84R8872 BPG-D
By: Laubenberg H.R. No. 754
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Residents from Collin County are gathering at the
State Capitol on March 2 and 3, 2015, to celebrate Collin County
Days, and this event provides an opportunity to pay tribute to its
many prosperous communities; and
WHEREAS, Collin County is one of the largest and
fastest-growing counties in the state; more than 90 percent of its
workforce over the age of 25 holds a high school diploma and about
half has earned at least a bachelor's degree; such highly skilled
workers also make the county a leader in job growth; and
WHEREAS, Plano is the largest city in the county and home to
such major companies as Frito-Lay, J. C. Penney Company, Inc.,
Ericsson, H. P. Enterprise Services, and Dr Pepper Snapple Group,
Inc.; Toyota has established its North American headquarters in
Plano, as has Hilti Corporation; cited as one of the top 10 best
cities in which to find a job, Plano has also been named one of the
Best Run Cities in America by 24/7 Wall St.; this thriving
municipality boasts nationally recognized schools, award-winning
parks, a lively historic downtown district, and multicultural
neighborhoods that appeal equally to families, young singles, and
retirees; its excellent restaurants, vibrant shopping districts,
exciting entertainment venues, and active local arts scene all
contribute to the city's high quality of life; and
WHEREAS, Home of the Collin County Regional Airport, McKinney
hosts such major employers as Raytheon Company, Encore Wire
Corporation, Emerson Process Management, and Torchmark
Corporation; its historic downtown encompasses more than 130
boutiques, and it earned the ranking of #1 Best Place to Live 2014
by Money magazine; and
WHEREAS, Allen was named among the 10 safest cities in the
nation in its class for the third time by CQ Press, and it has also
placed 13th on Money magazine's list of the Best Places to Live; the
city received the Keep Texas Beautiful Governor's Community Award
for its environmental efforts, and its residents are proud of the
2014 6A Division 1 high school football champions, the Allen
Eagles; and
WHEREAS, Defining "Progress in Motion," Frisco is the
second-fastest growing city in the country and the fastest-growing
community over the past decade, according to the United States
census bureau; it has maintained its quality of life amid rapid
development, and the Dallas Morning News named Frisco among its top
10 suburbs for schools, safety, families with children, young
adults, empty nesters, and "Best Overall" neighborhoods; known for
top-notch public safety services, the city received the highest
rating for fire protection, and it enjoys one of the lowest crime
rates, as well as low taxes; this once-small town is home to Collin
College, world-class venues, and four professional sports teams,
with another on the way; active residents have access to 49 parks,
86 miles of trails, and an athletic center featuring an outdoor
water park; health care facilities include three hospitals, and the
favorable business climate supports more than nine million square
feet of retail and restaurants; among the cultural amenities are
two museums and hundreds of public and private art installations
displayed throughout Frisco's 72-square-mile area; and
WHEREAS, The City of Wylie, Wylie Independent School
District, Wylie Chamber of Commerce, and Wylie Economic Development
Corporation work in concert to build a strong community that
strives to honor the past, embrace the present, and plan for the
future, while valuing unity, relationships, and trust, as evidenced
by a recent report naming Wylie the second-best small city in the
country in which to raise a family; Wylie fosters a spirit of
cooperation, and with a thriving business environment and
outstanding schools, it is a place people treasure and proudly call
home; and
WHEREAS, Richardson is the home of The University of Texas at
Dallas and the Telecom Corridor; it has been recognized by the Texas
Legislature as the official International Business Capital of North
Texas and is the second largest employment center in the DFW
Metroplex; more than 10,000 people will soon be employed at the
CityLine development by KDC, which includes State Farm's new
regional campus and Raytheon's Intelligence Information and
Services unit; welcoming numerous visitors, the city hosts the
Wildflower! Arts and Music Festival, the largest such event in
North Texas, and the Cottonwood Art Festival, one of the top outdoor
arts festivals in the nation; and
WHEREAS, The city of Murphy, an affluent residential
community in southeastern Collin County, has maintained its
designation as a top 10 Best Suburb by D Magazine since the
inception of the ratings; Murphy boasts over 219 acres of parkland,
and it has rich community programs along with a culturally diverse,
highly educated population of over 20,000; exciting new businesses
have joined an engaging business community, and residents take
pride in the city's ranking as the third-safest city in North Texas
and the fifth safest in the state; and
WHEREAS, Recognized by D Magazine as a top 10 suburb, Prosper
issued more than 550 single-family housing permits in 2014, and it
has a billion-dollar mixed-use development in the works; it is home
to several top housing developers, including Blue Star Development,
LandPlan, and Terra Verde Group; Prosper's citizens have passed a
