CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS Regular Meeting April 12, 1951. 10:00 Α.Μ. Council Chamber, City Hall 320 320 The meeting was called to order with Mayor Glass presiding. Roll Call: Present: Councilmen Drake, Johnson, Long, MacCorkle, Mayor Glass Absent: None Present also: Walter E. Seaholm, City Manager: TruemanE. O'Quinn, City Attorney; C. G. Levander, Director of Public Works; R. D. Thorp, Chief of Police. Councilman Johnson moved that since copies of the minutes of the last meeting of the City Council have been furnished Council members by the City Clerk, the reading of the minutes be dispensed with and that the minutes be adopted with one correction, and that is the change of the name which erroneously appeared as EUGENE HOWARD to TRAVIS Howard. Upon being duly seconded by Councilman Drake, the motion was unanimously adopted by the Council and the minutes so approved. The Electric Code was brought up for consideration. The City Manager told the Council this had been in preparation for over a year, and the ordinance as now drawn has the endorsement of the Building Code Committee, and also the Electrical Board. He submitted the following letters: "To The Honorable Mayor and "Austin, Texas January 25, 1951 The City Council of the City of Austin, Texas. "Greetings: "We, the members of the Electrical Beard, have given much time and study to the proposed New Electrical Ordinance and recommend that it be adopted. 321 CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS 321 Respectfully, (s) Dean Johnston (s) W. R. Busbee (s) Carl A. Feuerbacher (s) A. E. Hancock (s) E. D. Grimmer (s) Walter A. Tew (s) Marcus L. Loftis (s) W. K. Jennings, Jr." "February 7, 1951 "Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council "Dear Council Members: "The Building Code Committee, appointed by the City Council of the City of Austin to revise the Building and Electrical Code for the City of Austin, wishes to recommend the adoption of the new Electrical Code, copies of which are attached here to for your approval. Yours very truly, (S) Jim Cochran Acting Chairman" After detailed discussion of the ordinance, Councilman Drake moved that the ordinance be amended as follows: AMENDMENT NO. 1 Amend the Electrical Ordinance in Article II, Section 3. Subparagraph (h) so that the third sentence of Subparagraph (h), lines 9 and 10, page 6, of the typewritten original of said ordinance, shall read hereafter as follows: "The examination shall be given within five days after an application is filed, and the result of such examination shall be announced to the applicant within five days after such examination." The motion, seconded by Councilman Long, carried by the following vote: Ayes: Councilmen Drake, Johnson, Long, MacCorkle, Mayor Glass Noes: None 322 CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS 322 Councilman Drake then offered the following second amendment to the Electrical Ordinance, and moved that it be adopted: AMENDMENT NO. 2 Amend the Electrical Ordinance in Article VI, Section 19, Subparagraph (g) so that Subparagraph (g), as the same appears on Page 40 of the typewritten original of said ordinance, shall read hereafter as follows: "(g) Demand for service and feeders for lighting all dwelling occupancies (except hotels ) shall be three watts per square foot at one hundred percent demand for the firs t 3,000 watts and thirty-five percent for the next 117,000 watts and twenty-five percent for all wattage over 120,000 watts. The motion, seconded by Councilman Long, carried by the following vote: Ayes: Councilmen Drake, Johnson, Long, MacCorkle, Mayor Glass Noes: None The Mayor then brought up the following ordinance for its second reading, incorporating the above two amendments: AN ORDINANCE PRESCRIBING REGULATORY MEASURES PERTAINING TO ELECTRICAL WORK IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN; CREATING AN ELECTRICAL BOARD AND PROVIDING FOR APPOINTMENT OF ITS MEMBERS, AND FIXING THE DUTIES AND POWERS OF SAID BOARD; PROVIDING FOR APPEAL FROM THE DECISIONS OF SAID BOARD; PROVIDING FOR THE ISSUANCE OF LICENSES TO MASTER ELECTRICIANS, BUILDING OWNERS, SIGN MANUFACTURERS, ELEVATOR CONTRACTORS, MOTION PICTURE OPERATORS, REPAIR SERVICES, EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURERS, SPECIALIZED SERVICES AND MAINTENANCE ELECTRICIANS; PROVIDING FOR FEES, BONDS, AND THE KEEPING OF RECORDS, AND FOR THE REVOCATION OF LICENSES AND CERTIFICATES; PROVIDING FOR ELECTRICAL INSPECTORS AND PRESCRIBING THE DUTIES AND POWERS OF SAID OFFICERS; PROVIDING FOR THE ISSUANCE OF PERMITS FOR ELECTRICAL WORK AND THE INSPECTION THEREOF AND FIXING THE FEES FOR SUCH INSPECTION; PROMULGATING RULES AND REGULATIONS TO GOVERN ALL ELECTRICAL WIRING, CONSTRUCTION, INSTALLA TION, ALTERATIONS, REPAIRS, OPERATION, AND MAINTENANCE OF ELECTRICAL WIRING APPARATUS AND FIXTURES; REGULATING THE OPERATION OF MOTION PICTURE PROJECTORS AND