City of Georgetown Texas > Articles by: keithh

Wilson-Kirby files as write-in candidate in District 7, other races unopposed

Updated  5:10 p.m., Feb. 22, 2022

The City received a write-in candidacy declaration today from Jaquita Wilson-Kirby for the District 7 seat on the City Council. Based on the declaration, an election will be held for the District 7 place on the City Council. Candidates on the ballot will include Ben Stewart and a place for a write-in candidate.

The state election code now requires that elections are canceled and winners declared in local unopposed races.

Early in-person voting is April 25-30 and May 2-3. Election day is May 7. Early voting and election day polling places, dates, and times will be listed here.
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Posted Friday, Feb. 18, 2022

The City Council elections in May for District 3, 4, and 7 each will be uncontested.

Incumbent Mike Triggs is running for re-election in District 3, Ron Garland has filed for District 4, and Ben Stewart has filed for District 7. City Council may cancel elections for uncontested races.

The deadline for candidates to file for a place on the May 7 ballot was 5 p.m. Friday, Feb. 18.

Council Members for Districts 4 and 7, Steve Fought and Tommy Gonzalez, respectively, are not seeking re-election.

Click here to see maps of council districts.

The last day to register to vote for the May election is April 7.

Early in-person voting is April 25-30 and May 2-3. Election day is May 7. View early voting and election day polling places, dates, and times here.

Click here for details about the city election.

Registration for spring break camps now open

Georgetown Parks and Recreation will offer spring break camps March 14-18 for youth ages 5-16. Pricing and schedules vary for each program.

Participants can select from six camps:

  • Adventure Camp: Hill Country Happenings (ages 11-13; $240 resident/$300 nonresident) will explore different locations around the Texas Hill Country each day during spring break. Adventures include caving at Whirlpool Cave; hiking and rappelling at Pedernales Falls State Park; kayak fishing on the Lower Llano River; rock climbing at Reimers Ranch; and whitewater kayaking on the Guadalupe River.
  • Basketball Skills Camp (ages 6-16; $100 resident/$125 nonresident) will offer participants the opportunity to improve ball handling, shooting, footwork, defense techniques, and other game-related training.
  • Camp Goodwater (ages 5-12; $155 resident/$195 nonresident) includes a variety of activities, such as games, crafts, and weird science projects.
  • Junior Tennis Academy (ages 12-16; $100 resident/$125 nonresident) is designed for the more advanced, competitive player. This camp focuses on the fundamentals of stroke production, conditioning, footwork, tactics, strategy, and match-play scenarios.
  • Soccer Camp (ages 6-16; $200 resident/$250 nonresident) is an action-packed camp hosted by Manchester School of Soccer.
  • Tennis Camp (ages 7-12; $155 resident/$195 nonresident) focuses on stroke instruction, footwork drills, court games, and match play.

Spring break camp registration is now open. For more information and to register, visit parks.georgetown.org/camp or call 512-930-3596.

Applications for Citizen Police Academy due March 10

Applications are now open for the 2022 Citizen Police Academy, an eight-week course designed to inform the community about Georgetown Police Department protocols and procedures.

“The Georgetown Police Department believes that when the public is informed about police standards and procedures, they become critical advocates for public safety and crime prevention,” Interim Chief Cory Tchida said. “It is our philosophy that the police should always maintain a relationship with the public.”

This free academy is offered annually and is taught by law enforcement officers. It provides residents an inside view of the daily activities of the police department. The curriculum includes laws and code of criminal procedure, criminal and accident investigations, lethal and less-than-lethal weapons, crime scene investigations, victim services, response to resistance, officer safety, and more.

Successful completion of the course makes you eligible to join the Citizen Police Academy Alumni Association, a 501(c)3 nonprofit corporation. Alumni members work on a variety of projects for the police department, including Blue Santa, National Night Out, Law Enforcement Field Day, and other programs.

Weekly classes for the 2022 academy will be 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursdays from March 24 to May 12. To register, complete an application at the GPD reception desk located at 3500 D.B. Wood Road or email Randy.McDonald@georgetown.org for more information.

