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Regular City Council Meeting Monday, August 09, 2010 Page 7 Discussion included clarifying current City Code requiring the noise variance re- quest; representations by the contractor to Ms. Atkins. Mike Kessner, 2139 Albemarle Court Mr. Kessner advised that, during the recent National Night Out event, their home- owner's association had polled association members about this request, and while they were mildly concerned with additional construction noise, the majority de- termined that if it would facilitate earlier completion date of the Rice Street project, they were willing to put up with it. The association members, however, did express their hope that the additional hours would not constitute pile driving so as to mitigate. some noise concerns, suggesting that other work could be per- formed during those earlier hours in consideration of area residents. Mr. Kessner questioned the need for a variance on Saturdays based on a twelve-hour shift; and questioned if the contractor(s) would need to return for another variance in 2011, since this request was for a specific time frame. Ms. Bloom verified that the request by the applicant was for the requested time frame in 2010 and that they hadn't requested additional time; and noted that if the contractor(s) sought additional time in 2011, they would need to return for anoth- er variance. Polly West, Co-owner of 194 County Road BZ West Ms. West advised that she was in a quandary in determining whether it was pre- ferable to complete the project sooner or not have the additional noise. Ms. West questioned the incentive to residents to support the requested variance without compensation to the City or other agencies for this inconvenience. Ms. West opined that, in the end, it didn't make any difference in whether construction trucks were driving down their streets or refuse trucks going to the area day-care in the early hours; and supported getting the job done sooner. Ms. Bloom noted that, given the complexity of this project, there were some bene- fits to area residents and businesses, as well as the travelling public on the Rice Street corridor, in completing the project earlier, whether it was due to inconve- nience or noise. Ms. Bloom clarified that this year's construction project was on the north side of Highway 36. Nick Arndt, Arndt Construction Having just arrived, Mr. Arndt responded to public concerns expressed and City Council questions. Discussion included the contractor(s) preferring not to work on Saturday and not anticipating regular Saturday hours unless due to weather-related delays with the exception of one area for extensive storm sewer work crossing north of and jack- ing under Highway 36 with lighter traffic volume on Saturday facilitating that work while attempting to maintain traffic while undercutting the road; impacts of