HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC 1911-12-21 MinutesDecember 21st,1911.
Oeuneil Balled to order by the chairman F.O.Erf•rt, Members present F.O.
Erfert, J.A.Cenrad, J.g.Luascis, C.Hefty, E.F.Helmes and ".J.MoDenald.
The following communication Pea the Mayer was read:
Miami,Fla. Deo. 21,1911.
City Clerk,
M1ami,Florida.
Dear sir:
Please make a record
Billingsley as city attorney for
that I have this day eworn.in, Jesse Lee
the City of Miami.
Very respectfully,
(Signed) :,.Nedaend Smith,
Mayor.
Moved by J.E.Luamus and seconded by J.A.Cenr ad th t the communisation from
mayor be relieved an Motion carried.
1f(f"-litit&LAA/5 A -
The following petition was read:
To the City Ceunil of the
City of Mia ',Fiords.
We, the undersigned mershante doing business on
Avenue D. petition your Honorable Body te have electrie lightetrung a •ng Avenue
D. from loth. street* Ath. street, es they are r'roa llth. t• 12th street en ave. D.
(signed ) J.W.Harper and
20 others.
Moved by C.Hefty end seconded by J.E.Lumaus that petition be granted,and
lights be placed, and also that three strings beplased on Avenue C. from 12th. to
14th. street and that Eleetric Light Co. benotified. Motion carried.
The following petit en was read:
To the City Council of
Miami,Fl•rida
We, the undersigned property holders and owners, res ectfully
request th t you take whatever steps tht lie in your power to buy a lot and erect
a suitable hospital for the ears of colored patients. We will furnish one third of
the funds.
(SigneD ) A.St•eken and avout 4o ethers.
The fell•wi
by City Physician,
0
ter was read in reference te the above petition:
L.N•rt h.
Mismi,Pla. Dec. 21st,1911.
To the Honorable eB•ard •f Aldermen:
Gentlemen:
I wish to respectfully endorse the preposition t• main
tsin a hospital •r plan for the •are •f the eolered sick •r injured. It seems to be
a necessity as frequently we at the City Hospital are asked to *are for colored
patients, but as there is no provision fertheir cars at the City Hospital, we are
*compelled to turn them away, which en several eeessions has proved a sauce of
much distress and suffering, owing t• the fast that the sppliestne were in extreme
eondilens.
Respe stfully,
(Signed ) John L.North,
.D. and City Physician.
The following letter was also read erem James D.Sawyer a M.D.
M1ami,Fla.
Dee. 20,1911.
To his excellency, the Mayer and ether members of the City Council,
Dear Sire:
Permit me to bring this matter before you for akking your
sympathy and deep eonsideratien.
One of our greatest needs of Miami at this time is a place to care for
risk people in Colored Town who arenotable to care for themselves. In other words,
$ Hos ital is what we want.
We have a population of mere than 2,000 people wit in the City limits
. and net even a publio tent to wish our lame, sick, old and cripple folks, without mean
may go to get s drought of something to ameliorate their pains.
There are a half dosen or more patients under my care who are in pitiable
conditions withoutmeans te sustain them.
One of tese patients is Mary Kirkland; ,lives on Fourth Street, no
husband, three little children and is confined to bed of pneumonia. Another en second
street has consumption and is without means, Anna Buekman, shot though .the lunge and
stoma sh in the same c ondit ion.
I will not use se mush time speaking of themany othera in need and withod
the attention of any doctor, or the many who have died of various diseasex; thrown upon
the public to be eared for, whom I believe would have been living today if they could
have had the right attention.
God only, knows o the wretched condition many preens in selered town
have passed through and died besause of a lack of attention.
There is one other ease worse than all these that would consume mush
time to relate. -
This xenditon Honorable Gentlemen le to my mind worse than Slavery; bees
bessuse during that time every slave when sick was gi en the best attention; kept in
a °oafs table house and given wholesome food.
We do notmean to impress upon your minds that we do nothelp our sick
ones. 0urchurehes and their miniatershave done well; yet ithas notbeen enough to
do the amount of good needed.
New the property owners hove been interested in this plan I have suggest
ed to hop you in putting the hospital in Colored Town. Everyone says he is ready to
do his part when you are ready.
I furthr believe that with the number of operationerendered people
who are really able to pay would materially help to run it with little expense te the
Otty.
New Honorable Gentlemen, in the name of the White Peepleef Miami,and
in the na,e of the Colored People and for the sake of humanity, grant our request.
