106 Minutes of a Regular Meeting of the City Council. Austin, Texas, June 15, 1896. Hon. Lewis Hancock, Mayor, Presiding. Roll Called. Present Aldermen Fischer, Glass, Goeth, Haynes, Simms, Platt, Powell, Roseingrav, Shelley, Stumple, Taylor and Townsend. 14. Absent Aldermen Beard, Glasscock, Kitschki, Read, Roberdeau, Schneider, Sobin and Zilker. 8. Alderman Goeth, moved to dispense with the reading of the minutes and that they be adopted as printed. Carried. Petitions. Box. of Chas. Skerzing for remis- By Alderman Fischer, Petition of Charles Skerzing asking to have sion of Pound fees pound fees on Cow refunded. Read and on motion of Alderman Shelley, granted. Box. of W B Davis to have Alley By Alderman Glass, Petition of W.B. Davis asking that the Alley in Block No 16 Opened. be opened in Block No 15 City. Read and on motion referred to the City Engineer with instructions to have same opened provided no statements made in the petition are true. Aldermen Read and Zilker entered the Council Chamber and answered to their names. Box. of M. Corbitt asking for By Alderman Horton, Petition of M. Corbitt, asking damages to damages to horse horse caused by falling through bridge on East Twelfth Street, Read and on motion referred to the Committee on Claims and Accounts. Box. of East Austin Hose Co. No. 2. By Alderman Haynes, Petition of East Austin Hose Companying for $276.00 asking that the Council appropriate the sum of $276.00 to reimburse them for amount expended for necessary repairs on their Hall. Read and referred to the Fire Committee. Communication from Supt. The Mayor laid before the Council and had read a communicaof W.W. read & ordered filed. tion from the Superintendent of Water Works & Street Light. On motion of Alderman Taylor the Communication was received and ordered filed. Report of Fire Comt on ord. Alderman Roberdeau for the Fire Committee, to whom was referred appropriating $68.15 to pay an ordinance appropriating the sum of $68.15/100 to pay for Bell Tower for Lumber in Austin Fire Co's in South Austin, presented their report recommending the passage Bell Tower of the ordinance. Report read and laid over to come up with the ordinances. Report of Fire Comt on City Alderman Powell for the Police Committee, to whom was referred Marshalls reports for months of the City Marshals reports for the month of May, 1876, presented May their report stating that the reports had been examined and found correct. On motion the report was adopted. Aldermen Schneider, Sobin and Roberdeau entered the Council Chamber and answered to their names. Ord. Comt. report on Ord. Alderman Simms for the Ordinance Committee, to whom was referred Amending Art. 118 Sec 3, Chapter 3 an ordinance amending Article, 118, Section 3, Chapter 3, of the Revised Revised Penal Code. Ordinances of the City, presented their report recommending passage of the ordinance. On motion of Mr. Simms, ordinance was read and adopted. Ord. Comt. report on Ord. Alderman Simms, from the Ordinance Committee, to whom was referred authorizing redemption of an ordinance authorizing the redemption of [illegible] City property sold for taxes. [illegible] [illegible] [illegible] [illegible] ordinance No [illegible], Sec. [illegible]. Approved, [illegible] --- Page break --- -107 Real Estate sold for taxes & sold for Taxes, and bid in by the City, presented their report, recommendbid in by the City ing the passage of the ordinance, which report was adopted. Ordr. Comte report on Resolution On the Resolution instructing the City Electrician to remove obstructions to instructing City Electrician to Electric wires, presented their report, recommending that the resolution remove obstructions to wires do not pass. The report was adopted. On motion of Alderman Fischer, Superintendent Maddox was excused from further attendance at this session of the Council. Special Committee on W & L Alderman Fischer, for the Special Committee to whom was referred System order. ask for further an ordinance amending certain sections of the ordinance relating time. granted to the Water and Light Systems of the City of Austin, presented their report stating that they had the matter under consideration, but had come to no conclusion, and asked for further time in which to report. On motion further time was granted the Committee. Special Com. on Pet of Citizens Alderman Fischer, for the Special committee of one, to whom was from 3rd Ward for Street work referred a petition of Citizens from the Third Ward, in regard to certain ask further time granted work on streets of said Ward, stated that he had been unable to give the matter the attention required and asked for further time, which was on motion, granted. Unfinished Business. Ordr. fixing minimum rates The Mayor laid before the Council an ordinance fixing minimum for W.L. read 3rd time & on rates for Water and Light Meter service. motion referred to Ordr. Comtte The ordinance was read third time, and on motion of Alderman Taylor was referred to the Ordinance Committee. Pet. of Tex Electric Co to erect The petition of the Texas Electric Company for permission to Corrugated Iron Shed granted erect a corrugated iron shed on lot 7, Block 