Special-called City Council meeting May 16
The Georgetown City Council will have a special-called meeting to discuss bills currently working their way through the Texas Legislature, to canvass the election, and to swear in the newly reelected members.
The special-called meeting will start at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, May 16, in council chambers, 510 W. Ninth St. The meeting will start with the election canvass, followed by a swearing in of Mayor Josh Schroeder, District 2 Councilmember Shawn Hood, and District 6 Councilmember Jake French.
City Council will then discuss various bills being considered during the current Texas Legislative session that will have an adverse affect on the City.
Opinion/Informational Piece
Mayor Josh Schroeder
May 10, 2023
The Devastating Impacts of Unchecked Development
As the 88th Texas Legislative Session nears its apex and record numbers of bills fly through both chambers, I need to make you aware of a piece of legislation that, in conjunction with numerous statutes and policies enacted by the state over the last few years, will dramatically and irreversibly impact the way we plan for sustainable and quality growth here in Georgetown.
Senate Bill 2038 was passed through both chambers and now awaits the Governor’s signature. The bill would allow property owners to petition for release from our ETJ, which has been presented as a property rights issue. As a strong advocate for private property rights, I understand the sentiment and intention behind the legislation; however, the underlying consequences of the bill are dire and, quite frankly, irresponsible. And when one property owner’s actions negatively impact adjacent property owners’ values, then we cannot merely use the phrase “property rights” to justify bad legislation.
We, the city of Georgetown and you the community members, have devoted time, energy, and your tax dollars to planning for not only the growth of the city but the development of its ETJ so as to benefit all residents, including property owners in the ETJ. However, Senate Bill 2038 largely strips us of our ability to do so and provides a perverse incentive for cities to stop building infrastructure. Giving property owners the unilateral ability to “opt-out” of the ETJ, without the consent of other property owners nearby, and develop without heed to our master plans and standards that were developed with community input, will only lead to haphazard and inconsistent development while silencing the voices that matter most – the citizens of Georgetown and ETJ property owners who do not want to be surrounded by unfettered, low quality development that lowers property values.
This bill, by allowing areas to unilaterally relieve themselves of the regulatory standards under the ETJ, removes our ability to enforce our standards at even the most basic level. The City of Georgetown is known for our small-town charm – our beautiful square and welcoming citizens. This is possible because we have standards and requirements that developers who wish to build within our community and ETJ must uphold, and quality developers expect other property owners to develop at similar standards to ensure one development doesn’t negatively impact other developments. This bill takes away that ability and would allow batch plants, quarries, and poorly constructed manufactured and multi-family projects at a density of almost 32 units per acre. Please let that soak in. The average density in Georgetown is about 3-5 units per acre. The legislature is trying to force us to accept almost 10 times that amount of density in our community without any standards or community input on location. This bill and the related legislation look frighteningly similar to legislation working its way through California, Washington, and Minnesota that essentially eliminates single-family zoning throughout those states. We cannot allow this to happen in Texas.
This bill further undermines our ability to plan for transportation needs. All of the people living in this dense housing will use our city streets, paid for by Georgetown residents, without paying one cent toward the construction or maintenance of our streets. SB 2038 also voids our ability manage environmental standards, and to protect the fresh water source for Georgetown and beyond. It is a property rights issue when your upstream neighbor dumps their wastewater into the stream that runs through your property.
We, as a city, need to have the ability to look into the future with some level of certainty and plan where the growth and development occur. If we over-size the infrastructure for future growth in an area that then petitions to be removed from the ETJ, the burden of the oversizing cost goes on the existing residents of the city through utility rates instead of impact fees that the developer would normally pay. Alternatively, if we abandon those efforts, we risk forcing current ETJ residents and future developments into the sort of haphazard development we are now working so hard to avoid.
ETJs were created because past legislators realized that the impacts and benefits of urban or rural life and development do not end at the city limits sign. SB 2038 fosters an “us” and “them,” City and ETJ mentality. This mentality simply does not match the history and the character of the city we know and love.
