AUSTIN (KXAN) — A proposed ordinance aimed at strengthening security at new Austin hospitals — sparked by a deadly crash at St. David’s North Austin Medical Center in February and an ongoing KXAN investigation — is being finalized and could get final approval in mid-December.
“As local journalists looked into the incident, it was discovered that there are no local or state requirements protecting pedestrian entrances at these type of facilities,” Amber Hutchens with the Austin Transportation Department said in a presentation Monday, referencing KXAN’s reporting.
The city’s Urban Transportation Commission heard new details about the proposal, which the city council unanimously requested in July. Council Member Mackenzie Kelly authored the resolution after watching KXAN’s investigation, which found similar crashes at more than 300 hospitals across the country in the past decade.
“Staff is currently working with the legal department to finalize the proposed updates to the Land Development Code,” Hutchens said.
New details emerge
The proposed ordinance will recommend crash-rated bollards at new hospitals, stand alone emergency rooms and urgent care clinics. It would not apply to existing medical facilities unless there’s an expansion that triggers a site plan correction, revision, or new plan application, Hutchens said.
The bollards must also be compliant with Americans with Disabilities Act.
Transportation staff met with medical facility operators and their representatives on Sept. 18 to discuss the proposed new requirement.
“There’s a lot of voluntary compliance already occurring,” said Hutchens, who noted she did “a lot” of site visits. “Many of the covered facilities already included bollard installation in their site construction or have retroactively installed them in their existing sites.”
If the ordinance gets final approval, the city will reach out to existing medical facilities to make sure they’re aware of the new provision. She said the city will connect hospitals with permitting and review staff, if requested, and suggested waiving plan review fees for facilities that want to comply voluntarily.
The proposed ordinance will next go to the Codes and Ordinances Joint Committee on Oct. 16, followed by the Planning Commission on Nov. 12.
The measure is set to go back to the city council on Dec. 12 for final approval.