HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes 12/15/1947December 15,-1947,
7: 30 P.M..
Regular meeting of the Council of the. City of Petaluma
a y. called to ,order by Mayor W.00dson..
. .ROBE CALL:'
Present: Councilmen De:iss,, King... M vogue,, Myers,, Seidell,
Shoemaker.,: `arid Mayor Woodson.
READING :OF THE JOURNAL:
e. mina es. o� e; last regular - meet,i;ng of December 1.,,1947,.
were read •and - appr. oved as recorded. ,....
CONSIDERATION OF BIDS :
ImpV. or McNear Park':
This being the time set for
. � g opening_ bida for the improvement
of MONear 'Park:, the Clerk repor - -ted having received two bids and .
proceeded Vogerisen•Construction Co Said bi'& wer e ; t:o . open and read said. bids .from: Moretti,.Const Co..
and. e .cniere
osdd ruct and "the
bid. of',,trie Vogensen Construction .Co. "being the, lowest bid,
Resolution #45.N,.C.S.'
introduced by Councilman .Minogue,', .seconded by Councilman Seidell,
entthed; "Re,solution awarding .contract for tyre improvement of
M -NeaP. Park to. ,Vogensen :construction ,Co.'!' was , - adopted .by the follow-
ing vote.
Ayes; Councilmen. Deiss, King,,' Mnogue, Myers', ! Seidell, Shoe -
maker, and Mayor Woodson®
Noes: None. ,.
Abs`enf : None,.' 1
REPORTS: FFROM ,CI�Y MANAGER. Y -`
'Sill and °:claims ap.prove,d, b the: City Manager were
su.bmltted for approval, by' - .City .Councils hereupon
Resoluti6n. #46.N:.C. S
introduced by Councilman King,, s.e.conded by Qo_unc lman Delss,
entitled, "A resolution. approving the. list of ,.claims and bills
approved'rfor payment by the City; Managet- adopted by the follow ®.
ing.vg Councilmen Deiss Kin
' y� , g,. Mnogue, Myers, Seid4�11, shoe-
maker and Mayor W.00ds,on,
Noes:, None
Absent: None.
REPORTS: FROM CITY OFFICERS:
T e mon re or o the, .Auditor and. Librarian :were read
and filed:. .
"'."INTRODUCTION' OF ORDINANCES
Ordlness :Licenses payable annually:,
ante No. 21 N.C.S..introduced by Councilman `Sho:emaker,,
seconded by Councilman 4S.eidell, - entitled',.
fr,
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY V PETALUMA AMENDING THE
BUSINESS LICENSE ORDINANCE :460 C.S..: AS' AMENDED BY
ORDINANCE 464 C. TO ,CHANGE THE QUARTERLY LICENSES
T0, ANNUAL :LICENSE:S., EXCEPT,- FOR -THE PERIOD,.JANUARY 1
TO JUNE 3Q, .1948; TO PROVIDE .FQR EXPIRATION TIMES FOR
SA, D' liICEN,E"S, AND TO. PROHIBIT ; THE.. ;: PRORATION OR INSTAhh-
MENT PAYMENTi.OF LICENSES.
was ready and passed to jprint, by the following ^vote:
Ayes;: ,Councilmen .Deis, King I vogue, Myers, Seidel?, .Shoe
maker., and Mayor Wo odson. U: n
Abs exit : None o:
A
Re purchase of. new, automobile for Police Dept.
Qr.dinance NO.., 22 N,.d.,S. introduced, by „Counciltman. King, second-
ed� by Councilman ,Deist,, `entitle d; ,
'!AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF PETALUMA AUTHORIZING THE
PURCHNSE OF :,A , N -M1 .FOUR -DOOR. 'SEDAN; ;AU
POLICE DEPARTMENT TOMQBILE ,F.OR THE ;
was read and pas sed ., to sprint .,by the following ;v ote:;. :
Aye,s Councilmen Deist Kirig, ,M vogue, Myers,, Be dell, :Shoe-
maker and;,'Mayor Woodsion.
Noes:; . None.
Absent:; None
. , .
386.
' ADO °PTION _OF ORDINANCES:`
Inpv. of McNear Park;
Ordinance ; N0, 18 N ; ®C.S. introduced by Councilman King,
seconded by Deices,, entitled,. :..
'PAN "ORDINANCE QF THE. CITY:. OF PETALUMA� PROVI-DING..FOR
THE IMPROVEMENT OF 'MC NEAR, PARK..
came 'up regularly .and was adopted by. the following vote:
Ayes. :' Councilmen •Deiss., "King, Myers,. %Seidell - Shoemaker;
and Mayor Woodson',: ;. Minogue,.
Noes :. None. -
Ab sent a' None.: .:.. c
.
Amending Ord. 14 to correct ,error In transfers:
Ordinance' No. l9 N.C.S . " intr. od be by .Councilman, .
Shoemaker` se`conde'd by ' Councilman Seidell - entifle,d,
ie
ORDINANCE: OF THE CITY QF ,PETALUrA. AMENDING
ORDINANCE NO:., 14 N..C.;S., TO.','CORRECT AN ERROR' 1N_1,
TRANSFERRING-'-AN APPROPRIATION OF. 25 5a 653 FOR SALARIES
' '�OF TREASURER AND - TREASURER' , TO ' THE AUDITOR.:: �r _
: DEPUTY
v
came up regularly and Was adopted by ;'the.::following,
Ayes:' Councilmen Delss, King, .Myers,;/ S.e dell ,. Shoemaker,
and. Mayor. Woods on, Mih6gue ;
Absent • stone.
