The City will host a free household hazardous waste collection event from 3-5 p.m. Oct. 19 at the old show barn site in San Gabriel Park, 425 E. Morrow St.

The event will be available for up to 400 Georgetown solid waste customers who have solid waste service through Texas Disposal Systems. Customers must contact Customer Care at 512-930-3640 or customercare@georgetown.org to have their name placed on a list. Please include your name, address, and utility account number when emailing customer care. Customers must have their name on the list to participate.

Residents must remain in their vehicles during the no-contact collection. Staff will unload items from the back seat or trunk of the vehicle.

All items to be dropped off must be in their marked original containers. Commercial disposal and trailers are not allowed.

Acceptable items include:

• Batteries (household, hearing aids, cell phone, etc.)
• Automobile batteries
• Pool and spa chemicals
• Used oil/oil filters (up to five gallons per vehicle)
• Transmission fluid
• Light bulbs (including regular, compact, and four-foot fluorescent)
• Grease
• Thermometers
• Over the counter, residential lawn and garden chemicals
• Aerosols
• Household cleaners and disinfectants marked caution, warning, or poison
• Art and hobby chemicals
• Paint (up to 10 gallons per vehicle)
• Over the counter one-pound disposal propane bottles
• Gasoline (up to five gallons per vehicle)

Unacceptable items include:

• Unmarked containers or unknown chemicals
• Construction, commercial, or landscape waste
• Professional, concentrated chemicals that require a professional license to mix
• Medications or pharmaceuticals
• Oxygen tanks
• Electronics
• Tires
• Explosives (including ammunition and fireworks)
• Radioactive materials
• Biological materials

For more information about the City’s solid waste and recycling services, visit recycle.georgetown.org.

After a nationwide recruitment, City Manager David Morgan has appointed Cameron Goodman as Economic Development Director for the City of Georgetown. His first day will be Oct. 10.

“This is a critical time for Georgetown to capitalize on economic development opportunities that will continue to lift quality of life and prosperity for our community,” Morgan said.  “Cameron is the right professional to guide our efforts and the right leader to guide our team.  I couldn’t be more excited to welcome him to Georgetown.”

Goodman comes to Georgetown with experience running economic development departments in two fast-growing communities in Texas.  Most recently, he served as economic development director in Leander, which has been listed alongside Georgetown as one of the five fastest growing cities in the country during his time there. Previously, he served as economic development director in Richmond, a suburb of Houston, and served in economic development roles for the cities of League City and Waco.

Goodman is a Certified Economic Developer. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science and History from Sam Houston State University, and his Master of Public Service and Administration degree from the Texas A&M University Bush School of Government and Public Service.

“Georgetown is a fantastic community full of history and opportunity,” Goodman said. “I am excited to join the City of Georgetown team and look forward to building on the hard work that has already been accomplished by city leadership and staff.”

Kimberly Garrett, City of Georgetown Parks and Recreation director, has been elected as a fellow into the American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration. Garrett was inducted at the Academy’s virtual General Membership Meeting on Sept. 14, 2022.

“Kimberly’s dedication to parks and recreation is evident in her work in Georgetown, where she oversaw the development of many new trails and parks, the largest being Garey Park, which is the largest gift ever received in the City’s history,” said Assistant City Manager Laurie Brewer. “Her energy, teamwork, and professionalism make her a role model for staff and the community.”

The Academy is a group of distinguished practitioners and educators who are leaders in the parks and recreation profession. Members must have served for at least 15 years in a high level of administration in a park and recreation agency or as a recognized educator in parks and recreation administration, or they must manage a parks and recreation department for an agency with a population of more than 500,000. They also must have demonstrated outstanding ability in administration, management, or education in the profession; displayed broad interest with a direct service benefit to the advancement of public parks and recreation; or assumed leadership with a keen desire to contribute to the advancement of the field. The Academy is limited to 137 active members.

Established in 1980, the Academy was formed to advance knowledge related to the administration of recreation and parks; to support and encourage scholarly efforts by both practitioners and educators to enhance the practice of park and recreation administration; to promote broader public understanding of the importance of parks and recreation to the public good; and to conduct research, publish scholarly papers, and/or sponsor seminars related to the advancement of park and recreation administration.

“The Class of 2022 is a great addition to the Academy,” said President Bill Foelsch, Township of Morris, N.J. “The Academy is honored to induct Kimberly Garrett into its ranks. The Academy represents a diverse group of professionals and educators—all with superior career experience and a dedication to improving the quality of life through the provision of high-quality parks and recreation opportunities. We welcome our 2022 Fellows.”

View more information on the Academy.

About Kimberly Garrett

Kimberly Garrett has been the Parks and Recreation director for the City of Georgetown since 2006, overseeing more than 1,500 acres of parkland and facilities. She began her career with the City of Georgetown in 1995, serving in various capacities before becoming director. Under Garrett’s direction, the Georgetown Parks and Recreation Department received the Texas Recreation and Parks Society’s Distinguished Gold Medal Award in 2007, 2011, and 2017.

