City Manager’s Weekly Report
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Robert Ranc, City Manager
FEBRUARY 28, 2025
UPCOMING EVENTS
March 4: City of Celina/Celina ISD Town Hall (6:30 PM, Bothwell Elementary School)
March 7: Friday Night Market (6:00 - 9:00 PM, Downtown Square)
March 11: City Council Meeting (5:00 PM, City Council Chambers)
March 13: Public Meeting for Doe Branch Blvd (6:00 PM, City Council Chambers)
March 15: Fire Station #3 Open House (10:00 AM - 1:00 PM, Fire Station #3)
March 15: Methodist Celina Medical Center Community Opening (5:00 PM, Methodist Celina Medical Center)
March 22: Texas Tastemakers Festival (12:00 - 6:00 PM, Downtown Square)
March 26: Coffee with the Contractors (9:00 AM, 112 N. Arizona Dr)
March 29: Chamber Wine Crawl (5:00 - 9:00 PM, Downtown Square)
CITY UPDATES
DOWNTOWN PARKING GARAGE PROJECT UPDATE
Next week, Swinerton will make significant progress on the Downtown Parking Garage project by pouring the final two slabs-on-grade (SOG), which will complete the foundation work. In addition, preparations will begin for the elevated deck pours scheduled for the coming weeks. These critical steps are essential for maintaining the project’s timeline and ensuring the structural integrity of the facility.
TOWN HALL MEETING SCHEDULED FOR TUESDAY, MARCH 4
The City of Celina, in partnership with Celina ISD, will host its final Town Hall Meeting on Tuesday, March 4, at 6:30 PM at Bothwell Elementary School (2120 Coventry Dr), providing residents with essential updates on the progress and future of our community. This session will offer valuable insights into the City’s ongoing growth, key initiatives, and strategic priorities, along with important developments within Celina ISD. Residents are invited to attend and hear directly from City and school district leadership, gaining a comprehensive understanding of the exciting advancements shaping the future of Celina.
DOE BRANCH BLVD PUBLIC MEETING SCHEDULED FOR MARCH 13
The City of Celina will be hosting a Public Meeting on Thursday, March 13, at 6:00 PM in City Council Chambers, located at 112 N. Colorado St, to discuss the design phase of the future Doe Branch Boulevard. This meeting aims to promote transparency and foster community engagement by providing an overview of two proposed alignment options for the roadway. It will also offer an opportunity for affected stakeholders to ask questions and share their feedback. We encourage all community members to attend and stay informed about this important infrastructure project.
DUSTY MCAFEE SPEAKS ON PANEL AT FOCUS NORTH TEXAS EVENT
This past week, Dusty McAfee, Director of Development Services for the City of Celina, participated as a panelist at the Focus North Texas event, held at The Westin Galleria in Dallas. Hosted by the North Central Section and Midwest Section of the American Planning Association Texas Chapter, the event brought together industry leaders to discuss key trends shaping the region.
McAfee served on the Opening Plenary Panel, Incredible Growth – Proven Results, moderated by Mike Grace, AICP, MRCP, Director of Economic Development for the City of Forney. His insights highlighted Celina’s strategic approach to managing rapid growth while delivering successful development outcomes.
COFFEE WITH COUNCIL IN COORDINATION WITH FIRE STATION #3 OPEN HOUSE
To enhance community engagement, the upcoming Coffee with Council will be held in coordination with the Fire Station #3 Open House on Saturday, March 15, from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM. To ensure our City Council Members remain actively engaged and accessible to residents, we have integrated Council participation into our public safety open house events.
This approach replaces the standalone Coffee with Council gatherings previously held, providing a more dynamic and interactive setting for community engagement. By integrating these conversations into our public safety open houses, we are creating a stronger platform for meaningful discussions on the issues that matter most to our residents while showcasing the City’s commitment to safety and service. We encourage all residents to attend, connect with their City Council Members, and experience firsthand the dedication of our public safety teams.
