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- A plan to end night swimming at Barton Springs is over before it ever began
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Environment
Despite zebra mussels, Austin’s waterways seeing a recovery trend
The news is full of horror stories about zebra mussels invading intake pipes and sediment causing city water to be of questionable quality. Yet statistics show that, overall, the waterways of Austin are regaining their health. According to Mateo Scoggins of…
Environment • By Jessi Devenyns • May 20, 2019
Austin Energy says Decker employees will be prepared for transition
Belated plans to decommission two aging steam turbines at Decker Creek Power Station have brought into question the futures of the estimated 39 employees who will be out of work when the last steam unit shuts down in late 2021.…
Energy • By Ryan Thornton • May 17, 2019
Council asks city staff for ideas on local Green New Deal, EVs
City Council unanimously approved its own Green New Deal resolution last week in response to the devastating consequences of the climate crisis, from record temperatures to the historic flooding seen in Austin and Central Texas over the last decade. Council…
City Council • By Ryan Thornton • May 15, 2019
Kitchen backs reopening Butler Park golf course contract
City staff has been directed to examine options to reopen the bid process for management of the Butler Park Pitch and Putt golf course so the longtime owner of the course can be considered for a contract extension. City Council…
Parks • By Chad Swiatecki • May 13, 2019
That storm last Friday was bad, but it could have been much worse
A powerful storm dumped up to 7 inches of rain in parts of Central Texas on Friday and could be responsible for up to four deaths in the region. But in one sense, Austin “got lucky,” the city’s flood plain…
Environment • By Mose Buchele, KUT • May 7, 2019
With mural saved, East Austin groups seek clarity on public art process
A community gathering Wednesday at Givens Park in East Austin is expected to look at how the city and residents can work together to prevent a repeat of controversy over a mural created to memorialize a recent murder victim. The…
Parks • By Chad Swiatecki • May 6, 2019
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Golf course owner hopes Council will intervene in Butler Park contract dispute
The owner of Butler Park Pitch & Putt golf course is hoping City Council will reopen the contract process that threatens to end the nearly 70-year family operation. Lee Kinser, owner and president of the small golf course tucked off…
Parks • By Chad Swiatecki • May 2, 2019
Parks and Recreation lacks $2.4 million in funding, potentially faces more cuts
As the question of property tax caps continues to loom in the state Legislature, city departments are wrestling to pare down their budgets in anticipation of what management expects to be a $51.7 million gap in funding for the entire…
Parks • By Jessi Devenyns • Apr 26, 2019
Hays County takes the fight to Kinder Morgan with lawsuit over proposed pipeline
After months of community protests, a group of more than 20 landowners and city leaders gathered Monday to announce that Hays County and the city of Kyle had officially joined a lawsuit to oppose a natural gas pipeline proposed to…
Environment • By DaLyah Jones • Apr 23, 2019
Should natural gas be a required secondary fuel source?
Even as the city strives to reach net-zero community-wide greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, the Energy Code for Austin still, with some exceptions, requires the use of natural gas for water heating when a residential building is constructed adjacent to…
Energy • By Jessi Devenyns • Apr 23, 2019
Austin Energy updates multifamily weatherization program
Despite spending less than ever on multifamily weatherization and tightening restrictions on its multifamily weatherization rebate program, Austin Energy claims to be on track to meet the city’s energy efficiency goals while continuing to lower energy bills for its customers.…
Energy • By Ryan Thornton • Apr 22, 2019
Austin Energy buys biomass plant for $460M
Austin Energy will, in fact, be purchasing the Nacogdoches Generating Facility for $460 million. Buying the East Texas biomass power plant is the city-owned utility’s way out of a controversial $2.3 billion contract that has been under intense scrutiny over…
