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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - July 1, 1953?3 CITY COUNCIL CITY OF LODI COUNCIL CHAMBERS, CITY HALL JULY 1, 1953 This regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Lodi held at 8:05 o'clock p.m. of Wednesday, July 1, 1953. Councilmen Preszler, Rinn, Robinson, and Richey (T�ayor) present; absent, none; vacancy, one. P6inutes of the adjourned meeting of June 10, 1953 were approved as written and mailed. COKMUNICATIONS A letter from the Southern Pacific Company regard- ing the development of Southern Pacific Company PROPOSED property on Sacramento Street as a parking lot was S.P.CO. read. The S. P. 11ompany informed the Council that PARKING the Associated Oil Company had released a portion LOT of the property under lease to them and the Union Oil Company' had released the entire area previously held by them. A new lessee for the corner site must be found, at which time the area between the two corner leases can be leased to the City of Lodi as requested by the City Council. A letter from the Brazos Oil and Gas Company informing the City Council that it does not care UNION OIL to continue the lease of the 303 acre site. A LEASE .4uitclaim Deed dated June 8, 1953, whereby Union. TERiNIIINATED Oil -ompany of California and Brazos Oil and Gas Company_quitclaim to the City all of the right, title and interest of Union and Brazos will be recorded by the Union Oil Company. The City Clerk was authorized to accept the deed. A petition signed by 11 people requesting per- mission of the City Council to commence annexation PETITION proceedings under the Annexation Act of 1913 of the TO START territory bounded by west Lodi Avenue, the south - SUNSET erly projecting of Ham Lane, South Fairmont Avenue AN EXATIJN and the south line of the Derald Wagers property was accepted by the City Council and referred to the City Planning Commission for report in accor- dance with Section 35108 of the Government Code. PUBLIC HEARINGS Mayor Richey then opened the meeting to the hear- ing of protests to the formation of the Downtown Street Lighting District. The City Clerk informed DOWNTOWN the Council that prior to the meeting he had LIGHTING received written protests from La Relda R. Patton DISTRICT and Gladys F. Wood, owning property within the district with 165 front feet, and Kreiger Prop- erties, owning property with 150 front feet, or a total protest of 315 front feet. The total front footage in the proposed district is in excess of PROTESTS 16,000 feet. Mrs. Wood addressed the Council from OVERRULED the audience to say that her protest was based on the belief that taxes were too hio-h at this time RES. ,1754 and the proposed assessment would be: an unnecessary ADOPTED addition. Councilman Robinson stated that, in view of the fact that the majority of the owners WORK ORDERED of property in the proposed district still wanted RES. NOS. the proceedings, he felt that the Council had no 1755, 1755 alternative but to continue the proceedings. AND 1757 Resolution No. 1754, overruling the protest, was Councilman ADOPTED then adopted on the motion of Robinson. Resolution No. 1755, adopting the scale of pre- vailing wage rates, was then adopted on the motion of councilman Rinn, Preszler second. Resolution No. 1756, ordering the work, was adopted on the motion of Councilman Robinson, Rinn second. Resolution No. 1757, directing the assessment to be prepared, was adopted on the motion. of Council- ma,-,, "ooinson. -238 Rlinutes of July 1, 1953, continued Mayor Richey then invited the representatives of the Livision of Highways to join the Council at the table, and invited interested persons to direct que6i.iuiis relative to Lige proposed iii6h-.ay '79 uy- pass to these people. Representing the Division of Highways were Mr. John G. Meyers, Mr. Cliff HIGH',dAY 99 Tenby, Mr. Ed. Tenny and Mr. [elm. Hurd. Mr. Ben 3Y -PASS Horton addressed the Council from the audience and DISCUSSED received permission to read a personal statement. In his statement, Yr. Horton said: He believed the people were entitled to a public hearing more than ever; California population will have increased by 60% before the 4 -lane highway is completed in 6 to 8 years, and this will call for new highways which will go east or west of