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HomeMy WebLinkAbout08.19.2019Minutes of the Georgetown Commission on Aging City of Georgetown, Texas August 19, 2019 The City of Georgetown Commission on Aging met on August 19, 2019 at 6:00 p.m. at the Public Safety Facility, located at 3500 DB Wood Road, Georgetown, TX 78633. The City of Georgetown is committed to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). If you require assistance in participating at a public meeting due to a disability, as defined under the ADA, reasonable assistance, adaptations, or accommodations will be provided upon request. Please contact the City Secretary's Office, at least four (4) days prior to the scheduled meeting date, at (512) 930-3652 or City Hall at 113 East 81h Street for additional information; TTY users route through Relay Texas at 711. Regular Session (This Regular session may, at any time, be recessed to convene an Executive Session for any purpose authorized by the Open Meetings Act, Texas Government Code 551.) A. Call to Order - Past Vice -Chair, Ginny Hahn, called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. Board members Sharon Covey, Ginny Hahn, George Lourigan, Terri Michelle, Kathleen Hopkins, and Jerry Nicklen were present, with Susan Wells, Cass Wheeler absent, thus constituting a quorum (one position remaining vacant). Also present was Dan Bonner, Commission on Aging emeritus member, Linda White, Administrative Assistant, Staff Liaison support to the Commission, and Fire Chief John Sullivan, Staff Support to the Commission. Legislative Regular Agenda B. Commission on Aging roundtable discussion with City Manager, David Morgan. Discussion occurred. The Commission on Aging shared that their overall desire is to connect with the senior residents living in Georgetown in order to become more aware of their wellbeing, issues, needs, etc. Then somehow relate this information to City Management and City Council. Mr. Morgan stressed that City Management values the Commission on Aging and will be more mindful to use the Commission on Aging as a sounding board for various incentives as the City moves forward. C. Consideration and possible action to approve minutes of the meeting held on July 15, 2019 — Ginny Hahn, Past Vice -Chair. Sharon Covey made a motion to approve the minutes from the meeting held on July 15, 2019. Terri Michelle seconded the motion, which the Board was unanimous in approving the July 15, 2019 minutes. (6-0). D. Discussion and possible action of Priority Initiatives — Communication, Transportation, Dental Care, Affordable Housing, Mental Health, Legal Aid — Ginny Hahn, Past Vice -Chair. Discussed possibility of meeting in work sessions to discuss areas of interest, create structure surrounding the interest area, and then invite agencies to present to the Commission. E. Discussion of future agendas and priorities — Ginny Hahn, Past Vice -Chair. Patty Bordie, Director, Aging Services, CAPCOG, will present September. Extend invitation to Jim Johnson, President, Georgetown Chamber of Commerce. Invite Patrick Lloyd, Community Resource Coordinator, who partners with area nonprofit organization to serve seniors, residents with limited mobility, and low income families to guide residents to needed services. Commission on Aging August 19, 2019 Adjournment The next Commission meeting will be Monday, September 16, 2019 at 6:00 p.m., at the Public Safety Facility, 3500 DB Wood Road, Georgetown, Texas. The meeting adjourned at 7:24 p.m. on a motion by Terri Michelle, seconded by Jerry Nicklen, which the Board approved unanimously. (6-0) Past Vi - air, Ginny Hahn Georgetown Commission on Aging Se eta , Jerry Nic len G orgetown Commission on Aging Commission on Aging August 19, 2019 Georgetown Commission on Aging Total # of Seats: 9 # of Seats Filled: 9 # of Vacancies: 0 Board Liaison Linda White Meeting Date/rime: 3rd Monday of each month at 6:00pm Office Specialist Meeting Location: Public Safety Operations & Training Center (512) 930-3652 3500 DB Wood Road, Georgetown Linda.White@georgetown.org Seat Notes Support Staff Term Length: 2 years None John Sullivan Max Terms: 2 full terms Fire Chief (512) 930-3473 Notes: Joh n.Sull Ivan 0georgetown.ore Board Member Information Role/Criteria/Notes Appt Date Exp Date Term Oath Stmt Ethics Pub Sharon Covey Commissioner 3/1/2018 2/28/2020 1st Full 3/6/2018 3/6/2018 3/13/2018 3/6/2018 255 Whispering Wind / Senior Living Center Georgetown, TX 78633 V/ PIA Date OMA Date (512)639-1099 3/13/2018 3/13/2018 sharonacovev@aol.com Virginia Hahn Commissioner 3/1/2018 2/28/2020 2nd Full 3/6/2018 3/6/2018 3/6/2018 3/6/2018 Senior Living Other 515 Dove Hollow Trail / 3/1/2016 2/28/2018 1st Full PIA Date OMA Date Georgetown, TX 78633 v (S12)240-4323 3/9/2015 3/7/2015 hahngin@suddenlink.net Mary Kathleen Hopkins Commissioner 3/1/2019 2/28/2021 1st Full 3/7/2019 3/7/2019 3/7/2019 3/7/2019 Service Provider to Seniors 1806 Ash Street Georgetown, TX 78626 PIA Date OMA Date (512)300-1678 3/18/2019 3/18/2019 khopkins34it@gmail.com George Lourigan Commissioner 3/1/2019 2/28/2021 1st Full 3/7/2019 3/7/2019 3/7/2019 3/7/2019 406 Belmont Dr. ✓ Service provider to seniors, Business Georgetown, TX 78626 Community member PIA Date OMA Date (512)635-3329 6/13/2019 6/13/2019 iteorge@georgelourigan.com Terri Michelle 1400 Rivery Park #2106 Commissioner 4/9/2019 2/28/2021 1st Partial 6/17/2019 6/17/2019 6/17/2019 6/17/2019 Service provider to seniors; caregiver to Georgetown, TX 78628 seniors; business community PIA Date OMA Date (512)608-1158 j 5/17/2019 GeorgetownTerri @gmail.com Gerald Nicklen 201 Duck Creek Ln. Commissioner 3/1/2019 2/28/2021 1st Full 3/7/2019 3/7/2019 3/7/2019 3/7/2019 sen,i-Prwbert° Georgetown, TX 78633 PIA Date OMA Date (850)543-7776 adn@stomptherapy.com Susan Wells Co,yfTmissioner 7/9/2019 2/28/2021 Partial 1400 Rivery Dr Apt 2205 Georgetown, TX 78628 PIA Date OMA Date (713)898-1644 7/21/2019 7/21/2019 susanwells@hotmail.com Cass Wheeler Commissioner 7/9/2019 2/28/2021 Partial 30209 Hacienda Lane Georgetown, TX 78628 PIA Date OMA Date (512)818-5800 5/6/2014 5/6/2014 cass@casswheeler.com Vacant Commissioner 3/1/2019 2/28/2021 2nd Full PIA Date OMA Date World Health Organization and AARP Age -friendly Communities What It Is and Why It Was Developed In 2010 the WHO Global Network for Age -Friendly Cities and Communities was established as a response to the demographics of an aging population and increasing urbanization. The world's urban population is expected to double by 2050. Today, a ten -year -old child has a 50% chance of living beyond the age of 100. In 2012 AARP launched its World Health Organization affiliated program. Membership in the AARP network requires the cities elected leadership to commit to and actively work toward making their city a great place to live for people of all ages. Policies and practices that promote healthy aging, excellent quality of life, and a sense of well being, will enable older adults to become active participants in strengthening the city. AARP states "The network provides cities, towns, counties, and states throughout the U.S. with the resources to become more age -friendly by tapping into national and global research, planning models, and best practices." It is a long term generational process and does not happen overnight. It requires adapting services and infrastructures that are currently designed to meet the needs of the able-bodied, working population. What It Is Not Becoming an age -friendly city does not necessarily require membership in the AARP age - friendly program. (AARP application and assessment process may take a year or more. It is not just a title or a slogan) There are no membership fees. It is not just for older people. It does not demand new programs, employees, or additional funding. Mayor Bloomberg made age - friendliness a top priority in NYC and told his department heads "I'm not going to set up another program. Tell me how we can better serve older people using the resources you already have in a better way." It does not use or diminish the resources of the working and non - disabled members of the community. It is not just for the older members of the community and does not advocate setting up new social services programs that serve only the elderly. How to Make a City Age -Friendly First, the city's leaders commit to becoming a community that is friendly for all ages. The community will become engaged and plan collectively for their cities future. (Businesses, nonprofits, other community groups, and volunteers.) The main areas offocus are transportation, housing, outdoor spaces, and public buildings, social participation, respect and social inclusion, civic participation and employment, community supports and health services and communication and information. I wrote this brief overview for the Georgetown Commission on Aging meeting 8/19/2019. Sharon Covey 512 639-1099 Websites (there are many, and I have only listed a few) WHO I Towards an Age -friendly World www.who.int/ageing/ap,e-friendly-world The WHO Global Network for Age -friendly Cities and Communities was established in 2010 to connect cities, communities, and organizations worldwide with the common vision of making their community a great place to grow old in https://www.q4M.org/livable-communities/tool-kits-resources/ There is no fee to join the AARP Network of Age -Friendly States and Communities. Members of the network become part of a global network of communities that are committed to allowing their older residents to live rewarding, productive, and safe lives. The benefits of membership include: Access to a global network of participating communities, as well as aging and civil society experts, access to key information about the program, such as the latest news and information about best practices, events, results, challenges and new initiatives, opportunities for partnerships with other cities, both domestic and international, mentoring and peer -review evaluation by member