464 . Regular meeting of the City Council : Austin, Texas, March 30, 1916: The Council was called to order by the Mayor: Roll called : Present Mayor Wooldridge, Councilmen Anthony, Bartholomew, Haynes & Powell 5 Absent none: The minutes of the last regular and subsequent recessed meetings were read and adopted : Unfinished business : Paving Guadalupe St The Mayor laid before the Council a resolution ordering the improvement of Guadalupe street from the north property line of 24th street to the north property line of 27th street, in the City of Austin ,and approving specifications proposals and contract and bond therefor, which resolution was introduced and read the 1st time on the 23rd of March 1916. The resolution was read the 2nd time and passed by the following vote : Yeas Mayor Wooldridge, Councilmen Anthony, Bartholomew, Haynes & Powell 5 Nays none: Approved, A P Wooldridge, Mayor. Paving Rio Grande St The Mayor laid before the Council a resolution ordering the improvement of Rio Grande street,in the City of Austin, from the north property line of 6th street to the north property line of 19th street, and approving specifications proposal, contract and bond therefor, whic resolution was read the 1st time on the 23rd day of March 1916, and laid over for one week. The resolution was adopted by the following vote : Yeas Mayor Wooldridge, Councilmen Anthony, Bartholomew, Haynes & Powell 5 Nays none. Approved, A P Wooldridge, Mayor The Mayor laid before the Council a resolution ordering the improvement of a certain part of Rio Grande street, from the north property line of 19th stre to the north property line of 28th street ,in the City of Austin, and approving specifications, proposal, contract and bond therefor, which resolution was read the 1st time on the 23rd day of March 1916, and laid over for one week. The resolution was read the 2nd time and passed by the following vote: Yeas Mayor Wooldridge, Councilmen Anthony, Bartholomew, Haynes & Powell 5 Nays none. Approved, A P Wooldridge, Mayor. Giles Harris Drivers License The Mayor laid before the Council an application from Giles Harris, for Drivers license, which was granted by the following vote: Yeas Mayor Wooldridge, Councilmen Anthony, Bartholomew, Haynes & Powell 5 Nays none. --- Page break --- Councilman Powell offered the following resolution : Resolution approving City Engineers reportconcerning improvement of west 12th street in this City ,from the west property line of Colorado street to the east property line of West Avenue,and directing a hearing to property owners concerning the assessment for a part of the cost of such improvements against them and their property,fixing a time for said hearing and directing that a notice be given to said property owners concerning the said hearing: Whereas, the City Council of the City of Austin has heretofore determined to improve west 12th street ,from the west property line of Colorado street to the east property line of West Avenue,in the City of Austin by paving the same with Bitulithic pavement upon gravel concrete foundation with concrete gutters along curblinesand necessary excavation, and has adopted specifications for said work and has entered into a contract for the same with the Texas Bitulithic Company ,a corporation; and Whereas, the City Engineer of the City of Austin has this day filed his report in writing with the City Council ,showing the total cost of the said improvements upon the said street the amount per front foot of abutting property to be paid by the owners thereof and also the names of persons, estates or Corporations owning property abutting on said improvements ,with a description of their property and a statement of the total amount payable by each of said owners for said improvements; and Whereas, the City Council has examined the said report and finds the same correct; and Whereas, the necessity exists that a portion of the cost of said improvements should be assessed against said property owners and their property,subject to the terms of the Charter of the City and the ordinance in such cases made and provided, and after due notice and hear -ing provided by said Charter and ordinance; Now, therefore, Be it resolved by the City Council of the City of Austin, Texas : 1. That the said report of the City Engineer be, and the same is hereby approved and adopted. 