Lodi; we will need 8 -lane highways at that time, not 4 -lane; the high- way between Lodi and Sacramento should be completed before dissecting good vineyards and constructing unnecessary bulges; there is no need for haste in bypassing Lodi when the present 6 -lane highway is sufficient; and he begs the City Council to request the Highway Commission to meet with the Council in a public hearing. In reply to this statement Yr. Meyers stated: There is a possibility of a highway east or west of Lodi, but Highway 99 must be com- pleted first; it is impossible to use Cherokee Lane for the new freeway because it will require more width than they now have; the location of the by- pass must be determined before construction of the freeway north of Lodi because the location of the bypass is the key to the location of the narthern route; the by=pass probably would not be started before 1960; there is a possibility of locating the by-pass further east, but it would not carry as much traffic; and the Highway Commission has not officially seen this proposed route, but it would be presented to them at a meeting around July 22, 1953. Mr. Meyer added that he felt the issue before the City Council is whether the loca- tion suits the purpose of the City of Lodi, or whether or not the welfare of the City is hurt by the proposed route. In answer to a question from the City Attorney as to just what he wanted from the City Council, Mr. Meyer stated that he wanted approval of the route in principle and a resolution from the City Council stating that a public hearing is unnecessary. He added that after the route is adopted the City would still have some protection by the fact that a Freeway Agreement must still be signed. Councilman Rinn stated that he had no opinion as to where the freeway should be located, that is, whether it should be east of Cherokee Lane by 200,feet, 600 feet or 2,000 feet. He added that he felt they should permit the Highway Com- mission to adopt the route and then ask the City Council if it wished to request a hearing. This would allow the Council more time to study the problem. He added further that he did not feel that this City Council has the capacity at the pre- sent time to determine whether the route is good for the City. L;ouncilman Robinson stated that he throught the proposed route was reasonable and would eventually improve the values on Cherokee Lane. Mr. Clifford Bull stated that he could see nothing to complain about until the Highway Com- mission has adopted the route. He added that he only wanted to be sure that all of the other de- ficient highways in San Joaquin were completed before the by-pass is completed. In answer to a question from the audience Mr. Tenby stated that they had located the route where it would do the minimum amount of damage to properties and still serve its purpose. Councilman Rinn stated that he did not believe the Council should be concerned with Minutes of July 1, 1953, continued. 23 what the route will do to individual property owners. re continued that, since the matter must still be presented to the State Highway Commission, he would move that the Council take no action at this time, but when the Declaration of Intention to adopt the route is passed by the Highway Commission and received by the Council, that the Council take the necessary action as expeditiously as possible. The motion was seconded by Councilman Preszler and passed. REPORTS OF THE CITY MANAGER 1953-54 The Council adopted Resolution No. 1753, approving b:AJOR STREET the Agreement for Expenditure of Gas Tax Alloca- AGREF2gENT tion for Major City Streets for the 1953-54 fiscal RES. #1753 year on the motion of Councilman Robinson, Rinn ADOPTED second, and Mayor Richey was authorized to sign the agreement for the City of Lodi. A request from the Safety Council that the curb at the northeast corner of Orange Avenue and Lodi NO PARKING Avenue be painted red as a means of overcoming a ORANGE-LODI hazardous condition brought about by the existence AVENUE of a high fence and 'hedge just inside the curb line INi'ERSECTION at this corner was approved on the motion of Coun- SEDAN cilman Robinson, second Preszler. The curb is to be painted red for the length of one parking stall east on Lodi Avenue and north on Orange Avenue. Claims in the amount of 3114,835.61 were approved CLAIMS and ordered paid on the motion of '%ouncilman Robinson, Rinn second. CITY PLANNING C0101ISSION iMr. 