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Austin Secures $7.5M for Utility Upgrades

Thursday, May 11, 1972 special called
  • Major Infrastructure Investment

    Austin moved to secure $7.5 million for significant upgrades to its public electric, water, and sewer systems.
  • Funding Breakdown

    Of the total, $4.5 million was earmarked for electric system improvements, with $1.5 million each for expanding waterworks and sewer infrastructure. These funds were part of larger, previously voter-approved initiatives.
  • Bond Sale Finalized

    The city accepted the lowest bid from Halsey, Stuart & Co. and associates, obtaining the revenue bonds at an effective interest rate of 4.7854%.
  • Emergency Ordinance Passage

    The ordinance authorizing these crucial bonds was passed quickly as an emergency measure, indicating the city council deemed immediate action necessary for public services and safety.

Full Transcript

_ CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS Special Meeting May 11, 1972 10:30 Α.Μ. Council Chambers, City Hall 472 5 The meeting was called to order with Mayor Butler presiding. Roll call: Present: Councilmen Dryden, Nichols, Mayor Pro Tem Love, Councilmen Lebermann, Handcox, Mayor Butler Absent: Councilman Friedman The Mayor, noting it was time to receive bids on the City of Austin Revenue Bonds, ascertained the accuracy of the hour; that there were no other bids having been received in the mailing room, the City Manager's Office, by the Finance Director, or by the City Clerk's Office, or to be submitted by anyone present in the Council Chamber. Mayor Butler announced it was now 10:30 A.M. and the time for receiving bids was closed. $7,500,000 ELECTRIC, WATER AND SEWER REVENUE BONDS Bids on the $7,500,000 Electric, Water and Sewer Revenue Bonds were then opened and read by the Finance Director as follows: NAME OF BIDDER HALSEY, STUART & CO., INC,, SMITH BARNEY & CO., INC. AND ASSOCIATES EFFECTIVE INTEREST RATE 4.7854% THE FIRST BOSTON CORPORATION KIDDER, PEABODY & CO., INC. AND ASSOCIATES 4.8213% MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER AND SMITH, INC.; DUPONT GLORE FORGAN MUNICIPALS, W. H. MORTON & CO., DIVISION OF AMERICAN EXPRESS; RAUSCHER PIERCE SECURITIES; AND 4.8466% ASSOCIATES : DONALDSON, LUFKIN & JENRETTE, INC. 4.871689 CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS May 11, 1972 473 LEHMAN BROTHERS, INC., JUHN, LOEB & CO., FIRST SOUTHWEST CO., SHIELDS & CO., STONE & WEBSTER SECURITIES CORP., HORNBLOWER & WEEKS-HEMPHILL, NOYES, J. C. BRADFORD & CO., AND ASSOCIATES 4.882490% 4.8841% A. G. BECKER & CO., INC. WEEDEN & CO., INC. SALOMON BROTHER, BEAR, STEARNS & CO. 4.903379% DILLON, READ MUNICIPALS, DIVISION OF CILLON, READ & CO., INC., JOHN NUVEEN & CO., INC. 4.9218% WHITE, WELD & CO., INC., ROWELS, WINSTON & CO., INC. & ASSOCIATES 4.9308% The Council referred the bids to the Finance Director, Bond Counsel, and Fiscal Advisor; reported nine bids were received for the Revenue Bonds. The low bidder was HALSEY, STUART & CO., INC., SMITH, BARNEY & CO., INC. AND ASSOCIATES at an effective interest rate of 4.7854%. Councilman Nichols moved the Council accept the low bidder and awarded the bonds to HALSEY, STUART & CO., INC., SMITH, BARNEY & CO., INC. AND ASSOCIATES at the effective interest rate of 4.7854%. The motion, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Love, carried by the following vote: Ayes: Councilman Nichols, Mayor Pro Tem Love, Councilmen Lebermann, Handcox, Mayor Butler, Councilman Dryden Noes: None Absent: Councilman Friedman CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS MINUTES PERTAINING TO PASSAGE AND ADOPTION OF ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING ISSUANCE OF $7,500,000 "CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS, ELECTRIC LIGHT AND POWER, WATERWORKS AND SEWER SYSTEM REVENUE BONDS, SERIES NO. 24," DATED APRIL 1, 1972 THE STATE OF TEXAS COUNTY OF TRAVIS CITY OF AUSTIN XXXXX 474 ON THIS, the 11th day of May, 1972, the City Council of the City of Austin, Texas, convened in regular