2022 - 2024 Strategic Plan

A MESSAGE FROM THE MAYOR

It is a great time to live, work, and play in Celina, Texas. I am so glad this Strategic Plan landed in your hands, and I would ask you to take a few moments and read through this information so that you may quickly see why Celina is the fastest-growing and most attractive city in North Texas.

While we recently traversed through some of our country’s most challenging days, I am very pleased that the heart of our City strengthened as our population expanded. These were years marked by record growth, with thousands of people moving here and dozens of businesses opening to serve the community.

Along with the arrival of new residents and businesses, we have seen our City staff work tirelessly to plan for the upcoming growth. Their commitment to the City’s Core Values enables the City to achieve the goals set by this Strategic Plan. Our public safety departments are some of the finest people who sacrifice daily for the safety and wellbeing of our residents. As the City has grown, we have seen substantial growth in these departments. Furthermore, we have funded and designed a new Law Enforcement

Center that is currently underway and will continue adding new fire stations as our population increases.

Within this plan, you will see updates to our 2018-2020 Strategic Plan goals. These goals include enhancements to our parks and trails, the Downtown and surrounding area, and events and festivals that reflect our unique culture. This type of vision and our commitment to smart growth will serve as evidence that Celina truly is the most incredible community and greatest place to live in Texas.

Celina is fortunate to stand on the broad shoulders of pioneers who built this City and established our values. We are blessed to be relishing in an incomparable present as the most sought-after place to be in Texas. I am confident that we will celebrate an exciting future together as we grow beyond what we know, but remain true to who we are. I hope you are thrilled to live here, work here, and/or call Celina your home. Thank you for being a part of our story as it unfolds.

CITY COUNCIL

ANDY HOPKINS PLACE 3

WENDIE WIGGINTON PLACE 4

CHAD ANDERSON PLACE 6

MINDY KOEHNE MAYOR PRO TEM/PLACE 5

JUSTIN STEINER DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM/PLACE 1 JAY PIERCE PLACE 2

SEAN TERRY MAYOR

Celina is a Home-Rule Municipality, governed by a Mayor and City Council who are elected by the residents. Since its establishment in 1876, Celina residents have elected representatives to achieve City goals and enhance their quality of life. Acting together, the Mayor and City Council adopt all ordinances and resolutions and determine the general goals and policies for the City. The City’s mission of preserving its agricultural heritage, providing excellent public safety, and an extraordinary quality of life are all key factors in each decision.

JASON LAUMER CITY MANAGER

A MESSAGE FROM THE CITY MANAGER

Thank you for your interest in our 2022-2024 Strategic Plan. Celina is one of the most exciting places to live, work, and raise a family. Without a doubt, these are some of our most fantastic years, and I am thankful to serve a community that carries in its heart the Core Values and effort needed to make this plan a reality.

I can confidently say that, because of the wonderful people who live and serve here, we have accomplished nearly every goal and outpaced expectations set in our 2018-2020 Strategic Plan, despite the challenges we faced around the world and here at home in 2020 and 2021. Our 2022-2024 Strategic Plan highlights many long-term goals with a fresh set of objectives to achieve our 25-year mission.

The City has worked tirelessly to enhance the quality of life for our residents and businesses by strengthening our infrastructure, expanding our parks and green spaces, attracting new businesses, and beautifying our historic Downtown. We have done this as a result of our intentional efforts to grow wisely as our population base multiplies. We consciously balance our “what if” ideas with what is and what was. While this City is committed to a robust future, we will forever be connected to

our past—the people, the leaders, the values, and the successes that have shaped this place into the Celina of today.

As Celina continues to develop, we commit to the same care for every neighborhood, park, trail, and public safety measure. Growing wisely involves a partnership with developers, rather than just their investment. Those who build structures here will also build parks, roads, and provide areas for schools and support for the students who attend them. The new neighborhoods and businesses you see are evidence of the City’s commitment to maintain the spirit of our motto - Life Connected.

Over the coming two years, you can expect to see continued growth, but that growth will never be extended to a point that compromises the beauty, safety, or values that make Celina the most attractive place to call home. We can accomplish every goal within this plan while remaining true to the historical heart of this community. With the help of our residents, City leaders, first responders, school district, faith leaders, and YOU, we can accomplish our mission, reflect our Core Values, honor our storied past, and forever remain Life Connected.

25-YEAR GOAL: OUR MISSION

Our mission is to preserve our agricultural heritage and flourish as a close-knit, ever-growing Celina family during the explosive and planned growth of our City. We will provide a unique and extraordinary quality of life complemented by a significant array of high-tech and desirable businesses, agritourism assets, unique destinations, and connections.

