4458 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 27th day of May, 1955, at the Municipal Building, Eighth andColorado, in Austin, Texas, at 7:30 P.M. for the purpose of considering matters on the proposed Auditorium, and making appointments to the Board of Equalization. (Sgd) Elsie Woosley City Clerk (Sgd) Tom Miller Mayor City of Austin, Texas 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) Wesley Pearson (Sgd) Lester E. Palmer 45459 CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS Special Meeting May 27, 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. Present also: Members of the Auditorium Committee appointed by the Council in 1950; members of the Chamber of Commerce Auditorium Committee; members of the legislative committee appointed by the Council in December; the Architects; and former Mayor McAden and Mr. Ted Thompson. The Mayor announced this was a meeting called for the purpose of considering matters on the proposed Auditorium. MR. LOUIS PAGE outlined the preliminary drawings for the Municipal Auditorium as follows: SITE: OUTLINE TO ACCOMPANY PRELIMINARY DRAWINGS FOR THE MUNICIPAL AUDITORIUM AUSTIN, TEXAS The suggested location of the building and grounds as shown on the plot plan occupies that portion of the Butler Tract bordered by Riverside Drive, South First Street, Barton Springs Road, and Bouldin Avenue. The north portion of this plot is to be terraced to a raised area approximately 16 feet above the existing grade. Fill for this terrace will be supplied by the City of Austin. The remaining portion will become a parking area for 800 cars. Additional parking area is available west of Bouldin Avenue and north of Riverside Drive. ROADS & APPROACHES: The bridges that cross the Colorado River at Congress Avenue, South First Street, and Lamar Boulevard will afford a fine view of the Auditorium on its raised base. Access to the parking CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS 4460 area will be from South First Street, Barton Springs Road, and Bouldin Avenue. A service road leads to a passenger platform connected to the main entrance foyer. Trucking entrances will be provided to the main floor exhibition area and to the basement. Pedestrians will reach the main entrance foyer by ramps from the parking area or by stairs from the memorial pool. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF STRUCTURAL SYSTEM: The main floor area is covered by a steel ribbed dome 290 feet in diameter. This structural shape was chosen since it offered the most economical, column-free floor area and thus provided the maximum space flexibility. Within this dome permanent walls enclose the stairways and the side walls of the theatre. EXHIBITION AREA: A main floor area of approximately 60,000 sq. ft. canbe used for exhibits. To augment this space an additional 35,000 sq. ft. in the basement is available. A possible future expansion of the exhibit area is indicated on the plot plan. A grid of removable steel floor plates will provide acess to all utility connections necessary for any type of exhibit. THEATRE: A removable soundproof partition will separate the theatre from the main exhibit area. Main floor seating will accommodate 2,350 spectators, 500 on a level area immediately in front of the proscenium and 1,850 on removable inclined platforms. 1,168 permanent seats in the balcony will boost the auditorium seating to 3,518. All auditorium seats will be upholstered opera chairs with arms. ACOUSTICS & SOUND SYSTEM: Shapes and materials of theatre walls and ceiling will be designed for optimum hearing conditions. A public address system will be installed in front of the proscenium with auxiliary stations to accommodate special events. STAGE: Space and basic equipment to stage all types of productions will be provided. COMMITTEE ROOMS: By using the entire stage area and rooms provided on a mezzanine level, a total of 20,000 sq. ft. is available for committee rooms. These areas can be subdivided to suit different needs. FLEXIBILITY IN MAIN FLOOR USE: 1. Banquet area to seat 3,550 persons at tables, all with view of stage. 2. Exhibit space for 306 standard 10' x 10' booths with ample aisle and lobby space. 3. 5,500 seats for a pageant on stage. 4. 4,500 seats around a center platform or ring. 5. 3,500 seats for concerts and theatre. 6. 