02-18-1975 - Laserfiche WebLink

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RECESS was reconvened at 9:50 P.M., with all At 9:35 P.M. the Mayor declared the City Council meeting recessed; the meeting Councilmen present. PUBLIC HEARING Mayor Evans opened 17TH STREET MEDIANS the public hearing to consider the installation of raised landscaped medians on 17th Street between Ross and Main Streets. The Director of Public Works stated that the proposed median was in conformance with Council adopted policy, dating back to 1966, and recommended by the Planning Commission, that it will include the widening of 17th Street on both sides to provide a 6-lane divided highway; that a landscaped median is much more effective than a painted one in reduc- ing accidents; and that 46 businesses are involved in the proposal. Mr. Leonard Pamplin, owner of Paramount Men's Hair Styling, 333 W. 17th Street, who had previously written to the Council in opposition to the proposal, filed a petition, signed by 33 business people on 17th Street, opposing the proposed median, and spoke vigorously against the proposal. He stated that customers and potential customers would be so inconvenienced that all the businesses would be hurt or destroyed; and that these businessmen had been in their locations for many years which had helped to build 17th Street and had provided tax revenues for the City; and that there is no real need for the raised median. Om motion of Councilman Markel, seconded by Councilman Garthe, and unanimously (7-0) approved, the petition opposing the median proposal submitted was received and filed. The following persons also spoke in opposition to the median proposal: Dave Lemmons, representing Pizza Pete on 17th Street Wade Herrin, 1505 N. Baker, owner of Arco Station on 17th at Broadway Jerry Arnold, 8881 Pacific Avenue, representing Alpha Beta Market Henry Fernandez, 335 West l?th Street Aaron Silver, representing Aaron's Clock Shop Walter Cole, 321 W. 17th Street, Johnson's Orthopedic Dick Marshall, 617 West 17th Street Vic Silver, owner of 17th Street property between Jefferson and Ross The opponents expressed their opposition citing the same reasons as Mr. Pamplin. In addition they stated that the costs for construction and maintenance of the median would be prohibitive; that medians damage automobiles; that the businessmen between Ross and Bristol Streets should also have been notified of the hearing because logically their area would be next for the same proposal; and that Council should be more concerned with easy access to businesses on the street than with beautifying the street. There were no other opponents and no proponents; the Clerk reported there were no other written communications; the Mayor closed the Public Hearing. CITY COUNCIL MINUTES 75 FEBRUARY 18, 1975