City Manager’s Weekly Report To: Mayor and City Council From: Robert Ranc, City Manager
SEPTEMBER 18, 2026
UPCOMING EVENTS September 19: Fire Station #2 (10:00 AM - 1:00 PM, Fire Station #2) September 29: Boards & Commissions Banquet (6:00 PM, Two29 on the Square)
CITY UPDATES DEVELOPING CELINA’S NEXT GENERATION OF LEADERS Last month, the City celebrated the completion of the inaugural cohort of its Leadership Series, a professional development program designed to strengthen the City’s leadership pipeline and prepare employees for continued growth and increased responsibility within the organization. The six-month program included one session each month led by Lola Isom, Learning & Engagement Manager, as well as members of the City Manager’s Office and Department Directors. Throughout the series, participants gained greater insight into leadership within a municipal organization, including effective communication, decision-making, organizational culture, strategic thinking, team development, accountability, collaboration, and the importance of providing exceptional service to both internal and external customers. The inaugural Leadership Series was extremely well received by participants and provided valuable opportunities for employees to learn directly from members of the City’s leadership team, strengthen relationships across departments, and develop skills that can be applied throughout their careers with the City. I greatly appreciate Lola Isom, City Manager’s Office and Department Directors for the time, preparation, and leadership they invested in developing and facilitating each session. Their commitment to developing our employees is an important part of building a strong organization and preparing the next generation of leaders who will help guide Celina into the future. Congratulations to the graduates of the inaugural Leadership Series cohort: Josh Armstrong, Police
Bryce Kennedy, Police
Haley Courson, Marketing & Communications
Melissa Kleineck, Development Services
Sharelyn Drummonds, Development Services
Jeremy Knoch, Public Works
Dan Galizia, Finance
Lauren McDaniel, Finance
Alden Gleason, IT
Chad Nester, Fire
Matt Jones, Fire
Bree Shamsy, Marketing & Communications
Shekinah Kahongo, Strategic Services
Josh Smith, Public Works
Lisa Kasemodel, GIS
Building on the success of the inaugural program, the City will launch its second Leadership Series cohort on Monday, September 21. The next group of employees will participate in the same six-month leadership development experience, continuing our commitment to investing in our people, developing talent from within the organization, and creating opportunities for employees to expand their leadership capabilities. The following employees have been selected to participate in the second Leadership Series cohort: Casey Barney, Development Services
Jessica Kanaan, Library
Kelly Blue, Marketing & Communications
Brian Little, Fire
Sean Cary, Engineering
Linda Majeed, Engineering
John Christian, Police
Oscar Mejia, Development Services
Ogi Colakovic, GIS
Blake Purdom, Public Works
Gary Don Hendricks, Parks & Recreation
Mike Rockne, Fire
Justin Horrer, IT
Kayla Quijano, Human Resources
Drew Jenks, Public Works
Juan Ventura, Jr., Finance
FIRE STATION #2 OPENS ITS DOORS TO THE COMMUNITY The Celina Fire Department will host a Fire Station #2 Open House on Saturday, September 19, from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM at Fire Station #2, located at 1805 Light Farms Way. The Open House provides residents and families with an opportunity to connect with the firefighters and paramedics who serve the Celina community while gaining a behind-the-scenes look at Fire Department operations. Attendees will have the opportunity to tour the station, explore fire engines and emergency response equipment, and learn more about fire safety, emergency preparedness, and the training and teamwork required to respond to emergencies throughout the community. The family-friendly event will also feature interactive activities designed to educate and engage residents of all ages. The Fire Station Open House series is an important part of the Celina Fire Department’s continued commitment to community engagement, public education, and strengthening relationships between our first responders and the residents they proudly serve.
CITY HOSTS QUARTERLY BUILDERS LUNCHEON On Thursday, September 17, the City hosted its Quarterly Builders Luncheon in the City Council Chambers, bringing together residential builders and key City staff members for continued dialogue regarding development and construction throughout the community.
Representatives from Building Services, Planning, and other City departments met with members of the residential building community to discuss current regulations, upcoming changes, development expectations, and issues impacting residential construction. Topics included 2024 International Plumbing Code (IPC) and International Residential Code (IRC) trenching requirements, new penalty fees for work conducted outside permitted hours, expectations for maintaining clean streets and jobsites, the upcoming adoption of the 2026 National Electrical Code (NEC), and subdivision tree standards. The City’s Quarterly Builders Luncheons are an important component of our continued efforts to maintain open communication with the development community.
E. ELM ST CLOSURE FOR OUSLEY PARK IMPROVEMENTS As part of the ongoing Ousley Park Stream Restoration Project, RoeschCo will close E. Elm St at S. Texas Dr for approximately two weeks to accommodate construction activities associated with the project. During the closure, motorists are encouraged to plan accordingly, utilize alternate routes, and exercise caution when traveling near the construction area. Appropriate traffic control measures will be in place to help motorists navigate around the closure safely. The temporary closure will allow crews to continue advancing improvements associated with the Ousley Park Stream Restoration Project. The City appreciates the community’s patience and cooperation as this important infrastructure and environmental restoration project progresses.
CITY WELCOMES NEW STAFF MEMBER TO CODE SERVICES TEAM The City welcomed a new member to the Code Services Division, further strengthening the department’s capacity to support the community and provide responsive code compliance services.
Therese Hoofnagle
Rental Inspections Officer I
DALLAS NORTH TOLLWAY PHASE 4A PROJECT: LANE CLOSURE NOTIFICATION As part of the continued progress on the DNT Phase 4A project, construction crews will soon implement targeted lane closures to support key project activities. These closures are necessary to facilitate the transport of topsoil, conduct mass haul operations, perform area cleanup, and set structural beams. It is important to note
that full closure of the left lanes is not anticipated. Monday, September 21, through Saturday, September 26: •
The northbound and southbound left lane of Dallas Pkwy from First St to FM 428 will be closed daily from 6:30 AM to 6:30 PM.
Monday, September 28, through Friday, October 2: •
All lanes of northbound Dallas Pkwy from Frontier Pkwy to Light Farms Way will be closed overnight from 8:00 PM to 6:00 AM.
Friday, October 2, through Saturday, October 3: •
All lanes of southbound Dallas Pkwy from First St to U.S. 380 will be closed overnight from 8:00 PM to 6:00 AM.
•
All lanes of eastbound and westbound Collin County Outer Loop between northbound and southbound Dallas Pkwy will be closed overnight from 8:00 PM to 6:00 AM.
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. [ CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE ROAD CLOSURES MAP ]