Georgetown is moving forward with its Urban Forest Master Plan after council members heard an update from Chief Development Officer Kelly Trietsch on May 12. The plan seeks to preserve and plant trees in the city as well as create guidelines for tree planting to ensure they grow.

In a nutshell: The proposed master plan will include a tree canopy assessment to establish a baseline of the city's current tree coverage, as well as tree inventories focusing on publicly owned property.

Part of the plan will also detail the benefits of urban forestry, and the city hopes to develop strategies for wildfire mitigation and address environmental threats to Georgetown’s tree population.

What else? The city will finalize a request for proposals for contractors in July and advertise it in August, aiming for a final contract approval by October, Trietsch said. Officials will determine a budget to develop the master plan after receiving bids.

Funding for the plan comes from the tree mitigation fund. 

Georgetown residents east of I-35 can pick up flavored tea from HTeaO and will soon have a new coffee shop with the arrival of Perky Beans. Additionally, several eateries are moving into The Junction entertainment development.

HTeaO
The Westinghouse Road franchise is owned and operated by Marco Mussi. HTeaO offers more than 20 flavors of sweet and unsweet iced tea made daily, including options like sweet Georgia peach, mango fresco, coconut and mint.

• Opened April 30
• 1015 Westinghouse Road, Georgetown

• Opening in mid-June
• 2651 E. University Ave., Georgetown

• Opening Aug. 18
• 210 Blue Springs Blvd., Georgetown

Check out the latest transportation project updates across the Austin metro. 

Upcoming projects
MoPac South expansion
Project: The project features a number of express lanes along the 8.7-mile stretch from Cesar Chavez Street to Slaughter Lane in Austin, alongside shared-use paths and pedestrian crossings, according to the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority.
Update: Public comment on the proposed project closed May 3. West Lake Hills and Rollingwood officials issued a conditional letter of support for the project in April.

• Timeline: TBD
• Cost: $825 million
• Funding source: TBD

• Timeline: 2025-27
• Cost: $7 million
• Funding source: city of Leander certificates of obligation bonds

Dozens of federal, state and local primary campaigns will come to a close May 26 as Texas voters cast ballots in the Republican and Democratic runoff elections.

How it works: Texas held its primary elections in March, with some races advancing to an overtime round, known as a runoff, after no single candidate picked up more than half of the vote.

On May 26, voters may see statewide offices, state legislative seats, redrawn congressional districts, the State Board of Education and county-level positions on their ballots. The winner of each runoff race will appear on the Nov. 3 ballot.

At the polls: Polling places across Texas will be open from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. May 26. Voters in the following counties in Community Impact’s coverage areas can vote at any polling location within their county of residence: Bastrop, Bexar, Brazoria, Brazos, Collin, Comal, Fort Bend, Galveston, Guadalupe, Harris, Hays, Tarrant, Travis and Williamson.

Registered voters in other counties are required to visit a polling place specific to their voting precinct.