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1965/01/04 City Council MinutesCall to Order Roll Call ROHNERT PARK CITY COUNCIL MINUTES January 49 1965 The Council of the City 'of Rohnert Park met this date in regular session ,,at 8:00 P.M.,,in`: the: City Offices, 435 Southwest'Blvd., Rohnert Park with Mayor Buchanan presiding. This regular session was preceded by ak session which commenced at 7:30 P.M. Mayor Buchanan called the 'meeting to order. Present: (5) Mayor Buchanan, Councilmen Pezonella, Al, e Rogers, C. Smith and V. Smith 1. '' • sn t (0 ) . Also present': City Manager Callinan and City Attorney`Maxwell Approval of Upon motion by Councilman.V. Smith, seconded by Minutes Councilman Pezonella, and'u:nanimously approved, the minutes of December 21:; 1964 were approved as submitted. Approval of Upon .motion by Coun,ej M A Roger° , ".,b'e„corA d by Bills Councilman C. Smith ,,and unanimously approved, the bills, per attachod list were approved for payment. Communications Communications_, ,per the:a.ttached, outline were brought,to, the attention of the Council. No action was taken on L any of these communications except- as.specifically noted:in these minutes. 1. Letter.re A letter from Don ClausRn,,regarding the inclusion Hwy 101 .of Highway 101.'into the Federal Interstate High- way System, was read.',, Resolution:N o.201, The City Attorney read Resolution No. 2019 A RESOLUTION URGING THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ROAD SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC WORKS TO INCLUDE U. S. HIGHWAY 101 WITHIN THE FEDERAL';INTERSTATE HIGHWAY SYSTEM. Upon motion by Councilman Pezonella, seconded by Mayox.Buchanan, Resolution No.. 201 was adopted by unanimous vote. 2. Letter re Two ,letters from property owners concerning the water meters installation of water `meters "were read. Councilman Pezonella and Councilman V. Smith felt that another release should, put .in the- news!.,- paper regarding the wager meters study, since, by the letters received, it 'appeared tY ere was some misunderstanding regarding the purpose 'of the installation of meters'. /Page -2- January 4, 1'6" . 3. Letter re CityA, letter: was- read regarding- .the various citie, of Do s Palos . Califor nia sponsoring a.band to the inaugural parade. 1t, was., the ,,.f eel i n*g of the Council that the sponsor- ship was the respons . Jbility of the State. 4. Letter & Resoi A letter and aresolution..from the City of Alban-,y lution city of was read regarding the incidents at the"Universi-i"y of California campus. City Atto'rney Maxwell stated that he did not feel this was a matter which a'c'ity government should take, action on., rather,.it was the responsibility and dut y ' of the e-, R e'g e n't,s' of . tb_ e University, 5. Letter.. from A letter from_, the Optimist Club was read th�-1---­-.,". Optimist Club the City ­C,o . u I noil'for t I he-o. I pportunity of being a b e to sell Ch:ristmas Trees in the shopping center. Public Hearing Mayor Buchanan declared the hearing open on pro- Ordinance #51- posed Ordinance No. 51 and called for discus'sion:,, and' comments'. .­ There being'-no comments, the hear- irig-was declared closed., Upon motion by Councilman V. Smith, seconded by Councilman Rogers, and unanimously approved', ,.. the reading of Ordinance No. 51'was waive". Upon motion by Councilman V. Smith and seconded by Councilman Rogers,, Ordinance No. 51, AN ,:ORDINANCE TO PROVIDE FOR'THE PUBLIC HEALTH 'SAFETY AND GENERAL WELFARE RELATING TO BUILDIN GS PLUMB - ING, ELECTRICITY AND HOUSING AND ADOPTING BY REFERENCE THE UNIFORM BUILDING CODE, VOLUME 19 1964 EDITION; "`THE UNIFORM BUILDING' ''STANDARDS; VOLUME III, 1964 EDITION; Vitt UNIFORM HOUSING CODE, 1,964 EDITION; THE UNIFORM EIECTRICAL CODE, 1962 EDITION; THE NATIONAL ELECTRICAL CODE, 1962 EDITION? THE UNIFORM PLUMBING CODE,91964 EDITION; TOGETHER WITH AMENDMENTS THERETO; AND PROVIDING PENALTIES FOR THE VIOLATION THEREOF, ;was adopted by the -fbllowing toll call vote:. Ayes: (5) Councilman'Pezonella, Rogers, C. Smith, V. Smith and Mayor Buchanan Noes: (0) Absent: (0) Planni4n and Zoning Matters Traf4d.'Pattern The City Manager displayed traffic pattern plans a0 for Entrance,,Roa.d.' drown by Milt,Hudis, City, Engineer. Mr. Hudis explained,:the plans and Istreet design. Page _3_ January 4, 1965 Councilman Rogers asked the City Manager if these street improvements would be financed by 2107 monies. The City Manager stated that the City could pay for'the,:project, however, it was not in keeping with City-policy. The City Manager further stated that.sewer and water lines, and other im- provements necessary for development should be put in'pri'dr to construction of the propose street improvements. City,:Managpr,Callinan stated that what was proposed was.an assessment district, formed by the owners of the property involved, to finance the cost of all the improvements, streets, sewer, water, etc at the ..same time. He stated that this had been discussed.with several of the property owners. Mr. Paul Golis, one of the property owners, has indicated no objections, if the property between the entrance way and College View Drive is zoned "Commercial ",:,in order to justify the cost of the improvements. A letter from Mr. Bart Mitchell was read stating that he had'rio';objections to an assessment district as long'as the assessment was fair.'6Ad:1 equitable:. Mr. Hudis was asked -for an estimate of cost and when the project could.:be stated. He replied that the contractors felt .