The deadline to apply is 5 p.m. Monday, March 10. Classroom space is limited, so people are encouraged to submit an application as soon as possible.

Applications take a few days to process, but applicants will receive an acceptance notification via email. For more information, call 512-930-2747.

Proposed ordinances for Feb. 8, 2022 Regular Council Meeting

The following ordinances are on the agenda for consideration at the regular City Council meeting of February 8, 2022.  Please see the agenda packet for more information agendas.georgetown.org.

An ordinance of the City Council of the City of Georgetown, Texas, amending Section 1.12.080 of the Code of Ordinances relating to the adoption of an update to the Parks, Recreation, and Open Space Master Plan (“Update”), an element of the 2030 Comprehensive Plan, in accordance with Article 1, Section 1.08 of the Georgetown City Charter and Functional Elements Thereof; repealing conflicting ordinances and resolutions; including a severability clause; and establishing an effective date.

An ordinance of the City Council of the City of Georgetown, Texas, amending part of the Official Zoning Map to rezone a 6.050 acre tract of land situated in the David Wright Survey, Abstract No. 13 and the John Berry Survey, Abstract No 51; an 8.400 acre tract of land situated in the David Wright Survey, Abstract No 13; and a 1.86 acre tract of land out of the John Berry Survey, Abstract No. 51; from the Agricultural (AG) zoning district to the General Commercial (C-3) zoning district; repealing conflicting ordinances and resolutions; including a severability clause; and establishing an effective date.

An ordinance of the City Council of the City of Georgetown, Texas, amending part of the Official Zoning Map to rezone 1.371 acres out of a 15.933 acre parcel in the B.C. Low Survey, Abstract 385, generally located 1300 Westinghouse Road, from the Business Park (BP) zoning district to the Local Commercial (C-1) zoning district; repealing conflicting ordinances and resolutions; including a severability clause; and establishing an effective date.

An ordinance of the City Council of the City of Georgetown, Texas, amending part of the Official Zoning Map to rezone 12.785 acres in the Isaac Donagan Survey, Abstract No. 178, generally located at 3301 W SH 29, from the Agriculture (AG) zoning district to the Planned Unit Development (PUD) zoning district with a base zoning of Low Density Multi-Family (MF1); repealing conflicting ordinances and resolutions; including a severability clause; and establishing an effective date.

An ordinance of the City Council of the City of Georgetown, Texas amending Chapter 8.04 of the Code of Ordinances relating to local amendments to the 2015 Fire Code; providing a severability clause; repealing conflicting ordinances and resolutions; and establishing an effective date.

An ordinance of the City Council of the City of Georgetown, Texas amending Chapters 10.04 and 10.08 of the Code of Ordinances regarding the installation of Traffic Control Devices within the city limits; providing for a penalty; repealing conflicting ordinances and resolutions; including a severability clause; and establishing an effective date.

An ordinance of the City Council of the City of Georgetown, Texas amending Chapters 10.04 and 10.16 of the Code of Ordinances regarding the establishment of Temporary No Parking Tow Away Zones within the city limits; providing for a penalty; repealing conflicting ordinances and resolutions; including a severability clause; and establishing an effective date.

Second Readings:

An Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Georgetown, Texas, providing for the extension of certain boundary limits of the City of Georgetown, Texas, and the annexation of certain territory consisting of 1.56 acres, more or less, in the David Wright Survey and portions of right-of-way on Oak Crest Lane, as described herein; repealing conflicting ordinances and resolutions; including a severability clause; and establishing an effective date.

An Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Georgetown, Texas, amending the Summit at Westinghouse Planned Unit Development (PUD), for approximately 72 acres in the BC Low Survey 51, to amend zone A, to remove Townhome (TH) and allow Low Density Multi-family (MF-1) located at 500 Westinghouse for a project to be known as Summit at Westinghouse; repealing conflicting ordinances and resolutions; including a severability clause; and establishing an effective date.

An Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Georgetown, Texas, providing for the extension of certain boundary limits of the City of Georgetown, Texas, and the annexation and initial zoning designation of Residential Single-Family (RS) of certain territory consisting of 10.00 acres, more or less, in the William Addison Survey Abstract No. 21 as described herein; repealing conflicting ordinances and resolutions; including a severability clause; and establishing an effective date.

