6CC Regular meeting of the City Council: Austin, Texas Sept 7th 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. MMMXX and subsequent recessed meetings were read and adopted : Reports of City Officers: The Mayor laid before the Council the reports of the Assessor & Collector, the Sexton, the Book-keeper Street Dept, the Dog Catcher, the Public Weigher, the Reports Read. City Health Officer, which were read and prdered filed: Councilman Powell offered the following resolution : Be it resolved by the City Council of the City of Austin, Texas: That the City Treasurer and the Book-keeper for the Street Dept be, and they Transfer of Funds. are hereby authorized and directed to transfer from the General street dund to the Permanent street fund , the sum of $ 211.55, to correct a mistake in drawing warrant No 4520, out of the Permanent fund , which should have been drawn out of the General street fund. The resolution was adopted by the following vote: Yeas Mayor Wooldridge, Councilmen Anthony, Bartholomew, Haynes & Powell 5 Nays none: Mayor Wooldridge offered the following resolution : Resolved by the City Council of the City of Austin, Texas : Fine - That the sum of $ 13.50, be and the same is hereby appropriated out of the C. Wiggin. General Contingent fund of the City of Austin, Texas, as a refund to C Wiggin of the cost and fine paid by him to the City Treasurer of the City of Austin, Texas, in cause 10830, which cost and fine for good and sufficient reasons the City Council have seen fit to remit to him. The resolution was adopted by the following vote : Yeas Mayor Wooldridge, Councilmen Anthony, Bartholomew, Haynes & Powell 5 Nays none, Approved, A P Wooldridge, Mayor. Mayor Wooldridge offered the following resolution : Jitney Licenses Whereas, the parties hereinafter named have heretofore respectively been granted privileges to operate Jitneys in the City of Austin and licenses have been issued respectively to said parties by the City Assessor & Collector of taxes , said licenses being numbered as hereinafter stated, and all of said paris have heretofore deposited with the City Clerk bonds in the amountand terms pres -cribe ; by ordinance; and Whereas, the Western Indemnity Company has served notice with the Mayor of its withdrawelas surety from the bonds of W B Calloway and R V Smith; and Whereas, all other parties hereinafter named have voluntarily discontinued ser -vice in the operation of Jitneys under their respective licenses, --- Page break --- Therefore, Be it resolved by the City Council of the City of Austin : That the licenses respectively of the parties hereafter REMMIXEN named to operate Jitneys within the City of Austin ,the number of said licenses being respectively set opposite the name of said licensee,be and the same are hereby cancelled and revoked,viz: R B Wright, License No 10, R V Smish , License No 11, Bryant Davis, License NO 12, W Bruckmann, License NO 13, W B Calloway, License NO 15, W B Hart, License No 16, G M Wagoner, License No 17. The resolution was adopted by the following vote : Yeas Mayor Wooldridge, Councilmen Anthony, Bartholomew, Haynes & Powell 5 Nays none. Approved , A P Wooldridge, Mayor. Drivers license Refunded. R. U. Smith Mayor Wooldridge offered the following resolution : Resolved by the City Council of the City of Austin, Texas : That the sum of $ 18.27,be and the same is hereby appropriated out of the General Contingent fund of the City of Austin, Texas, as a refund to R V Smith on his license as a Jitney driver. The resolution was adopted by the following vote : Yeas Mayor Wooldridge, Councilmen Anthony, Bartholomew, Haynes & Powell 5 Nays none. Approved, A P Wooldridge, Mayor. Drivers license Refund W. B. Calloway Mayor Wooldridge offered the following resolution : Resolved by the City Council of the City of Austin, Texas : That the sum of $ 18.00, be and the same is hereby appropriated out of the General Contingent fund of the City of Austin, Texas, as a refund to W B Calloway on his license as a jitney driver. The resolution was adopted by the following vote: Yeas Mayor Wooldridge, Councilmen Anthony, Bartholomew, Haynes & Powell 5 Nays none. Approved, A P Wooldridge, Mayor. By Mayor Wooldridge, An ordinance to amend Article 738 of Chapterl Title 33 of the Revised Speed of Cars locomotives within the City Limits. ordinances of the City of Austin ,relating to the regulation of the movement of cars or locomotives,and the speed of same within the Corporate limits of the City of Austin,Texas The ordinance was read the 1st time and a motion made to suspend the rule and place it on its second reading 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 read the 3rd time and passed by the following vote: Yeas Mayor Wooldridge ,Councilmen Anthony, Bartholomew, Haynes & Powell 5 Nays none . --- Page break --- 602 8th St Prog-San Jacinto Councilman Powell offered the following