CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING 18 18 TO THE MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN: Notice is hereby given that a Special Meeting of the City Council of the City of Austin will be held on the 7th day of January, 1955, at the Municipal Building, Eighth and Colorado, in Austin, Texas, at 10:00 Α. Μ. for the purpose of discussing financing the construction of an Auditorium, for making appointments to various Boards, and other matters. (Sgd) C. A. McAden Mayor City of Austin, Texas (Sgd) Elsie Woosley City Clerk ATTEST: (Sgd) Elsie Woosley City Clerk CONSENT TO MEETING We, the undersigned members of the City Council, hereby accept service of the foregoing notice, waiving any and all irregularities in such service and such notice, and consent and agree that said City Council shall meet at the time and place therein named, and for the purpose therein stated. (Sgd) Mrs. Stuart Long (Sgd) Ben White (Sgd) T. R. Thompson (Sgd) Wesley Pearson CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS Special Meeting January 7, 1955 10:00 Α.Μ. Council Chamber, City Hall 19 19 The meeting was called to order with Mayor McAden presiding. Roll call: Present: Councilmen Long, Pearson, Thompson, White, Mayor McAden Absent: None The Mayor announced that this was a special meeting called for the purpose of discussing financing the construction of an Auditorium, for making appointments to various Boards, and other matters. The Mayor thanked the Committee for its assistance to the Council and to the citizenry to arrive at a solution for financing the Auditorium. Councilman White asked that the newspaper correct a mistake in its writeup in the January 6th papers quoting him as using the work "immoral" as he did not use the word and would like to have it corrected. FORMER MAYOR MILLER outlined the early requests for an Auditorium and stated that the revenue bond carried 8428 to 2055, and that the need for an auditorium was urgent in this growing city. The Committee, of which he was co-chariman, never said that the Auditorium would be self-supporting, but its benefits to Austin would be great. He compared it to Bergstrom Field and the benefits received from Bergstrom. He thought every question should be thought of and answered at this meeting, and let the Committee explain every phase of its recommendation. MR. WILLARD HOUSER explained the pledging of the parking meters, stating that a former First Assistant Attorney General of the Bond Division had checked this for the committee, and said it would be worked out. The pledging of the parking meter fund would mean collateral and the interest rate could be dropped, CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS 20 20 and it did not mean that all of the parking meter funds would be taken out of the General fund and put over into the Auditorium fund, but it would be pledged, and if it were needed, there would be the collateral. He explained why there would need be a validating act in the Legislature. Councilman Pearson believed with the city growing so rapidly that the increased revenues from parking meters would more than offset the additional money needed to amortize the indebtedness of the Auditorium. Mr. Houser stated it would be necessary that the city pass an ordinance prior to the passage of the validating act. The Mayor stated that the Committee had very carefully gone into the matter with the bond firm here who is an authority on bonds, and they see no reason for it not being accepted.. Councilman Long inquired if the committee had explored making some kind of loan on the property through any other source. The Mayor stated they had not since this was mentioned the other day. Councilman Thompson believed this plan to be keeping faith with the people. He inquired into the possibility of paying the interest for five years, and then take up paying the principal. If the figure of the parking meter revenue could be pegged at the time of the election, and then the beginning of the liquidation of these bonds be delayed for five years after they were sold--the time between the date of the election and the liquidation of the bonds, the increase of parking meter revenue would be sufficient to supplement the income from the Coliseum and the Auditorium to get the bonds paid. He suggested installing parking meters down by the American-Statesman Office, and provide 8 or 9 hours parking per day, and he believed this would mean $10,000. He suggested the areanby the Central Fire Station be converted into an all day parking lot. He believed that he would still be keeping faith with the people so long as there was not a scheme set up that