Kittens in the Library on Aug. 10
The popular event Kittens in the Library returns Aug. 10 to the Georgetown Public Library, 402 W. Eighth St.
Kittens from the Georgetown Animal Shelter will turn up the charm to play, snuggle and purr their way into a new family. Kittens will be available for adoption from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Adoption fees are $35 per kitten during the event and will be able to leave directly from the event. Cardboard carriers will be provided.
The shelter is the municipal animal shelter for the city and takes in all stray and surrendered animals from within the city limits. Even as the city grows exponentially, the shelter has maintained a save rate of 90 percent or more for the past eight years, classifying the shelter as a no-kill shelter.
The animal shelter currently has many kittens and cats, and staff hopes the event at the library will help them find new homes. The Georgetown Animal Shelter is located at 110 W.L. Walden Drive. For more information about the shelter, visit pets.georgetown.org.
Georgetown Arts and Culture Board awards grants for 2023 Round II
The Georgetown Arts and Culture Board approved $14,944 in grants in July to local arts and culture organizations to help with funding local arts and culture programming that includes orchestra performances, theatre performances, and a cultural festival in Georgetown.
The funding is for events in Georgetown taking place between Oct. 1, 2023, and March 31, 2024.
Grant recipients include:
Project or event name | Grant amount |
Central Texas Philharmonic, Inc for the Field of Honor – Patriotic Pops Concert | $5,000 |
GTX Connect for Fiesta Georgetown 2023 | $3,750 |
The Georgetown Palace Theatre, Inc for the 2023-24 Season Performances for All Ages | $3,000 |
Williamson County Symphony Orchestra 2 Free Orchestra Concerts in Georgetown |
$2,000 |
Central Texas Musical Arts for the Bluebonnet Philharmonic Orchestra Holiday Concert in Georgetown |
$1,194 |
The next grant cycle will accept proposals Dec. 1-31, 2023, for events and programs occurring April 1-Sept. 30, 2024.
The Georgetown Arts and Culture grants help the Arts and Culture Board fulfill bylaw requirements, which include recognizing and encouraging groups and organizations that enrich Georgetown life by bringing cultural and artistic values and artifacts to the City. Members of the Arts and Culture Board believe a vibrant arts community and cultural offerings are good for the quality of life for residents, will attract visitors, and will assist Georgetown in becoming a nationally recognized arts destination by 2030. The grant program helps develop and strengthen our local arts community by contributing funding to arts and culture programming that enhances our local community.
For more information about the Georgetown Arts and Culture grants, visit arts.georgetown.org.
Georgetown expands outage texting service to water customers
Beginning Aug. 1, Georgetown water utility customers will receive a text message letting them know they are now enrolled in the City’s real-time, water outage texting service.
Once launched, enrolled customers will be able to receive real-time updates via text message to and from 512-930-3640. Water outages must still be reported by phone by calling 512-930-3640 and pressing 1. The City’s phone system will recognize the number if it’s tied to the utility account.
Customers should still track water and electric outages on the City’s online outage maps and only report outages not already reflected on the maps. The City will text customers about water outages, and customers can send text messages to the system to learn about status updates.
“We are proud to expand our outage texting service to our water customers,” City Manager David Morgan said. “Providing real-time updates to our utility customers is critical to ensuring our residents have the information they need to remain safe, and we know our customers are looking forward to having a more automated process to learn updates about outages.”
The City will automatically sign-up residents using the phone number(s) associated with their utility account(s). Customers will also be able to enroll by texting WATER to 512-930-3640.
The City launched TextPower to its electric customers in April 2023. Unlike the water texting service, electric utility customers can report outages via text to 512-930-8400. Read more about the electric services here.
TextPower serves 175+ utilities providing text messaging (SMS) solutions for mission-critical applications for immediate communications with customers via their trademarked SmartAlerts platform.
Gather Round Georgetown Project Expo provides feedback, learning opportunities for multiple City projects, plans
The City of Georgetown is hosting the Gather Round Georgetown Project Expo on Aug. 3 to give residents and business owners the chance to help shape our community’s future, as well as to share what you love about Georgetown, ideas, and concerns.
