Regular Meeting of the City Council Austin Texas April 18, 1900 Alderman Mortimer Called the Council to order Roll Called Present Aldermen Mortimer and Stumff. 2 Absent Aldermen Dunham Fischer Glass Worniss + Nolen 5. Alderman Stumff moved that the Council adjourn until Friday, April 20th 1900, at 8 o'clock P.M. which motion prevailed Jno. O. Johnson City Clerk --- Page break --- 298 Adjourned Regular Meeting of the City Council Austin Texas April 20th 1900 Hon Geo. R. Wofford Mayor presiding Roll Called Present Aldermen Dunham, Poindexter Glass Morris Mortimer Nolen and Struckoff Nays None. 7 Alderman Dunham moved to suspend the regular Order of business and that the Council proceed to Canvas the Vote cast at the late election for Officers of the Fire Dept, which Motion prevailed – The Mayor appointed Alderman Dunham Poindexter and Glass as the Committee provided for in the Motion of Alderman Dunham. The Special Committee appointed to Canvas the Vote presented the following report, which was read and adopted. To Hon Mayor and City Council Your Committee appointed to Canvas the returns of an election of officers of the Fire Department held on March 19th 1900, beg leave to report that the returns show that the following officers were elected Joseph Whacken Chief Charles Froud ward Asst “ Jas. B. Shelton Recorder. G.R. Dunham J.A. Glass Francis Poindexter Alderman Morris moved to further suspend the regular order and that the Council proceed to the election of the various City Officers and employees, which are under the charter elected by the Council, which motion prevailed. Alderman Morris offered the following resolution which was read and adopted. Resolved by the City Council of the City of Austin that the following Officers be now filled by election by the Council in the following order Sanitary Inspector Pound Master City Sexton Bridge Keeper Weighman of the City & County Hospital Porter at City Hall The Mayor appointed Aldermen Poindexter Nolen and Mortimer as tellers and announced that nominations were in order for Sanitary Inspector. Alderman Mortimer nominated R.F. Bell Alderman Poindexter moved that nominations be closed and that the Clerk be directed to Cast the Vote of the Council for R.F. Bell for Sanitary Inspector. --- Page break --- which motion prevailed, and the Clerk then Cast the Seven Votes of the Council as directed. The Mayor announced that R.M. Bell had been duly elected Sanitary Inspector of the City of Austin for the ensuing Term. Nominations for Pound Master were next in order. Alderman Stumpff Nominated I.H. Powell and Alderman Dunham Nominated Bell Nolen. No further nominations being made Nominations were declared closed. The Tellers announced the following as the result of the Ballot Powell 3 Nolen 4 Mr. Bell Nolen having received a majority of all the Votes Cast was declared duly elected as Pound Master of the City of Austin for the ensuing Term. The Mayor announced that nominations were now in order for Sexton. Alderman Fischer Nominated W.L. Nitschke Alderman Glass moved that nominations close and that the Clerk be directed to Cast the unanimous Vote of the Council for Mr. W.L. Nitschke which motion prevailed and the Clerk Cast the Vote as directed. The Mayor declared W.L. Nitschke duly elected City Sexton for the ensuing Term. Nominations for Bridge Keeper being declared in order Alderman Rabun Nominated H.J. Malone and moved that nominations close and that the clerk be directed to Cast the Vote of the Council for H.J. Malone. The Clerk Cast seven Votes for H.J. Malone for Bridge Keeper and the Mayor declared H.J. Malone duly elected as Bridge Keeper of the City of Austin for the ensuing Year. The Mayor announced that nominations were now in order for Matron of the City and County Hospital. Alderman Fischer Nominated Mrs. A.F. Hamilton. Alderman Gellertinnen moved that Nominations be now closed, and that the clerk be instructed to Cast the unanimous Vote of the Council for Mrs. Hamilton, which Motion prevailed. The Clerk Cast 7 Votes for Mrs. Hamilton and the Mayor declared her duly elected as Matron of the City and County Hospital for the ensuing Term. Nominations for Porter at the City Hall being the next in order Alderman Glass nominated J.R. Kenada and Alderman Fischer nominated W.H. Harrison. The Tellers announced the following as the result of the ballot J.R. Kenada 4 Votes W.H. Harrison 3 Votes J.R. Kenada having received a majority of the Votes