Georgetown Downtown and Tourism Director Kim McAuliffe and Finance Director Leigh Wallace graduated from the 2022 Texas Women’s Leadership Institute.

McAuliffe and Wallace were selected from a competitive field of local government professionals from throughout the State of Texas. They were two of 20 female executives who were chosen to participate in a program designed to prepare and inspire women to become city managers in Texas.

“Leigh and Kim are outstanding leaders in our community and city organization,” City Manager David Morgan said. “I appreciate their commitment to grow and the Texas City Management Association’s prioritization to support this important program.”

McAuliffe has been with the City of Georgetown for five and a half years. She leads the team responsible for downtown development, arts & culture, and the Convention & Visitors Bureau. Wallace has been the finance director in Georgetown for six years. She leads the teams responsible for the budget, procurement, accounting, fleet services, and municipal court.

McAuliffe and Wallace participated in course discussions, tours, and in-person sessions, completed assigned books, and were introduced to the female leaders in the Texas city management profession. The combination of leadership assessments, tours, and case studies provides a well-rounded experience in learning more about the intricacies of the city management profession and creating a network of colleagues who will support each other in the future.

The Texas Women’s Leadership Institute was created by Texas Women Leading Government to increase the number of women who are ready to become city managers. The program is financially supported by the Texas City Management Association and is part of a national trend of academies addressing the lack of female representation in the chief executive role in cities across Texas.

GoGeo, the City’s limited paratransit service, now is available to Georgetown residents age 65 and older.

Georgetown residents age 65 and older can request curb-to-curb service from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday. Eligible riders will pay $2 per trip and are required to make a reservation by 4 p.m. the previous day either through the City website or by calling 512-478-RIDE (7433).

City Council elected to expand the services to include residents age 65 and older during a workshop session on June 28, 2022.

“The City of Georgetown remains committed to providing exceptional services where they are needed,” Georgetown Mayor Josh Schroeder said. “The council recognizes the need for our residents to access services, such as healthcare and shopping, and we know this service will help us meet the needs of our residents, particularly those with disabilities or our older residents who would need a ride.”

The City’s limited paratransit service, which is operated by Capital Area Rural Transportation System, or CARTS, as a subcontractor for CapMetro, currently serves 321 customers. The limited paratransit service is available to people with disabilities. Eligibility and screening for limited paratransit services is provided, through a paper application, by the CARTS. Georgetown residents age 65 and older can simply call CARTS at 512-478-RIDE (7433) to complete an intake form.

This year, the City will provide two vehicles for curb-to-curb GoGeo services. The cost for limited paratransit and 65 and older service is estimated at $575,753. The City will pay $345,452, and the remaining cost would be covered through a match from the Federal Transit Administration.

CARTS’ Interurban Coach bus service between Georgetown and Austin will continue. The bus picks up passengers from two stops in Georgetown, at Ninth and Main streets and 3620 S. Austin Ave., twice a day Monday through Friday and has several stops on the way to and in Austin, including University Oaks, Tech Ridge Park & Ride, and Austin Greyhound.

For more information about the GoGeo program, visit gogeo.georgetown.org.

The City of Georgetown’s Public Works Department received a 2022 Municipal Excellence Award for its Downtown Ambassador Program from the Texas Municipal League in early October.

The program, initiated in November 2020 with the help of contractor Texas Disposal System, helps keep the Square clean by removing litter, emptying decorative sidewalk trash containers, cleaning up around dumpsters, and providing extra collection of the dumpsters when needed.

“The Georgetown Square is the Most Beautiful Town Square in Texas, and we want to make sure it lives up to that moniker,” City Manager David Morgan said. “By partnering in the Downtown Ambassador Program, the City and Texas Disposal Systems are dedicated to maintaining a clean and healthy environment for our residents and visitors to enjoy.”

The Municipal Excellence Awards recognizes cities in Texas for their work meeting the challenges of municipal governance. The ambassador program was recognized for its innovative problem-solving, excellence in management, and reaching toward higher service levels.

The City wants to know what is and isn’t working about Georgetown’s current transportation network and is asking the community to share their feedback and perspectives as it works to update its Future Mobility Plan, formerly known as the Overall Transportation Plan.

The Future Mobility Plan will make recommendations to improve transportation in Georgetown. These recommendations allow the City to apply for more local, state, and federal funding to implement the projects. Public feedback on the process will help identify and prioritize future road projects and planning.

“Public input is critical to helping Georgetown prepare and plan for our future transportation needs,” Mayor Josh Schroeder said. “We need your help to understand the current challenges, so we can build a transportation network that serves and meets our growing needs.”

When the City went through this process in 2014, residents identified the need to have an alternate to Williams Drive, and the plan included the concept of Northwest Boulevard Bridge. In 2015, residents overwhelmingly supported the bond election to fund the bridge, which was completed in 2021.

Members of the public can share feedback on the project website through Dec. 1, and in person at a community open house. The open house is scheduled from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 10, in the Friends Room of the Georgetown Public Library, 402 W. Eighth St.

At this stage, the City is asking for information from the community regarding gaps within Georgetown’s transportation network (for sidewalks, bicycle facilities, roadways, etc.), safety issues, and any other related feedback. Members of the public also can share how they currently get around the City. You can also sign-up to receive emailed updates on the plan at the bottom of the project website.

The City will provide additional opportunities during the next several months for the public to continue to provide input and inform the plan.

More information can be found at engagekh.com/gtx_fmp.