Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout1956 11-15 CC ADJ MIN125 National City, California, November 15, 1956 Adjourned meeting of November 13, 1956 of the City Council was called to order by Mayor Hodge at 8:00 P.M. o'clock. Council members present: Fessman, Hart, Heck, Hollingsworth, Hodge. Council members absent: None. ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICIALS present; Bird, Gautereaux. The meeting was opened with pledge of allegiance to the Flag, followed by invocation by Rev. McCoy. COUNCILWOMAN HOLi.1NCIS;ORTH stated she would like the Council to reconsider a motion that was adopted at the last meeting in regard to the position of Personnel Clerk„ The classif- ication for this position was set up on a half time basis and it is her recommendation that this be referred back to the Civil Service Commission for consideration of putting the Personnel Clerk in the City Clerk's Office and assume some of the duties in that office, which would make it a full time job, and recommended that the action of last Tuesday be res- cinded. Moved by Fessman, seconded by Heck, that the motion be rescinded and the recommendation of Councilwoman Holling- sworth be followed. Carried, by the following vote to -wit: Ayes: Fessman, Hart, Heck, Hollingsworth, Hodge. Nays: None. MAYOR HODGE stated this meeting was adjourned for the purpose of meeting with the School Board to see if there is any way we can solve our common problem. E. E. INGALLS, President of the School Board, was present and stated he wished to thank the Council for their cooperation in making this land site available. WILLIAM J. EMERY, Member of the School Board, was present, and said they wished to dis- play some pictures on the screen showing the Olivewood Housing area if the Council wish to discuss specific points in the boundaries. They are desirous of securing a school site. COUNCILWOMAN HOLLINGSWORTH stated it is very important that a premise be established; the members of the School Board are elected to provide schools, not only for the present but in the future; and the City Council is elected not only to coo- perate with the citizens that need schools but they are also here to consider many other factors involved in the City. There is no doubt that we do need another school. Her rec- ommednation would be to ask the Civil Defense Industries to release Olivewood Housing, and if they feel that they can release at this time the 7.8 acres that the School District is askingfor the t we should ask at the same time the release of 414. of Wivewoo4 Housing; not that would mean that we were going to dispose of all of it now, that should be done in a very orderly manner and over a period of time. Mrs. Hollings- worth stated she is not sure that agrees with the School Board that this is the site but she is willing to go along with them because they are the ones who are experts and they study their problems and they know what it is. Mrs. Hollingsworth said she can see in the not too distant future that everything west of Roosevelt Avenue will be industrial which will mean that there will be very few homes on the west side of Roose- velt Avenue, and that the east side of National City is the place for a school. The School Board has asked us if we will ask the Navy to release this land, and for how much. Mrs. Hollingsworth said she thought that approximately $160,000.00 would be a fair price for the 7.8 acres requested. It is her recommendation that we do solicit the Defense Industries to 11/15/56 126 release this site to the School Board and that a fair price be set up. COUNC1Li1f,N HART said he realized that we have to have schools but believes that there are other locations other than this one for a school; and that it should not be referred back to the Navy, the School Board should be given an answer tonight. COUNCILMAN FESS?N stated he is well aware that the School Board has a problem, but the Council also has a problem. Mrs. Holling- sworth's point of asking the Defense Industries to release all of the Housing is well taken in one respect, and that is to look at the area in question it will be noticed that there is some high ground there and even if the School Board bought the site it should be graded to a certain grade, and if we could also dispose of the rortion west of "D" at the same time that the school site was disposed of we could redover around 50,000 or 60,000 yards of dirt which we seriously need to fill the low places in the area west of "Du Avenue along 24th Street in order to bring it up to grade. The cost of fill dirt is rising and the value of that is estimated at about 50i a yard or around :;25,000.00 to $30,000.00. The income from the people in the housing amounts to about $250,000.00 a month, or three million dollars a year, and if we move all these people out it will be a terrible jolt to the economy of National City. The total amount that the City collects to run the City from property tax is approximately $220,000.00 for this coming year, and the revenue to the City from the Housing was approximately $260,000.00 which is about $40,000.00 more than all the people pay in taxes to the City, and this is important. The Council set aside the profits from operation of the Housing into two funds, one for a special street fund and the other for park or swimming pool. This should be resolved that the City should keep the site and the School Board find another site, it,wouid be poor business to sell this property at the present time. E. E. INGALLS stated there must be a misunderstanding and read a copy of a letter dated August 16th to the Navy which stated that the City Council of National City has met with represent- atives of the School District several times regarding the School District's problem. On August 14, 1956 the City Council instructed the writer to address a communication to you advis- ing that pursuant to the request of the Governing Board of National School District the City Council requests that you give further consideration to release of the 62 units at the Olivewood Housing Project. Mr. Ingalls asked if the picture has changed a great deal since August, and they