182 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 18th day of March, 1958, at the Municipal Building, Eighth and Colorado, in Austin, Texas, at 3:00 P.M. for the purpose of discussing the contract for chairs at the Auditorium; report on recreation projects (East Austin District Park, Northeast Park, Wooten Park, Civitan Park, Allison Playground and Joslin); report on the lighting materials for the Rodeo stadium; property needed for Reed Park in exchange of construction work and some paving; Butler Lease (property needed for extension of West 1st Street); report of the financial conditions of the City for 5 months ending 2-28-58; recommendation for utility rate study (Ebasco); need for a new power plant; the gas situation; and request for use of the Coliseum to put on an amatuer show. (Sgd) 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) Emma Long (Sgd) Wesley Pearson (Sgd) Lester E. Palmer (Sgd) Ben White CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS= MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS Special Meeting March 18, 1958 3:00 Ρ.Μ. Council Chamber, City Hall 183 183 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 was a meeting called for the purpose of discussing several matters pertaining to the City. Discussion of confirming the contract for chairs at the Auditorium was held. Councilman Long moved that the City Manager be instructed to enter into a contract for those chairs already purchased (Abeds Stationers HeywoodWakefield, 1300 plus or minus at $35.43 with noted changes to be made, rear of Auditorium; and Bill Hellums - International, 1400 plus or minus at $35.74, Balcony); and that the other bids be held up until the engineering on the conveyors is complete, and subject to all the specifications that have been set out (the remaining 1700). The motion, seconded by Councilman Palmer, carried by the following vote: Ayes: Councilmen Long, Palmer, Pearson, White, Mayor Miller Noes: None The Director of Recreation made reports on the recreation projects as follows: East Austin District Park Northeast Park Wooten Park clearing and shaping up is now being done; lighting plan is in the Electric Department; road plans are in the Public Works Department. - everything on schedule. the slab is finished, water system is underway; play apparatus to be put in, and lights to be put in. 184 184 - CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS Civitan Park - working with the school system. Allison Playground - departmental plans being drawn. Water, lights and slab to be placed before summer. Joslin - working with the school system. The Mayor requested that work be continued to keep up with the program as outlined, and that the Director work closely with the City Manager if there is anything that needs to be worked out through the Council. The Director of Electric Utilities gave a report on the lighting materials requested for the Rodeo stadium in that a list of materials that would be needed had been made, and the group were trying to locate the material so that they would not have to take it down and return it to the City. The Council discussed a proposal of doing some construction work in exchange of some property needed for Reed Park, and some paving. Councilman Long moved that the City Manager be authorized to try to work out the purchase of that property for $4,000 in exchange of specified services, requiring the owners to pave theroad. (Pecos Street) The motion, seconded by Councilman Pearson, carried by the following vote: Ayes: Councilmen Long, Palmer, Pearson, White, Mayor Miller Noes: None The Council discussed the Butler lease. Councilman Palmer gave a report of his negotiations with the Butlers. (Property needed for extension of West 1st Street.) The Finance Director made a report of the financial condition of the City for five months ending February 28, 1958. The Mayor announced that he was disappointed in the amount of revenue; that tax collections were not materially lower, but the water and light revenues were lower than the Departments had estimated. (STATEMENT OF RECEIPTS, DISBURSEMENTS AND BALANCES from both General Fund and Utility Fund on file.) The City Manager submitted a recommendation for a utility rate study, stating it would take a year to develop the statistics, and he wanted to ask the Ebasco Company to go ahead and set up the formula for making the study. It was requested that the total amount be ascertained, both for setting up the method and for making the analysis. Action was deferred until this information is obtained. The City Manager discussed the need for the construction of a new power plant, and the urgency for beginning right away. He stated $13,000,000 would be needed for the plant; and by the time this plant reached its capacity, $19,000,000 would have to be spent on distribution. It will take two years to - CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS: 185 185 design and build the Power Plant; and if it is not started until July, it would be impossible to get ready by 1960. The City Manager reported on the order of the 100 MW generator, and on the letter of intent. He recommended submitting the bond issue at an early date. The Mayor discussed the gas situation, covering a history of gas prices in Austin, starting at 14½ cents, and brought down to 12 cents and now under the present contract the price is 15½ cents. At the present time there is a proposed offer of gas at a set price and an unknown supply, and a contract with a certain supply of gas but no ceiling. MR. FRANK DENIUS, representing SOUTHERN UNION GAS COMPANY gave a resume of the present contract with Southern Union Gas, which would supply gas until 1978, and keep the same price formula through 1965. He also reviewed the contract between Southern Union and United. He stated the City could expect the cooperation from the Southern Union Gas, and his personal cooperation. The gas discussion ended with a request that Councilman Pearson talk to the party offering the City the new proposal and ask that he extend the time for further study. The Assistant City Manager submitted a request of ROY PRYOR who wanted to use the Coliseum to put on an amateur show, but did not want to follow the City's policy of getting a civic group or organization to sponsor the show. He did contact one organization and promised to give them $15.00 or $20.00, but the Solicitation ordinance requires 25%. The Council did not want to alter the policy at this time. Councilman Long was not particular against this request, she stated. No action was taken. There being no further business, the Council adjourned at 6:45 Ρ.Μ., subject to the call of the Mayor. ATTEST: City Clerk ATTROTTD Tom Mille APPROVED Mayor