CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS Special Meeting November 23, 1963 12:00 Noon Council Chamber, City Hall The meeting was called to order with Mayor Palmer presiding. Roll call: Present: Councilmen LaRue, Long, Shanks, White, Mayor Palmer Absent: None Present also: W. T. Williams, Jr., City Manager; Doren R. Eskew, City Attorney; Reuben Rountree, Jr., Director of Public Works; Robert A. Miles, Chief of Police Mayor Palmer announced this was a special called session of the Austin City Council to adopt a proclamation, which he read as follows: PROCLAMATION WHEREAS, we with yet unfinished temporal work need the better to be enabled to discern the purposes of life which become eternal; and WHEREAS, we who yet remain need the better to be enabled to communicate with the Creator who marks both the sparrow's fall and the martyr's ascendancy; Now, Therefore, IT IS HEREBY PROCLAIMED that the entire day of Monday, the 25th day of November, 1963, A.D., be and the same is hereby set aside throughout the City of Austin, Texas, as a day of mourning and surcease from labor and commerce out of respect to the hallowed memory of our departed President, JOHN FITZGERALD KENNEDY. s/ Lester E. Palmer Mayor s/ Travis LaRue Councilman s/ Emma Long Councilman וי =CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS November 23, 1963 s/ Louis Shanks Councilman s/ Ben White Councilman ATTEST: s/ Elsie Woosley City Clerk Councilman LaRue moved that the Council join Mayor Palmer in the above proclamation. The motion, seconded by Councilman Long, carried by the following vote: Ayes: Councilmen LaRue, Long, Shanks, White, Mayor Palmer Noes: None Mayor Palmer stated, in connection with this Proclamation, that those in the City of Austin felt a deep personal sorrow in this tragedy that occurred. Austin was to have been the Host City for perhaps one of the most historic events : that would have ever happened in this vicinity. The Mayor asked the merchants to set aside MONDAY, November 25, 1963, as a day of mourning and close in respect to the death of the President. He noted, of course, in some services it would be absolutely necessary that some establishments remain open. The Downtown merchants had already unanimously voted to close all day. MR. VIC MATHIAS, Chamber of Commerce, announced that CAPITAL PLAZA and SEARS had indicated they would be happy to comply with the wishes of this Council and close their businesses on Monday in respect to the untimely death of the President. In closing the City Departments on Monday, November 25, 1963, with the exception of the very necessary services of the Fire, Police, Hospital, Sanitation and Utility Departments, Councilman Long moved that this date be an allowed holiday recognizing that the time of all of those Departments that must work and perform be handled in the same manner as followed on other designated holidays. The motion, seconded by Councilman White, carried by the following vote: Ayes: Councilmen LaRue, Long, Shanks, White, Mayor Palmer Noes: None Mayor Palmer asked the Council to convey to PRESIDENT LYNDON B. JOHNSON its heartfelt prayers in the tremendous burden he has assumed and to acknowledge that the Council recognizes, in his long experience in Washington and his knowledge of the Government, his knowledge of the wishes of the people, and his closeness to the people both in this country and the many countries in which he has traveled abroad, that the Government will continue and will be in good hands and that the Council sends him its utmost confidence and prayers that the affairs of the Nation will be carried on without any interruption. Councilman Long moved that the Council join the Mayor in his remarks and send a telegram to the new President of the United States with the names of the Council. The motion, seconded by Councilman LaRue, carried by the following vote: Ayes: Councilmen LaRue, Long, Shanks, White, Mayor Palmer Noes: None ) _CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS November 23, 1963 Mayor Palmer asked the Council to also send a telegram to GOVERNOR and MRS. JOHN CONNALLY and family, wishing Governor Connally a speedy recovery and expressing the feelings of the people of the City of Austin. Councilman LaRue moved that the Council endorse the Mayor's request. The motion, seconded by Councilman Long, carried by the following vote: Ayes: Councilmen LaRue, Long, Shanks, White, Mayor Palmer Noes: None Mayor Palmer requested that on all of the City installations, the Flag be flown at half-mast through the entire funeral and thereafter follow the same procedure as the State of Texas. Councilman Long moved that the Flags be flown at half-mast in accordance with the Mayor's request. The motion, seconded by Councilman LaRue, carried by the following vote: Ayes: Councilmen LaRue, Long, Shanks, White, Mayor Palmer Noes: None Councilman LaRue moved that the Special Session be adjourned. The motion, seconded by Councilman Long, carried by the following vote: Ayes: Councilmen LaRue, Long, Shanks, White, Mayor Palmer Noes: None The Council adjourned at 12:30 P.M., subject to the call of the Mayor. ATTEST: City "Clerk APPROVED Palumer Mayor