Tours very respectfully,
(Signed) W.B.Sawyer,Phyaieia
Moved by J.E.Lummue, and seconded by M.J.MoDona1d that petition be
resolved and filed, and that a committee be appointed, to investigate.the needs of the
solered hospital and said committee eokfer with the County Comnissioners.,end repartee
seen as possible. Motion ea -rigid.
committee.
The chair appointed C.Hefty, E.F.Holmes and M.J.McDonald, as the
The following communisation from th auditor was read:
Miami, Fla. Des. 20th,1911.
J.E.Lummus, Esq.
Finance Committeeman,
Ctty of Miami,Fla.
Dar sir;
In esnnestion with the salaries fixed by the Board of Aldermen at their
last meeting I beg to statethat $75.00 per month is insufficient eompensation for the
salary of Auditor and I de notdesire the office at that salary. I beg to ask t"at you
sake this s•atement perfectly olesr to the Board of Aldermen and to advise them that
at your personal request only, am I at present attending to the duties.
Your proposition to advance the salary personally is respectfully de-
clined; but in eensideration of the embarrasment a change might cause your Depart-
ment in event the office should be plaeed in nsompetent and inexperienced hands and
in appreciation of your many efforts and cooperation in adjusting the different com-
plications that have some before the Department during thepast eight years, I shall
continue to assist you for a reasenabletime but will approsiate being relieved of the
office as soon as possible as the work deprives me of taking a better paying and
mush more desirable Blass of work and I cannot afford to continue the City Work
any great length of time at a loss.
?ours very truly,
(Signed° C.L.Huddleston,MuditT.
Moved by J.E.Lummus and seconded by M.J.M.Denald that communication be
filed. Motion carried.
The follswingp obits n was new read:
Miami, Pla. Dee. 11,1911.
To the Honorable City Council,
Gentlemen:
le, the undersigned, tax payers and resilents of the City of Miami
very respectfully request your Honorable Bedy to have placed in Riverside • fire'
alarm box, they same to be plaited on some point on L2th. Street.
and
the
Moved by J.A.Conrad and seconded
th t one or two fire alarm boxes
Firs Department. Motion oarried.
(Signed) J.M.Deam and about 40 others.
and approved by H.R.Chase,
Fire Chief.
by C.Hefty hat petition be resolved and filed
be placed under the supervision of the Chief of
The followingletter from the Mayer was read:
Miami, Pia. Dee. 21,1911.
To the Honorable, the City Council of tho City of
Miami,Flor ids.
Gentlemen:
Permit me to gall yeurattention to the Condition of the Railroad c eas-
ing" in this oity. azoepting the crossing below 14th. street en Ave D. all cross-
ings are unprotected. The friable street material, into whieh the rails and gross
ties are laid, b •ones worn away with constant travel by all aorta of vehicles
until the rails project 2 inches and upward abo-'e the adjacent street surfaces.
This entaiie not only an unnecessary injury by reeking and wrenching any vehicle
crossing such Railroad ties, but endangers the lives of the. easupanta of such
vehicl by the diepssitidn to akid if the rails are grossed on a slant to avoid
breaking the springs •f the conveyance.
Per th as and ether reasons which mightbe enumerated, and in order t• safeguard
such ere singe, I w uld respectfully suggest that this matter be referred to your
appreriate committee, and that the City Attorney be instructed to confer with said
•ommittee,and prepare an ordinance under the first clause of See. 20 of the Cty
Charter, a nd under the first clause of paragraph # 7 of said section, requiring
theownerp, occupants er agents of the Railroad structure at the several •rosaings
in this City mentioned, under penalties to ve preeer bed and after due notice to be
ppesifi d ordinance, to remedy the same by planking between said railroad
track structures, and for et least 2 feet on sash side of said track struet res at
all eueh ereseingd.
Such requirements are usual and ordinary in nearly all of the older states
of the Union; and there is no reason why this rapidly developing community should
net havu similar protection for the safety of its lives and poperty.
Very, • re su ectfnlly,
(Signed) S.Redmond Smith, Mayor.
Moved by E.F.Holmes and seconded by U.J.MoDonald that the communication of
Mayor be reesived and filed,)and th t the City Attorney notify the officials of the
F.B.C.Railroad Co. that it has been recommended by the Mayor end approved by council"
that you place all your railroad crossings in the City of Miami in the same con-
dition that the one is at Ave. D. near 14th.Street. Motion serried.
The following petition from the Mayer was read:
Miami, Fla. Dec. 21,1911.
To the Honorable, The City Council of the
City of M1ami,Florida.