98, within the fire limits was read a second time, and on motion the petition was granted. Ordr appropriating $750.00 to The Mayor laid before the Council an ordinance appropriating the purchase Reservoir Site read 3rd sum of $750.00 to purchase a reservoir site. time & laid over to next meeting The ordinance was read third time, and on motion was laid over until the next meeting of the Council. W. & L. Com's report regarding The report of the Water and Light Commission in regard to a reservoir Reservoir laid over was then laid before the Council, and on motion of Alderman Taylor was laid over to come up with the ordinances on the subject at the next meeting. Alderman Madd moved that the Council now take up the ordinances reported by the Ordinance Committee. Carried. Ordr appropriating $68.15 to The Mayor laid before the Council, with the report of the Ordinance pay for Bell Tower for So. Austin Fire Committee, an ordinance appropriating the sum of $68.15 to pay Hall for Bell Tower for South Austin Fire Hall. Passed The ordinance was passed under suspension of the rules by the following vote: Yeas, Fischer, Glass, Goeth, Haynes, Hotopp, Powell, Pressler, Roberdeau, Rosengren, Schneider, Shelley, Stumpf. 12. Nays, none. Ords. authorizing an assessment of The Mayor laid before the Council, an ordinance authorizing and directing the City Real Estate etc etc lying in Annex and Assessor and Collector to assess certain Real Estate, heretofore sold for taxes, and bid in by the City. Passed bid in by the City, and which has never been redeemed. Passed. --- Page break --- 408 by the following vote: Yeas Aldermen, Fischer, Glass, Gooch, Haynes, Horton, Lawless, Linn, Butt, Powell, Redd, Roberdeau, Rosengren, Schneider, Shelley, Stumpf, Taylor, Tobin, Townsend and Zilker 19. Nays None. Ord. Amending Art. 118 Title 3 Chapter 3 Revised Penal Ordinances Passed An ordinance amending Article 118, Title 3, Chapter 3, of the Revised Penal Ordinances of the City, was then passed under suspension of the rulesby the following vote: Yeas, Aldermen, Fischer, Glass, Gooch, Haynes, Horton, Lawless, Linn, Powell, Redd, Roberdeau, Rosengren, Schneider, Shelley, Stumpf, Taylor, Tobin, Townsend and Zilker 19. Nays None. New Business The Mayor read the following message to the Council: Mayors message on the management of W & E Plant Mayor's Office, July 15th 1896. To the Honorable City Council: Gentlemen: As you have under consideration the important subject of the management of the Water and Light Plant, it is my duty to lay before you such information and suggestions as may be of value to you. I am encouraged to do this by the belief that each and every member of the Council desires to dispose of this most important matter in the wisest and most beneficial way for the City's interests, and is desirous of obtaining from any source information that may throw light upon it. You have a right to hear from me in this spirit, and in this spirit I frankly give you my views, commending them to your consideration, and feeling confident that when you get all the light possible on the subject, you will exercise your best judgment for the City's good. The details of the organization of the commission or committee which shall represent you are not so important as the line of policy you may adopt in the management of the plant. If it is to be managed as an investment, a business enterprise, it must be managed as the best conducted private businesses are managed. I am convinced that both you and I want to run this plant on strictly business principles, and the only thing to find out is what business principles are, and I submit to you that if this plant belonged to a business man or a private corporation, the first thing would be to look for under its management a trained Electrical and Mechanical Engineer, a man who had shown by his work in charge of other similar plants that he was equipped to run this plant and get the best results out of it. I do not criticize the present Superintendent or the force under him. So far as I know they have done the best they could, and have been zealous and faithful. But I know that there is not now connected with the City government or the Plant a single, electrician, mechanic and, in fact, not a man having any experience in the management of such plants. This is no discredit to them, but it is a business matter, and it should be handled without any more sentiment, than would be exercised in a private business. --- Page break --- 409 Mayor's message tell us who makes errors in the past and explain how disasters occur after they have happened, as a man who can look forward and prevent them before they occur. Neither the Mayor nor the Water and Light Commission nor the Council possesses this training, nor can they acquire it. They are not elected for that purpose. All they can do is to secure the services of just such a competent man as a business man or a private business corporation would get, and hold him strictly responsible. There are plenty of such men in the country, for there are plenty of plants, that are no better than ours and costing no more money, that are today giving good satisfaction to their owners