HomeMy WebLinkAbout1968 12-03 CC MIN188
MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE
CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NATIONAL CITY, CALIFORNIA
December 3, 1963
The regular meeting of the City Council of the City of National City was call-
ed to order at 7:30 p.m. by Mayor Morgan. Council members present: Camacho,
Colburn, Hogue, Reid, Morgan. Absent: None.
ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICIALS present: Foster, McLean, Minogue, Osburn, Parks,
Stockman, Watts.
The meeting was opened with salute to the Flag led by City Manager Osburn
followed with invocation by the Reverend Gerald Kuehn, Cal :ay Baptist Church.
Moved by Reid, seconded by Colburn, the minutes of the regular meeting of
November 26, 1968 be approved. Carried by unanimous vote.
COUNCILMAN CAMACHO suggested get well cards be sent to Edith Sherman and Mrs.
Wilson. Mayor Morgan requested the City Manager to send the cards from the
Council and staff.
COUNCILMAN REID inquired if the City Manager could use City crew to tear down
the old recreation building and the other small building so they wouldn't be
a hazard over the holidays. City Manager Osburn stated he would prefer to
have someone else do it; they could probably have it done just for the lumber
that was in it; he could report next week. Moved by Colburn, seconded by
Camacho, the City Manager be authorized to have the buildings removed in the
most expedient and best possible means. Carried by unanimous vote.
Moved by Colburn, seconded by Hogue, the City Manager to bring a report re-
garding the health of City employees by a possible physical examination
annually. Councilman Colburn stated some cities have a program similar to
this and industries are going toward this more; this would upgrade our employ-
ees immensely; the report from the City Manager would include a recommendation
as to whether or not he wanted to include it in the annual budget. Carried
by unanimous vote.
FLOYD HICKS, 1840 Gregory Street, San Diego, was present and reported on pro-
gress made on the southwest corner of 8th and National: two of the buildings
were razed (or one building including two of the addresses, 808 and 810); the
attorneys in the corner building are preparing their new quarters and should
be moved within a week or so; he was making progress on his new buisness lo-
cation but was slow because of the difficulty in getting the tradesmen to do
the various types of work. Mr. Hicks requested permission to keep the cafe
at 10 W. 8th open until they closed the other buildings down because: (1)
the owner of the cafe has quite a mortgage to offset; (2) most of the employ-
ees (combination cooks and waitresses) are dependent upon their jobs and he
would hate to see them out of work during the holidays; (3) the cafe is doing
a good job serving food. Councilman Colburn inquired if the time limit on
vacating the restaurant was up. City Manager Osburn stated he believed Octo-
ber 1st was the original time but Mr. Hicks had been given extensions. City
Attorney McLean stated Mr. Hicks talked to him concerning this and he told
him he had no authority to extend the deadline; it was up to the Council.
Moved by Hogue, the request be denied because the building had been condemned
as being unsafe for public use. Motion died for lack of second. Mr. Hicks
said he hoped to be able to move to his new quarters within thirty days.
Vice Mayor Hogue stated the building had been condemned in June and the owner
given until October to tear down the building; he could not believe unions
were so overworked at this time that it was not possible to accomplish this.
Councilman Camacho stated if they gave Mr. Hicks an extension, it would be
useless for him to come again before the Council for this purpose; it should
be done if they gave him until the first of the year. Moved by Hogue, the
request be denied. Motion died for lack of second. Moved by Camacho, second-
ed by Reid, the date of January 7th be set for the final date. Councilman
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Colburn stated there had been discussion that if Mr. Hicks had not commenced
by October 1st to tear down the building and continue the same in a workman
like manner until finished, the door could be padlocked and there would be no
restraining order from the Court stopping the locking of the door at that
time; the City evidently did not see fit at that time to go ahead and do that;
in offering this extension by motion of the Council, he wondered if that
would in any way prevent them from doing this on January 7th. City Attorney
McLean stated it would not. Vice Mayor Hogue inquired if something happened
and people were killed in this building after it had been condemned would the
Council be held responsible. City Attorney McLean stated it was his opinion
they would not. Motion to set the final date as January 7th carried by the
following vote, to -wit: Ayes: Camacho, Colburn, Reid, Morgan. Nays: Hogue.
Mr. Hicks inquired as to the possibility of ordering a survey of the need for
a parking district in the block between 8th, 9th, National and Roosevelt Ave-
nue; in talking to merchants in that area he found enthusiasm for creating
such a district. Moved by Colburn, seconded by Hogue, this item be turned
over to the City Manager for a report. Carried by unanimous vote.