2. That a portion of the cost of the making said improvements shall be assessed against said owners of property abutting on West 12th street in this City ,from the west property line of Colorado street to the East property line of West Avenue,in the City of Austin and against said property ;that the said assessment shall be made at the rate of $ 3.3385 per front foot of such property in accordance with the "front foot" rule or plan in propor- -tion as the frontage of each owner in each block of said street is to the whole frontage in that block to be improved, provided that if said rule of apportionment shall appear to the City Council to be unjust or unequal in any particular case ,or to result in an assess- -ment in excess of the benefits received through said improvements by any owner or his property , the City Council shall adopt such rule of apportionment as shall effect substan- -tial equality and justice between said property owners ,considering benefits received by and burdens imposed upon said owners ,and that in no case shall any assessment be made in excess of the actual benefits received by the owners of said property through the enhanced value thereof by means of said improvement. 3. That a hearing shall be given before the Council to said property owners on the 13th day of April A D 1916, at 10 O'clock A M , at the Mayors Office in the City Hallin the City of Austin, Texas; at which hearing said property owners ,their agents or attorneys shall be fully and fairly heard as to all matters concerning the said improvements or any irregularity or invalidity in the proceedings with reference thereto,or as to the --- Page break --- 200 .benefits thereof ,if any, to their property,and as to the assessment proposed to be made against them and their property,and as to any other matter or thing connected therewith.At which hearing the sais owners shall have the right to produce witnesses and testimony, and which rearing shall be adjourned from tire to time and from day to day until all are fully heardand all matters in oon- xin with the said improvements and assessment fully as oretained; that after the said hearing shall be closed ,said City Council will proceed to assess against owners of property upon said street and their property who shall agree with said Councilupon the said assessments,such sums as may be so agreed upon and determined by the Charter of the City and the said ordinance; and that as to any such property owners who may not so agree,the City Council will, after said hearing,appoint a commission to determine said assessments,and will take such further steps in ascertainment thereof as are provided by the Charter and ordinance. 4. That the Supt of Streets and Public Improvements of the City of Austin is hereby directed to give notice hereof to the said property owners ,their agents and attorneys by pyblication of a copy of this resolution not less than twice in the Austin Statesman ,a daily paper of general circulation in the City of Austin ,the first publication to be not less than five days prior to the date of hearing . 5. That this resolution shall take effect from and after its passage. The resolution was adopted by the following vote: Yeas Mayor Wooldridge, CouncilmenAnthony, Bartholomew, Haynes & Powell 5 Nays none, Approved , A P Wooldridge, Mayor. Councilman Powell offered the following resolution : A resolution finally accepting pavement and improvement of Red River street from the north curb line of 6th street to the south property line of 11th street and from the south property line of 12th street to the south property line of 16th street: Whereas, the Supt of Streets and Public Improvements has filed his report Paving Red River [illegible] accepted with the City Council to the effect that the Texas Bitulithic Co has completed the work of paving and improving of Red River street,from the north curb line of 6th street to the south property line of 11th street ,and from the south property line of 12th street to the south property line of 16th street,excepting that portion of the street in front of Charlotte Bess's property ,same being a part of Lot 5,Block 164, under contract with the City ,and that said work has been fully done in strict accordance with said contract and specifications adopte' by the City , Therefore, Be it resolved by the City Council of the City of Austin, Texas : That the said work of improvement be finally accepted by