'Weller presented the recommendation from the Planning Commission that property belonging to BUNCH Lillian Bunch for a width of 115 feet parallel to REZONING South Fairmont Avenue be rezoned from the R-1 Residential District to the R-3 Residential Dis- trict. The Council set July 15, 1953, as the date for the public hearing on the matter. ORDINAN--E NO. 492, ADOPTING A BUDGET FOR THE 1953-54 SUPPORT OF THE VA.RI"OUS DEPARMENTS OF THE CITY BU'DG-ET C" LODI FCR THE FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING JULY 1, 1953, AND EI'DING JUNE 30, 1954, having been ORDINA`iCE introduced at the regular meeting of June 17, NO. 492 1953, was brought up for passage on the motion ADOPTED of "ouncilman Rina, Preszler second. Second reading was omitted by unanimous consent, after reading by title, and was then passed, adopted The City Manager presented the tabulation of bids for the furnishing of oils and greases for the A6'iARL' OIL fiscal year 1953-54. The Seaside Oil Company sub - AND GREASES mitted the low bid of 4.558 per gallon for oil and RE'S. ;r"1758 ip.1250 and 3.1275 for gear and chassis grease, ADOPTED respectively. He pointed out that Richfield Oil company presented the only firm bid, but this bid was approximately 1414 per gallon higher than the bid o£ Seaside. Resolution No. 1758, awarding the contract to Seaside Oil Company, was adopted on the motion of Councilman Robinson, Preszler second. SPECS FOR Specifications for the purchase of a sedan for use SEDAN in the Fire Department were adopted on the motion of Councilman Rinn, Preszler second. Claims in the amount of 3114,835.61 were approved CLAIMS and ordered paid on the motion of '%ouncilman Robinson, Rinn second. CITY PLANNING C0101ISSION iMr. 'Weller presented the recommendation from the Planning Commission that property belonging to BUNCH Lillian Bunch for a width of 115 feet parallel to REZONING South Fairmont Avenue be rezoned from the R-1 Residential District to the R-3 Residential Dis- trict. The Council set July 15, 1953, as the date for the public hearing on the matter. ORDINAN--E NO. 492, ADOPTING A BUDGET FOR THE 1953-54 SUPPORT OF THE VA.RI"OUS DEPARMENTS OF THE CITY BU'DG-ET C" LODI FCR THE FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING JULY 1, 1953, AND EI'DING JUNE 30, 1954, having been ORDINA`iCE introduced at the regular meeting of June 17, NO. 492 1953, was brought up for passage on the motion ADOPTED of "ouncilman Rina, Preszler second. Second reading was omitted by unanimous consent, after reading by title, and was then passed, adopted 240 P;:inutes of July 1, 1953, continued. and ordered to print by the following vote: AYES: Councilmen - Preszler, Rinn, Robinson and Richey NOES: None ABSENT: None VACANCY: One Mayor Richey then signed Ordinance No. 492 in approval thereof. --ORDINANCE NO. 493, AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF LODI REGULATING TRAFFIC UPON THE PUBLIC STREETS AND REPEALING ORDINANCES NOS. 64, 137, 222, 233, 446 AND ALL OTHER ORDINANCES AND PARTS OF ORDINANCES TRAFFIC IN CONFLICT-HEREWITH, having been introduced at ORDINANCE the regular meeting of June 17, 1953, was brought up for passage on the motion of 0ouncilman Robin- ORD. N0.493 son, Rinn second. Second reading was omitted by ADOPTED unanimous consent, after reading by title, and was then passed, adopted and ordered to print by the following vote: AYES: Councilmen - Preszler, Rinn, Robinson and Richey NOES: None ABSENT: None VACANCY: One Mayor Richey then signed Ordinance No. 493 in approval thereof. At this point the City Planning Commission joined the City Council in joint session. Mayor Richey introduced Mr. Harold Wise and his associate, Mr. Randall Walker. Mr. Wise began the discussion C.P.C. with the explanation that he had already commenced JOINT the survey with-an accumulation of such economic MEETING data as is available on the L%ity of Lodi from various State and Federal agencies. He explained MASTER that one of the first questions which must be PLAN answered by the City is, "What kind of a city do DISCUSSED we want?" The master plan will then be developed accordingly. He then asked if any particular phases of the survey should be given priority over the others. Councilman Robinson pointed out that there was some pressure on the City Council to remove parking meters, so he offered the parking and traffic problem in the downtown area as one possibility for early priority. 