2020 Annual Report

2020 ANNUAL REPORT CITY OF CELINA

WRAPPING UP 2020

This was a year unlike any other. COVID-19 threw a substantial wrench into the plans that we all had for the start of a new decade. We at the City would like to extend our sincere sympathy for those who have suffered loss this year. It was no small feat to overcome the myriad challenges posed by COVID-19 and we are thankful for the inspiring heart and spirit of our community.

Facing the COVID-19 crisis head on, the City worked hard to maintain seamless and effective governance and service delivery systems. The 2020 Community Survey, rolled out in May, allowed us to capture the community’s thoughts on the events, trends, and happenings within Celina. The findings of the 2020 Survey gave us a strong foundation for prioritizing our efforts in general and in relation to COVID-19.

One of our central concerns of 2020 was ensuring that life remained connected during a time where physical separation was required or encouraged. To this end, we:

• Shifted many processes online for everything from permits to utility billing

• Began livestreaming City Council Meetings

• Restructured our monthly newsletter in a digital format

• Conducted a new Community Survey

• Started the Life in Celina Podcast

In addition, we strove to ensure that the economic hardship brought on by COVID-19 was minimized to the best of our ability. The City:

• Eliminated credit card fees for utility payments

• Promoted a “shop local” campaign to encourage economic activity in the City of Celina

• Started a Business Connection video series promoting local businesses

• Invested in the 20Eats App to support local restaurants and consumers

The pandemic undoubtedly effected the way that we live, work, play, and learn. In spite of this our community lifted each other up by connecting in new ways and continuing to support our local businesses. Thanks to the efforts of our outstanding community members, our businesses were able to weather the storm and keep their doors open. In addition, we were fortunate to welcome 22 new commercial businesses to our City (a significant increase from years prior).

We recognize that the struggles we faced in 2020 have not disappeared entirely with the coming of the New Year. However, as we reflect on 2020 we find ourselves incredibly grateful and hopeful for what the future has in store for Celina. The COVID-19 pandemic brought to light the character and integrity of what it means to live life connected. Our community members are what make Celina so exceptional and we are grateful to the struggles of 2020 for reiterating that.

Let’s continue to be safe while we do what we do best: live life connected.

LETTER FROM THE MAYOR

Celina has long been a City committed to doing things differently. Our people come together to face challenges head-on. In 2020, we saw the epitome of this life connected way. This year we faced a global pandemic, unlike anything we had seen before. The pandemic has had widespread ramifications that continue to impact people’s health, economic stability, and livelihood. Notwithstanding these challenges, I am proud to say that Celina stood strong. By working together and supporting each other we were not only able to maintain our long-standing businesses, we continued our growth and welcomed many new businesses to our City.

This unpredictable year has proven something that we all already knew: that our community is resilient and strong when faced with adversity. Amidst the difficulties of 2020, the City continued working fastidiously on our projects and goals established in the 2018-2020 Strategic Plan. The work completed over the last two years was outstanding. This resiliency has pushed our City forward, allowing us to fulfill many of our two-year goals and positioning us well to accomplish our 25-year mission. This report seeks to illuminate some of the many accomplishments that we carried out in alignment with our two-year goals. In addition, we have laid out projects that are on the horizon for the City in 2021.

While 2021 meets us with much uncertainty about what’s to come, we can rest assured that our progress will continue onward. The efforts that our residents, business owners, and City staff have put into our City will continue to make a difference and enhance the quality of life in Celina. We can accomplish anything when we are living life connected.

Sincerely,

Sean Terry Mayor, City of Celina

SEAN TERRY MAYOR

CITY LEADERSHIP

WAYNE NABORS DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM/ PLACE 2

SEAN TERRY MAYOR

JUSTIN STEINER PLACE 1

ANDY HOPKINS PLACE 3

WENDIE WIGGINTON PLACE 4

MINDY KOEHNE PLACE 5

CHAD ANDERSON MAYOR PRO TEM/PLACE 6

JASON LAUMER CITY MANAGER

2018-2020 STRATEGIC PLAN GOALS

This Annual Report serves to evaluate the two-year goals that we developed for our 2018-2020 Strategic Plan. The City identified these goals by looking at what we are deeply passionate about, what fuels our economic engine, and what areas we can be best in class. This understanding was fueled in large part by the results of our Community Survey. Using these three areas, we analyzed the place where all of these elements overlapped. From there we established what we call our “Vision Framework”.