and their customers, because they are in the hands of trained and skillful engineers. We can get any of these men by paying them what their services are worth. In my opinion, the people of Austin are entitled to as good services as any private plant in the country, but I do not see how we can hope to give it to them unless we put our Plant in the same sort of hands. Entertaining these convictions, it is only proper that I should frankly state them to you. You have the matter now before you and therefore the responsibility is with you. Having fully given you my views, arrived at after much labor and thought, it is for you to meet the responsibility by exercising your best judgment in the City's interest. Respectfully, Lewis Hancock, Mayor. Alderman Linn moved that the message be printed in full in the minutes and that action on the Water and Light matter be deferred until the next regular meeting of the Council, which motion prevailed. Com. of 3 appointed to select names of six or more Citizens from which to select a Board of Equalization. Alderman Goeth moved that a committee of three be appointed to select the names of six or more citizens from which to select a board of equalization, which motion prevailed. Alderman Robideau was excused from further attendance at this session of the Council. Motion to reconsider vote had accepting resignation of the W&L Commissioners Alderman Goeth moved to reconsider the vote had at the last session of the Council, accepting the resignation of the three Water and Light Commissioners. Motion to table above vote. Lost Alderman Powell moved to lay the motion on the table. Lost by the following vote. Yeas Aldermen Glass, Haynes, Horton, Linn, Platt, Powell, Redd and Tobin. 8. Nays Aldermen Fischer, Goeth, Lawless, Rosengren, Schneider, Shelley, Stumbl, Saylor, Townsend and Zilker. 10. Motion to reconsider. Lost The motion of Alderman Goeth was then lost, by the following vote: Yeas Aldermen Goeth, Rosengren, Schneider, Shelley, Stumbl, Saylor, Townsend and Zilker. 8. Nays Aldermen Fischer, Glass, Haynes, Horton, Lawless, Linn, Platt, Powell, Redd, and Tobin. 10. --- Page break --- 410 Alderman Schneider moved that the Council now proceed to the election of three Water and Light Commissioners to fill vacancies. Alderman Taylor moved that a special committee of three be appointed to audit the accounts of the Water and Light Commission. Remaining Members of W. & L. Com. authorized to audit Accts of W. & L. Department & Fin. Com. authorized to approve same after being so audited. Alderman Horton moved as a substitute that the remaining members of the Water and Light Commission be authorized to audit the accounts of the Water and Light department and that the Finance Committee be authorized to approve the same after they have been so audited, which motion prevailed. Ord. appropriating $575.00 to pay principal & interest on remaining unpaid 10% bond issued prior to May 1890 Referred to Fin. Com. By Alderman Gorth, An ordinance appropriating the sum of $575.00 to pay the principal and interest on the one remaining unpaid 10% bond issued prior to May, 1890. Alderman Powell moved that the ordinance be referred to the Ordinances Committee. Alderman Fischer moved as a substitute that the ordinance be referred to the Finance Committee, which motion prevailed. Ord. appropriating $136.90 to pay for three horse hitch for A. H. & L. Co #1. Passed. By Alderman Roberdeau, An ordinance appropriating the sum of $136.90 to pay for one three horse hitch for Austin Hook and Ladder Company No 1. The ordinance was passed under suspension of the rules by the following vote: Yeas Aldermen Fischer, Glass, Gorth, Haynes, Horton, Lawless, Linn, Platt, Powell, Redd, Rosengren, Schneider, Shelley, Stumpf, Taylor, Tobin, Townsend and Zilker, 18. Nays, None. Ord. appropriating $5000.00 out of Earnings Fund to pay Approved Accounts of W & L system. Passed. By Alderman Townsend, An ordinance appropriating the sum of $5000.00 out of the Earnings Fund to pay operating expenses of the Water & Light Plant. The ordinance was passed under suspension of the rules by the following vote: Yeas Aldermen Fischer, Glass, Gorth, Haynes, Horton, Lawless, Linn, Platt, Powell, Redd, Rosengren, Schneider, Shelley, Stumpf, Taylor, Tobin, Townsend and Zilker, 18. Nays, None. Ord. appropriating $27,687.50 to pay interest due July 1st 1896 on W Works & E. L. Bonds of City of Austin. Passed. By Alderman Townsend, An ordinance appropriating the sum of $27,687.50 to pay interest due July 1st, 1896, on Water Works and Electric Light Bonds of the City of Austin. The ordinance was passed under suspension of the rules by the following vote: Yeas Aldermen Fischer, Glass, Gorth, Haynes, Horton, Lawless, Linn, Platt, Powell, Redd, Rosengren, Schneider, Shelley, Stumpf, Taylor, Tobin, Townsend and Zilker, 18. Nays, None. Names of Special Com. to select citizens to be voted for as a Board of Equalization The Mayor announced the appointment of the following as the special committee to select citizens to be voted for as a board of equalization, viz; Aldermen Gorth, Zilker and Lawless. On motion the Council adjourned. Jno O Johnson City Clerk