Presenter/Contact
Presenter
Val Acevedo, City Attorney, and Kristi Aday, Assistant City Manager
Contact Info
(830) 221-4285 - kaday@nbtexas.org
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SUBJECT:
Title
Approval of the second and final reading of an ordinance creating a temporary San Antonio Street Bridge Safety Zone that will prohibit river and pedestrian traffic upstream, under, and downstream of the bridge, during TxDOT construction; authorizing the City Manager to determine date such activities are safe to resume; establishing up to a $500.00 fine; and repealing Section 86-17 of the Code of Ordinances, entitled Gruene Road River Bridge Water Safety Zone; and providing an effective date.
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BACKGROUND / RATIONALE:
(The first reading of this ordinance occurred on August 26, 2019.)
Construction on the San Antonio Street Bridge commences on September 3, 2019, when the bridge will be closed to vehicular and pedestrian traffic. River recreation on the Comal River will continue throughout the construction period; however, the contractor has identified a limited time period during which river and pedestrian traffic near and underneath the bridge should be temporarily halted for the safety and protection of the public. The contractor will be demolishing the upper deck of the bridge, and while the appropriate safety measures will be in place, it is advisable to restrict passage underneath during this time.
This ordinance designates the area underneath, upstream and downstream of the bridge as a “safety zone” and gives the New Braunfels Police Department the legal authority to prohibit the public from entering this zone beginning September 23, 2019, until a time period designated by the City Manager. This ordinance is similar to another temporary ordinance that was passed during the reconstruction of the Gruene Road River Bridge in 2008, but it was never repealed, so that is also being accomplished with this agenda item.
ADDRESSES A NEED/ISSUE IN A CITY PLAN OR COUNCIL PRIORITY:
N/A
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact to this action by the City Council.
Recommendation
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION:
N/A
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of the ordinance.