Adults with disabilities dance April 29
The City of Georgetown Parks and Recreation Department is hosting a free dance for adults with disabilities from 7-9 p.m. April 29 at the Georgetown Community Center, 445 E. Morrow St. The theme of the dance is “Enchanted Forest.”
The event is designed for, but not limited to, people age 18 and older with special needs. A family member and/or caregiver must be present at all times. A concession stand with snacks and beverages will be available onsite. Items cost $1 to $2 each and are available for purchase with cash only.
Volunteers are needed to help with the concession stand, photo booth and greeting attendees. Please sign up here. Local organizations and businesses also are welcome to participate in the dance.
Celebrate the WOW!mobile’s 10th birthday
Georgetown residents are invited to celebrate the Georgetown Public Library WOW!mobile’s 10th birthday. The open-house celebration of the library’s bookmobile will be from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Friday, April 15, in the library’s Ninth Street parking lot and patio. Refreshments will be provided.
“It’s been a great 10 years for mobile library service in Georgetown,” Library Director Sally Miculek said. “We’ve welcomed countless kids, grownups, dogs, and even the occasional cat to the WOW!mobile. We’d love to see and celebrate with you on the 15th!”
The Georgetown Public Library WOW!mobile (Words on Wheels) provides personalized, comprehensive library service to people who may have difficulty visiting our community library, including seniors, the physically limited, children, and teens. Bookmobile stops include Sun City, apartments, and assisted living locations. The selection of stops is based on a variety of factors including distance from the main library, mobility of residents and service needs, and suggestions for new stops are welcome. The schedule is available here.
For more information, visit library.georgetown.org/wow.
Brazos River Authority enters drought watch for Lake Georgetown
City of Georgetown water customers: No watering in heat of day
City of Georgetown water utility customers should not water lawns or landscapes during the heat of the day, from noon to 7 p.m. effective immediately. This prohibition reflects the City entering Phase I of its drought contingency plan, which is in response to the Brazos River Authority entering Stage 1 Drought Watch for Lake Georgetown.
In addition, Georgetown water utility customers need to follow the two-day watering schedule and refrain from watering their lawns on Mondays. The year-round, two-day per week irrigation schedule is based on the last digit of the street address. Click here to view watering schedule.
“We are asking customers to take this additional step in conservation out of an abundance of caution, out of respect to the BRA’s warning, and so we can be good stewards of this shared, limited resource,” Water Utility Director Chelsea Solomon said. “Meeting the community’s demand for water is going to be more challenging than ever this summer, when we use 75 percent of our treated water trying to keep our lawns green during the hottest months. We are working to bring additional treatment capacity online, but the first won’t be operational until next year at the earliest. We need everyone’s help this summer, so we can continue to provide treated water to all the homes and businesses in our more than 400-square-mile service area.”
Irrigation is not permitted on Mondays, because they are a maintenance and recovery day for the water system. The two-day schedule spreads watering over six days each week in order to balance demand on the water system. Watering with a hand-held hose or bucket can be done any day and at any time. Other outdoor water uses like washing a vehicle or filling a swimming pool, can be done any day at any time.
Violations of the irrigation schedule and watering during the heat of the day may result in fines.
Lake Georgetown is in Stage 1 Drought Watch due to drier-than-normal conditions in portions of the Brazos River basin and drought trigger levels set by the BRA’s Drought Contingency Plan. As of March 23, Lake Georgetown was at 76 percent of full capacity, according to the authority. Williamson County is also in a moderate drought, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor’s March 18 update. Practicing wise water use now will help to ensure adequate water supply during the hotter summer months.
During the summer months, 75 percent of the drinking water treated each day in the city is used to irrigate lawns and landscapes. Following the City’s two-day watering schedule and adjusting irrigation run times can help save water and still maintain a healthy lawn.
The best time for watering your lawn and landscape is on your watering day in the early morning hours after midnight. This allows the water to soak into the soil and reach the roots of your grass and plants. Watering during the heat of the day, especially between noon and 7 p.m., should be avoided since much of the water sprayed from sprinklers will evaporate and is wasted.
