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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2/4/1956MINUTES OF THE REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING OF LOS ALTOS HILLS, CALIFORNIA FEBRUARY 4, 1956 A regular meeting of the city council of Los Altos Hills was called to order by the Mayor, Sidney W. Treat, at 9:30 A. M. Present were Sidney W. Treat. T. A. Dungan, C. Easton Rothwell and Leighton M. Bledsoe; absent, A. E. Fowle. Mayor Treat presented and read a letter from the Secretary of State verifying the formation of the Town of Los Altos Hills. Mayor Treat presented a letter from the City of Los Altos and read by Acting City Clerk J. M. Fowle welcoming the Town of Los Altos Hills as a new neighbor and recognizing the common bond and community interest between the two cities. It was moved by Mr. Rothwell, seconded by Mr. Dungan that a resolution of acceptance and expressing thanks to the City of Los Altos for their cooperation be adopted. Motion carried. Mayor Treat explained that a study of applicants for city clerk is under way and would soon be completed. Mayor Treat presented and read a letter of resignation, for reasons of ill health, from Mr. A. E. Fowle. It was moved by Mr. Dungan that the council accept with regret the resignation of Mr. A. E. Fowle, seconded by Mr. Bledsoe. Motion carried. Mayor Treat appointed Mr. A. E. Fowle's son, Mr. J. M. Fowle Im M to fill the unexpired term. It was moved by Mr. Bledsoe and seconded by Mr. Duman confirming the appointment. Motion carried. Mr. J. M. Fowle was sworn in officially by City At- torney Bullis. It was suggested by Mayor Treat that a new office of Honorary Mayor of Los Altos Hills be established to which Mr. A. E. Fowle was elected. Mayor Treat composed and read a letter notifying Mr. A. E. Fowle of his election as Honorary Mayor of Los Altos Hills which was approved by the council. There was a tie between Mr. T. A. Duman and Mr. S. W. Treat for second and third place in the council election. City Attorney Bullis conducted a drawing to determine their respec- tive positions. The drawing established Mr. Dungan over Mr. Treat. Mayor Treat announced that as a result of the foregoing drawing, the terms of Councilmen Treat, Bledsoe and Rothwell would expire on April 12th and would have to stand for re-elec- tion. It was reported by City Attorney Bullis that the Registrar of Voters for the County of Santa Clara is not authorized to conduct a local election for the Town of Los Altos Hills except for a fee. Formation of a planning commission was postponed until neat meeting by Mayor Treat. Mayor Treat expressed the need of a city engineer and road commissioner. Thereupon ap- pointed Mr. Charles S. McCandless as city engineer. it was - 2 - moved by Mr. Rothwell, seconded by Mr. Dungan that the appoint- ment be confirmed. Motion carried. Mayor Treat appointed Cedric Macabee as acting road com- missioner. It was moved by Mr. Bledsoe and seconded by Mr. Dun- gan that the appointment be confirmed. Motion carried. Mayor Treat presented and read a letter from Mr. A. E. Fowle deeding a piece of land, at such time when plans are drawn and submitted to him, for a permanent city hall adjacent to the property deeded to the fire district. Mr: Bledsoe moved that the council accept this very generous gift on the part of Mr. A. E. Fowle and extend gratitude to him and acceptance of the gift and that the mayor delegate the town engineer to draw up the necessary plat to meets end bounds for the area to be involved, which is to be submitted to the city attorney for incorporation in a proper deed to effect the transfer of title to the Town of Los Altos Hills, and that the mayor appoint Mr. Simrell as an architect to draw up preii-,°iinary plans for the city hall. Motion was seconded by Mr. J. M. Fowle. Car- ried unanimously. Mayor Treat presented and read a letter from Mr. George H. Brereton of the Office of the Attorney General, Bureau of Identification and Criminal Investigation and was turned over to Chief of Police McKenna. Mayor Treat presented and read another letter from Mr. Virgil J. Wilson, Los Altos -Mountain View Insurance Agents Association, relating to insurance matters VOW, and was turned over to Mr. Bledsoe. -3- It was moved and seconded that the mayor and/or the city clerk be authorized to spend up to $50.00 for miscellaneous office supplies until the end of the fiscal year, June 30, 1956. Motion carried. It was moved by Mr. Rothwell and seconded that the council appoint two councilmen and the treasurer to review the tentative budget for the remainder of the fiscal year. Motion carried. Mayer Treat appointed a committee made up of Mr. J. M. Fowle, Mr. Rothwell and Mrs. E. R. Lovett. City Attorney Bullis reported that preliminary ar- rangements for a thousand -dollar note with the First Western Bank was under way and will be completed shortly. Mr. Simrell reported on the preliminary meeting for a district hospital and stated that he felt the Town of Los Altos Hills need not take any official action. Mr. Bledsoe suggested the need of unofficial observers to attend the various meetings. Mayor Treat appointed Mr. Anthony Legorio as an un- official observer of the hospital committee. Mayor Treat presented and read letter from Mr. John W. Cone of Tri -County Planning Council realting to planning commission ideas. R4solution No. lt)was presented relating to the dis- posal of prisoners arrested by the county sheriff within the boundaries of the Town of Los Altos Hills. Adoption was moved by Mr. Dungan and seconded by Mr. Rothwell and passed unanimously. - 4 - 2-4-56 r Resolution No. 9 was introduced relating to the con - of services, except for planning, with the County of Santa Clara before and after the fiscal year. Adoption was moved by Mr. Rothwell, seconded by Mr. Dungan and passed unani- mously. Acting City Clerk J. M. Fowle read an emergency Ordinance No. 5 relating to size of billboards and signs. After general discussion by the council and from the floor, adoption was moved by Mr. Bledsoe and seconded by Mr. Rothwell and passed by the following vote: Ayes: Bledsoe, Dungan, Fowle, Rothwell and Mayor great Noes: None Absent: None �kw 11 Ordinance No. 3 relating to the deposit of funds was presented for the second reading. It was moved by Mr. Bledsoe, seconded by Mr. Dungan and upon call of the roll was adopted by the following vote: Ayes: Bledsoe, Dungan, Fowle, Rothwell and Treat Noes: None Absent: None There was a general discussion from the floor relating to the procedure of processing building plans by the city engi- neer, planning commission, etc. City Engineer McCandless sug- gested that when the planning commission is formed, one or two members of the city council be made permanent members of the - 5 - 2-4-56 commission to insure continuity of the action. He also recom- mended that a complete cross-section of citizens be represented on the planning commission. Mr. Raymond Hoefler suggested that, in the interest of sound and intelligent action on land use and land division, the council proceed cautiously for the next few weeks. Mr. Rothwell and Mr. Dungan further clarified the action of the planning commission. Mr. McCandless also offered to receive suggestions for the formation of a subdivision ordi- nance. It was moved by Mr. Rothwell and seconded by Mr. Bled- soe to form a committee of five (5) members to consider the review of the name of the Town of Los Altos Hills. Carried unanimously. There was a general discussion on liability insurEnm and Mr. Bledsoe was appointed as a committee of one to present an insurance proposal at the next meeting. Mr. Richard Decker, insurance brokerp explained some of the problems from the standpoint of underwriters. Mr. Decker also commented on the platform promises of the present council relating to horsemen's activities and urged future action be taken for development of riding trails. There being no further business, the meeting was ad- journed until 8 P. M., Thursday, February 9, 1956 at Purissima School ,i cting City Clerk r M r - 6 - 2-4 56