cities, public recognition of the community's commitment to become more age -friendly, peaking engagements at conferences and events hosted by AARP and promotion through AARP's media channels. There is a broad array of articles, resources, and projects, as well as grantmakers trying to determine the optimal management of our aging world. Some cities are actively planning for the future and creating age -friendly communities. Portland has been doing it for over 30 years, long before the WHO and AARP initiatives. I looked at "Grantmakers in Aging" which funds age friendly projects with the Pfizer Foundation, Milkens Institute's "2014 Best Places for Sucessful Aging," and "Making Your Community Livable for All Ages" report form the National Area Agencies on Aging. One resource I subscribed to is "Next Avenue" a "part of PBS service for America's booming 50+ population." This Input Report highlights the most common recurring comments and concerns expressed by the community during the goal setting phase of the 2030 Update through two community wide events. Additional input related to housing, gateways and growth scenarios will be considered later in the comprehensive planning process. The first event, "On the Table", was held October 2, 2018 and the 2nd event was an online survey open from July to October 2018. Seven distinct themes have emerged from the input, which will be used to guide the development of the 2030 Plan Update. Those themes that address issues not being updated in this effort will be considered during future element updates. • Maintain the family -oriented, small-town feel • Continue to encourage high -quality development • Enhance citizen participation and engagement • Focus on housing and affordability • Enhance economic development opportunities • Maintain and add to the existing quality parks and recreation • Improve and diversify the transportation network OUTREACH EFFORTS At the beginning of the Update, a Public Engagement Plan was adopted which outlines goats, strategies and opportunities for the community to be involved with the Update. The On the Table Georgetown and an online survey were developed to meet the following goals of the Public Engagement Plan: • Provide participation opportunities where people are already gathered • Maximize existing networks • Facilitate as much meaningful input as possible • Gain representative participation • Remove/lower barriers to participation The flexible format of On the Table Georgetown allowed existing networks to facilitate their own discussions about the future of Georgetown. The online survey allowed the city to gain representative participation from each zip code in the planning area. Both opportunities lowered barriers to participation by allowing residents to take the survey at their convenience or host a discussion at their own homes or place of business. The next section of the report provides details of each input opportunity, the input received and the methods used to analyze the input and develop themes. "ON THE TABLE" EVENT AND INPUT OVERVIEW The City of Georgetown reviewed best practices for public engagement and implemented the "On the Table' community engagement strategy created by The Chicago Community Trust', a nonprofit organization that has worked to increase meaningful civic engagement. Instead of one traditional public meeting hosted by the City, the On the Table model allows participants to host discussions at their own home or office with friends, family, coworkers, neighborhoods, church members, or other groups of approximately 8 to 12 people, and report the information back to the City via photo, email or drop-off. The small group discussions were intended to occur all on the same day, throughout the city for a citywide public engagement day. The City hosted the citywide Engagement Day on Tuesday, October 2, 2018, which coincided with National Night Out. While community members were encouraged to participate in the exercise during that day, the toolkits were also available for input through October. To maximize existing networks, the City partnered with six key community groups: • Georgetown Independent School District Chamber of Commerce was • Southeast Georgetown Community Council att h e" Southwestern University i i �.r Georgetown Ministerial Alliance table! • Georgetown Health Foundation. A representative from each organization met in the months before the event to plan and reached out to their members to promote event participation. Each organization acted as a "Super Host" by offering meeting space to the public for discussions at certain times throughout the day at various locations. Residents were able to register to participate on the 2030 Plan Update website, which listed the times and locations of discussions o n t h e table open to the public. A promotional video was made and posted to the City's social media sites. Neighborhood representatives who Georgetown signed up for National Night Out were contacted and offered . _ information about the event. Planning staff spoke at several civic group meetings and provided details about the input opportunity. A training was held a week before the event on September 26, 2018 for any resident to get more information and for registered groups to pick up discussion materials ' More information about the development of the initiative at: hUp://onthetable.com/, Reports available from research partner University of Illinois at Chicago's Institute for Policy and Civic Engagement at: http://2017.onthetablereport.com/ "Toolkits", or handouts, to facilitate group discussions were developed and made available at the Planning Department office, via email, and download via the City's website. "Host" and "Youth" toolkits were customized for the intended participants. Each toolkit included an introduction to the comprehensive planning process, tips for facilitating a constructive meeting, a step-by-step checklist, a sign -in sheet, a list of conversation starters, and a notes page to record input. -Ee table Georgetown �_V Vre ih, .ute •a p� f�wr.4+. rXn r.+�. ...+� [o ..�u. i::.. ,,.:: :,pr. What were the mat bnpertant things d6-d at your t bW What a your groups big Wd ! Oth" r.nte,: rq[wropprr taL.:�... � Qu ��,tw Mw on/t. ...:M,ht v[to rM Gry4 �nr'e'e'tdno[at :018 Tiv<lam :a nvbtlw.W tronrally .: Fss.Ap[arOr4vrcarnn t�Lm. 0©0 Participants were prompted to discuss a series of conversation starters, which included questions such as: • What are the biggest issues our community faces? • What would you say if you were bragging on Georgetown? • What are your favorite cities and why? • What aspect of Georgetown is most important to preserve as we grow? Following a group discussion, a notetaker documented the most important takeaways and ideas from the discussion on the Notes page that was then sent back to the city via email or drop off. The notetaker was also able to enter the information digitally through an online survey tool. 3 On the Table Community Response In all, over 1,400 people participated in On the Table discussions throughout the city, collaborating in 71 groups and providing 841 unique comments. Almost half of the over 700 total city employees participated in sharing ideas for 2030. Volunteers from many departments led discussion groups throughout the day. The school district was able to facilitate discussions across grade levels, including second grade, middle school and high school classes, and also facilitated discussions with faculty and staff. Southwestern University had over 60 students participate in discussions in an effort led by the University Communications department and Student Government Association. Several large neighborhood groups in Sun City were able to host discussions during their National Night Out activities. The collective input results are shown in the following charts and graphics. r .7 4 1 l People at the table 8410,4 357 U*' comments recorded of City employees participated 071 • groups 445 Georgetown ISD participated g students and staff participants 7. Top TEN most frequently -mentioned categories Economic Development Traffic Circulation and Public Transit Housing/Affordability Urban Design Family-Oriented/Small-Town Feel - Recreation and Open Space Citizen Participation �- Historic Preservation Health and Human Services . Infrastructure What do you BRAG about Georgetown? Urban Design Familv-Oriented/Small-Town Feel ■ Recreation and Open Space Historic Preservation Events/Festivals Public Safety Public Buildings and Facilities What are your CONCERNS for Georgetown? Traffic Circulation/ Public Transit Health & Human Services What's AISSINCC in Georgetown? Train to Austin Mixed -use developmentMore jobs Better walkability3Bike lanes Middle -income hou�Jng Activities for young professionaV, Iri�tapr'o�veid infrastructure Public transportation More retail Downtown Lake development More retail near Sun city More recycling options More grocery stares Low-income housing More engagement Lake access On the Table Input Analysis To quantitatively analyze the results, the responses returned to the City were collected and entered into a spreadsheet, which coded each individual comment with a corresponding category derived from the fourteen elements of the comprehensive plan prescribed in the City's charter (e.g., economic development or housing). Five additional categories were added based on the volume of comments related to that idea. These categories were: education, general growth, family-oriented/small-town feel, diversity and events/festivals. Each comment also received a score for a general positive (+1), neutral (0), or negative (4) connotation. The responses were tallied through an overall count of references (top ten), the most positive comments (brags), and the most negative comments (concerns). A fourth type of comment received was the identification of desirable activities or developments (what's missing), which are organized generally by the font size representing the frequency of comment. The full listing of comments can be found as an appendix to this report. ONLINE SURVEY AND RESPONSES OVERVIEW The City conducted an online survey, which was open from July 20, 2018 to October 31, 2018. The survey was provided as a link on the City website's front page and advertised on social media, in weekly city news emails, and the Georgetown Reporter that went out in utility bills. The survey was also available to be taken on Wad kiosks that were placed in the Georgetown Recreation Center, Georgetown Public Library, and Georgetown Municipal Center. Survey participation was available through both kiosks and paper surveys taken to outreach events including the Music on the Square event in Downtown Georgetown, 01 the Words on Wheels mobile library and at multiple speaking engagements. The online survey questions included: 25% • Why did you choose to live in Georgetown? 