For help setting your irrigation controller, call customer care at 512-930-3640.
While the City is not running out of water, conservation during the hottest and driest parts of the year help ensure our shared resource is available for all who need it. The City also has several ongoing water utility expansion projects to help meet the needs of our growing population. This includes the expansion of the North Lake Water Treatment Plant, which is expected to be completed in summer 2023, and the construction of a South Lake Water Treatment Plant, which should be operational in 2025.
Click here for more information on the Drought Contingency Plan.
City of Georgetown presents third State of the City online
The City of Georgetown’s third annual State of the City presentation will premiere on Facebook and YouTube from noon to 1 p.m. Wednesday, April 13.
In the video presentation, which will premiere at noon, Mayor Josh Schroeder and City Manager David Morgan highlight significant events and major projects completed in 2021 and preview what’s to come in 2022.
Topics include:
- Winter Storm Uri
- Growth
- Water and electric utilities
- Transportation
- Quality of life
“While 2021 tested us, we still came together as a community,” Schroeder said. “Now, we’re stronger than ever. You can see it every time you interact with your Georgetown neighbors, businesses, and City staff.”
During the lunch hour, residents are invited to submit questions to Morgan and City leaders in the Facebook or YouTube comments, or by emailing pio@georgetown.org. The City will post answers in the comment sections and on the event webpage.
“We have a lot of great information to share about the steps we are taking to plan and prepare for the continued growth we have been experiencing while maintaining the welcoming, vibrant Georgetown we all love,” Morgan said. “This is our first attempt at this kind of virtual event. I’m looking forward to connecting with Georgetown residents and seeing if this is a format we should use more often.”
The City held its first State of the City event in 2020 at City Hall and in council chambers. The 2021 event was held virtually due to COVID-19 restrictions.
Click here for more information on the State of the City premiere, including instructions on how to join the event and additional details on the topics covered.
Georgetown approves updated Hazard Mitigation Plan
On Feb. 8, City Council approved an updated Hazard Mitigation Plan, which was informed through feedback from residents last year.
The plan, which is updated every five years, aims to minimize, or eliminate the long-term risk to human life and property from known hazards, such as droughts floods, tornadoes, wildfires, and other major disasters. Hazard mitigation efforts include projects such as flood channel clearing, road and bridge design changes, property buy-outs, building code changes, or public alert systems.
”A priority for City Council is to better prepare and respond to disasters,” Mayor Josh Schroeder said. “This plan is a critical tool to ensure we appropriately inventory the natural hazards facing Georgetown and prioritize efforts to mitigate those threats.”
Residents were able to provide input on the draft plan through May 30, 2021. The City hosted an online survey Dec. 17, 2020-Jan. 17, 2021, asking residents and business owners to help identify, analyze, and prepare for potential hazards.
During that survey, residents and business owners were asked to share whether they had been affected by disaster events and what areas of the community they thought are particularly vulnerable to potential disasters. The City received 349 responses to the survey. Of those who responded, 47 percent indicated they had been affected by a natural or manmade disaster in the past five years, the most common being hail.
The public was able to provide comments on the draft plan through May 30, 2021, which was compiled and included in the final draft plan, along with feedback from a City Council workshop on April 13, 2021. The bulk of the comments centered on improving communications with the public during emergencies and better preparing for and improving community awareness of various hazards, including drought, wildfire, flash flooding, and human-caused disasters like hazardous material spills.
The Texas Division of Emergency Management and Federal Emergency Management Agency reviewed and approved the plan on Jan. 6. City Council unanimously adopted the plan Feb. 8, 2022.
The final plan is available on the City’s website. The updated Hazard Mitigation Plan also allows the city to pursue different federal and state funding opportunities to implement the plan.
‘Pillar of Salt’ author visit at Georgetown Public Library
The Georgetown Public Library is hosting an author talk and book signing for “Pillar of Salt: A Daughter’s Life in the Shadow of the Holocaust” by author Anna Salton Eisen and coauthored with her son, Aaron Eisen. This free event will take place from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, April 24, in the Hewlett Room of the library, 402 W. Eighth St.
