Stories by Tyler Whitson
Central Texas water management plan updated
The Central Texas drought may continue, but the days of uncertainty about how to handle the water on which Austinites and others depend appear to be over for the foreseeable future. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality approved a major…
Water • By Tyler Whitson • Nov 5, 2015
Health committee discusses new spending plans
Before adopting the city’s proposed budget in September, City Council added more than $6.5 million in spending for health, human services, social services and quality of life programs. With the new fiscal year in full swing, Shannon Jones, director of…
Public Health • By Tyler Whitson • Nov 3, 2015
Low-Income Weatherization Program scrutinized
The Office of the City Auditor and the City Council Audit and Finance Committee put Austin Energy’s Low-Income Weatherization Program under the microscope on Wednesday, finding that customers are satisfied with the program overall but that it needs improvement. The…
Energy • By Tyler Whitson • Nov 2, 2015
Austin hosts mobility conference, former official
Hundreds gathered in and around Brazos Hall in downtown Austin on Thursday to hear what former New York City Department of Transportation Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan had to say about the future of transportation planning in cities across the world, including…
Transportation • By Tyler Whitson • Nov 2, 2015
City to ask for rehearing in water rate case
The battle over water rates for more than 46,000 Austin Water customers is not over, it appears. Austin Water Assistant Director David Anders told the Austin Monitor on Tuesday that the city intends to adhere to an order – issued…
Water • By Tyler Whitson • Oct 28, 2015
Police association proposes SXSW funding fix
Although it is an economic driver for the city, South by Southwest imposes significant demands on the Austin Police Department, which pulls many of its personnel away from normal duties to cover the event every year. The Austin Police Association…
Music & Entertainment • By Tyler Whitson • Oct 27, 2015
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Environmental Board sides with trees over variance
The future of two live oak trees in a downtown Austin parking lot sparked vigorous debate at a Wednesday meeting of the Environmental Commission, which ultimately recommended against the city granting a variance to its Heritage Tree Ordinance to make…
Development • By Tyler Whitson • Oct 27, 2015
Austin Energy committee considers new tariff
City Council appears to be moving closer to deciding how to charge Austin Energy’s two largest industrial customers, an issue it has grappled with since May. Convened as the Austin Energy Utility Oversight Committee, Council heard a presentation Thursday from…
Energy • By Tyler Whitson • Oct 23, 2015
Mobility authority unveils MoPac South options
MoPac South is back on the public radar, except now community members have several flavors of the proposed highway expansion to choose from as they submit input over the next month. Responding to a call from residents and elected officials…
Transportation • By Tyler Whitson • Oct 22, 2015
City seeks to close charter school loophole
According to the city’s Land Development Code, organizations planning to build open-enrollment charter schools are exempt from various development regulations, including some intended to mitigate flood and traffic impacts. This revelation has grabbed the attention of community members as well…
Development • By Tyler Whitson • Oct 21, 2015
Millennials talk future of Austin real estate
There are plenty of stereotypes about millennials – Americans born between 1982 and 2000 – but there’s no arguing that, at more than a quarter of the population, they are a major focus for many industries. This is certainly true…
Development • By Tyler Whitson • Oct 20, 2015
Regional bicycle, pedestrian projects get funding
As Austin and Central Texas grow and become more congested, city and regional leaders are looking at bicycle and pedestrian projects as ways to cut down on traffic. On Oct. 12, the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization’s Transportation Policy Board…