78626 • What do you like most about living in Georgetown? • Which places do you visit most in Georgetown? • What is your connection to Georgetown? • If you live here, for how long? 3 3 0/( The online survey asked participants what Georgetown should look 786" like in the year 2030. This question allowed an open field for the respondent to enter their own comments. r— — 3% Other 39% 78633 Online Survey Community Response ! �� surveys taken The online survey received a total of 1,455 responses, which included 1,322 online responses and 133 responses from survey ! kiosks and printed paper surveys. The results of the input are shown in the charts below. Connection to Georgetown Live Work Out of City, but in Wi1Co Other Used to live I3% Hope to live I 1 %a What do you like most about living in Georgetown? Small Town Downtown/Sq. Community Parks Safety Friendly Sun City Family Schools �M 8 Why did you choose to live here? 1. Small Town 2. Sun City 3. Family 4. Schools 5. Proximity to Austin 6. Quality of Life 7. Employment S. Affordable 9. Round Rock 10. Low crime Which places do you visit most? Wolf Ranch 29% Restaurants 24% Grocery Stores 23% Library 16% Square 13% Gabriel Park 10% Rec Center 7% Lake 6% Trails 5% Home Depot 4% Sun City 3%, Palace Theater 3% In 2030, what should Georgetown look like? 1. Keep Small Town Traffic circulation and public transit 2. Not Round Rock General growth . 3. Effective Public Transportation 4. Improve Williams Drive 5. Improve traffic flow 6. More service to Sun City 7. Increased green space 8. Not Cedar Park 9. More affordable housing 10. Control growth Online Survey Input Analysis Family-oriented/Small-town feel Economic development Historic preservation Future land use Conservation & env. resources Infrastructure Recreation and open space Urban design *Top ten most frequently mentioned categories The online survey was created using the Survey Monkey online survey tool. Features of the tool include analyzing the most frequently used phrases to open ended questions. Bar charts and numbered lists were created to represent answers to the questions based on the Survey Monkey analysis. Survey Monkey provided a quantitative analysis of the questions except for the question, "In 2030, what should Georgetown look like?" The City ran the responses to this question through the software application WordStat that produced the most frequently occurring phrases. To provide consistency and basis for comparison, the comments were also coded in the same manner as the On the Table comments: the recorded responses were collected and entered into a spreadsheet, which coded each individual comment with a corresponding category to the fourteen elements of the comprehensive plan prescribed in the City's charter (e.g., economic development or recreation and open space). Each comment also received a score for a general positive (+1), neutral (0), or negative (-1) connotation. Five additional categories were added based on the volume of comments related to that idea. These categories were: education, general growth, family-oriented/small-town feel, diversity and events/festivals. 9 iNPUTTHEMES The following themes emerged from the public input gathered from the two input opportunities. These themes, in conjunction with additional public input received throughout the comprehensive planning process, will guide the development of this 2030 Plan Update. SMaintain the family -oriented, small-town feel 1. Given the inevitable growth of the community, it is crucial for the City to preserve this small-town feel to maintain a strong sense of community. 2. It should be a goal of the City to promote the incorporation of family -friendly development. 3. Host and promote family -oriented events. 0 Continue to encourage high -quality development 1. Residents are proud of Downtown Georgetown and its appearance. Residents love how vibrant and walkable the downtown area is and mentioned how they like the historical buildings and local shops. 2. Many residents felt that Georgetown should not reduce development standards to attract development. Instead, they felt Georgetown should maintain high development standards while still promoting more affordable development. 3. Many felt that there should be more sidewalks implemented around the City. In addition, many felt that current sidewalks should be improved. 8 Enhance citizen participation and engagement 1. Residents noted that it would be beneficial to the community to be notified as to when public events take place, allowing for greater community participation. Combining social media with more traditional forms of advertising would allow for more people to know about opportunities to provide their input. 2. Citizens explained that they would like to be better notified of the results of events involving public input. Although this information might be available to the public, residents explained that it is important to advertise it in such a way that most residents in the community are made aware. 3. Pursue more opportunities to engage the community, including utilizing school events and festivals. 4. Communicate better on future and current development happening in the community, including utilizing social media. 10 0 Focus on housing and affordability 1. Rising housing prices have aided in creating a high cost of living, increasing to the point where many residents feel as though they might not be able to live in Georgetown in the near future. 2. There is not enough variety of housing types within the City. For example, developments could be permitted in more areas of the City. 3. Many residents suggested the use of incentives to help create a more affordable community. 4. Some participants expressed concern regarding the provision of low-income housing and preferred to focus on middle -income housing. OEnhance economic development opportunities 1. Residents like the large variety of local businesses and restaurants throughout the community. Many noted that part of Downtown Georgetown's distinct charm involves the large amount of local businesses in the area. 2. Improve Georgetown's efforts to attract and accommodate younger generations. More nightlife and entertainment in Georgetown will attract college students and other younger professionals. 3. Recruit higher -paying employers/tech companies to combat the rising cost of living. 4. Develop the eastern areas of Georgetown to match the level of amenities available in other portions of the City. ® Maintain and add to the existing quality parks and recreation 1. Expand the existing trail network to connect to areas throughout Georgetown. 2. Improve access to parks and open space by allowing free entry. Many explained that Garey Park is not affordable and that all parks should be free to residents. 3. Many residents suggested an increase in the amount of open space throughout the community. More specifically, many liked the idea of adding parks to existing and future neighborhoods. OImprove and diversify the transportation network 1. Many residents expressed the need for better public transit within the City. Some residents are unaware of GoGeo transit and feel that the service should be better advertised. Conversely, others explained that they would prefer the addition of a light rail system, such as a trolley. 2. Residents desire some sort of commuter rail that runs to Austin and surrounding areas. 3. Traffic light synchronization should improve to help alleviate traffic congestion. 4. Although traffic congestion has become an issue throughout the City, many residents have explained that Williams Drive needs significant improvements. m i This Input Report highlights the most common recurring comments and concerns expressed by the community during the goal setting phase of the 2030 Update through two community wide events. Additional input related to housing, gateways and growth scenarios will be considered later in the comprehensive planning process. The first event, "On the Table", was held October 2, 2018 and the 2nd event was an online survey open from July to October 2018. Seven distinct themes have emerged from the input, which will be used to guide the development of the 2030 Plan Update. Those themes that address issues not being updated in this effort will be considered during future element updates. • Maintain the family -oriented, small-town feel • Continue to encourage high -quality development • Enhance citizen participation and engagement • Focus on housing and affordability • Enhance economic development opportunities • Maintain and add to the existing quality parks and recreation • Improve and diversify the transportation network OUTREACH EFFORTS At the beginning of the Update, a Public Engagement Plan was adopted which outlines goals, strategies and opportunities for the community to be involved with the Update. The On the Table Georgetown and an online survey were developed to meet the following goals of the Public Engagement Plan: • Provide participation opportunities where people are already gathered • Maximize existing networks • Facilitate as much meaningful input as possible • Gain representative participation • Remove/lower barriers to participation The flexible format of On the Table Georgetown allowed existing networks to facilitate their own discussions about the future of Georgetown. The online survey allowed the city to gain representative participation from each zip code in the planning area. Both opportunities lowered barriers to participation by allowing residents to take the survey at their convenience or host a discussion at their own homes or place of business. The next section of the report provides details of each input opportunity, the input received and the methods used to analyze the input and develop themes. F The City of Georgetown reviewed best practices for public engagement and implemented the "On the Table' community engagement strategy created by The Chicago Community Trust', a nonprofit organization that has worked to increase meaningful civic engagement. Instead of one traditional public meeting hosted by the City, the On the Table model allows participants to host discussions at their own home or office with friends, family, coworkers, neighborhoods, church members, or other groups of approximately 8 to 12 people, and report the information back to the City via photo, email or drop-off. The small group discussions were intended to occur all on the same day, throughout the city for a citywide public engagement day. The City hosted the citywide Engagement Day on Tuesday, October 2, 2018, which coincided with National Night Out. While community members were encouraged to participate in the exercise during that day, the toolkits were also available for input through October. To maximize existing networks, the City partnered with six key community groups: • Georgetown Independent School District Chamber of Commerce as • Southeast Georgetown Community Council • Southwestern University the i� • Georgetown Ministerial Alliance e• Georgetown Health Foundation. A representative from each organization met in the months before the event to plan and reached out to their members to promote event participation. Each organization acted as a "Super Host" by offering meeting space to the public for discussions at certain times throughout the day at various locations. Residents were able to register to participate on the 2030 Plan Update website, which listed the times and locations of discussions on the table open to the public. A promotional video was made and posted to the City's social media sites. Neighborhood representatives who Georgetown signed up for National Night Out were contacted and offered REGISTER HERE information about the event. Planning staff spoke at several civic group meetings and provided details about the input opportunity. A training was held a week before the event on September 26, 2018 for any resident to get more information and for registered groups to pick up discussion materials. ' More information about the development of the initiative at: hiW:://onthetable.com/. Reports available from research partner University of Illinois at Chicago's Institute for Policy and Civic Engagement at: http://2017.onthetablereport.com/ "Toolkits", or handouts, to facilitate group discussions were developed and made available at the Planning Department office, via email, and download via the City's website. "Host" and "Youth" toolkits were customized for the intended participants. Each toolkit included an introduction to the comprehensive planning process, tips for facilitating a constructive meeting, a step-by-step checklist, a sign -in sheet, a list of conversation starters, and a notes page to record input. ` # r - -y , - - "• What wve the mots important thus dis... d at your tahla! r What — your graup", big ideas: QK mw � o�e:t+�aro:n•,-.v: rca on qu:. gcra mrn ihs �rc-x ro cn•�Gad G-�..rvr�:'lv.„.q 0.yu;mc.i:Ni .v B'S•�� r.vix+aunProx.i 000 Participants were prompted to discuss a series of conversation starters, which included questions such as: • What are the biggest issues our community faces? • What would you say if you were bragging on Georgetown? • What are your favorite cities and why? • What aspect of Georgetown is most important to preserve as we grow? Following a group discussion, a notetaker documented the most important takeaways and ideas from the discussion on the Notes page that was then sent back to the city via email or drop off. The notetaker was also able to enter the information digitally through an online survey tool. 3 On the Table Community Response In all, over 1,400 people participated in On the Table discussions throughout the city, collaborating in 71 groups and providing 841 unique comments. Almost half of the over 700 total city employees participated in sharing ideas for 2030. Volunteers from many departments led discussion groups throughout the day. The school district was able to facilitate discussions across grade levels, including second grade, middle school and high school classes, and also facilitated discussions with faculty and staff. Southwestern University had over 60 students participate in discussions in an effort led by the University Communications department and Student Government Association. Several large neighborhood groups in Sun City were able to host discussions during their National Night Out activities. The collective input results are shown in the following charts and graphics. r "%V it =_4 'JL 4 Top TEN most frequently -mentioned categories Economic Development Traffic Circulation and Public Transit Housing/Affordability Urban Design Family-Oriented/Small-Town Feel Recreation and Open Space Citizen Participation Historic Preservation Health and Human Services Infrastructure What do you BRAG about Georgetown? Urban Design Family-Oriented/Small-Town Feel Recreation and Open Space Historic Preservation Events/Festivals Public Safety Public Buildings and Facilities What are your CONCERNS for Georgetown? Traffic Circulation/ Public Transit Health & Human Services P ousing/ Affordability W 5 What's in Georgetown? Train to Austin Mixed -use development More jobs Better walkability°Bike lanes Middle -income housing 1mpr'ogved infrastructure Public transportation More retail near Sun City More recycling options More grocery stores Low-income housing More engagement Lame access On the Table Input Analysis To quantitatively analyze the results, the responses returned to the City were collected and entered into a spreadsheet, which coded each individual comment with a corresponding category derived from the fourteen elements of the comprehensive plan prescribed in the City's charter (e.g., economic development or housing). Five additional categories were added based on the volume of comments related to that idea. These categories were: education, general growth, family-oriented/small-town feel, diversity and events/festivals. Each comment also received a score for a general positive (+1), neutral (0), or negative (-1) connotation. The responses were tallied through an overall count of references (top ten), the most positive comments (brags), and the most negative comments (concerns). A fourth type of comment received was the identification of desirable activities or developments (what's missing), which are organized generally by the font size representing the frequency of comment. The full listing of comments can be found as an appendix to this report. ONLINE SURVEY AND RESPONSES OVERVIEW The City conducted an online survey, which was open from July 20, 2018 to October 31, 2018. The survey was provided as a link on the City website s front page and advertised on social media, in weekly city news emails, and the Georgetown Reporter that went out in utility bills. The survey was also available to be taken on iPad kiosks that were placed in the Georgetown Recreation Center, Georgetown Public Library, and Georgetown Municipal Center. Survey participation was available through both kiosks and paper surveys taken to outreach events including the Music on the Square event in Downtown Georgetown, s a t the Words on Wheels mobile library and at multiple speaking engagements. The online survey questions included: • Why did you choose to live in Georgetown? • What do you like most about living in Georgetown? • Which places do you visit most in Georgetown? • What is your connection to Georgetown? • If you live here, for how long? The online survey asked participants what Georgetown should look like in the year 2030. This question allowed an open field for the respondent to enter their own comments. Online Survey Community Response The online survey received a total of 1,455 responses, which included 1,322 online responses and 133 responses from survey kiosks and printed paper surveys. The results of the input are shown in the charts below. 7 Connection to Georgetown Live Work Out of City, but in WilCo Other Used to live 1 3% Hope to live j 1 % What do you like most about living in Georgetown? Small Town Downtown/Sq. M 1: Community �■� Parks Safety Friendly Sun City Family M Schools 1 Why did you choose to live here? 1. Small Town 2. Sun City 3. Family 4. Schools 5. Proximity to Austin 6. Quality of Life 7. Employment 8. Affordable 9. Round Rock 10. Low crime Which places do you visit most? Wolf Ranch Restaurants Grocery Stores Library Square Gabriel Park Rec Center Lake Trails Home Depot Sun City Palace Theater 29% 24% 23% 16% 13% 10% 7% 6% 5% 4% 3% 3% 8 In 2030, what should Georgetown look like? 1. Keep Small Town 2. Not Round Rock 3. Effective Public Transportation 4. Improve Williams Drive 5. Improve traffic flow 6. More service to Sun City 7. Increased green space 8. Not Cedar Park 9. More affordable housing 10. Control growth Online Survey input Analysis Traffic circulation and public transit General growth Family-oriented/Small-town feel Economic development Historic preservation Future land use Conservation & env. resources Infrastructure Recreation and open space Urban design *Top ten most frequently mentioned categories The online survey was created using the Survey Monkey online survey tool. Features of the tool include analyzing the most frequently used phrases to open ended questions. Bar charts and numbered lists were created to represent answers to the questions based on the Survey Monkey analysis. Survey Monkey provided a quantitative analysis of the questions except for the question, "In 2030, what should Georgetown look like?" The City ran the responses to this question through the software application WordStat that produced the most frequently occurring phrases. To provide consistency and basis for comparison, the comments were also coded in the same manner as the On the Table comments: the recorded responses were collected and entered into a spreadsheet, which coded each individual comment with a corresponding category to the fourteen elements of the comprehensive plan prescribed in the City's charter (e.g., economic development or recreation and open space). Each comment also received a score for a general positive (+1), neutral (0), or negative (4) connotation. Five additional categories were added based on the volume of comments related to that idea. These categories were: education, general growth, family-oriented/small-town feel, diversity and events/festivals. 