1DIr. 'mise suggested that the month of September, when business activity was high, as the best time for the parking and traffic survey. This sug;_estion received general approval. Councilman Robinson then mentioned that the question of the location for the proposed Hall of Justice and Civic Center was a pressing topic. HALL OF Mr. .11ise stated that he had already studied this JUSTICE matter and was prepared to make a recommendation which would be subject to some modification after further study. He stated that the present proposed site was adequate and proper for such a structure. He explained that area surrounding the present site was devoted largely to institutional use. He gave as examples the Odd Fellows Hall across the stree, the Library, Masonic Hall, Women's Club, the Telephone Company and the various churches. He pointed out that these were all properly located on the fringe of the commercial area. He added that unless all of the buildings were taken out of the area, there would be no extension of the business district west on Pine Street. He said that the possible modification he referred to would be relative to the exact location relative to the City Hall. The arrangement of buildings in the Civic Center should be determined by long range planning. Finally, he stated that if the alternate iv:inutes of July 1, 1953, continued. 24 of the present site is a location out of town, he did not think there is any question about it -- the site should be where it is. M -r. L'Teller asked if locating the Hall of Justice next to the City Hall would affect the values of commercial property in the vicinity. Air. 1+ise replied that in general there would be no effect. The desir- ability of a lot for a particular use may not be so great as for another use; however, he added, he did not believe that it is within our province to be concerned with the speculative values. The Council then discussed the appointments to fill the expired terms of Dr. Coffield and Dr. COFFIELD & Ridenour on the Library Board. Mayor Richey pointed ROTT out that due to ill health, K. Ridenour would be APPOINTED unable to continue on the Board. She stated fur - TO LIBRARY ther that the name of Mr. Reuben Rott had been BOARD suggested for appointment. Councilman Robinson then moved, Preszler second, that Dr. Coffield and Air. Rott be appointed to fill the two vacan- cies. The motion carried by a unanimous vote. In discussing appointments to the City Planning Commission to fill the expired terms of Mr. Homer Miller and k4r. Carl Wishek, Mayor Richey stated that she had been informed by Mr. Wishek that he did not wish to be reappointed. Ar. Robinson 1,1L MILLER stated that he was sorry that Mr. Wishek could REAPPOINTED not continue because he felt that Mr. Wishek had TO C.P.C. been a very valuable member of the Commission. Councilman Preszler then moved the reappointment of Mr. Miller to the Planning Commission and the deferral of the appointment of Mr. Wishek's suc- cessor until a recommendation could be received from the Planning Commission. Following the second of Councilman Rinn, the motion was passed. Councilman Rinn moved, Robinson second, that a letter be sent to Mr. Wishek expressing the appreciation of the Council for his past service and the regret that he cannot serve again. Mayor Richey then called for the appointment of a councilman to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Councilman Haskell. Councilman Rinn stated that the members of the Council had HILLMAN given serious consideration to every name suggested APPOINTED to them, and they had attempted to find and select TO CITY the best man available to them. He then moved COUNCIL the appointment of itilr. Robert E. Hillman to fill the vacancy on the amity Council. In seconding the nomination, Councilman Robinson stated t: -.t he believed Mr. Hillman possessed the necessary experience for the position and that he would be a valuable addition. The motion was passed by a unanimous vote. The meeting was adjourned at 10:30 p.m. --)/ ;' '�O� ATTEST: H. RYA GLA VES, JR. City Clerk