438438 CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING 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 25th day of May, 1955, at the Municipal Building, Eighth and Colorado, in Austin, Texas, at 7:30P.M. for the purpose of meeting with paving contractors to work out a paving program. (Sge) Elsie Woosley City Clerk ATTEST: (Sgd) Elsie Woosley City Clerk (Sgd) Tom Miller Mayor City of Austin, Texas 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) Wesley Pearson (Sgd) Lester E. Palmer 43439 CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS Special Meeting May 25, 1955 7:30 Ρ.Μ. Council Chamber, City Hall The meeting was called to order with Mayor Miller presiding. Roll Call: Present: Councilmen Long, Palmer, Pearson, White, Mayor Miller Absent: None Present also: W. T. Williams, Jr., City Manager; Doren R. Eskew, City Attorney; Reuben Rountree, Jr., Director of Public Works. The Mayor announced that this meeting was called for the purpose of meeting with paving contractors to work out a paving program; that this meeting was for advice on how to go on with the paving; advice on the assessment and voluntary programs, etc. He stated there was a policy in the subdivision ordinance setting up certain standards for subdivisions, and this should not be broken down. He stated the retopping of Congress Avenue would be paid for solelybythe owners, and not the taxpayers; that the City would pave the intersections. The paving contractors present were JOE BLAND, MARVIN TURNER, Consulting Engineer, BRYANT COLLINS, JR., KARL WAGNER, O. B. MCKOWN, E. B. SNEAD, MR. GIESEN, JOE CORWIN, NOBLE LATSON, LEE MANERS, GEORGE SOUTHERLAND, TED EDWARDS, TOM SHELBY (Representative of the Manufacturers), representatives from DEEN SKINNER and HOLLAND PAGE, and others. MR. LATSON offered any cooperation possible from his firm, and believed that if people were given an opportunity for paving, they would find a way to pay for it. MR. TED EDWARDS, Portland Cement, explained a paving program utilizing the local soil 90% and 10% cement, which was very effective and an economical means of constructing light traffic streets. It was stated there might be two or three hundred blocks in Austin that would qualify for this type of paving. CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS 4440 MR. BRYANT COLLINS believed the City had the power under statute 1105-b and under the Charter to pave under the assessment plans, and that the only way to have a comprehensive plan of paving would be under the assessment plan. He explained the problems of a voluntary program where one contractor works up the program, states the price, and the people then ask other contractors to give them an estimate. As to a cheaper type of pavement, Mr. Collins said that engineers all over the state had indicated the main cost to be the excavation and base, and then the difference in cheaper or more expensive paving was the topping. In answer to inquiry, Mr. Collins believed an assessment program would help the voluntary programs get under way. He also believed by past experience that the seven-year period was about right, although on his four year plans in other cities, people were not discouraged in signing up. MR. JOE CORWIN stated the large paving program was the only was to get the city paved, and recommended bond money for the job. He too believed that the four-year paving plan would not affect the price and lower the carrying cost any, as there would be the same expenses connected with a four-year plan as a seven. MR. CHARLES SANDAHL, SR., asked that the City take the money it is spending on maintenance, and put part of it in paving on a cash basis, using the type of paving used in Pemberton Heights and Highland Park West, eliminate the curbs and gutters. He quoted a price of $85.00 per lot, or $42.50 per property owner on a 50' lot, 15' to the center. He said this plan would pave 400 blocks, and 80% of the people would sign up for this. The Mayor asked if any contractor would guarantee this type of paving for any length of time. No contractor stated he would guarantee this type of paving. MR. LANDON BRADFIELD endorsed a program similar to that Mr. Sandahl had outlined, whereby the cost of paving in certain areas could be reduced and curbs and gutters eliminated in areas where the property owners were unable to bear this additional cost. He recommended lower paving qualities in areas that could not afford the higher priced paving, and the entire cost paid by the owners, and the city maintain the streets, granting it will cost more to maintain this type of street than it would the permanent type of pavement, but the city's participation would be in the maintenance. MR. BRADFIELD, in answer to inquiries, by Councilman White, and as Chairman of the Austin Real Estate Board, stated this Board was for a cheaper type of paving in the areas that need cheaper type of paving. He did not believe that the subdividers would come in and ask for a cut in specifications in their subdivisions. MR. MCKOWN did not recommend paving without curb and gutter, as there would be more money spent in maintenance. He was asked about some paving in north Austin that was low in cost. He stated the city had done the excavation, and recommended as a solution that the city participate in the excavation and set aside a portion of the maintenance money for this purpose. It would not make much showing; but when there were two-three years of good paving behind, the City would soon catch up on its maintenance. He believed it would take from 10-15 years on this program. CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS 441441 MR. SNEAD spoke about the "squirt-top" saying it was no better than what was under it. MR. KARL WAGNER stated he was subdividing property in the north part of the city and was putting dowa a high type of paving, and they hated to see the standards for paving break down in subdivisions. He suggested that since the city was zoned for different uses, that the costs of land and development also pretty well zoned the city for the class of houses built; that possibly the Council might want to take under consideration the zoning of subdivisons for certain types of paving--letting the subdivision be defined as a low-type-ofpaving-subdivision or high-type-of-paving-subdivision. DR. GIVENS spoke in favor of the $42.50 paving recommended by Mr. Sandahl, stating the people in the east part of the city could pay for that. More discussion was held on this plan. Mr. McKown inquired as to the specifications for this type of construction, and Mr. Sandahl stated they were identical to that bid on by Mr. J.R. Canion for 15 miles. Mr. McKown stated the base was already prepared on that job. Mr. Sandahl stated his proposal would include the preparation of the street. He stated in some parts of Austin that would not work. There being no further business the Council adjourned at 9:40 Ρ.Μ. subject to the call of the Mayor. ATTEST: City Clerk APPROVED Jom Milla Mayor