This is why civic and legislative engagement is so important. We’ve tried to make being informed and engaged with the legislature a bit easier for you: If you have not yet done so, I urge you to sign up for our weekly Intergovernmental Relations newsletter on our website at georgetown.org/intergovernmental-relations/. This newsletter will help you to stay engaged on the issues that matter most and point you to how you can share any feedback you have with legislators.
The 88th legislative session will adjourn on May 31, and they won’t meet again until January 2025. Now is the time to be involved in decisions that impact your community. Thank you for your time and dedication to Georgetown.
Election results for Mayor and Council Districts 2 and 6
Final, unofficial results have been posted by the Williamson County Elections Department for the City of Georgetown election with 28 of 28 polling locations reporting, including early votes.
Mayor | Percent | Votes |
Jonathan Dade | 14.40 | 898 |
Josh Schroeder | 85.60 | 5,340 |
District 2 | ||
Shawn Hood | 100 | 576 |
District 6 | ||
Jake French | 100 | 280 |
To see complete May 6 election results, go to wilco.org/elections.
Election day is Saturday, May 6
Election day is Saturday, May 6, for Georgetown voters. Polling locations are open 7 a.m.-7 p.m. on election day.
Incumbent Josh Schroeder and Jonathan Dade are candidates for Mayor. Incumbent Council Members Shawn Hood (District 2) and Jake French (District 6) are both are unopposed. Georgetown ISD board of trustees candidates will be on the ballot for residents who live in the GISD attendance area.
Election day polling locations in Georgetown are:
- First Baptist Church, 1333 W. University Avenue
- Georgetown City Hall, 808 Martin Luther King Jr St.
- Georgetown ISD Technology Building, 603 Lakeway Drive
- The Oaks Community Center – Sun City, 301 Del Webb Boulevard
- Williamson County Georgetown Annex, 100 Wilco Way
All election day polling places, dates, and times in Williamson County, as well as photo ID requirements, are listed at wilco.org/elections. Georgetown voters may cast ballots at any polling location in Williamson County.
For details about the city election, go to government.georgetown.org/city-secretary/elections.
Georgetown to be featured in Amazon Prime docuseries
The City of Georgetown will soon be featured in the upcoming Amazon Prime docuseries, “The Story of Art in America,” along with four local Georgetown artists and local historians.
The Story of Art in America is an award-winning TV docuseries created and directed by Christelle Bois and produced by executive producer Pierre Gervois. Each episode features the art scene of one city or county through intimate and thoughtful interviews of artists and art historians in multiple disciplines. The goal of the show is to explore the role of the arts in American society and the historic importance of art in the building of the country, from large cities to small towns.
Gervois, who also is a professor at New York University, recognized the arts in Texas and designated a full season of the docuseries to the state.
“As we were doing research on Texas cities to be featured in Season 3 of The Story of Art in America, our attention was caught by the architecture of Georgetown, and its original and beautifully preserved town square,” he said. “Also, the presence of numerous public art sculptures and murals showed that the city of Georgetown was considering that art was a very important part of the life of its community.”
The artists selected to be featured in the docuseries include painter and art instructor Carol Light, textile artist Gary Anderson, muralist and portrait artist Devon Clarkson, and cellist and Southwestern University Assistant Professor Hai Zheng-Olefsky. The historians featured include Ann Evans with the Georgetown Public Library, Paulette Taylor with the Shotgun House Museum, and Norma Clark, abstract artist and co-creator of Georgetown’s Preserving History mural.
The City’s Arts and Culture Program manager, Amanda Still, assisted Bois in selecting the artists and historians featured in the Georgetown episode.
“It’s been an unforgettable experience to participate in this project with Christelle and her team,” Still said. “I am so proud of the members of our arts and culture community participating in this docuseries and for the eloquent way they have demonstrated the impact of arts, culture, and history in Georgetown.”
The Story of Art in America’s first season is available on Amazon for viewing, with the second season currently underway. The Georgetown filming took place April 15-17, and the episode is expected to premiere on Amazon Prime Video in early 2024.
City seeks input on Williams Drive enhancements, Austin Avenue corridor, Future Mobility Plan
What do you want to see as the City takes a look at improving traffic flow and safety on our busiest corridors? The City is seeking input from the public with three surveys on: 1) enhancements to Williams Drive, 2) the Austin Avenue corridor, and 3) a budgeting exercise for the Future Mobility Plan.