MAINTENANCE OF MOTION PICTURE PROJECTION BOOTHS; PROVIDING PENALTIES FOR THE VIOLATION OF THE PROVISIONS OF THIS ORDINANCE; REPEALING CONFLICTING ORDINANCES, AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY. 323 323 CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS The ordinance was read the second time and Councilman Drake moved that the rule besuspended and the ordinance passed to the third reading. The motion, seconded by Councilman Long, carried by the following vote: Ayes: Councilmen Drake, Johnson, Long, MacCorkle, Mayor Glass Noes: None The ordinance was read the third time and Councilman Drake moved that the ordinance be finally passed. The motion, seconded by Councilman Long, carried by the following vote: amended. Ayes: Councilmen Drake, Johnson, Long, MacCorkle, Mayor Glass Noes: None The Mayor then announced that the ordinance had been finally passed as Councilman Johnson moved that the following applications for change of zoning be set for public hearing, at 11:00 A.M., May 10, 1951: DR. BEN HOLLAND, PAUL MURCHISON AND S.R. SHEPPARD 1201-03-05 West 34th, 3 Lots, Blk. 5. Whitten Subdivision From "A" Residence To "C" Commercial NOT Recommended by the Zoning Board : KEYSTONE REALTY CO. MAY LAPRELLE PRICE 2801-11 E. 12th St. 1.43 acres, Blk. 5, Outlot 60, Div. "B" M. P. Graham Unplat- ted. b W. portion of a 5.52 acre tract abutting 430' on Euclid Ave. and 325' on Oltorf & So.property line of LaPrelle Place Subdiv.,west of the southerly prolongation of the east line of Lindell Avenue, and From "A" Residence To "D" Industrial RECOMMENDED by the Zoning Board of Ad- justment. From "B" Residence Το "A" Residence NOT Recommended by the Zoning Board From "B" Residence To "C" Commercial NOT Recommended by E.portion of the tract abutting 430' on College & 270 on Oltorf & the so.line of LaPrelle Place, the Zoning Board. east of the southerly pro- longation of e.line of Lindell Avenue. The motion, seconded by Councilman Drake, carried by the following vote: Ayes: Councilmen Drake, Johnson, Long, MacCorkle, Mayor Glass Noes: None CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS 324 324 Councilman Long offered the following resolution and moved its adoption: (RESOLUTION) WHEREAS, Southern Union Gas Company has presented to the City Council tentative maps or plans showing the proposed construction of its gas mains in the streets in the City of Austin hereafter named, and said maps or plans have been considered by the City Council; therefore BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN: THAT Southern Union Gas Company be and the same is hereby permitted to lay and construct its gas mains in and upon the following streets: (1) A gas main in DENSON DRIVE, from a point 51 feet east of Burns Street easterly 1137 feet, the centercline of which gas main shall bet7.5 feet south of and parallel to the north property line of said DENSON DRIVE. Said gas main described above shall have a cover of not less than 20 feet. The Southern Union Gas Company is hereby put upon notice that the City of Austin does not guarantee that the space assigned above is clear from other underground utilities, but is based upon the best records we have at hand, and that the minimum depth stated does not have any reference to the fact that greater depths may not be required at special points. When the Southern Union Gas Company requires definite information upon the ground as to elevations or working points from which to base the location of their assignments, they shall apply to the Department of Public Works not less than three (3) days before such information is required. The Southern Union Gas Company is further put upon notice that they will be required to bear the expense of repairs or replacement of any underground utility damaged during the construction of lines named in this resolution. AND THAT whenever pavement is cut in the vicinity of a fire plug, water must be used at intervals during the course of backfilling of the ditches. THAT the work and laying of said gas mains, including the excavation in the streets, and the restoration and maintenance of said streets after said mains have been laid shall be under the supervision and direction of the City Manager, and under all the pertinent terms and conditions of the certain franchises granted to said company by the City of Austin. The motion, seconded by Councilman Drake, carried by the following vote: Ayes: Councilmen Drake, Johnson, Long, MacCorkle, Mayor Glass Noes: None Councilman Johnson offered the following resolution and moved its adoption: (RESOLUTION) WHEREAS, the Southwestern Bell Telephone Company has presented to the 325 CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS 325 City Council tentative maps or plans showing the proposed construction of its underground telephone conduits in the City of Austin hereafter named, and said maps or plans have been considered by the Director