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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1958 08-19 CC MIN61 National City, California, August 19, 1958 Regular meeting of the City Council was called to order by Mayor Hodge at 1:30 P.M. o'clock, Council members present: Allen, Fessman, Hodge. Council members absent: Hart, Hollingsworth. ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICIALS present: Alston, Bird, Curran, Lill, Gauter- eaux, Biggs. The meeting was opened with pledge of allegiance to the Flag, followed by invocation by Rev. Warriner. CITY CLERK ALSTON stated at the last meeting the Council adopted Resolution 7292 accepting deeds and easements, and in the resolution we accepted an easement, and ordered it to be recorded, from Hugh F. & Vira A. Mellen, and an easement from Alfred Anderson. It is the feeling of the Engineering Department that since these are temporary easements they should not be recorded. CITY ENGINEER LILL stated it is all right to record the easements. Moved by Fessman, seconded by Allen, the minutes of the regular meeting of August 12, 1958, be approved. Carried, all the Council present voting aye. COUNCILWOMAN HOLLINGSWORTH present. CITY ATTORNEY CURRAN stated it will be necessary to adopt an ordinance determining the amount of revenue necessary which follows from the budget and was adopted, and authorization should be granted prior to the reading of the ordinance. MAYOR HODGE granted authorization to present the ordinance, ORDINANCE NO. , "ORDINANCE DETERMINING AMOUNT OF REVENUE NECESSARY FROM PROPERTY TAXES FOR SUPPORT OF ITS DEPARTMENTS AND TO PAY BONDED INDEBTEDNESS OF CITY OF NATIONAL CITY,CALIMNIA, FOR FISCAL YEAR 1958-59," was presented for the first reading and read in full. COUNCIL HART present, ATTORNEY CURRAN stated there are two ordinances ready for the second reading and adoption. Moved by Fessman, seconded by Hart, the ordi- nances be adopted by title only. Carried, all the Council present voting aye. ORDINANCE NO. 932, "AN ORDINANCE APPROVING THE ANNEXATION OF CERTAIN UNINHABITED TERRITORY, DESIGNATED "LOIS ANNEXATION" TO THE CITY OF NATIONAL CITY," Moved by Fessman, seconded by Allen, the ordinance be adopted. Carried, all the Council present voting aye. ORDINANCE NO. 933, "AN ORDINANCE APPROVING THE ANNEXATION OF CERTAIN UNINHABITED TERRITORY, DESIGNATED "WILLIAMS MONOR NO. 6" TO THE CITY OF NATIONAL CITY." Moved by Hart, seconded by Fessman, the ordinance be adopted. Carried, all the Council present voting aye. ATTORNEY CURRAN reported Stone and Youngberg have completed one of the quadruplicate originals of the agreement with the City of National City and South Bay Irrigation District to perform fiancing consultant services; this document has been executed by both parties and it is the Attorney's recommendation it be filed with the City Clerk. Moved by Hart, seconded by Fessman, the Attorney's recommendation be follo- wed, Carried, all the Council present voting aye. 8/19/58 62 ATTORNEY CURRAN stated with reference to the conducting of a public auction for the sale of real property owned by the City at 16th and Hoover, after discussing it with the City Manager, it is the recommen- dation of the City Attorney that prior to the advertising of this property for sale, the City Council fix a minimum price which should be bid in order to take this property under the laws of public auction. The City Manager can be of assistance to the Council in establishing a minimum bid price after which the notice for invitation to bids may be advertised. CITY MANAGER BIRD stated the property is 290 feet in length along Hoover .Avetm and 115 feet along l6th Street, both streets, not including the alley on the east are to official grade, the property is abutted with sidewalk and curb, and it is his recommendation the minimum bid be not less than $20,000.00. Moved by Allen, seconded by Fessman, a minimum bid of $25,000.00 be put on the property. MAYOR HODGE and COUNCILMAN HART felt that a minimum bid of $20,000.00 was fair. Carried, by the following vote to -wit: Ayes: Alien, Fessman, Hollingsworth. Nays: Hart, Hodge° ATTORNEY CURRAN stated the next matter is the question as to whether or not the City presently has the power to provide for the election of Councilmen by districts. There is a section of the Government Code that specifically says the City may do so; the problem, however, is the fact there is another provision in the law which required action to be taken prior to December 31, 1956, pursuant to this authority. Accordingly, at the present time, there does not exist any authority for the City to set up such an arrangement. Moved by Allen, seconded by Hart, the original recommendation that the City Attorney direct a letter to the Legislature requesting this law be extended past 1956, be put into effect, which would allow Councilmen to be elected by districts, and the Mayor at large. Carried, by the following vote to - wit: