491 491 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 6th day of June, 1955, at the Municipal Building, Eighth and Colorado, in Austin, Texas, at 7:30P.M. for the purpose of discussing and determining a plan for paving. (S) TOM MILLER Mayor City of Austin, Texas (S) Elsie Woosley City Clerk ATTEST: (S) 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. (S) Emma Long (S) BenWhite (S) Wesley Pearson (S) Lester E. Palmer 492 492 CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS Special Meeting June 6, 1955 7:30 P.M. 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., Acting City Manager; Reuben Rountree, Acting Director of Public Works; Doren Eskew, Acting City Attorney. The Mayor announced that this meeting was called for the purpose of discussing and determining a plan for paving. He brought out the fact it did not look as though the City could have a large comprehensvie plan for paving, but there might be a small amount for a little paving. MR. BRYANT COLLINS urged the Council to seek the aid and services and opinions of engineers qualified to determine the types of paving and methods, and a standard that would warrant the expenditures. He asked that no experiments be made, as there was no need for experimental streets, as they are here already; and in his opinion were not standing up. He did not believe there were any streets with a uniform base at this time; and if a double asphalt surface were put on them, it would be a waste of money. The Mayor reviewed the paving programs in the past, stating there had not been a big paving program, and this discussion was to see what could be done with a little bit of money, and to see what he people wanted. Councilman White was anxious to know how this cheaper paving would affect the subdivision ordinance. The City Attorney stated it might cause people who felt compelled to put in a better type of paving under the ordinance to no longer feel called upon to do that to develop their property. Councilman White feared that the sübdivision ordinance would be torn up. He suggested studying the zoning aspect of different types of paving in different zones The City Manager explained that the ordinance set up a minimum requirement; and if a lesser type were used elsewhere, it would have the effect of jeopardizing the validity of the ordinance to that extent. Councilman Long asked if the 493 493 CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS = dust laying program were justified, why couldn't the asphalt paving be justified. The City Manager stated that was maintenance. MR. CHARLES SANDAHL, SR. had a statement that the engineer for George Sutherland, Paving Contractor, had checked Navasota, Canterbury, Spence, Taylor, Holly, San Marcos, Haskell, Comal, Chicon, and found there was an average depth of 6"; that it would be sufficient to carry the present traffic in those streets; and with the two course asphalt treatment, the City would not have to maintain those streets for a period of three years; and then it might be necessary to apply a sealcoat, which would not be more than 25 a foot. The streets would have an added life of five to eight years. He believed with the $70,000 spent for dust laying, if that were used for preparing the base, and the City participating 10%, the City could pave 132 miles for $1,400,000. There could be paved 1,584 blocks. This same type of paving had been used in Pemberton Heights and Highland Park west. MR. GEORGE SUTHERLAND explained the paving, stating it would be $1.00 a front foot with the base that is there; in accordance with Highway Specification Item 305. Councilman Palmer was interested in the overall benefit--the expedient or giving a dollar's worth for a dollar spent. Discussion was held on the specification of the Highway Paving Program, Item 305. Mr. Sandahl urged the Council to use his type of paving; as if they used the mor expensive kind, the people just could not pay for it. Comparisons of prices of paving, using thebase, curbs and gutters, etc., were made. Councilman Pearson submitted the following proposed policy for paving: "Around $350,000 has been budgeted for street maintenance in 1955. I recommend that at least $50,000 of this money should be used for permanent street improvements and that the Council appropriate $50,000 additional money for a voluntary paving program. This would give the city during 1955 $100,000 for thisprogram. With the cities 10% participation, we could add a million dollars in paving to Austin's streets. I believe this is the only way that we can relieve our paving program during the next year and a half. I propose to the Council that we use the following suggestions: 1. Make a map of the City, cut into paving districts, numbering districts. 2. Place map on the wall of the City Council Chamber. 3. Place numbers representing each paving district in a box. 4. At Council Meeting have some citizen draw from box three or four cards depending a whatever number of districts wewant to start. 5. Furnish a map of all districts so contractors will know what area they are bidding on. 495 495 CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS 6. Have any contractor interested in bidding to submit bids on these particular districts, based on the front foot cost to property owners, a. Price should be for complete street, flexible base, paving, curb and gutter. b. Or flexible base, paving, and gutter only. C. Or flexible base and paving. d. Price should include cost of intersections which has been distributed in the paving district on a front foot cost, making front cost in each district the same on all streets. (for a, b, c as shown) 7. All prices submitted should be based a City ordinance governing the construction of streets in subdivisions. 