HomeMy WebLinkAbout1951 03-13 CC MIN538
National City, California, March 13, 1951
Regular meeting of the City Counctl'was called to order by
Mayor Clinton D. Matthews at 7D30 P.M. o'clock. Councilmen
present: Carrigan, Clarke, Curry, Hart, Matthews. Council-
men absent: None.
Moved by Curry, seconded by Clarke, that-the,reading_orthhe
minutes of '.the, regular meeting of March 6,1951, be dispensed
with. Carried, all Councilmen present voting aye.
ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICIALS present: Alston, Sullivan, Warner,
Gautereaux.
BILLS AUDITED by the Finance Committee presented;
General Fund $ 6,716.14
Capital Reserve Fund 1,470.00
Library Fund 75.88
Park Fund 299.38
Planning Fund 65.57
Retirement Fund 4 21.60
Street Fund 3,200.42
Light. Dist. #1 Fund 32.65
Harbor Fund 20.92
TOTAL $11,902.56
Moved by Clarke, seconded by Hart, that the bills be allowed
and warrants ordered drawn for same. Carried, by the following
vote to -wit: Ayes: Cerrigan, Clarke, Curry, Hart, Matthews.
Nays: None.
RESOLUTION NO. 540 t was read, authorizing the payment of
11,470.00 from the Capital Reserve Fund as follows: Herluf
Brydegaard, $1,470.00, Fire Station and City Yard Remodel.
Moved by Curry, seconded by Clarke, that the Resolution be
adopted. Carried, all Councilmen present voting aye.
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_THOMAS LEONARD was present in referents to the firing of one of
the Department Heads by the City Manager. He felt that the
Council should approve this in order to make it legal. ATTORNEY
WARNER stated that under the City Manager Ordinance the City
Manager has the power to hire or fire department heads. The
reason Mr. Leonard brought this to the attention of the Council
wAs because of the possibility of the Department Hend, at a
later date, suing the City for back wages,
ORDINANCE NO. , an ordinance approving the annexation
of "Rancho Mesa" to the City of National City, was presented
for the second and finn1 reading. Moved by Curry, seconded
by Hart, that only the heading be read. Carried, by the fol-
lowing vote to -wit: Ayes: Carrigan, Clarke, Curry, Hart,
Matthews. Nays: None.
ORDINANCE NO. 815, AN 0?DINANCE APPROVING TH' ANNEXATION TO
THE CITY OF NATTONAL CITY, CALIFORNIA OF CERTAIN UNINHABITED
TERRITORY, IN THE COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO, STATE OF CALIFORNIA,
DE§IGNATED AS "RANCHO MESA". Moved by Carrigan► seconded by
Curry, that the Ordinance be adopted. Carried, all Council-
men present voting aye.
MOVED BY Hart, seconded by Curry, upon the recommendation of
Attorney Warner that Sweetwater No. 1 and No. 2 Annexations
be removed from the Agenda due to the fact that a hearing wns
not held within the time prescribed by law making all action
on this Annexation null and void. Carried, all Councilmen
present voting aye. DR. J. M. HOWARD, 3104 Highland Avenue,
was present and stated that he hoped if they found themselves
on the other side of the fence at some time that they would
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be given the same courtesy, a Month extention of time.
MOVED BY Clarke, seconded by Hart, that the natter of the V.F.W.
Caxnivnl be tabled as there was no representative from the
organization present. Carried, all Councilmen present voting
nye.
APPLICATION F0? BEVERAGE LICENSE by William H. Wilson, 1441
Highland Avenue, for on sale general was rend. There was no
objection by the Council and Mayor Matthews ordered the
applicntion filed.
APPLICATION FOR BEVERAGE LICENSE by Bonifncio Damian, 2042
McKinley Avenue, for off sale beer and wine wes read. Mayor
Matthews laid this arlication over until next week to allow
time for a full report from the Chief of Police.
CHARL!S BUSH AND ARNOLD DEPHEIM, 101 Norton Avenue, were present
end stated that they had no objection to a zone variance for
a Children's Boarding Home for Mental Deficient Children
which is to be presented to the Council at their next meeting.
Members of the Council had visited this home recently and the
consensus of opinion seemed to be to issue a special zone
variance limiting it to the person and to the kind of work
they are doing.