2025 SPECIAL EVENTS SEASON KICK-OFF NEXT FRIDAY
The 2025 Special Events Season will officially begin next Friday, March 7, with the monthly Friday Night Market, hosted on the Downtown Square from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM. Friday Night Markets have become a beloved tradition within the community, offering a vibrant atmosphere for residents to gather and enjoy local culture.
THE CITY OF CELINA HOSTS FIRST QUARTERLY BUILDER LUNCHEON
The City of Celina’s Development Services Team held its first Quarterly Builder Luncheon on Thursday. This event provided an opportunity for residential track builders to meet and engage with key City staff members, including Cruz Hernandez, Casey Barney, Oscar Mejia, Chris Dokter, Judy Carlstrom, and Lisa Alexander. The luncheon served as a platform to foster open discussions, address concerns, and gather valuable feedback from our builders. The main topic of this luncheon focused on Parkways & Sidewalks, with discussions covering parkway width, trees in parkways, sidewalk inspections, and a general question/answer session. We look forward to continuing these productive conversations and strengthening our collaboration with the building community.
UPCOMING ROAD CLOSURES & IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS
The City of Celina continues its efforts to enhance road infrastructure for the benefit of our residents and commuters. As part of ongoing improvements, the following road closures and construction activities are scheduled to begin on Monday, March 3:
FM 1385 Roadway Improvement Project
The northbound lane of FM 1385, between Winn Ridge and Country View Drive, will be closed or shifted to facilitate the installation of two new roadway connections to FM 1385. This closure is expected to last approximately one week, weather permitting, and will result in lane closures and traffic shifts within the affected area.
Frontier Parkway Lane Closure
The outside westbound lane of Frontier Parkway, between Preston Road and Worthington Way, will be closed daily from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM to accommodate the installation of a right turn lane. This closure is anticipated to last approximately two weeks, weather permitting.
Turn Lane Closure on DNT to S Celina Parkway
The eastbound shoulder and turn lane from the Dallas North Tollway (DNT) to South Celina Parkway will be closed. This closure is expected to last two days, weather permitting.
We appreciate the public’s patience and understanding as these important projects are completed to improve traffic flow and infrastructure in Celina.
WELCOMING OUR NEWEST TEAM MEMBER
The City of Celina is pleased to welcome Hayley Valdez, Library Outreach Coordinator, to our growing team with the Public Library. We are excited about the positive impact that she will have with our community.
DALLAS NORTH TOLLWAY PHASE 4A PROJECT: LANE CLOSURE NOTIFICATION
As part of the ongoing work on the DNT Phase 4A project, please be advised that crews will be implementing the upcoming lane closures. These closures are necessary for transporting topsoil, performing a mass haul of materials, and completing clean-up work in the affected areas. Please note that the entire left lanes will not be closed, and we will ensure there are no conflicts between lane closures within the same areas. Additional closures will occur at construction exits as needed to maintain safety and efficient traffic flow.
Monday, March 3, through Wednesday, March 5, from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM
• The daily eastbound and westbound left lanes of Light Farms Way between northbound and southbound Dallas Pkwy. The right through lane will remain open to traffic.
Monday, March 3, through Saturday, March 8, from 6:30 AM to 6:30 PM
• The daily northbound and southbound left lane of Dallas Pkwy from First St to FM 428
• The daily eastbound and westbound left turn lanes and right lanes of Punk Carter Pkwy between northbound and southbound Dallas Pkwy. The middle through lane will remain open to traffic.
Monday, March 3, through Saturday, March 8, from 6:30 AM to 6:30 PM
• The daily northbound and southbound U-Turn lane at First St.
ROAD CLOSURES RESIDENT MAP
The City ‘s Road Closures Resident Map serves as a crucial tool for residents to remain informed about ongoing projects and associated road closures within the city. This comprehensive resource empowers individuals to plan their travel routes effectively, minimizing disruptions caused by construction activities. By clicking on the map or accessing the link above, residents gain access to the full interactive map, ensuring easy navigation and timely updates on the evolving infrastructure projects throughout Celina.
