Georgetown resident asks council to appoint elected representative to CAPCOG Clean Air Coalition

Georgetown — During public comment at the City Council meeting on May 27, Sun City resident Christina Schwartfeger asked the city to appoint an elected official to represent Georgetown on the Capital Area Council of Governments (CAPCOG) Clean Air Coalition.

“The Clean Air Coalition administers grants from U.S. EPA and TCEQ and conducts scientific studies and technical reports on regional air quality,” Schwartfeger told council. “Georgetown was last represented on the Clean Air Coalition from 2016 through 2019. Unfortunately, Georgetown has had no voting representation for the last six years.”

Schwartfeger said the Clean Air Coalition installed ozone and PM2.5 monitors at Cedar Breaks Park in Georgetown at no cost to the city and that the coalition will revise its regional air-quality plan in July and August, holding local workshops in Georgetown and Round Rock to gather stakeholder input. She noted CAPCOG bylaws allow appointment of one elected official from each local government, which provides voting rights on the coalition.

Schwartfeger also said city staff member Nate Wagner is listed as an advisory committee member but serves in a nonvoting role. She told council Georgetown has paid its CAPCOG fiscal year 2025 dues ($10,600) and that neighboring municipalities including Kyle, Cedar Park, Bee Cave, Austin, Buda, Lakeway, Leander, Pflugerville, Round Rock and San Marcos have voting representation on the coalition. She asked the council to adopt a resolution appointing one elected official to serve on the Clean Air Coalition and to notify CAPCOG staff liaison Anton Cox.

Council did not take action during the meeting on the request; Schwartfeger provided council with the coalition roster, bylaws and a flyer for the upcoming workshops.

No other members of the public spoke on the subject during the meeting.