HomeMy WebLinkAbout1959 05-12 CC MIN398
National City, California, May 12; 1959
Regular meeting of the City Council was called to order by Mayor
Hodge at 1:3G P.M. o'clock. Council members present: Allen, Fese-
man, Hart, Hollingsworth, Hodge. Council members absent: None.
ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICIALS present: Alston, Bird, Curran, Gautereaux,
Lill, Stockman,
The meeting was opened with pledge of allegiance to the Flag by City
Manager Bird, followed with invocation by Rev. Daily.
Moved by Hollingsworth, seconded by Allen, the minutes of the regu-
lar meeting pf May 5, 1959, be approved. Carried, all the Council
present voting aye.
RESOLUTION NO. 7495 was read, granting a special zone variance pe1j
mit to K. T. McBride for the purpose of permitting the erection of
signs, not to exceed 240 square feet. Moved by Allen, seconded by
Hollingsworth, the Resolution be adopted. Carried, all the Council
present voting aye.
RESOLUTION NO. 7496 was read, granting a special zone variance per-
mit to Richard Vogel for the purpose of permitting building on an
area containing 5,750 square feet rather than the required 6,000,
permitting a rear yard setback of two feet rather than si feet and
permitting a variance in utility yard requirements in an- Multiple
Residence Districts Moved by Hart, seconded by Allen, the Resolution
be adopted. Carried, all the Council present voting aye.
RESOLUTION NO. 7497 was read, granting a special zone variance per-
mit to Clarence Earl Wharton for the purpose of permitting building
with an exterior side yard setback of 8.5 feet rather than the re-
quired 15 feet. Moved by Hart, seconded by Allen, the Resolution be
adopted. Carried, all the Council present voting aye.
RESOLUTION NO. 7498 was read, granting a special zone variance per-
mit to John H. Lamb and James F. Albertson for the purpose of per-
mitting building with an exterior side yard setback of six feet
rather than the required ten feet in an R-1 Single Family Residence
District. Moved by Hart, seconded by Allen, the Resolution be
fsd-'pted. Carried, all the Council present voting aye.
!iT2ORkEY CURRAN reported the Insurance Agents Association of National
City has submitted five endorsements, one for each of the fire insur-
ance policies held by the City of National City, and the endorsements
simply set the rate, having recently been reduced. There will be a
return premium due to National City as a result of these endorse-
m.ents; and it was recommended they be attached to the original
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policies which are now on file in the City Clerk's office. Moved
by Hart, seconded by Fessman, the recommendation of the City Attor-
ney be approved. Carried, all the Council present voting aye.
ATTORNEY CURRAN stated with reference to the request a bill be sub-
mitted to permit general law cities to give a preference to local
bidders he received two communications from Assemblyman Hegland,
and in the first he stated he has introduced the bill, and in the
second he advised the bill has been set for a hearing June 11th be-
fore the Assembly Committee on Municipal and County Government.
The bill is AB 2823. Attorney Curran stated he is particularly
pleased with the draftsmanship of this bill. With reference to the
hearing, it appears to him this is a matter the City should not be
spending City funds further; this matter was submitted at the re-
quest of the President of the Chamber of Commerce, and it is there-
fore the City Attorney's recommendation the President of the Chamber
of Commerce be notified of the hearing on the bill so that the Cham-
ber and such as other persons or groups in National City that have
a direct interest in this bill can take whatever steps they feel are
appropriate in order to appear before the committees of the legis-
lature as the matter comes for a hearing. Moved by Allen, seconded
by Fessman, the recommendation of the City Attorney be approved.
Carried, all the Council present voting aye.
ATTORNEY CURRAN stated the communication from the California Road-
side Council with reference to SB 75 regulating outdoor advertising
in certain unincorporated areas has been examined by him, and it is
not a matter in which National City has a direct interest; it is
also the type of communication he does not believe we should insist
be placed on record with the City Clerk; it is therefore his recom-
mendation the communication be referred to the City Planner for fil
ing. Moved by Fessman, seconded by Allen, the recommendation of the
City Attorney be approved. Carried, all the Council present voting
aye.
