Regular meeting of the City Council Austin Tex Feby 4th 1884 From J.W. Robertson President of the Council Presiding. Roll call present aldermen Schneider, Sutton, Hancock, Wills, Campbell, Quickell, Crocker, Odell, Carrington, H.S. Robertson, Hill, Clark, Erwin, Bruch and Brunner. Absent Aldermen Pillow, Schubert, Undersheill & Made On motion the reading of the minutes of January 21 1883 was postponed. Alderman Odell presented a petition from A.E. Emanuel asking the Council to remit a fine of $9.50. imposed against him in the recorders Court. Referred to the Police Committee. The reports of the City Assessor and Collector City Treasurer and City Clerk was read and referred to the Finance Committee. The report of the City Physician was read and referred to the Hospital Committee. The report of the City Sexton for Jan 1884 was read and referred to the Cemetery Committee. The report of the City marshal for Jan 1884 was read and referred to the Police Committee. Fines assessed in the Recorders Court for January 1884 $177.65 collection in cash $744.80 fines worked out $409.70 The Street Committee submitted the following report on the petition of W.H. Einburg To the Hon Mayor and Board of Aldermen Gentlemen Your committee to whom was referred the petition of W.H. Einburg asking permission to place a fence around some forest trees which are in the street, and for the purpose of preserving --- Page break --- The same from injury by stock or other causes would most respectfully beg leave to report that we have duly considered the same and recommend that the petition be granted D Blath Chairman Jno. W. Driskill On motion of Alderman Hancock the report of the street committee was adopted with the following amendment. That the Petition be granted upon the condition that the City shall at any time in the future have the right to cause the owner of said lots to remove the said walls and other obstructions The following report was received from the Street Committee on a petition asking for Street improvements on West Blanca and Hickory Streets To the Hon Mayor and Board of Aldermen Gentlemen Your committee to whom was referred the within petition asking for an appropriation of $3000.00 to be expended on West Blanca and Hickory street after duly con sidering the same beg leave to report that the appropriation of $1000. for improvements on the streets which can be used for that purpose asked for in the petition we would therefore recommend that the petition be not granted as prayed for R Blath Chairman Jno W Driskill The report of the Committee was adopted The following Report was received from the Street Committee on the Petition of Citizens asking for improvements on Lavaca street. (adopted) To the Hon Mayor and Board of Aldermen Gentlemen Your committee to whom was referred the Petition of Citizens of the 4th and 5th wards asking for im provements on the streets in said wards would most respectfully report that we have instructed the City Engineer to make the needed repairs as prayed for in the Petition Respectfully R. Blath Chairman Jno W Driskill --- Page break --- 450 Alderman Platt submitted the following report on naming the streets in the City To the Hon Mayor and Board of Aldermen Gentlemen The undersigned Street committee to whom was referred the matter of naming such streets in the City as were not named would beg leave to report that we have attended to that duty and respectfully submit the accompanying ordinance and recommend that the same be passed by your Honorable Body Respectfully B. Platt Chairman of street Committee The report was adopted and the ordinance accompanying the report was ordered published The Police committee was granted further time in which to report on papers referred to them Alderman Crooker submitted the following report for the Hospital committee To the Honorable Mayor and Board of Aldermen of the City of Austin Gentlemen Your Hospital Committee would recommend that the proper committee be authorized to advertise for bids for filling the prescriptions for the ensuing two years with authority to let to the lowest responsible bidder. We would also recommend that the City Engineer be authorized to make plans and specifications also an estimate of cost for building a pest house across the river on the property belonging to the City and report the same to the Council at the next regular meeting Crooker for Committee On motion of Alderman Hancock the Clerk was instructed to furnish the City Marshal with a copy of the report of the water and gas committee in regard to the removal of a hydrant on the corner of Beau and Colorado streets used by the street sprinkler. That the Marshal see the proper authorities and have the provisions of the report carried out. --- Page break --- The motion to strike