SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 288
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,
Incorporated, Ericsson, H. P. Enterprise Services, and Dr Pepper
Snapple Group, Incorporated; 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
Dallas-Fort Worth 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, Saint
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 Senate of the State of Texas, 84th
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.
Taylor of Collin, Estes
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President of the Senate
I hereby certify that the
above Resolution was adopted by
the Senate on March 2, 2015.
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Secretary of the Senate
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Member, Texas Senate
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Member, Texas Senate