MRS. ROBERT RICHARDS, 1411 E. l6th Street, was present concerning the center
turn lane on Highland between 8th Street and Plaza; cars wishing to turn left
on Plaza will start into the center turn lane way up by 8th Street; cars
wishing to turn left on 8th Street start into the turn lane down by Plaza
Boulevard; there should be arrows and cut off points so that cars will not
get into the middle lane too soon; the same problem exists on Plaza Blvd.
Mrs. Richards said she did not own property in the district covered by the
1911 Act on 8th Street but at one time she was on a committee which tried to
get something done to the streets in National City; she suggested Council not
give up the fight for the improvement; if nothing else, they could paint the
curbs a solid red on both sides of the street until after the first of the
year to help the business people who will profit by this action to find park-
ing for their customers elsewhere; they should ticket the violators, especi-
ally in front of the residences.
The matter of oversized driveway for WILLY'S ELECTRONICS, 1636 D Avenue, was
presented. Moved by Hogue, seconded by Reid, this item be held over a week
so Council and staff could take another look at this. Carried by unanimous
vote.
A communication from the ASSISTANT CHIEF ENGINEER, PORT OP SAN DIEGO, in re-
gard to procedures for building permits, Tidelands, National City, and the
Director of Building & Housingâ–ºs recommendation the procedures be adopted,
were presented. City Manager Osburn stated this established the procedure
for the handling of building inspections and permit approval for buildings on
the Tidelands and Port buildings themselves; he recommended this be approved
as had been recommended by Director of Building & Housing Biggs. Moved by
Hogue, seconded by Camacho, the City Manager's recommendation be approved.
Carried by unanimous vote.
A communication from the SAN DIEGO GAS & ELECTRIC CO. in regard to funds bud-
geted for underground conversion, was presented. Ordered filed by unanimous
vote.
A communication from IDA MAE H. KERR, FINANCE DEPARTMENT, in regard to the
grace period of dog license penalties and recommending National City extend
the grace period this year to January 31 in order for our rabies clinic to be
held in January, was presented. Moved by Colburn, seconded by Reid, the rec-
ommendation be approved. Carried by unanimous vote.
An application for refund of a $25.00 performance bond by RAY L. THOMAS, 2222
Prospect Street (approved by Engineering), was presented. Moved by Reid,
seconded by Camacho, the refund be granted and a warrant be drawn for same.
Carried by the following vote, to -wit: Ayes: Camacho, Colburn, Hogue, Reid,
Morgan. Nays: None.
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190
'she request of the DIAMOND CAB COMPANY for an additional five license medall-
ions, was presented. City Manager Osburn stated the ordinance provides for
a public hearing to be set on this item before it could be changed; they had
a report from Mr. Moore, Diamond Cab Company, and a report from the City's
Treasury Department regarding the number of cabs in use in the City; this
would be a matter for a hearing if they desired to do so. Moved by Hogue,
seconded by Camacho, a hearing be set for Qoccmbcr 17th January 7th. Council-
man Colburn stated the Chamber of Commerce on recommendation from a committee
would request from the City Council a survey regarding cab service in Nation-
al City and inquired if the City was in a position, if the request was made,
to make a survey or would that be done automatically. City Manager Osburn
said the letter stated it was on recommendation of their committee that the
Board of Directors of the Chamber of Commerce recommend a survey be taken to
find out how many of the 60 taxi cab licenses issued were being used; they
had done this and the total was 59 being used today; this was done by tele-
phone from the Treasurer's office to the various cab companies; one cab com-
pany they could not contact (City Cab Co.) but they only had one license.
Councilman Camacho said he also made a survey on request of the Mayor and re-
ceived a different answer: Diamond Cab Company is using all of their cabs;
the Yellow Cab Co. has 20 licenses but said they were using 3 to 4 through
the week and perhaps 5 or 6 more during the weekends; the Radio Cab Co. has
8 licenses and use approximately 4 during the week because of not being able
to get drivers; Carnation Cab Co. has 13 licenses and he was told 8 of them
operate on the average; that's 15 licenses which aren't being used. Mayor
Morgan requested when the hearing was held for the City Manager to have some-
thing in writing from these people. City Manager Osburn said the City Attor-
ney just requested they hold the hearing on January 7th as he hoped to be out
of town the latter part of the month. Moved by Hogue, seconded by Camacho,
motion be amended to January 7th. Councilman Colburn inquired if the survey
made by Councilman Camacho and the City Treasurer's office would be suffic-
ient. City Attorney McLean replied the burden of proving necessity for new
licenses to be issued was on the applicant; it was his responsibility to pre-
sent what he thinks the facts are to support his application; if he doesn't
do so, Council would not have any facts to base its decision on and would
have to reject his application; the primary responsiblity in making the sur-
vey was to show what the demand for services was against the number of avail-
able cabs. Motion carried by the following vote, to -wit: Ayes: Camacho,
Hogue, Reid, Morgan. Nays: None. Abstaining: Colburn.