EXCELLENCE

• We always do our best

• We embrace innovation and efficiency while remaining good stewards of City resources

• We are accountable and take pride in our work

• We seek opportunities to learn and expand our professional horizons

COMMUNITY

• We are a unified body and work as a team

• When we disagree, we resolve it according to our Core Values

• We value and respect all employees and our customers

• We foster a culture that includes understanding, support, balance and a sense of humor

• We embrace openness, diversity and inclusion

INTEGRITY

• We do the right thing at all times

• We are committed to building and maintaining credibility and trust both internally and externally

• We are accountable in our words and actions

• We question that which may be inconsistent with our Core Values

• We are selfless public servants and believe in helping others

• We treat everyone the way we wish to be treated

• We are caring and empathetic in all we do

• We work to deliver excellent service to all we encounter

VISION FRAMEWORK

We have a deep understanding that to be truly great, we must make a series of good and strategic decisions, which are consistent with our Vision Framework. Our efforts and resources will reside in the areas where our three spheres intersect.

STRATEGIC PLAN GOALS

Our mission is to preserve our agricultural heritage and flourish as a close-knit, ever-growing Celina family during the explosive and planned growth of our City. We will provide a unique and extraordinary quality of life complemented by a significant array of high-tech and desirable businesses, agritourism assets, unique destinations, and connections.

1. Be the Life Connected. City

2. Be the Unique City

3. Be the City of the Future, Connected to its Past

4. Be the City Built on Public Safety

5. Be the City of Servant Leaders

6. Be the City of Innovative Infrastructure

7. Be the City of Small Business

1 BE THE LIFE CONNECTED. CITY

Living a Life Connected. is not just our tagline, it’s our mission that extends into every decision made. Life Connected. touches on the social and physical aspects of connectivity.

Objectives within this Strategic Plan goal touch upon quality of life enhancements that aim to keep residents invested long-term.

2018-2020 Strategic Plan Recap

• Became a Gigabit City

• Began HOA Quarterly Meetings

• Established Neighborhood Integrity Grants

• Expanded Special Events Lineup

• Introduced Police Department’s Blue Santa

BE THE UNIQUE CITY

Celina is known for its small town charm, and nothing exhibits this better than our historic Downtown. This Strategic Plan goal seeks to preserve Celina’s unique heritage through fortifying and expanding Downtown. Celina carries these unique attributes to other planning efforts around the City and infusing its agricultural past into City projects.

Furthermore, this Strategic Plan goal seeks to embrace future residents through tradition and heritage efforts that share our story.

2018-2020 Strategic Plan Recap

• Completed Parks and Trails Master Plan

• Completed Downtown Master Plan

• Completed Comprehensive Plan

• Established Agritourism Framework

Downtown Square Rendering

BE THE CITY OF THE FUTURE, CONNECTED TO ITS PAST

How does Celina maintain its unique qualities while experiencing exponential population growth? This Strategic Plan goal seeks to connect current and future residents to Celina’s unique past.

Objectives in this Strategic Plan goal include recommending future projects that reflect Celina’s unique culture

2018-2020 Strategic Plan Recap

• Expanded Friday Night Market

• Incorporated Heritage Components into City Design Elements

• Dedicated a Day for Heritage Festival

4 BE THE CITY BUILT ON PUBLIC SAFETY

Safety and security are two of the most basic human needs, and one of the biggest drivers of quality of life in cities.

Public safety and emergency services are a strength, and we intend to fortify them.

2018-2020 Strategic Plan Recap

• Funded and Designed Law Enforcement Center

• Hired Additional Fire and Police Personnel

• Opened Fire Station #2

• Secured Locations for Future Police and Fire Stations

• Established School Resource Officer Partnership with Celina ISD

5 BE THE CITY OF SERVANT LEADERS

This goal speaks to our organizational culture to attract and retain the right employees in the right role, who are motivated to serve the community. The philosophy of Servant Leadership puts the needs and growth of others first.

2018-2020 Strategic Plan Recap

• Developed an Organizational Leadership Position

• Established Quarterly Coffee with the City Manager

• Implemented Supervisor and Leadership Training

• Introduced One-on-Ones and Welcome Meetings with the City Manager

6 BE THE CITY OF INNOVATIVE INFRASTRUCTURE

Infrastructure innovation is a necessity in a high-growth city. With limited resources and a high demand for new infrastructure, a creative approach is required when addressing funding mechanisms.

This Strategic Plan goal speaks to adopting innovative infrastructure policies and projects that ensures a sustainable path for growth.

2018-2020 Strategic Plan Recap

• Completed Choate Parkway

• Completed CIP Master Plan

• Updated Master Thoroughfare Plan to include Bike Lanes

• Introduced the Life Connected. App

• Improved Preston Road Water and Wastewater Lines

Traditions Park Rendering

7 BE THE CITY OF SMALL BUSINESS

Small business is one of our biggest strengths and opportunities. It represents the heart of our community, and we recognize its importance to our quality of life and economic development. Objectives in this Strategic Plan goal include adopting policies, codes, and ordinances that cultivate the right environment for small businesses to thrive.

2018-2020 Strategic Plan Recap

• Welcomed over 50 New Businesses

• Created Small Business Spotlight Videos

• Partnered with Celina EDC to Host Quarterly Downtown Merchant Meetings

• Approved Grants by Council for the Renovation of Downtown Buildings