Stories by Amy Smith
With an ambitious food plan ready for adoption, all that's missing is the financing
City Council members heard a briefing Tuesday on a far-reaching food plan designed to eliminate historical barriers to food access in Austin and Travis County. If all goes as planned, the draft proposal will return to City Council on Aug.…
City Council • By Amy Smith • Jul 17, 2024
Gun violence report will help city leaders craft intervention and prevention strategies
For a city of its size, Austin has a low rate of homicides from gun violence, averaging four per 100,000 residents over a 15-year period. But an “alarming” spike in shooting incidents following the Covid-19 pandemic – from January 2021…
Public Safety • By Amy Smith • Jul 11, 2024
Mayor Kirk Watson slows timing for climate bond election
City Council members have been taking sides on the City Council Message Board over competing timelines for a climate bond election, and on Wednesday the proposal for a longer lead-up was left standing. The back-and-forth on the message board –…
Bonds & Propositions • By Amy Smith • Jul 5, 2024
Parks Board hears from the public on the next (and former) PARD director
The Parks and Recreation Board got an earful of public testimony earlier this month regarding the city’s national search to replace former parks director Kimberly McNeeley. McNeeley recently left the Parks and Recreation Department after accepting the position of CEO…
City Hall • By Amy Smith • Jul 2, 2024
Parks Board recommends approval of Violet Crown trail funding
Anyone who tuned in last week to watch the Parks and Recreation Board deliberate a $900,000 contract agreement with a nonprofit may have been surprised by the rare absence of a live broadcast of the meeting. And they may have…
Transportation • By Amy Smith • Jun 25, 2024
Austin Water aims to transform landscape requirements for new homes
Austin Water is planning a landscape transformation initiative for new single-family homes as part of the city’s long-range water conservation strategies, according to a progress report Wednesday to the Water and Wastewater Commission. Kevin Critendon, Austin Water’s assistant director over…
Environment • By Amy Smith • Jun 14, 2024
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Environmental Commission looks to make Austin safer for birds
The Environmental Commission voted Wednesday to form a working group to delve into how Austin can live up to its “Bird City” title by creating bird-safe buildings. The near-unanimous vote, with Colin Nickells abstaining, followed a presentation by Heidi Trudell,…
Environment • By Amy Smith • Jun 10, 2024
Council supports relocating and expanding Barton Creek sewage pipe
The prospect of an expanded and relocated Barton Creek wastewater line has Southwest Austin property owners hopeful of getting redevelopment projects off the ground. On the other hand, environmental advocates worry that an expanded sewage pipe will encourage more growth…
City Council • By Amy Smith • May 31, 2024
Watson focuses on how to finance city’s environmental goals
City Council on Tuesday received its first briefing on what is expected to be a painstaking journey toward developing and implementing an investment strategy for funding Austin’s Climate Equity Plan. A public hearing is set for today on the creation…
Environment • By Amy Smith • May 30, 2024
Memo outlines the high cost of planning for Austin’s environmental future
With the city already facing a budget deficit exceeding $13 million in the 2025 budget year, a recent staff memo with cost estimates for funding an array of environmental initiatives may be causing sticker shock in some circles. Yet proponents…
Environment • By Amy Smith • May 24, 2024
Water quality plan draws opposition from Reed Park neighbors
A water quality improvement project slated for a West Austin neighborhood park has sparked controversy among Tarrytown neighbors opposed to the prospect of losing an informal ball field to a biofiltration pond for stormwater runoff. Reed Neighborhood Park, given to…
Water • By Amy Smith • May 22, 2024
Environmental report points to the city limits and parkland challenges ahead
The 2023 “State of Our Environment” report from the Austin Watershed Protection Department presents a mix of positive and negative findings, but optimistically underscores the city’s proactive efforts in addressing the impacts of urban development and climate change. As in…