Share Our Story

Preserve, Enhance, Revitalize, & Grow Downtown

Plan the City

Enhance the Quality of Life in Celina

Beautify & Brand

Celina

Support & Grow Emergency Services

Attract & Cultivate the Right Development in the Right Places

Develop a Highly Advanced Technology & Mobility Infrastructure

Pursue Innovative Learning Partnerships

Create & Encourage Agritourism Opportunities

25-YEAR GOAL: OUR MISSION

Our mission is to preserve our agricultural heritage and flourish as a close-knit and 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 places, and connections.

POPULATION COUNT BY YEAR

Current: 38 Square Miles

Projected: 78 Square Miles

Zip Codes: 75009 (Celina)

75078 (Prosper)

76227 (Aubrey)

As we continue to experience growth in our community, the City of Celina is committed to making sure that this growth is done in a planned, controlled, and strategic fashion that perserves Celina’s rural and country identity.

SINGLE-FAMILY PERMITS

In 2020, Celina was named the #1 Fastest Growing City in North Texas by Dallas Business Journal for the second year in a row.

CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS

COMPLETED

• Preston Road Water and Wastewater Line Improvements

• Preston Road Lighting Phase I

• Collin College Offsite Sewer

• Wastewater Treatment Plant Expansion

STARTED

• Choate Parkway

• Frontier Parkway

• Outer Loop: Dallas North Tollway to Preston Road

• Outer Loop: Dallas North Tollway to Custer Road

UNDER DESIGN

• 6-Million Gallon Ground Storage Tank

• Legacy Bridge

• Downtown Inner Loop Phase I

Public infrastructure improvement projects for the City of Celina which are funded and contracted by the City are called Capital Improvement Projects. Many of our 2020 Capital Improvement Projects involved City streets: this is one of the ways in which we strive to keep you safe and connected to where you need to be.

#1 SHARE OUR STORY

“Life Connected” is so much more than our City slogan. It’s a fundamental way of living and interacting with the community. We strive to embody the core values of living life connected by sharing what we are working on, the great things happening in Celina, and who we are as a City. This story should be reflected in everything that we say and do.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

• Began live streaming City Council Meetings

• Launched the Life in Celina Podcast

• Incorporated videography into communications

ON THE HORIZON

• Become a certified Film City

• Enhance the monthly newsletter

• Implement text communications

#2 PLAN THE CITY

Planning is essential to identify what action we can take to better Celina and the process to get there. When we started the Strategic Plan in 2018, it was apparent that establishing a vision and implementing it in a timely manner were essential for controlled and planned growth. We strive to plan the City in such a way that is consistent and true to the small town feel and strong sense of community.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

• Updated Zoning Ordinance

• Updated Sign Code

• Adopted Collin County Outer Loop Overlay District

• Received Certificate of Achievement in Planning Excellence

• Achieved Scenic City Platinum Certification

ON THE HORIZON

• Water and Wastewater Master Plan update

• Roadway Impact Fee Study

• 2040 Comprehensive Plan update

• Downtown Code update

• Completion of Neighborhood Vision Book

#3 ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN CELINA

Quality of Life is a broad term, but in the Strategic Plan we define it as the level of satisfaction to live, work, play, and learn in Celina. We intend for the Quality of Life in Celina to be unique and extraordinary.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

• Assisted over 124 kids through the Blue Santa Program

• Enhanced baseball/softball field features to improve performance

• Created an AA competitive spring baseball league

• Acquired Tree City USA Membership

• Started Business Spotlight videos

• Completed the Library remodel

• Added 512 new library members - a 10% increase from 2019

• Acquired new land for Linear Park

ON THE HORIZON

• Design of Old Celina Park playground structure

• Completion of Old Celina Park expansion

• Inaugural Citizens Government Academy

• Expansion of events

At first glance, it appears to be surrounded by seemingly endless miles of farms and ranches. However, Celina is far from a one-horse town.