of Public Works; therefore BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN: THAT the Southwestern Bell Telephone Company be and the same is hereby permitted to construct its underground telephone conduit in the following streets: (1) An underground telephone conduit in PEDERNALES STREET, from East 5th Street southerly 125 feet, the centerline of which underground telephone conduit shall be 23 feet west of and parallel to the centerline of said PEDERNALES STREET. THAT the work and construction of said underground telephone conduit, including the excavation of the streets and the restoration and maintenance of said streets after said underground telephone conduit have been constructed, shall be under the supervision and direction of the City Manager and in accordance with the ordinances and regulations of the City of Austin governing such construction. The motion, seconded by Councilman Drake, carried by the following vote: Ayes: Councilmen Drake, Johnson, Long, MacCorkle, Mayor Glass Noes: None Councilman Long offered the following resolution and moved its adoption: (RESOLUTION) WHEREAS, a certain drainageway easement was reserved and dedicated to the public on a map or plat of Ridgelea, a subdivision of a portion of the George W. Spear League within the City of Austin, Travis County, Texas; and WHEREAS, the portion of such easement hereinafter described is not now needed and hereafter will not be required by the City of Austin; Now, Therefore, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN: That W. E. Seaholm, City Manager, be and he is hereby authorized and directed to execute a release of the portion of such easement as follows: The north two (2) feet of the south seven and one-half (7.5) feet of Lot 110 of Ridgelea, a subdivision of a portion of the George W. Spear League within the City of Austin, Travis County, Texas, according to a map or plat of said Ridgelea of record in Book 4, page 258, of the Plat Records of Travis County, Texas. The motion, seconded by Councilman Johnson, carried by the following vote: Ayes: Councilmen Drake, Johnson, Long, MacCorkle, Mayor Glass Noes: None 326 CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS 326 Councilman MacCorkle offered the following resolution and moved its adoption: (RESOLUTION) BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN: That the final plat of the subdivision known as "Oakmont Heights Annex No. 3, Section No. 1", approved by the City Plan Commission of the City of Austin on March 22, 1951, be and the same is hereby accepted and authorized to be filed of record in the office of the County Clerk of Travis County, Texas, in accordance with the provisions of the laws of the State of Texas, and the ordinances of theCity of Austin, and that this action of the City Council be indicated by appropriate notation, signed by the Mayor, on the original plat of said subdivision prior to its recording in the Plat Records of Travis County, Texas. • The motion, seconded by Councilman Drake, carried by the following vote: Ayes: Councilmen Drake, Johnson, Long, MacCorkle, Mayor Glass Noes: None Mayor Glass introduced the following ordinance: AN ORDINANCE PROVIDING FOR THE EXTENSION OF CERTAIN BOUNDARY LIMITS OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND THE ANNEXATION OF CERTAIN ADDITIONAL TERRITORY CONSISTING OF 41.39 ACRES OF LAND PARTLY OUT OF THE ISAAC DECKER LEAGUE AND PARTLY OUT OF THE SANTIAGO DEL VALLE GRANT IN TRAVIS COUNTY, TEXAS, WHICH SAID ADDITIONAL TERRITORY LIES ADJACENT TO AND ADJOINS THE PRESENT BOUNDARY LIMITS OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, IN THE PARTICULARS STATED IN THE ORDINANCE. The ordinance was read the first time, and Councilman Drake moved that the ordinance be passed to its second reading. The motion, seconded by Councilman Johnson, carried by the following vote: Ayes: Councilmen Drake, Johnson, Long, MacCorkle, Mayor Glass Noes: None The ordinance was then laid over for a period of thirty days. Councilman Drake moved that a public hearing be set at 11:00 A.M., Thursday April 26th on one-way streets to include the following named streets: Fifth Street east from the I&GN Underpass to East Avenue Sixth Street west from East Avenue to the I&GN Underpass Seventh Street east from Guadalupe to Trinity Eighth Street west from Red River to Guadalupe Guadalupe south from 19th to 1st Street Lavaca north from 1st to 19th Street 327 327 CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS Colorado south from 11th Street to Ist Street Brazos north from 1st Street to 11th Street 22nd Street west from Guadalupe to Rio Grande 23rd Street east from Rio Grande to Guadalupe 25th Street east from Rio Grande to Guadalupe Whitis north from 19th to 21st Street Wichita north from 19th Street to 21st Street. The motion, seconded by Councilman Johnson, carried by the following vote: Ayes: Councilmen Drake, Johnson, Long, MacCorkle, Mayor