Ayes: Allen, Hart, Hodge. Nays: Fessman, Hollingsworth. ATTORNEY CURRAN stated with reference to the notice received from the Public Utilities Commission providing for a hearing on Case No. 6148 it is really a continuation of a hearing which was conducted many months ago In which National City participated, and about which he reported to the Council, regarding whether or not Public Utilities in effect should be permitted to keep two sets of books on their deprecia.. tion, one set for Federal income tax purposes, the other set for State grade making purposes. It is a matter in which National City hereto- fore, and like all of these matters pertaining to the gas and electric and water rates, it is something that does vitally affect National City consumers. The hearings are set in San Francisco for September 24, 25 and 26th, and at Los Angeles on October 1, 2 and 3rd. It is not the thought the same parties would participate at both sessions, the reason for holding hearings at both Los Angeles and San Francisco is for the convenience of interested parties so they could appear at either por- tion of the hearing. Moved by Hollingsworth, we follow on with what we have been doing and have our City Attorney appear as an interested party. COUNCILMAN FESSMAN said he did not see that the City could carry too much weight in this matter, it is a matter primarily of accounting practices. The people of California are much better off to let the utilities take advantage of this rapid acceleration of depre- ciation. ATTORNEY CURRAN stated it would be his recommendation an appearance be made so we could receive the exhibits; and the reason for that is these matters keep coming back and we must follow through so you have a file of all the exhibits that come up. Motion seconded by Alien. Carried, all the Council present voting aye. ATTORNEY CURRAN made reference to the minimum wage and liability insurance coverage of false arrest for reserve police officers which was referred to him. The problem appears to be the status of the men in National City is really that of being a disaster service worker. 8/19/58 63 The term has been used as reserve police. but it appears the men who are called reserve police are not policemen. in the event of a national emergency they would be subject to call to perform services as police; therefore the program was set up- in the nature of a training program so there would be a ready force of men who had training and could be called upon in the event of an emergency. Having this status in mind, we find the authority of the disaster service workers granted by the State law is very limited. Their authority is very strictly confined to the period contemplated by the act which would be the period of emergency. The activities which are a matter of routine for the men are the training activities. Mr. Curran said in his opinion it there- fore would be necessary to Change the status completely of the "so- called" reserve police in order to give protection other than as disaster service workers tb the men on that force, to the extent that they do assist the police as part of the training program, those men are substantially in the position as being volunteers and as being private citizens and not as City officers, so that is the status of the men on the present force and it would necessitate a change in their status in order to give them any compensation at any time or to afford them any protection for false arrest while acting under authority as a police officer. COUNCILMAN FESSMAN stated it means that members of the police reserve do not have authority to make an arrest except as a citizen. ATTORNEY CURRAN stated that is correct. COUNCILMAN ALLEN said that has been taught to each individual police reserve the first day he was inducted into it* The reason all this has been brought about is that no one knew exactly the status of the National City reserve due to the fact that all other cities reserve have various status; some are sworn in as special officers and are given a minimum wage of $1.00 a year, some have no insurance, some are covered by false arrest insurance by the city. The men hare are interested in augmenting the force, but they want to make sure they are protected. Moved by Allen, the status of the reserve. force be changed to a status where they can have compensation and false arrest insurance. COUNCIL- MAN HART said he thought we should give the reserve police protection and insurance for false arrest, if we cannot do that we should discon- tinue having reserve policemen. The reserve force do a lot of work for the City. COUNCILMAN FESSMAN said he appreciated the work the reserve police does, but he did not believe a reserve policeman's duties should include. the .arrest for a -felon; ete., :but shduld'be conftded'to such duties as the Chief of Police might require to assist his depart- ment and it may be possible the men on the police reserve should not be permitted