9 INPUT THEMES The following themes emerged from the public input gathered from the two input opportunities. These themes, in conjunction with additional public input received throughout the comprehensive planning process, will guide the development of this 2030 Plan Update. & Maintain the family -oriented, small-town feel 1. Given the inevitable growth of the community, it is crucial for the City to preserve this small-town feel to maintain a strong sense of community. 2. It should be a goal of the City to promote the incorporation of family -friendly development. 3. Host and promote family -oriented events. 0 Continue to encourage high -quality development Residents are proud of Downtown Georgetown and its appearance. Residents love how vibrant and walkable the downtown area is and mentioned how they like the historical buildings and local shops. 2. Many residents felt that Georgetown should not reduce development standards to attract development. Instead, they felt Georgetown should maintain high development standards while still promoting more affordable development. 3. Many felt that there should be more sidewalks implemented around the City. In addition, many felt that current sidewalks should be improved. 8 Enhance citizen participation and engagement 1. Residents noted that it would be beneficial to the community to be notified as to when public events take place, allowing for greater community participation. Combining social media with more traditional forms of advertising would allow for more people to know about opportunities to provide their input. 2. Citizens explained that they would like to be better notified of the results of events involving public input. Although this information might be available to the public, residents explained that it is important to advertise it in such a way that most residents in the community are made aware. 3. Pursue more opportunities to engage the community, including utilizing school events and festivals. 4. Communicate better on future and current development happening in the community, including utilizing social media. 10 0 Focus on housing and affordability 1. Rising housing prices have aided in creating a high cost of living, increasing to the point where many residents feel as though they might not be able to live in Georgetown in the near future. 2. There is not enough variety of housing types within the City. For example, developments could be permitted in more areas of the City. 3. Many residents suggested the use of incentives to help create a more affordable community. 4. Some participants expressed concern regarding the provision of low-income housing and preferred to focus on middle -income housing. Enhance economic development opportunities 1. Residents like the large variety of local businesses and restaurants throughout the community. Many noted that part of Downtown Georgetown's distinct charm involves the large amount of local businesses in the area. 2. Improve Georgetown's efforts to attract and accommodate younger generations. More nightlife and entertainment in Georgetown will attract college students and other younger professionals. 3. Recruit higher -paying employers/tech companies to combat the rising cost of living. 4. Develop the eastern areas of Georgetown to match the level of amenities available in other portions of the City. (:) Maintain and add to the existing quality parks and recreation 1. Expand the existing trail network to connect to areas throughout Georgetown. 2. Improve access to parks and open space by allowing free entry. Many explained that Garey Park is not affordable and that all parks should be free to residents. 3. Many residents suggested an increase in the amount of open space throughout the community. More specifically, many liked the idea of adding parks to existing and future neighborhoods. GImprove and diversify the transportation network 1. Many residents expressed the need for better public transit within the City. Some residents are unaware of GoGeo transit and feel that the service should be better advertised. Conversely, others explained that they would prefer the addition of a light rail system, such as a trolley. 2. Residents desire some sort of commuter rail that runs to Austin and surrounding areas. 3. Traffic light synchronization should improve to help alleviate traffic congestion. 4. Although traffic congestion has become an issue throughout the City, many residents have explained that Williams Drive needs significant improvements. UL This Input Report highlights the most common recurring comments and concerns expressed by the community during the goal setting phase of the 2030 Update through two community wide events. Additional input related to housing, gateways and growth scenarios will be considered later in the comprehensive planning process. The first event, "On the Table', was held October 2, 2018 and the 2nd event was an online survey open from July to October 2018. Seven distinct themes have emerged from the input, which will be used to guide the development of the 2030 Plan Update. Those themes that address issues not being updated in this effort will be considered during future element updates. • Maintain the family -oriented, small-town feel • Continue to encourage high -quality development • Enhance citizen participation and engagement • Focus on housing and affordability • Enhance economic development opportunities • Maintain and add to the existing quality parks and recreation • Improve and diversify the transportation network OUTREACH EFFORTS At the beginning of the Update, a Public Engagement Plan was adopted which outlines goals, strategies and opportunities for the community to be involved with the Update. The On the Table Georgetown and an online survey were developed to meet the following goals of the Public Engagement Plan: • Provide participation opportunities where people are already gathered • Maximize existing networks • Facilitate as much meaningful input as possible • Gain representative participation • Remove/lower barriers to participation The flexible format of On the Table Georgetown allowed existing networks to facilitate their own discussions about the future of Georgetown. The online survey allowed the city to gain representative participation from each zip code in the planning area. Both opportunities lowered barriers to participation by allowing residents to take the survey at their convenience or host a discussion at their own homes or place of business. The next section of the report provides details of each input opportunity, the input received and the methods used to analyze the input and develop themes. "ON THE TABLE" EVENT AND INPUT OVERVIEW The City of Georgetown reviewed best practices for public engagement and implemented the "On the Table" community engagement strategy created by The Chicago Community Trust', a nonprofit organization that has worked to increase meaningful civic engagement. Instead of one traditional public meeting hosted by the City, the On the Table model allows participants to host discussions at their own home or office with friends, family, coworkers, neighborhoods, church members, or other groups of approximately 8 to 12 people, and report the information back to the City via photo, email or drop-off. The small group discussions were intended to occur all on the same day, throughout the city for a citywide public engagement day. The City hosted the citywide Engagement Day on Tuesday, October 2, 2018, which coincided with National Night Out. While community members were encouraged to participate in the exercise during that day, the toolkits were also available for input through October. To maximize existing networks, the City partnered with six key community groups: • Georgetown Independent School District • Chamber of Commerce was• Southeast Georgetown Community Council Southwestern University.r e Georgetown Ministerial Alliance • Georgetown Health Foundation. eel. A representative from each organization met in the months before the event to plan and reached out to their members to promote event participation. Each organization acted as a "Super Host" by offering meeting space to the public for discussions at certain times throughout the day at various locations. Residents were able to register to participate on the 2030 Plan Update website, which listed the times and locations of discussions On the table open to the public. A promotional video was made and posted to the City's social media sites. Neighborhood representatives who Georgetown signed up for National Night Out were contacted and offered REGISTER HERE information about the event. Planning staff spoke at several civic group meetings and provided details about the input opportunity. A training was held a week before the event on September 26, 2018 for any resident to get more information and for registered groups to pick up discussion materials. ' More information about the development of the initiative at: http://onthetable.com/, Reports available from research partner University of Illinois at Chicago's Institute for Policy and Civic Engagement at: http://2017.onthetablereport.com/ "Toolkits", or handouts, to facilitate group discussions were developed and made available at the Planning Department office, via email, and download via the City's website. "Host" and "Youth" toolkits were customized for the intended participants. Each toolkit included an introduction to the comprehensive planning process, tips for facilitating a constructive meeting, a step-by-step checklist, a sign -in sheet, a list of conversation starters, and a notes page to record input. IzLemI�- ,. — . n , , What were the most impasant thus dktussed at your table? What a- yo S-W', big idoass Ott r notes: Q✓ ROL �.re ctnnn a m:n r..u,MO G•y u �.'IW<. uGn�• rha ars:� ra :M Cary a _ G.vxr. �: D.vo r;b4N rs .