Posting Language
Title
Approve an ordinance amending City Code Section 9-2-3(A) to extend the hours a person can operate machinery that separates, gathers, grades, loads, or unloads sand, rock, or gravel within 600 feet of a residence, church, hospital, hotel, or motel for the expansion and redevelopment of the Austin Convention Center located at 500 East Cesar Chavez Street. Funding: This item has no fiscal impact.
De
Lead Department
Capital Delivery Services.
Fiscal Note
This item has no fiscal impact.
Prior Council Action:
June 10, 2021 - Council approved Construction Manager at Risk Methodology, Agenda Item 5, on an 11-0 vote.
October 19, 2023 - Council approved a Professional Service Agreement with LMN | Page, Agenda Item 27, on a 9-0 vote.
October 19, 2023 - Council approved Construction Manager at Risk with JE Dunn | Turner, Agenda Item 28, on a 9-0 vote.
For More Information:
James Snow, Director, Capital Delivery Services; Eric Bailey, Deputy Director, Capital Delivery Services; Riley Triggs, Capital Delivery Consultant, 512-974-7747.
Additional Backup Information:
This item is requesting a modification of the City Code Section 9-2-3 to expand the hours a person can operate a machine that separates, gathers, grades, loads, or unloads sand, rock, or gravel from 6:00 AM to 7:00 PM to 6:00 AM to 10:30 PM, for the duration of the Convention Center Redevelopment and Expansion Project (“Project”). Approval of this modification will allow the Project to remain on schedule and achieve the goal of reopening the expanded facility prior to the Spring Festival season in 2029.
The City of Austin has grown rapidly into a top ten preferred convention destination since opening the Austin Convention Center in 1992 and its expansion in 2002. However, the existing Convention Center has insufficient space to accommodate the growth in event demand at the Center, while the facility itself creates a barrier between east and west, with no ground level interaction for the local community and visitors. Therefore, with the support of Council, Austin Convention Center Department (“ACCD”) embarked on the expansion and redevelopment of its existing facility to provide a larger, more efficient facility on a smaller footprint that will be a more active and community-friendly event space in the heart of Downtown Austin.
While this extension would be allowed for the duration of the entire Project, construction noise and truck hauling activity will be at its highest levels during the demolition and excavation phases. Project Team members have evaluated all efforts to minimize the impact these activities will have on neighboring businesses, hotels and residences. The extension of hours to operate construction machinery could reduce the total duration of demolition and excavation activities by approximately 20% (from 18 months to 14 months). The Project Team has coordinated with adjacent businesses and residences to minimize the impacts of construction activities, including the development of a noise mitigation plan. Coordination efforts with neighbors will continue throughout the duration of the project.
In meeting with adjacent hotels, the Project Team presented Project details including noise mitigation efforts, construction site ingress/egress points and truck travel paths. In addition, the Project Team requested their support for performing construction work past 7:00 pm. The Project Team and hotel stakeholders agreed to set a 9:00 pm construction work end time for 7 days a week and a construction end time of 10:30 pm when needed with advance notice. Additionally, the operation of construction machinery that separates, gathers, grades, loads, or unloads sand rock or gravel would not begin until 8:00 am on weekends. Coordination efforts with stakeholders will continue throughout the duration of the project.
The extension of hours to operate construction machinery will support the overall project schedule goal of opening the new Convention Center in December 2028.