1 1382 CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS Recessed Meeting June 24, 1947 8:00 P.M. Council Chamber, City Hall 1382 The meeting was called to order, with Mayor Miller presiding. Roll call Present: Councilmen Glass, Johnson, Mayor Miller, Councilman Thornberry4 Absent Councilman Bartholomew 1. Present also: Guiton Morgan, City Manager; W. E. Seaholm, Director of Public Utilities; Trueman E. O Quinn, City Attorney; J. E. Motheral, Director of Public Works; and J. D. Huffman, Finance Director. Present also: Ben W. Greig, President and General Manager of Austin Transit, Inc., the attorneys and other representatives of the Austin Transit, Inc., and a large number of interested citizens. The Mayor stated that the meeting was called for a public hearing on the petition of the Austin Transit, Inc., for an increase in its bus fares. R. D. Moorhead and Ed Clark, Attorneys for Austin Transit, Inc., gave a summary of the operation of Austin Transit, Inc., and submitted figures showing the financial condition of said Company and its two affiliated companies to be such that they are now operating at a loss and that the increase in fares is necessary if Austin Transit, Inc., is to continue to op- erate and purchase additional busses in order to give better service to the public. The Mayor then declared the meeting open to discussion, and called on the citizens present to express their views on the question. Among those who spoke, were the following: A spokesman for the citizens of Ridgetop declared that they were in favor of the increase if it would insure better service for that area. Fred Goodrich and Bob Lusk declared that, as patrons of the Bus Company, they were in favor of the increase if it would mean better service, and suggested that said company do away with its system of transfer points, 1353 CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS 1383 declaring that other cities allow patrons to transfer at any point where bus lines coincide. Mr. Holman suggested that the "skip and stop" block service inaugu rated during the War be discontinued, and that busses be required to stop at every block. Councilman Glass declared that what the City Council wants is assurance from the Company of improvement in quality of service the type of busses that will be operated here, schedules printed showing patrons when the busses run, more money invested in new and better type of busses; and, further, that the increase in fares, if and when granted by the City Council, be for one year, and at the end of that period, if the Company has not lived up to its promise of better service, the present fares be reinstated. In reply to this, the President of the Company declared that if the increase is granted every line will continue to be operated, schedules will not only be published but will also be placed in every bus showing the time the busses run, and all improvement in service promised will be made. All citizens present having been given an opportunity to be heard on the question, it appeared to be the consensus of the crowd that the increase in fares be granted if it will insure better bus service. The matter was then taken under advisement by the City Council for further consideration and action on same by July 1. Upon motion, seconded and carried, the meeting was recessed at 9:55 P.M.. subject to call of the Mayor. Attest: Hallia Mellan CITY CLERK Jom Milla. Approved: MAYOR