LETTER OF RESIGNATION was read from Merry D. Bledsoe from the
Recreation Commission. Moved by Hart, seconded by Curry, that
Mr. Bledsoe's resignation be accepted and a letter be written
thanking him for the work he has done. Carried, all Council-
men present voting aye. Mr. Bledsoe wished to remain on the
mailing list of the recreation publication.
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COIEFUNICATION FROM THE RECREATION COKIIS3ION recommending the
anointment of Herb Comstock, 1119 E. lat Street, to fill the
vacancy left by Harry Bledsoe wrs rend. Moved by Clarke,
seconded by Hart, that the appointment be made. Carried, all
Councilmen present voting aye.
REPORT FROM THE PLANNING COMMISSION regrrding church locations
and liquor establishments was rend. COUNCILIAN CLARKE asked
if the U. S. Government law defining light Trines and beer as
fond apnlies to National City -s we have denied several
licenses. ATTORNEY "ARNER stated that it does not mean that
they do not need a license from the State Board of Equalization
but it means that the City Council cannot zone them out of
the food establishments by the zoning ordinance. .The licenses
which have been denied were too close to a church, school, or
for some other reason in the act. CITY PLANNER ''AGNER reported
that at a" meeting of the ministers they agreed that the zoning
of all new churchs in the R-2 and R-4 zones were in the beat
interest of the city and churches as the commercial nronerty
which many of the churches now exist on is getting too expen-
sive. The Planning Commission at the present time is -working
on an amendment to Ordinance No. 750 and if the Council
approved such changes as R-2 and R-4 they will be incorporated.
Moved by Carrigan, seconded by Hart, that new churches be
limited to R-2 and P-4 zones and included in the overall
change in Ordinance No. 750.
voting aye.
Carried, all Councilmen nresent
PRELIMINARY TENTATIVE HAP OF JAY VIE" HILLS ryas presented.
As this is not yet a nrrt of National City, Attorney Warner
felt that there *•Pas no official action the the City Council
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could take, other than apnrove it as a picture ran tentatively,
Tl. KITH biAX'ELL, architect from Los Angeles, stated that he
is the planner for the project and in the upper left hand
corner of the map there are 896 units for the Navy and in
planning the project we decided to elan the additional acreage
shown before you for a defense housing project. A snonsory
by the nape of the Dills Interest of Phoenix and Dallas, re-
presented by Hr. Holliday, who is here, are the proposed
builders and snonsorers. Under normal title 203 FHA procedure
at this time with the possibility that title 9, a law being
enacted by Congress now, when it becomes a law, if it is
advantageous, the program will be converted to Title 9, which
will then be primarily a rental housing nrogrrm with the
privilege of selling of qualified buyers in the defense
industry. The housing is designed primarily to meet normal
regulations of the FHA, will be conventional construction
and high class development of 37000 minimum house cost un to
`112,000 and (15,000. The land or the topography of this land
is rather irregular and it has necessitated an extensive
study to design the land for economical use. The streets have
had to follow the contour of the land and in a few instances we
have found it necessary to design a forty foot, minimum forty
foot right-of-way, to get between dra"s or get between two
bluffs with a street so that we can serve a lot on each side
economically. That is the reason why we have that requirement,
and if necessary we will request the Planning Commission for
a zone variance to accommodate those particular features. pre
are not desirous of chrnging or not adhering to your ordinance
but in order to develon this land we have to develon it from
the stand point of economy end the developers interest as well
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as the city's interest. I don't think, however, we will have
any trouble when we get this aerial torso survey. It will
determine accurately all the tonographical data that we can
design to and if it is not necessary we will not offer any-
thing less than 40 feet and if so we will widen our streets
to meet the standard of the ordinance as closely as possible.