A summary of the Minutes of the LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES of November 6th,
was presented. Ordered filed by unanimous vote.
The Minutes of the CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION meeting of November 20th, were
presented. Ordered filed by unanimous vote.
A communication from ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER PARKS filing two items with the
City Clerk (No Council action necessary), was presented: (1) Minutes of the
Adjourned Meeting of the Board of Directors of the South Bay Irrigation Dis-
trict, dated November 4 and November 19, 1968; (2) Letter from San Diego
County Water Authority, dated November 19, 1968, to operating heads of member
agencies, Subject: Copy of Report to Engineering and Operations Committee on
a Review of Aqueduct Peaking Problems by Metropolitan Water District Staff.
CITY MANAGER OSBURN reported receipt of a request from Mr. Tom Sparrow, 905
E. 20th Street, to delay construction of sidewalks for 30 days as he has
built a new house on the same lot with his old house; he intends to bulldoze
the old house down and does not want the bulldozer going across the new side-
walks; he has taken out a construction permit with one of the local cement
contractors. The City Manager recommended this be delayed for 30 days.
Moved by Hogue, seconded by Colburn, the request be granted. Carried by
unanimous vote.
CITY MANAGER OSBURN reported receipt of a request from PARADISE VALLEY CHURCH
to solicit funds in National City commencing December 7th for their Annual
Ingathering; this has been granted in the past. Moved by Reid, seconded by
Colburn, the req est be approved. Carried by unanimous vote.
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191
CITY MANAGER OSBURN reported receipt of a request from the Beta Sigma Phi
Sorority to sell cook books in the South Bay Plaza December 16 - 24th; the
price for the books will be $2.95 with $1.95 of this amount going to the pub-
lisher and the proceeds to be used for charity purposes. Moved by Hogue,
seconded by Camacho, this item be held over for another week until they find
out who these people are and for a letter from the Plaza agreeing to this.
Carried by unanimous vote.
CITY MANAGER OSBURN stated he had another item which related to the overwidth
driveway at 1642 D Avenue which was held over until next week.
COUNCILMAN COLBURN inquired if they needed to approve the request of the
Chamber as made in the letter (regarding request for survey of taxicabs).
City Manager Osburn replied the survey had already been made by telephone and
more would be received from the companies. Councilman Colburn stated the
survey taken by the Treasurer's office might have led the Cab companies to
believe they were just indicating whether or not they wanted to retain those
licenses and Councilman Camacho got how many they were actually using.
CITY CLERK MINOGUE reported receipt of acknowledgments of National City's
resolution pertaining to the closing of the Mexican border to minors from the
following cities, all of which have adopted similar resolutions: Clovis,
Anderson, Clayton, Pacifica, Los Gatos, Stockton, Nevada City, Oakdale and
Brentwood; the letters are on file.
DIRECTOR OF PLANNING STOCKMAN read the Planning Commission recommendation
application for Zone Variance Z-58 for an 18' rear yard setback at 2616 E.
14th Street be approved subject to the installation grdeferral of the instal-
lation of sidewalks. Moved by Colburn, seconded by/Camacho, the Planning
Commission's recommendation be approved. Carried/by unanimous vote.
DIRECTOR OF PLANNING STOCKMAN read the Planning Commission recommendation in
regard to the tentative subdivision map of the Southland Industrial Park Unit
No. 2: Resolution No. 9244 be rescinded and the Tentative Subdivision Map of
Southland Industrial Park Unit No. 2 be approved subject to thirteen condi-
tions. Moved by Hogue, seconded by Camacho, the City Planner's recommenda-
tion be approved. Carried by unanimous vote.
Moved by Hogue, seconded by Reid, the Planning Commission's recommendation
under Item c of the Planning Commission reports (Recommendation to deny de-
ferral of the installation of sidewalks at 1135 Plaza Boulevard by King
Kastle Restaurant) be approved. Carried by unanimous vote.
