• Sidewalk Width Amendment Proposed: The City Council held a special meeting to discuss changes to Austin's sidewalk ordinance, which originally passed in 1902. The amendment aimed to modify regulations governing sidewalk widths and vehicle passageway dimensions throughout the city.
• Committee Recommends Rejection: The Street Committee initially advised against passing the amended ordinance, but the council rejected this recommendation in a close vote (7-5).
• Ordinance Sent Back to Committee: After failed attempts to fast-track the amendment, aldermen voted to send the sidewalk ordinance back to the Ordinance Committee for further review, with support split nearly evenly (8-6).
• Contentious Council Divisions: The debate revealed significant disagreement among aldermen, with a consistent minority bloc opposing the street committee's position on multiple votes.
Full Transcript
Called meeting of the City Council Austin, Texas, 2/18th 1904 Hon W. D. Shelley President of the Council presiding Roll Called! Present Aldermen Crooken Haynes, Hume, Macken Maddas, Miller, Schneider, Shelley, Shumate, Smith Ulrich Absent Aldermen Moore, Nitschke, Redd Alderman Macken moved a Call of the Council which was seconded, and the Marshal directed to bring in the absentees. Aldermen Nitschke, Moore and Redd were brought in and answered their names. The Council being full the Call was suspended The following Call of the Council was read Austin, Texas, 2/18th 1904 A Special meeting of the City Council of the City of Austin, is hereby Called to meet in the Council Chamber City Hall at 8 o'clock P.M. this 18th day of February 1904, for the purpose of hearing the report of the Committee, and for taking such action as the Council may deem proper on, An Ordinance amending an Ordinance entitled "An Ordinance providing for a system of sidewalks for the City of Austin and fixing the relative widths of sidewalks and passageways for Vehicles on the Streets of City "passed Nov 8th 1902 and approved Nov 8th 1902, etc.
W. D. Shelley acting Mayor Jno. Nitschke H. B. Miller Geo. S. Hume A. H. Haynes J. S. Smith L. W. Crooken Jas. Macken F. W. Maddas
I, H. Montgomery, City Marshal of the City of Austin Texas, do hereby certify, that the foregoing named Aldermen have been served with the above Call by having it read to them in person. F. W. Maddas, W. H. Redd, J. P. Schneider, L. W. Crooken Jas. Macken, W. D. Shelley, Geo. S. Hume, F. W. Ulrich J. B. Nitschke, A. H. Haynes, J. H. Shumate, Geo. Moore J. S. Smith, W. O. Miller Respy H. Montgomery City Marshal
Alderman Nitschke for the Street Committee
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152 Report of Street to whom was referred the Ordinance, amending an on Sidewalks Ordinance Ordinance providing for a system of Sidewalks for the City of Augusta as presented [illegible] a report recommending that the Ordinance do not pass. Alderman Brooker moved that the report of the Committee be adopted, which motion was lost by the following Vote Yeas Alderman Brooker, Hume, Macken, Maddox, Nitsckke Redd, Shumate. Nays Aldermen Haynes, Willen, Moore, Schneiden, Shelley. Subject to the rules of The Ordinance was read the second time Alderman Willen moved to suspend the rules and place the ordinance on its second reading which Motion was lost by the following Vote Yeas Alderman Brooker, Hume, Macken, Maddox 8 Moore, Nitscheke, Redd, Shumate. Nays Aldermen Haynes, Willen, Schneiden, Shelley 6 Subject to the rules Sidewalk Ordinance Alderman Nitscheke moved to refer the ordinance referred to Ordinance to the ordinance Committee; which Motion prevailed Committee by the following Vote Yeas Alderman Brooker, Hume, Macken, Maddox Moore, Nitscheke, Redd, Shumate. 8 Nays Aldermen Haynes, Willen, Schneiden, Shelley Subject to the Rules. 6. On motion the Council adjourned. Geo. O. Johnson City Clerk