784 Regular Meeting of the City Council Austin Texas, April 06, 1903 Hon H. P. Shelley, President of the Council Presiding Roll Called Present Alderman Hume, Lowe, Maddox, Mortimer, Richede Read, Shelley, Shumate & Strumph 9 Absent Alderman Crocken, Davis, Schneider & Ulish 4 On motion the minutes of the last regular, and subsequent called meetings were approved as recorded by the Clerk, without reading Alderman W. H. Woodford entered the Council Chamber Petition Memorial The Chair laid before the Council a memorial from the Citizens Committee Citizens appointed some time since to Confer with the Water, Light Commission Committee and to aid it in devising ways and means for rebuilding the dam on rebuilding The following is the memorial in full: the dam Austin Texas April 6th 1903 To the Hon Mayor, City Council and Water, Light & Power Commission of the City of Austin Gentlemen! On January 20th 1902, the Water, Light and Power Commission requested the Mayor and City Council, and the following Committee of citizens, towit: J. D. A. McCall, F. L. Seagarden, S. F. Hamilton, D. H. Boswell, H. Fred [Jcan?], Joseph Littlefield, A. J. [Zicker?], B. B. Billingham, Walter Tips, F. H. Hooper, J. G. Ormand & Carl Mayer, to confer, and consult with the Commission, and aid it in devising ways and means for reconstructing the dam and Power House. The joint Committee met on Jany 22nd 1902, and after organization appointed a Committee on Cost of rebuilding the dam, and a Committee on ways and means The former Committee caused Run W. H. Foster, a Civil Engineer of Nashville, Tenn, to come to Austin and examine conditions. He made a report upon the cost of rebuilding the dam, which has been submitted to the Water Light and Power Commission. Mr Foster is entitled to the thanks of this City for having done this work free of Charge except his actual expenses which were paid by the Commission. The Committee on ways and means, believe that the only plan which would be feasible, is as follows: First Amend the Charter of the City so as to authorize either the City Council, or the Water, Light and Power Commis -sion (as may be deemed most advisable), (A) to sell or lease to a private Construction Company the franchise to build a dam across the Colorado River and to rebuild the banks formerly overflowed in the Millburn Lake McDonald? also to use the material formerly --- Page break --- Contained in the plan for the construction of the proposed new dam and (b) to contract with such Construction Company for a supply of water power sufficient to operate the City water, light and Power plant for a series of years. Second, that a Construction Company be formed and a Contract be made between it and the City whereby the former undertakes to rebuild the dam and to furnish the City water power therefrom for a series of years for the purpose of operating its plant; and the City, in consideration thereof, transfers to the Company, the property and franchises mentioned above and obligates itself to pay for the power furnished, an annual rental during the period named in the contract. Third, that absolute title to, and control over, all of the property and franchises revert to and re-vest in the City at the expiration of the Contract Period. After the requisite legislation is secured, careful and competent investigation should be made to ascertain (a) the cost of rebuilding the Dam and Power House and (b) the annual saving to the City which would result from the operation of its plant by Water Power. According to Mr. Foster's report the cost of rebuilding would be about $500.000.00! Supt. Pruse reports that the expense of fuel alone during 1902 was $34.743.27. Add to this increased cost of labor and wear and tear of machinery through operating by Steam and it seems that operating by water power would save about $52.000.00 Annually. If these estimates are approximately correct, it would seem feasible to organize a Construction Company with sufficient Capital in shares of $25.00 each, so that all of our interested citizens the much desired enterprise. In this way the people of the City themselves would rebuild the dam and would ultimately be repaid the amount advanced for the purpose together with reasonable interest thereon for the period of the loan. The money to repay these advances and interest would be realized not from Taxation or increased water and light rates, but from the savings incident to the operation of the plant by water power instead of steam power; and as the people themselves would constitute the Stock holders of the Construction Company, all fear of friction between that Corporation and the citizens of the City, or City Government would be removed. The undersigned Committee has caused publication of Notice for a Charter Amendment necessary to carry above plan into effect if possible. The Austin Statesman is generously publishing this Notice free of charge. The Mayor, City Council and Water, Light and Power Commission are respectfully and