the City and that the final estimate due by the City to the said Company be paid . --- Page break --- Metzen thin Bros. Decline. Sewer culvert E 30th Street C. E. Leonard Salary increased Fine remitted --- Page break --- 608 Juan Mendoza Fine Councilman Anthony offered the following resolution : Whereas, Juan Mendoza, fined for the offense of assault, in cause No 10447, State of Texas vs Juan Mendoza, in the Corporation Court of the City of Austin, Texas, in the amount of $ 19.80, is an old man ; and Whereas, a son of the said Juan Mendoza,was fined at the same time in the same Court for the same offense, jointly committed by Father and Son; and Whereas, the facts of the case were not aggravatedin either instance; and Whereas, it is needful for the support of the family of the said Juan Mendoza, that either he or his Son should be at liberty so as to earn a living for said family, Now, Therefore, Be it resolved by the City Council of the City of Austin, Texas : That, in view of these facts, said fine and costs imposed in the Corporation Court of the City of Austin, Texas, in cause No 10447, State of Texas vs Juan Mendoza, on March 27th 1916, be and the same are hereby remitted. The resolution was adopted by the following vote : Yeas Mayor Wooldridge, Councilmen Anthony, Bartholomew, Haynes & Powell 5 Nays none, Approved, A P Wooldridge, Mayor. Councilman Powell offered the following resolution : Resolved by the City Council of the City of Austin, Texas : Dam Boulevar That the sum of five hundred ($ 500.00) dollars ,be and the same is hereby appropriation transferred from the appropriation for completing the Dam Boulevardunder specia appropriations in the budget of the City of Austin for the general street Dept for the year 1916, and appropriate so as to createa special contracts account for said department. The resolution was adopted by the following vote : Yeas Mayor Wooldridge, Councilmen Anthony, Bartholomew, Haynes & Powell 5 Nays none, Approved, A P Wooldridge, Mayor. Councilman Powell offered the following resolution : Resolved by the City Council of the City of Austin, Texas: That the sum of two hundred and twenty ($220.00) dollars ,be and the same is Teamster hereby transferred from the account of salaries for eleven teamstersin the stre appro. force appropriation in the budget for the general street deptfor the year 1916 and appropriated so as toor eate an incidentals account under special appro-priations in the budget for said dept. The resolution was adopted by the following vote : Yeas Mayor Wooldridge, Councilmen Anth ony, Bartholomew, Haynes ' Powell 5 Nays none, Approved , A P Wooldridge, Mayor. --- Page break --- 249 . The Mayor laid before the Council the following XXXXXX Ordinanoe. An ordinanace ordering an election to obtain the consent of the qualified votersof the City of Austin, Texas, to the organization and establishment of a paid Fire Department. or the City of Austin,instead of the present volunteer Fire Department. Be it ordained by the City Council of the City of Austin: Section 1. That an election be held ,and the same is hereby ordered and directedto be held at the various voting boxes in the City of Austin as herein after designated, on the 27th day of April 1916,from the hours of 8 A M to 7 P M,at which election the follo -ing proposition shall be submitted to the qualified voters of the City of Austin for their action thereupon. Paid Fire Dept The ordinance was read the 1st time and a motion made to suspend the rule and place it on its secondreading , which motion prevailed by the following vote : Yeas Mayor Wooldridge, Councilmen Anthony, Bartholomew, Haynes & Powell 5 Nays none; The ordinance was read the 2nd time and a motion made to suspend the rule and place it on its 3rd reading and final passage ,which motion prevailed by the following vote : Yeas Mayor Wooldridge, Councilmen Anthony, Bartholomew, Haynes & Powell 5 Nays none; The 'ordinance was then read the 3rd time W=aseffed and passed by the following vote: Yeas "ayor Wooldridge, Councilmen Anthony, Bartholomew, Haynes & Powell 5 Nays none. Councilman Powell offered the following resolution : Resolved by the City Council of the City of Austin, Texas: That the sum of $ 500.00, or so much thereof as may prove to be necessary, be and the same is hereby appropriated out of the Sanitary Sewer fund of the City of Austin, Texas, for the year 