Updated 2/23/2022: 75 dogs die in fire at pet boarding facility
Updates
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Questions and Answers
Fire Investigation
Changes to City ordinances and international codes
Kennel permits
City Council adopts 10-year Parks Master Plan
Georgetown now has a 10-year master plan for its parks, recreation offerings, and open spaces.
City Council unanimously approved the plan during its regular meeting Tuesday, Feb. 22. The plan identifies multiple improvements and additions to the City’s parks and recreation offerings, including a new park on the southeast side of town, more trails, a skate park, and a recreation center, as well as improvements and expansions to existing programs and features.
“I’m proud of the work done by the council, our community, City staff, and the consultant to put together such a proactive, comprehensive blueprint for where we can improve our parks and recreational activities in Georgetown,” Mayor Josh Schroeder said. “I’m excited for residents to see the great work to come.”
The recommendations laid out in the plan vary from improvements that can be done relatively quickly using existing funding — such as updating existing parks and adding parks to City-owned property — to upgrades that will require phases and potential bond elections. The plan was based on the community’s priorities and values for recreation programs and services, including input from four public meetings and an open survey that received 2,036 responses, as well as 16 staff and stakeholder meetings.
Click here for the full report.
Parks and Recreation Master Plan development
Work on the City’s Parks, Recreation, and Open Spaces Master Plan began in April 2021. The City engaged the services of GreenPlay, a parks and recreation management consulting firm, to assist in its development. In August 2021, the team presented results from the mailed and open surveys, data collection from facility and park inventories, and other project analyses. The draft master plan was presented to City Council during its Nov. 9 workshop. The Parks and Recreation Advisory Board helped develop the plan and approved it in January 2022. The Planning and Zoning Commission and City Council reviewed and ultimately approved the plan in January and February 2022. The plan is an element of the City’s Comprehensive 2030 plan.
CelLink to open manufacturing site in Georgetown
Innovative flexible circuit maker chooses Titan Development’s Gateway35 Commerce Center for state-of-the-art production facility
CelLink Corporation will open a manufacturing facility in Georgetown to produce flexible circuits used in electric vehicles and battery storage units. The facility will be at the Gateway35 Commerce Center, a master-planned industrial park by Titan Development (“Titan”). CelLink selected Titan’s Building 1, a Class A 294,297-square-foot building that is strategically located in Georgetown between I-35 and SH 130. This new building is expected to be completed in June 2022.
CelLink manufactures the world’s largest and most electrically and thermally conductive flexible circuits, essential for the automotive and energy storage industries. The company is a key supplier to major electric vehicle manufacturers providing intelligent wiring systems needed for automotive wiring and battery packs with a key focus on efficiency and safety.
“We are excited to see Georgetown become part of the growing electric vehicle and energy storage industries,” Georgetown Mayor Josh Schroeder said. “Companies like CelLink and industrial park developers like Titan will strengthen the economic foundation of our community bringing sales tax revenue, creative talent, and good jobs to our city.”
CelLink plans to hire 800-2,000 employees in high tech jobs over the next 10 years, which will make them one of the largest private sector employers in the city. The total capital investment for the project is estimated to be $130 million in five years.
“Williamson County is becoming known as a hub for technology and innovation due to our highly skilled and educated workforce,” Williamson County Judge Bill Gravell said. “Having another world class project land in our county reinforces our desire to bring good paying, exceptional employment opportunities to our residents.”
CelLink will receive a total combined incentive package worth $8.02 million from local jurisdictions, including:
- A Williamson County property tax abatement for 10 years of 75 percent for business personal property and 50 percent for real property, valued at $2.11 million.
- A City of Georgetown property tax abatement of the same terms, valued at $2.18 million
- An infrastructure reimbursement grant of $2.5 million, paid from the Georgetown Economic Development Corporation Type A sales tax fund
- A five-year job creation grant with a total value of $525,000, also paid from GEDCO
- The retirement of Renewable Energy Credits to offset the company’s electric usage for five years to certify the facility as using 100 percent renewable energy, valued at up to $1 million.