-they could not get in to do any work, after the recent rain, until June or July, of 1965.' Councilman Pezonella: asked, in the event Cotati did " :: den their portion off.the entrance road, what would our loss be of the proposed entrance " being discussed. Mr. Hudis'stated that there would-be very little loss, mainly it would consist of redzcing'the size of the islands. Mr. Hudis further stated that the County's position on this entrance road, °is that it will never be improved beyond what exists now. Mr =. Thiesfeld, commenting from the floor, stated that;Ye felt, as a matter of courtesy, this should be referred to the City of Cotati for their com-- menta; that it should be referred to the Planning Commission prior to, any adoption by the City Council *' and that a complete cost study should be worked out and gone over with the land owners in this area. Councilman Pezonella moved that the comments of Mr. Thie- sfeld:be a motion before the Council. Councilman C. Smith made a motion that the Council tentatively.approve the plan as submitted and send Page -4- January 4, 1965 it.to the Planning Commission for their scrutiny and further suggest that the City Manager get in touch with.the.Cotati .City .Council and request their comments. Councilman V. Smith seconded the motion made by Councilman Pezonella_ and Mayor Buchanan called for the -vote s Ayes: 2 Councilmen Pezonella and V. Smith Noes:_ 13 Mayor Buchman Abstains_. )'Councilmen Rogers and C. Smith. Councilman Roger "s "the record show that ,,requested he abstained froff Noting by virtue of being a property owner in`the area under discussion. The motion died for` lack o a. majority vote. Councilman Pe'zonella seoonded the motion made by Councilman C. _Smith and Mayor Buchanan called fox, the vo to °e Ayes.; (4).Councilmen Pezanella, C. Smith, V. Smithnd.Mayor Buchanan Noes: (0 WT. Abs,.tain: (1 .C;ouncilmaxa Rogs, by reason of being prq.per ty .owner in the area;:�under discussion. councilman V. ;Smith moved that it be the intent 'of the Council to.'e.nter into, ro assessment proceed- ings subject to the pperty owners involved ^:. agreeing to .paid assessment. district. Council man .Pzonella questioned the intent of the Council regarding the zoning and asked that it not be:the intent: :of the Council to change the zoning along Southwes.'Bouleuard by the above mom lion' He pointed out that originally the master psn was used as a.guide for :;what property would eventually be zoned _ and.that - ;people had bought `The property on this basis. Council indicated that, it.was.not.their intent to change any zoning .by .the :above motioraa Ca ty Attorney Maxwell stated, !'actually',`there s no permanent zoning at this time, however; the City.has purported the master plan as, the way ,.in which the: ,property would be .zoned in. the, - future." Councilman C. Smith seconded'the motion made by Councilman V. Smith and Mayor Buchanan called for the voters . Ayes: Councilmen ell.a, C. Smith, V. Smith Mayor Buchanan Noes Abstains,..:( 11 > )Councilman Rogers, by reason of being a property owner in the area under discussion. Page -5- January 4, 1965 Bart C, Mitchell Use Permit - Office Buildi2j - Commerce Blvd. A 1FtTer was rea rom Mr. Mitchell. -Upon motion by Councilman V. Smith, seconded by Councilman Rogers and unanimously approved, a use permit was granted for the construction of an office building at the entrance way to Rohn.ert`Park on Commerce Blvd., subject to all the stipulations outlined -in the minutes of.the City Council meeting of ;December 21, 1964, Electric Distri- Mr. Frank Anderson of P.G. �c E. was present and bution System introduced Mr. Bill Moore who made a presentation for P.G. & E. on the Electric Distribution System. Pri,or.to.the presentation at 9 :25 P.M. there was a minute recess to enable Mr. Moore to set up a projector for the presentation. A.,.question and answer period followed the presenta- t'. on.,,uppn the conclusion.of. which Councilman V. Sm t :.raad_;a statement4;.a:.copy of which is attached arid, m0e,: a part of ,these minutes. Co ,nc.a; .man V. Smith made. - a;, motion that any: action r deca�6ion on this matter;be deferred until the next rgular.Council melting. The motion was pe.con srl by Councilman Rogers and a vote called for: Ayes: (4) Councilmen Rogers, C, Smith, V. Smith and Mayor Buchanan (1 ). Councilman - :I?ez©nella Citv Manager' s Report Coral Homes Upon motion by Councilman C. Smith, seconded by Invoices Councilman Rogers and unanimously approved, the City Manager was authorized to apply certain City invoices to the note dated August 15, 1959 due Coral Homes. Details are outlined in the City Manager '._a -memo dated December 31, 1964 to the City council. Humane Society The City Manager discussed the service of the Humane Society and the billings for same with the City Council. Councilman V. Smith indicated that he felt that monthly billing for services was acceptable as long as the Humane S- ociety submitted a report ^f their monthly activity to coincide with the billing, but in any event reports of activity should be submitted by the Humane Society at least quarterly. P.G.& E. -Joint City Manager Callinan advised the Council that he Session had a request from F.G.& E. for a joint session with the Planning Commission and City Council to Page -6- January 4, 1965 :tr.� n -of ele- ctrical utilities. r a discuss : t_hze . It was decided that this meeting should take place on i;b.e s,e,q,Qrad. Kgnday.:An. February, the date being ' brut ry 8 , <:1,9 3 -6 ;. City Attorney 's1 Report Wilfred Grade The - t Attdr2iey zeported. .that the rehearing Crossing befbre-; th6 Fubl� c `Vtil:i.ti�s' Commission did not change the forme=r -f` .dings of the Commission and permission for tie crossing was regranted as of-. December,31� 996; ` A gene sse zon followed in which it was ,.pointed out that the 9-0#04-was good for one year and muss be e rci'sed'Wli,hih , that period or an application'; fot e -t'ten 6i on. would have to be filed and heArd` ? The City- arlage�° :gts;te4 t��t : as soon as the deve� ope �epos�t su a ant monies with the railroad, ooristruct 6h -' ca i begin, but this pro a ily'- 'would ndo , be �`iefore' spring. Insurance Ma or' ueha f� "` y ?`'as ed ity;, anager Callinan if the situal;ioi` .an ihe, insuranco., concerning payment of swimm rig p601 "b1:aiMs aed b }erg solved with Mr. �'eerey. The "Cify Manager gt�aed that he had not yet discussed the ,matter wi tk; Mr. Feeney, but • that - ne� would . de, so Adjourment '- Th'er'e being no' further business, the meeting was adjourned at 10°35 P.M. Depu y ty C er Approved: ayor _ ;.. Councilman Vern Smith's Statement Rea4 at the January 49 1965 City Council Meeting One of the basic responsibilities of this Council to its citizenry is the best possible services at the lowest possible cost compatible with economic soundness of dynamic government. Our decision making responsibility does not limit its scope of in- fluence to the term of our offices. We cannot afford the weakness, lack of desire, lack of fortitude, lack of firmness of mind, the in- ability to endure pain resolutely, when faced with possibilities that are gained through unpopular decisions. Now admittedly, the idea of municipally owned utilities is unpopular with certain organizations and individuals. The idea of a feasibility study is even more unpopular. Yet there can be no process without learning, and there can be no learning without prying open hinges of our minds to'accept new ideas. Every idea we now have is an old one, and unless we are receptive to new ideas - fresh outlooks - we are going backward and not forward, because we just cannot stand still. It doesn't take much stretch of the intellect to realize this is an age of constant change. Ideas that were sound 20 years ago may no longer be practical. Truths that were "self evident" 30 years ago may be "half truths" today. Only an open mind can adjust to these changes. A closed mind is a bottleneck in every occupation, in every job, in every business. It is, therefore, imperative we do not conclude decisions based on snap judgement. Objectivity is the order of the day. Those who prefer negative action at this stage do not understand the implications of the question before them; on the other hand those who push for immediate positive action do not either. Those who would permit themselves to be influenced pro or con in the absence of substantial reflection upon the question cannot render the most prudent decision based on available facts. It is a rather simple process to make a decision affecting the citi- zenry when no pressure has been submitted by them. It can be good or bad as related to their interest. Such are the conditions which re- quire only good decisions -- and the Council must reflect the collec- tive reasoning of the citizenry and render decisions based on fact, desirability of results, community long term needs, in comlete the absence of detractive influences. Those who apply pressure sake of it must be ignored. In essence throwing a hot potatoe out the window or back in the oven isn't always the best disposition; it is often better to let it cool and examine it thoroughly. We can assume it is sound until examina- tion reveals irrefutable facts to the contrary. U f r. y. n �f kp