1916 for the purpose of constructing a coffer dam in the Colorado riverfor the purpose of directing the flow of that stream so as to turn back the current of the river to the north side of the Colorado river and thus more effectively submerge the sewer output located at the foot of Holly street than it is submerged at the present time, and as a consequence,all the change in the direction of the course of the Colorado river at the point hereinabove stated,said stream will more effectually carry the sewage from the Citys mains down the Colorado river. The resolution was adopted by the following vote : Yeas Mayor Wooldridge, Councilmen Anthony, Bartholomew, Haynes & Powell 5 Nays none, Approved , A P Wooldridge, Mayor. Coffer Dam Colorado River .Councilman Haynes offered the following resolution : Resolved by the City Council of the City of Austin, Texas: That the appeal of C D Kinney from the action of the Board of Equalizationinincreasing the assessment of 53 ½ acres out of the Issac Decker League belonging to the said C D Kinney,from $ 2,500.00, to $ 4,000.00,be and the same is herebydeclined. The resolution was adopted by the following vote : Yeas Mayor Wooldridge, Councilmen Anthony, Bartholomew, Haynes & Powell 5 Nays none. Approved, A P Wooldrdieg, Mayor. --- Page break --- 470 . Councilman Haynes offered the following resolution : Resolved by the City Council of the City of Austin, Texas: That the assessment of credits made by Morgan Calloway Jr. for the year 1915 at 80 % of par value, or $ 17,550.00, as per the petition of the said Morgan Calloway, Jr, attached hereto and made the basis of this resolution, by reason of the fact that certain other credits for the year 1915 have been assessed by the City Council at 56 2/3 % of their par value , be so assessed in this case and the amount of credits for taxation for the year 1915 be and the same is hereby fixed at the sum of $ 11,703.34. The resolution was adopted by the following vote : Yeas Mayor Wooldridge, Councilmen Anthony, Bartholomew, Haynes & Powell 56 Nays none, Approved, A P Wooldridge, Mayor. Councilman Haynes offered the following resolution : Whereas, it appears from the attached affidavit of P E Suehs, which is made the basis of this resolution , that the improvements situated upon Lot 24, and the West ½ of Lot 25, Outlot No 1 Division "X" of the City of Austin Texas, were , on the 1st day of January 1915, of the value of $(900.00) nine hundred dollars and not of the value of two thousand ($2,000.00) dollars , as fixed by the Board of Equalization, Now, therefore, Resolved by the City Council of the City of Austin, Texas: That to correct this error in assessment, the value of the improvements upon said Lot No 24, and the West ½ of Lot 25, Outlot No 1 Division "X" of the City of Austin, Texas, be and the same is hereby fixed for the year 1915, at the sum of Nine hundred ($900.00) dollars. The resolution was adopted by the following vote : Yeas Mayor Wooldridge, Councilmen Anthony, Bartholomew, Haynes & Powell 5 Nays none, Approved, A P Wooldridge, Mayor. April 4th 1916: The Mayor laid before the fore the Council , applications from the following named persons for Drivers licenses, which were read and licenses granted by the following vote: Yeas Mayor Wooldridge, Councilmen Anthony, Bartholomew, Haynes & Powell 5 Nays none, J G Harris, 1310 Circle Avenue So Austin, Julian Rankin, 1200 West 22nd street, P W Kaiser, 1203 East 12th street. April 4th 1916: The Mayor laid before the Council the following resolution : Resolved by the City Council of the City of Austin, Texas : That permit be and is hereby grantedthe Retail Merchants Association of Austin, Texas, to suspend advertising signs of their exposition which is to come off in this City at the City Auditorium from the 6th to the 16th day of May next, such signs not to exceed in dimensions 48 inches in length and 12 inches in --- Page break --- .widthhand to be promptly removed when the exposition is over. .This permit is temporary and revocable at the pleasure of the City Council . The resolution was adopted by the following vote : Yeas Mayor Wooldridge, Councilmen Anthony, Bartholomew, Haynes & Powell Nays none, Approved, A P Wooldridge, Mayor. The Mayor laid before the Council the following resolution : Whereas, the frame house now situated upon Lot No 1, Block No 18, City of Austin, Texas, and owned by Mrs Mary J