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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - June 17, 1953oi2 CITY COUNCIL CITY OF LODI COUNCIL CHAMBERS, CITY HALL JUNE 17, 1953 This regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Lodi held beginning at 8:00 o'clock p.m. on Wednesday, June 17, 1953; Councilmen Haskell, Preszler, Rinn, Robinson and Richey (Mayor) present; none absent. The minutes of the June 3, 1953, meeting were approved with the following correction: The first sentence in the paragraph entitled "Street Tree Committee Report" should be amended to read; "Councilman Robinson reported that the committee appointed by the Mayor for the purpose of recommending a future tree removal pro- gram had met during the previous week and a report would be forthcoming at a later meeting." COh94UNICATIONS A letter from the City Librarian calling the atten- tion of the City Council to the fact that the terms of Dr. W. J. Coffield and Dr. Irving Ridenour LIBRARY as members of the Board of Library Trustees will BOARD expire June 30, 1953• She added that due to ill TERMS health Dr. Ridenour has been inactive recently, EXPIRE and he has asked that he not be considered for reappointment at the end of his present term. After directing that a letter be directed to Dr. Ridenour expressing appreication for his long ser- vice, the Council agreed to take up the matter of appointments at a later date. A petition protesting the relocation of Highway 99 from its present location in the City of Lodi to any other location, either within or without the corporate limits of the City, and requesting that a public hearing be held before the City Council to consider the relocation of the highway, filed 99 HIGHWAY June 17, 1953, by Mr. Ben Horton, was presented by BY-PASS the City Manager. The petition contained 65 signa- PROTEST tures of persons asserted to be owners of property on or near the present Highway 99. Mayor Richey stated that representatives of the State Division of Highways would be present at the July 1st meet- ing of the City Council, and all interested persons will be welcome to attend the meeting. She pointed out that this is not to be a public hearing, but rather an opportunity to secure information from the representatives of the Division of Highways. A letter from Mr. -Jacob Zimmerman of Lockeford offering to purchase the one-quarter crop of hay harvested on the City's garbage disposal site. HAY CROP Mr. Zimmerman offered to purchase the City's share at X15.00 a ton plus the baling. He pointed out that the crop had been .damaged by the recent rains. The Council authorized the City Clerk to accept the offer unless he finds, after investigation, that the price is inadequate. 23: Minutes of June 17, 1953 continued PU3LIC HEARINGS In considering the 1953-54 Budget, Councilman Mr. H. E. Looser presented a petition asking that Preszler asked if this would be the proper time the proposed location of the Hall of Justice PETITION adjacent to the existing City Hall be abandoned PROTESTING in favor of a more suitable location.. He claimed HALL OF that the petition contained the signatures of 328 JUSTICE persons, and if necessary he could secure a thou - SITE sand more. On the motion of Councilman Rinn, budget. He added that it is a decision which the Haskell second, the petition was to be filed and Council will have to make, however. Councilman taken into careful consideration.. Preszler added that he felt something should be Mr. Looser then presented a petition with 38 done toward the widening of East Lockeford Street signatures identical to the petition presented PARKING April 15, 1953, protesting parking meters. Mr. METER Looser asked that this petition be added to the PETITION previous petition. On the motion of Councilman budget. In expressing his opinion of the 1953-54 Preszler, Rinn second, the petition was accepted Budget, Councilman Haskell stated that the City . and ordered filed with the previous petition. REPORTS OF THE CITY MANAGER for a fine job and an orderly presentation. In The City Manager presented the tabulation of bids agreeing, Councilman Rinn observed that definite for the legal advertising for the fiscal year LEGAL ADVER- 1953-54. One bid was received from the Lodi News- TISING AWARD Sentinel at the same rate awarded in the past year. RES. ',#'1751 Resolution No. 1751 awarding the contract to the departments and the City officials. Ordinance No. Lodi News -Sentinel was adopted on the motion of 492, adopting the budget for the fiscal year 1953-54, Councilman Preszler, haskell second. The Council then voted to adopt Resolution No. RES. ;1752 1752 awarding the contract for the construction AWARD of rest rooms in John Blakely Park to the Hieb REST ROOMS Brothers, the low bidders for the construction. FOR BLAKELY The bids as tabulated were as follows: PARK R. E. Fisher 1'4,989.00 Hieb Brothers 4,498.00 Johnson Construction Co, 4,589.00 In considering the 1953-54 Budget, Councilman Preszler asked if this would be the proper time 1953-54 BUDGET to discuss the possibilities of widening Lodi Avenue from the alley between School and Church tiIDENING OF Streets