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1955 MAY 13 CC MIN472 E1 Segundo, California May 13, 1955 An adjourned regular meeting of the City Council of the City of El Segundo, California, was held in the Council Chamber of the City Hall of said City on the above date, having been called to order at 8:30 otclock A. M. by the City Clerk, the Mayor being absent. Moved by Councilman Swanson, seconded by Councilman Baker, that Councilman Gordon be appointed Mayor pro tem. Carried. Councilman Gordon thereupon assumed the duties of the Mayor. ROLL CALL Councilmen Present: Baker, Swansoh and Mayor pro tem Gordon; Councilmen Absent: Frederick-and Mayor Selby. Moved by Councilman Swanson, seconded by Councilman Baker, that the regular order of business be suspended. Carried. City Engineer Webb presented for the Councilts consideration and approval street plans and sewer plans for Tract No. 21603. Moved by Councilman Baker, seconded by Councilman Swanson, that Street Plans for Tract No. 21603, consisting of one sheet, and Sewer Plans for Tract No. 21603, consisting of one sheet, be approved by this Council and ordered placed on file in the office of the City Engineer. Carried by the following vote: Ayes: Councilmen Baker, Swanson and Mayor pro tem Gordon; Noes: Councilmen None; Absent: Councilman Frederick and Mayor Selby. At this time Mr. L. T. Mariner, representing the Department of Water and Power of the City of Los Angeles, introduced himself and Messrs. Graine, Higgenbotham, Sims and Ramage, representatives of said Department who were present at this meeting to discuss the proposed acquisition of rights -of -way for construction of power transmission lines to convey power generated at Scattergood Steam Plant. Mr. Mariner explained the problems that face the Department in pro- viding additional power due to water shortages in the Colorado River, and stated that after looking over several additional sources they had come to the conclusion that a site on the Santa Monica Bay would be the most desir- able; that additional problems have presented themselves in transmitting the power into the City of Los Angeles to bypass airports with the trans- mission lines and that they had found a valley just easterly of SS the sand dunes which would be low enough to carry power lines without interfering with flight plans. He further stated it would be necessary to acquire a strip of land appro >--imately 200 -feet wide and had found such a strip in the City of E1 Segundo which is substantially unimproved. He thereupon delivered to each member of the Council present a copy of a map upon which was delineated the property proposed to be acquired either by condemnation or by acquisition and stated it is the policy of the Department of Water and Power to acquire property, so far as possible, by negotiation. Mayor pro tem Gordon inquired why the City of Los Angeles could not -1- L locate its plant along the beach frontage as the Southern California Edison Company has done, and Mr. Mariner explained that the property northerly of what would be the westerly terminus of Grand Avenue has been acquired by the State of California, Department of Beaches and Parks, which it has leased to the City of Los Angeles for playground purposes and that the City of Los Angeles cannot bring suit against the State for eminent domain. Mayor pro tem Gordon then stated there is a valley on the westerly side of the sand dunes in the City of Los Angeles and inquired why the City could not use that for its power line. Mr. Mariner stated that it would require a strip 200 -feet wide for the type of construction proposed; that the height of the transmission poles will be approximately 65 feet and in order to attain that height it must have a wider right -of -way than ordinarily, also that it would be necessary to middox cut down the sand dunes in order to cross same with the power line to connect with the proposed steam plant. Mayor pro tem Gordon then inquired if the operation of the plant *. 4ould cause any smog or smoke to come out of the stacks which might be car- ried into the City of El Segundo by the southwesterly winds. Mr. Mariner replied that a great deal of thought is being given to that feature; that stacks now being erected on a similar construction project in the San Fernando Valley are approximately 200 feet in height and that ex- pensive machinery is being installed in that plant for that particular pur- pose; that it is the general idea that the stacks on the proposed new plant southerly of Grand Avenue will be 300 -feet in height and the method of separ- ation and precipitation of smoke particles to be installed will be better than is being installed in the Edison Plant. Councilman Swanson inquired if the tanks would be visible to resi- dents and Mr. Mariner answered in the affirmative, and Councilman Swanson suggested the planting of trees on the easterly side of the site and land- scaping to obstruct the view of tanks as much as possible. Councilman Baker stated that certain of property proposed to be. taken by the Department is property set up for recreation purposes on the Master Plan of Recreation, and Mr. Mariner stated that would be taken into considera- tion and some satisfactory solution arrived at. Discussion was also had as to depreciation in residential values in the vicinity