to carry a weapon on this duty because that puts them back as a private citizen, which they are; or the uniform should be distinctive so they would not be recognized as police officers. Mr. Fessman said he thought we should have a recommendation from the Chief of Police. Moved by Fessman, the matter be laid over for study and a report by the Chief of Police. Motion died for lack of a second. COUNCILMAN HART said he could not agree with having a man in uniform and not be allowed to carry a gun with which to protect himself. COUNCILMAN ALLEN said if they are going to keep the reserve officers, then let us change the status to protect them, if they are not going to keep the reserves disband them; if they are not worth making officers in the sense in which they will carry out their duties, if they are not worth that to the City they are not worth anything. Motion made by Councilman Allen seconded by Hart. COUNCILMAN FESSMAN said he thought the motion made by Councilman Alien might be all right but is premature we should first have a report and recommendation from the Chief of Police as to what might be the best thing to do. COUNCILMAN HART with drew his second to the motion, and Councilman Alien withdrew his motion, Moved by Fessman, seconded by Hart, the Chief of Police be consulted for a recommendation and report on the status of the police reserve and the change if necessary. Carried, all the Council present voting aye. 8/19/58 614. ATTORNEY CURRAN stated he was requested to ascertain whether The Independent and South Bay Shopper have qualified as second class matter in the post office at either San Diego, Chula Vista or National City, and he has been advised by each of those offices that neither of the publications have so qualified. COUNCILMAN FESSMAN stated we have an ordinance that prohibits the distribution of that kind of matter and thought it should be enforced. Moved by Fessman, seconded by Hart a letter be addressed to the publishers of the two papers and be in« formed they are in violation of the ordinance, and if available, a copy of the ordinance be transmitted with the letter. Carried, by the following vote to -wit: Ayes: Allen, Fessman, Hart. Nays: Hollings- worth, Hodge. LEONARD E. TEYSSIER of Teyssier & Teyssier, Inc., was present regarding the Municipal Pool, and requested the Council to authorize the City Clerk to file a Notice of Completion. COUNCILWOMAN HOLLINGSWORTH stated at the last meeting of the Council the City Manager and City Attorney were authorized to set up an arbitration board in this regard, and asked what had been done. CITY MANAGER BIRD stated the City Attorney has been out of town until yesterday and has not been avail- able. Mr. Bird said he received a letter this morning from the Archi- tect in regard to the final payment, and that he does not have any certified copy of the payment. Mr. Curran has seen for the first time the bond which was put up in the matter of substantiating the City's position in relation to the claim of Reid's Plumbing & Heating Company. We now have the request of Mr. Teyssier for filing the Notice of Com- pletion. COMMUNICATION FROM MR, GIMENO, Architect, was read regarding swimming pool final acceptance. It was his recommendation the swim- ming pool be accepted from the contractor by the City of National City after the following has been complied with: the contractor will present to the owner a certified check in the amount of $1,500,00 to cover items 1, 13, 15 and 16. If the contractor completes these items to the satisfaction of the Architect and the owner within six months of this letter then the City will return his check; if the contractor fails to complete these items within the specified time then the City shall not return the check but shall itself complete the itmes at their convenience. CITY MANAGER BIRD stated we have the communication from the Architect recommending the acceptance of the swimming pool with these conditions of a $1,500.00 cashier's check to cover these four items. We have also the matter of the payment of the last payment which Mr. Bird said he understands is in the Architect's hands for certification. Mr. Teyssier's position is he wishes to have a Notice of Completion filed denoting the acceptance of the pool by the City of National City so the time limit as described by law can run andhe then can, within the 35 days, or at the conclusion of 35 days, draw his ten percent retention to which he will be entitled. MAYOR HODGE asked Mr, Teyssier if they would be willing to comply with the request of the Architect, MR. TEYSSIER said they would, COUNCILMAN FESSMAN stated he was under the impression there were some other claims, or points that were in dispute in the matter and this would not take care of those. CITY MANAGER BIRD said we still have the letter of Mr. Teyssier where- in he set up and enumerated for the Council at the last meeting certain claims; and Mr. Bird recommended acceptance of