east to Sacramento Street. Councilman Rinn LODI AVENUE & replied that since the funds will come out of gas LOCKEFORD ST. tax moneys, it need not be considered with the budget. He added that it is a decision which the Council will have to make, however. Councilman Preszler added that he felt something should be done toward the widening of East Lockeford Street from the S.P. railroad tracks toward the Festival grounds. It was agreed that these matters should be studied, but considered apart from the present budget. In expressing his opinion of the 1953-54 Budget, Councilman Haskell stated that the City . Manager and department heads should be complimented for a fine job and an orderly presentation. In agreeing, Councilman Rinn observed that definite progress had been achieved in the budgets over the past five years, and this progress was achieved largely as a result of cooperation among the various ORD. NO -492 departments and the City officials. Ordinance No. INTRODUCED 492, adopting the budget for the fiscal year 1953-54, was then introduced on the motion of Councilman Haskell, Robinson second. Councilman Robinson stated that he had received answers from the Recre- ation Department which satisfied his questions regarding the budget for that department. Mr. Weller pointed out that this budget does not con- tain provisions for any salary increases, if it is found that increases are necessary. 2'4 4 Minutes of June 17, 1953, continued. The City Manager reported that further considera- tion had been given to the development of suitable routes for truck traffic during the canning and packing season and that he had discussed the CANNERY matter with the operators of the packing sheds TRAFFIC along Main Street. Since the packing sheds will be in operation during the same period the canneries are busy, it was recommended that Main Street not be used by the cannery trucks leaving the cannery. Instead the cannery trucks could be routed into the cannery via Kettleman Lane and Stockton Street, as previously planned, and leave via Stockton Street and Lodi Avenue. He stated that he felt this could be worked out by an arrangement with the can- nery rather than with signs. The Council agreed to accept this recommendation. In discussing the proposed Traffic Ordinance, the Council again took up the matter of truck routes within the City. It was pointed out that the sug- TRAFFIC ORD. gestions agreed upon at the May 6, 1953, meeting of the City Council were intended to be suggestions ORD. N0.493 for inclusion in the proposed Traffic Ordinance. INTRODUCED After further discussion, it was agreed that the matter of truck routes and streets to be closed to truck travel would not be included in the Traffic Ordinance at this time. After further discussion, the Traffic Ordinance, Ordinance No. 493, was intro- duced on the motion of Councilman Haskell, Preszler second. - Claims in the amount of 437,485.07 were approved CLAIMS and ordered paid on the motion of Councilman Pres- zler, Rinn second. The City Manager presented a letter from the Lodi District Chamber of Commerce requesting the City Council to take steps to renovate and beautify the arch over Pine Street. The letter was accom- panied by a proposed design in neon lights includ- ing a grape cluster in place of the center bell. LODI ARCH Two cost estimates were also included: one for RENOVATION 4494 and one for $561, both estimates bein& for the neon lighting installation only. The Uouncil raised the question of the condition of the arch, pointing out that a preliminary examination by the Building Inspector had uncovered evidence of rotted timbers. Councilman Robinson stated that he wished to go on record as favoring the recon- ditioning of the arch to make it safe and adding the necessary lights to increase its attractiveness. Councilman Haskell indicated that he did not agree that the City should recondition the arch; instead he suggested that the funds for the re- conditioning could be raised by public subscrip- tion, particularly since this means was utilized for the original construction. At the suggestion of Mayor Richey the Council voted to set the matter aside until the Building Inspector can investigate the condition of the arch in greater detail. A recommendation from the City Engineer that the City purchase an Army surplus tractor with crane PURCHASE for 43,000.00 was approved on the motion of Coun- SURPLUS cilman Robinson, Preszler second. According to TRACTOR the City Engineer, his department will have to spend approximately 41200.00 for the rental of a similar piece of equipment -this year if the equip- ment is not purchased. Ainutes of June 17, 1953, continued. 