would use all of the parking meter revenue that was at the time of the election coming into the City, and he did not believe that the requirements of the Auditorium would take anything more than the increase in parking meter revenue plus revenue from parking meters on one or two of those lots. Councilman Pearson believed in five or ten years, that would pay a very important part in the revenue. Councilman White commended the Committee for doing a wonderful job and working hard, and he believed they would agree with the stand he had taken, as he was sincere, and had to be ruled by his conscience. He stated he wanted an Auditorium just as bad as any of them, but the people had been told from time to time there would be no tax money used in that, and he had to live with himself. He thanked the press and radio for their publicity, with the exception of the mistake, which he believed would be corrected. Councilman Thompson stated the plan could be worked out where there would continue to be as much parking meter funds in the General Fund as there had ever been. Councilman Long stated she had no intention of voting any tax increase; and if there was difficulty with the Auditorium, it would be necessary to cut down and make it pay, for she was not going to vote for a tax increase; and as long as she was on the Council, the Auditorium would not call for an increase in taxes. She did not think the parking meter revenues being pledged would necessitate a tax increase. After more discussion, Councilman Thompson moved that the Council go on record as asking the City Manager and City Attorney to work out a workable CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS 21 plan with the Committee and submit it to this Council for formal vote next Thursday. The motion, seconded by Councilman Pearson, carried by the following vote: Ayes: Councilmen Long, Pearson, Thompson, Mayor McAden Noes: Councilman White The Mayor thanked the Committee for its dilligent work. Councilman Thompson moved that MR. CHESTER BURATTI be appointed on the Board of Adjustment (term to expire December 31, 1956) to replace MR. WILLIAM CARSSOW, resigned. The motion was seconded by Councilman Pearson. Councilman Long moved that the motion be amended to include the reappointment of MRS. FRANCIS R. HODGE (term to expire December 31, 1956) to the Board of Adjustment. The motion was seconded by Councilman Pearson. Roll call on the original motion and the amendment showed the following vote: Ayes: Councilmen Long, Pearson, Thompson, White, Mayor McAden Noes: None Councilman White moved that MR. L. J. STRUHALL be appointed as a member of the Retirement Board, replacing Mr. B. R. A. Jordan, resigned. The motion, seconded by Councilman Thompson, carried by the following vote: Ayes: Councilmen Long, Pearson, Thompson, White, Mayor McAden Noes: None Councilman Pearson moved that MR. DAVID BARROW and MR. S. P. KINSER be appointed as members of the Planning Commission, terms expiring June 1, 1956 and June 1, 1955 respectively, replacing Mr. John Broad and Mr. Martin Kermacy, resigned. The motion, seconded by Councilman White, carried by the following vote: Ayes: Councilmen Long, Pearson, Thompson, White, Mayor McAden Noes: None Councilman Long moved that the membership of the Navigation Board be increased to six. The motion, seconded by Councilman Pearson, carried by the following vote: Ayes: Councilmen Long, Pearson, Thompson, White, Mayor McAden Noes: None Councilman Pearson moved that MESSRS. MARION FOWLER, A. N. MCCALLUM, JR. and MISS MARGUERITE WARREN be reappointed to the Navigation Board for a term to expire January 1, 1957; and MR. R. G. MULLER, JR. be appointed for a term to expire January 1, 1956. The motion, seconded by Councilman Thompson, carried by the following vote: CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS Ayes: Councilmen Long, Pearson, Thompson, White, Mayor McAden Noes: None 22 Councilman White moved that MESSRS. GEORGE HALDEN and DON HOWARD be reappointed, and MR. FRANK WALLING be appointed as members of the Solicitation Board for a term to expire November 5, 1956. The motion, seconded by Councilman Long, carried by the following vote: Ayes: CouncilmenLong, Pearson, Thompson, White, Mayor McAden Noes: None Councilman Thompson moved that MESSRS. ROY BROWN, EARL HOWELL and L. C. DURE be appointed as members of the Airport Committee. The motion, seconded by Councilman White, carried by the following vote: Ayes: Councilmen Long, Pearson, Thompson, White, Mayor McAden Noes: None There being no further business the Council adjourned at 12:20 Ρ.Μ. subject to the call of the Mayor. ATTEST: lais des City Clerk APPROVED Camad Mayor