8. All prices shall be submitted on 30 foot streets or residential type. 9. The City of Austin will not pay any cash, but will do all excavating and engineering to prepare sub-grade fore the contractor as the cities share. This will run from 10% up, depending on the type and amountof excavating necessary. 10. The contractor shall collect his money directly from the property owners, which monies are to be placed in the bank in an escrow account, checks will be made payable to the bank handling escrow account. The contractor upon completion and acceptance of the work by the City of Austin, will receive a letter from the City releasing money held for this paving. 11. When a contractor is given a franchise in a certain district, he will have three months to sign up all the paving he can, at which time this district will beclosed and the contractor allowed to bid on another district. The contractor may be allowed to bid on another district after thrity days attempted sign up, but can hold the other district the original 90. 12. No contractor will be allowed to bid on another district for thirty days after he receives his contract on thedistrict in which he is working. 13. The City will assign one employee to handle all paving inquiries., 14. This employee will be assigned the following responsibilities; a. Contact people interested in securing paving on the voluntary paving program. Set up teams to raise owners part of money. b. Attend community meetings to explain program and how the City will participate by doing the engineering, excavating, etc. CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS 496 496 c. Point out to the citizens that they can save a substantial. amount of money by entering a voluntary praving program. d. Explain that all banks and loan associations have been contacted and urged to support this paving program. e. Supply petitions for interested groups to sign up. After 75% or more on the street have signed voluntary paving petitions, community teams will contact owners for checks made payable to the bank handling the escrow account. f. Supply strip maps to all interested in working on te paving of a certain street. g. Try to complete all projects within thirty days after start has been made to raise money on a particular street. h. Report to the City Council progress of the paving program the first Thursday of each month. This policy was discussed by the Coundl. MR. MAYFIELD stated soil cement wasa base material permitted under the subdivision ordinance and he would appreciate it if this would be con- sidered under these suggestions. Discussion of financing was held--if banks would lend money for the paving as they do for Televisions and other luxuries--and other financial means. Councilman Long suggested setting up a revolving fund and in the 195556 budget, if the people wanted a bond issue, there could be a real paving program, and the city would finance the paving in a revolving fund and the people could borrow the money from the City. This would provide a comprehensive program. She was not satisfied that this particular program would get Austin out of the dust. Councilman Pearson felt it would be a good start and he hoped the citizens would realize that there was a need for cross-streets, bridges, underpasses, etc., and would be willing to pass a street improvement bond issue in the last part of 1956. Councilman White believed in the voluntary paving, and thought if the people knew just how much it would cost and were contacted that there would be quite a bit of paving done. He was for paving, but he was for protecting this other ordinance and did not want to jeopardize the subdivision ordinance. The Mayor stated if the Council were careful and kpet the tax rate down; if the paving contractors would go along, and if there is an attempt to go stepby step, good government, and era of confidence would return, and perhaps the people would ask for a bond issue. Councilman White wanted it understood he was not going to ask for a bond issue now, because the people were tax conscious and would not vote it. The Mayor asked if they would want to tie down 12 blocks of paving under Mr. Sandahl's plan, let bids come in and guarantee the people it would not cost them over $50.00 a lot, there might be several who wanted to go this way. Councilman Palmer believed the people had established their credit, and several had told him they would rather have the better type of paving with curbs and gutters if they could get it on the monthly payment plan. He favored going on with this voluntary paving plan; as a real comprehensive program would have to be on the assessment basis, and this other would be getting started on a million dollar paving program. He suggested also more publicity on this voluntary paving plan. 497 497 CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS The Mayor asked if the Council wanted to delay decision a the 12 blocks of Mr. Sandahl's suggested paving. Councilman Pearson suggested meeting again a week from Thursday (June 16) Councilman Long made a motion that this discussion be closed until Thursday at 2:00 June 16, and that the present cash or voluntary program proceed that the program that has been outlined for repaving Congress Avenue proceed with the property owners paying their share; and any other paving that is being worked. on to proceed. No second or no action was taken at this time as the Council adjourned. AFE ROVED: To ille Mayor ATTEST: Elsie Nasaliy City Clerk