Concrete ordinance may see opposition

There may be some division among City Council members today about an ordinance that would limit concrete pouring hours to between 7 p.m. and 2 a.m. on certain downtown properties. Council Member Mike Martinez said at Tuesday’s work session that he heard a request from the Old Austin Neighborhood Association to hold stakeholder meetings on the item before moving forward. He said he’d like for the city and developers to continue sound mitigation strategies until construction companies, neighbors and other stakeholders can reach an agreement, because he’s concerned the ordinance will produce unintended consequences. Council Member Laura Morrison, who initiated the amendments, said she hopes the ordinance will provide some relief to downtown residents who are suffering due to noise and that it can serve as an interim step until the city can conduct a stakeholder process. Morrison said she understood Martinez’s concern that the ordinance could affect employees of companies currently working on projects and that she would ask staff about current projects. Mayor Lee Leffingwell and Mayor Pro Tem Sheryl Cole said they would support Martinez’s proposal if brought forward.