Georgetown City Council members gave initial approval for a Street Patio Pilot Program at a meeting Oct. 27.

The program creates a trial period for downtown restaurants and businesses to use public on-street parking spaces directly in front of their storefronts for business activity.

What's new: The original proposal included both street patios and sidewalk cafes. City officials chose to defer the use of public sidewalks for the program in order to collect additional feedback from business owners.

The ordinance also specifies the maximum amount of parking spaces that can be used for business activity. The program will cap the number of parking spaces at three parking spaces per street patio, and two street patios per block.

Other changes include:

• Expanding program boundaries to include the full nine blocks of the downtown area

• Lengthening the pilot term from 12 to 24 months

• Keeping a flat-rate fee structure

• Relying on regulations from the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission

Williamson County officials approved a mutual-aid agreement between Bell, Burnet, Milam and Williamson counties to form a joint law enforcement task force at their Oct. 27 meeting.

What it means: Formed under Chapter 362 of the Texas Local Government Code, the agreement allows neighboring law enforcement agencies to pool resources, coordinate across county lines and respond together to major incidents.

Local officials approved the partnership to enhance public safety across county borders.

"This is a good example of local government and local law enforcement working together to keep us safer," County Judge Steve Snell said.

Sheriff's deputies can conduct investigations, make traffic stops, execute warrants and make arrests across all four participating counties during joint efforts and civil emergencies.

There is no added cost to taxpayers, according to county documents.

At her first public event since winning the Nov. 3 election, Gov.-elect Gina Hinojosa announced her initial plans for the transition between gubernatorial administrations, emphasizing her plans to work across the aisle in "building a government that is working for the people of Texas."

The overview: Hinojosa also announced the team leading her transition to the governor's office:

• Joe Madden, former chief of staff for Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo

• Former GOP state Rep. Ernest Bailes

• Ryan Pollock, executive director of the Texas State Building and Construction Trades Council

• Tamala Barksdale, a former Austin ISD trustee

Quote of note: "This is not about being a Democratic administration," she said. "I'm not going to be the governor for just Democrats—I'm going to be the governor for all the people of Texas."

One more thing: Hinojosa said Republican Gov. Greg Abbott, whom she unseated in the Nov. 3 election, had been "gracious" and expressed that his office would "fully cooperate with this transition and be helpful as they can."