Stories by Tyler Whitson
CTRMA plans to add express lanes to MoPac South
A proposal to add four tolled lanes to MoPac Expressway, including two elevated lanes, raised concerns Monday from Travis County Commissioner Brigid Shea and others during a Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization Transportation Policy Board meeting. “I don’t think there’s…
Transportation • By Tyler Whitson • Mar 11, 2015
Council approves lower Onion Creek buyout
Many at-risk residents of the flood-prone lower Onion Creek area were relieved to learn Thursday, after more than a year of waiting, that the city will help them move away from the area most affected by the record-breaking Halloween 2013…
Austin • By Tyler Whitson • Mar 6, 2015
Council assesses potential Onion Creek buyout
While the Halloween 2013 flood continues to impact lives near Onion Creek, City Council will likely decide Thursday whether the city should chip in up to $60 million to help ensure that history does not repeat itself. Council members considered…
Austin • By Tyler Whitson • Mar 4, 2015
Council debates deregulation of Austin Energy
When it comes to Austin Energy, there is one word that always stirs up debate. That word is “deregulation.” City Council held a policy workshop with Austin Energy management, stakeholders and policy advocates Monday on the myriad issues associated with…
City Council • By Tyler Whitson • Mar 3, 2015
Council puts energy consulting contracts on hold
Picking up where others left off can be difficult, especially when it involves something as expensive and complicated as the Austin Energy generation plan. Rather than decide on up to $2 million worth of contracts for energy demand management consulting…
City Council • By Tyler Whitson • Mar 2, 2015
Council considers health care for more employees
Though the City of Austin offers health coverage to most of its regular employees, City Council has kick-started a process that could lead to an expansion to all employees in the next fiscal year. Council voted Thursday to direct city…
Austin • By Tyler Whitson • Feb 27, 2015
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Adler lays out new staffing plans for his office
City Council members peppered Mayor Steve Adler with questions at a work session Tuesday about his new proposal to ask city staff to look into ways to fund five additional full-time staff members for his office and allocate an additional…
City Council • By Tyler Whitson • Feb 25, 2015
Staff says Decker golf plan may limit water hazard
A proposal to construct a set of golf courses in Austin in the midst of a record drought has whipped up controversy over the past few months, but city staff has indicated that a plan the prospective developer floated last…
Parks • By Tyler Whitson • Feb 20, 2015
LCRA says Central Texas drought worst on record
The Lower Colorado River Authority announced Wednesday that, based on preliminary data from last year, it now considers the drought that has been afflicting Central Texas since 2008 to be the worst on record. LCRA Executive Vice President of Water…
Resources • By Tyler Whitson • Feb 19, 2015
Council reopens debate on downtown park events
In the wake of public outcry related to a national cyclocross event at Zilker Park earlier this year, City Council has rekindled a long-running debate about the use of urban parks for special events. “I think it is incumbent on…
City Council • By Tyler Whitson • Feb 18, 2015
Developers propose brackish water for Decker Golf
In a major shift, Decker Lake Golf LLC representatives have proposed a new plan they say would not use reclaimed water to irrigate a PGA-class golf course proposed for Walter E. Long Metropolitan Park. The company’s vice president, Warren Hayes,…
Austin • By Tyler Whitson • Feb 16, 2015
Homestead tax exemption moves forward
City Council kick-started a process Thursday that could lead to the city giving homeowners an increased tax exemption on their property tax bills later this year. Council unanimously adopted a resolution that directs city staff to complete a study on…
