The Advocate - April 21, 2016

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APRIL 21, 2016

Central Texas’ Award-Winning Local News Source

What A Difference A Year Makes

THE ADVOCATE ENDORSES...

2015. The move to fire dept-based EMS follows a unanimous vote by the City Council. The shift also means that the 911 center will handle all emergency dispatch for fire, police, and EMS in the Georgetown area, reducing call transfer delays and improving operational efficiency.

See page A7

Safest City Ranking

In summer 2015 Georgetown made the safest cities in Texas list, according to SafeWise. Georgetown was ranked 27 among the 50 Safest Cities in Texas.

Scenic City Certification

As Georgetown prepares to celebrate

one year since selecting Mr. David Morgan to be our new city manager, we can take a moment to reflect on some of the successes Georgetown has enjoyed over the past 12 months.

2015 Bond Election

Transportation bonds on the May 9, 2015 ballot were approved by Georgetown voters with 75.18 percent of voters in favor. The first portion of the 2015 bonds were issued in 2016 to build the Southwest Bypass, which begins next month.

Red Poppy Festival 2015

Georgetown celebrated the 16th annual Red Poppy Festival on the Square April 24–26, 2015. The most recent economic studies data shows that this annual event brings in 45,000 people and has an economic impact of $2.5 million.

100% Renewable

A 150-megawatt solar power agreement finalized in February, in addition to a pending 144 megawatt wind power agreement, will make the City of Georgetown one of the nation’s largest municipally-owned electric utilities to be 100 percent renewable. The agreements allow our utility to avoid price volatility associated with fossil-fuels. The contract with EDF Renewable Energy from a wind farm extends through 2035. “By securing renewable contracts, the utility is 100 percent ‘green’ at extremely competitive costs for energy, and we hedge against future fuel and regulatory risks,” says Jim Briggs, General Manager for utilities.

Georgetown is one of 58 cities in Texas awarded Scenic City certification. The program includes criteria such as parkland designation, landscaping, historic preservation, litter prevention, and other standards for public places. Achieving Scenic City certification recognizes regulations and programs that improve property values and attract businesses.

FISCAL

EMS Rollout

The Georgetown Fire Department became the primary EMS provider in Georgetown and in ESD 8 October 1,

ANDY WEBB, PLACE 3 GISD BOARD OF ONE TRUSTEES CONSERVATIVE DAY READY

PSOTC Grand Opening

The 76,000 square-foot main building of the new Public Safety Operations and Training Center houses all Police Department employees as well as Fire Department administration, fire and life safety, plans review, and Code Enforcement employees. Training elements of the facility include a 17,000 square-foot tactical building with classrooms and reality based training bay, as well as a slow speed driving track.

T O V Y L R A E

5 2 L I R P A ELECTION

Continued on page 3

Ride 2 Recovery Stops in G’town

JOHN HESSER, DIST. 3 GEORGETOWN CITY COUNCIL

• Father of 2 Currently-E

• Chief supporter of wife Georgetown Business

An organization called Ride 2 Recovery

sponsors a program to help injured veterans heal through the challenge of cycling. Veterans participating in the Texas Challenge are cycling from Houston to Fort Worth, while making stops at various cities along the way. On April 12, the cyclists made a stop in Georgetown. As part of their visit here, the veterans were treated to dinner and a movie at City Lights Theater. The Georgetown Independent School District Transportation Department provided rides for approximately 200 wounded warriors from their hotels to the theater and returned them to their lodging at the end of the night. The Ride 2 Recovery is a veterans program started in 2008 that seeks to save lives by restoring hope and purpose to wounded veterans. They have five main programs and the biking challenges are one of those programs. The Texas Challenge is a 7-day bike ride that takes the participants through Houston, College Station, Georgetown, Fort Hood, Waco, Cleburne, and Fort Worth.

ect l E Re-

• Georgetown resident sin in Williamson County si

JOHN HESSER

• TexasCity A&M University For Georgetown Council

• Elected GISD School B

DISTRICT• 3Committed to serving st The City of Georgetown, Georgetown ISD, Williamson County, and the citizens of Georgetown take this challenge as a unique opportunity to honor these heroes and show them why Georgetown is the greatest city in Texas. To make the warriors welcome and thank them for their service and sacrifice for our country, the Georgetown community was invited to the City Lights parking lot. Local law enforcement and emergency agencies were in attendance, as well as several Georgetown ISD student groups, including NJROTC,

& parents of GISD

PRIORITIES

cheerleaders, mascots, and an elementary choir. Students from several Georgetown ISD schools presented Public Safetythe injured veterans with thank-you notes and cards. •They Georgetown is currently riders’ group stopped ranked by the the #2 safest of our Texas; Public Safetycity Center the size nextin morning for a meet-n-greet with • refreshments Consistently and reduced first response Mayor Dale Ross before continuing time since implementation of their rideCity-managed to Fort Hood. emergency services

Mobility & Transportation • Initiated current traffic study on LAURA BARKER, COUNTY Williams Drive through COURT AT LAW #2 TxDOT; • Implementing transportation projects approved in 2015 Road Bond (DB Wood; Rivery Blvd. extension);

(Oct 2015);

Top: GISD greets riders at City Lights TheMaintain aters en route to theTax Safety Rate Center. Bottom: Riders prepare to leave Georgetown after • Manage growth so costs to not gathering at the Safety Center on D.B. burden current homeowners; Wood.

Upgrade City’s 1980-era financial software to improve information, accountability and transparency to citizens

• Balance commercial/residential tax burden through economic development;

andywebbforgi CITY OF GEORGETOWN EXPERIENCE Finance Board � Utility Board POL AD PD FOR BY THE Both Economic Development Boards Transportation Board � Parks & Recreation Board READY FOR THE RED POPPY Political ad paid for by John Hesser Campaign 16. Vernon Gonion, Treasurer. FESTIVAL p. C1

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