City of Georgetown Texas > Archived > Additional City facilities, programs opening in June

Additional City facilities, programs opening in June

May 28, 2020

The City of Georgetown will continue to open City facilities, programs, and services throughout the month of June. The openings are in accordance with orders from the governor’s office, as well as the City’s ability to provide staffing and essential safety measures, including physical distancing and sanitization. The City will reclose any of its facilities, with notice, if safety procedures can’t be maintained or the governor alters his orders.

What follows is a detailed listing of what is opening, when, and under what conditions. These openings are in addition to previous announcements, including the Georgetown Public Library and some park amenities, which opened May 1, and several lobbies and parks and recreation services, which opened May 18.

For additional details about City services and COVID-19-related information, visit bit.ly/COVID19GTX.

Parks and Recreation

The City is opening as many of its Parks and Recreation facilities as it can, as soon as it can. Decisions on if, how, and when to open facilities and programs are informed by several factors, including the governor’s orders, staffing ability, and safety measures.

This is not a complete list of the facilities, programs, and services that are available. Information and details about those already open can be found here.

Opening June 1

  • Youth athletic field practices (one team at a time)
  • Outdoor basketball courts
  • Community Center
  • Outdoor exercise stations
  • Garey House
  • Picnic pavilions (2+ tables)
  • Playgrounds: Except for the creative playscape and play ranch at Garey Park
  • Recreation Center: By reservation only
  • Outdoor volleyball courts
  • Private/small-group tennis lessons

Opening June 15

  • Athletic field rentals (youth)
  • Outdoor pools at the following locations: Recreation Center, Williams Drive, Village
    • Open at 25 percent occupancy
    • All other outdoor pools will remain closed at this time, due to limited number of trained lifeguards
  • Camp Goodwater (50 kids/week)
  • Fitness programs

Opening July 1

  • Adaptive Camp-Georgetown ISD Campus
  • Kid City-GISD Campus
  • Recreation programs

Unknown

  • Adult athletic leagues
  • Sunset Movie Series (July and August)
  • Swim lessons

Remaining closed/canceled

  • Other outdoor pools
  • Garey Park Play Ranch
  • Creative Playscape
  • Splash pads
  • Youth athletic leagues
  • Sunset Movie Series (June)
  • Tennis camps
  • The following sports camps: Tennis, Adventure, Volleyball Skills, Challenger Sports Soccer, and Sporties for Shorties
  • All Enrichment Camps (art, hoop dance, LEGO, comic book creation, U-Tubers Unite!)
  • Junior Fire and Police academies

Municipal Court

The Municipal Court lobby, 510 W. Ninth St., will reopen June 1. Hours will be 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, and 8 a.m. to noon Thursdays. The public is encouraged to contact the Court offices prior to coming in person. Contact the Municipal Court at (512) 930-3625, court@georgetown.org, or by fax at (512) 930-8030.

The Court is working to hold virtual docket proceedings within the month. Any essential proceedings that must be held in person will be limited to no more than five defendants at a time. People who enter the courtroom will be required to wear masks and submit to temperature checks.

Advisory Boards and Commissions

Effective June 1, City advisory boards will start meeting, either in the Friends Room of the Georgetown Public Library or Council Chambers. Meetings will be held in person, with the option for advisory board members to participate via conference call. Public comment will only be taken in person, and the public is welcome to attend. Meeting rooms will be set up to provide physical distancing among the board members and the public.

Information about and agendas for meetings can be found at agendas.georgetown.org.

 Council meetings

As of the May 26 City Council meeting, the public will have the opportunity to provide comment during Council meetings two ways: Phone and in-person, virtually from a City conference room.

Members of the public are encouraged to send written public comment filling out this form at least 15 minutes before the meeting begins. People can watch the live stream of the meetings at gtv.georgetown.org, on the Government channel 10, or the City’s Facebook page.

Special events

The City is working with the Georgetown Sertoma Club to provide a drive-in fireworks show. The annual festival has been canceled due to physical distancing concerns. Updates can be found at gtxsertoma.org.

The City will continue with its plan to hold POPPtoberfest, in the place of the annual Red Poppy Festival, from Oct. 23 to 25.

Music on the Square is expected to start in July.

All other special events in Georgetown facilitated by other organizations must follow the governor’s guidance on physical distancing and go through the regular Special Event Permitting Process. 

GoGeo

Regular GoGeo bus service will resume June 8. Hours will be 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday. There will be no Saturday service.

GoGeo buses will begin collecting regular fare July 1.

The following rules for passengers remain in effect:

  • Do not travel if you are sick.
  • Face coverings are required. Scarves, bandanas, or other non-medical coverings that cover the nose and mouth are acceptable.
  • Passengers without face coverings will not be allowed to board. Please bring your own face covering.
  • Practice physical distancing by seating yourself as far as possible from other passengers.

CARTS will continue to provide needed medical trips for dialysis and other critical medical needs for pre-scheduled trips. Rides for qualified paratransit riders can be requested online or through the CARTS Reservation Center by calling (512) 478-7433.

Fee waivers and Customer Assistance Program

In an effort to support individuals, families, and businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, City Council at its April 14 meeting voted to waive certain City fees through May 31. The Council on May 26 directed staff to continue waiving these fees through June.

  • Temporary sign permit application fee
  • Security systems false alarm fee
  • GoGeo transit fares and para-transit fee
  • Utility billing late fees

City Council also approved a $1 million COVID-19 customer assistance program to help people pay their utility bills. The program will be managed by Opportunities for Williamson and Burnet Counties (OWBC) and is funded by unanticipated income and special revenue in the City’s electric and water utilities. People can apply through OWBC.

 Safety changes

As announced in May, and unless otherwise stated, the public can expect the following changes when visiting City facilities and interacting with staff:

  • Occupancy limits
  • Face coverings, strongly encouraged but optional
    • Unless physical distancing cannot be maintained, in which case, masks will be provided or other accommodations will be made.
  • Minimizing touch points
  • Hand sanitizing stations
  • Sanitization schedules
  • Signage indicating occupancy limits and directions for self-screening before entering the building
  • Safe-spacing, floor markers
  • Limited seating
  • Limited hours
  • Physical distancing

In addition to the steps listed above, City employees will be required to take their temperature before and when they arrive at work. Employees also will be required to wear masks when interacting with anyone, staff or public, if 6 feet can’t be maintained. Employees exchanging items with the public, like cash, will wear gloves. The City continues to prioritize telecommuting, virtual meetings, and working in shifts, limiting the number of people in the building at one time.

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