Gentlemen:
City and
whi sh was
presented
following
Referring to the resolutions of to last meeting of the (titians of this
of the adjacent territory proposed to be padded t) our municipal limits,
held at the Boardof Trade rooms in this City on and which was
to your Honorable Bedy on , I beg to esll yeurattention to the
suggestions;
Pirst: That under the first clause of paragraph # 14 of Section # 20 of the
Miami City Code, the City Council is invested with thsgeneral power without limitation
• to equalise the tax ssessments2. That under this general power without limitation
there is no apparent reason why Council should notestabliah Bones for taxation purpss
es of the differently used and lseated properties therein; as' is done in regard to
the legalities for the sale of liquor; and for to stabile ment of a fire sons er
,limit, within whieh certain sharaeter of buildngs are prhibited.
447
Second; That Bush taxable zones might be divided into at least three skasse$;
°A' Grove properties exclusively *coupled for agriculture purposes; "B" Secluded ho
houses eceupid by owners and isolated building lots from which n revenue is derive$
remote fremmain highways and hav ng neither water, police er sanitation sefviee;
'C" Houses and lots on main reek readsiraeing fire, polite, water or saintary serve,
or soae one or mere of th se protections and guards. For the latter class of trope*
in sone or class "C" it would seem proper that the rate of assessment should be aim
ilar to corresponding property in thepresent city limits. For property in sass of 6
Zone "B" the assessment to benot mere than say one-third of the minimum rate
to be fixed at net more than the county tax assessment .or tbo time tieing;' provided
That the assessment for property in sone or class and ."0" ,shall beinereased PP
proportionately, when main roe reads are built which pass along the front of Bush
property and afford firs, pollee, water end sanitary service, or onr er more of
such aids for the health and contort of the osoupanta and security of thir hmaea.
Some such arrangement would appear to be equitable and would appear •
to all I think as fair and. Just.
I wuld also suggest that instead of ma ing the preve'rbial " two bites
at a oherryP mid *suing this matter to be again threshed out in thenear future en
account of the rapid increase of our ps pulatien, it would be mush better and wiser
to enlarge the city to te outer limits severed by the resolution of the mass meetig
abve mentioned, and further in order to o ntrsl the sh raster of the buildings,and
occupations to be carried on th rein and prevent thepessibility of the establish
ment of "red light" settlements, on the beach north and south of the Government out
from th ocean to the Bay, that thensrth and south lines' of the additions to the
City, be extended eastwardly to n point three miles East pf the Ocean Beaeh;end tht
a meandering line conforming at tht distance to the trend' ef' the shore, end drawn i
between the said points, be•fined as the Eastern boundary line of this city. The se
admiralty jurisdiction of the United States extends three miles off shore in the
ocean; and the municipal jurisdiction of this city ought to beno less.
% would therefore respectfully recommend th t this matter be referred
to a special committee to be appointed, orbs taken up at an adjourned eeting by th
the enti c.s council as a committee of the whole; and that in conference witn the
City Attorney a ordinance be prepared embodying the above and such other suggeat-
tiens as may meet with your approval; and that same be ' dopted Wan earlybday and
submitted to the people under the terms •f te law for adoption or rejection.
Very respectfully submitted,
(Signed) S.Rodmand Smi
Mayer.
Moved by J.E.Lummus and seconded by M.J.McDensld that eommunioationt
of the Mayer be received, and filed for future reference.
A communication from the mayor was read relative to the randli g of oil and
gasoline in the city limits, citing the many losses that might occur from so much being
stored at one time in vac • dangerous position, quoting that at some times there is
as much as 100,000 gallons' of oil stored at one time. In view of the above fasts " I we
woud respectfully recommend to your Honorable Body that the matter be arefsrred to your
appropriate committee and tht the city attorney be instructed to confer with said
sommittee and to frame an ordinance amending section 133 of the code, and that the
previsions made therein describing the shape, dimensions and thickness if the iron or
steel shelf comprising the container, that no oontansr shall be erected for the storage
of these fluids nearer than 200 feet to the actual shore line of the river, and that el
each e nta ner shall before any such fluids are put therein, hav e a solid reinforeed
soneret retaining wall of at least 12 inches in thickness, ehd at least ."i feet high, oft
the lower and..? the part next to the river, bust of a sufficient sapaoity to hold
at least 20 per eent mere gasoline oil than the container holds when full, and that
in prescribing the dimensions of such eonta ners, the smallest unit should be
adopted, say a sapaoity of 50,000.,,allens. I would also recommend that such or-
dinance require a watchman to be kepton duty between s .,n dew, and sun up.