the bond and payment in +.he amount of $17,337.00, and requested the matter be made of ar bi- ratiom and the Council passed a motion, after considerable discussion the merits of the request, it be referred to the City Manager and k.;ity Attorney to either set up the arbitration or whatever they thought would be the best manner of handling. MAYOR HODGE said he recommended this be held over for another week would be in order until the City Attorney and City Manager have an opportunity to set up this board. Moved by Fessman, seconded by Alien, the recommendation of Mayor Hodge be approved, MR TEYSSIER said he felt that asking a Notice of Comple- tion be filed is a reasonable request and he should not be penalized 8/19/58 65 in receiving payment because there other claims for additional work over and beyond that. Carried, all the Council present voting aye, WILLIAM GEROW, 2328 El Cajon Blvd., San Diego, was present in regard to a previous request asking for a review and readjustment of the present license fee. Mr. Gerow said he contacted a number of business people in National City and presented a statement to them for signature Indicating their wishes. This document has been filed with the City Clerk and request the Council to consider this matter. COUNCILWOMAN HOLLINGSWORTH stated the people who have signed the document presented by Mr, Gerow do a great volume of business in National City and are responsible for turning in a great amount of sales tax money to the City, and are the people who are the type that use searchlights. Mrs. Hollingsworth said perhaps there is a discrimination being made against this type of business, and she feels if the other cities in San Diego County are not doing the same thing as National City it would be very simple to take that section out of the business license ordinance. Moved by Fessman, seconded by Hart, this problem be referred to the City Manager for a report from the Chief of Police as well as any other interested City departments which might have extra work accrued to them on account of this operation, and a report brought back to the Council, Carried, all the Council present voting aye. BILLS AUDITED BY THE FINANCE COMMITTEE presented: General Fund $20,746.66 Traffic Safety Fund 1,255.71 Park Fund 622.�1�. Harbor Fund 28,240.66 Trust & Agency Fund 246.24.2 Special Street Fund 591,744 Drainage Fund 9,00 Swimming Pool Fund 13.86 Payroll Fund 42,927,03 TOTAL $9, 653 , 1 2 lr. Moved by Hollingsworth, seconded by Fessman, the bills be approved for payment and warrants drawn for same. Carried, by the following vote to -wit: Ayes: Allen, Fessman, Hart, Hollingsworth, Hodge. Nays: None, RESOLUTION NO. 7297 was read, authorizing the expenditure of $119,70 from the Capital Outlay Fund to Music Service Inc., for microphone and stands for the swimming pool. Moved by Hollingsworth, seconded by Fessman, the Resolution be adopted. Carried, all the Council pre— sent voting aye. REPORT OF CITY TREASURER for period ending July 31st was presented. Moved by Hollingsworth, seconded by Fessman, the report be filed. Carried, all the Council present voting aye. COMMJNICATION FROM METROPOLITAN WATER DISTRICT was presented, It is requested the City declare its intention whether or not they wish to pay a portion of the water taxes. CITY CLERK ALSTON stated in previous years the City has paid fifty percent, Mrs. Alston said she had a telephone call from the Metropolitan Water District end they said the State Board of Equalization had granted a twenty day extension of time for the County of Los Angeles to get in their tax rolls, and there is nothing the District can do until the 26th of August, at which time they will send down by special messenger the amount of taxes, and either the 27th of 28th of August we will have to have an adjourned meeting if we desire to pay the taxes. Moved by Hollingsworth, seconded by Hart, we pay fifty percent, as we have in the years past, and have it referred to the City Attorney for preparation of the necessary 8/19/58 66 resolution. Carried, all the Council present voting aye. CITY CIE RK ALSTON stated at the last meeting a communication from the San Diego County Water Authority relative to payment of taxes to the Authority was presented and it was referred to the City Manager for a report. The amount of money to be derived from National City is 126,157.13e CITY MANAGER BIRD stated in the past there has never been any action of the Council in paying any percentage of the levy of the San Diego County Water Authority, therefore it is his recommendation the communication be received and filed. Moved by Hart, seconded by Fessman, the City Manager's recommendation be approved. Carried, all the Council present voting aye. CITY CLERK ALSTON stated she received a copy of the application of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa fie Railway Company before the Public Utilities Commission for a spur track across Tidelands Avenue, however