Bring your family from 6-8 p.m. to City Hall, 808 Martin Luther King Jr. St., to learn more and provide feedback on various projects and plans currently under development in the City.
Learn more about:
- Austin Avenue Corridor Study
- on the Transportation website
- Austin Avenue Pedestrian Bridges
- Williams Drive Enhancement Study
Provide feedback on these projects:
- Downtown Master Plan
- Future Mobility Plan and Sidewalk Master Plan
- Mobility Bond Projects
- Hwy. 29-east and west
- Rockride Lane
- FM 971
- SE Inner Loop
- Unified Development Code Update
During the event, City leadership, staff, and project managers will be available to take feedback and answer questions.
“The project expo is a collaborative effort between the City and our residents,” City Manager David Morgan said. “We want to work hand-in-hand with everyone in the community to create a Georgetown that meets the needs and aspirations of all of our residents. By participating in our project expo, you become an essential part of building a better future for Georgetown.”
Feedback gathered during the event will be used to help inform decisions about the future of Georgetown land use, transportation, and downtown.
The event will also include food trucks, as well as free ice cream for those who participate in the expo.
The City’s Public Works Department will display some heavy equipment for construction and maintenance projects.
The event is open to residents of all ages, and Spanish interpretation and materials will also be available.
For more information, visit georgetown.org/gather-round-georgetown.
South San Gabriel Trail expansion opened June 22
A new section of the South San Gabriel Trail, connecting University Avenue to the Wolf Ranch subdivision, opened June 22.
The 0.7-mile trail was designed by Halff and Associates and constructed by Lone Star Site Works. The construction cost for the project was $1.2 million and was paid for by the 2008 voter-approved parks bond.
City seeks feedback on Unified Development Code diagnostic report
The City is seeking comments on a diagnostic report of the Unified Development Code (UDC) as part of the UDC update process. The report assesses the existing UDC and provides recommended changes and updates based on best practices, stakeholder interviews, and community input from a January 2023 online survey.
Residents and stakeholders will be able to provide feedback on the diagnostic report through Aug. 9 at udc.georgetown.org. Comments will be recorded and referenced throughout the update process. An interactive map is also available on the project website for residents and stakeholders to share their ideas and examples of development in Georgetown that has worked well and areas for improvement. The map will be available for public input throughout the entire update process.
Adopted by City Council in 2003, the City’s UDC is the primary tool used to regulate land development in Georgetown. Rapid growth, changes in market demand, and the recent adoption of an updated 2030 Comprehensive Plan have spurred the need to revisit the UDC to ensure alignment with best practices, resident expectations, and City adopted plans and policies. The update will help define how to manage future land development and maintain the quality-of-life Georgetown residents have come to expect.
In October 2022, City Council approved an agreement with Freese and Nichols to update the City’s UDC along with a steering committee— including City Council and Planning and Zoning Commission members and members of the public—to help oversee the project.
The 24-month process will largely be driven by feedback from code users, the community, and policies and actions identified through the 2030 Comprehensive Plan and other master plans.
Throughout the process, the City will host a variety of City Council workshops, Steering Committee meetings, and community engagement opportunities that will be open to the public.
Visit UDC.Georgetown.org for additional information on the code update process. The website includes an interactive map, project schedule, documents, how to get involved, and contact information.
If you are interested in having a representative from the City speak to your group or organization about the UDC update, email planning@georgetown.org.
San Gabriel Park Phase 3 improvements broke ground June 6
The City broke ground on Phase 3 of improvements to San Gabriel Park on June 6.
Phase 3 of the San Gabriel Park improvements project includes a large multi-use performance pavilion, a splash pad plaza, entry monuments, roadway and parking improvements, shade shelters, a new restroom building and a new skate park.
The $7.5 million project is expected to be completed in spring 2024.
“San Gabriel Park is a beautiful place to visit, and it’s something that’s important to our residents,” said Eric Nuner, Parks and Recreation Department assistant director. “We’re proud of these improvements and what they’ve done to create spaces for people to get outside and enjoy themselves.”
City Council approved a contract with Choice Builders LLC to complete the construction of Phase 3.
