Jessica Clark, assistant to the city manager, summarized the City Council’s recent retreat and the proposed strategic priorities for 2025 at the Jan. 14, 2025 workshop, reporting both completed work from 2024 and the new goals council approved during the retreat.

Clark told the council the retreat preserved the council’s existing vision and key strategic areas while updating a short list of priority goals staff will carry into the year. “The vision remained the same,” Clark said, summarizing council consensus that Georgetown’s vision to remain “a welcoming and safe community honoring our past and planning for a vibrant future” continues to guide staff work.

Why it matters: the council’s strategic plan directs budget allocations, department work plans, performance metrics and long‑range planning; changes in priorities can shape capital and operating budgets and affect city services.

Accomplishments and ongoing items

Clark reported several 2024 accomplishments that staff marked complete for the plan, including completion of the downtown master plan and the economic development plan, activation of the crisis intervention unit and updates to boards-and-commissions onboarding. Major multi‑year items that will continue into 2025 include downtown master-plan implementation and funding strategy, negotiations with Williamson County on downtown facility planning, the unified development code (UDC) update expected in spring, and continued water-supply and reclaimed-water planning.

New 2025 priorities

Clark said council narrowed a list of candidate goals into a handful of priorities staff will focus on in 2025. New priorities identified in the retreat include:

- Developing a strategy to transition Williamson County facilities out of downtown Georgetown.
- Creating a strategy for service levels inside city limits versus outside city limits (including fees, cost of service and infrastructure implications).
- Enhancing water-conservation efforts that emphasize native landscaping.
- Targeting recruitment of entertainment and retail businesses to central commercial areas.
- Strengthening protections and response to cyberattacks and scams affecting residents.

Other notes

Clark said staff plan to launch a 3-1-1–style system in February and that staff continue monthly coordination with Georgetown ISD and Southwestern on shared issues. She also noted ongoing legislative monitoring related to Senate Bill 2038 and the city’s work on water rights and acre‑feet goals.

Council did not offer substantive edits during the workshop; Clark asked for feedback and council members indicated support for proceeding. The workshop then moved to an executive session.

Sources: Jessica Clark, assistant to the city manager; retreat facilitator Patrick Ybarra (Mejerando Group); presentation materials provided to council.