•
After discussion the follewingmotion was offered by J.E.Lummua, and
ascended by M.J.MsDonsld, that the commuiebien of the mayor be received and filed
and be referred to the fire committeeman and fire chief,bthey to in truct the City
Attorney to draw an ordinance governing the manner in Which such combusivle matter
should be stored and handled. Motion carried.
448
A immunisation from the mayor was also read rseommending eounoil to
pyrehsse a conveyance for the fire chief to be used in going to tires.
Mowed by J.A.Conrad, seconded by J.E.Lummus, that the communication be
reeeived and filed for futurre reference. Motion oarried.
Miami, Fla. Deo .21 st ,1911.
Gentlemen:
I want td ersot a shed 15 by 20 on Kress
theatre. I will use irsn or oeiaent posts and cover
beused forpeanut, pop corn and cool drink stand.
Respeotful]y,
(Signed) C.P.tskin.
Moved by J.E.Lummus and seconded by C.Hefty that no permit be granted.
for any such building as asked for now or any future time on 12th. stret.Motioit
carried.
lot adjoining the Arcade
with corrugated iron. Shed will
Miami, Fla. Dee. 21st,1911.
To the HonorableCity Council,
G entl ev yen:
I respectfully ask yo'lr Honorable Body's permission to
erect a bungalow for Mr. J.J.Alley legated en 9th. Street eastof Aveiue B.
the bungalow to b built of wod and to coat about $3,000.
Reaps stfully,
(Signed ) James F.W oodworth,
Contra sot.r
Moved by J.E.Lummus and sec need by J.A.Conrsd that permit begra nted.
Motion gra ted.
Mis i, Fla. Dec. 17,1911.
Honsrable City Council, Miami,Fla.
Gentlemen:
I respeetfully ask for a permit to erect a two story
building on 11,y let between my'pressnt store and the Dade County Title and Trout
Co. building. I am usingmy Wall letting the joists into it en the west side and putti
up a six inch o nerete wall touching the building on the right . A rough sketch
atta shed .
Respectfully,
(Signed) J.D.Girtman.
Moved by E.F.Helmes and seconded by C.Hefty thb the pernitbe granted.
Moti n grated.
Captain Jsudon addressed council in reference to paying the Second Begin
mental Band for services, and asked that the eity pay towards expen e of same $75 per
month,agreeing that the band will give a weekly concert during the year.
Moved by J.E.Lummus and seconded by E.F.Helmes that an appropriation of $75
per month be made to the Second Infantry Band N.G.D. until such time that some tax
payer may make some objection to prolpssitien. Appropriation to commence from
January lst.'Motion carried.
Mr. Theo Heffstatler offered the followdng ooaunisstion to be read:
Noveber 20th,1911.
Mr. Theo Hoffstattler, City.
Dear sir:
This Board ofTrsde at its meeting en Nov. 13th. took up the matter of the
4449 I
urgent necessity for a
present this matter to
an ordinance be framed
before the council and
buildingordinance in this city. It was upon motion leeided to
the City council with the unanimous recommendation th t such a
and edepted. You are appointed as a committee of one to lay this
aeeertain what action ca n behad en thin.
Very Respectfully,
(Signed) C.H.Ward, Seo.
1[r. Hoffstattler addressed council in referenceto theneoessity of a building
ordinance, strongly urging council to pass one.
Moved by J.E.Lummus, seoonded by E.F.Holmes th t the committeeman on
public buildings be directed to have the city attorney draw a building ordinance. Motion
carried.
The report fres the City Auditor was read, showing the amount due the city
by the county and r the former contract between the city of Miami and the County Commissio
ners whereby the county agreed to pay halt of the running expenses of the city hospital
for three months..
Moved by J.E.Lummus and seeended by J.A.Conrad, th t a re'lort be re; eived
and filed, and that the elerk refer bask t the e>ntraot between the county commissioners
and the city ,and aseertain the amount due the eity by the county and make a Pill
against county commissioners, and present it at their next regular meeting. After
further discussion on the subject, the Chair appointed J.E.Lummus, C.Hefty, E.F.Holes
and M.J.McDo ald es a committee to eonfer with the County Cummins loners in refers ce
to renewing the contract regarding the hospital. 'Couneilman J.A.Conrad addressed council
stating that the matron of the City Hospital wanted to erect an automobil'shed on Bay
Park in front of the city hpepital for the use of her automobile.