Funding for the improvements was approved by voters in a 2008 bond.
Access to the park will not be affected; however, short-term road closures and detours are expected to happen throughout construction. A portion San Gabriel Park loop trail is expected to be closed during periods of construction.
The San Gabriel Park Master Plan, which was completed in June 2015, identified improvements to be completed in phases to limit park disruptions.
City facility closures for July 4
City of Georgetown offices will be closed Tuesday, July 4, in observance of the Independence Day holiday. There will be normal solid waste and recycling collection on July 4.
The annual Sertoma Club Family July 4 Celebration starts at 11 a.m. July 4 in San Gabriel Park. Fireworks will start about 9:30 p.m. More details here.
City offices closed July 4
City offices and facilities closed July 4 for Independence Day include the following:
- Airport Terminal, 500 Terminal Drive
- Animal Shelter, 110 Walden Drive
- Art Center, 816 S. Main St.
- City Hall, 808 Martin Luther King Jr. St.
- Council and Courts Building (including Municipal Court), 510 W. Ninth St.
- Georgetown Municipal Complex, 300-1 Industrial Ave.
- Grace Heritage Center, 817 S. Main St.
- Parks and Recreation Administration, 1101 N. College St.
- Planning Department, 809 Martin Luther King Jr. St.
- Public Library, 402 W. Eighth St.
- Public Safety Operations and Training Center, Police Records, and Fire Support Services offices, 3500 D.B. Wood Road
- Recreation Center, 1003 N. Austin Ave., including the indoor and outdoor pools
- River Ridge Pool, 414 S. Ridge Circle
- Tennis Center, 400 Serenada Drive
- Village Pool, 370 Village Commons Blvd.
- Visitors Center, 103 W. Seventh St.
Facilities open July 4
- Collection Station, 250 W.L. Walden Drive, will be open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Garey Park, 6450 RM 2243, will be open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- Splash pads at Garey Park, San Jose Park, Rabbit Hill Park, and downtown at Ninth and Main streets
- Williams Drive Pool, 3201 Williams Dr.
GoGeo paratransit bus service
There will be no service Tuesday, July 4.
Regular solid waste and recycling collection
There will be regular solid waste and recycling collection for City of Georgetown customers Tuesday, July 4. For questions about trash or recycling collection, call Texas Disposal Systems at 512-930-1715.
The Collection Station at 250 W.L. Walden Drive will be open normal hours from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday and Tuesday, July 3 and 4.
Sertoma July 4 celebration
The annual Independence Day celebration sponsored by the Georgetown Sertoma Club in San Gabriel Park is Tuesday, July 4. Come visit craft vendors, the car show, a children’s area, and food vendors. Admission is free.
A children’s parade with decorated bikes and wagons starts at 11 a.m. by the low-water crossing. Line-up starts at 10:30 a.m. Live entertainment at the amphitheater begins at noon. The fireworks show begins about 9:30 p.m.
Personal fireworks prohibited
By City of Georgetown ordinance, fireworks are not allowed in the city limits of Georgetown or within 5,000 feet of the city limits, unless they are used in a permitted display authorized by the Georgetown Fire Department. This area outside city limits includes, but is not limited to, the neighborhoods of Cedar Hollow, Crystal Knoll, Escalera, Fountainwood, Indian Creek, Logan Ranch Road, Lost Rivers, Oak Crest, Olde Oak Estates, Serenada, Shady Oaks, Turtle Bend, and Woodland Park, and areas along D.B Wood Road.
Violations can lead to fines of up to $2,000 per firework. To view a map showing the 5,000-foot boundary, go to georgetown.org/gis/pdfs//FireworksBanAreaMap_Letter.pdf.
Additionally, please make sure your dog is secure inside your home, particularly during the evenings of the holiday weekend. Georgetown animal control officers pickup several loose dogs around the Fourth of July and New Year’s holidays, many of whom are never reunited with their owners.
Fireworks can be triggering for veterans and pets
Please remember that loud noises like fireworks can be triggering for our veterans.