Glass Noes: None Pursuant to published notice thereof, the following application for change of zoning was brought up for consideration: MRS. JUNIE C. KNAPE 1408 Brazos From "B" Residence To "C" Commercial RECOMMENDED by the Zon ing Board of Adjustment. No opposition appeared. Councilman MacCorkle moved that the recommendation of the Zoning Board of Adjustment be upheld and the requested change granted, and theCity Attorney be instructed to draw up the necessary ordinance. The moti on seconded by Councilman Long, carried by the following vote: Ayes: Councilmen Drake, Johnson, Long, MacCorkle, Mayor Glass Noes: None MAYOR GLASS recommended to the Council that certain land necessary to open a street to the Brentwood School and to provide for park area be condemned as no agreement could be reached with the Joseph heirs. He recommended that one-half the cost of the street be assessed against the Joseph Estate. The Council had instructed the City Manager to negotiate for this property, and now the land will have to be condemned. Councilman Long moved that the City Manager invite Mr. Joseph and other heirs that have powers of attorney to come in and state their case to the Council. The motion lost by lack of a second. The City Manager asked if the Council wanted a hearing on every piece of property on which there was to be a condemnation suit; as right now the water plant site is under the same condition, in that an agreement could not be reached with the property owners. The City Attorney stated letters with individual field notes are ready to be mailed the owners of the property needed for the water plant, stating that inasmuch as an agreement had not been reached and that unless one could be made before the next Council meeting, that the City Manager would ask for authority to bring a suit in condemnation. Such a letter had not been written the Josephs, as there were so many heirs involved, and that in this case the failure to reach an agreement was well established without having to write a letter. After further discussion, Councilman Drake moved that a letter be written to the Executor of the Estate of Cater Joseph, deceased, and the Executor of Mrs. Cater Joseph, deceased, in the same manner and form as these other letters above mentioned, have been written. The motion, seconded by Councilman Johnson, carried by the following vote: 328 328 CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS Ayes: Councilmen Drake, Johnson, Long, MacCorkle, Mayor Glass Noes: None The City Manager recommended to the Council that the parkways in West 12th Street be cut down to allow two lanes of traffic on each side of the parkways. He said plans and specifications were ready, and advertisement for bids to be received on April 27th could be published. He stated it would cost somewhere in the neighborhood of $15,000. This plan would entail cutting off about 15 feet on each side of the parkway from Colorado to West Avenue. Councilman Long moved that this project be approved and that the City Manager go ahead and receive bids for this. The motion, seconded by Councilman MacCorkle, carried by the following vote: Ayes: Councilmen Drake, Johnson, Long, MacCorkle, Mayor Glass Noes: None Councilman Long stated she would like to have MR. ERNEST W. STEEL with the University Research explain his plan on eradication of weeds and growths in lakes, as many people were of the opinion certain chemicals could be used and. that the City was not doing anything about it. Mr. Steel had publicized that he had an effective plan. The Council informally agreed to invite MR. STEEL to come before it and give it the benefit of what research he has done regarding eradication of weeds in rivers and lakes. The City Manager stated he would talk with Mr. Steel and have him come before the Council. The City Manager reported that he and the Public Health Officer had arranged a meeting with. MISS LORA LEE PEDERSON at the University School of Social Work to submit to her the recommendations of the Brenner Plan, and also of the Citizens Committee appointed to study the City-County Welfare set-up, and any other information the City had. MAYOR GLASS asked that something be done at the Bennet Boat Docks, as part of the construction is too far out in the lake, and MR. BENNET had started this nearly two years ago. He had agreed to build a nice dock, but has done nothing about it. MAYOR GLASS suggested that he be asked to remove the poles where he started construction. The COUNCILMAN JOHNSON asked that the City Market Place be cleaned up. City Manager stated new racks were being designed to take care of the displays inside the sheds instead of on the outside, and that headway was being made towards cleaning it up. 329 329 CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS There being no further business, the Council adjourned subject to the call of the Mayor. ATTEST: sily City Clerk APPROVED: Mayor