“This new manufacturing facility is ideally located in Central Texas to serve our customers, many of whom are electric vehicle manufacturers,” CelLink CEO Kevin Coakley said. “The experience and knowledge of manufacturing that Titan’s development team has brought to this project has been outstanding – they really understand how to customize for manufacturing. The City of Georgetown has also been a terrific partner who embraces advanced manufacturing and the idea of helping to build the supply chain for electric vehicle manufacturing in its town. Georgetown provides access to a skilled and educated workforce in the region fostered by advanced Texas State Technical College and Austin Community College curriculums in high-tech manufacturing. It has all the amenities of a vibrant city, making Georgetown a perfect fit for our expansion.”
“We are thrilled to have CelLink coming to our industrial park at Georgetown to manufacture sophisticated, high demand electronics in the flexible circuits sector,” said Joe Iannacone, Austin-based senior vice president at Titan Development. “This is a perfect example of the kind of fast-growing industries that Georgetown has been seeking for economic development.”
Gateway35 Commerce Center is a two-phase project on 114 acres positioned at the intersection of I-35 and SH 130, less than 30 minutes from downtown Austin. Titan Development and the City of Georgetown are developing a new road for the park, Wittera Way, which connects to both I-35 and SH 130 with easy access to the major highways for Dallas, Austin, and San Antonio. Gateway35 is at the northernmost point of the Austin metropolitan statistical area and close to the Georgetown Municipal Airport and many single-family residential neighborhoods.
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.
‘Love and Death’ filming on the Georgetown Square
HBO Max will close portions of the Square for the filming of “Love and Death,” a limited TV series true-crime drama based on actual events that took place in the 1980s.
Preparation for filming is underway, and filming is expected to be completed Feb. 23 through March 5 at various locations downtown. Businesses around the Square are expected to remain open despite street and parking closures.
Filming locations:
Williamson County Courthouse, 710 S. Main St.
Parking and intermittent street closures are expected:
7 a.m.-7 p.m. on Feb. 23-25 and 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Wednesday, March 2
- West Seventh Street from Austin Avenue to Church Street
- West Eighth Street from Austin Avenue to Church Street
- South Main Street from Sixth to Eighth streets
Parking closures:
9 a.m.-9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 26-27
- Eastside of Austin Avenue
- North and South sides of East Seventh Street
- East and West sides of Main Street
- Northside of Eighth Street
For a detailed map, click here.
Parking closures:
5 a.m.-11:30 p.m. Sunday, March 6
- Parking on all four immediate sides of the Williamson County Courthouse
For a detailed map, click here.
Streets will not be closed to traffic on interior filming days; however, intermittent traffic control will happen while filming occurs.
Williamson County Justice Center, 405 Martin Luther King Jr. St.
Parking and intermittent street closures are expected:
7 a.m.-7 p.m. on March 3-4
- Sixth Street from Martin Luther King Jr. to Forest streets
- West Seventh Street from Martin Luther King Jr. to Rock streets
- Martin Luther King Jr. Street from West Fifth to West Seventh streets
- Forest Street from the parking lot entrance at Forest and Sixth streets to West Seventh street
7 a.m.-10 p.m. on March 5
- Sixth Street from Martin Luther King Jr. to Forest streets
- West Fourth Street from West to Forest streets
- Martin Luther King Jr. Street from West Third to West Seventh streets
- Forest Street from the parking lot entrance at Forest and Sixth streets to West Seventh street
9 a.m.-11:59 p.m. on March 6
- Martin Luther King Jr. Street from West Fifth to West Seventh streets
- Forest Street from the parking lot entrance at Forest and Sixth streets to West Seventh street
- West Sixth Street from Martin Luther King Jr. to Rock streets
- West Seventh Street from Martin Luther King Jr. to Rock streets
- The parking lot between Sixth and Seventh streets at Forest and Rock streets
For detailed maps, click here.
Because of these closures, traffic and parking in other areas around the Square and downtown may be affected. Please use additional caution as you drive through the filming areas.
