189 Regular Meeting of the City Council. Austin Texas August 07, 1899 Hon Jno. D. McCall Mayor presiding Roll Call Present Aldermen Dunham Glass Morris Mortimer Nolen and Struff 6 Absent Aldermen Fischer 1 On Motion the minutes of the last regular meeting were approved as recorded without reading Petitions memorials etc Pet J. K. By Aldermen Glass Petition of Jno. K. Donnan asking action Donnan by the Council looking to the better protection of the City Cemetery. Read and referred to the Cemetery Committee Pet R. B. By Aldermen Mortimer Petition of R. B. Blackson asking Blackson remission of fine assessed in the Mayors Court. The petition was remission of endorsed by the Mayor as to one half of the amount of fine fine The petition as recommended by the Mayor was granted and the amount of $500 was remitted. Pet of Fred H Shelley By Aldermen Dunham. Petition of Fred H Shelley asking that for redemtion of certain he be allowed to redeem certain real estate heretofore sold to the City for property for back back taxes. On Motion of Aldermen Dunham the petition was taxes laid over to come up with an ordinance on the same subject, to come up under the head of new business Alderman Fischer entered the Council Chambers Reports of City Officers The Mayor laid before the Council the reports of the City Reports of Officers for the Month of July 1899. The following is a City officers synopsis of the reports, which were on motion referred to their appropriate Committees without reading By the Assessor & Collector Collections as follows General fund $ 1842.82 Int & Sinking fund W. L. bonds 502.29 " " sed " 44.40 School Tax 255.85 Total Collections $ 2645.36 Referred to the Finance Committee By the City Clerk Total Amount of warrants drawn against the General fund during the month $ 4692.60 Referred to the Finance Committee By the City Treasurer General fund. Balance on hand July 1st 1899 $10,492.86 " " Received from Collector during the Mo. '46 186 38 " " Paid Warrants during the Mo. $ 5656.29 Bal July 31 49 $ 51022.29 $ 56,678.94 --- Page break --- 190 Earnings fund Bal on hand July 1st 1899 Recd from Supt during the Mo. Paid Warrants during the Mo Bal July 31st 1899 $ 5.474.26 5.898.22 $ 5125.78 6246 70 ----------- $ 11.37248 $ 11.37248 Interest and Sinking fund old Bonds. Bal on hand July 1st 1899 Recd from Collector during the Mo. Balance on hand July 31st 1899 $ 1,803.49 3,276.24 $ 5,079.73 Interest fund Water and Light Bonds. Bal on hand July 1st 1899 Recd from Collector during the Mo. Paid warrant during the Mo. Bal July 31st 1899 $ 22,187.50 8,612.91 ----------- $ 30,800.41 Referred to the Finance Committee $ 12,285.50 18,514.91 $ 30,800.41 By the City Marshall Total fines Assessed in Mayors Court Paid in Cash Worked out Carried forward Collector on back fines Pound fees Collected Penalty fees from dog pound Total number of arrests during the mo. Referred to the Police Committee $ 216.25 208.00 85.75 $ 505.00 40.00 15.00 2.50 By the City Physician Number Patients in Hospital July 1st 99 " " admitted in " " " " dismissed " " " " died " " " " remaining " St. " " Visits to paupers in " " " Prescriptions " " " No Contageous or infectious diseases reported during the Month Referred to Hospital Committee 29 20 22 1 26 149 295 By the City Sexton Total number of deaths during the month White Col'd Male Female Referred to the Cemetery Committee 12 2 10 5 Still born 1 14 --- Page break --- 191 Reports of Standing Committees Alderman Stumpf Chairman of the Finance Committee to whom Report Com was referred the Message of the Mayor submitting Names for appointment as a Board of Equalization presented a report Board of recommending that the nominations be Confirmed. Equalization Alderman Dunham a Member of the Committee Concurred in the report of the Chairman as to James H. Smith, but recommended that the other names be not Confirmed. Alderman Glass moved that the reports lie over to come up under the head of unfinished business which motion prevailed. Rept Fire The Mayor laid before the Council the reports of the Fire Commissionrs Commissioners on the petitions of Martin son to ree over wooden on petitions shed and of Wm Babinass to repair wooden building, both Martin Son within the fire limits The reports of the Fire Commissioners & Wm Babinass rejecting both Petitions were adopted. Alderman Fischer