Candidate filing period starts for District 3, 4 and 7 elections

The first day to file for a place on the ballot for candidates who wish to run for the District 3, 4, or 7 Georgetown City Council seat is Wednesday, Jan. 19. The filing deadline is Friday, Feb. 18.

Completed applications for candidacy should be submitted at City Hall, 808 Martin Luther King Jr. St. To see maps of council districts, go to maps.georgetown.org.

Georgetown City Council members serve three-year terms representing one of seven single-member districts. A candidate for City Council must be at least 21 years of age on the first day of the term of office and a citizen and qualified voter of the state of Texas and the City of Georgetown. Candidates for council district seats must be a resident of the council district the member would be representing for a period of 12 months preceding election day.

The last day to register to vote for the May election is April 7.

Early in-person voting is April 25-30 and May 2-3. Election day is May 7. Early voting and Election day polling places, dates, and times will be listed at wilco.org/elections.

For details about the city election, go to government.georgetown.org/city-secretary/elections.

MLK Day Events in Georgetown on Jan. 17 and 20

A variety of events including a virtual program, service day events, and a race and ethnicity symposium will be held in Georgetown Jan. 17 and 20 to honor the legacy of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. Several City offices and facilities will be closed Jan. 17 in recognition of the holiday. For more information about City closures, visit this page. 

MLK Leaders Prayer Breakfast on Jan. 17

The Georgetown Ministerial Alliance and the Georgetown Police Department will host the MLK Leaders Prayer Breakfast at 8 a.m. The event is at the Public Safety Operations and Training Center, 3500 D.B. Wood Road. A light breakfast will be provided.  RSVP via the Facebook event at facebook.com/GeorgetownMinisterialAlliance. 

Day of Service on Jan. 17

United Way for Greater Austin is hosting an MLK Jr. Day of Service on Monday, Jan. 17. All activities are socially-distanced, and there are opportunities for individuals, families, and groups to participate. Learn more here.

Virtual MLK Day celebration on Jan. 17

The Georgetown Fellowship of Churches will host a virtual MLK Day Celebration event at noon featuring speaker E.A. Benson, senior pastor at St. Paul United Methodist Church in Georgetown. The theme for the event is “Dreaming While Woke.”

Youth Service Day on Jan. 17

The Georgetown Project will host a Youth Service Day on MLK Day for high school students in grades 9-12. The Youth Service Day starts at 9 a.m. at the Georgetown Community Center at 445 E. Morrow St.  Students will be given certificates for three hours of service.

Service projects hosted by The Georgetown Project and its partners in the Afterschool Alliance will benefit children and youth of all ages, as well as the aging and military families.

Participation in service projects will be followed by a free pizza lunch at the community center. For details, contact The Georgetown Project at 512-943-0074 or georgetownproject.org.

Southwestern University Symposium on Jan. 20

Updated: This will be a virtual online event. Here is the link to participate: https://v.ringcentral.com/join/518033964.

Southwestern University will host the Race and Ethnicity Studies annual symposium from 4-6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 20. The symposium, “Without Borders or Boundaries: A Panel on how U.S. Immigration Enforcement Racializes, Criminalizes and Punishes Migrants,” will be on online event. The panel includes Luis Romero, assistant professor of Comparative Race and Ethnic Studies at Texas Christian University, and Esther Ramos, graduate student at Teresa Long Lozano Institute of Latin American Studies at The University of Texas at Austin. The annual symposium is sponsored by the Race and Ethnicity Studies Program. A question and answer period will follow the presentation. A campus map is available here.

MLK Day closings Jan. 17

City of Georgetown offices will be closed Monday, Jan. 17, in observance of the Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday. There will be normal solid waste and recycling collection on Jan. 17.

City offices and facilities closed Jan. 17 for MLK Day include the following:

  • 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. (reservations for Jan. 17 can be made in advance).
  • 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.
  • Tennis Center, 400 Serenada Drive

Offices open Jan. 17

  • Airport Terminal, 500 Terminal Drive, will be open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
  • Garey Park, 6450 RM 2243, will be open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
  • Collection Station at 250 W.L. Walden Drive will be open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  • The Visitors Center at 103 W. Seventh St. will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

GoGeo paratransit service

There will be no service Monday, Jan. 17.