Amending Ord` 15 =- eliminating , of ic:er of, Depty Asses °s.- Treas.
Ordinance No, 20 N.oC.S. .introduced by Councilman
Shoemaker ' seconded by Councilman Sei de1T', entitled, :
t eAN ORDINANCE OF. THE CITY '0F PETALUMk AMENDING'
ORDINANCE NO. . 15 N..C.S ;., BY %.ELIMINATTN.G'THE .OFFI'CE':
OF, DEPUTY ASSESSOR =TREASURER AND FIXING TIE SALARY
- OF THE DEPUTY ASSESSOR -TAX. : COLLECTOR AT
PER' MONTH:'rr ;
came 'up r egularly and : eras adopted by ;following 'vot;e:
Ayes,: t�C_ouncilmen De Ss, King, Minogue:; Myers,,. ' e dell,
:Shoemaker and Mayor. Woods'an.
Noes. None
Absent : .,None..
CONSIDERATION OF .UNFINISHED BUSINESS.:.
-Water `rate survey: ,
A :discussion was. had regarding, the .employment of . - a; L
consulting engineer to.secure data.to oppose the application of
the Calirornla - Water S'er. Qa, for an: increase in .rates. cbbnc l-
man King stated, that he, "believed. the. City shouldr employ expert
legal °•advice, Trat�her than a,' .consulting engineer, . . Mayor Woodson .
To inted out that said ncrease wbbld; affect .territory °outs;ide the
city limits - as .well' as the City of Petaluma'' and therefor the
County. of Sonoma shoul'd' be 'interested in oppo'sing,; said :application..
The City Attorney eras directed to ascertain the cost of
t..._
l'egai assistance and to corit;act the Dlstrict.Atftorney: regarding
assistance n opposing' said intrease� jh,, rates.
Culvert to be installed' Lakeville high.& Lindberg Lane.
Attorney Lewis;. Cromwell. addre's'sed 'trie. Cbunc i stating
•that he expected 'Mr: McPner'`in - his office shorfly �and`Y oiled °to
have :the :matter. of ahe agreement with the, Cityb , cl'eared Eby the
'
next regular meeting .of, th3 City Council:: " 'In :connez Lion
with the drainage of the companyrs property trie City
Manager was directed to have:- a - culvert. installed the terminal
of Lindberg . Lane an'd the State Highway to carry storm Water'
across
Educational program for- �rec pkles's drivers: ' :
Coizat lmari_ Shoemaker suggested a program W of J nstruc�a on
for safe - driving; :to.-, be g . Ven by. the , =Board . of Educat Lori or the
City, of Petaluma. : The,•matter was discussed : anrd referred' .to the
City .Manager - Who, reported that : he 'has ' �rrltten- fora a <xeport, on
this sub ject which- he :expects to receiv&. ;very shortl4y ,.:..
. 9.
Re - Police Court jurisdiction
City Attorney Karl Brooks reported that sometime ago
the Police Judge asked his opinion as to payment of jury fees in
connection with one of the cases.pending in his alleged court.
As he investigated that particular matter he recognized for the
first time fully that the Freeholders had neglected to make any
provision in,the City Charter for the jurisdiction or authority for
a. Police Court. Since this matter -of vital interest to the District
Attorney and also since it was possible that the County of Sonoma
would be required to pay Jury fees instead of the City of Petaluma,
he took the matter up with him and they took under consideration the
broad question of whether or not the City of Petaluma has a Police
Court. Due to the fact that rather important cases were pending
before the Police Court at that time it was det.ermined.that,tha,
matter be.fully, studied before any public announcement be made in
answer to said question.
Mr. McGoldrick has contacted attorneys in the office of the
Attorney General as well.as other well informed lawyers on the subject
of Courts and it is their opinion that -our, Police Court, if it does
'exist, probably does not have jurisdiction or authority to hear
criminal matters involving violation of State'laws'as' distinguished
from city ordinances. . As of said the District
Attorney dismissed proceedings which were pending in the Police'Court
and, after advising attorneys for the defense, has re ®filed these
complaints in the .Justice Court' of Petaluma Township.
The question of concern is what if anything can be done
about taking some legislative action to relieve this situation.
.If the conclusions of above mentioned attorneys are true
that we do not have a Court which has jurisdiction over State offenses
then, of course, it would not be proper for our Court to entertain such
cases in the future until some action is taken which would have the
effect of vesting such a Court with'such powers. It�is the opinion
of the District�Attorney that this can only be accomplished by an
amendment to .the City Charter.
It..is probable that at least for a stop gap I shall prepare
and submit to_the.Council for adoption an ordinance that will delegate
jurisdiction tot he Police Court and to that extent I believe that we
can -have .a court under our existing Charter which-will have jurisdiction
in' involving' violation of city - ordinances'.
Said matter was left in.the hands of the City Attorney for
futher search and report..
The matter of appointing a Councilman to serve on the Library
Board was brought UP by Councilman Shoemaker and - referred to the Council
for selection.
There.being no.further business to come before the meeting,
the:,mee'ting was declared adjourned'.
/ 1 7 Z
t
ATTEST:
CITY CLE vORe
Resolution #47-�A.
introduced.-by Councilman - ,King, seconded by.Councilman Deiss entitled,
"A resolution directing the .Auditor Treasurer. to transfer
the .sum I of $12090, from the River - and Harbor to the Street
Fun.d,,..and sum, of $780. from the_ .River -and Harbor Fund to
the General Fund, adopted by 7 ,affirmative votes.