� r�o�xn slur G.rn.e.r w.8 000 Participants were prompted to discuss a series of conversation starters, which included questions such as: • What are the biggest issues our community faces? • What would you say if you were bragging on Georgetown? • What are your favorite cities and why? • What aspect of Georgetown is most important to preserve as we grow? Following a group discussion, a notetaker documented the most important takeaways and ideas from the discussion on the Notes page that was then sent back to the city via email or drop off. The notetaker was also able to enter the information digitally through an online survey tool. 3 On the Table Community Response In all, over 1,400 people participated in On the Table discussions throughout the city, collaborating in 71 groups and providing 841 unique comments. Almost half of the over 700 total city employees participated in sharing ideas for 2030. Volunteers from many departments led discussion groups throughout the day. The school district was able to facilitate discussions across grade levels, including second grade, middle school and high school classes, and also facilitated discussions with faculty and staff. Southwestern University had over 60 students participate in discussions in an effort led by the University Communications department and Student Government Association. Several large neighborhood groups in Sun City were able to host discussions during their National Night Out activities. The collective input results are shown in the following charts and graphics. 4 Top TEN most frequently -mentioned categories Economic Development Traffic Circulation and Public Transit Housing/Affordability Urban Design Family-Oriented/Small-Town Feel �. Recreation and Open Space Citizen Participation �. Historic Preservation Health and Human Services Infrastructure What do you BRAG about Georgetown? Urban Design Family-Oriented/Small-Town Feel , Recreation and Open Space Historic Preservation Events/Festivals Public Safety Public Buildings and Facilities What are your CONCERNS for Georgetown? Traffic Circulation/ Public Transit Health & Human Services Ifty N7 What's 'MISSING in Georgetown? Train to Austin Mixed -use development More jobs Better walkability'Bike lanes Middle -income dousing Activities for young Pr`-'E sio= _It Ir�i`apr'o3ved infrastructure Public transportation More retail near Sun City More recycling options More grocery stores Low-income housing More engagement s On the Table Input Analysis To quantitatively analyze the results, the responses returned to the City were collected and entered into a spreadsheet, which coded each individual comment with a corresponding category derived from the fourteen elements of the comprehensive plan prescribed in the City's charter (e.g., economic development or housing). Five additional categories were added based on the volume of comments related to that idea. These categories were: education, general growth, family-oriented/small-town feel, diversity and events/festivals. Each comment also received a score for a general positive (+1), neutral (0), or negative (4) connotation. The responses were tallied through an overall count of references (top ten), the most positive comments (brags), and the most negative comments (concerns). A fourth type of comment received was the identification of desirable activities or developments (what's missing), which are organized generally by the font size representing the frequency of comment. The full listing of comments can be found as an appendix to this report. ONLINE SURVEY AND RESPONSES OVERVIEW The City conducted an online survey, which was open from July 20, 2018 to October 31, 2018. The survey was provided as a link on the City website's front page and advertised on social media, in weekly city news emails, and the Georgetown Reporter that went out in utility bills. The survey was also available to be taken on iPad kiosks that were placed in the Georgetown Recreation Center, Georgetown Public Library, and Georgetown Municipal Center. Survey participation was available through both kiosks and paper surveys taken to outreach events including the Music on the Square event in Downtown Georgetown, the Words on Wheels mobile library and at multiple speaking engagements. The online survey questions included: • Why did you choose to live in Georgetown? • What do you like most about living in Georgetown? • Which places do you visit most in Georgetown? • What is your connection to Georgetown? • If you live here, for how long? The online survey asked participants what Georgetown should look like in the year 2030. This question allowed an open field for the respondent to enter their own comments. Online Survey Community Response The online survey received a total of 1,455 responses, which included 1,322 online responses and 133 responses from survey kiosks and printed paper surveys. The results of the input are shown in the charts below. Connection to Georgetown Live Work Out of City, but in Wi1Co M. Other 1: Used to live 3% Hope to live i 1 % What do you like most about living in Georgetown? Small Town Downtown/Sq. Community Parks Safety Friendly Sun City Family Schools Why did you choose to live here? 1. Small Town 2. Sun City 3. Family 4. Schools 5. Proximity to Austin 6. Quality of Life 7. Employment S. Affordable 9. Round Rock 10. Low crime Which places do you visit most? Wolf Ranch 29% Restaurants 24% Grocery Stores 23% Library 16% Square 13% Gabriel Park 10% Rec Center 7% Lake 6% Trails 5% Home Depot 4% Sun City 3% Palace Theater 3% 8 In 2030, what should Georgetown look like? 1. Keep Small Town Traffic circulation and public transit 2. Not Round Rock General growth 3. Effective Public Transportation 4. Improve Williams Drive 5. Improve traffic flow 6. More service to Sun City 7. Increased green space 8. Not Cedar Park 9. More affordable housing 10. Control growth Online Survey Input Analysis Family-oriented/Small-town feel Economic development Historic preservation Future land use Conservation & env. resources Infrastructure Recreation and open space Urban design *Top ten most frequently mentioned categories The online survey was created using the Survey Monkey online survey tool. Features of the tool include analyzing the most frequently used phrases to open ended questions. Bar charts and numbered lists were created to represent answers to the questions based on the Survey Monkey analysis. Survey Monkey provided a quantitative analysis of the questions except for the question, "In 2030, what should Georgetown look like?" The City ran the responses to this question through the software application WordStat that produced the most frequently occurring phrases. To provide consistency and basis for comparison, the comments were also coded in the same manner as the On the Table comments: the recorded responses were collected and entered into a spreadsheet, which coded each individual comment with a corresponding category to the fourteen elements of the comprehensive plan prescribed in the City's charter (e.g., economic development or recreation and open space). Each comment also received a score for a general positive (+1), neutral (0), or negative (-1) connotation. Five additional categories were added based on the volume of comments related to that idea. These categories were: education, general growth, family-oriented/small-town feel, diversity and events/festivals. E INPUT THEMES The following themes emerged from the public input gathered from the two input opportunities. These themes, in conjunction with additional public input received throughout the comprehensive planning process, will guide the development of this 2030 Plan Update. 8 Maintain the family -oriented, small-town feel 1. Given the inevitable growth of the community, it is crucial for the City to preserve this small-town feel to maintain a strong sense of community. 2. It should be a goal of the City to promote the incorporation of family -friendly development. 3. Host and promote family -oriented events. 0 Continue to encourage high -quality development 1. Residents are proud of Downtown Georgetown and its appearance. Residents love how vibrant and walkable the downtown area is and mentioned how they like the historical buildings and local shops. 2. Many residents felt that Georgetown should not reduce development standards to attract development. Instead, they felt Georgetown should maintain high development standards while still promoting more affordable development. 3. Many felt that there should be more sidewalks implemented around the City. In addition, many felt that current sidewalks should be improved. 8 Enhance citizen participation and engagement 1. Residents noted that it would be beneficial to the community to be notified as to when public events take place, allowing for greater community participation. Combining social media with more traditional forms of advertising would allow for more people to know about opportunities to provide their input. 