Phil Wilson, the new general manager at the Lower Colorado River Authority, is wasting no time in making high-level changes to the power and water agency. He sent out a message to LCRA employees last week outlining his approach and laying out a new organizational structure. He has added six new people to his […]
Environment
Posted inResources
Solar project draws praise at Generation Plan hearing
Solar energy advocates were still buzzing Monday at the recent news that Austin Energy has negotiated a 25-year contract to buy up to 150 megawatts of solar-generated electricity at a price that is among the lowest ever. A number of persons speaking at a joint meeting of the Electric Utility and Resource Management commissions […]
Posted inEnvironment, Local Politics, Transportation
SOS files criminal charge against Daugherty over SH45 SW information
Bill Bunch, executive director of the Save Our Springs Alliance, filed a criminal complaint Monday against Travis County Commissioner Gerald Daugherty. The complaint signed by Bunch was filed on behalf of SOS with County Attorney David Escamilla. SOS alleges that the Precinct 3 Commissioner destroyed, removed or altered public information in his possession related […]
Posted inDevelopment, Environment
Board of Adjustment to look at tram regulations on Lake Austin
The Board of Adjustment will take a closer look at whether trams should be allowed on Lake Austin, even if they have to take a longer route to get there. The subject arose at last week’s board’s meeting when engineer Bruce Aupperle asked the board to grant a variance for a “pedestrian incline elevator” […]
Posted inDevelopment, Environment, Local Government, Transportation
Battle over SH45SW features argument between Biscoe and Bunch
The never-ending case of SH 45 Southwest has dogged County Judge Sam Biscoe for the past 25 years of his public life. But at Tuesday’s Commissioners Court meeting – with his December retirement date in sight – the normally reserved Biscoe publicly engaged several of his critics over the project. The proposed 3.6-mile, four-lane […]
Posted inDevelopment, Environment
New regulations are coming to Lake Austin, but not quickly.
Environmental Board members took a look at the proposed changes to the Lake Austin Ordinance last week and decided they needed a bit more time and information before they were ready to weigh in. The board voted to table any decision, and send the ordinance to its Water Quality Regulations committee. The panel plans vote […]
Posted inEnvironment
Critics say city’s new Urban Forest Plan lacks substance
Last week, the Austin City Council unanimously approved a resolution adopting the Austin Urban Forest Plan: A Master Plan for Public Properties. However, critics say it falls short of a comprehensive plan, addressing only public property, which accounts for just 5 percent of the city’s trees. The plan was developed by Austin’s Urban Forestry […]
Posted inLocal Government, Resources
Water board travels Texas selling Proposition 6 funding plan
Despite some late year showers in 2013, at least one of which caused devastating flooding in parts of Travis and Hays counties, the downpours did little to break the persistent drought in many parts of Texas, putting communities and economic development interests on high alert. The Texas Water Development Board, now armed with $2 billion […]
Posted inEnvironment, Local Politics
Spurred by retailers, lawmaker seeks Attorney General opinion on bag ban
Just barely past the one-year-anniversary of Austin’s law banning single-use plastic bags, Texas business interests are taking another shot at it, this time seeking an Attorney General’s opinion on whether such bans violate state statutes. The opinion was requested by State Rep. Dan Flynn, a conservative Republican from northeast Texas, on behalf of the […]
Posted inLocal Politics, Resources
Council backs creation of new power generation task force
City Council members Thursday approved the creation of a new Austin generation planning task force. The group, as yet unnamed, will “examine and make recommendations regarding the 2014 update to Austin Energy’s current Resource, Generation, and Climate Protection Plan.” Council Member Kathie Tovo was the lead sponsor on the item that created the task force. […]
Posted inEnvironment, Public Safety, Resources
Struggle coming over which agency should lead on prescribed burns
After hearing that wildfire prevention efforts led to the prescribed burn of approximately 200 acres in 2013, several Public Safety Commissioners said this week that they worried that any burn not led by the Austin Fire Department poses a safety risk. AFD implements prescribed burns, which reduces the risk of serious wildfires, with partners […]
Posted inEnvironment, Public Safety
Austin wins nearly $12 million in federal funds for Onion Creek
The City of Austin will receive $11.8 million in federal funding for the Onion Creek – Lower Colorado River Basin Project now that Congress finally loosened its purse strings and approved spending the money. The funds – which will be used to buy out properties and relocate displaced families from the Onion Creek flood […]