The majority of the property as indicated is to the right of
the City -County line and you gentlemen have started an
annexation on parts and parcels of it, and it is kind of
confusing what you have actually started annexing, but we
are desirous, that is the owner, the Adams family, is desirous
of annexing to National City for the benefits thereto. ITe
are anxious to annex to N tional City for two reasons (1)
primarily to lower tax structures, (2) secondly, To:- the benefit
of gene- an0 water. Ire appreciate that National City does not
furnish the water but National City, through their very
capable renresentative, Mrs. Sullivan, have engineered or
assisted us to get the nower and telephone company to enter-
tain a nronosition to offer us the facility. I *rant to go
on record this far, that we are expecting the annexation to
protect our client in the sewer and water feature, however,
we know the City cannot guarantee the water, but we do ernect
the sewer situation which Mrs. Sullivan has pointed out this
afternoon is covered capably by ordinance and tie are satisfied
a
on that contention. At this time we do not havq'pledge from
the water company but we have checked with them repeatedly
and I think that we will finally get it worked out satisfactorilN
1'e think by virtue of the fact ti:at the land is by one free-
holder there is a possibility of forcing a disannexation of that
particular tract that the Navy is going to develop into a
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nroject. However, it will not be the navy that would create
this proposal, it would have to be the sponsor and the sponsor
will not be determined on the Navy building until the plans
and eoecificiations have been precomrmitted by the Navy and by
the FHA. Then that sponsor has ample time, I'd say three to
six months, to worry and quarrel with the nolitical situation
to get it to his satisfaction. However, they have advvsed me
this afternoon regardless of disanrexation the tax structure
as set un on that particular niece of land or any particular
piece of land that might be in question of
still carry its tax load es originally set
nolitical body and according to law cannot
disannexation will
up. They as a
disallow any tax
structure -which doesn't seen accurate to me as they had the
book and I was on tae other side of the table. liow there is
another section, Section 2, that will be above Eighth Street,
Eighth Street is at the ton of that map, and this project at
the bottom has 1083 lots of which a coiple of hundred lots
along Eighth Street and around the commerical
duplexes; so there will be two units to a lot
be apnroxinately 1500 lots in that particular
looking at and the land across Eighth Street,
area will be
and there will
tract you are
un there where
it is commonly ':mown as the airstrip, will have another couple
of thousand lot possibilities. That will be known as Section 2.
Pe have located the commercial area at the most advantageous
location, to get the benefit of the navy nroject and of the
10^r or 1500 units plus all of the Paradise Hills area. The
commercial development will 7,1 in all at one tine and will not
be niece meal and it "111 be acceptable to your --)lanning
Commission. It will be a very desirable venture. There is
a church location just above the figure sixteen thrt we have
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designed but it doesn't show on this reap; it shows on the
actual National City annexation map. We put it there because
the benefit of the commercial area parking in the non -business
hours and the school is as close by and still stay 600 feet
away for the liquor advantages and take advantage of the
narking facilities of the commercial area. The City of National
City will have to make a survey on the sewer and advise us end
furnish us a copy of their intended sewer service so that
we can Hake a engineering design of sewer facilities on our
site, because we can show easements down alleys and make alleys
available for easements in the project. As we understand it,
there will he a reduced fee to us, rather the city's charge to
us will be about 31k0 less per lot for us to do that, so we want
to take advantage of that because we are working on a very
tight monetary nrogram and '14 0 means quite a bit in the
development of every lot. However, most of it will be exactly
as it is now planned. Ire have a site indentified as park
w'zich we expect to peddle to the City of National City with
a master plat layout of it anc' we hope that National City will
be willing to go in there and put it in first class shane for
us on or about the time we get the development occupied. The
reason we are doing that is because in all FHA development
where there is a pass living condition you naturally expect
recreational facilities and park facilities, so we are not in
a position to finance a thing of that nature anc' I can't speak
for the owner as to the donation of the land but I used every
bit of the us:ble land and I've used it in such a vay that he
will either have to sell it for little or nothing or let it
go by the hoard for taxes. If that is the case we would rather
buy it from him and have control of it as long as we are con-
trolling the project from a rental stand point. But when we
546
start to sell the houses, we trill sell then in areas; we will
not indiscriminately sell houses all over the area because
under the defense program it will be a management rental
for the duration of the emergency. Ve couldn't afford to
have a spotty sale and a snotty rental operation. We will
start at the left hand side of the project to develop and
develop it easttrard to the right in an •orderly nanner so the
city should be able to extend the severs and furnish us sewers
on dates that tre will need then as we con-,lete houses and close
our commitments. That is the important thing. tre feel over
and above Hrs. Sullivan's assurance and ar. "crner's assurance
that we would like the Council in discussing and considering
this thing to go on record with a resolution that they will
cooperate and nut forth every effort to give us a utility -a
sewer utility -as we need it as long as we nroceed in a orderly
nanner and keep you advised by plats and recordings so that you
will be able to expedite your sewer facilities satisfactorily.
