• Water Infrastructure Expansion: City council met to approve locations for new 6-inch water mains across Austin streets, with aldermen from different districts proposing specific neighborhoods for pipe installation.
• Funding Through Bonds: The meeting focused on whether the city should increase its bonded debt to finance the water pipe extension project.
• Payment Plan for Water Bills: Council considered allowing residents to pay property taxes using water and light bills, with revenues going toward bond interest and maintenance costs.
• Close Vote on Pipe Routes: The resolution approving the proposed water main locations passed narrowly (10-6), indicating disagreement among aldermen about which streets should receive pipes first, including a last-minute addition of Cypress Street and boulevard sections.
• Delayed Decision: A special committee requested more time to review the water revenue ordinance, postponing final approval on how the city would manage finances from the new water system.
Full Transcript
174
Minutes of a Called Meeting of the City Council. Austin, Texas, June 20, 1895. Hon. John McDonald, mayor, presiding. Roll call. Present- Aldermen Gaeth, Haynes, Linn, Powell, Roberdeau Payler, Warmoth- 7. Absent- Aldermen Anderson, Asmann, Fischer, Glass, Glascock, Hume, Jackson, Lawless, Nitschke, Platt, Redd, Schneider, Shelley, Tobin, Townsend- 15. Alderman Payler moved a call of the council. Carried. On motion of Alderman Powell a recess of 10 minutes was taken. The roll was then again called with the following result: Present- Aldermen Anderson, Asmann, Glass, Glascock, Gaeth, Haynes, Linn, Nitschke, Powell, Redd, Roberdeau, Schneider, Payler, Townsend, Warmoth- 15 Absent- Aldermen Fischer, Hume, Jackson, Lawless, Platt, Shelley, Tobin- 7. On motion of Alderman Linn the call of the council was suspended. The following was read. Austin, Texas, June 19th 1895 Call note. To the Members of the Board of Aldermen of the City of Austin. Gentlemen: We, the undersigned members of the Board of Aldermen of the City of Austin, Texas, hereby call a special meeting of the City council of the City of Austin to assemble in the council chamber at the city hall Thursday, June 20 1895, at 8:00 p.m. for the purpose of adopting a plan of the proposed extension of water pipes by the city upon the streets of said city, in the event the proposed extension of the bonded indebtedness is authorized; and for the further purpose of further considering an ordinance entitled An ordinance to authorize the receipts of the City of Austin for water and light to be received by the city tax collector at par in payment of the tax levied for the year 1895, and thereafter to pay the running expenses, interest and sinking fund on the water and light bonds. E.H. Glascock, W.C. Redd, C.E. Anderson, H.L. Haynes A. Platt, George R. Asmann. Austin, Texas, June 20th 1895, 5 P.M. I hereby certify that the following aldermen have been served with the above "call by having it read to each of them in person, viz: Anderson, Asmann, Glass, Glascock, Gaeth, Haynes, Hume, Jackson, Lawless, Linn, Nitschke, Platt, Powell, Redd, Roberdeau,
--- Page break ---
Schneider, Shelley, Paylor, Pobin, Townsend and Warmoth and that Alderman Fischer has been served by a true copy having been left at his place of business, he being out of the city. James E. Lucy, City Marshal Alderman Linn moved that the council proceed with the business embraced in the call. Carried. Alderman Glass moved that the council take a recess of ten minutes in order to examine the map showing the lines of pipe. Carried. Upon being called to order the roll call showed the following: Present- Aldermen Anderson, Assmann, Glass, Glascock, Garth, Haynes, Linn, Nitschke, Powell, Redd, Rober- dean, Schneider, Paylor, Pobins, Townsend, Warmoth- 16 Absent- Aldermen Fischer, Hume, Jackson, Lawless Platt, Shelley- 6. Alderman Glascock presented the following: Resolved, That the lines drawn on the city map of water mains to be located as per suggestions of the aldermen of the severalwards shall be the true location of said 6-inch water mains". Adopted by the following vote: Yeas- Aldermen Anderson, Glass, Glascock, Haynes, Linn, Redd, Roberdean, Paylor, Townsend, Warmoth-10 Nays- Aldermen Assmann, Garth, Nitschke, Powell, Schneider, Pobin- 6. Alderman Schneider, for the special committee to whom was referred the ordinance mentioned in the call, asked for further time in which to report. His request was granted. Alderman Linn moved that the council adjourn. Lost by rising vote of 5 to 9. By Alderman Schneider- Resolved, That the map in regard to line of pipes be so amended as to include Cypress street in front of blocks 27, 28 and 29 and 600 feet on the boulevard running West from Walsh Street. Adopted. The Council then adjourned. Milton Morris, City Clerk.