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HomeMy WebLinkAboutReporter Jan 2010© City of Georgetown, 2010 The Lone Star Rail District announced in November that engi- neering and environmental studies are starting for regional passenger rail. The proposed LSTAR com- muter rail line will provide service from Georgetown to San Antonio with 16 rail stations in between. The Lone Star Rail District, former- ly called the Austin–San Antonio Intermunicipal Commuter Rail District, met a number of milestones this year. The Texas legislature allo- cated $8.7 million for regional rail between Georgetown and San Antonio and also appropriated $182 million to the Texas Rail Relocation and Improvement Fund in order to move freight rail traffic out of urban areas. The Rail District also reached an agreement with Union Pacific this year to study the feasibility of moving through-freight traffic to new lines out of urban areas in the corridor. In addition, the Rail District has submitted an application to receive a portion of the $8 billion in federal stimulus funding for rail. The Obama administration identi- fied the Interstate 35 corridor in Texas as a priority area for passenger rail. Georgetown is the northern termi- nus for the proposed rail line. A transit station with nearby residential and commercial development is planned for the intersection of Maple Street and SE Inner Loop Road in Georgetown. Patty Eason, Georgetown city council member District 1 also serves as a member on the Lone Star Rail District board. To find out more about the LSTAR rail line, go to the Lone Star Rail District’s website at www.LoneStarRail.com. It’s short.Only 10 questions in 10 minutes. No questions about income, personal finances, or occupation. It’s private. Your answers are absolutely confi- dential. By law, the Census cannot share your information with anyone, including law enforcement, IRS, welfare, FBI, immigration, or any court of law. All Census employees are subject to a $250,000 fine and/or a five-year prison term for disclosing information that could identify a person or household. It matters.Census information guides decisions about where to build new roads, schools, hospitals, and businesses. one hour. The council also reduced the fines for violations. First offense is a warning, second offense is a fine of $8, third offense is a fine of $23, and a fourth or subsequent offense is a fine of $38. The parking ordinance provides for hospitality permits that allow visitors to park in the downtown zone for one day without restriction. Hospitality permits are available at the Visitor Information Center on the Square or from downtown busi- nesses. Free public parking lots with no time restriction are located near the Square at Ninth and Main streets, Sixth and Main streets, and Fifth Street and Austin Avenue. City offices closed: New Year’s and MLK Holidays January 1 for New Year’s Day January 18 for MLK Day Solid waste and recycling collection: ■No pickup on Friday, January 1. (Slides to Saturday, January 2.) ■Regular pickup on Monday, January 18. VOL. 8 • NO. 1 A Publication of the City of Georgetown January 2010 Sid Covington, chairman of the Lone Star Rail District, speaks at a November news conference in Austin. On Track for Regional Passenger Rail It’s your community.If 20 percent of Georgetown residents aren’t counted, then we could lose up to $25 million in federal funding each year for projects and pro- grams in Georgetown. It’s your voice.Census data will be used to draw new political bound- aries in 2011. Results will determine seats on the city council, in the Texas legislature and in the U.S. House of Representatives. Be counted.Look for the Census form in the mail in March 2010. Fill it out and mail it in! For more information and to see a sample Census survey, go to 2010.census.gov. Facts About the 2010 Census Parking Limit Increased to 3 Hours on Square A three-hour limit for on-street parking around the downtown Square went into effect November 25. The three-hour limit applies to spaces around the Courthouse Square and on the streets that extend one block from the Square. The restriction applies to weekday hours from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The new rule enacted by the city council extends the previous limit by Discover the latest news about the city at www.georgetown.org The Palace Theater Annie, Nov. 20 to Dec. 30 Nunsense II (The Second Coming), January 8 to February 7 Details at georgetownpalace.com, or call (512) 869-7469. Viennese Pops Concert January 31 Georgetown Symphony Society concert featuring the Temple Symphony Orchestra on Sunday starting at 4 p.m. at the Klett Center for Performing Arts. Includes favorites by Mozart, Rossini, Lehar and Gilbert and Sullivan. Details at www.GeorgetownTexasSymphony. org. The Georgetown City Reporter is a publication of the City of GeorgetownPublic Communications Department, P.O. Box 409, Georgetown, Texas, 78627. For questions or comments, contact KeithHutchinson, public communications director at (512) 930-3690, or by email at khutchinson@georgetowntx.org. Looking for a New Year’s resolution? Here are a few ideas from the City. 1.Register and vote in all the elections this year. 2.Join the Recreation Center and go work-out, swim, dance, run, or play. 3.Attend a city council meeting. 4.Participate in the Cupid’s Chase 5K on February 6. 5.Get a library card and borrow books instead of buying them. 6.Volunteer with a local nonprofit to help kids, seniors, or the disadvantaged. 7.Be a community leader and apply to serve on a City board or commission. 8.Make sure your home or business has working smoke detectors. 9.Support local businesses and neighbors by shopping in Georgetown. 10. Be counted by filling out and mailing in your Census survey. 11. Stay informed–be a fan of the City’s Facebook pages or follow us on Twitter. Georgetown Parks & Recreation Saturday, January 23 Lake Georgetown Geocaching Join Georgetown Parks and Recreation at Lake Georgetown on Saturday, January 23 and find out what geocaching is all about! The day will start inside to learn the basics of map reading and GPS units, and then move over to Lake Georgetown and look for markers and an actual Geocache. Maps and GPS units will be provided. Participants should be 12 or older and will need to bring a sack lunch, a water bottle, sun block and a day pack. The cost is $15 for Georgetown residents and $20 for nonresidents. The trip will run from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. and will meet at the Parks and Recreation Administration Building. For a com- plete list of trips offered, please visit http://adventure.georgetown.org or call (512) 763-8365. Saturday, February 6 Cupid’s Chase 5K Georgetown Parks and Recreation’s Annual Cupid’s Chase 5k run/walk will be held on Saturday, February 6 starting at 8:30 a.m. This year’s race will return to its original 5K distance (3.1 miles) with a new, faster course. Register on-line at parks.georgetown.org or in person at the Georgetown Recreation Center. For more information, please contact Erin Ruyle at (512) 930-8459. Pet Licensing City Boards and Commissions The City of Georgetown is accepting applications to fill vacant or expiring terms on the City’s 18 boards or commissions. The deadline to apply for one of these volunteer positions is January 8. Terms begin in March. Information and applications are available at www.georgetown.org. All dogs and cats living in Georgetown are required to be licensed each year through Animal Services. Most local veterinary offices sell City pet licenses, or you can download the form from the City website at www.georgetown.org. One benefit of a license tag on the collar of your cat or dog is 24-hour- a-day, 7-day-a-week identification of the pet in case it is picked up by Animal Services. This can be critical in the case of a pet that is injured. Another benefit is that identified pets must be held at the Animal Shelter for seven days. However, an unidentified pet can be placed into a new home or humanely killed after only 72 hours. The major reason for the pet license requirement is to ensure proof of a current rabies vaccination. Cats or dogs that are spayed or neutered are licensed at $5 per year. The cost is $15 for an unaltered pet. Seniors (age 65 and older) can receive one free pet license for a cat or dog that has been altered. Failure to have a pet license could lead to a ticket and a fine. A pet license also is a free ride home. A pet with a valid license is given one free ride home during the year or will not be charged a fee when the owner claims their pet from the Animal Shelter. Download a pet license application online or pick one up at the Georgetown Animal Shelter, located at 110 W. L. Walden Drive near the McMaster Athletic Fields. January Events