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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11/14/1956CITY COUNCIL TOWN OF LOS ALTOS HILLS MINUTES OF ADJOURNED MEETING NOVEMBER los 1956 The meeting was called to order at 7:45 P. M., Wednesday, at Pnrissixa School. ROLL CALL: Present - Councilmen Bledsoe, Dungan, Fowle, Rothwell, Mayor Treat Absent - None The October minutes were approved as corrected. The city clerk reported on the financial status briefly and also reported that an audit of the books was not necessary. Councilman Fowle made a report on the Library Commission. After a brief discussion, Mayor �reat advised that he will contact Mr. Secrest to continue his work on the Library Commission. It was moved by Councilman Rothwell, seconded by Councilman Bledsoe and carried by voice vote that the council express their appreciation to the Library Commis- sion for their careful and thorough study and report on the library problems. The city clerk was directed to send a letter to the Library Board. u REPORT ON FI- NANCIAL STATUS LIBRARY REPORT Mayor Treat appointed the following members to serve on FREEWAY COM - the committee to study the change of the freeway3ocation: MITTEE Dr. Beaver Mr, Lohman Mr, Boschard Mr, Cathcart Mr, Alan Kinkead Mr, Harold Sherman Mr, Earl Dawson Mr, Jack McCullough Mrs, Schroll Mr, J, M. Fowle Mr. L. H, Price It was moved by Mayor Treat, seconded by Councilman Dungan TOWN HALL and carried by voice vote accepting the donation of REPORT Mr, Martin Taaffe for grading of the Town Hall, and that the city clerk write a letter of thanks to Mr. Taaffe ad- vising him to send in his bill marked, "Donation to the Town of Los Altos Hills", which is to be acknowledged by the mayor and city clerk. Mayor Treat reper ted that ground has been broken for the Town Hall and that the grading, paving and plumbing is well under way. ft The city clerk reported that he had a meeting with REPORT ON SIGNS Mr. Kellogg, engineer from the A.A.A., who went over the map and set out the principal corners where signs were needed most. A report will be made on cost at the next meeting. It was moved by Councilman Rothwell, seconded by Councilman Fowle and carried by voice vote that the mayor be authorized to contract for the signs and for the installation of same up to the budgeted mount of $1000.00. Councilman Rothwell repmited that there is a division of REPORT FROM opinion throughout the Town, but many preferred to keep NAME COEMITTEE the name of Town of Los Altos Hills, and suggested that a committee be appointed of the following members: Mrs. Cary Jones Mrs, Ruth Meredith Mr. Proctor Mellquist Mr. Paul Radich Mrs. Lucille Packard Mrs, Ray Hoef ler Mayor Treat took a hand vote of the citizens in the audi- ence and a majority opposed the name change. Councilman Rothwell read a letter regarding the name change and also advised the council that he would welcome one more person to serve on the name committee. Two letters were read by the city clerk suggesting pos- %W sible replacements for Councilman Dungan whose resigna- tion will become effective December 1, 1956. Councilman Fowle stated that he thought it would be wiser to give suggestions to the council privately rather than through the press to save embarrassment. It was decided that formal action will be taken after Councilman Dungants re- signation is in effect. LETTERS ON RE- PLACEMERT FOR COUNCILMAN DUNGAN Councilman Rothwell reported on the amendments to Ordi- REP(R T ON AMEND. nanee No. 17 and that the problem was discussed thoroughly ]ENTS TO ORD. with Councilman Fowle and City Attorney Bullis. A letter N0. 