This author visit is being sponsored by Congregation Havurah Shalom of Sun City, in honor of Yom Hashoah, which is the Holocaust Day of Remembrance.
“Pillar of Salt” is the examination of the generational trauma Holocaust survivors and their families deal with. Salton Eisen’s father did not disclose his survival of concentration camps until she was well into adulthood. In the book, she recounts her legacy as a child of Holocaust survivors and how that suffering is passed down.
Salton Eisen has conducted extensive research into the Holocaust and its effect on survivors and the children of survivors. The children of Holocaust survivors are collectively referred to as “second generation.” Their parents’ entire world was destroyed; they had to begin anew, but they suffered the memories in silence. As the survivors have aged, the responsibility to bear witness must be passed down to their children and their children’s children.
Following the presentation, Lark and Owl Booksellers will have books available for purchase and signing.
Celebrate Earth Day with events in Georgetown
The City of Georgetown is celebrating Earth Day this April with events focused on nature and recycling.
Family Nature Fest at Garey Park
Gather the family and head to Garey Park from 1- 4 p.m. April 9 for Family Nature Fest. The annual event focuses on connecting families with nature through a variety of activities, demonstrations, and environmental education.
Activities include Story Walk, upcycled nature crafts, wild animal visitors, birding, an obstacle course, pony rides, a petting zoo, and more.
Garey Park entry fees are required, and some activities may include a fee.
For more information click here.
Earth Day recycling event
The City’s Public Works Department will host a recycling event for Earth Day from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. April 16 at East View High School, 4490 E. University Ave.
During the event, residents will be able to drop off paper for shredding, tires, mattresses, and electronics, including televisions, microwaves, computers, and cell phones. Individuals are limited to three boxes or sacks of paper for shredding and up to four tires per carload. There is no limit on electronic items. Household hazardous waste items will not be accepted.
To participate, please bring a donation for Friends of the Georgetown Animal Shelter, which helps support the needs of the Georgetown Animal Shelter. Items needed include:
- squeegee poles and heads
- muffin tins
- stainless steel pet pails
- pill pockets for dogs and cats
- small dustpans
- durable dog toys
Monetary donations will also be accepted.
Love Our Earthy Georgetown
The Georgetown Public Library and Public Works Department host Love Our Earthy Georgetown from 10-11:30 a.m. April 22 at the library, 402 W. Eighth St.
Participants will learn about Georgetown’s natural features, including watersheds, rivers, caves and other karst features, and other earthy characteristics of the area.
Find more information and register here.
Celebrate arts in Georgetown this April
The City of Georgetown is hosting two arts events for our visitors and resident art lovers in April. Students from Georgetown ISD also will be installing a new mural downtown.
Spring Art Stroll
Patrons are invited to come view and purchase art, enjoy live music, and engage in arts activities from 4-8 p.m. Thursday, April 21, at various locations in the Downtown Georgetown Cultural District.
Arts activities will take place at multiple locations, including Grace Plaza, Grace Heritage Center, Georgetown Art Center, local arts businesses, The Williamson Museum, Georgetown Public Library, and the Shotgun House Museum. Visitors are also invited for photo opportunities and face painting on Rock Street before joining Mayor Pro Tem Kevin Pitts at 7:15 p.m. at To Have and To Hold, 215 W. Eighth St., for a dedication of Georgetown’s newest mural, “Traditions to the Future” by Mila Sketch.
Participants will also be able to view and provide feedback on the new street mural and decorative crosswalk at the Georgetown Public Library while enjoying offerings from Southbound Sips and Scoops Ice Cream.
Artists selected as booth exhibitors in Grace Plaza include Jennifer Warner’s photography, Deitra Roberts-Biely’s custom jewelry, Katie Pendrey’s stained glass, Randall Case’s large mixed media paintings, and Virginia Headley Maserang’s abstract encaustics.
Find out more information about the Spring Art Stroll.
