One committee done with Decker Golf

The Council Committee on Public Utilities voted unanimously Wednesday to make no recommendation concerning the Decker Lake Golf proposal. The proposal would create two PGA-class golf courses on undeveloped parkland at Walter E. Long Park. Committee Chair Delia Garza opened the meeting with citizens communications, whose speakers included Barbara Scott, co-president of the Colony Park Neighborhood Association. She said, “Our community is completely behind the Decker Lake Golf development. It was said the other day that we are divided. We are not divided. We have had a disgruntled person who does not live in the neighborhood, who is working with someone who is an environmentalist that is totally against the project. And basically, what they did was a witch hunt.” Scott said that someone opposing the project had asked residents whether they wanted a golf course or a park. Naturally, they said they wanted a park. But Scott contends that Colony Park will get its own park next year. Toward the end of the meeting, more than half a dozen speakers voiced their opinions on the golf course, most of whom were in favor. They included Charles Urdy, a longtime former City Council member from East Austin, as well as Brian Rodgers, a community activist who opposes the golf development. The committee agreed to place a report on the matter on the Council message board before a scheduled vote by the full Council. It is unclear exactly what might be in that report, since the proposal now has nothing to do with Austin Water Utility. Council Member Leslie Pool has indicated that her Open Space, Environment and Sustainability Committee will take up the matter April 29. Council Member Ellen Troxclair, chair of the Economic Opportunity Committee, said that panel would discuss the proposal at its next meeting on May 11.