Although Butler Shores Metropolitan Park was abandoned as a site for a proposed professional Major League Soccer stadium, other sites have continued as possibilities, including Roy G. Guerrero Colorado River Park. Based on Precourt Sports Ventures’ original plan for a 20,000-seat stadium, Malcolm Yates, the chair of the East Riverside/Oltorf Combined neighborhood planning contact team […]
Jessi Devenyns
Posted inResources
Once again, Austin’s landfill criteria is back in discussion
Nobody wants their backyard to become a landfill. For nearly a year, Austin Resource Recovery has been redesigning the landfill criteria matrix that refuse companies will have to abide by going forward. Problem is, it seems that staff is caught in the crossfire between ratepayers and waste companies and nobody can come to a consensus. […]
Posted inWhispers
Tom Miller Dam floodgate replacement project moves forward
Eighty years ago, the Tom Miller Dam curtailed the waters of the Colorado River for the first time. Now, after eight decades, all nine of its floodgates need replacement. At the last meeting of the Lower Colorado River Authority’s board of directors, General Manager Phil Wilson requested that a $9.9 million lifetime budget be approved […]
Posted inWhispers
New reservoir on the horizon for 2022
According to the Lower Colorado River Authority, in 2022, Colorado County can expect to have a new freshwater reservoir at its disposal. Called the Prairie Conservation Reservoir, this small 2,000-acre-foot off-channel reservoir is intended to help improve the stability of the fresh water supply for Austin and the surrounding areas. The reservoir will be located […]
Posted inWhispers
Brackish groundwater study gets pilot program
Down at the Colorado River Delta lies Matagorda Bay. Predictably, this coastal land has a plentiful supply of salt water but lacks sources of fresh water. Recognizing the area’s need for sources of fresh water other than Lake Travis surface water, engineers recently determined that the brackish water in the Matagorda Bay area could serve […]
Posted inElections
Austinites may soon be able to directly support candidates through voucher donations
When it comes to political campaigning, it’s no secret that Austin has funding inequalities. Some fear these funding inequalities have fostered a lack of engagement among voters that has helped lead to the city’s notorious low turnout at the polls. Responding to the statistics, City Council charged the Charter Review Commission with determining the most […]
Posted inWhispers
Nathan Wiebe moves on from the Office of the City Auditor
Last Friday, Feb. 2, Nathan Wiebe completed his final day as the chief of investigations for the Office of the City Auditor. His new role is IT security consultant for the Office of the Chief Information Security Officer. Specifically, Wiebe will work in digital forensic investigations to support citywide inquiries. With his background in computer […]
Posted inThe Code
Regret an ethics complaint? City may soon allow take-backs
On occasion, a complaint will come to the Ethics Review Commission only to be later followed by a request for withdrawal. However, according to current code, a request of this nature may not be honored. Concerned with the inability of plaintiffs to withdraw their complaints, at their Feb. 7 meeting commissioners proposed an amendment to the […]
Posted inAustin
The Austin people have spoken through six resolutions on displacement and gentrification
In Austin, it appears that the people have a plan. This past Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Susana Almanza of People Organized in Defense of Earth and her Resources (PODER) and Fred McGhee of Preserve Rosewood revealed the People’s Plan: a group of six resolutions/draft ordinances that are aimed at creating solutions for displacement and […]
Posted inParks
Parkland Events Task Force recommendations need more work
Almost exactly a year ago, the Parks and Recreation Department was tasked with implementing the final recommendations that were adopted by City Council from the 17-member Parkland Events Task Force. Established in 2015, the task force was given the assignment to find a balance between the everyday use of the park system and special events […]
Posted inBonds & Propositions
2012 APD bond projects appear to be stalled on many sides
Generally, if a bond is issued with a specific project in mind, when the money is awarded, the city gives a project team five years to complete whatever project the taxpayers are funding. That is, of course, unless the costs of the project were arbitrarily estimated and the team runs out of funds before the […]
Posted inParks
Nash Hernandez joint-use facility will remain indefinitely unopened
For seven years, East Austin’s Nash Hernandez Building has remained empty as the Austin Parks and Recreation Department and the Austin Police Department have worked to create a 9,600-square-foot joint-use facility for Austin’s park rangers and park patrol units. As of last week, it looks like the project is still years away from completion. Board […]