ATTORNEY CURRAN stated there are some measures in the legislature
he believes are worthy of the attention of the City Council; the
first is SB 1173. This bill would permit a public utility operating
in. California to make a rate increase effective automatically rather
than only after an order of the commission. That would be limited
to a situation in which the rate increase would not exceed rates
ordered or permitted by the Federal Government for light services
and interstate commerce. It appears this bill is certainly not in
the interest of the general consumer, however, it is a matter in
which the City Council has expressed an interest in the past and
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400
Mr. Curran said he believed the Council should continue to express
an interest, at least to the extent of ascertaining whether or not
the General Manager of the League of California Cities has any in-
structions with reference to following this bill as it goes through
the legislature. It is the Attorney's recommendation the League
General Manager be contacted with reference to that matter. Moved
by Harti seconded by Fessman, the recommendation of the City Attor-
ney be approved. Carried, all the Council present voting aye.
ATTORNEY CURRAN stated there are two bills which in his opinion do
not require any action, but are of particular interest to National
City because of discussions which we have had in the past. The
first is AB 2438 which would require that the Public Utilities Com-
mission be authorized to grant certificates of convenience and nec-
essity for paid television within the State of California. The ef-
fect of this bill would be to take away the authority of cities to
grant franchises, such as were requested sometime ago of National
City and other cities. The second bill which Mr. Curran said he
wished to call special attention to is AB 2477 which would create a
Metropolitan Municipal Service Authority which would be given powers
to general law cities and it would permit operations in the County
after two or more cities agreed to participate and would in effect
authorize two or more cities to agree that certain services might be
performed for the benefit of the areas of all. In a certain sense
it would be a further development of the Joint Powers Act as we now
have it.
MAUDE BIBDISON, 840 E. Second Street, waS present and stated she
would like to know what, if anything is being done in regard to the
zoning of Peter's Home & Garden Nursery. Mr. Peters is not comply-
ing with the ordinance and apparently does not intend to. ATTORNEY
CURRAN stated this is the matter which has come before the Council
previously at which time it was explained to the Council there is a
tvil suit now pending which is attempting to dispose of the interest
of the property owners regarding this problem, which the City is not
a party and in which the City has no interest. With reference to
the inference there has been a violation of the zoning ordinance
there was discussion at one of our meetings regarding the fact a
zonl.ng variance had been granted to the owner of the property. It
is the variance which the lessee of the property, the party who is
operating the property, says that he has no part, so the question
now, the same as the question then, as to what, if any, violation
of any zoning ordinance is being conducted by use of the premises
and by whom. COUNCILWOMAN HOLLINGSWORTH stated Mrs. Biddison has
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401
hired her own attorney and filed a civil suit and her attorney has
assured her it will be at least a year before he can get it on the
docket. Mrs. Hollingsworth stated she hoped there is some way Mrs.
Biddison can get relief, and Mrs. Biddison stated to her that if the
Council could proceed and demand the lessee to conform with the stip-
ulations set forth when the zone variance was granted she would stip-
ulate to withdraw the civil suit. Moved by Fessman, seconded by
Hollingsworth, the matter be referred to the Police Department for
the proper action. Carried, all the Council present voting aye.
EVE BISBERG, 1826 E. 8th Street, was present and stated she thought
the City should not allow such a condition as this to exist.
C. H. LUSTER, 1027 E. 24th Street, was present in regard to the pe-
tition for the closing of the alley between "J" and "K" Avenues, and
23rd and 24th Streets, and asked that the Council close same. MAYOR
HODGE stated the matter will come up later in the meeting with a re-
port from the Planning Commission.
COUNCILMAN ALLEN stated the Council members of the City of National
City are about the most underpaid City Councilmen iit the Southern
part of California, and thought we should authorize the City Attor-
ney and City Clerk to make arrangements to put some kind of an in-
crease in Council members' salary on the ballot for the general
election of 1960. Moved by Allen, seconded by Fessman, the City
Attorney and City Clerk make arrangements to put on the regular
ballot in the general election in 1960 an amount to be ascertained
by the Finance Committee as the proposed pay of the City Council of
the City of National City. Carried, all the Council present voting
aye.