Butler, is of considerable size and costliness and in fair condiUnrequested -sion of repair ; and Whereas, the owners of said property desire to merely turn said house around and locate it upon the alley instead of contibuing to face it on Congress Avenue, as is its present facing; and Whereas, the object in part, of turning said house around and facing it south on the rear part of said lot No 1 , Block NO 18, is to make room for the erection of four brick Remove frame house storehouses facing on Congress Avenue on said Lot No 1 , Block No 18, City of Austin, Texas. Fire Quinti Now, Therefore, Resolved by the City Council of the City of Austin, Texas : That, as a matter of equity and common sense, a permit be and is hereby granted the said Mrs Mary J Butler to remove said above described frame house from its present fronting on Congress Avenue and turn it around so as to face it Southerly on East 2nd street in this City, locating it near the alley between Congress Avenue and Brazos street. The resolution was adopted by the following vote : Yeas Mayor Wooldridge, Councilmen Anthony, Bartholomew, Haynes & Powell 5 Nays none, Approved, A P Wooldridge, Mayor. Councilman Haynes offered the following resolution : Mrs Lou H Hill Whereas, the credits assessed by Mrs Lou H Hill, for the year 1915, at 80¢ on the dollar Taxes of their par value, amounted to $ 7,360.00, upon which the City taxes for the year 1915 amounted to $ 150.80; and Whereas, the policy of this Council is to place credits upon the same basis of valua-tion as other sorts of property, to-wit, 66 2/3 % on the dollar, and which in this instance would amount to $ 6,133.00, the City taxes upon which for the year 1915, amounted to $ 125.73; and Whereas, the taxes upon said credits were paid by the said Mrs Lou H Hill, for the year 1915 in the amount of $ 150.80; and Whereas, under the policy of assessing credits at 66 2/3 % on the dollar, the amount should have been but $ 125.73, thus making an overpayment on her part of $ 25.15. Now, therefore, Resolved by the City Council of the City of Austin, Texas: That the credits of the said Mrs Lou H Hill for the year 1915 be and the same are hereby fixed at $ 6, 133.00, and the overpayment of taxes in the amount of $ 25.15, is directed to be refunded toher, the said Mrs Lou H Hill, and Be it further resolved by the City Council of the City of Austin, Texas: That $ 25.15, be and the same is hereby appropriated out of the General Contingent fund of the City of Austin, Texas, for the year 1915, as a refund to the said Mrs Lou H Hill for said overpayment of City taxes for the year 1915. The resolution was adopted by the following vote: Yeas Mayor Wooldridge, Councilmen Anthony, Bartholomew, Haynes & Powell 5 Nays none, Approved, A P Wooldridge, Mayor. --- Page break --- 672 Annie C Hill Taxes Whereas, the credits assessed by Miss Annie C Hill for the year 1915, at 80¢ on the dollar of their par value, amounted to $200.00, upon which the City taxes for the year 1915, amounted to $4.10; and Whereas, the policy of this Council is to place credits upon the same basis of valuation as other sorts of property, to-wit, 66 2/3¢ on the dollar ,and which in this instance would amount to $167.00, and the City taxes upon which for the year 1915, would amount to $3.42; and Whereas, the taxes upon said credits were paid by the said Miss Annie C Hillfor the year 1915 in the amount of $4.10; and Whereas, under the policy of assessing credits at 66 2/3¢ on the dollar ,the amount should have been but $3.42, thus making an overpayment on her part of $0.68. Now therefore, Resolved by the City Council of the City of Austin, Texas: That the credits of the said Miss Annie C Hillfor the year 1915 be and the same are hereby fixed at $167.00, and the overpayment of taxes in the amount of $0.68, is directed to be refunded to her ,the said Miss Annie C Hill, and Be it further resolved by the City Council of the City of Austin : That $0.68 be and the same is hereby appropriated out of the General contingent fund of the City of Austin, Texas, for the year 1916 as a refund to the said Miss Annie C Hillfor said overpayment of City taxesfor the year 1915. The resolution was adopted by the following vote: Yeas Mayor Wooldridge, Councilmen Anthony, Bartholomew, Haynes & Powell 5 Nays none. Approved, A P Wooldridge, Mayor. The Council then adjourned. J. R. Johnson City Clerk