"e would like to ask that privilege because we are going in
here with a considerable expenditure and t*e are going to start
construction at the earliest nossible date, but we can't afford
to do it unless we know definitely that we are going to have
the sewer and the water. Poulter of the Crater Company has not
b:'en able to give us a final decision through firs. Sullivan
or directly, maintaining that he hasn't had our plats -that
is not true, he has had our plats -and renresentatives of the
cnnnany have been here. If necessary we are going to nroceed
up to San Francisco, not later than Thursday, for a show -doom
because we can't go forward without water. lre definitely
know we can't get any from the City of San Diego without
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ennexing to them. I'le don't care to disrupt the program that
is going forward here.
ATTORNEY IrARNER wanted it known that
neither Mrs. Sullivan or himself bed promised Mr. Maxwell any
sewers. Mr. Varner also stated that he did not think the city
should take any official action regarding this territory until
it is in the City of National City. 'ire have an ordinance which
shows what we do with sewers when they are in the City of
National City. ER. IAXIJELL said that he had been shown the
sewer ordinance this afternoon and under that ordinance the
City vris obligated to install to residential construction
es it war built. As the ordinance was based on normal procedure
end this is not normal •procedure, Mr. Maxwell wanted the record
clear before they spent their noney. Mr. liaxwell said that
they were not completely satisfied that e sewer extension
could be carried out immediately and as quickly as we night
to
be able to build houses and they do not want/find themselves
with 500 houses out there with no sewers. CITY AMAGER SULLIVAN
said the preliminary check on the cost in comparison with the
recent contr?cts on sewers indicate that the amount we will
receive from the sewer connection under the ordinance would pay
' for the cost of the service. There is in addition to that some
annexations that will be along the trunk ]ine in Lincoln Acres.
Hr. Simmons has three or four property owners that heve re-
quested annexation, There are additional sewers that would
come into the trunk line which would cctuel]y make if profitable.
The City has enough money provided Hr. '_ixxwell's sponsorsdidn't
wait too long to nut in their houses. The thing the City has
been doing es far as the other subdivisions are concerned is
going ehead with the sewer contracts, and they very quickly ney
back the money so actually the Capital reserve Fund is a little
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better off at the end of the sever contract. Sewer pines are
easier to lay than some others and there is no scarcity of
nine as there is in other kinds of service or utilities, such
as tubular steel or copper wire, COUNCIL:AN CARRIGAN said
that on several occasions he had requested a sewer cost estimate
on this »articular project. CITY ?'LNFGER SULLIVAN said that
she would rather not quote a figure for about another week.
ATTORNEY TTL.^.NER felt that it would not be out of line to
approve the nay, as a nicture n^n only subject to the arnroval
of a tentative nap when one is nresented. iioved by Carrigan,
seconded by Clarke, that the preliminary tent?tive Elan as
submitted for Bay View Hills as submitted by Keith Maxwell be
enproved as a picture n^n only, and that final a»»royal be
reserved until the filing of a final to'ogranhical and corrected
tentative men and subject to the connletion of annexation
nroceedingsof said territory to the City of :'ational City;
and that the City iianager and City Engineer be directed to
furnish the City Council at their next meeting on March 20,
1951, with a cost estimate and tentative sewer approach lay-
out to this proposed subdivision and that the Council go on
record showing our intent to expedite and facilitate our final
efforts towards serving this subdivision with sewer lines as may
be determined by our proposed sewer extension map as above
requested from the City Manager and City Engineer. Carried,
all Councilmen present voting aye.
REPORT OF CITY ATTORNEY ''ABNER regarding City Ern loyees living
outside of National City was nresented. This matter was laid
over until the next meeting of the Council as Councilman
Carrigan requested each ennloyee who lives outside National
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City to submit a letter giving their reasons for not moving
into the City.
ATTORNEY "ARNER stated that they had been unable to reach an
agreement on the escrow instruction in the Greenberg Trade. The
way they are Prepared the City would not get a certificate of
title to the Property and we utuld still have the suit pending.
As this is a thirty day escrow we have three week to reach
an agreement.
ATTORNEY "ARNER presented the lawsuit, Investment Securities
Corporation vs. City of National City, involving four lots.