COUNCILMAN ALLEN stated about a year ago we had a little trouble
between two employees in the Recreation Department, and at that
time, in discussing the problem with the City Manager, Mr. Bird told
him he thought one of the greatest faults of this particular thing
was a job description that was not very clear and needed clarifica-
tion; also there was a possibility there should be some transferring
of personnel from one department to another. To date the job de-
scription remains the same, the personnel is working for the same
department, the only thing that has changed is that they have the
oafioe in a different location. Also he would like a clarification
as to how many supervisors there are in that department, and he
thinks it is time we should inform the Civil Service Commission
there are many job descriptions that need clarifying and they should
work on these. CITY MANAGER BIRD stated the Civil Service Ordinance
specifically sets forth the duties of the Civil Service Commission
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402
and one of those duties is to classify and recommend to the City
Council the proper classifications, and it also sets forth they
are to review those classifications periodically, and it would be
his suggestion, if the Council so desires, they order the Civil
Service Commission to so do. Moved by Allen, seconded by Hart, the
recommendation of the City Manager be carried out. Motion lost, by
the following vote to -wit: Ayes: Allen, Hart. Nays: Fesaman,
Hollingsworth, Hodge.
COUNCILMAN ALLEN stated he thought it would be a very good thing if
the Council would support the City Manager and request him to come
up with a consolidation of the various heads of the departments that
we have now that are more or less under the same type of work; con-
struction, sewers, street, possibly park, etc., and establish a
public works department with a public works head, and have the pub-
lic works head have an additional job as personnel director, because
at the present time we have a City Civil Service clerk who is only
half time Civil Service. Mr. Allen said he would like to have the
recommendation of the City Manager in regard to this, and a report
be brought back to the Council. Moved by Allen, the report of the
City Manager be brought back to the City Council. Motion died for
lack of a second.
COMMUNICATION FROM COUNTY BOUNDARY COMMISSION was read, stating a
motion was passed that the Commission hold in abeyance their recom-
mendation on the proposed annexation to the City of National City of
territory known as "Sweetwater Annexation Unit No. 1" until the
exact location of the proposed Beltline Freeway is determined so
this annexation will not conflict in any way with the securing of
federal funds. CITY CLERK ALSTON recommended it be referred to the
Attorney. COUNCILMAN FESSMAN asked if the City Manager had any
additional information regarding this. CITY MANAGER BIRD stated the
situation as it stands at the present time, approve the recommenda-
tion of the City Clerk. We are vitally interested in this annexa-
tion because it is an inhabited annexation and has been requested by
the people in the area, contrary to a number of annexations which
have been going on in various areas in the County of San Diego. Mr.
Bird stated he felt the law is ample, and therefore referring it to
'h,: :attorney the proper steps will be taken for the next meeting of
the Council. Moved by Fessman, seconded by Allen, the letter from
the Boundary Commission be referred to the City attorney for a recom-
nendation. Carried, all the Council present voting aye.
REPORT FROM CITY TREASURER for the month of April, 1959, was
pre-
sented. Moved by Hollingsworth, seconded by Allen, the report be
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filed. Carried, all the Council present voting aye.
RESOLUTION NO. 7499 was read, authorizing the transfer of $489.04
from the Trust and Agency Fund to the General Fund, balance of
Subdivider's deposit for Engineering Services as per Ordinance
#873 - O. D. Arnold Estates (4 units). Moved by Hollingsworth, se-
conded by Allen, the Resolution be adopted. Carried, all the Coun-
cil present voting aye.
CITY CLERK ALSTON presented the Affidavit of Mailing Notices for the
Adoption of Resolution of Intention No. 7488; Affidavit of Publica-
tion of Resolution of Intention No: 7488; Affidavit of Publication
Inviting Sealed Bids for "C" Avenue between 15th Street and 16th
Street; Affidavit of Posting Notices Inviting Sealed Proposals on
"0" Avenue between 15th Street and 16th Street; Affidavit of Posting
Notice of Award of Contract on "A" Avenue between 24th Street and
26th Street. Moved by Hollingsworth, seconded by Hart, the Affi-
davits be filed. Carried, al 1 the Council present voting aye.
CITY CLERK ALSTON reported the following bids were opened May 11th
for the Improvement of "C" Avenue between 15th Street and 16th
Street: GRIFFITH COMPANY, $9,628.40; V. R. DENNIS CONSTRUCTION
COMPANY, $10,477.27; R. E. HAZARD CONTRACTING COMPANY, $9,697.32.