Garrett is an active member of the Texas Recreation and Parks Society, serving as President in 2020-21 and a member of the board of directors from 2016-19. She is also a member of National Recreation and Park Association, International City/County Management Association, and the Texas Municipal League. She serves as a mentor with both the Texas Recreation and Parks Society and the American Association of Park and Recreation Administration. She believes in investing in our young professionals who are our leaders of the future.

Garrett graduated from Texas A&M University, where she earned both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree. She also attended NRPA’s inaugural Directors School in 2008.

Garrett is married to Lee Garrett, and they have two daughters. She is involved in numerous organizations in the community. She currently serves as chair of The Georgetown Project, where she has been an active board member since 2016. She is also a member of the church council at Christ Lutheran Church in Georgetown. Garrett enjoys working out, spending time with family, and being outdoors.

Street resurfacing projects, including a high-performance surface sealant treatment and hot-in-place recycling, will be completed this fall with work starting Sept. 14.

The work schedule can be affected by weather conditions, mechanical issues, and product availability. For updates on the paving schedule and a complete list of projects, visit transportation.georgetown.org/2022-street-maintenance-projects.

Streets are selected for resurfacing treatments based on the Pavement Condition Index study that grades roadway surface conditions and recommends treatments based on road conditions and traffic volumes.  The last study was completed in 2018.  An update was recent authorized by City Council and results are expected in early to mid-2023.

The City is using two types of street resurfacing products:

High-performance surface seal

As part of this surface treatment, a sealant is applied to the surface of the roadway, reducing damage from UV radiation, water, and vehicle traffic.

Sealant work is scheduled to start Sept. 14 in Churchill Farms, Georgetown Crossing, and Meadows of Georgetown. On the day work is scheduled, the streets will be closed to traffic for 24 hours. Streets will be blocked off at 8 a.m. and will be reopened the following day at 8 a.m.

The schedule for this work and sealant work in other neighborhoods will be updated on this page and via Next Door and flyers will be placed on doors as work is scheduled.

Street sealant work is planned for streets in Georgetown Village and portions of Sun City later this fall.

Hot-in-place recycling

Hot-in-place recycling is an alternative to mill and asphalt overlay in which existing pavement is heated, removed, ground, and mixed with new material to create a new asphalt surface. This process is completed in a single pass with multiple machines in line to decrease the street closure timeline.

Streets in residential neighborhoods along Williams Drive near Lakeway Drive and in the northwest portion of downtown are scheduled for repaving this fall. The schedule will be updated on this page and via Next Door and flyers will be placed on doors as work is scheduled.

Streets will not be closed during hot-in-place repaving; however, drivers should expect delays and are encouraged to choose alternate routes. Flaggers will be present to assist drivers.

For questions about street maintenance projects, contact customercare@georgetown.org.

City of Georgetown offices and facilities will be closed Monday, Sept. 5, for the Labor Day holiday. This includes these locations:

• 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. The center will be closed Sept. 5-11 for preventive maintenance.
• Tennis Center, 400 Serenada Drive
• Visitors Center, 103 W. Seventh St.

Facilities open

• 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.

Labor Day pool and aquatics schedule

The Williams Drive Pool, 3201 Williams Drive, will be open 1 to 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 3, through Monday, Sept. 5. Find information at parks.georgetown.org/williams-drive-pool. Other outdoor, seasonal pools have closed for the summer season.

The splash pads at San Jose Park, 1707 San Jose St.; Rabbit Hill Park, 1109 Blue Ridge Drive; and at the Art Center, 816 S. Main St., will remain open through September. The splash pad at Garey Park, 6450 RM 2243, will be open through October, weather permitting.

GoGeo paratransit bus service

There will be no service Monday, Sept. 5.

Recycling and solid waste

There will be regular recycling and solid waste collection for City of Georgetown customers on Monday, Sept. 5. Please place carts at the curb by 7 a.m. on your scheduled pickup day. For questions, call Texas Disposal Systems at 512-930-1715.

The Collection Station at 250 W.L. Walden Drive will be open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 5.

The City of Georgetown is asking the public to share comments on the proposed Fiscal Year 2023 budget through an online comment box, which will be up through Aug. 21. Members of the public also can attend any of the public hearings through the budget adoption process. Public comments and feedback will be provided to City Council for its Aug. 23 meeting, during which the council is scheduled to hold public hearings and first readings of both the tax rate and the budget.

“Having community feedback in the budget process is important,” City Manager David Morgan said. “I hope residents will check out our website to learn more and share their feedback, so we can fund programs and services that meet their needs and priorities.”

