Auto Company was low with a net
RES. #1845 bid of $880.:11. He therefore recommended the award
ADOPTED be made to the Loewen Auto Company. Resolution
No'.•1845, awarding the contract for the business
coupe to the Loewen Auto Company, was adopted on
the motion of Councilman Hughes, Richey second.
AWARD
Mr. Weller then reported that bids for the station
STATION WAGON
wagon for the Recreation Department had also been
received from the Loewen Auto Company and Krieger
RES. #1846
Motor Company. Loewen Auto Company submitted the
ADOPTED
low bid with a net bid of $1,491.79. Fe therefore
recommended the award be made to Loewen Auto Com-
pany. On the motion of Councilman Richey, Mitchell
second, the Council adopted Resolution No. 1846,
awarding the contract for the station wagon to
Loewen Auto Company.
CLAIMS
Claims in the amount of $45,943.21 were approved on
the motion of Councilman Richey, Mitchell second.
RECREATION COMMISSION
TERMS EXPIRE
Mr. Weller reminded the Council that the terms of
Commissioners Brown, Patton and Conklin would expire
on December 31, 1954.
NAVY
Mr. Weller read that portion of the minutes of the
QUONSET
Recreation Commission meeting of November 15, 1954
BUILDING
pertaining to the use of the Naval Reserve Quonset
building. A motion adopted at the above meeting
requested that the Naval Reserve building be made
available to the Recreation and Parks Department
for a Senior Activities Center, to be used also for
a service and information center for migratory labor.
The Recreation Commission felt it was too large and
elaborate a building for use as a dog pound. Mr.
Weller stated that no decision had been made to use
the building for a dog pound. He explained that
plans were being drawn to determine the feasibility
of utilizing a portion of the building for a dog
pound. He pointed out that he had also had a re-
quest from the Engineering Department for use of the
building for storage purposes and from the Recreation
Department for the same purpose. Mr. Van Buskirk,
Chairman of the Recreation Commission, offered
arguments in favor of using the building for a
center for migratory workers and senior citizens.
376 Minutes of November 17, 1954 continued.
Mr. Weller raised the question as to whether this
is the type of service the City should initiate,
since it is definitely an extension of the services
presently offered by the City. On the motion
of Councilman Hughes, Mitchell second, the Coun-
cil voted to lay the question over for further
discussion and to request that estimates for
the construction of a completely new pound be
prepared for the future discussion of the Council.
S.P.CO. Councilman Hughes suggested that the City Manager
TELEPHONE write a letter to Mr. Underhill of the Southern
Pacific Company in Stockton, expressing the
Council's appreciation -of the improved traffic .
condition as the result of the Southern Pacific's
installation of a telephone at the corner of
California Street and the Southern Pacific right
of way.
LIABILITY City Attorney Mullen reported that he had inves-
REPORT tigated the City's liability for the condition
RE JAIL and operation of the jail and had submitted a
written opinion to the Council. He stated that
the City's liability extends to the provisions
of the Public Liability Act of 1923, which pro-
vides in effect that the City is liable for damages
or injuries due to a dangerous or defective con-
dition of which the Council has knowledge.
PARKING LOT The Council then discussed the proposal of Council-
man Mitchell that the lot east of the City Hall
be improved as a parking lot. No action was taken.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:45 p.m. on the
order of the Mayor.
ATTEST:
1 E GLAVES, JR.
City C erk