2. Citizens explained that they would like to be better notified of the results of events involving public input. Although this information might be available to the public, residents explained that it is important to advertise it in such a way that most residents in the community are made aware. 3. Pursue more opportunities to engage the community, including utilizing school events and festivals. 4. Communicate better on future and current development happening in the community, including utilizing social media. 10 0 Focus on housing and affordability 1. Rising housing prices have aided in creating a high cost of living, increasing to the point where many residents feel as though they might not be able to live in Georgetown in the near future. 2. There is not enough variety of housing types within the City. For example, developments could be permitted in more areas of the City. 3. Many residents suggested the use of incentives to help create a more affordable community. 4. Some participants expressed concern regarding the provision of low-income housing and preferred to focus on middle -income housing. 9 Enhance economic development opportunities 1. Residents like the large variety of local businesses and restaurants throughout the community. Many noted that part of Downtown Georgetown's distinct charm involves the large amount of local businesses in the area. 2. Improve Georgetown's efforts to attract and accommodate younger generations. More nightlife and entertainment in Georgetown will attract college students and other younger professionals. 3. Recruit higher -paying employers/tech companies to combat the rising cost of living. 4. Develop the eastern areas of Georgetown to match the level of amenities available in other portions of the City. �J Maintain and add to the existing quality parks and recreation 1. Expand the existing trail network to connect to areas throughout Georgetown. 2. Improve access to parks and open space by allowing free entry. Many explained that Garey Park is not affordable and that all parks should be free to residents. 3. Many residents suggested an increase in the amount of open space throughout the community. More specifically, many liked the idea of adding parks to existing and future neighborhoods. (9 Improve and diversify the transportation network 1. Many residents expressed the need for better public transit within the City. Some residents are unaware of GoGeo transit and feel that the service should be better advertised. Conversely, others explained that they would prefer the addition of a light rail system, such as a trolley. 2. Residents desire some sort of commuter rail that runs to Austin and surrounding areas. 3. Traffic light synchronization should improve to help alleviate traffic congestion. 4. Although traffic congestion has become an issue throughout the City, many residents have explained that Williams Drive needs significant improvements. IE This Input Report highlights the most common recurring comments and concerns expressed by the community during the goal setting phase of the 2030 Update through two community wide events. Additional input related to housing, gateways and growth scenarios will be considered later in the comprehensive planning process. The first event, "On the Table', was held October 2, 2018 and the 2nd event was an online survey open from July to October 2018. Seven distinct themes have emerged from the input, which will be used to guide the development of the 2030 Plan Update. Those themes that address issues not being updated in this effort will be considered during future element updates. • Maintain the family -oriented, small-town feel • Continue to encourage high -quality development • Enhance citizen participation and engagement • Focus on housing and affordability • Enhance economic development opportunities • Maintain and add to the existing quality parks and recreation • Improve and diversify the transportation network OUTREACH EFFORTS At the beginning of the Update, a Public Engagement Plan was adopted which outlines goals, strategies and opportunities for the community to be involved with the Update. The On the Table Georgetown and an online survey were developed to meet the following goals of the Public Engagement Plan: • Provide participation opportunities where people are already gathered • Maximize existing networks • Facilitate as much meaningful input as possible • Gain representative participation • Remove/lower barriers to participation The flexible format of On the Table Georgetown allowed existing networks to facilitate their own discussions about the future of Georgetown. The online survey allowed the city to gain representative participation from each zip code in the planning area. Both opportunities lowered barriers to participation by allowing residents to take the survey at their convenience or host a discussion at their own homes or place of business. The next section of the report provides details of each input opportunity, the input received and the methods used to analyze the input and develop themes. 1 "ON THE TABLE" EVENT AND INPUT OVERVIEW The City of Georgetown reviewed best practices for public engagement and implemented the "On the Table' community engagement strategy created by The Chicago Community Trust', a nonprofit organization that has worked to increase meaningful civic engagement. Instead of one traditional public meeting hosted by the City, the On the Table model allows participants to host discussions at their own home or office with friends, family, coworkers, neighborhoods, church members, or other groups of approximately 8 to 12 people, and report the information back to the City via photo, email or drop-off. The small group discussions were intended to occur all on the same day, throughout the city for a citywide public engagement day. The City hosted the citywide Engagement Day on Tuesday, October 2, 2018, which coincided with National Night Out. While community members were encouraged to participate in the exercise during that day, the toolkits were also available for input through October. To maximize existing networks, the City partnered with six key community groups: • Georgetown Independent School District v ��v • Chamber of Commerce W �' "0 Southeast Georgetown Community Council _ ess♦ .� • Southwestern University IC • Georgetown Ministerial Alliance • Georgetown Health Foundation. A representative from each organization met in the months before the event to plan and reached out to their members to promote event participation. Each organization acted as a "Super Host" by offering meeting space to the public for discussions at certain times throughout the day at various locations. Residents were able to register to participate on the 2030 Plan Update website, which listed the times and locations of discussions on the table open to the public. A promotional video was made and posted to Georgetown '''' the City's social media sites. Neighborhood representatives who G e o rg e } !. o w n signed up for National Night Out were contacted and offered REGISTER HERE information about the event. Planning staff spoke at several civic group meetings and provided details about the input opportunity. A training was held a week before the event on September 26, 2018 for any resident to get more information and for registered groups to pick up discussion materials. ' More information about the development of the initiative at: hqp://onthetable.com/, Reports available from research partner University of Illinois at Chicago's Institute for Policy and Civic Engagement at: http://2017.onthetablereport.com/ "Toolkits", or handouts, to facilitate group discussions were developed and made available at the Planning Department office, via email, and download via the City's website. "Host" and "Youth" toolkits were customized for the intended participants. Each toolkit included an introduction to the comprehensive planning process, tips for facilitating a constructive meeting, a step-by-step checklist, a sign -in sheet, a list of conversation starters, and a notes page to record input. j� `* 'if, Participants were prompted to discuss a series of conversation starters, which included questions such as: • What are the biggest issues our community faces? • What would you say if you were bragging on Georgetown? • What are your favorite cities and why? • What aspect of Georgetown is most important to preserve as we grow? Following a group discussion, a notetaker documented the most important takeaways and ideas from the discussion on the Notes page that was then sent back to the city via email or drop off. The notetaker was also able to enter the information digitally through an online survey tool. 3 0 On the Tabie Community Response In all, over 1,400 people participated in On the Table discussions throughout the city, collaborating in 71 groups and providing 841 unique comments. Almost half of the over 700 total city employees participated in sharing ideas for 2030. Volunteers from many departments led discussion groups throughout the day. The school district was able to facilitate discussions across grade levels, including second grade, middle school and high school classes, and also facilitated discussions with faculty and staff. Southwestern University had over 60 students participate in discussions in an effort led by the University Communications department and Student Government Association. Several large neighborhood groups in Sun City were able to host discussions during their National Night Out activities. The collective input results are shown in the following charts and graphics. y Top most frequently -mentioned categories Economic Development Traffic Circulation and Public Transit Housing/Affordability Urban Design Family-Oriented/Small-Town Feel Recreation and Open Space Citizen Participation Historic Preservation Health and Human Services Infrastructure What do you BRAG about Georgetown? Urban Design Family-Oriented/Small-Town Feel Recreation and Open Space Historic Preservation Events/Festivals Public Safety Public Buildings and Facilities What are your CONCERNS for Georgetown? Traffic Circulation/ Public Transit Health 8 Human Services Housing/ Affordability UN 5 What's `rAIS�; in Georgetown? Train to Austin Mixed -use development More jobs Better walkability'Bike lanes Middle -income housing Activities for young profess ,..,-. 