from the Finance Committee to whom was referred Resolution Com the resolution directing the Mayor and Finance Committee on resolution to advertise for bids for furnishing the City with $12,000.00 in to buy bonds bonds for the sinking fund Water Light-bonds, Presented a for the Sinking Verbal report and submitting Certain letters from holders fund. of the bonds showing that the bonds could not be had except for a premium. The Committee recommended that the Council take some action looking to the purchase of some of the School bonds soon to be issued. Com instructed Alderman Fischer moved that the Finance Committee Confer to Confer with with the School Board and ascertain from them at what price Sch Board as to these bonds could be had and report to the next Meeting terms for bonds. of the Council, which motion prevailed Unfinished business Alderman Fischer Called attention to the report made by the Condemnation Street Committee at the last Meeting of the Council looking street on Lake to the Condemnation of Certain real estate on the Lake st on postponed Near the Dam. The acting City attorney stated that no action could be had until the October term of the Dist-Court, by which time the City Attorney would have returned and suggested that the matter might lie now for future action which suggestion was adopted by the Council and the matter laid over for future action Bond C.H. Alderman Dunham presented the bond of Mr B.H. Miller Miller as Spl Atty Special attorney to Collect Certain taxes also an agreement by etc said Miller as to a future bond if demandedOn Motion the bond was accepted and ordered filed Alderman Glass moved that the matter of the appointment of a Board of Equalization be taken up and acted upon which motion prevailed Alderman Glass moved that the nominations presented by the Mayor be Voted upon by ballot which motion was adopted --- Page break --- 192 The Mayor appointed Aldermen Mortimer & Halm as tellers The tellers announced the following as the result of the ballot Board of Equalization Vote in for Confirmation Against Confirmation James. H. Smith 6 1 J H Robinson Jr " 3 " 4 A J Zicker " 2 " 5 The Mayor declared that James. H. Smith having received a majority of all the Votes Cast for Confirmation had been duly Confirmed and that J H Robinson Jr and A J Zicker had failed of Confirmation. The Mayor then laid before the Council the following special Message Mayors Office Austin Texas Aug 7th 1899 To the Honorable City Council Gentlemen Mayor's Message You have seen proper in your wisdom not to Confirm the nominations of Mr A J Zicker & Mr J H Robinson Jr. as members of the Board of Equalization I beg leave to differ with you in this for the reason that Mr Zicker & Mr Robinson has the esteem and Confidence of this Community and I feel would be acceptable to the people As there is no disposition on my part to be captious about the matter I therefore present the following names, R.S. Harrison Henry Hirshfeld & J. A. Hooper for your Consideration, You can Select in the order named or as it suits your pleasure Respectfully Jas D. McCall. Mayor The Vote was then taken on the last-list submitted by His Hon the Mayor and the following announced as the result of the ballot- for Confirmation against Confirmation R.S. Harrison 1- 3 H Hirshfeld " " 3- " 3 J A Hooper " " 1- " 3 The Mayor declared that no one having received a majority for Confirmation, that all had been rejected and that he had no further nominations to offer Alderman Dunham Moved to reconsider the Vote just had, rejecting the Mayors nominations which motion was lost by the following Vote Yeas Aldermen Dunham Nolan & Stumpf 3 Nays Aldermen Fischer Glass Morris & Mortimer 4 Alderman Fischer moved that the Council Proceed to the consideration of other business which motion prevailed by Alderman Dunham An ordinance allowing Fred H Shelley to re-deem the North 1/3 of outLot No 20 --- Page break --- 193 FW Shelley Division "E" to redeem prop sold for taxes, Herefore sed to the City for Taxes The ordinance was read the first time, Alderman Glass moved to refer the ordinance to the Committee on Claims + Accounts which motion prevailed Alderman Dunham moved to reconsider the Vote just taken referring the ordinance to the claims + accounts Committee which motion prevailed, and the ordinance was passed under