As part of the update of the Future Mobility Plan, the City is conducting an online Future Mobility Budgeting Activity to get resident feedback on priorities for future transportation projects. The budgeting activity survey is open through May 8.
The Williams Drive Enhancements Project Survey seeks input on the corridor through May 31. The brief survey asks residents to share feedback on traffic flow, sidewalks, lighting, and bike facilities on Williams Drive from Jim Hogg Road to North Austin Avenue.
The Austin Avenue Corridor Study online open house is gathering comments from the public through May 31. The Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (CAMPO) and the City of Georgetown are conducting a corridor study of Austin Avenue between Southeast Inner Loop and Northeast Inner Loop. The study will consider various transportation modes such as driving, walking, and biking, as well as identify opportunities to enhance safety, mobility, and the experience of pedestrians and businesses along roadway.
These surveys provide the City an opportunity to guide the priorities and future budgets for improvements to Williams Drive, Austin Avenue, and transportation projects to improve mobility.
I-35 mainlane and Williams Drive bridge overnight closures May 5 and 6
From Texas Department of Transportation: On Friday, May 5 and Saturday, May 6, northbound and southbound I-35 between Lakeway Drive and Hwy. 29 will close to traffic at 9 p.m., as crews demolish and remove the remaining portion of the original Williams Drive bridge.
Northbound I-35 traffic will detour to the frontage road at the Williams Drive exit (262) and re-enter the mainlanes north of Northwest Boulevard. Southbound I-35 traffic will use the Williams Drive exit (262) and re-enter the mainlanes near Hwy. 29.
The new Williams Drive bridge will also be closed during the demolition. Eastbound traffic will detour to the southbound I-35 frontage road and use the U-turn at Hwy. 29 to access Williams Drive. Westbound traffic will detour to the northbound I-35 frontage road before turning left at Lakeway Drive to access Williams Drive.
All lanes will reopen to traffic by 10 a.m. each morning, weather permitting.
For more information about this project, please visit My35Construction.org. You can also sign up for lane closure alerts.
Virtual screening of 40 years of Main Street documentary
Georgetown residents and enthusiasts are invited a virtual screening of an in-house, 30-minute documentary about the history of the City’s Main Street program. The film will premiere at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 24, on the City’s Facebook and YouTube channels. Or you can just watch it here:
Georgetown celebrated the 40th anniversary of its Main Street program in 2022, making it one of the longest-running Main Street programs in the country. The film chronicles the last 40 years of downtown revitalization efforts and how the Main Street movement started in Georgetown.
“It’s important to tell our story and provide the background on how the Georgetown we know today came to be,” Downtown & Tourism Director Kim McAuliffe said. “Many residents and visitors can’t imagine our beautiful and thriving downtown boarded up and mostly vacant, but those were the conditions in the 1980s. It’s incredible to see how far we’ve come.”
Early screenings of the documentary were held Oct. 21 and Nov. 10, 2022. The Oct. 21 event also featured a panel of previous Main Street managers and the City of Georgetown staff who worked on the film. The film is dedicated to Leo Wood, former Georgetown mayor and Main Street champion, who passed away Oct. 3, 2022.
Starting May 22, residents may pick up goodie bags full of commemorative items from the Visitors Center, 103 W. Seventh St.
More information about the City’s Main Street program is available at mainstreet.georgetown.org.
Memorial Day closings, ceremony May 29
City of Georgetown offices will be closed Monday, May 29, for the Memorial Day holiday. There will be normal solid waste and recycling collection on May 29.
The annual Memorial Day Ceremony will start at 9:30 a.m. May 29 in Sun City. Details below.
City offices closed May 29
City offices and facilities closed May 29 for Memorial 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.
- Tennis Center, 400 Serenada Drive
- Visitors Center, 103 W. Seventh St.
Facilities open May 29
- Garey Park, 6450 RM 2243, will be open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- Collection Station, 250 W.L. Walden Drive, will be open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Pools open Memorial Day weekend
The Recreation Center Outdoor, Williams Drive, River Ridge, and Village pools will open for the summer season Saturday, May 27. The Recreation Center Outdoor Pool will be closed May 28-29. River Ridge Pool will be closed May 29. For more information, call 512-930-3596 or visit parks.georgetown.org/pools-and-splash-pads.