$710 million bond package for their public schools, which have
maintained academic excellence while experiencing a growth in
enrollment of 50 percent over the last three years; the city's
outstanding police department offers such community outreach and
crime prevention programs as Citizens on Patrol, the Citizens
Police Academy, and Prosper Community Watch, among others; and
WHEREAS, One of two platinum-level Scenic Cities in Texas,
Fairview has been recognized as a Tree City USA and earned a 2012
Growing Green Cities Award; the city is home to the first street in
Texas illuminated by LED lighting and is a three-time recipient of
the Texas Municipal League Municipal Excellence Award; the city's
Veterans' Park has been recognized with a Patriotic Achievement
Award from the Military Order of the World Wars; and
WHEREAS, The crossroads of the developing transportation
corridor in northern Collin County, Celina is growing rapidly while
retaining its respect for the traditional values of family and
heritage; its school district is rich in academic and athletic
achievement, with the Celina Bobcats earning pride of place as the
winners of eight state football championships; and
WHEREAS, Since its incorporation in 1959, Lucas has embraced
its serene rural lifestyle, which creates a high quality of life for
its citizens; it is a country oasis of spacious homes, small
ranches, and farms, with 25 miles of trails for horses and
pedestrians along Lake Lavon; the focus on wildlife habitat
preservation has made it the perfect home for the Blackland Prairie
Raptor Center; moreover, quality schools and a vibrant residential
market keep Lucas family friendly; the city's emphasis on financial
stability and transparency has earned it the Certificate in
Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting from the
Government Finance Officers Association, along with the Texas
Comptroller's Leadership Circle Platinum Award, and an AA+ bond
rating; enhancing the safety of the public, the City of Lucas Fire
Department provides emergency medical services; the department
continues to benefit from volunteerism, and the community is justly
known as a small city with a big heart; and
WHEREAS, The citizens of Parker are proud to be living in D
Magazine's number two suburb in the DFW Metroplex, and they also
enjoy a low municipal tax rate, as well as a AAA bond rating; the
residents number about 4,000, and they cherish their uniquely
"country" lifestyle; characterized by its large lots and
comfortable atmosphere, Parker is known to millions of television
viewers as the home of the legendary Southfork Ranch from Dallas;
and
WHEREAS, One of the fastest-growing cities in the Dallas/Fort
Worth Metroplex, the city of Anna is a family-friendly community
with hometown appeal; its residents enjoy an unhurried and friendly
atmosphere, with safe neighborhoods, excellent schools, and access
to many urban amenities; local businesses benefit from affordable
real estate, a low cost of doing business, a well-educated
workforce, an active chamber of commerce, and dedicated consumers;
and
WHEREAS, Farmersville, located 15 miles east of McKinney,
took its name from the primary occupation of its original
residents; established in 1849 as a settlement on the
Jefferson-McKinney Road and near the Republic of Texas National
Road, the town was incorporated in 1873; agriculture kept pace as it
became a trade center, and in the 1930s, Farmersville shipped over
1,000 carloads of onions annually, earning the nickname "Onion
Capital of North Texas"; the city may be best known for native son
Audie Murphy, who listed Farmersville as his hometown when he
enlisted in the army during WWII and returned home to a hero's
welcome in 1945; he had earned every army citation for valor, was a
recipient of the Congressional Medal of Honor, and was posthumously
awarded the Texas Legislative Medal of Honor; Farmersville has a
nationally recognized Main Street Program, with many historic
downtown buildings, eateries, and shopping attractions; near the
restored Onion Shed is the trailhead for the 130-mile Northeast
Texas Trail, a beautiful site for walking, hiking, and bicycling;
and
WHEREAS, Other communities add much to Collin County's
allure; the growing community of Blue Ridge is committed to
revitalizing its downtown, while the people of Josephine are proud
of their active volunteer fire department, which not only protects
the community but hosts such popular annual events as the Easter egg
hunt and the Christmas parade; and
WHEREAS, Also contributing to the development of Collin
County are the citizens of Copeville, Lavon, Lowry Crossing,
Melissa, Nevada, New Hope, Princeton, Royse City, Sachse, St. Paul,
Westminster, and Weston, along with parts of Dallas and Garland,
and those communities play an important part in the county's
flourishing, diversified economy and its quality of life; and
WHEREAS, The citizens of this notable North Texas county are
working to preserve the best of their past even as they look forward
to a bright and promising future, and they are sure to figure
prominently in the growth and prosperity of the Lone Star State in
the years ahead; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas
Legislature hereby recognize March 2 and 3, 2015, as Collin County
Days at the State Capitol and extend sincere best wishes to the
visiting delegation for an informative and enjoyable visit to
Austin.