on July 1st we adopted a resolution authoriziri'9 same to the Santa Fe, and recommended this application be filed. Moved by Fessman, seconded by Hart, the recommendation of the City Clerk be followed. Carried, all the Council present voting aye. CITY CLERK ALSTON presented the Affidavit of Publication of Notice Inviting Sealed Proposals on Third Street and "J" Avenue. Moved by Hollingsworth, seconded by Allen, the Affidavit be filed. Carried, all the Council present voting aye. CITY CLERK ALSTON stated two weeks ago the Council requested her to write a letter to the League of California Cities in regard to Federal urban funds on streets and highways, and she has received a reply from Richard Carpenter, Executive Director of the League which asked that she advise the Council the subject of distribution of Federal -aid urban funds to cities for city street purposes will be considered by the League Streets and Highways Committee and thereafter by the League Board of Directors. Attached to the communication was a copy of an informational bulletin which was sent to all cities on this subject. CITY CLERK ALSTON presented the bond for the desk officer and recom- mended it be referred to the City Attorney for approval. Moved by Hart, seconded by Fessman, the City Clerk's recommendation be approved. Carried, all the Council present voting aye. APPLICATION FOR ON SALE BEER & WINE BEVERAGE LICENSE at 619 National Avenue was presented. REPORT FROM CHIEF OF POLICE SMITH stated investigation discloses no grounds for protest of the application. Moved by Hart, seconded by Allen, the application be filed. Carried, all the Council present voting aye. APPLICATION FOR ON SALE GENERAL BEVERAGE LICENSE at 905-907 E. l0th Street, Plaza Chuckwagon Restaurant, was presented. REPORT FROM CHIEF OF POLICE SMITH stated investigation discloses no grounds for protest of the application. Moved by Hart, seconded by Allen, the application be filed. Carried, all the Council present voting aye. CITY ENGINEER LILL stated the Notice of Improvement has been posted on 20th Street, A and B Avenues 1911 Act project, and a certificate of posting has been filed with the City Clerk. COUNCILMAN FESSMAN, Chairman of the Harbor Committee, requested a meeting of the Committee on Friday, August 22nd at 3:00 P.M. REPORT FROM THE PLANNING COMMISSION was read regarding Application for. Conditional Exception No. 619 signed by the South Bay Plaza Syndicate relative to the properties located at 1201 E. 10th Street and 914 "L" Avenue. Petitioners are requesting permission to install approximate&y 8/19/58 67 eight billiard or pool tables in the building to be occupied by the bowling alley at 1201 E, lgth Street; also permission to erect and maintain at the property at 91L 00 Avenue as an automobile wash rack and uses related thereto, including the installation of a sign with a maximum area of 100 square feet, The Committee recommended the approval of this request for billiard and or pool tables, car wash and sign as long as they are in conformance with City requirements as to setbacks, Moved by Allen, seconded by Hart, the recommendations of the Planning Commission be accepted and referred to the City Attorney for the preparation of the necessary resolution, Carried, all the Council present voting aye. REPORT FROM THE PLANNING COMMISSION regarding Application for Condi- tional Exception No, 620 signed by Clinton D. Matthews relative to the property at 1602 E. 1th Street was r_3ad. Petitioner is requesting permission to install and maintain as oversize neon sign to identify the Ranch House Liquor Store with a one foot setback from property line on the corner of nth Street and Palm Avenue. The Planning Commission recommended the granting of the variance, limited to the plan on file in the Planning Department. Moved by Hart, seconded by Allen, the recommendation of the Planning Commission be approved and referred to the Attorney for the preparation of the necessary resolu- tion, Carried, all the Council present voting aye. APPLICATION TO MOVE A BUILDING from 2521 "F" Avenue to be moved to the 2100 Block on E, 5th Street, was presented. The building is to be used as a dwelling, and the application was signed by Kenneth Attaway. Report from Planning Commission stated the proposed location is an R-2 zone, two family residence district, R-2 zone requires a minimum of fifteen foot front yard setback, four foot side yard setback and a ten foot rear yard setback with one off street parking space per living unit. Attached plot plan indicated all setbacks will be ob- served and there will be an attached garage, N.S. BIGGS, Building Inspector, was present and stated several moving applications have been received in the last few days, however they have not been processed because our official photographer, Richard Harrold, has been on vacation and the applications have been held until the photographs have been taken, Mr, Biggs said it is his