The City of Georgetown budget affects every resident in the city. How the City allocates taxpayer dollars and monthly costs as utility customers determines the level of service customers get in return for City functions, such as providing electricity, drinking water, resources to respond to emergencies, well-maintained streets, a world-class library, and accessible trails.

The proposed budget totals $722 million and decreases the City’s property tax rate by 2.7 cents (from 40.1 cents per $100 valuation to 37.4 cents). The proposed rate is below the voter-approval rate set by the state and can only increase 3.5 percent on the operations and maintenance portion of the tax rate.

This is the third year in a row the City has proposed reducing the property tax rate, maintaining the City’s rate as among the lowest of all cities in the Austin area with a population greater than 20,000. Council also recently voted to increase the homestead exemption to the greater of $5,000 or 5 percent. By lowering the rate to 37.4 cents per $100 of valuation and accounting for the increase in homestead exemption, the average property tax bill is expected to increase by $56.

Following cost recovery analyses across multiple departments and a water and wastewater rate study, Georgetown residents and customers can expect several user fees and water and wastewater rates to increase as well.

“The U.S. Census named Georgetown the fastest-growing city in the country this past year,” Morgan said. “With that growth comes increasing demands and expectations for our services and staff. Our primary focus for next year’s budget is maintaining those service levels while responding to that record-setting growth, as well as nationwide economic pressures. Next year’s proposed budget continues our usual practices of budgeting conservatively and taking steps to reduce the burden on taxpayers where possible.”

City staff used council goals to develop a preliminary version of next year’s budget, which the council discussed during a July 19 workshop. Staff used council direction from the workshop to develop the proposed budget. The City’s fiscal year spans Oct. 1, 2022, through Sept. 30, 2023.

Major themes of the proposed budget are maintaining service levels in the face of record-setting growth and responding to nationwide economic pressure while executing studies and projects initiated this year, addressing staff workload pressures, improving risk management practices, and responding to a tight labor market through retention and attraction efforts. Adequately funding those priorities—particularly building the infrastructure needed to keep pace with growth, responding to development pressures, and retaining and recruiting high-caliber employees—contributed to the proposed budget being $239.5 million more than the current fiscal year’s original adopted budget of $483 million.

For more information about the annual budget process and details and documents about the proposed FY2023 budget, visit finance.georgetown.org.

Budget adoption timeline

July 19: Council budget workshops

Aug. 9: First presentation of the full budget; City Council sets maximum tax rate and public hearing dates

Aug. 21: Comments on draft budget close (see form online)

Aug. 23: Public hearings and first reading of both the tax rate and the budget

Sept. 13: Second reading and final adoption of the tax rate and budget

Oct. 1: New budget year begins, and new water/wastewater rates are in effect

The City of Georgetown’s Civic Leadership Academy, which was established in 2021, seeks to educate, connect, and inspire leaders to develop a strong commitment to community service for the greater good of Georgetown.

The academy provides a learning experience for existing and emerging leaders to understand City services and functions, while building the skills and knowledge to succeed in City leadership roles. Participants of the program are given the opportunity to develop an understanding of the promises and challenges facing our community, as well as their role as future City leaders.

The eight-month program meets from 2-6 p.m. on the first Thursday of each month, except for the first class, which will meet Sept. 29.

Applications will be accepted through Sept. 15.

To be eligible, participants should be a resident of the City of Georgetown and be able to attend six out of eight sessions.

Benefits of participating in the program include:

• an enhanced understanding of Georgetown local government, community challenges, and decision-making
• relationships with other community and local government leaders
• insight into how to use data to articulate challenges and advocate for resources for your community
• an in-depth look at how the City works and develop specialized knowledge about the City’s departments and programs
• information about how to become an effective community leader

To learn more and apply, visit government.georgetown.org/georgetown-civic-leadership-academy.

This will be the second class of Georgetown’s Civic Leadership Academy. Thirty-four Georgetown residents graduated the first class in June 2022.

Georgetown residents will vote on a street maintenance sales tax when they go to the polls on Nov. 8. At its regular meeting on Tuesday, City Council approved an ordinance on second and final reading to call an election on Nov. 8 for the 0.25 percent sales tax for street resurfacing and repair.

State law requires that the dedicated sales tax be reauthorized every four years. Georgetown voters initially approved the sales tax for street maintenance in 2002 by 57 percent of the vote. The sales tax was reauthorized in 2006 by 72 percent and in 2010 by 80 percent. In 2014, it was approved by 82 percent of Georgetown voters and in 2018, it was approved by 80 percent.

The November ballot proposition does not increase the sales tax rate. The sales tax for street maintenance is collected from anyone who makes purchases in Georgetown city limits, not just homeowners.

Since April 2003, the quarter-cent sales tax has generated $46 million in revenue dedicated to street maintenance in Georgetown. The sales tax will generate an estimated $6.5 million in 2022.

Early voting in the election is Oct. 24-Nov. 4. Election day is Nov. 8.