23: The City Tanager presented a proposal_'rom the City Engineer that South Pleasant Avenue from Lodi Avenue south to the alley be widened at this time. He pointed out that Dr. Leiske, whose offices occupy the southeast corner of Lodi Avenue and South Pleasant Avenue, contemplates the con- struction of a driveway along the east side of the WIDEN SOUTH street and is willing to have the curb and sidewalk PLEASANT AVE. moved in order to widen the street from its present 31 foot travel way. The cost of this project is estimated to be approximately .5CO. M.r. LeRoy Hoffman addressed the Council from the audience to state that he resides on the east side of South Pleasant Avenue south of the alley and requested that the council consider extending the widening south to Chestnut.Street. He pointed out that the street- was extremely narrow at this point. The Council agreed to authorize the City Engineer to proceed with the street widening from Lodi Avenue south to the alley at this time and to consider extending the project to Chestnut Street at a later date. ylr. Weller presented a request from NIr, idelber F. Ayers that the City Council place the sum of the required utility extension deposit at a figure that will make the proportion per lot in the Westwood WAIVER OF Homes No. 3 Subdivision in line with t'e c.st of UTILITY other subdivisions where the utilities are already EXTENSION at the edge of the subdivision. Mr. Ayers con - DENIED tended that, because he subdivided his property according to the blaster Street Plan adopted by the Planning Commission, the cost of serving each lot in his subdivision was out of proportion to the cost of the average subdivision. He further pointed out that he has tried to cooperate with the City in the past and mentioned that he had given a ten -foot easement along Lake Street for a power line to theCity in 1947. The City Clerk informed the Council that the cost per lot in Westwood Homes No. 3 was 4250.17 while the cost in other subdivisions ranged from :200 to X554 per lot with the majority costing in excess of .250 per lot. Councilman Haskell suggested that the information furnished by the City Clerk be discussed with Mr. Ayers in order that he under- stand that his costs are not out of line with the other subdivisions. The matter was then left to the administration to work out the details. In the matter of participation in the franchise PARTICIPATE case involving the City of Petaluma and the IN PETALUMA Pacific Telephone and Telegraph Company, held over FRANCHISE from the June 3, 1953, meeting, the Council voted CASE to participate with a contribution of ,100 to help defray the costs of preparation and presentation of the case by the City of Petaluma. The City Clerk advised the Council that he had had inquiries from residents of South Sunset WAIVE UTILITY Avenue regarding the possibilities of annexation DEPOSIT FOR to the City. If annexed, this area would come in SUNSET under the provisions of the Annexation Act of ADDITION 1913, providing for annexation of inhabited ANNEXATIO14 territory. It was explained that the Council's policy regarding the extension of utilities had been explained to the interested residents of the territory. Whereas the residents were inter- ested in solving a drainage problem in the area, they did not object to the payment of the fee for storm sewers, but they did object to making 2, 98 Minutes of June 17 1953, continued. a deposit for electrical and water facilities under the utilit extension polic; . it ::::s pointed out that the water and sanitary sewer lines had been constructed by the subdivider prior to receiving of service from the City. Councilman Haskell pointed out that the basic concept of the Council's utility extension policy was to take the City out of the gamble on a venture which may or may not succeed, and in the case at hand the subdivision is fully developed and can no longer be considered a gamble from the City's point of view. He then suggested that the deposit for the extension of the electrical system and the improvement of the water system be waived, bear- ing in mind the basic concept of the Council's policy. This suggestion was agreed upon by the rest of the Council. The City Clerk was then instructed to inform the residents in the terri- tory that permission for annexation from the City Council will be contingent upon the construction of curbs and gutters, storm sewers and sidewalks in the area. Councilman Robinson stated that he had contacted Mr. George Aberle regarding the traffic situation at the Sell Rite Market at the corner of South Church Street and Lodi Avenue. Mr. Aberle suggested that the congestion at the driveway on the Lodi Avenue side of the Market parking lot could be overcome by widening the driveway to allow room for cars to both enter and leave the lot at the SELL RITE same time, and by painting sections of the curb IvURKET red on either side of the driveway The suggestion TRAFFIC was approved by unanimous vote. (Amended as follows by minutes of July 15, 1953: Mr. Aberle suggested that the congestion at the driveway on the Lodi Avenue side of the Market parking lot could be overcome by widening the driveway to allow rood for cars to both enter and leave the lot at the same time, and by painting sections of the curb red on either side of the driveway, and that traffic congestion on Lodi Avenue would be eased by the painting of a double white line in the center of the street from the Church Street intersection west to the westerly end of the driveway.) The meeting was adjourned at 10:40 p.m. on the motion of Councilman Robi son. �f� ATTES / HENRY A. GLAV�SJ, City Clerk