recommendation the applications be held up until the photographs accompany same, namely the applications of Mr. Attaway, Mrs, Blumenshien and Mr. Harris. Moved by Hollings- worth, seconded by Fessman, the recommendation of the Building Inspector be approved. Carried, all the Council present voting aye. COUNCILMAN ALLEN stated in regard to the request of Mr. Meints to move a building, he informed Mr, Allen shortly before the Council meeting:he was not going to continue his request dete as the building he was going to buy was being dismantled. Moved by Fessman, seconded by Allen, Mr. Meints request for moving a house be placed in the inactive file until he requests it reactivated. Carried, all the Council present voting aye. COUNCILMAN ALLEN stated it appears to him there is some expense involved in connection with the applications for moving buildings, and asked if the City receives a fee. BUILDING INSPECTOR BIGGS stated Ordinance No. 840 provides that a fee of $25.00 accompany each application for buildings being moved from outside the City within the City. The only fees we have collected are where we have had to go out of the City to make an inspection. There is no provision for a fee when the building is moved from one location to another within the city; the city has lost money and they do on every house moving with in the City, and thought the ordinance should be changed, and the $25,00 fee required out of town buildings should apply to buildings within the city. Mr. Biggs said he thought $50.00 would not be out of line. Moved by Fessman, seconded by Allen, that an amendment to Ordinance No,8L.0 be 8/19/58 68 prepared to set up fees for inspection and processing of house moving within the City to $50.00, COUNCILWOMAN HOLLINGSWORTH said she thought the fee should be $100.00 at that would discourage some people from moving buildings. COUNCILMAN ALLEN withdrew his second; and Councilman Fessman withdrew his motion. Moved by Fessman, seconded by Allen, that an amendment to Ordinance No. 840 be prepared to set up fees for inspection and processing of house moving within the City to 1100,00. Carried, by the following vote to -wit: Ayes: Allen, Fessman, Hart, Hollingsworth. Nays: Hodge. COUNCILMAN ALLEN stated in a few years there will be some property Condemned to be moved for freeways, and this type of thing will discourage people to move buildings into locations better than what they are in now. APPLICATION TO MOVE A BUILDING by Merle Cox was presented. The preaeat location is 645 Roosevelt Avenue and is to be moved to the Southwest corner of 9th and Roosevelt. It is to be used as brake repair and wheel alignment shop, and the building will be set on a concrete slab with a pit for work purposes. REPORT FROM BUILDING INSPECTOR BIGGS stated the above mentioned buildings have been inspected by his department to determine their structural soundness. This application has been submitted by Mr, Copt in an effort to make property available for offstreet parking to serve a proposed new business to be located at the corner of 6th and Roosevelt. Mr. Biggs recommended the grant- ing of the request subject to the following: 60 day time limit; performance bonds in the amount of $250.O0 for building #1; $375,00 for building #2; painting of all exterior walls; foundations, elec- trical services, and connection to public sewer all in accordance with applicable laws and ordinances, REPORT FROM THE CITY PLANNER was presented. Moved by Hart, seconded by Allen, the recommendation of the Building Department and City Planner be approved, and the building be allowed to be nioved, Carried, all the Council present voting aye. RESOLUTION NO, 7298 was read granting a special zone variance permit to Clinton D, Matthews for the purpose of installing and maintaining a 30 square foot neon sign to identify the Ranch House Liquor Store at 4th Street and Pam Avenue. Moved by Hart, seconded by Hollings- worth, the Resolution be adopted. Carried, all the Council present voting aye. COUNCILMAN ALLEN stated he read an article, a recommendation of Capt. A.D. Hunter; U.S.N., that Olivewood Housing in this City and all other housing the Navy has control of in various cities be kept for an indefinite period of time, Moved by Alien, seconded by Fessman, the Housing Director check with the actual Navy Housing and find out and report to the Council on the method they have of charging rent and we write a letter trying to get our rents adjusted to what the Navy is paying in the Navy housing, COUNCILMAN HART said he did not think the rents should be raised. MAYOR HODGE said he had a contractor talk with him who owned two blocks contingent to that area and was zoned for multiple use. He was going to build a very fine apartment house and he could not get the financing because of the housing being there, Per square foot of: ground space he would have gotten two families where there is now only one; and Mayor Hodge said he believed if