operated on the idea that the letter meant what it said. COUNCILMAN HECK said the Council definitely has to watch out for the best interests of the citizens of National City, and in his opinion the only way the housing unit can be disposed of is in an orderly manner and the site where the School Board wishes to build a scn,D41 is .n the hid round. If the Swrooi Board wishes that higher area we would have to raise the area west of '°D" Avenue and level the property because presently it is in a very low area. Mr. Heck said he never has considered that a very logical cite for a school plant, but if a school is requi:od in that particular neighborhood there are other places available. There is an area just south of 24th Street behind rhe skating rink, and that the City could assist with the 'Drainage problem by puttir+.g in culverts, if the school would be built in that area. Mr. Heck said he thought probably the logical manner would be to request the Navy and the Department of Defense to release the entire area so we could dispose of it in an orderly manner. If the School Board feels that still is the only site and logically so after the property is level- led, the area west of National Avenue is filled, then let us 11/15/56 127 sell it to the School Board. It would be his recommendation that we ask for release of all of Olivewood Housing so that we can raise the property and level it. J.D. Mann, 130 E 28th Street, was present and said he wondered if the members of the Council do not realize that with this housing shortage we if they asked for a release of this entire property it will be refused and this will be kicked back and forth again. If the Council does not want to make this property available to the School Board they should say so and let the voters of National City know where they stand. F. F. MOURNIAN, 2721 "B" Avenue, was present and stated he did not believe there is a building in the housing project that does not violate the health and safety code. If the site which the School Board wishes were sold to them for a school site it seems it would enhance the value of the surrounding land. MAYOR HODGE stated that originally his promise to the people when we purchased the housing unit was to dispose of it in an orderly fashion over a period of three years, and that would not create a hazard on the merchants of the City, and would not disperse too many people at one time, it would give one-third portion an opportunity to build up and sell the next portion and we would have an opportunity to rebuild with private enterprise. The Navy has not seen fit to let us do that. The original plan was to sell that which is on the west side of National Avenue first because that w ould bring the most money because it is zoned industrial. If the School Board wants this part- icular piece of property it might be wise for the Council to ask the Navy to release only that which is north of 24th Street, and try to dispose of that portion first. If we sell the School a piece of property on the hill and do not get a release on the hollow the school will be in a position where they are going to have to move some dirt out of town and when we do sell the hollow we will have to move some dirt back into town; and for that reason he believes it would be a very legitimate reason to ask the Navy to release that portion. MR. RUSK showed pictures which show the various locations where the school are situated and the number of the chilsren in attenc?orce; also an aerial picture of the location they wish to purchase. MAYOR HODGE stated the School Board has asked the Council to coop- erate and assist them in obtaining permission from the Navy to release a certain amount of property for a school, and he believes the School Board can see the City also has a problem when we mention the "hollow" part between "D" and 24th Street and some of the dirt east of 'D" Avenue could be used to fill the hollow on theuest of "D"; and asked the School Board if the Board would now assist the Council in aksing the Navy to release all of that property on the north side of 24th Street so we might improve the entire area at one time. iVIR. INGALLS said this is something that is beyond their control, they have been told by the Navy that all of their negotiations would be through the Council and not directly with the Navy. MAYOR HODGE said the Council attempted to their utmost to get a release on this property as requested by the School Board. Mayor Hodge asked if the School Board can find a piece of property suitable for a school and stay a half block away from "D" and a half block away from 24th. MR. INGALLS stated that is very questionable, they have spent much time on t his, and they would not be taking the Council's time if they felt these other things were feasible; we have been negotiating for a long time. We believe this is the most suitable place for a school and that the property adjoining the particular school site will be mush more valuable after the school is built. MAYOR HOME asked Mr, Ingalls if they were opposed to consider- ing another site, MR. INGALLS stated they came to the meet1J assitm5.ng this site had been approved, and if it is necossi 11f /56 128 for them to discuss another site they will do it, but he did not wish to talk for the School Board. MAYOR HODGE declared a recess at this time. The meeting was called to order by Mayor Hodge. Council members present: Fessman, Hart, Heck, Hollingsworth, Hodge. Council members absent: None. R. RUSK stated in regard to the problem of dirt as to how much might be available on the property in question, however, the School Board had a meeting Tuesday night and had an arch- itect there and one of the problems they had was the fact they recently purchased two and one-half acres of land north of the Ira Harbison School and in order to grade that site to the best advantage they have slightly over 30,000 yards of dirt they have to get rid of, which is something to think over; and would be more than you would get from the 7.8 acres. Regarding the site, leaving 125 feet on 24th Strect and 125 feet on D" Avenue going through to list Street t?lere are these observations, we do