Cast the Mayor declared him duly elected as Porter at the City Hall for the ensuing Term. Alderman Fischer moved that in accordance with a resolution passed by the City Council at a former meeting, that Alderman Dunham and Stumpff be directed to proceed to destroy --- Page break --- 300 in the presence of the Council the three 5% water Light-bonds purchased in January last for the Sinking fund of the water Light-bonds. which motion prevailed The committee then proceeded to burn in the presence of the Council the following described 5% water Light-bonds of the City Viz Bonds Nos 596, 597, 598, with 122 Coupons (including Coupon for Apl 1900) to each attached Alderman Morris offered the following resolution, which was read and on motion referred to the Finance Committee, with instructions to report at the next regular meeting of the Council Resolution Be it resolved by the City Council of the City of Austin; Section 1. That it is the sense of the City Council of the City of Austin that the disaster to the Water, Light and Power plant of the City and the destruction of its dam across the Colorado River by the flood of April the 7th 1900, renders impossible the payment of interest and Sinking fund on the outstanding Water and Light bonds of the City, according to the terms and effect of said obligations. Section 2. That the legal owners and holders of said bonds are hereby invited to send a representative or representatives to Austin, to the end that an equitable and mutually satisfactory, adjustment of said indebtedness may, if possible, be arrived at between the City and the owners of its Water and Light bonds. Section 3. That a committee consisting of the Mayor, three Aldermen and the City Attorney be appointed to represent the City of Austin in said conference, with instructions to report the result of the conference to the Council for final action, together with such recommendations as to them may deem proper in the premises. Section 4. That the Mayor is hereby instructed to transmit to the bond-holders a copy of this resolution and to arrange for the holding of said conference if same can be done. Alderman Islass offered the following as a substitute for the resolution offered by Alderman Morris and asked that it be referred to the same Committee and it was so referred. Whereas, The recent affliction visited upon the City of Austin, through the breaking of her great granite dam and the destruction of her Power House, containing costly and magnificent machinery, for supplying our people with Water, Light and Power, has created a feeling of general despondency and discouragement which threatens to seriously cripple our business and industrial affairs, destroy confidence and possibly culminate in the removal of many families from our midst as well as other disastrous results; And whereas, The embarrassed condition of the Cities financial affairs --- Page break --- 301 is such as to imperatively demand the most serious consideration and call forth the wisest and most patriotic counsel attainable; Therefore; Be it ordained by the City Council of the City of Austin, that a Commission to be composed of, three Citizen taxpayers of the City of Austin to be elected by the City Council whose duties are hereinafter stated, and is hereby Created. The duties of said Commission shall be1 Do carefully inquire into the financial condition of the City, its resources, assets and liabilities; and also to collect such information as may be in their power, the terms upon which a settlement can be made between the City and its creditors, with the view of bringing to a settlement all controversies in which the City is now engaged. 2- At the conclusion of its investigations, to submit to this Council a report embodying the results of its labors, together with such suggestions and recommendations in the premises as they may deem advisable and for the best interests of the City to adopt3 Said Commission shall have the power to employ a clerk or accountant, at a salary not exceeding $100. per month, who shall be subject to its orders; and the sum of $500, or so much thereof as may be necessary to pay any expenses incurred by said Commission in the discharge of its duties, is hereby appropriated out of any funds not otherwise appropriated. Po 4. Alderman Rischen presented a petition of sundry pound fees. citizens whose stock had been turned out during the recent remitted - freshet - and had been taken up and impounded