resolution : A resolution finally accepting pavement and improvement of East 11th street from the East property line of Brazos street (north) to the East property line of San Jacinto street. Whereas, the Supt of Streets and Public Improvements has filed his report with the City Council to the effect that the Texas Bitulithic Company has completed the work of paving and improving of East 11th street ,from the East property line of Brazos street ( north) to the East property line of San Jacinto street ,under contract with the City, and that said work has been fully done in strict accordance with said contract and specifications adopted by the City ; Now 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. The resolution was adopted by the following vote : Yeas Mayor Wooldridge, Councilmen Anthony, Bartholomew, Haynes & Powell 5 Nays none. Councilman Powell offered the following resolution : Be it resolved by the City Council of the City of Austin, Texas : That the City Treasurer and Book-keeper be instructed to transfer the sum of two hundred and forty two dollars and seventy five cents ( $ 242.75) from the Transfer of Funds. General Street Improvement fund to the Permanent Street Improvement fund to reimburse said fund for this amount which was erroneously ordered drawn ,and discovered in compiling the budget on warrants Nos 4219,4302, 4329,4346,4362, 4375, 4381,4400. The resolution was adopted by the following vote: Yeas Mayor Wooldridge, Councilmen Anthony, Bartholomew, Haynes & Powell 5 Nays none: Drivers License Geo Baggett. The Mayor laid before the Council an application from Geo Baggett,for license as driver of service car,which was granted by the following vote: Yeas Mayor Wooldridge, Councilmen Anthony, Bartholomew, Haynes & Powell 5 Nays none: Sept. 12th, 1916: Mayor Wooldridge offered the following resolution: Be it resolved by the City Council of the City of Austin, Texas: Ed Rosengren Permit. That permission be, and the same is hereby granted, to Mr Ed Rosengren to repair and maintain a catch basin or sandtrap on the sidewalk on the 5th street side of his building located at the northeast intersection of west 5th and Colorado streets ,said catch basin to be located immediately against the wall of the building with an adequate cast iron cover and to be of such dimensions as prescribed by the Inspector of Plumbing of this City and Be it further resolved: That this permit is granted with the understanding that said catch basin is to be at all times maintained and kept clean and in good working order as --- Page break --- 003 described in Section 14 of the ordinance regulating sanitary sewers and drainsand Be it further and finally resolved : That this permit is granted and must be accepted as revocable at any time in the pleasure of the City Council. The resolution was adopted by the following vote : Yeas Mayor Wooldridge, Councilmen Anthony, Bartholomew ,Haynes & Powell 5 Nays none. Approved, A P Wooldridge, Mayor. Sept 12-th 1916: Mayor Wooldridge offered the following resolution : The Texas Co. Permit to Install Tank at 101 W. 5th St. Be it resolved by the City Council of the City of Austin, Texas : That a permit is hereby granted to the Texas Company to install and maintain a gasoline tank ,to be approved by the Supt of Police and Public Safety,under the sidewalk in front of NO 101 West 5th street in the City of Austin, Texas. Resolved further: That in connection with this gasoline tank hereby authorized to be installed,the said Texas Company is likewise authorized to install and maintain a 5 gallon gasoline pumpto be located at the curb line in front of No 101 West 5th street in a position to be designated by the Supt of Streets and Public Improvements ,said gasoline pump to be of the most modern and approved construction and design and subject to the approval of the Supt of Police and Pu blic Safety. Resolved further: That the Texas Company shall install and maintain at the top of and upon the gasoline pump hereby authorized , an electric light of not less than 40 watt power and placed in a globe of not less than 10 inches in diameter which electric light must be kept illuminated not less than 3 hours daily between the hours of 6 and 12 O'clock P M during the existece of this permit. Resolved Further : That the hose through which,[illegible] air,gasoline or other oil or volatile substance is [illegible] conveyed by pumping or otherwise,from the store house in front of No 101 West 5th street or from the tank authorized to be placed in front of same must be kept, when not in actual use,neatly coiled, and stored in a receptacle provided for such hose in the pump authorized to be installed or suspended from a suitable bracket attached to the pump. Resolved Further: That the work under this resolution authorized to be installed and maintained must be installed and maintained ,where not otherwise assigned ,under the immediate supervision of the City Engineer of Austin, Texas, who is hereby authorized to prescribe necessary specifications for the work herein authorized to be done: Resolved Further and finally: That permit is granted only for t e installation of a gasoline tank and pump and [illegible] does not include the installation or construction of a storage box for hose underneath the sidewalk and this permi t is granted and must be ac cepted as revocable at any time in the pleasure of the City Council . 