Moved by ,M.J.MoDonald and seconded by C.Hefty that thematron of the City
Hostel be allowed to erect an automobile house on the east side of the boulevard in Bay
Park fronting the hospital, subject to future action of council. Motion carried.
New improvements were discussed by council at the
following motion was made:
Moved by J.A.Conrad seconded by M.J.WoDonald tht
suggested at the city hospital be referred to the committeeman
power to act. Motion oa_ried.
city hopital, and the
the improvements
on publie buildings with
A report from the auditor wa read showing the amount now on hand in the vat
various funds, showing a balance in the hand of the treasurer of $3,310.34
Moved by J.E.Lummus and seeondsd by M.J.MsDonald that report be received
and filed. Motion carried.
A report from J.E.Lummus, committeeman on finance, with letter attached
from the Treasure r showing the tax assessment of real estate improvements, disburse-
ments etc. of the city amount to $1,647,975.00, also explaining how the a::seament of
34 mills, the assessment for 1911, is to be divided, and stating that in the assessment
that only the present steps and the estimated running expense of the city was figured in
and urging council to bear in mind that in any new work for future purchases, that
nder the present assessment, the city would notbe able to take oare of them this year.
• Finanaoe comma tteeman Lummus offered various estimates to show council
his position in the matter
Moved by M.J.McDonald and seconded by C.He!tyhthst reportbe received and
filed. Motion carried.
The following cern unis;tion was read:
M1ami,Fla.
Dec. 19,1911.
HOn. City council,
Mismi, Hla.
Dear Sir:
At the last meeting of the council the city attorney was directed to
prepare an ordinance amending the present city ordinance fixing the salaries of the
officers so as to vonform to the changes agreed upon by this council and it appears
that it was the understanding of someof the members of the Council that the police
men were all to receive the sum of $75.00 per month from the date they begin servng
instea of 40.00 per month for the first sixmonths and $70.00 per month after having
servtei six Menthe as prbvided by ordinance and the members of the City Council have
eae signed s letter t the City Auditor directing and authorizing him to draw the
warrants to esoh of the policemen for November services at $75.00 per month and the
warrants were drawn accordingly. Therefore I offer the folowing resolutios;
Be it resolved that the action of the Auditor in drawing the said wa.rants and
the members of the city council and offieers who attsehedtheir signet rem threte be
approved, and Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be filed with
the City Auditor.
Respectfully submitted.
(Signed) J.E.Lummus,
Pinanace Committeeman.
Resolution.
'Whereas this council has directed the City Attorney to prepare an ordinance
amending the present ordinance governing the salaries to be paid to the various offi
sere of the city and whereas the ordinance here has notbeen presented by him to the
Counei, Be it furtbei resolved'thet he be directed to include an amendment to the
erdinaneeproviding for the pamentof #75.00 per month to Policemen from date of enter
ing the service, and Be it'fu thsr resolved th t all officers and employewe be paid
for their services the sum fixed by the council from Dec. lst,1911 to date
of passage of the amendment to the presentordinanee pertaining t salaries and,
Be it further resolved that the City Clerk. be directed to furnish the Usditor with
a espy of this resolution toghether with a iltt of the changes that have: been made by
th s council in the praent ordinance governing future salaries to be paid them.
The above resolution was offered by J.E.Lummus, E.F.Holmes moved its adoption
and J.A.Conrad seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously.
The matter of annexing the north end owe up for discussion, and was discussed
iingthily in various phases, trying to figure out the best line to establish before
the ordinance of annexaion is drawn. Finally it was deeided to defer action until
next meeting. "_'h.- chairman announced that the ordinance known as the Commission
Ordinance of the city of Miami on motor vehicles, prescribing the duties and powers
of said omission providing for the examination of operators of automobiles and other
motor vehicles etd. was up ferits second reading.
Moved by J.E.Lurm s and seconded by C.Hefty thatordinance be reed by title only.
Motion carried. Moved by J.E.I,ummus and seconded by J.A.Conrad that ordinance be
indefinitely postponed. Motioncsrried.
The chairman advised council that as yet they had notmade any disposition of the
Mayors comunicatien in reference to the purchase 'of a vehicle for the c iet of to
Fire department. After a thorough discussion, it was moved by J.E.Lummus, and second
ed by C.Hefty that the committeeman on fire protection be directed to esoertain
the cost of an automobile for the firec ho hief and re ort et next meeting.
The Chair ordered an adjournment until Thursday night, Deeember 2ath,1911.
Attest:
City Clerk.
Chairman.