out Section 12 was adopted. Section 13 was changed to Section 12. Section 14 was changed to Section 13. The motion to suspend the rules and place the ordinance on its third reading was lost. Alderman Hancock called up a Resolution introduced Jan 4th 1884 employing H B Barnhart as attorney in the case of E. D. Johns against the City and appropriating $75 as attorney fees and directing said Barnhart to prosecute the appeal of said Cause to the Supreme Court. The Resolution was read second time and then read third time under suspension of the rules and passed by the following vote Yeas Aldermen Schneider Dutor Hancock Wells Campbell J W Robertson Dichell Crooker Odell Carrington G L Robertson Hill Plath Ervin Brush and Blinn The Finance Committee introduced an Ordinance appropriating the sum of $1347.00 for the pay Roll for January 1884 and for expenses of the Fire Department for Nov and Dec 1883. The ordinance was read second and third time under suspension of the rules and passed by the following Vote Yeas Alderman Schneider Dutor Hancock Wells Campbell J W Robertson Crooker Odell Carrington Joy. G L Robertson Hill Plath Ervin Brush and Blinn. Alderman Crooker introduced an Ordinance appropriating the sum of $100. for the purchase of fire water troughs for the use of the City. The ordinance was read second time under suspension of the rules and then went over. His honor Presented the resignation of H B Kinney Jr as a regular police officer of the City. The resignation was accepted by the Council to take effect from its date December 24th 1883 --- Page break --- 453 The following resolution was introduced and adopted Be it Resolved By the City Council of the City of Austin That the street committee be and they are hereby directed to request the Capital Board of the State of Texas to repair and place in good order the side walks on the west side of the Capital grounds. Alderman Brunnen introduced an ordinance prohibiting opium dens and opium joints, and to punish the owners, proprietors, or persons in charge, of or visiting the same. The ordinance was read and then referred to the ordinance Committee. Alderman Wells introduced a Resolution directing the Street Committee and City Engineer to expend out of the $1000 appropriation fund for repairs on Westbash and Hickory streets. The Resolution was lost. Alderman Bush introduced the following resolution which was adopted. Whereas it has been currently reported that certain statements have been made in the City of New York which have a tendancy to injure and impair the Credit and financial standing of the City of Austin and retard the sale of the bonds of the said City of Austin now on the market in the City of New York. Therefore be it Resolved by the City Council of Austin that the finance Committee be and they are hereby directed to inquire into the number and extent of such statements and to ascertain if practicable the source from which they emanate and to report the result of such investigation to the City Council at its next meeting to the end that the Council may take the necessary steps to contradict in an official manner any, and all such damaging statements, and Report. Alderman G. Robertson introduced --- Page break --- 454 the following Resolution, which was adopted Resolved That the Finance Committee of the City Council be requested to report to the City Council at its next regular meeting as follows 1. The amount of the funded bonded debt of the City of Austin 1a. The date, rate of interest, time of payment, and security of each bond now outstanding 2d. The number, amount and date of all bonds issued under the funding ordinance passed about 1881 the agent selling the same and to what account the proceeds have been applied 4th. The number, amount and date of bonds issued under the amended Charter of August 1883 and to what account the proceeds have been applied 5th. What Bonds, if any, of the City are now being offered for sale and under what ordinance the same are authorized Alderman Erving introduced an ordinance providing that the owners of all property fronting on Pecan, Lavaca, Sabine and Nueces Streets Shall grade and pave the side walks in front of their property. The ordinance was read second time under suspension of the rules. Section 2nd was then amended by inserting after the words “said sidewalks shall be constructed of” the words “cement or”. The ordinance was then read third time under suspension of the rules and passed by a two thirds vote. Alderman Ervin introduced an ordinance providing that the City Auditor shall receive such fees of office as are now provided for by ordinance. The ordinance was then read second and third time under suspension of the rules and passed unanimously. On motion the Council adjourned Thomas L. Pennell City Clerk