The Pulse of Progress

From the bustling boutiques maintaining the lifeblood of historic downtown buildings, to the shiny halls of our modern schools and superstores old and new, Georgetown embodies a story of relentless evolution. The State of the City is not just a measure of where we stand, but a testament to where we've been and where we are going. We asked many of our city’s leaders and staff for updates as we navigate the changes and strategic planning for our city in the short and long terms.

COMMUNICATIONS

Ensuring transparent and open communication between city officials and citizens remains paramount. District 5 City Councilman Kevin Pitts provided some clarity on how citizens can ensure their voices are heard.

Councilman Pitts says there are more ways than ever to engage with the city and leadership are always looking for new ways to increase participation. "The city is in the process of creating a 3-1-1-style system of communication that will create a one-stop shop for citizens." Residents are also encouraged to attend the city's public meetings on specific topics, or reach out via email, social media, phone, text services (for utilities), Georgetown.org, town hall meetings, or face-to-face meetings.

He says, "We also gather data via FlashVote polls and community engagement events where folks can provide input on a number of initiatives in one setting." City Councilman Ron Garland adds, "Our recent community engagement event had 160 people attend and comment on topics like our downtown master plan, Austin Avenue bridge project, and other transportation projects." Scan the code to register for polls.

CITIZEN LEADERSHIP ACADEMY

A year-long course that allows citizens to learn about the city and discover ways to engage. "Whether you've been here ten months or ten years, it's a great opportunity."

WATER

While short-term plans focus on treatment capability, the city's long-range goal is to purchase additional acre-feet to prepare the city for growth over the next few decades.

Last month, to address long-term demands of growth and secure additional raw-water supply, City Council entered an $11.8 million, two-year reservation agreement with EPCOR to reserve water from the Carrizo-Wilcox Aquifer in Robertson County. The partnership contemplates Georgetown receiving 32 million to 55 million gallons per day of treated groundwater (39,399-70,000-acre feet), with initial delivery by 2030.

Councilman Garland reports "The North Plant extension will be complete this fall, and will add another 8 million gallons per day. In 2025, the South Lake plant, at $175 million, is the largest project in the history of Georgetown, it will bring capacity to 100 million gallons per day."

TRANSPORTATION

Councilman Garland's advocacy for local and regional transportation solutions long pre-dates his election. As a PAC director and outspoken supporter of infrastructure improvements, he says, "I am really excited to see how much design work has been done for the Leander Road, DB Wood, and Shell Road projects from the 2021 road bonds. There is a lot more to come and Council will keep residents posted on Georgetown.org and social media as progress continues." He adds that Commissioners Court recently ap-

proved an election for a 2024 $884M road bond package that includes widening Ronald Reagan Boulevard near Sun City, and improvements to trails at Berry Springs Park. The bond will be on the November 7 ballot.

CULTURE

Mayor Josh Schroeder says, "We have new stores, restaurants, and shopping coming online every day, and now we have one of the best music festivals in the world, the Two Step Inn, to complement longstanding events like the Stroll, Red Poppy, and many others. We are also seeing a revitalization of our Juneteenth and Fiesta San Jose celebrations, which will bring our community together."

The city's dedication to the arts has seen remarkable growth, culminating in an impressive fall calendar. The GTX Film Festival September 30 at the Doug Smith Performance Center will showcase Daytripper Chet Garner's full-length documentary, "Cowboy Bourbon." As October rolls in, the Cultural District will be abuzz with activity starting with the Autumn Art Stroll Oct. 19, followed by the Haunted Art Night in the South Main Arts District Oct. 20. The celebration peaks Oct. 21 with a day-long celebration at the second annual South Main Arts Festival.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Director of Economic Development Cameron Goodman reports Georgetown has multiple Class A industrial developments under construction, positioning us to compete with big businesses coming back to America thanks to the Inflation Reduction and CHIPS Acts.

Our proximity to Samsung in Taylor has created demand for space, ancillary supply chains, and amenities for employees. Cameron says, "The supply chain for semiconductors is having a huge impact and CelLink is creating supply for the electric vehicle supply chain. Many companies do well in Georgetown because of our location, exceptional workforce and infrastructure." He adds the EDC has placed a big focus beyond immediate needs to destination retail and entertainment, which will bring new dollars to the city. "These new businesses are helping fund all the things that make Georgetown great," he says.

PREPAREDNESS

Georgetown's Emergency Management Coordinator

Christy Rogers says the city's current Emergency Operations Plan was adopted in 2022, and a hazard mitigation plan, which allows us to be eligible for federal grants after storms and other disasters. As well, all departments have their own SOPs and policies to handle specific situations.

"The city's approach is all-hazard preparedness," she says. “We also have specific procedures for certain threats and hazards. For example, our police, fire, and EMS personnel do a lot of training for a variety of response plans, including active threats or wildfires, and we also work collaboratively with partner agencies on efforts like reunification plans for ISD incidents."

Residents can also take comfort knowing how much focus the department puts on layered response training. Christy says, "We use every opportunity and include every department when possible to create hypotheticals and practice how we want to play. We took what we know about crowd dynamics at the Poppy Festival to plan responses for Two Step Inn, which will now be folded into our plans for the next big event. Similarly, what we learned from Winter Storm Uri in 2021 we applied to Landon in '22, all of which we rolled into our response to Mara in '23." She adds that the new community FlashVote system has provided a great deal of citizen feedback to help synthesize data and determine best courses of action for future winter storms.

SIGN UP AT WARNCENTRALTEXAS.ORG

Emergency notification system allows local officials to contact residents by phone, email and text during times of disasters or public safety events.

ON THE HORIZON

Mayor Schroeder says, "Our primary challenges center around the pace of growth, including water, wastewater, roads, and public safety. We know growth is coming so we have to address the pain points."

Councilman Pitts adds that there is a misconception that the city can mitigate growth. "The state provides cities with zoning authority to guide and shape growth it is not a tool the state provides to help us stop growth. So, to be effective, concerns about growth must be directed to the state."

We will be a complete community with safe neighborhoods, thriving businesses with high-paying jobs, and cultural and entertainment options that allow you to live your entire life in Georgetown. We have to maintain public safety, demand quality development, and support our local businesses to accomplish these goals.

~Mayor Josh Schroeder