LETTER OF THANKS from Genevieve Bonnell to the City Council for
their expressions of sympathy, was read.
CITY CLERK ALSTON stated she received notice from the Boundary Com-
mission of territory the City of Chula Vista intends to annex, and
she referred same to the City Engineer. REPORT PROM THE CITY
ENGINEER stated this annexation is on the south side of the Sweet-
water River and east of Hilltop Drive and does not concern the City
of National City. Moved by Hollingsworth, seconded by :Allen; the
communication be filed. Carried, all the Council present voting
aye.
NOTICE OP UNITED STATES CONFERENCE OF MAYORS to be held in Los
Angeles, July 12th, was presented. Moved by Hollingsworth, seconded
by Hart, the communication be filed. Carried, all the Council pre-
sent voting aye.
NOTICE FROM SAN DIEGO COUNTY WATER AUTHORITY was read, stating there
will be a meeting of the Engineering and Operations Committee of
the Board of Directors on Thursday, May 14, 1959, at 4:00 P.M.
Moved by Hollingsworth, seconded by Allen, the communication be
filed. Carried, all the Council present voting aye.
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CITY CLERK ALSTON presented the minutes of the Small Craft Harbors
Commission meeting held at Santa Barbara April 20th, and recommended
they be referred to the City Attorney. Moved by Hart, seconded by
Fessman, the recommendation of the City Clerk be approved. Carried,
all the Council present voting aye.
COMMUNICATION FROM ASSEMBLYMAN JACK SCHRADE was read regarding AB
2025 stating he will be happy to give this matter his utmost atten-
tion when it reaches the floor of the Assembly. Mrs. Alston stated
she received a communication from Assemblyman Prank Luckel in re-
gard to the same bill and he stated it is his present intention to
vote for same. Moved by Allen, seconded by Hart, the communications
be filed. Carried, all the Council present voting aye.
COPY OF COMMUNICATION FROM JUDGES, MARSHALS AND CONSTABLES ASSOCIA-
TION addressed to the Board of Supervisors in regard to the appoint-
ment of John Menard as Judge of the National City Justice Court,
was presented. Moved by Hart, seconded by Alien, the communication
be filed. Carried, all the Council present voting aye.
NOTICE OF MEETING OF SMALL CRAFT HARBORS COMMISSION was presented.
The meeting will be held May 18th between 1 and 5 P.M. in San Fran-
cisco. Moved by Hart, seconded by Fessman, the notice be filed.
Carried, all the Council present voting aye.
CITY CLERK ALSTON announced a meeting of the League of California
Cities at Carlsbad, Friday, May 15th.
CITY ENGINEER LILL reported the low bidder for the "0'; Avenue pro-
ject, as reported by the City Clerk, was Griffith Company, and re-
commended the contract be awarded to them. Moved by Hart, seconded
by Allen, the recommendation of the City Engineer be approved.
Carried, by the following vote to -wit: Ayes: Allen, Fessman, Hart,
Hollingsworth, Hodge. Nays: None.
CITY ENGINEER LILL reported the Improvement of Highland Avenue from
4th Street to 8th Street has been posted, as required by the Reso-
lution of Intention.
COMMUNICATION FROM MARINE CORPS RECRUITING SUBSTATION was read, ask-
ing they be granted authority to place recruiting signs in the City
of '`Titional City at the following locations: United States Post
Office; Oscars Drive In, 16th & National; Northwest corner of High-
land Avenue and 30th Street; Northwest corner of Highland Avenue and
10th Street; Bay Theatre location; East side of 2nd Street and Na-
tional Avenue. Moved by Hart, seconded by Fessman, the request be
granted, but if any of the signs at these locations would conflict
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405
with sight distance, intersections or anything the City Manager
wbuld request the Marine Corps to move them to such a way they will
not. Carried, all the Council present voting aye.
COMMUNICATION FROM SAN DIEGO GAS & FLFCTRIC COMPANY was read, rela-
tive to the oil line to be installed in 24th Street. CITY MANAGER
BIRD recommended this be referred to the City Attorney to prepare
the permit. Moved by Fessman, seconded by Hollingsworth, the recom-
mendation of the City Manager be approved. Carried, all the Council
present voting aye.