not know whether that is an offer from the Council, it was not the piece of land they came to discuss, but if it comes as a counter proposal from the Council they should like to have it as a proposal in writing to the Board. It would involve the opening of 21st Street, If that is offered then it would be an offer which the Board could have a special meeting and discuss. This was the opinion of the School Board members present. MAYOR HODGE asked if the School Board would assist the Council in getting the Navy to release anything north of 24th Street so that we might work out the entire program without working out a piece at a time. JAMES RUSK stated the answer to that, from the discussion of the Board was that should be handled, as far as the Board is concerned, as one problem, that it be a separate problem; that is the two applications be submitted to the Navy as separate units, and in the separate units the Board would give all the support they could to the release to the City of all the property, but this application be one unit for school purposes, and the other application be another. MAYOR HODGE stated he did not feel the price of the property is nearly as important as what is going to support the school, that is the reason for thinking of keeping the school from 24th 8 "D" as that is going to be valuable property. COMMUNICATION FROM NATIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICT was read regarding the letter from the Department of the Navy and asked that the City enter into negotiations with the Commandant of the Eleventh Naval Dist- rict for the release of the subject land. COMMUNICATION FROM R. H. FOGLER, Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Material) was read, stating that the Commandant of the Eleventh Naval Dist- rict upon review of this matter has concurred in release of the area under consideration for a school site if the City of National City antborities so request, provided that the City agrees to relocate within the Olivewood Project those Navy families who will be affected. It is suggested that the National School District make the necessary arrangements with National City Authorities, in order that the City may enter into negotiations with the Commandant of the Eleventh Naval District for release of the subject land. Moved by Hollings- worth, that the City Manager be authorized to contact the Defense Industries and the Navy to ask for release of the area involved, but would prefer that the City Manager try to nego- tiate for release of all of the housing, with the asourance to the Defense Industries that we are not preparing to have a 11/i5/56 129 wholesale discarding of the area and it will be done in an orderly manner in due time, If that is not acceptable, the Mayor's proposal of everything north of 24th and if we could not get that request release of a school site suitable for an elementary school. Motion died for lack of a second. Moved by Heck, seconded by Hollingsworth, that the City Manager be empowered to contact the Commandant of the Eleventh Naval District and the Defense Industries to release all prop. erty east of National Avenue to Highland Avenue north of 24th Street, MR. EMERY stated in view of the fact time is going to be running out on them, it has been two years since the time the request was made up to the time that the Navy has signified a willingness to grant it, provided the City Council will ask that it be released, and the Council might spend as much time as is needed to build aschool negotiating on the plan that is covered by this motion; and that to the people of National City the Council owes a better answer than this. MAYOR HODGE asked Mr. Emery if he suggested that the Council should not diligently try to improve the entire area while we are doing one thing. MR. EMERY said he did not, that he suggests that first the site be requested that the Navy has signified their willingness to release, this is a start. From there you can make application for additional property to be released, and that the School Board as individ- uals and as a Board would like nothing better than to see the whole Olivewood Housing wiped out. MAYOR HODGE stated he personally has been diligently been trying to dispose of the housing unit since he has been on the Council, that was his promise to the people and he intends to carry it out as soon as possible. Motion carried, by the following vote to -wit: Ayes: Heck, Hollingsworth, Hodge. Nays: Fessman, Hart. MAYOR HODGE said he believed that the Navy will release the entire area because if only part was released it would hinder the entire project or the development of the City and by the motion just passed that the portion of the housing unit can be released if it is properly presented to the Navy that is is imperative to develop the entire area. MR. EMERY said the need for the school is now, not two years from now, and as a. result he pleads to the Council to request the Navy to release the specific amount of property that has been requested. They will not need the property until January of 1958 which will all- ow ample time for negotiating to get the property released and to get the buildings ready and get the Navy families relocated in other Olivewood Housing. COUNCILWOMAN HOLLINGSWORTH said it or?y took about two weeks if that long, to have a letter come from the Commandant, so we are not going to hold the School Board up unduly if we have the City Manager make this request, and we can meet with the School Board in two weeks hence in case the Navy turns us down. COUNCILMAN FESSMAN said that if this property were not owned by the City the School Board would have to g ;t other property, and the fact that they do not have this site is not keeping them from building a school, they can build one wherever they want to build one, MR. EMERY stated a previous City Council agreed that this site would be made available whenever the housing was taken over by the City, Moved by Hollingsworth, seconded by Heck, that the meeting be closed. Carried, all the Council present voting aye. Meeting closed at 10:40 P.M. ATTEST: C l' 'Y' $I:ERi{ /62 MAYOR, CITY OfliATIONAL CITY 171FORN7A 11/15/56