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HomeMy WebLinkAboutreporter.april05© City of Georgetown, 2005 On May 7, Georgetown residents will go to the polls to vote on a new 0.25 percent sales and use tax as well as three seats on the City Council, including the mayor and the represen- tatives for Districts 2 and 6. Four propositions on the May 7 ballot would specify uses of the new sales and use tax. The 0.25 percent sales tax—or 1/4-cent on each dollar— would be used for property tax reduc- tion and economic development. Proposition 1 would direct half of the revenue from the 0.25 percent sales and use tax toward the reduction of property taxes in Georgetown. The other half or 1/8-cent would be for attracting new or expanded industrial or commercial businesses. If Proposition 1 passes, then, in addition to the uses allowed by Section 4A of the Development Corporation Act of 1979, three other propositions on the ballot could allow additional uses of the 1/8-cent tax. Proposition 2 authorizes the use of any sales and use tax authorized by Proposition 1 to additionally be used to fund public park purposes and events, parks and park facilities, and open space improvements, including related improvements and mainte- nance and operating costs, if any. Proposition 3 authorizes the use of any sales and use tax authorized by Proposition 1 to additionally be used to develop and expand affordable housing, including related improve- ments and maintenance and operating costs, if any. Proposition 4 authorizes the use of any sales and use tax authorized by Proposition 1 to additionally be used for project costs for streets, roads, drainage, and other related transporta- tion system improvements, including maintenance and operating costs for such projects. If passed, Prop 4 would provide additional revenue for new transportation projects currently fund- ed by a 1/2-cent 4B sales tax, which was authorized by the voters in 2001. The 4B board, known as Georgetown Transportation Enhancement Corporation or GTEC, makes funding recommendations to the City Council for new roads that are linked to job creation. In 2002, Georgetown voters approved a 1/4-cent sales tax that is used for repairs to existing streets. These funds cannot be used to build new roads. VOL.3 • NO.4 A Publication of the City of Georgetown April 2005 May 7th Election: Sales and Use Tax, Mayoral Race and Council Seats 2 and 6 Georgetown’s 6th Annual Red Poppy Festival bursts into bloom with music, dancing, and Corvettes on the weekend of April 23- 24. Featured performers include the Austin Lounge Lizards, Allie Danielle, Rockin’ Rick and the Corvettes,and Lonestar Bluegrass Band.Come kick up your heels at the street dance on Saturday evening featuring Award Winning Country Artist, John Conlee. The car show is back this year with more new and classic Corvettes on display all day Saturday. The family festival also includes the Red Poppy Parade downtown on Saturday morning as well as fine handcrafts, a children’s area, foods, and other entertainment. Visit www.redpoppyfestival.com for an event schedule and other details, or call the Georgetown Convention and Visitors Bureau at (512) 930-3545. In the May 7 election, voters should be aware that only if the new sales and use tax is authorized in Proposition 1 will any or all of the additional uses of the tax in Propositions 2, 3 and 4 be effective upon voter approval. If the sales and use tax is passed by the voters, then a five-member 4A corporation board will be established. Like the existing 4B GTEC board, the 4A board would recommend projects to the City Council, which would approve all 4A tax expenditures. If the 0.25 percent sales and use tax is approved by the voters, the sales tax rate in Georgetown would be the state maximum of 8.25 percent, which matches the rate of other cities in Central Texas. Early voting is April 20 to May 3 at the Council Chambers and Courts Building, located at 101 E. Seventh Street, and at the Georgetown ISD Administration Building, located at 603 Lakeway Drive. Additional information about voting times and locations can be found at www.georgetown.org under “Election information.” Grand Opening for New Animal Shelter The new Animal Shelter is com- plete, and the community is invited to a Grand Opening celebration on Saturday, April 30 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Mayor Gary Nelon and other City Council members will lead the ribbon cutting for the new shelter at 11 a.m., with tours and entertainment by the Sweet Adelaides vocal group to follow. In addition to the four 4A election propositions, the ballot for the May 7 election includes candidates for three City Council seats, including those of the mayor, the District 2 representa- tive, and the District 6 representative. The incumbents in those seats, Gary Nelon, Gabe Sansing, and Farley Snell, respectively, have filed to be on the May 7 ballot. In