MAYOR MORGAN stated they could set the hearing dates for Items a, b, c and d
under the Director of Planning's report. Director of Planning Stockman said
they were to set the public hearing date on Item a (Recommendation applica-
tion for Zone Change No. C-49 to amend the zcoing ordinance to establish the
criteria for automobile service stations be set for public hearing - January
7th proposed hearing date) but only set the other three (b. Recommendation
application for Zone Variance No. Z-56 to operate or build an old age home
or convalescent hospital at 2112 E. 9th Street in an R-2, Two-family Residen-
tial Zone, be placed on the Agenda for January 7th; c. Recommendation appli-
cation for Zone Variance No. Z-59 for 21' rear yard setback at 2503 E. 4th
Street, R-1 Single Family Residence Zone, be on the Agenda of January 7th;
d. Recommendation application for Zone Variance No. Z-60 to expand existing
trailer park facilities at 610 Arcadia Avenue, R-4, Multiple Family Residence
Zone, be placed on the Agenda of January 7th) on the Agenda for January 7th.
Moved by Hogue, seconded by Colburn, January 7th be set as public hearing
date for Item a under the Director of Planning's report. Carried by unani-
mous vote. Moved by Hogue, seconded by Colburn, Items b, c and d be placed
on the Agenda of January 7th. Carried by unanimous vote.
The HEARING ON RESOLUTION OF INTENTION NO. 9689 - 1911 ACT IMPROVEMENT OF 8TH
STREET, ASSESSMENT DISTRICT NO. 165, was held at this time. City Clerk
Minogue stated the Affidavits of Mailing and Posting and Certificate of Pub-
lication were on file; protests received were: letter from James P. Garduno,
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727 F Avenue; letter from Louise Walton (no address given); petition contain-
ing signatures of 73 property owners; the two letters duplicated signatures
on the petition. City Engineer Foster stated his department had compiled the
property owners written protests and they were shown in red on the map on
display; the protests constitute 51.28% of the area. George Matheson, 8703
Hartzel Drive, Spring Valley, was present and said he owned properties 107,
108 and 109 in the assessment district and inquired if the 51.28% protest
cancelled the proceedings. Mayor Morgan said no, they were going to continue
the hearing. Mr. Matheson asked the purpose of the hearing. Mayor Morgan
said it was for the people interested to list their protests or anything they
wanted to say. Mr. Matheson said there were people from all walks of life in
the area and they have different reasons for protesting; some are residents
in the area and don't care for the traffic and discomfort due to fumes, noise
and dirt in the area and they don't see why they have to pay to get it closer;
with their being the majority owners and land area owners, they wish the 1911
Act would not be used for this and another means of financing the widening of
8th Street would be found. E. H. Alsdorf, 2105 J Avenue, was present and
said he w;,ys_not a property owner in the proposed improvement area but he did
use the street; he had some objections: this will be a street like Highland
Avenue; the sidewalk will be up against the property line; when band reviews
are held with many people present, they will be standing on the sidewalks
instead of using some of our parking space and there are 250,000 to 500,000
expected every year for this one event; there will be retarded ingress and
egress for those who are traveling by car and those using the sidewalks; they
have Division, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th Streets which are open from
Highland to National and loth Street open from Highland to National; he could-
n't see the necessity for making 8th Street wider for the increased flow of
traffic; that's what they would be doing; there's no prohibition of using 5
either way, north or south if any of these streets are open and used. Mr.
