Celina City Council approved a $1.7 million project management contract with Johnson, Mirmiran & Thompson, a McKinney-based engineering firm, at a May 12 meeting.

The context: Celina City Council aims to convert all downtown streets to concrete in the next 10 years, according to a report by city staff. To meet that goal, the city will have to outsource some of the work that could usually be done by city staff, Assistant City Manager Kimberly Brawner said.

In their own words: “We wanted to escalate how quickly we did this without escalating the amount of city staff,” Deputy Mayor Pro Tem Andy Hopkins said.

Westfork Crossing, a retail development at the corner of US 380 and Gee Road anchored by LA Fitness, is preparing to welcome several major retailers to Prosper, according to filings with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation.

The specifics: Filings indicate five brands are considering Prosper locations at Westfork Crossing:

• Boot Barn
• HomeSense
• Ross Dress for Less
• Burlington
• Sierra

• 5030 W. University Drive, Prosper

New gyms and multifamily housing are coming to Dallas-Fort Worth, according to documents filed with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation.

1. Twin Creeks Active Adult: A new multifamily development in Allen called Twin Creeks Active Adult from developer CB Jeni Homes is scheduled to start construction in mid-July, TDLR documents state. The development will cover about 6.5 acres and have three stories.

2. EOS Fitness: A new EOS Fitness location is coming to Plano, TDLR documents state. EOS Fitness offers cardio and strength training equipment and gym memberships The company also offers cycle, yoga and group fitness classes, the company website states.

3. Panda Express: A new north Denton Panda Express is scheduled to start construction in June 2027, according to TDLR documents. Panda Express offers quick service Chinese food. The company operates more than 2,600 locations globally, according to the company website.

In 2023, the Texas Legislature passed House Bill 2127, a sweeping regulatory measure designed to prevent cities and counties from adopting local ordinances that conflict with various sections of state law. Three years later, there is confusion about what local governments can and cannot do under the law.

The background: At the time, some legislators and other proponents of the bill said it would ensure consistency among Texas cities, citing ordinances passed by “liberal blue cities” that they said made it hard to run a business. Opponents of HB 2127, including some local leaders, said the law would prevent cities from addressing residents’ needs while undermining local worker safety provisions and nondiscrimination ordinances.

What's happening: During a June 4 hearing, the law’s critics said it has had a “chilling effect” on some local actions, while those who support the law expressed concerns that cities have not removed ordinances that are preempted by the state.

Ahead of the 2027 state legislative session, lawmakers are considering whether changes are needed to clarify or better enforce the law.