Solid Waste and Recycling Collection

There will be normal residential solid waste and recycling collection for Texas Disposal Systems customers in the City of Georgetown on Monday, Jan. 17. For questions about solid waste collection, call TDS at 512-930-1715.

Curative COVID-19 testing site

 The COVID-19 testing site located at 707 S. Martin Luther King Jr. St. (near the Georgetown Public Library) will be open Monday, Jan. 17.

COVID-19 testing is by appointment only. To schedule an appointment, click here. To schedule a rapid PCR test, which provides results in fewer than four hours, click here.

MLK Day events

There are several groups hosting a variety of in-person and virtual events in honor of MLK Day. To find more information, visit this page.

Winter resiliency steps for utilities

After the winter storm in February 2021, the City of Georgetown conducted an assessment and took steps to reduce cold-weather risks in the future. Below are some of the key measures the water and electric utilities have taken to winterize equipment. In addition, the City is implementing a new texting platform to increase notifications to customers about electric or water outages.

Water utility: Steps to winterize the water system include:

  • Replacing heaters, purchasing additional heaters, and adding insulation to field equipment such as water pumps
  • Contracting for three large portable generators to operate stations that were most affected by the freeze
  • Designing permanent generator backups for existing and new water treatment plants
  • Purchasing cold-weather fuel additives for generators
  • Ensuring that water and wastewater equipment powered by non-City electric providers are on their Critical Customer List
  • Joining the statewide TXWarn mutual aid agreement to expand mutual aid assistance beyond local partners

Electric utility: While most of the outages in the February storm were the result of mandated load reductions from ERCOT, the City has taken steps to reduce the chance of outages on the Georgetown electric system. These include:

  • Changing energy portfolio management practices to better protect the utility financially from events like the winter storm
  • Continuing focus on tree trimming near primary power lines
  • Enhancing preventive maintenance and inspection programs
  • Conducting emergency preparedness exercises
  • Incorporating resiliency into infrastructure planning and installation

Critical load non-residential customers such as hospitals or emergency response facilities as well as critical care residential customers can visit gus.georgetown.org/electric/chronic-condition-critical-care-critical-load-information to submit an application. In a situation with state-mandated rotating outages, the electric utility will work to reduce outages to critical load customers like hospitals. However, the utility does not have a way to protect individual residential customers from such outages. For this reason, critical care residential customers who cannot be without power should acquire battery or generator back-up for their residences.

Georgetown utility customers should make sure their contact information is up-to-date, so we can reach you with important information: https://bit.ly/3yMBkB6.  Look for details later this month about a new text notification platform to alert utility customers about outages or other important service changes.

Holiday closings for City facilities and services

City of Georgetown offices and facilities will be closed Friday, Dec. 24, and Monday, Dec. 27, in observance of the Christmas holiday. City offices also will be closed on Friday, Dec. 31, in observance of the New Year’s holiday.

City facilities and offices closed Dec. 24, 27, and 31 include the following:

  • 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.
  • Parks and Recreation Administration, 1101 N. College St.
  • Planning Department, 809 Martin Luther King Jr. St.
  • Public Safety Operations and Training Center, Police Records and Fire Support Services offices, 3500 D.B. Wood Road

Additional closures

 City of Georgetown facilities with weekend or evening hours will observe these closures:

  • Airport Terminal, 500 Terminal Drive: Closed Dec. 25 and Jan. 1
  • Animal Shelter, 110 W.L. Walden Drive: Closed Dec. 24-27, Dec. 31, and Jan. 1
  • Collection Station, 250 W.L. Walden Drive: Will close at noon Dec. 24 and is closed Dec. 25 and Jan. 1
  • Garey Park, 6450 RM 2243: Closed Dec. 24-25
  • Georgetown Art Center, 816 S. Main St.: Closed Dec. 24-27 and 31, and Jan. 1
  • Grace Heritage Center, 817 S. Main St.: Closed Dec. 24-25 and 31 and Jan. 1
  • Public Library, 402 W. Eighth St.: Closed Dec. 24-27 and 31, and Jan. 1, and closing early at 6 p.m. Dec. 20-23 and 28-30.
  • Recreation Center: Closed Dec. 24-25, closes early at 6 p.m. Dec. 31, and closed Jan. 1
  • Tennis Center: Closed Dec. 24-25, closes early at 6 p.m. Dec. 31, and closed Jan. 1
  • Visitors Center, 103 W. Seventh St: Closed Dec. 25, open Dec. 31, and closed Jan. 1