Questions
Marissa Lovely: marissa.lovely@hboprod.com
Zachary Heine: zachary.heine@hboprod.com
Jack Ingram to headline Red Poppy Festival
This year the City of Georgetown celebrates the Red Poppy Festival with Saturday night headliner country music artist Jack Ingram.
Ingram’s singles include “Love You,” “Wherever You Are,” “Barefoot and Crazy,” and “Lips of an Angel.”
This signature festival on the Most Beautiful Town Square in Texas is April 22-24 with live music, entertainment, family fun, food, and more than 100 arts and craft vendors.
The Friday night concert features Dysfunkshun Junkshun. Other festival highlights include the Red Poppy Parade at 10 a.m. on Saturday, and the Car Show at 11 a.m. on Saturday.
The official 2022 Red Poppy Festival poster will be on sale for $5 starting April 1 at the Visitors Center, 103 W. Seventh St. The poster artist, Helen Faythe Green, will be signing posters from 6 to 8 p.m. April 1 at the Visitors Center. The first 50 posters are free.
For all the details, go to RedPoppyFestival.com.
Updated 2/10/2022: Winter storm response
Updated Feb. 10, 2022, 1:30 p.m.
Feb. 10 update: Winter Storm response
The following is a summary of the City’s response to Winter Storm Landon Feb. 2-5, 2022.
Water
- Pre-winter: Insulated pipes, installed heat tape, and heaters
- 3 days of 24-hour staff coverage (Thur – Sat) to operate and protect plants and equipment
- Water and wastewater treatment plant staff slept on site to ensure treatment plants stayed operational
- 4 minor water leaks affecting less than 20 customers for a few hours
- 3 generators (500-kilowatts each) stationed at Stonewall, Hoover, and Pastor pump stations
- 2 industrial heaters at Leander and Sequoia pump stations to prevent freezing
- Staff visited dozens of sites to turn off 75 construction hydrant meters to limit losses to the system and damages to property
- 60 customer calls: employees advised residents with frozen pipes
- Non-field staff provided 24-hour food service and delivery to staff, including those working long shifts in freezing temperatures
- Retained construction contractor for standby
Electric
- Last summer: Extensive tree trimming and maintenance programs helped to keep outages low
- 24 hours out: Electric crews patrolled known trouble spots for tree-related outages and cleared limbs
- During winter storm: Crews were staged and on rotating shifts to provide 24-hour response
- Feb 3: 1 power outage effecting 1 customer
- Feb 4: 2 power outages affecting 7 and 9 customers respectively
- Feb 5: 1 power outage affecting a total of 4 customers
Public Works
- 750 gallons of deicer placed on bridges and roadways
- 120 cubic yards of sand spread on bridges and roadways
- 3 days of 24-hour staff coverage to treat icy roads
Police
- 32 motor vehicle crashes (compared to 13 crashes in prior week)
- Provided transport for City employees in critical services
Fire
The Fire/Medical Department responded to 132 calls Feb. 3-5 during the winter storm event, which represents a 35 percent increase over the Jan. 2022 average on Feb. 3 and a 15 percent increase on Feb. 4. Calls included:
- 89 medical/EMS calls
- 25 fire calls (including fire alarms)
- 14 motor vehicle collision calls
- 4 assist calls
Customer Care
Phone calls received during the storm event:
- 156: Thursday, Feb. 3
- 292: Friday, Feb. 4
- 15: Saturday, Feb. 5 (8 a.m.-noon)
Communications
- 130,000 persons reached on City Twitter, Facebook, and NextDoor pages
- 7,000 engagements on City Twitter and Facebook pages
- 5,205 City website page views on storm post
- +60 total news releases, social media posts, and website updates
4:30 p.m. Friday Update
City facilities remained closed on Friday. However, most City facilities normally open on Saturday will open at 12 noon tomorrow, Feb. 5. This includes:
- Airport Terminal, 500 Terminal Drive
- Animal Shelter, 110 Walden Drive
- Garey Park, 6450 RM 2243
- Public Library, 402 W. Eighth St.