Splash pads: The splash pads at San Jose Park, 1707 San Jose St.; Downtown, 816 S. Main St.; and Rabbit Hill Park, 1109 Blue Ridge Drive, are open 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. each day through Sept. 30. The splash pad at Garey Park is open daily during park hours from April 1-Oct. 31. The Garey Park splash pad closes 30 minutes prior to park closing.
GoGeo paratransit service
There will be no service Monday, May 29.
Solid Waste and Recycling Collection
There will be normal solid waste and recycling collection for City of Georgetown customers on Monday, May 29. Carts should be at the curb by 7 a.m. on pickup day. The Collection Station, 250 W.L. Walden Drive, will be open normal hours, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., on Monday, May 29, for the Memorial Day holiday.
For questions about solid waste collection, call TDS at 512-930-1715
Memorial Day Ceremony and Reception
The annual Memorial Day Ceremony will start at 9:30 a.m. Monday, May 29, at the Georgetown-Williamson County Veterans Memorial Plaza in Sun City, 2 Texas Drive. The event will honor the men and women of our armed forces who gave their lives in service to our country and our freedom. Guest speaker will be Gov. Greg Abbott.
Last day of early voting May 2
Early in-person voting ends on Tuesday, May 2, for the city council election. Election day is May 6.
Incumbent Josh Schroeder and Jonathan Dade are candidates for Mayor. Incumbent Council Members Shawn Hood (District 2) and Jake French (District 6) are both are unopposed.
Early voting locations in Georgetown are:
- Georgetown ISD Technology Building, 603 Lakeway Drive, 78628
- The Oaks Community Center-Sun City, 301 Del Webb Blvd, 78633
- Williamson County Georgetown Annex, 100 Wilco Way, 78626
Polls are open 7 a.m.-7p.m. on May 1-2.
All early voting and election day polling places, dates, and times in Williamson County, as well as photo ID requirements, are listed at wilco.org/elections. Georgetown voters may cast ballots at any polling location in Williamson County.
For details about the city election, go to government.georgetown.org/city-secretary/elections.
Preservation Month events in May
In recognition of National Preservation Month in May, the City of Georgetown Planning, Public Library, and Downtown & Tourism departments are partnering with The Williamson Museum, Preservation Georgetown, and with building and business owners to celebrate historic buildings in Downtown Georgetown.
Preservation Month is an annual, month-long recognition each May of historic places and people sponsored by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
Preservation Month events in Georgetown:
May, all month
“This Place Matters” Facebook page
Preservation Georgetown
“Still Making History – 175 years of Williamson County”
The Williamson Museum Center Gallery
Maps will be available at Preservation Georgetown and The Williamson Museum
Book display
Georgetown Public Library
May Events
May 1: Kick-Off to Preservation Month
Grace Heritage Center | Noon
Preservation Georgetown
May 6: Pioneer Days
Old Settlers Association of Williamson County in Round Rock | 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
The Williamson Museum
May 5: First Friday
Grace Heritage Center | 6 p.m.
Preservation Georgetown
May 10: Texas Living Waters Project
The Salon at Wildfire | 6:30-8 p.m.
The Williamson Museum
May 13: Kid’s Preservation Workshop
Grace Heritage Center | 10 a.m.-Noon
Preservation Georgetown
May 20: Marking History Tour
The Square | 10 a.m.-Noon
Preservation Georgetown & The Williamson Museum
May 24: Screening of 40 years of Main Street documentary
City of Georgetown Facebook Page | 6:30 p.m.
Starting May 22, pick up a free goodie bag with City and 175th anniversary items from the Visitors Center, 103 W. Seventh St., while supplies last.
May 27: Introduction to Home Archiving Workshop
10-11:30 a.m.
The Williamson Museum
For more information about Preservation Month events, call 512-930-3581, email historic@georgetown.org, or visit historic.georgetown.org. Find out more about the National Trust for Historic Preservation at savingplaces.org.