Arts and Culture Brown Bag Luncheon
The quarterly Arts and Culture Brown Bag Luncheon returns at noon April 14. Pack your lunch and join us at the Georgetown Public Library for a presentation by Civic Arts Executive Director Lynn Osgood. Her presentation, “Arts Leading the Way in Community Development,” breaks down the details of how to use the arts and public art in community development projects and other creative place-making initiatives. Updates from arts and culture stakeholders in the Downtown Georgetown Cultural District will follow Osgood’s presentation.
Find more information about the Arts and Culture Brown Bag Luncheon.
Georgetown ISD mural Expansion by Forbes Middle School art students
Students from Forbes Middle School were selected by the Georgetown ISD Fine Arts Department to install another section of the GISD mural at 101 E. Seventh St., the building that is home to Tejas Meat Supply. The mural wall shares an alleyway with The Baked Bear. The new section will complement the existing section by Georgetown High School students and lead student Peyton Vega, “Everyone Deserves Kindness.”
The new section was designed by lead artist Kelsie Cargill and is titled, “Be Your Own Person.” The mural will be painted first on “ripstop” mural fabric and adhered to the wall of the building. Cargill and other students will paint the mural in the classroom during late March. Installation is scheduled for the week of April 11.
More information about arts and culture in Georgetown is available here.
Registration for summer camps open next week
Georgetown Parks and Recreation will offer a variety of summer camps for area students beginning the week of May 31. Resident registration will begin at 8 a.m. Monday, March 21, and nonresident registration will begin at 8 a.m. Tuesday, March 22.
Age requirements, pricing, and schedules vary for each program. Summer camps are not licensed childcare programs. All fees listed are charged per week.
Participants can select from:
Adventure Camp: Ages vary from 11-14 based on program; weekly sessions offered from June 6-Aug. 5; rates vary based on program
Art Camp: Ages 5 (completed Kindergarten)-8; June 20-24 and July 18-22; $180 resident/$225 nonresident
Athletic Skills Camp: Ages 6-16; July 18-22; $140 resident/$170 nonresident
Battle Bots: Ages 6-14; June 20-24 and July 25-29; $198 resident/nonresident
Brandy Perryman Basketball Shooting Camp: Ages 7-16; June 13-16; $249 resident/nonresident through May 31; $269 resident/nonresident starting June 1
Camp Goodwater: Ages 5 (completed Kindergarten)-12; Weekly sessions offered from May 31-Aug. 12; $155 resident/$195 nonresident
Circle of Friends (Adaptive Camp): Ages 13-23; June 20-23, June 27-30, July 11-14, and July 18-21; GISD students only; $135 resident/$170 nonresident
Extreme Lego Maker: Ages 5-15; June 6-10; $198 resident/nonresident
Football Skills Camp: Ages 6-16; July 25-29; $140 resident/$170 nonresident
Hip Hop Dance Camp: Ages 8-14; June 6-10 and July 25-29; $135 resident/$169 nonresident
Junior Fire Academy: Ages 11-14; June 6-10; $100 resident/$125 nonresident
Junior Tennis Academy: Ages 12-16; weekly sessions offered from June 6-Aug. 12; $100 resident/$125 nonresident
Lego® Robotics and Engineering Camp: Ages 5 (completed Kindergarten)-14; June 11-15 (morning), June 18-22 (morning), Aug. 13-17 (morning or afternoon); $185 resident/$230 nonresident
Let’s Make Friends (Adaptive Camp): Ages 5 (completed Kindergarten)-12; June 20-23, June 27-30, July 11-14, and July 18-21; GISD students only; $135 resident/$170 nonresident
Movie Making: Ages 6-14; June 27-July 1; $198 resident/nonresident
Soccer Camp: Ages 6-16; June 13-16; $200 resident/$250 nonresident
Sticky Fingers Cooking Baking Boot Camp: Ages 6-12; June 13-16; $195 resident/$245 nonresident
Sticky Fingers Cooking Global Taste Buds Camp: Ages 6-12; July 11-14; $195 resident/$245 nonresident
Tennis Camp: Ages 7-12; weekly sessions offered from June 6-Aug. 12; $155 resident/$195 nonresident
Track & Field Camp: Ages 6-16; June 27-July 1; $140 resident/$170 nonresident
Twirling Camp: Ages 8-14; June 27-July 1; $150 resident/$188 nonresident
U-Tubers Unite: Ages 9-14; July 18-22; $198 resident/nonresident
Volleyball Skills Camp (Beginner): Ages 8-12; June 6-10; $125 resident/$155 nonresident
Volleyball Skills Camp (Intermediate): Ages 10-14; June 20-24; $125 resident/$155 nonresident
Click here more information and to register or call 512-930-3596.