addition, Clare Easley has filed and is a candidate for the District 2 seat. Discover the latest news about the city at www.georgetown.org The Georgetown City Reporter is a publication of the City of Georgetown Public Information Office located in City Hall, 113 E. 8th Street, Georgetown, Texas, 78626. For questions or comments, contact Keith Hutchinson, Public Information Officer for the City of Georgetown at (512) 930-3690, or by email at khutchinson@georgetowntx.org. While new businesses open every month in Georgetown, one corner at Georgetown’s busiest intersection has been vacant for more than two years. Since the Chuckwagon restaurant was destroyed by an elec- trical fire in 2002, the northwest corner of Williams Drive and I-35 has been empty. Other lots north of the Chuckwagon property on the I- 35 access road also are vacant. Concern about the intersection led City Manager Paul Brandenburg to take action. Last year he put togeth- er a team of City staff to identify problems that are hindering rede- velopment at the intersection— known as the Williams Drive Gateway. Those problems include driveway access and traffic flow, drainage issues, and the lack of an overall vision for the area. “What became clear is that the City could do some things and create an overall plan to spur the redevelop- ment of this key gateway to our City,” says Brandenburg. “The Williams Drive intersection is often the first thing that visitors see when they exit I-35. So it has a big impact on the impression that we give to our visitors.” In addition to aesthetic issues, Brandenburg cites thousands of property and sales tax Williams Drive & I-35 Area Targeted for Redevelopment dollars that could be generated from viable commercial properties. The City budget for this year included $15,000 to hire a plan- ning firm to complete a master plan for the redevelopment of the site, which includes properties on the southwest and the northwest corners of Williams Drive and I- 35. In addition to addressing traf- fic, land use, landscaping, develop- ment, and utility issues, the master plan will propose financial mecha- nisms that could fund public improvements in the area. To learn about successful mixed- use town center developments, Georgetown City staff and officials visited the North Dallas cities of Southlake, Addison, and Plano in February. Financing and develop- ment strategies used in those com- munities, including city-private partnerships, could serve as a model for the redevelopment of the Williams Drive Gateway. Public meetings will be held later this year so that residents, business owners, and other stakeholders can provide input on the redevelop- ment process. City staff already have been meeting to identify issues and have been in contact with property owners in the area. Other large or heavy items that don’t fit in Dumpster Fee: $10 per cubic yard To schedule a bulky waste pickup, call Texas Disposal Systems at 930-1715. Curbside Recycling (in bin from TDS) Accepted: Glass (clear, brown, or green) Newspapers Magazines & glossy paper inserts Aluminum & steel cans Plastic beverage bottles Not accepted: Cardboard Telephone books Dishes, light bulbs, window glass Aluminum foil or food/pie plates Aerosol cans Plastic bags or rubber bands Curbside Brush Pickup: Bundle length: 4 feet max. Bundle weight: 35 pounds max. Use string or wire to bundle 5 cubic yard max. (brush and trash) No charge if properly bundled and less than 5 cubic yards total brush + trash Curbside Bulky Waste Pickup: Large tree limbs, sofas, mattresses, and appliances City of Georgetown Texas Disposal System Customers The Tortilla Curtain in Central Texas? Cristina Alcalde, an anthropology professor at Southwestern University, will speak at the Georgetown Public Library on April 12 at 7:30 p.m. about immi- grant labor issues in central Texas and the U.S. Dr. Alcalde’s expert- ise in immigrant labor issues will provide perspective on the themes raised in The Tortilla Curtain, the book chosen by the community for its first “One Book, One Community” program. The library also has a new video available for check-out, Los Trabajadores/The Workers, which focuses on the situation of illegal immigrants. The film documents the establishment in 1999 of the day labor center in north central Austin and the controversy it raised. Retail and office development in Southlake. In February, City of Georgetown staff and officials visited the North Dallas cities of Southlake, Addison, and Plano to learn about successful mixed-use and redevelopment projects in those cities. Church Street Repairs Utility and paving work on Church Street between University Avenue and 20th Street will be completed once gas lines are relocated by TXU Gas (recently acquired by Atmos Energy). Installation of wastewater lines was completed in the fall. Storm drains, curbing, and paving work will be done once gas lines in the area are relocated.