The apnraiser made an estivate of the value and they would
probably run about q500 per lot. As we own approximately
one-third interest, they have offered us in settlement $442.36
which is all the back taxes and penalties since it went
delinquent. Moved by Carrigan, seconded :Dy Hart, that Attorney
Warner be authorized to accept the payment of `;442.36 to settle
the lawsuit. Carried, all Councilmen present voting ayel
LET' _R FROM CIVIL SERVICE CO'_•MISSION requesting the positions
of Bookkeeping Machine Operator and Apprentice Bookkeeping
Machine Operator be added to the Position Classification Plan,
and that a departmental promotion examination be held to fill
the two new Positions, was read. Moved by Curry, seconded by
Clarke, that the positions of Bookkeeping Machine Operator
and Apprentice Bookkeeping Machine Operator be added to the
Classification Plan, and thot a promotional examination be held,
to fill the two positions. Carried, all Councilmen present
voting aye.
CITY EANACER SUL. I'TAN presented a request for a Tidelands
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Lease from the Associated Construction Corporation. It is a
one year lease with option to lease for 10 years and is be-
tween the Dry Kiln and the San Diego Transit -Mix Lease.
RESOLUTION NO. 5408 authorizing Mayor Matthews to sign the
lease on tidelands with the Associated Construction Corporation
was read. Moved by Carrigan, seconded by Hart, that the
Resolution be adopted. Carried, all Councilmen »resent voting
aye.
CITY MANAGER SULIIVAN stated that several weeks ago the matter
of the elementary school district was discussed and the City
Attorney and City Manager were authorized to enter into negoti-
ations with the School District. The area which they wish to
add to the five acres which has already been agreed to is
approximately five acres inmediately to the west, between R
and S Avenue. The School District has a site between 14th and
1(th and between N and M which they will not be using in the
event that they have this other site. We came to the negotiation
on the clatter of
trading that area which the City in turn
could sell where the School District has difficulty in selling.
They have had an appraisal made, which is 13,000; the appraisal
on the property that we pre selling or trading with them is
>1,500 and Mr. Rusk has calculated on the acreage and we haven't
checked the acreage again to verify it. They would have 1,250
coming from us on the difference between the Pro rn-'raisals
because it is less than five acres. That would mean in the
terms of total escrow that instead of receiving 73,500 from
them on the other trade that is now in process, you would
receive 12,250. The matter was laid over for one week to
enable the City Council to check on the property and have the
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School District's Property appraised.
CITY '.•:ANAGEB SULLIVAN reported that Senator Kraft and Assembly-
man Cloyed were unable to meet with the City Council as they
had to return immediately to Sacramento for interim committee
but they would be glad to help. Councilmen Carrigan is to
study the bills to be presented to the Legislature to see if any
are applicable for the change in the Alcoholic Beverage Control
in which the Council is interested.
COUNCILMAN HART mentioned the excessive space allowed for buses
on Eighth and National Avenue; he felt that too much space was
allowed. Moved by Curry, seconded by Hart, that this natter
be referred to the Traffic Safety Committee.
Councilmen present voting aye.
Carried, all
COUNCILMAN CLC Y brought un the matter of the San Diogo Transits
System fixing the streets at bus stops. Councilman Carrigan
commented on speed of the Greyhound buses doing 45 miles per
hour through the City and referred it to the Police Department.
B. B. STJRT-VANT, 518 Street, was present and suggested that
the bus stops be nlaced in the middle of the blocks. Hr.
Sturtevant stated that in Seattle this has proved very success-
ful and also helped to eliminate blind corners.
COUNCILMAN CURRY asked hot•r much more time would be needed to
install the Neon sign. Imo. HARKEY said the Pipe on which the
sign is to be supported is now erected and the sign should
be hung in about two weeks.
COUNCILMAN CLARKE stated that in the San Diego paver he had
read two articles; one, regarding City funds to sponsor the
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National City 'layers and the other regarding the City Manager's
attendance at the graduation of Chief of ?olice Smith from the
FBI School in Washington, D. C. '-'Y,YOR iviATTIE TS stated that
the National City Players are to be sponsored by private
individuals not City Funds. CITY :TANAGER SULLIVAN said that
she would probably be in Washington in connection with Community
Redevelopment Contract in the future but she ,,ias no assurance
that it will be at that time.
Moved by Carrigan, seconded by Curry, that the meeting be
adjourned. Carried, all Councilmen present voting aye.
71Q?2Ptic/'7—
MAYOR, CITY OF PTATIONL CI^_Y, CALIFORNIA
ATTEST:
54..
CITY CLERK
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