COMMUNICATION PROM MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION was read, re-
questing the Council to consider a five percent cost -of -living raise
in pay for the City employees. CITY MANAGER BIRD recommended the
communication be referred to the Budget Committee. Moved by Fess-
man, seconded by Hart, the recommendation of the City Manager be
approved. Carried, all the Council present voting aye.
CITY MANAGER BIRD asked the Council's consideration in authorizing
the City Clerk to advertise for bids for the trash contract and the
garbage contract; the specifications to be supplied by the City
Manager and City Attorney. Moved by Hart, seconded by Allen, the
City Manager's recommendation be followed. Carried, all the Council
present voting aye.
CITY MANAGER BIRD reported he received the new proposal of the
Gamewell Company for a fire alarm system for the City, the proposal
of the Telephone Company for the use of poles and accompanying coat
thereof; also the same cost figures for the use of the Gas & Elec-
tric Company's poles. Mr. Bird recommended it be referred to the
Budget Committee and Finance Committee prior to completion of the
preliminary budget. Moved by Fessman, seconded by Hart, the City
Manager's recommendation to refer the matter of the fire alarm sys-
tem and other problems to the Finance Committee and Budget Committee
be approved. Carried, all the Council present voting aye.
CITY MANAGER BIRD reported he has been informed by the San Diego Gas
& Electric Company the dredging of approximately 135,000 yards of
material off the channel has been completed and has been deposited
south of the creek on the 42 acres tidelands area.
7ITY IL.NAGER BIRD reported we are progressing on El Toyan Park; also
with Tidelands avenue; and are assured we will have the proposed
plans for the pistol range in possibly two weeks. The matter of the
pistol range should also be considered by the Budget Committee.
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406
REPORT FROM THE PLANNING COMMISSION was read relative to the petition
requesting the closing of a 20 foot alley running north and south
between 23rd and 24th Streets, in the area between "J" and "K" Ave-
nues. Since this area is located in an R-2, Two Family Residence
District, it was the opinion of the Commission the alley should re-
main open to provide access to the rear of the lots for future de-
velopment, as several of the existing structures are so built main-
taining a 4 foot side yard setback prohibiting access to the rear
portion of their lot. The Commission recommended denial of the
closing. Moved by Hollingsworth, seconded by Fessman, the Planning
Commission's recommendation for denial be sustained by the Council.
Carried, by the following vote to -wits eyes; Allen, Fessman, Hart,
Hollingsworth, Hodge. Nays: None.
COUNCILMAN ALLEN stated Mr. Worthington, Manager of Pit Rite, 16th
and Highland Avenue, contacted him today regarding the new method we
are trying out on Highland Avenue, the left turn angles, etc. Moved
by Fessman, seconded by Allen' we instruct the City Manager to have
sriht
the Street Department pain /lanes on those streets, like they are in
standard streets everywhere. The intersections concerned are: north
side going south on 18th Street; both sides of 16th Street; north
side of 10th Street; and south side of 8th Street. MAYOR HODGE sta -
ted he thought this should be referred t. the Traffic Safety Commit-
tee: Carried, by the following vote to -wit: Ayes: :Alen, Fessman,
Hart. Nays. Hollingsworth, Hodge. CITY MANAGER BIRD stated he
would like to have this motion very clearly spelled out. MAYOR HODGE
stated it is his understanding that everything be taken out except
the straight ahead lines except in front of the Plaza. CITY MANAGER
BIRD stated it is his understanding then that everything will be a
straight line except from 10th Street to 12th Street. COUNCILMAN
FESSMAN stated he forgot to state the red paint should be taken off.
RESOLUTION NO. 7500 was read, "RESOLUTION OF AWARD OF CONTRACT ("C"
Avenue Between 15th Street and 16th Street)." Moved by Hollingsworth,
seconded by Allen, the Resolution be adopted. Carried, all the
Council present voting aye.
Moved by lllen,seconded by Fessman, the meeting be closed. Carried,
all the Council present voting aye. Meeting" closed at 3:06 r.M.
2
MAYOR, CITY OF N ' NAL CITY,
CALIFORNIA
ATTEST:
CITY CLERK
5/12/59