earnestly urged to request Governor Lanham to submit this Charter Amendment to the extra Session of the Legislature. Very Respectfully, Martin D. Fos --- Page break --- 786 Jno. Baswell A. P. Green Chas. Milan Geo. Littlefield G. A. Scott. John Orn A. A. Hooper C. A. L. Dead Alderman Mortimer moved that the memorial be received. Committee to and that a Committee of five, from the Council, be appointed to be appointed to act with a Committee from the Water, Light and Power Commission wait upon the and from the Citizens Committee, to call upon Governor Donham Governor and and request him to comply with the request contained in the ask to have Charter Memorial, which motion prevailed. Amendments The Chair stated that he would announce the Committee later submitted. The Chair laid before the Council a petition from Miss Nettie Luce, asking for damages, caused by falling on side walk on 77, 17th Street. Order Miss Nettie Luce Read and on motion referred to the Street Committee and Citydue for damages. Engineer. Alderman Davis Schneider entered the Council Chamber. Mrs. Pryor to The Chair laid before the Council a petition from Mrs. Pryor, asking have ground fees to have Certain Ground fees refunded. Read and on Motion was refunded. referred to the Committee on claims and accounts. On Motion of Alderman Maddox the City Attorney was excused from further attendance on this session of the Council, on account of important business. Reports of City Officers The Chair laid before the Council the reports of the City Clerk, the City Treasurer, the City Physician and the City Sexton for the month of March 1908, which were on motion referred to their appropriate Committees without reading. Reports of Standing Committees Alderman Nitscheke for the Street Committee presented the following report. Austin, Texas, April 6th 1908 Street Committee on To Hon. W. D. Shelley, Actg. Mayor and Board of Aldermen of the City of Austin: Streets Report Gentlemen: Your Committee on Streets beg leave to report that the advertising on March 21st bids for the construction of Storm Sewers, on 10th Avenue. All bids received were considered by your Committee too high. We therefore recommend that all bids be rejected. That we have revised the plans and specifications so as to provide for the construction of one Sewer, instead of two; and we have readvertised for bids for the construction of said Sewer, said bids to be opened at 12 o'clock noon on April 17th 1908. --- Page break --- 787. [illegible] Nitsche J. L. Hume H. M. Maddoy Committee on Streets On motion the report of the Committee was adopted, and their action in changing the plans and specifications, and readvertising for bids was adopted. Water & Light Com on report of services of c for water pipes The Chair laid before the Council a report from the Water & Light Commission upon the petition of Ann Seiders et al which had heretofore been referred to them. On motion the petition and report were referred to the Water & Light Committee. Capt. Park Com on Peace Park improvement Alderman Davis for the Joint Committee on Parks streets to whom was referred the question of improving Peace Park made a verbal report stating that they favored the matter and would introduce an ordinance appropriating the necessary money for doing the work. Unfinished business. Salaries of Alderman The Chair laid before the Council An ordinance appropriating the sum of $1300. for the purpose of paying Salaries of Aldermen for the remainder of the fiscal year of 1903. The ordinance was read the second time and was passed under suspension of the rule by the following vote: Yeas Aldermen Crocket Davis Hume Low Maddoy Mortimer Nitsche Add, Schelley Shumate Strumpf Weit 13 Nays None. The Chair laid before the Council the following special Veto Message Austin, Texas March 10th 1903. Mayor's Veto on the Culvert 5th Nueces st Gentlemen of the City Council: I return you herewith, without my approval, An ordinance entitled "An Ordinance appropriating One thousand and five hundred dollars to build a stone Culvert across Little Shoal Creek at the intersection of Nueces and 5th Street" for the following reasons: 1st There is not now, and not likely to be in the near future, a sufficient amount in the street improvement fund in the City Treasury, not otherwise appropriated, to keep in repair streets that are in constant use by the general public and to make other necessary improvements. The recent unprecedented rains have rendered many of our public thoroughfares almost impassible, and all funds in the City Treasury, available for such purpose should be expended thereon. 2nd It is not believed that the construction of this Culvert will be of any material benefit to the public, or necessary, for the convenience of the residents on said street. 