suspension of the rules by the following Vote Yeas Aldermen Dunham Fischer Glass Morris Mortimer Nolen + Stumpf 7 Nays None. On motion of Alderman Glass leave of absence for 30 days was granted on R. S. Graves. On motion of Alderman Morris leave of absence for two weeks was granted to City Treasurer W. B. Byrne Commencing Aug 14th 1899. app $280.00 pay extra driver of team By Alderman Fischer an ordinance appropriating the sum of $280.00 to pay salary of one extra driver of street team from June 1st to December 31st 1899. The ordinance was passed under suspension of the rules by the following Vote Yeas Aldermen Dunham Fischer Glass Morris Mortimer Nolen and Stumpf 7 Nays None. app $350. to build an extension in South Park By Alderman Fischer an ordinance appropriating the sum of $350.00 to fill in roadway across Newings branch in South Austin - The ordinance was passed under suspension of the rules by the following Vote Yeas Aldermen Dunham Fischer Glass Morris Mortimer Nolen and Stumpf 7 Nays None. Corporation Court By Alderman an ordinance to provide for the election of a Recorder and Clerk of the Corporation Court of the City of Austin, and to put said Court into operation The ordinance was read the first time and on motion of Alderman Morris was referred to the ordinance Committee app aff'd a/cs By Alderman Stumpf an ordinance appropriating the sum of $1154.54 to pay approved accounts The ordinance was passed under suspension of the rules by the following Vote Yeas Aldermen Dunham Fischer Glass Morris Mortimer Nolen and Stumpf 7 Nays none Alderman Morris offered the following resolution which was read and adopted Resolved by the City Council of the City of Austin That the street crossings that are, and the two to cross be and they are hereby instructed to have Lavacca street between first and Second streets --- Page break --- 194 properly Graded Tel & Tel Co. to Construct underground ground Conduits By Alderman Morris an ordinance to authorize the South Western Telegraph and Telephone Company to Construct underground Conduits for laying and Conducting its wires through, across and along certain Streets and alleys of the City of Austin The ordinance was passed under suspension of the rules by the following Vote Yeas Aldermen Dunham Fischer Glass Morris Mortimer Nolen and Strumpf Nays None Amendy ordinance Electric wires By Alderman Strumpf an ordinance entitled an ordinance To amend an ordinance passed by the City Council of the City of Austin on the 1st day of October AD 1894 and approved by the Mayor of Said City on the 4th day of October 1894 entitled, "An ordinance regulating the running and Maintainance of electric wires and plants in the City of Austin" by adding after the end of Section 28 of Article 1. of said ordinance sections 29. 30. 31. 32. 33 & 34 The ordinance was read the first time, and on motion was referred to the Water & Light Committee Invitation to attend lecture at Hyde The Mayor then laid before the Council an invitation from Lodge A Pinta voters inviting the Council to attend a lecture to be delivered at Hyde Park on Thursday evening by Mr A. C. Hyde. On Motion the invitation was accepted and the Clerk directed to notify the parties. Invitation to attend Convention of American Municipalities The Mayor then laid before the Council an invitation from the League of American Municipalities extending to the Council and City officers an invitation to attend their third annual Convention to be held at Syracuse N. York Sept 19th to 22nd 1899. On Motion the Clerk was directed to acknowledge receipt of the invitation and the invitation ordered filed. J. G. Goodbaun Hay Wagons Alderman Mortimer presented a communication from J. G. Goodbaun complaining that Hay wagons were in the habit of standing in front of his premises, eating Melons and leaving the rinds in the Streets, thereby Committing a Nuisance. That he had made complaint to the City Marshall and Health officer but without resultand asked that the Council take the matter in hand. On Motion the Communication was referred to the Market Committee with instructions to report at the next regular meeting of the Council. [illegible] Bill of the Victor Light Plant of the City of Austin for incandescent Light furnished Police Station was read and ordered paid. On Motion the Council adjourned M. I. L. Shyson City Clerk