Solid waste and recycling collection

The holidays will not affect solid waste and recycling pickups, because Christmas Day and New Year’s Day both fall on a Saturday. To look up your collection day, visit texasdisposal.com/waste-wizard.

For questions about solid waste and recycling collection, call TDS at 512-930-1715.

GoGeo paratransit services

GoGeo paratransit will not operate Friday, Dec. 24, Monday, Dec. 27, and Friday, Dec. 31.

Curative COVID-19 testing site

 The COVID-19 testing site located at 707 S. Martin Luther King Jr. St. (near the Georgetown Public Library) will be closed Friday and Saturday, Dec. 24 and 25, and Friday and Saturday, Dec. 31 and Jan. 1, in observance of the Christmas and New Year’s holidays.

COVID-19 testing is by appointment only. To schedule an appointment, click here. To schedule a rapid PCR test, which provides results in fewer than four hours, click here.

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, Northlake, Oak Crest, Olde Oak Estates, Serenada, Shady Oaks, Turtle Bend, 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

https://gis.wilco.org/maps/?viewer=countymapxdev.

To view firework exemptions permissible by City code, visit https://bit.ly/2CSOnIg.

Fireworks can be triggering for veterans and pets

 Please remember that loud noises such as fireworks can be triggering for our veterans.

Fireworks also can be upsetting for pets. Please make sure your dog(s) is secure inside your home, particularly during the evenings of the holiday weekend. Georgetown animal control officers pick up 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 tranquilizer for the dog.

For more ideas on keeping your dog safe this holiday, please see the article, “Fireworks and Pets Don’t Mix10 Fourth of July Pet Safety Tips.”

New pet for Christmas? Here’s what you need to know

Did Santa bring you a new puppy or kitten for Christmas? Here are some important things to remember when caring for your new pet.

Leash your pet: Always leash your pet in public. It is against City ordinances for dogs to be at large in the City limits, and for cats that have not been altered or vaccinated to be at large. It is also against City ordinances to chain or tether your dog unless a person is holding the restraint.

License your pet: All dogs and cats that live within the city limits are required to have an annual city license. The City’s pet license requirement helps keep rabies under control by enforcing the rabies vaccination requirements. The cost of a license is $5 for animals that are spayed or neutered or $20 for unaltered animals. For residents age 65 and older, the license is free if the pet is spayed or neutered. Free licenses are limited to one per person. Licenses may be obtained online, by phone, email, mail, or at the shelter. Visit pets.georgetown.org/licensing-your-pets for more information.

Take care after your pet: You may not allow an animal to damage private property other than the owner’s property. Pick up after your pet by immediately removing any waste on public or private property and properly disposing of it. Free roaming cats that cause a nuisance while off their owner’s property can be impounded and their owner can be fined.

Learn more about Georgetown’s animal-related ordinances at pets.georgetown.org/overview/ordinances.

Here are some additional tips to consider this New Year to ensure pets are safe:

  • When making an emergency kit for your family, consider your pet’s needs.
  • Take a current photo of you and your pet together in case you get separated during a disaster.
  • Keep your pet’s microchip registration info up to date.
  • Put your name and contact information on your pet’s ID tag.

Learn more at ready.gov/pets.

About the Georgetown Animal Shelter

The City of Georgetown Animal Shelter is located at 110 W.L. Walden Drive. The shelter is open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from noon-4 p.m. The shelter offers animal control and adoption services, as well as various programs throughout the year, including low-cost immunization and sterilization clinics, citywide dog and cat licensing, and adoption events. For more information, visit pets.georgetown.org.