City Manager’s Weekly Report
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Robert Ranc, City Manager
February 23, 2024
UPCOMING EVENTS
February 29: City of Celina/Celina ISD Town Hall Meeting (6:30 PM, Celina High School)
March 1: Friday Night Market (6:00 PM, Downtown Square)
March 7: City Council Meeting (5:00 PM, Council Chambers)
March 10: Nothem Way Street Dedication (2:00 PM, Sutton Fields)
March 21: City Employees Awards Ceremony (11:30 AM, Two29 on the Square)
March 23: Wine Crawl (6:00 PM, Downtown Square)
March 30: Easter Egg Hunt (9:00 AM, Old Celina Park)
CITY UPDATES
UPCOMING TOWN HALL MEETING
The City of Celina and Celina ISD will host a joint Town Hall Meeting on Thursday, February 29, at the Celina High School Auditorium beginning at 6:30 PM. This event will allow residents to learn more about the most critical aspects of the community from Celina Mayor Ryan Tubbs and Celina ISD Superintendent Dr. Tom Maglisceau.
In January, business community leaders gathered at the athletics facility at Bobcat Stadium and first heard this year’s “State of the City” report. The Town Hall Meeting at Celina High School will give every resident a chance to experience the same presentations and to interact with those leading these important entities into Celina’s robust future. Celina High School is located at 3455 North Preston Road, and the auditorium is located on the north end of the campus. Parking is available near the entrance to the auditorium.
NOTHEM WAY STREET DEDICATION
The City of Celina is set to honor Officer Steve Nothem, a resident and hero, who tragically lost his life while serving with the Carrollton Police Department. A street dedication ceremony in his memory is scheduled for Sunday, March 10, at 2:00 PM in the Sutton Fields development. Invitations will be extended to dignitaries including the Mayor, City Council members, Executive Staff, and Department Directors, as the community comes together to pay tribute to Officer Nothem’s service and sacrifice.
OWNSBY PARKWAY RECONSTRUCTION PROJECT UPDATE
On Wednesday, February 21, RPMx, the contractor for the Ownsby Parkway Reconstruction Project, began paving two westbound lanes from Preston Road to Coit Road. Upon completion, the first two lanes will be open to traffic. This phase is anticipated to last for approximately two weeks.
In addition, RPMx will be setting up a temporary batch plant located at the southwest corner of Ownsby Parkway and Coit Road to expedite and optimize the paving process. The City is actively coordinating with franchise utility owners for the relocation of overhead utility poles that conflict with the proposed eastbound lanes. If the relocation of these utility poles can be completed during the paving of the two westbound lanes, the temporary batch plant will be in place for approximately four weeks. However, if the relocation of the utility poles cannot be completed during the paving of the two westbound lanes, RPMx will demobilize the batch plant after the paving of the westbound lanes and remobilize it once the utility poles are moved.
TEXAS NEW MEXICO POWER (TNMP) TRANMISSION LINE UPDATE
In October 2021, Texas New Mexico Power (TNMP) proposed to construct a transmission line that would connect from the proposed Pilot Point substation on the west to the existing transmission system in Collin, Denton, or Grayson counties to the east. Five different routes were proposed that would affect Celina residents. The City opposed all routes that went through Celina and had no opposition to the route that had minimal impact on the City. In June 2023, the City Council approved a resolution that outlines City’s opposition to the routes. The City received notification this month from the Public Utility Commission (PUC) that the route the City had no opposition to was selected. Please see the exhibit for route location.
CELINA ECLIPSE PARTY AT THE PARK SET FOR APRIL 8
The Celina Eclipse Party at the Park, organized by the Parks & Recreation Department, is scheduled for Monday, April 8, from 12:00 - 2:00 PM at Old Celina Park. The event will feature 2,000 custom solar eclipse glasses branded with the city logo. Parks and Recreation will provide various activities for attendees, and there will be a DJ playing music throughout the event. The Marketing team has initiated advertising efforts on social media platforms to promote the event and attract participants.
ARTS & CULTURE BOARD MEETING RECAP
Arts & Culture held its regular board meeting on Wednesday, February 21. The group debriefed on the Countdown to Christmas events hosted by the Arts & Culture Board (Gingerbread House Contest and Caroling on the Square) to make adjustments on the programs for the 2024 holiday season. They also discussed and evaluated the PILOT Public Art Selection Process for the mural at Fire Station #3 for staff to refine the process moving forward. Victoria Lovinggood was elected as the new Chair, and Gina Overstreet as the new Vice-Chair.
HOA LEADERSHIP MEETING RECAP
On Wednesday, February 21, representatives from five Homeowner’s Associations within our City convened in Council Chambers for the first HOA Quarterly Meeting of 2024. City Manager Robert Ranc, Chief of Police John Cullison, and Assistant Fire Chief Eric Everson provided an update on the State of the City and their individual departments. In addition, Trevor Ludwyck, Volunteer and Community Engagement Coordinator, highlighted the City’s Neighborhood Integrity Program. Mayor Ryan Tubbs and Councilmember Wendie Wigginton were also in attendance.
NEW EMPLOYEES
February 19: JaMarcus Bryant, Utility Line Maintenance Worker