by the City asking that the pound fees paid by them to the City be refunded. The petition was on motion Granted. Po 5. Alderman Glass presented a petition from Henry Nall Finely In - asking that a fine imposed in the Mayors Court be remitted - remitted - the petition was recommended by the Mayor and on motion was granted. Po 6. Alderman L.B. Mortimer - petition from And. Pulliam asking A.S.Pulliam - permission to remove a Wagon scale from its present location authorized to corner of East Avenue & 6th street to a point on the west side remove wagon of East Avenue, near 6th street. On motion the petition was Scale - granted, the work to be done under the supervision of the City Engineer. Po 7. The Mayor laid before the Council a petition from S.A. Buchner as appeal - agent for the estate of E.A. Schenken, appealing from the action of the from eq - Board of equalization. On motion of Alderman Dunham the petition appeals - was referred to the special Committee on appeals. Po 8. The Mayor then laid before the Council a petition from Rosenburg Damage - asking damages from Water caused by overflow from one of claims & accounts - the City bridges during the late freshet. The petition was read Street Committee - and on motion referred to the Committee on claims and accounts and to the Street Committee. --- Page break --- 802 [illegible] [illegible] [illegible] [illegible] The mayor laid before the Council a Communication from W. S. James Esq. attorney for Pett in the Case of Dunn v. City which was read and in motion referred to the Finance Committee and City Attorney. appn to pay By Alderman Stumpff An Ordinance appropriating the sum of $180.50 to pay the salaries of civil law employees from April 1st to Dec. 31st 1900– The ordinance was passed under suspension of the rules by the following Vote Yeas Aldermen Runham, Fischer, Glass, Morris, Mertimen Nolan and Stumpff 7 Nays None appn for pay By Alderman Stumpff An Ordinance appropriating the Sum of $22.376.25 to pay the Salaries of Officers and employees of the City from April 1st to Dec. 31st 1900– The ordinance was passed under suspension of the rules by the following Vote Yeas Aldermen Runham, Fischer, Glass, Morris, Mertimen Nolan and Stumpff 7 Nays None appn to pay Sal By Alderman Stumpff an ordinance appropriating the sum of $1880.- to pay the Salaries of Drivers of Street teams from April 1st to Dec. 31st 1900– The ordinance was passed under suspension of the rules by the following Vote Yeas Aldermen Runham, Fischer, Glass, Morris, Mertimen Nolan and Stumpff 7 Nays None Simila Ordinance Alderman Nolan moved to reconsider the Vote by amended. which the Council passed the ordinance appropriating the sum of $180.50. to pay salaries of civil law employees. which Motion prevailed. Alderman Nolan then moved to amend the Ordinance by striking out in the Caption and the body of the ordinance the words and figures $1804.50 and inserting in the lien thereof the figurs and words $280.50. which Motion prevailed. The ordinance was then passed by the following Vote Yeas Aldermen Runham, Fischer, Glass, Morris, Mertimen Nolan and Stumpff 7 Nays None appn for Int By Alderman Stumpff An ordinance appropriating the sum of $2175.00 to pay the interest due April 1st 1901 on the funding bonds of the City The ordinance was passed under suspension of the rules by the following Vote Yeas Aldermen Runham, Fischer, Glass, Morris, Mertimen Nolan and Stumpff 7 Nays none --- Page break --- 303 By Alderman Stumpp An ordinance appropriating the sum of $290. to pay for repairs for Coloradotiose wagon the The ordinance was passed under suspension of the rules by the following Vote Yeas Aldermen Dunham Fischer Glass Morris Mortimer Nolen and Stumpp 7 Nays None By Alderman Mortimer An Ordinance appropriating the sum of $3095. to build a bridge across Waller Creek on East 7th Street. On motion the ordinance was referred to the street Committee without reading. By Alderman Stumpp An ordinance appropriating the sum of $1965 to pay for extra labor Fire Dept. refilling cisterns. The ordinance was passed under suspension of the rules by the following Vote Yeas Aldermen Dunham Fischer Glass Morris Mortimer Nolen and Stumpp 7 Nays None Council 15 Alderman Morris moved that hereafter the Meet 6:30 P.M. regular meetings of the Council be held on the First & Third Mondays in each month at 6:30 P.M. which motion prevailed. On motion the Council adjourned. Jno. G. Johnson City Clerk