2,500 to 3,000 seats for ice show. CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS 16/461 MECHANICAL EQUIPMENT: The entire main floor area, balcony, and mezzanines will be air conditioned. The system will be designed to accommodate varying load requirements and use zones. LANDSCAPING: To attain the richest visual effect, a municipal project of this prominence should have a well designed, integrated setting. As a focal point in this scheme a memorial pool is projected. This pool would be supplied by the cooling water used by the mechanical equipment. Extensive landscaping should be furnished by the City to unify the Auditorium site to the general river front development that will follow construction of the low water dam. MR. PAGE stated the Architects had consulted an expert, MR. PHILLIP THOMPSON, Manager of the Atlantic City Auditorium, and President of the Auditorium Managers Association. He listed the multiple uses that could be made in the Auditorium, and listed the costs of construction, totalling $2,044,925.00. The Mayor asked how many exhibits of the plans had been made, and how many public meetings. Mr. Page stated there had been seven or eight exhibitions of the plans over T.V., at various clubs, etc. MOTON CROCKETT, JR., Second Vice President, Junior Chamber of Commerce, presented five items that the Jaycees asked to be carefully considered before adopting any plans for the new auditorium: (1) 20 committee and small meeting rooms to be provided and to have permanent kitchen facilities; accessible by convenient entrances, air conditioned separately or by zone control. (2) Elevator arrangement for orchestra pit should be capable of bringing the orchestra section up to the level of the stagethus enlarging the stage if desirable. (3) Permanent concession areas to serve patrons on either side and those in the exhibition area--on ground floor and balcony level; to serve the stage or back stage portion. (4) Study to see if the dome-shape auditorium could not be redesigned to be less expensive. (5) Study on the necessity for building the first floor level 16' higher than present grade. The Architects stated more study could be given to the fill proposition. They explained the type of construction of the dome, and believed it definitely to be the least expensive way to enclose that much area. As to the elevation of the orchestra area, that had been worked out as suggested. As to outside entrances, the Architects were advised to cut down on them as much as could be permitted under fire regulations. It was stated there would be the concession facilities back of the stage and in the basement. The Architects stated they would also study Mr. Crockett's suggestion for providing more isle space in the booth area. CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS 6462 MR. CARL WILSON, representing the North Austin Civic Club, asked that the 40 acre Hancock tract be considered as a more desirable location for the Auditorium than the Butler Tract, as it was the center of population, more accessible, more beautiful and better adaptibility to University use, had better parking facilities than the Butler Tract, the Butler Tract may be flooded, and the hotel question, it took only three minutes longer to go from the Hancock Tract that the Butler Tract. MR. BILL HARWELL, Chamber of Commerce, pointed out the disadvantages of the Hancock Tract. MAYOR MILLER outlined early plans on the Auditorium, and the purchases of both tracts of land; and that on April 10 1952, the Council authorized the architects to draw the plans with the Butler Tract in mind. He outlined the procedures of the financing of the Auditorium from the beginning on through the Legislature. Regarding the Hancock Tract, Councilman Long stated the club was a little late in getting its request before the Council. MRS. FRANCISCO favored the Hancock Tract. After more discussion, MR. WILSON, speaking for the delegation present, from the North Austin Civic Club, stated they were for building the Auditorium, and they were behind the Council wherever it was built. MR. WM. HARWELL suggested since it would be two years before the Auditorium would be completed, that the Council engage the services of a competent Auditorium manager at least 12 months before the Auditorium is ready to be checking schedules for conventions. Members of the Farm and Ranch Clubs spoke, Mr. Randolph stating they hoped to use the Coliseum; MR. NASH believing that the Auditorium would mean a great deal to Austin; MR. LARUE believed the livestock projects are an untapped source of revenue for the people of Austin. The Mayor stated the Farm and Ranch Clubs would have available quite a bit of area using the Auditorium and Coliseum. MR. LUTHER THOMPSON commended the committees on the fine work they have done on the Auditorium, and endorsed the location as thethe Butler Tract. The Mayor asked that the people come up and go over these plans and make any suggestions and if the plans are to be changed, to change them now. He asked that the publicity be given so that the people would have an opportunity to come up and go over these plans. After more discussion, the Council decided to meet with the Architects again at 2:30, on June 9th. There being no further business the Council adjourned at 10:00 P.M. subject to the call of the Mayor. ATTEST: Eliy City Clerk APPROVED Tom Mille Mayor