Alsdorf stated he was against the fire hydrants being in the sidewalks; it
would be disgraceful to the City to allow that kind of thing to be done; they
should be in the sidewalks but not in the middle; they were making a mistake
by not using the rest of the streets they have open instead of insisting the
property owner give up his parking; in talking about trees in the town, he
inquired where they would put them on 8th Street. Ray Williams, 1636 D Ave-
nue, was present and said since the 24th Street Pier was going in and build-
ing he was trying to build his place up so National City would build up; new
businesses would want to locate where there would be easy access to them;
anyone here who would drive out to Chula Vista and see those areas they're
building, National City could do the same; if they sit back and don't try to
build the place up, Chula Vista will end up with all of the good businesses
that will spring up from the 24th Street Pier; he thought everything should
be done to help build National City. Herbert Sorkness, 3448 Robin Street,
San Diego, was present and stated he owned property on E. 8th Street between
J and K Avenues since 1941; he was cognizant of the fact the automobile own-
ers are being taxed heavily for maintenance of roads; as taken from the
Chamber of Commerce letter of last August, the primary purpose of widening
8th Street was to accommodate the motor vehicle traffic; they have threaten-
ed the property owners with red curbing in order to increase the capacity of
8th Street for motor vehicle travel; he did not believe the 1911 Act could
be used for this purpose; Council has the legal authority to go ahead regard-
less of the wishes of the people but he felt it was morally wrong to use this
power to assess the property owners on 8th Street in order to accommodate so
many people which will be using that street now and later on; other means of
financing should be used. George Webster, 305 F Avenue, was present and said
the progress of the City depended upon transportation; we're bounded on the
south by Sweetwater River, on the north by Division Avenue and within 3 - 4
years there will be a freeway on each of those routes; if we don't have a
boulevard or an easy access through the middle of the City it will impede
business within the community and everything we have depends upon business
within the City; it's important to business and every resident in the City we
improve the property and the access to the facility; in looking at the peti-
tion, if there was 51% there, more than 30% of the people signing the peti-
tion in opposition to the 1911 Act do not reside in National City; you will
find property owners there in Dayton, Ohio, Phoenix, Los Angeles, Vista, and
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193
La Jolla; in his opinion, they could care less so fax as business in National
City was concerned; if we're to have easy access to the east with our pier
development from Highway 5 to 805, it was most important to have 8th Street
improved at this time; he urged the passage cf the 1911 Act. Gordon Wood-
worth, 1041 E. 8th Street, was present and said it was only the people who
lived on 8th Street or had property on 8th Street who are paying the 1911 Act
which was his main objection; it was falling on the property owners on 8th
Street to make this improvement which will benefit the businesses and every-
body who commutes from other communities beyond National City; he would,
therefore, like to see it taken out of gasoline taxes or some other arrange-
ment. Moved by Hogue, seconded by Reid, the hearing be closed, the protest
be overruled and the project be carried out. Councilman Colburn stated he
was against the motion; 8th Street should be widened; it was necessary for
the economy of National City to have a smooth flow of traffice, especially
in the center of its business; the property owners have paid for the street
at one time; the City widened 24th Street; when Highland Avenue was done, it
was a shame it wasn't done by gasoline tax also instead of taxing the proper-
ty owners; we paid for a street originally in front of our homes or property
and with the understanding the City will maintain that street from then on;
he felt it was the City's responsibility to widen it; we're contributing
approximately 2/3 and talking about approximately an additional $70,000.00
remaining; he felt the City could do this with their money which would be of
benefit to the City; the City could get the money back over a period of time
from increased sales tax revenue; the 51% protest should be adhered to and
the project not go forward but the City immediately take steps to raise the
balance of the money necessary and contribute toward the project, then get
the project completed, or if the amount of money that would be lacking by the
1911 Act could be taken up in the project not continuing past National Avenue
or something to that effect and the difference between National and Harbor
Drive could be very easily red -curbed and it would still offer the same
travelway that could be offered by widening that section; he was sure there
were ways they could do that without overruling the protests legitimately
submitted. Mayor Morgan stated he owned property at the corner of Roosevelt
and 8th Street and inquired how he stood legally in regard to voting on this
issue. City Attorney McLean replied the Mayor did not have a financial in-
terest in a contract that was to be awarded by this body and that's the only
conflict of interest which was specifically covered in the Gvernment.ide;
what they were doing tonight was not the award of a contract; as a member of
the City Council he was obligated in 1911 Act proceedings to take action
under the laws; the Streets & Highways Code says the Council must take action
one way or another on the different steps of the proceedings; therefore,
barring some disqualifying interest, the Mayor had a duty to vote; in his
opinion, the Mayor could legally vote on this motion. Carried by the follow-
ing vote, to -wit: Ayes: Camacho, Hogue, Reid, Morgan. Nays: Colburn.
RESOLUTION NO. 9713, "RESOLUTION ORDERING WORK (8th Street, K Avenue to
Easterly Line of Railway Right of Way, Assessment District No. 165)," was
presented. Moved by Hogue, seconded by Camacho, the resolution be read by
title. Carried by unanimous vote. The title was read. Moved by Hogue,
seconded by Reid, the Resolution be adopted. Carried by the following vote,
to -wit: Ayes: Camacho, Hogue, Reid, Morgan. Nays: Colburn.
Moved by Hogue, seconded by Camacho, the meeting be closed. Carried by unan-
imous vote. The meeting closed at 8:25 p.m.
MAYO CITY
, TI. CITY, CALIFORNIA
ATTEST:
12/3/68