Fireworks also can be upsetting for pets. Please do not bring dogs to the fireworks show July 4 in San Gabriel Park and make sure your dog(s) is secure inside your home, particularly during the evenings of the holiday weekend. Georgetown animal control officers pickup several loose dogs around the Fourth of July and New Year’s holidays, many of whom are never reunited with their owners.
If your dog has a tendency to become anxious at loud noises, please consider staying home with the animal; playing music in the house to drown out the noise of fireworks; and/or buying a product that “hugs” the dog. Your veterinarian also may be able to provide a sedative or calming medication for the dog.
For more ideas on keeping your dog safe this holiday, please see the article, “10 Fourth of July Pet Safety Tips.”
Georgetown Bark Park improvements, dedication
Visitors to the Georgetown Bark Park, 151 Holly St., now have $25,000 in additional and improved equipment to use. The improvements are dedicated to the dogs who lost their lives in the Sept. 18, 2021, fire at a pet boarding facility.
Improvements to the park include new dog agility equipment in the small-dog park, replacing equipment in the large-dog park, and new waste cans in both. The City also installed a seating area around the memorial plaque near the entrance that features the names of those lost.
“The improvements and memorial dedicated to the dogs lost in that fire and their families will ensure we honor and remember these members of our community for decades to come,” Mayor Josh Schroeder said. “I remain proud of the steps City Council and our fire department took to update our fire code requirements and inspections for boarding facilities, which will help prevent tragedies like the one we experienced here from happening again.”
Fire code updates
All animal care facilities in Georgetown are required to install fire alarms after City Council on Feb. 23, 2022, unanimously approved amendments to the City’s fire codes. Newly constructed facilities have additional fire protection requirements.
The amendments make Georgetown’s fire codes among the strongest in the country when it comes to protecting pets and animals. Most fire codes—including on the international, national, and state levels— do not require fire prevention features for animal-care facilities.
As a result of investigating the Sept. 18, 2021, fire, the fire department added animal housing or care facilities to its annual, priority inspections list, as well as audited and inspected the existing animal care facilities in its service area in fall 2021.
“We are pleased to see the animal-care facilities begin the process of installing the fire alarm equipment,” Georgetown Fire Chief John Sullivan said.
Protect your family and pets from the heat this summer
As temperatures rise, the City wants to remind you to protect your family and pets against hot temperatures and heat-related illnesses on local summer excursions.
Protect pet paws
In hotter temperatures, it becomes increasingly dangerous for your dog to go on walks on concrete and asphalt. Asphalt absorbs heat throughout the day and stays hot even after the sun goes down, which can burn a pet’s paw pads. Pro tip: Take short walks in the early morning and stay in the shade. If it’s too hot for you to keep your hand on the asphalt/concrete for more than five seconds, it’s too hot for your dog.
Stay hydrated
It is important to remember to drink water to prevent dehydration and heat-related illness.
Dogs usually need three to four times the normal amount of water in hot weather, depending on their size and activity level, to stay hydrated. If you’re taking them for a hike or a day at the lake, make sure to take plenty of extra water for them. Watch for signs of dehydration, such as pale gums and lethargy. Pro tip: Adding a touch of low-sodium broth can encourage drinking.
Don’t leave your dog or small children in a parked vehicle
Leaving your pet or child in a parked car on a warm day can be a deadly mistake. The temperature in a parked car can heat up like an oven, even with the windows cracked. For example, it can reach 140 degrees in fewer than 15 minutes. Open windows and shaded parking areas won’t save your pet’s life in temperatures that high.
Dogs pant to cool off and only excrete sweat through their paw pads instead of sweating through their skin like people. With only hot air to breathe, your pet can quickly suffer brain damage or die from heatstroke. Pro tip: This time of year, leave your pets at home. If you must take them (on vacation or to an appointment), plan your day so that you can drive directly to the destination.
If you see a dog left in a hot car in Georgetown, and it appears to be in distress, call 512-930-3510, ext. 6, for Animal Control.
Children in hot cars can experience the same effects. If you see a child unattended in a vehicle, please call 911.
Prepare and stay safe
Knowing the signs of heat-related illness and how to respond is important. You can find more information on how to prepare and stay safe in the heat at ready.gov/heat.