#4 BEAUTIFY & BRAND CELINA

Celina’s beautification and branding are paramount. We found this to be true in both the 2018 and 2020 Community Survey. We want to ensure that the City’s aesthetics are aligned with our vision and that our brand is carried through everything we do. This is of central importance for everything from street signs to social media.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

• Launched Downtown Logo

• Created Life in Celina website

• Completed two murals

• Expanded holiday lighting for Downtown

• Established tighter branding guidelines

• Updated Downtown logo and signs

• Created an online merchandise shop

• Implemented new tagline

ON THE HORIZON

• Continuation of the mural project

• Enhance social media presence at events

• Increase following on Life in Celina

• Differentiation of Downtown page vs. government page

#5 SUPPORT & GROW EMERGENCY SERVICES

Safety and security are among the most basic human needs and one of the biggest drivers of economic development and quality of life in cities. To adequately and safely accommodate growth, we must also continue to proactively support and grow emergency services.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

• Opened Fire Station 2

• Expanded Fire Prevention Division

• Acquired land for Police Station 2

• Added Fire Engine 2

• Added 6 new positions in the Police Department

• Expanded National Night Out event

ON THE HORIZON

• Citizens Police Academy

• Citizens Fire Academy

• Design Fire Station 3

• Design Central Police Station

The Celina Police and Fire Departments strive to achieve a safer community by providing dedicated, quality, and innovative emergency services to the community. A key ingredient for this is connecting to the people they serve. We are excited to launch our Citizens Police Academy and Citizens Fire Academy this Spring.

The Huddleston Building (pictured right) was awarded the Texas Downtown Association’s Award for Best New Construction for cities under 50,000 population.

#6 PRESERVE, ENHANCE, REVITALIZE, & GROW DOWNTOWN

Downtown is a focal point in Celina and it 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. We strive to find balance between the past and the future, ensuring that Downtown Celina retains its charm and character as new opportunities for growth arise.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

• Welcomed three new businesses: Rollertown Brewery, Little Wooden Penguin, and Buff City Soap

• Texas Downtown Association Award for Best New Construction - Huddleston Building

• Developed a 10-year capital improvement project list for Downtown that focuses on improving drainage, roadways, and water and sewer infrastructure

• Added additional parking Downtown

ON THE HORIZON

• Neighborhood Integrity Program

• New businesses on the Square: Valley Vines, Summer Moon, and Dry Fly Brewery

• New, relocated storefront for Annie Jack

• Patio/alley improvement project

• Add more parking in Downtown

#7 ATTRACT & CULTIVATE THE RIGHT DEVELOPMENT IN THE RIGHT PLACES

We want to make it easy for development to happen in the best and most appropriate locations. We will ensure that our policies and actions align with our Vision Framework, resulting in desirable residential and commercial development. This will result in unique places with highquality construction that meet our community’s needs.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

• 6 new development agreements

ON THE HORIZON

• Completion of Neighborhood Vision Book

#8 DEVELOP A HIGHLY ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY & MOBILITY INFRASTRUCTURE

We want to be at the forefront of innovation in everything we do—always thinking of new and better ways to do things and challenging the status quo with excellence. Harnessing new innovations and technology will give us a significant advantage as we work to achieve our goals.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

• Gigabit City Designation

• Added WiFi to Downtown

• Implemented electronic billing for water

• Integrated Sensus Analytics

• Fiber to 100% of Celina residents

ON THE HORIZON

• Launch the Life Connected app

• Promote Sensus Analytics to residents

• Create a user-friendly water bill

• Create a user-friendly water website

#9 PURSUE INNOVATIVE LEARNING PARTNERSHIPS

We intend to pursue new and improve current partnerships to foster innovative learning in Celina. The City will do its part in proactively and systematically collaborating and supporting schools, education, and new programs that are consistent with our community needs and goals.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

• Partnership with Celina ISD

• Partnership with Collin College

ON THE HORIZON

• Texas Municipal League Employee Training Program for City staff

• Internship program

• 2021 completion of Collin College

As time passes and the City continues to grow, things will inevitably change. We strive to embrace these changes while preserving central aspects of Celina’s rural charm and heritage for the generations of tomorrow.

#10 CREATE & ENCOURAGE AGRITOURISM OPPORTUNITIES

We take pride in our agricultural heritage and traditions, and we want to share them with everyone in a coordinated and strategic way. The combination of agriculture and tourism, “agritourism” is the perfect way for us to connect to our heritage. We intend to more readily identify our agritourism assets, market them, and create new agritourism experiences and places.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

• Completed the Parks & Trails Master Plan

ON THE HORIZON

• Completion of Collin College: agricultural program to be offered Fall of 2021

• 2022 Heritage Festival