of the proposed plant and Mr. Mariner stated that in a recent similar installation in the San Fernando Valley no depreciation in residential values had been noted and house development was going along just the same. He also stated in answer to inquiry, that the transmission lines would have no effect upon television reception. Inquiry was then made as to how property owners would be recompensed for property taken by the City of Los Angeles and Mr. Graine stated that the Department has several appraisers and outside appraisers will be employed and when the appraisals have been made an attempt will be made to work with the property owners on a negotiated basis; that appraisals are made on a market and replacement value and if amicable arrangementcannot be made, the matter will go to court. Mr. Mariner then brought up the matter that it would probably be necessary to request the City of E1 Segundo to vacate public streets over which the City of Los Angeles would obtain right -of -way and upon inquiry by Councilman Swanson, stated that proper turn - abouts would be made at the westerly end of the streets after vacation; that where streets are already improved, the City of Los Angeles would pay the cost of constructing cul -de- sacs, and where streets are not improved but improved in the future, the I= 4'73 yK 474 City of Los Angeles would stand its share of the cost of the improve- ment. He further stated that if property has not been acquired and vacation proceedings not completed by the time the City of Los Angeles is ready to construct its line, it may request the City Council to grant the City of Los Angeles right to cross streets prior to their vacation. City Engineer Webb stated that he had been advised by Mr. Harding, Engineer for the Board of Public Works, that plans and specifications have been completed for the realignment of Grand Avenue and that it is his under- standing that said Board is awaiting bda notification that property has been acquired, which will be necessary for the new street. Mr. Mariner then stated that the present problem confronting the Board of Public Works is disposal of a large amount of sand which will have to be removed to allow the street improvement and so far no place had been found for this disposal. Mr. Higgenbotham also stated that the Title Insurance and Trust Company hold drilling rights on some of the property and insist that the Department of Water and Power provide them with other locations for drilling, and he stated he felt this matter would be taken care of in the near future. Mayor pro tem Gordon then thanked the representatives from the City of Los Angeles for explaining the matter to them and Mr. Mariner expressed appreciation on behalf of himself and associates for being allowed the oppor- tunity to present the problem. City Administrative Officer Udall stated there appears to be a con- troversy brewing in Congress with respect to the matter of Federal regula- tion of gas prices on natural gas at its source in the fields, and that it is proposed to take this matter out of the hands of the. - Federal Power Com- mission; that Mayor Selby had requested a resolution be sent to proper representatives in the House of Representatives in Washington, and he there- upon read to the Council form of resolution so prepared. Thereafter, it was moved by Councilman Baker, seconded by Councilman Swanson, the following resolution be adopted: RESOLVED, that the City of El Segundo, California, acting through the Mayor and City Council of said City does hereby support the principle that the production and gather- ing of natural gas, including the sales thereof in the field where produced, shall be conducted on a competitive basis free of federal regulation and that the United States Congress be and it is hereby petitioned to amend the natural gas act to achieve that end; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that since the so- called Hinshaw Bill (H.R. 4675) and the so- called Fulbright Bill (S. 1853) now pending before the present Congress will accomplish the end above referred to, that said City through its Mayor and City Council does hereby support the above mentioned bills and does respectfully request that one of said bills be enacted into law at the earliest possible time; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a certified copy of this res- olution be • forwarded to each. of the following: The Honorable Warren G. Magnuson Chairman of the Senate Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce Senate Building Washington, D. C.; -3- `7 The Honorable J. Percy Priest Chairman of the House Interstate and Foreign Commerce Committee House Office Building Washington, D. C.; The Honorable Carl Hinshaw Representative in Congress from the 20th Congressional District of California; and The Honorable Cecil R. King Representative in Congress from the 17th Congressional District of California as the earnest petition and request of the City of E1 Segundo, California, in the premises. Carried. No further business appearing to be transacted at this session, it was moved by Councilman Baker, seconded by Councilman Swanson, the meeting adjourn until Thursday :__t4ay�-'19, 1955, at the hour of 4 :13 ofclock P. M. Carried. Approved: ? Mayor QC Respectfully submitted, ';I'� —r), - g�� Neva M. Elsey, City Clerk 475