anaheim-gazette 1963-12-26

Anaheim Public Library Anaheim, Calif. It's the Prettiest Time SCENES OF BEAUTY — Here, at 305 N. West Street, and at the other addresses given on this page, are some of the reasons the Christmas season is so lovely in Anaheim. (Gazette Photo) 729 ALVY 809 KENWAY 700 IV. CLEMENTINE est Time of the Year LIVING NATIVITY — A tivity scene featuring a sheep and a donkey, w of the Bethany Full Gospel Anaheim ESTABLISHED SINCE 1870: HOME CITY PARK Anaheim ESTABLISHED SINCE 1870 • HOME CITY PAPER Volume 91 No. 71 Anaheim, California, Thursday, Dec. 26, Disneyland-Knot Project Goes to AND '63 WAS A BIG ONE City Outlook for '64 By BOB PERLMAN As 1964 approaches, Anaheim's city government is looking forward to as busy a year as the one just past, according to City Administrator Keith Murdock. There are six major matters of unfinished business facing city government, plus a councilmanic election, he explained. During 1963, the city administrator noted, the city completed construction of a new fire station, a police building and a new main library. Anaheim also now has an 18-hole municipal golf course, as a result of completion this year of the second nine at the city's course. Water matters also came in for their share of city attention, with the voters approving $8.9 years study of a general plan and its adoption. The city council then constituted itself as an urban renewal agency and began studying the program with the aid of a special citizen committee. This committee's first report has been published and is now under council study, along with a proposal by Victor Gruen and Associates to act as the urban renewal consultant. Another citizen commits which has been active this year has been the charter study committee. Murdoch said he expedited a new city charter for Anaheim to go to the voters approval in 1964, possibly early as the April election. Sheraton Fate Seen Hanging on Illusion The fate of one of the largest hotels ever to be proposed for Southern California may well taken care of." Ettinger stressed Disneyland is very pleased with the idea. During 1963, the city administrator noted, the city completed construction of a new fire station, a police building and a new main library. Anaheim also now has an 18-hole municipal golf course, as a result of completion this year of the second nine at the city's course. Water matters also came in for their share of city attention, with the voters approving $8.9 million in bonds for the water and electrical system and sewer and storm drain improvements. The city also acquired the portion of the Dyke Water Co.'s within the city of Anaheim. While the water bond issue was passed this year the work is to start next year — including an 814-million reservoir in Walnut Canyon. Another major project carrying over from this year is the convention hall. As a result of the room tax the city council passed this year, the city anticipates being able to start construction on a convention hall next fall, with completion scheduled by 1964, tentatively, Murdoch said. As soon as site negotiations are completed, probably next month, the architect will be hired; with the convention hall manager to be retained shortly thereafter. Another major city enterprise, the urban renewal plan, got underway this year, following completion of several Sheraton Fate Seen Hanging on Illusion The fate of one of the largest hotels ever to be proposed for Southern California may well hang on the ability of its designer to accommodate it to a dream world. The hotel is the Anaheim-Sheraton, an $18-million project planned for a site at Ball Road and the Santa Ana Freeway, to include 750 rooms and ground floor shops. The dreamworld is Walt Disney's, and the problem is the fact that substantial portions of the hotel as now planned will be visible from large areas of Disneyland, where millions of people each year come from all over this world to find other worlds without 22-story buildings. "We already have a problem with a high-rise building — the Disneyland Hotel," says park spokesman Ed Ettinger. "But we knew about that in advance and were able to plan our New Orleans Square to shield the park from that view," he added. "When we get the square completed, with some light landscaping, that will be taken care of." Ettinger stressed Disneyland is very pleased with the idea having a big new hotel nearby, but is very concerned with the problem of intrusion from without. While private law suits signed to protect a property owner's privacy from something built on adjoining property had scant success in California Disneyland is in a special situation. The city council has put (Continued on Page 2) Council Ends Final Tours To Plan Hall Winding up the last of a seven city inspection tour of Western convention facilities, the city council has visited centers in Albuquerque and Portland and now is ready to assembly plans and information for action at home. During a two day trip last week the council found most of the construction faults previously collected, compounded; gathered new valuable information and heard reports of an industrial program, a field Anaheim is about to enter with renewed energy. Accompany the council were (Continued on Page 2) BETHANY FULL GOSPEL CHURCH IVING NATIVITY — A four-night living navity scene featuring a live cast, including sheep and a donkey, was presented in front of the Bethany Full Gospel Church this week at 121 W. Cypress St. Jeri Julian, owner of "Dusty," the donkey, portrayed Mary, and Joseph Breckenridge was Joseph. Sheep are owned by Frank Lents. (Gazette Photo) m Gazette THE CITY PAPER OF FABULOUS DISNEYLAND Saturday, Dec. 26, 1963 8 Pages Phone PR 2-1800 Knott’s Transit s to City Council U.S. Would Finance $21 Million Duorail Anaheim city councilmen are beginning their formal study of a private developer's plan to build a $21-million, federally financed rapid transit link between Disneyland and Knott’s Berry Farm, after a Christmas Eve presentation of the project before the council meeting. Public presentation of the transit plan, which must be sponsored by a city government to obtain the federal help, comes after a secret conference between councilmen and the developer, Dual Rail Aerospace Rapid Transit System, in the firm’s Los Angeles office. According to preliminary announcements, the four - to - six mile, elevated, dual - rail system would be of completely novel design, another requirement of the law permitting federal financing of the project. Some sort of commitment of $7 million in city funds would meanwhile, there was already some speculation the line — if successful — might be extended to other Orange County points, and ultimately into Los Angeles. There is, however, no indication of any planned tie - in between either the existing Disneyland monorail network or any projected Metropolitan Transit Authority rapid transit system. Stepped-Up County Fire Coverage Set Fire protection in the unincorporated areas of Orange County received an uplifting Monday as supervisors approved a "fire area plan." Basically the plan would allow residents in five county areas to increase their structural fire protection by allowing them to impose an increased tax upon themselves to pay for increased facilities and personnel. Public hearings on the proposal will be held Jan. 22, at 2 p.m. Residents will be allowed to voice their opinions and desires at that time. Under the area plan, residents of the area would determine how much protection they need and the county would assess them the additional amount to cover the cost. Second District Supervisor David L. Baker introduced the plan which he said "leaves the ultimate choice to the people." Proposed areas include the Tustin-Red Hill area, Laguna Niguel, Leisure World near El Toro, a strip between Anaheim and Stanton and a fifth area that would serve the University of California at Irvine.