1ri�`apr'osved infrastructure Public transportation More retail near Sun City More recycling options More grocery stores Low-income hous,ng More engagement Lake access On the Table Input Analysis To quantitatively analyze the results, the responses returned to the City were collected and entered into a spreadsheet, which coded each individual comment with a corresponding category derived from the fourteen elements of the comprehensive plan prescribed in the City's charter (e.g., economic development or housing). Five additional categories were added based on the volume of comments related to that idea. These categories were: education, general growth, family-oriented/small-town feel, diversity and events/festivals. Each comment also received a score for a general positive (+1), neutral (0), or negative (-1) connotation. The responses were tallied through an overall count of references (top ten), the most positive comments (brags), and the most negative comments (concerns). A fourth type of comment received was the identification of desirable activities or developments (what's missing), which are organized generally by the font size representing the frequency of comment. The full listing of comments can be found as an appendix to this report. ONLINE SURVEY AND RESPONSES OVERVIEW The City conducted an online survey, which was open from July 20, 2018 to October 31, 2018. The survey was provided as a link on the City website's front page and advertised on social media, in weekly city news emails, and the Georgetown Reporter that went out in utility bills. The survey was also available to be taken on iPad kiosks that were placed in the Georgetown Recreation Center, Georgetown Public Library, and Georgetown Municipal Center. Survey participation was available through both kiosks and paper surveys taken to outreach events including the Music on the Square event in Downtown Georgetown, the Words on Wheels mobile library and at multiple speaking engagements. The online survey questions included: • Why did you choose to live in Georgetown? • What do you like most about living in Georgetown? • Which places do you visit most in Georgetown? • What is your connection to Georgetown? • If you live here, for how long? The online survey asked participants what Georgetown should look like in the year 2030. This question allowed an open field for the respondent to enter their own comments. Online Survey Community Response The online survey received a total of 1,455 responses, which included 1,322 online responses and 133 responses from survey kiosks and printed paper surveys. The results of the input are shown in the charts below. Connection to Georgetown Live Work Out of City, but in Wi1Co Other Used to live 3% Hope to live i 1 % What do you like most about living in Georgetown? Small Town Downtown/Sq. Community Parks Safety Friendly Sun City Family Schools Why did you choose to live here? 1. Small Town 2. Sun City 3. Family 4. Schools 5. Proximity to Austin 6. Quality of Life 7. Employment 8. Affordable 9. Round Rock 10. Low crime Which places do you visit most? Wolf Ranch 29% Restaurants 24% Grocery Stores 23% Library 16% Square 13% Gabriel Park 10% Rec Center 7% Lake 6% Trails 5% Home Depot 4% Sun City 3% Palace Theater 3% 8 In 2030, what should Georgetown look like? 1. Keep Small Town 2. Not Round Rock 3. Effective Public Transportation 4. Improve Williams Drive 5. Improve traffic flow 6. More service to Sun City 7. Increased green space 8. Not Cedar Park 9. More affordable housing 10. Control growth Online Survey Input Analysis Traffic circulation and public transit General growth Family-oriented/Small-town feel Economic development Historic preservation Future land use Conservation & env. resources Infrastructure Recreation and open space Urban design *Top ten most frequently mentioned categories The online survey was created using the Survey Monkey online survey tool. Features of the tool include analyzing the most frequently used phrases to open ended questions. Bar charts and numbered lists were created to represent answers to the questions based on the Survey Monkey analysis. Survey Monkey provided a quantitative analysis of the questions except for the question, "In 2030, what should Georgetown look like?" The City ran the responses to this question through the software application WordStat that produced the most frequently occurring phrases. To provide consistency and basis for comparison, the comments were also coded in the same manner as the On the Table comments: the recorded responses were collected and entered into a spreadsheet, which coded each individual comment with a corresponding category to the fourteen elements of the comprehensive plan prescribed in the City's charter (e.g., economic development or recreation and open space). Each comment also received a score for a general positive (+1), neutral (0), or negative (-1) connotation. Five additional categories were added based on the volume of comments related to that idea. These categories were: education, general growth, family-oriented/small-town feel, diversity and events/festivals. 9 INPUT THEMES The following themes emerged from the public input gathered from the two input opportunities. These themes, in conjunction with additional public input received throughout the comprehensive planning process, will guide the development of this 2030 Plan Update. Maintain the family -oriented, small-town feel 1. Given the inevitable growth of the community, it is crucial for the City to preserve this small-town feel to maintain a strong sense of community. 2. It should be a goal of the City to promote the incorporation of family -friendly development. 3. Host and promote family -oriented events. Continue to encourage high -quality development 1. Residents are proud of Downtown Georgetown and its appearance. Residents love how vibrant and walkable the downtown area is and mentioned how they like the historical buildings and local shops. 2. Many residents felt that Georgetown should not reduce development standards to attract development. Instead, they felt Georgetown should maintain high development standards while still promoting more affordable development. 3. Many felt that there should be more sidewalks implemented around the City. In addition, many felt that current sidewalks should be improved. Enhance citizen participation and engagement 8 1. Residents noted that it would be beneficial to the community to be notified as to when public events take place, allowing for greater community participation. Combining social media with more traditional forms of advertising would allow for more people to know about opportunities to provide their input. 2. Citizens explained that they would like to be better notified of the results of events involving public input. Although this information might be available to the public, residents explained that it is important to advertise it in such a way that most residents in the community are made aware. 3. Pursue more opportunities to engage the community, including utilizing school events and festivals. 4. Communicate better on future and current development happening in the community, including utilizing social media. 10 0 Focus on housing and affordability 1. Rising housing prices have aided in creating a high cost of living, increasing to the point where many residents feel as though they might not be able to live in Georgetown in the near future. 2. There is not enough variety of housing types within the City. For example, developments could be permitted in more areas of the City. 3. Many residents suggested the use of incentives to help create a more affordable community. 4. Some participants expressed concern regarding the provision of low-income housing and preferred to focus on middle -income housing. SEnhance economic development opportunities 1. Residents like the large variety of local businesses and restaurants throughout the community. Many noted that part of Downtown Georgetown's distinct charm involves the large amount of local businesses in the area. 2. Improve Georgetown's efforts to attract and accommodate younger generations. More nightlife and entertainment in Georgetown will attract college students and other younger professionals. 3. Recruit higher -paying employers/tech companies to combat the rising cost of living. 4. Develop the eastern areas of Georgetown to match the level of amenities available in other portions of the City. (�) Maintain and add to the existing quality parks and recreation 1. Expand the existing trail network to connect to areas throughout Georgetown. 2. Improve access to parks and open space by allowing free entry. Many explained that Garey Park is not affordable and that all parks should be free to residents. 3. Many residents suggested an increase in the amount of open space throughout the community. More specifically, many liked the idea of adding parks to existing and future neighborhoods. GImprove and diversify the transportation network 1. Many residents expressed the need for better public transit within the City. Some residents are unaware of GoGeo transit and feel that the service should be better advertised. Conversely, others explained that they would prefer the addition of a light rail system, such as a trolley. 2. Residents desire some sort of commuter rail that runs to Austin and surrounding areas. 3. Traffic light synchronization should improve to help alleviate traffic congestion. 4. Although traffic congestion has become an issue throughout the City, many residents have explained that Williams Drive needs significant improvements. m