Georgetown residents invited to learn recommendations for small area plans
The City of Georgetown, in partnership with APD Urban Planning & Management and the neighborhood steering committees for San Jose and Track Ridge Grasshopper (TRG), invite Georgetown residents to participate in the final public hearings for the San Jose and TRG neighborhood plans.
The City’s Planning and Zoning Commission and City Council are scheduled to review and vote on the proposed plans during the following meetings:
- Planning and Zoning: 6 p.m. Tuesday, March 1, Council and Courts Building, 510 W. Ninth St.
- City Council first reading: 6 p.m. Tuesday, March 8, Council and Courts Building, 510 W. Ninth St.
- City Council adoption: 6 p.m. Tuesday, March 22, Council and Courts Building, 510 W. Ninth St.
Members of the public are invited to attend and provide public comment. People wishing to provide public comment at the hearings can either email planning@georgetown.org the day before the meeting or attend the meeting in person. At the council meetings, speakers need to fill out a speaker-registration form, which can be found on the table at the entrance to the Council Chamber. Each speaker will have three minutes.
During the public hearings about the plans, staff will share the proposed vision and goals for the neighborhoods, as well as recommendations on topics such as housing, transportation, land use, and zoning. Example recommendations range from safety improvements, like sidewalks and traffic management, to ways to celebrate the history and culture of each neighborhood through public art. These recommendations are the result of public input gathered during six community meetings, as well as 20 meetings with the neighborhood steering committees.
“The City is grateful for the leadership the San Jose and TRG Steering Committee members have provided,” Planning Director Sofia Nelson said. “They have been dedicated in their outreach to their neighbors and thoughtful in representing the vision for the neighborhoods they serve.”
Since outreach efforts for the San Jose and TRG Neighborhood Plans began in August 2020, City staff has had direct contact with 100 residents of the TRG Neighborhood (27 percent) and 48 residents of the San Jose Neighborhood (58 percent). This contact accounts for face-to-face conversations during block walking, phone calls, and public meetings. In addition to direct contact, the project team has shared information about the Plans through two rounds of direct mailers, three rounds of social media outreach, fliers, yard signs, and various message boards along Maple Street and University Avenue. Staff estimates to have reached 35,700 residents through digital means throughout this process.
Throughout the neighborhood planning process, community feedback has highlighted the need to protect the unique character of San Jose and TRG. Both plans include strategies for compatible residential and nonresidential development, protection of long-term residents, and the promotion of culture and heritage including:
- Tailored land use and zoning recommendations
- Strategies for education about property tax assessments and programs for home repair maintenance
- Cultural programming through signage, interviews, and property surveys
Once the Small Area Plans are adopted for the neighborhoods, the next and most important step in the process is the formation of neighborhood associations for San Jose and TRG. These associations will work together with the community partners involved in the development of these plans to make the vision for San Jose and TRG a reality.
More about Neighborhood Plans
As the City of Georgetown began its effort in August 2020 to create neighborhood plans for the TRG and San Jose neighborhoods, City staff and neighborhood representatives surveyed the residents of both neighborhoods. Since that time, City Council approved $200,000 for the work, including hiring a consultant to help with the planning process. The Neighborhood Plans capture residents’ ideas and makes recommendations on how to achieve them. Recommendations range from future development, housing affordability, and infrastructure projects, such as building sidewalks or installing stop signs, to historic and cultural celebrations, such as art installations. The City and APD Urban Planning & Management held public meetings for the neighborhood plans June 30, July 1, Sept. 1 and 2, and Nov. 10 and 11, 2021, in addition to the steering committee meetings.