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 --- 665 Property Value - Resolution - Install unit system Mayor Wooldridge offered the following resolution : Resolved by the City Council of the City of Austin, Texas: That the City Council of the City of Austin hereby resolves and decides to install the unit system of property values of this City if after further careful investigation it finds the system as satisfactory as the majority of the City Council now believes and the price of installation shall not exceed Six Thousand ($ 6,000.00) dollars . The resolution was adopted by the following vote: Yeas Mayor Wooldridge, Councilmen Anthony & Powell 3 Nays Councilmen HAXMesX Bartholomew & Haynes 2, Approved, A P Wooldridge, Mayor . Councilman Bartholomew presents the following reasons for his vote: I oppose the resolution to employ an expert to install the Sommers System of taxation for the City of Austin ,which provides for the payment of $ 6,000.00,for that purpose. From information furnished ,this sum will not pay much more than half the amount that will be required,and an aditional appropriation will be asked for. It is claimed that the Sommers system is necessary to equalize taxation. The real object is to increase assessments of property instead of equalization. Our Assessor of taxes and his assistants have held their offices many years,and their appointments have been confirmed unanimously each time by the Council . The different Boards of Equalization have also been confirmed unanimously by the Council . No complaints have been made against the Assessor and Boards of Equalization for neglect of duty. There have been less appeals from the Board of Equalization to the City Councillat years than formerly. In fact very few appeals have been made. I believe we have as competent people among us to manage our tax affairs as we can obtain from some other city. We need no stranger to tell us how to assess property, or to pass on the value of property.The general revenue of this City does not warrant this unnecessary expenditure of its funds . The Charter of this City provides that the City Assessor shall assess, and the Board of Equalization shall equalize property for taxation. No other person or persons can legally take their places.This resolution provides for its being done directly ,or indirectly,otherwise. Hence I vote against the resolution. E C Bartholomew. Councilman Haynes gave the following as his reasons for his vote :and asked that it be spread upon the minutes: I vote No on the Mayors resolution to expend $ 6,000.00, to install the "Sommers",SXMKKX or unit system of equalization ,for the reason that the amount named will not be the entire cost of the system and that under the provisions of our CharterI do not believe we have the legal or moral right to expend this moneyto revolutionize our tax system,without an expression of the people . The Charter of the City specifically provides the manner of assessing and valueing property for taxation and we cannot change this system without a vote of thepeople,further I do not believe that the unit system of valuation is practicable for a City of Hills and valleys like Austin,and I am further of the opinionthat a Board of our own people,familiar --- Page break --- 666 with the physical conditions can better Judge the values of our property than an entire stranger or so called tax expert. I am sure that our present Board of Equalization ,who have done their work faithfully under a solemn oath ,will testify that the property values of Austin have been fairly and justly equalized,in testimony of which we have had for several years past very few protests and the greatest kick comes from our Honorable Mayor who has never taken the trouble to examine the tax rolls. H L Haynes. Councilman Bartholomew offered the following resolution : Resolved by the City Council of the City of Austin, Texas : That the sum of $ 67.50 be and the same is hereby set apart and appropriDamages- -ated out of the general appropriation in the budget of the Water, Light and R. C. Lambie. Power Dept of the City of Austin, Texas, to pay for overflowed lands above the the dam ,and made payable to R C Lambie, for the amount owing him ,per contract and deed for certain lands belonging to him overflowed by the back water from the dam: 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. [Signature] City Clerk