Environment
Parks board asks City Council to review why boating concession ordinance exempted community input
The Parks and Recreation Board wants City Council to reexamine, and possibly rescind, a 2019 ordinance allowing an adventure excursion company to operate a boating concession in East Austin without going through a public process. The company, called the Expedition…
Parks • By Amy Smith • Aug 29, 2024
Critics still say hydrogen gas plant would be a dealbreaker in Austin Energy Resource Generation Plan
As Austin Energy continues to iron out the details of its Resource, Generation, and Climate Protection Plan, environmentalists are keeping the pressure on, demanding the utility abandon its proposal to build a new hydrogen-capable combined cycle power plant. Austin Energy…
Energy • By Kali Bramble • Aug 29, 2024
Texas Gas Service rate hearing at Council this Thursday
City Council will host a hearing on Thursday to allow members of the public, particularly customers of Texas Gas Service, to voice their opinions about a large rate increase the utility is proposing. The city has also joined a coalition…
Resources • By Jo Clifton • Aug 28, 2024
Camp Mabry as a park? Author Lawrence Wright proposes new use for military base
Renowned author and journalist Lawrence Wright has unveiled a vision to turn the Camp Mabry military base in Austin into an urban state park with natural attractions and some development to complement the city’s other major parks spaces. Wright, an…
Parks • By Chad Swiatecki • Aug 28, 2024
Austin exploring new ways to look at water quality
A discussion at the most recent meeting of the Environmental Commission revealed that the city is in the process of creating a new way to explain and track how policy decisions impact water quality in Austin. Since 1994, the Watershed…
Water • By Elizabeth Pagano • Aug 16, 2024
Commission drills down on what disannexation could mean for area water quality
Though the city’s current water quality monitoring system has been in place for an impressive 30 years, changes at the state Legislature mean a change at the city level as well. Andrew Clamann, who works for the Watershed Protection Department…
Water • By Elizabeth Pagano • Aug 13, 2024
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City seeking answers from suppliers in move toward low-carbon concrete, landscaping
A handful of city departments are in the research and market studying phase for two environmental initiatives passed by City Council earlier this year, which could lead to substantial changes in how construction projects are planned and budgeted. A memo…
Environment • By Chad Swiatecki • Aug 6, 2024
For future water conservation, reuse may be key
Though July’s rain may have eased some fears over the continuing drought, Austin Water is still playing the long game, with plans to prepare for a drier future. Water Resources Supervisor Marisa Flores Gonzalez joined the city’s Water and Wastewater…
Water • By Kali Bramble • Aug 5, 2024
Major gas bill hike to be contested by city this fall
You might have a much higher gas bill next year, pending an upcoming decision this fall by the Texas Railroad Commission, which oversees the state’s oil and gas industry. Texas Gas Service proposed a rate hike this year that could…
Energy • By Lina Fisher • Jul 31, 2024
Parks board to ask Council to explain why it bypassed public input on a Lady Bird Lake boat rental concession
Members of the Parks and Recreation Board said Monday they will ask City Council to reexamine a 2019 ordinance that circumvented public input to allow an adventure excursion company to operate a boating concession on Lady Bird Lake. The request…
Parks • By Amy Smith • Jul 26, 2024
Audit committee wants to keep a close eye on upcoming bond packages
The City Council Audit and Finance Committee wants staff to deliver quarterly updates to all relevant City Council committees on all projects being considered for Austin’s next bond package – mainly related to climate change and the effects of severe…
Budget • By Chad Swiatecki • Jul 26, 2024
The Austin area will see cooler temperatures this week. But it's not as 'crazy' as you think.
Temperatures in Central Texas will trend below average with highs only in the 80s in most areas this week, according to the National Weather Service. Normally, high temperatures this time of year range in the high 90s. The cooler weather is…