- Recreation Center, 1003 N. Austin Ave.
- Visitors Center, 103 W. Seventh St.
The Art Center, 816 S. Main St., will open at 10 a.m. on Saturday. The Collection Station, 250 W.L. Walden Drive, will be open normal Saturday hours: 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The Tennis Center will not be open on Saturday.
Public restrooms and drinking fountains in City parks remain closed through Monday.
Water leaks and repairs
For water leaks due to frozen pipes, please email Customer Care at leak@georgetown.org. To speed the repair process through Feb. 18, permits will not be needed for property owners making minor plumbing repairs due to water leaks caused by freezing temperatures this week.
Utility outages
Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) continues to report sufficient generation in the state to meet the high demand as a result of cold temperatures.
If you are experiencing an electric or water outage and are a City of Georgetown customer, please first refer to our online outage maps to confirm we know about your outage. If you don’t see your location included in the outage, please call 512-930-3640. Please note calls may take longer to connect with the City’s outage system.
Many Georgetown residents may not have City electric. Other area providers include:
Oncor: stormcenter.oncor.com
PEC: outages.pec.coop
Personal safety
Georgetown residents should avoid travel if possible and exercise caution while driving. Look for icy spots on roads as water refreezes in the evening and overnight hours. Visit drivetexas.org for road conditions.
Residents are encouraged to drip their faucets to help prevent damage to water pipes. In the event of frozen pipes, people should turn off their water at the main shut-off valve.
The City is working with The Caring Place and the Ministerial Alliance to provide after-hours assistance in the form of emergency hotel stay vouchers for those needing shelter when temperatures are 32 degrees or below, or the temperature is 35 degrees or below and it is raining. Vouchers are limited.
During business hours (9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday), people can call The Caring Place at 512-943-0700 and follow the prompts for basic needs assistance.
If someone needs assistance after-hours, and all other options have been exhausted, they can call the Police non-emergency line at 512-930-3510.
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 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday for same-day molecular NAAT tests.
To schedule a same-day molecular NAAT test, which provides results in fewer than four hours, click here.
City response
Street crews continue to apply deicer treatment to bridges and the roads as needed. However, many icy spots remain since temperatures will remain below freezing tonight and tomorrow morning.
City staff have taken several steps to improve the resiliency of our utility infrastructure as a result of last year’s winter storm. For this storm, staff have placed generators at key City water facilities and are increasing water tank capacities to summer peak-demand levels.
Forecast
Electricity
As of Friday afternoon, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) continues to report sufficient generation in the state to meet the high demand as a result of the storm. ERCOT, the Texas energy grid operator, issued a winter weather watch in effect Feb. 2-6 due to the winter weather. In the news release on Feb. 2, ERCOT, “projects to have sufficient generation to meet the high demand for electricity.”
There is a chance for isolated or sporadic power outages due to ice and gusty winds. However, the City has taken steps to reduce the chance of outages on the Georgetown electric system related to equipment or power lines. Click here to read more about our winter-weather resiliency efforts.
If you are experiencing an outage, please first refer to our online outage maps to confirm we know about your outage. If you don’t see your location included in the outage, please call 512-930-3640 to report it. Please note calls may take longer to connect with the City’s outage system.
Many Georgetown residents may not have City electric. Other area providers include:
Oncor: https://stormcenter.oncor.com/
PEC: https://outages.pec.coop/dmsoutagemap/default.html
Water
There is a risk for damage to exposed pipes during this hard freeze, especially across the Hill Country. When water freezes, it expands and can burst the pipe.
You can help prevent damage to your own pipes by letting your faucets drip during extended periods of freezing temperatures. Leaving cabinet doors open in areas of water pipes can also help.
In the event of frozen pipes, it’s recommended that you turn off your water at the main shut-off valve to prevent additional damage when the pipes unfreeze. To learn how to find and operate your main shut-off valve, click here.