17 written by Attorney Bullis was read. After considerable discussion, a motion was made by Councilman Rothwell, and seconded by Councilman Fowle that the council accept the letter and that the suggestions incorporated in the letter, as modified in any degree by the discussion, be put into two ordinances and presented to the council for a first reading and then call for a study session. Carried by voice vote. The council will also consider the matter of materials being hauled for defense installation and the possibility of a war alert. COUNCIL MINUTES 2 - 11%11/56 %W Road Commissioner Don Hibner pointed out that there may $1500 APPROPRI- be a sudden call for road work. A motion was made by ATION FOR ROAD Mayor Treat and seconded by Councilman Rothwell that the WORK road committee be empowered to spend up to $1500.00 for possible emergency road work. Carried by voice vote. A civil defense report will be made by the city attorney at the neat meeting. Two letters were read by the city clerk regarding com- plaints on back fill on the pipelines along Stonebrook and placed on file. SAN FRANCISCO The city attorney reported that a metting on the San RAPID TRANSIT Francisco Rapid Transit will be held in Oakland on REPORT November 19 and 20. Mayor Treat will appoint a com- mittee for attendance if necessary. Mayor Treat stated that, in trying to determine why people had signed recent petitions, he found great misunder*tand- ing of basic facts and procedures. He was often told that voters should somehow be kept informed. He felt that al- though the papers of the adjoining communities were giving us excellent coverage and although Ordinances, agendas and minutes are posted in five different places, too many of our citizens did not know along what lines our city is de- veloping nor their rights as citizens; lack of information was the main cause of the disagreements which were tending to split the community. The mayor proposed that the council, through a bi-partisan committee, issue a bulletin, detailing what the council is doing, giving only facts, not opinions. Since a good many mailings could be sent out for the cost of a single election, there was in his opinion full justification for using town funds for the purpose. If done at private expense, much of the value of the Bulletin would be lost, for it would be considered propaganda. It was moved by Mayor Treat, seconded by Councilman Fowles that up to $500.00 be authorized for the experizen t of sending bulletins which would recite only facts and such information as would be of help to the voters. Passed unanimously. It was suggested that if the voters wanted the Bul]stin to be continued beyond the experimental stage, a modest fee could be charged. Mayor Treat appointed a committee consisting of the follow- PUBLIC INFOR- ing members: M&TION COM- MITTEE `fir Councilman Bledsoe - Chairman Mr, Harvey Koehn Mrs. Sugden COUNCIL MINUTES 3 » 1].,t V96 Nor There followed various comments from the floor: Mr. George Pfeiffer felt people were being misled and just operating on the wrong facts from one side only. Mr. Dawson, Secretary of the Planning Commission, summarized the various points raised regarding the subdivision ordinance. A referendum petition, against the subdivision ordi- nance, with 20 new signatures was received by the council. The city clerk will check the signatures for validity and report back at the next meeting. Councilman Rothwell regretted that all this discussion did not take place a month and a half ago when the ordi- nance was brought before the council. Councilman Fowle stated that amendments should be made, but they would be very minor. COMMENTS FROM THE FLOOR On motion of Councilman Bledsoe, seconded by Councilman SETBACK VARIANCI Rothwell, a setback variance for Mrs. Herschel Brown was MRS. HERSCHEL approved, on recommendation of the Planning Commission, BROWN and carried by voice vote. On motion of Councilman Fowle and seconded by Mayor Treat, RECORD OF SUR - a Record of Survey Map for Oliver Noll was approved, sub- VEY - MR. OLI- ject to further study by the Planning Commission at its VER NOLL neat meeting and their finding Mr. Noll in conflict with the survey of Mr. Wallace. Carried by voice vote. On motion of Councilman Bledsoe, seconded by Councilman RECORD OF SUR- Fowle, a Record of Survey Map for Roger and Martha Mosher VEY - ROGER AND was approved, on recommendation of the Planning Commission, MARTHA MOSHER and carried by voice vote. On motion of Councilman Bledsoe, seconded by Councilman BILLS Fowle, bills amounting to $145.29 was approved for pay- ment and carried by Voice vote. There being no further business, the meeting was until 7:45 P. M., Wednesday, November 21, 1956 School. Mayor apt journed at Purissima - 4 -