this housing unit were to be disposed in an orderly fashion, block by block, and sold off block by block, we would have twice as many people living there as we have now, and it would revert back to private enterprise, and if it was referred to the Building Department it could be declared inadequate for human beings to live in, it does not come up to specifications, and probably Dr, Askew would condemn it as a health hazard, and every effort should be made to dispose of the housing unit and get private enterprise in there with apartment houses. COUNCILWOMAN HOLLINGSWORTH stated there was an act enacted by the Con- gress of the United States, the Lanham Act, and to her knowledge it 8/19/58 69 has not been removed, and according to the act when the City bought the housing it said it should be operated until such time as it was no longer necessary, and then it had to be levelled completely, all at one time; and until we can get a change in the act, that is the way it witi have to be, it cannot go block by block, or area by area. MAYOR HODGE said he did not believe the Government wants to work a hardship on the City of National City, or on the tenants, Navy, or anyone else, but they want housing for as many people as they can get as close to the Navy base as possible. Mayor Hodge said he thought that possibly a committee should be appointed who could work on this particular problem and see if something could be done. COUNCILMAN ALLEN said he thought the City should be compensated as long as we are forced to maintain the housing. COUNCILWOMAN HOLLINGSWORTH stated Capt. Hunter wanted the housing to remain until the Navy Capeheart Housing was constructed. COUNCILMAN ALLEN said we had the same story when Bayview Hills was built, and he believes we are losing a lot of revenue, and without hurting anyone the City could be com- pensated the same way they rent their own housing to their own people. MAYOR HODGE said he would like to ask the Council for permission to appoint a committee. Motion carried, by the following vote to -wit: Ayes: Allen, Fessman, Hollingsworth, Hodge. Nays: Hart. MAYOR HODGE stated he would like to entertain a motion that he be allowed to appoint a committee to look into the disposition of the housing. Moved by Allen the Mayor be authorized to appoint such a committee. Motion died for lack of a second. COUNCILMAN FESSMAN stated we have some new apartment houses being built in National City and under present standards they look pretty good, but in ten or twelve years from now they may be in a state of disrepair, and if we had the area from National Avenue to Highland Avenue filled with apartment houses such as those, each year going down hill, we would have a large slum area. Before we allow apartment houses to become rampant in the City we should set up some sort of standards for them, square footage required, etc., and examine our ordinance very carefully. The children in the Olivewood housing at least have a yard to play in, whereas the privately owned apartment houses, every foot available is usa4 for housing units, leaving no yard for the children, therefore wondered if the City would better themselves and thought this should be given study, Mr. Fessman said if the Mayor would like to appoint a commit- tee to investigate the possibilities of setting up certain standards for the new apartment houses being built, he thought he would approve of that, as he felt the standards should be set fairly high. COUNCIL- WOMAN HOLLINGSWORTH stated she had a realtor come to her and he was very unhappy because our Planning Commission would only let him put in eight apartments and he said he could not possibly make any money on that, and thought the Council should get busy and change it so we do not have the rear yard area, and eliminate it so they can put in ten or twelve apartments on that same piece of property. COUNCILMAN FESSMAN stated many times when a request for a zone variance comes before the Planning Commission it is for only one purpose, and that is to help financially the owner of the property to get more revenue and he does not care what the City looks like CITY CLERK ALSTON stated it will be necessary to have a resolution setting our tax rate, and recommended the Attorney be authorized to prepare it for the next meeting. Moved by Fessman, seconded by Allen, the recommendation of the City Clerk be followed. Carried, all the Council present voting aye. COUNCILMAN FESSMAN stated he was invited to attend the City Empioyeesr swimming party at the new pool. He went swimming and really enjoyed himself, the pool is "the most". 8/19/58 70 COUNCILMAN ALLEN stated he received a complaint before the Council meeting regarding "hot rodding" on a dirt street around 22nd and "J". Moved by Hart, seconded by Fessman, the meeting be closed. Carried, all the Council present voting aye. meting closed at 4:00 P.M. //� —� iy(AYOR, CITg OF T b TIONAL CITY CALIFORNIA ATTEST: dITYFcLiRK 8/i9/58