session at the regular meeting place thereof in the City Hall, the meeting being open to the public and notice of said meeting, giving the date, place and subject thereof, having been posted as prescribed by Article 6252-17. Section 3A, V.A.T.C.S., with the following members present and in attendance, to wit: ROY BUTLER DAN LOVE DR. S. H. "BUD" DRYDEN MAYOR MAYOR PRO TEM DICK NICHOLS LOWELL H. LEBERMANN BERL L. HANDCOX ) ) COUNCILMEN ! and with the following absent: Jeffrey M. Friedman constituting a quorum; at which time the following among other business was transacted: The Mayor presented for the City Council's consideration an ordinance authorizing the issuance of $7,500,000 "CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS, ELECTRIC LIGHT AND POWER, WATERWORKS AND SEWER SYSTEM REVENUE BONDS, SERIES NO. 24," dated April 1, 1972, the caption of said ordinance being as follows: "AN ORDINANCE by the City Council of the City of Austin, Texas, authorizing the issuance of $7,500,000 'CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS, ELECTRIC LIGHT AND POWER, WATERWORKS AND SEWER SYSTEM REVENUE BONDS, SERIES NO. 24,' dated April 1, 1972, of which the sum of $4,500,000 is for the purpose of extending and improving the City's Electric Light and Power System, the sum of $1,500,000 is for the purpose of extending and improving the City's Waterworks System, and the sum of $1,500,000 is for the purpose of extending and improving the City's Sewer System (being the fifth parcel or installment of a total voted authorization of $26,000,000 for Electric Light and Power System purposes, the second parcel or installment of a total voted authorization of $7,000,000 for Waterworks System purposes, and the second parcel or installment of a total voted authorization of $27,000,000 for Sewer System purposes), as authorized by the General Laws of the State of Texas, particularly Article llll et seq., V.A.T.C.S.; May 11, 1972 475 CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS prescribing the form of the bonds and the form of the interest coupons; pledging the net revenues of the City's combined Electric Light and Power, Waterworks and Sewer System to the payment of the principal of and interest on said bonds; enacting provisions incident and relating to the subject and purpose of this ordinance; and declaring an emergency." The ordinance was read and Councilman Nichols moved that the rule be suspended which requires that no ordinance shall become effective until the expiration of ten days following the date of its final passage, that such ordinance be finally passed and adopted at this meeting, and that, for the reasons recited therein, said ordinance be passed as an emergency measure for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, and safety of the citizens of Austin as permitted by the City Charter. The motion was seconded by Councilman and carried by the following vote: Lebermann AYES: Mayor Butler and Councilmen Love, Dryden, Nichols, Lebermann, and Handcox. NOES: None. Nichols The ordinance was read the second time and Councilman moved that the rules be further suspended and that the ordinance be passed as an emergency measure to its third reading. The motion was seconded by Councilman Lebermann and carried by the following vote: AYES: Mayor Butler and Councilmen Love, Dryden, Nichols, Lebermann, and Handcox. NOES: None. Nichols moved The ordinance was read the third time and Councilman that the ordinance be finally passed as an emergency measure. The motion was seconded by Councilman Lebermann and carried by the following vote: AYES: Mayor Butler and Councilmen Love, Dryden, Nichols, Lebermann, and Handcox. NOES: None. The Mayor then announced that the ordinance had been finally passed and adopted. MINUTES APPROVED, this the 11th day of May, 1972. ATTEST: /s/ Elsie Woosley City Clerk, City of Austin (City Seal) /s/ Roy Butler Mayor, City of Austin, Texas _CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS May 11, 1972 476 ADJOURNMENT The Council then adjourned. ATTEST: City Clerk APPROVED: Mayor