Generators have been placed at key City water facilities that were out during winter storm Uri. All equipment has been winterized. All water tanks are being taken up to high, summer peak-demand levels.
Roads
City Response
Parks and Recreation
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Crews winterized and closed restrooms and water fountains Wednesday morning. Park restrooms and fountains will remain closed until Monday. Anti-icing liquid will be applied at recreation facilities as necessary. Some facilities will open at noon Saturday. Click here for more information regarding recreation facility closings.
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Police and Fire
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- Patrol is at full staff with additional officers ready to assist as needed.
- All fire and EMS have tire chains. Additional four-wheel drive units are on standby.
Resources
Shelter
A risk for hypothermia exists for those spending extended time outdoors and not dressed in layers and gloves.
The City is working with The Caring Place and the Ministerial Alliance to provide after-hours assistance in the form of emergency hotel stay vouchers for those needing shelter when temperatures are 32 degrees or below, or the temperature is 35 degrees or below and it is raining. Vouchers are limited.
During business hours (9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday), please call The Caring Place at 512-943-0700 and follow the prompts for basic needs assistance and someone will return your call.
If you need assistance after-hours, and all other options have been exhausted, please call the Police Non-Emergency Line at 512-930-3510.
Additionally, the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office has opened a warming and charging center at 508 S. Rock Street in Georgetown for those without power.
Animal care
People need to bring their pets inside when temperatures and wind-chill dip below freezing, because pets are in danger from hypothermia and frostbite. Georgetown animal control officers have been responding to several reports of dogs being left outside for long periods of time.
When temperatures are above freezing again, dogs and cats can be left outside if you make sure to provide a dry, draft-free shelter that is a) small enough to hold body heat and b) large enough for the animals to lie down. The housing also should have supplemental bedding or auxiliary heat and protection from wind and rain.
Report pets in the Georgetown city limits who are not being properly sheltered to animal control at 512-930-3510, ext. 6. Outside the city limits, contact Williamson County Animal Control at 512-864-8332.
Weather Updates
- Sign up with WarnCentralTexas.org to receive emergency weather updates.
- Weather maps and current forecasts can be found on the Austin/San Antonio National Weather Service.
Road Conditions
- Check road conditions at atxfloods.com/closures or drivetexas.org before traveling.
Local Outages
- Click here to check for outages in the Georgetown service area.
- For additional information on what you can do during an outage, visit the Red Cross Power Outage.
City Social Media
Follow us on social media for updates on this weather event and other important information.
Other
- Now is a good time to update the contact information on your utility account. Click here to find out how and make sure we are able to contact you in case of an emergency.
- Have a family emergency plan. Click here to start.
- The risk for hypothermia exists for those spending extended amounts of time outdoors. Make sure you have dressed appropriately in layers, hats, and gloves: https://www.ready.gov/winter-weather#safe
- Protect people, pets, plants, & pipes: https://bit.ly/2Jx3SJ7
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.
Calls for artist proposals in Georgetown
The Georgetown Arts and Culture Program is requesting artist proposals for two exciting projects coming up this spring.
Artist Booths at the Georgetown Spring Art Stroll
The City of Georgetown’s Arts and Culture Board invites artists to submit their applications for booth space during the Spring Art Stroll on April 21, 2022. Artists exhibiting their work in Grace Plaza are part of a juried selection process sponsored by the Georgetown Arts and Culture Program. A group of artists may submit their work for one booth space as a group exhibition.
There is no booth or application fee. All booth sale proceeds go directly to the artist.
Heritage Community Garden
The City of Georgetown Parks and Recreation Department would like to commission an artist to design an artistic signage mural for the exterior of a historic water cistern.
The City of Georgetown’s Arts and Culture Board invites artist proposals for the Heritage Community Garden Mural Project. The mural design should be an artistic interpretation of Heritage Community Garden and serve as gateway signage into the park.
The artist selected will receive a $2,500 stipend and $500 for materials.
For more information about the Georgetown Arts & Culture Requests for Artist Proposals, visit arts.georgetown.org.