City Council Meeting Procedures

The City of Georgetown City Council is composed of a Mayor, elected at large, and seven Councilmembers elected from individual single-member districts. Georgetown is a Home Rule City, which means that the Council is free to enact local legislation, adopt budgets, and determines policies; subject only to the limitations imposed by the State Constitution and the City Charter. The City Council appoints a city manager that serves as the chief executive officer of the City. The city manager directs all city employees to ensure that the Council's policies; goals and vision for the community are accomplished.

The City Council holds regular meetings on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month in the Council Chambers, 101 E. Seventh Street, at 6 p.m. Meetings are taped and replayed, unedited, on City cable access channel 10, available to Cox cable subscribers in the area. Meetings are replayed at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday following each City Council meeting.

The Council may also call special meetings. Items considered by the Council are listed on an agenda which is posted at least 72 hours prior to the meeting on the City Bulletin Board located outside the Council Chambers. The meeting agenda which is available on the website, is also posted on the board in front of City Hall at 113 E. 8th Street, and is available at the Georgetown Public Library. Complete agenda packets containing detailed supporting documents are available for public review at the Georgetown Public Library or at City Hall. Information about meetings may also be obtained by calling the city secretary at (512) 930-3652.

To assist the City Council in providing the best possible government for the City of Georgetown, the Council appoints citizens to various boards, committees, and commissions, such as the Planning and Zoning Commission, Board of Adjustment, Convention and Visitors Bureau, and others. The Council invites citizens who are interested in serving on a board or committee to submit an application for consideration. Applications to serve on a board or commission are available at the City's website, at City Hall. Details are also available by calling (512) 930-3652.

The Mayor and City Council of the City of Georgetown encourage and welcome comments from the public.

If you wish to speak, on a posted agenda item, you may do so by filling out the registration form below (and also available in the Council Chamber's and presenting it to the city secretary at the time of the meeting. Your registration will be given to the Mayor and he/she will recognize at the appropriate time. When addressing the Council, please use the microphone at the podium. State your name and your residence address before beginning your presentation. To accommodate all speakers, citizen comments are limited to three minutes. There will be a two-minute warning, at which time you will be expected to complete your message. Speakers who have received a deferral from another registered speaker in the audience must give notice of that deferral at the start of their speaking time. A citizen speaking for more than one person will only be allowed a total of six minutes. Speakers who are questioned by the Council for more information, will be allowed additional time. Please understand that persons who disrupt the meeting by not adhering to the rules may be asked to leave.

According to a ruling by the Texas Attorney General (JC-169) issued on January 24, 2000, if a person wishes to speak on an issue that is not posted on the agenda, he/she may file a request with the City Secretary/recording secretary prior to the production of the agenda for the meeting. A specific item to be discussed must be stated for the posting. For regular City Council meetings, on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month, the deadline is noon on the Wednesday prior to the Tuesday meeting.) For more information, call (512) 930-3652.

Formal presentations related to a posted agenda item should be limited to ten minutes. Applicants who are questioned by the Council for more information will be allowed additional time. All printed information, intended for review by the City Council, should be provided to the city secretary in advance for inclusion in the Council's agenda packet.

To minimize disturbances and distractions, it is requested that:

• private conversations occur outside the Council Chamber,
• audible cell phones and pagers be turned off, and
• the doors to the lobby remain closed, with minimal in-and-out movement.

Please note: City Council meetings are video taped and rebroadcast on cable television without editing. Persons wishing to view or purchase a tape may do so by calling the City Secretary at (512) 930-3651.

To address the Council on a posted item, complete the Council Participation Form and return it to the recording secretary.

Please remember to step to the podium when the Mayor recognizes you. State your name and residence address before beginning your presentation. If you provide material to the Mayor and Council, please furnish an extra copy to the city or recording secretary for inclusion in the record file copy of the agenda.

Please note: City Council meetings are video taped and rebroadcast on cable television without editing. Persons wishing to view or purchase a tape may do so by calling the City Secretary at (512) 930-3651.