3rd Little 5th street can be opened to and across Shoal Creek the construction of a Culvert at the point designated in the ordinance will be an absolute waste of the public funds. while I favor such improvement to relieve such unimproved I should be confined to localities where most needed and until such time as the --- Page break --- 788 funds will justify expenditures on isolated Streets Respectfully Submitted H.D.Shelley Actg Mayor Alderman Mortimen moved that the Council passed the ordinance appropriating the sum of $1000, for the purpose of building a stone Culvert across Littleshoal Creek at the intersection of Nueces and 8th Street be reconsidered which Motion prevailed. Alderman Nitochke moved that the ordinance do now pass notwithstanding the objections of the Actg Mayor, which Motion was lost by the following Vote Yeas Aldermen Maddas Mortimen Nitochke Reed Schneider and Weith - 6 Veto sustained Nays Aldermen Crooker Davis Hume Low Shumate Stumph 6 Not Voting Alderman Shelley 1 New Business By Alderman Maddas & Schneider An ordinance appropriating $5000. for the sum of $5000. for the purpose of paying interest due on & Interest refunding bonds and bonds to be refunded. X The ordinance was passed under suspension of the rules by the following Vote. Yeas Aldermen Crooker Davis Hume Low Maddas Mortimen Nitochke Reed Schneider Shelley Shumate & Weith 13 Nays None By Alderman Davis An ordinance appropriating the sum $300. to improve of $250.00 for the purpose of improving a Street to be opened up Cease Park on the east side of Shoal Creek and extending to Cease Park! Also for improving Cease Park The ordinance was read the first time and on motion the rule was suspended and the ordinance was placed on its second reading by the following Vote Yeas Aldermen Crooker Davis Hume Low Maddas Mortimen Nitochke Reed Schneider Shelley Shumate Stumph Weith 13 Nays None This ordinance was read the second time Alderman Nitochke moved to amend the ordinance by striking out the words "Street improvement and inserting in lieu thereof the words "General" which Motion prevailed Mr. L. A. Brush asked permission to address the Council on the Matter under consideration, which was granted Alderman Maddas moved to Amend the ordinance by striking out $250. and inserting in lieu thereof $300. which Motion prevailed Alderman Schneider moved to Amend by adding after the words "Street Committee" the following "The Park Committee of the Council and the Citizen's Park Committee The amendment was adopted, and the ordinance as amended was passed under suspension of the rules on the following Vote. --- Page break --- 789 Yeas Aldermen Groosken Davis Humme Low Wadday Mortimer Pritschewce Reed Schneider Shelley Shunnate Strumpff Meidt 13 Nays none Invitation to The Chair laid before the Council an invitation from H.Boute Chief of Firemen's Fete & Ball the Austin Fire Dept, inviting the Council to attend the Annual Firemen's Fete and ball. On motion the invitation was accepted. Alderman Nitscheke moved that a Committee be Cmte to Canvas appointed to canvass the Vote cast at the recent election for Vote in Off Officers of the Austin Fire Dept, which motion prevailed. Fire Dept The Chair appointed Aldermen Nitscheke Schneider & Strumpff as such Committee. Cmte to wait on The Chair announced the following as the Special Committee to act Governor & with a Committee from the Water, Light and Power Commission Legislature to and the Committee from the Citizens Committee to wait upon the amendments Governor and request him to submit to the Special Session of the Legislature the proposed Charter amendments. Viz: Aldermen Wadday Shunnate Groosken & Low. Water & Light Alderman Davis moved that the Water, Light and Power requested to put in Commission be requested to put in a fire hydrant in Pease Fire hydrant in Park, which motion was adopted. Pease Park The Special Committee appointed to canvass the returns of the election for officers of the Austin Fire Dept presented the following report Austin Texas April 8th 1906 To his Hon W.H. Shelley Acting Mayor of the City of Austin Your Special Committee appointed to Canvass the Vote for Department officers of the Austin Fire Department, beg leave to report that we Find the following results Fire Dept Wm. A. Die received 206 Votes officers F. O. Bobeck do 110 " Majority 46 for Wm. Die An Asst. Chief Julius Schutze received 269 Votes J.M. Reardon W.D. Johnson received 269 Votes Respectfully F.B. Nitscheke Chm. Election fire On motion the report was adopted. Dept officers Alderman Schneider moved that the election of officers Confirmed by the Austin Fire Dept be confirmed which motion prevailed. Wm Otto Alderman Shunnate stated that Wm Otto Bergstrom was Bergstrom present and desired to address the Council on the subject of Sidewalk pipe, Storm Sewers etc, and moved that he be heard which motion was adopted. Mr Otto Bergstrom then addressed the Council. --- Page break --- Aug meeting. Certain changes in the plans and specifications for the Storm Sewers. City Engineer Sneed was then asked to address the Council on the proposition of Wm. Bergstrom which he did. On motion the Council adjourned Jno. S. Johnson City Clerk