H.R. No. 802
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Residents from Collin County are gathering in Austin
on March 26 and 27, 2019, to celebrate Collin County Days at the
State Capitol; 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 hold a high school diploma and about
half have earned at least a bachelor's degree; such highly skilled
workers also make the county a leader in job growth; and
WHEREAS, With a population of 283,000, Plano is the largest
city in the county and home to a number of iconic global
corporations, including Toyota Motor North America, Liberty Mutual
Insurance, JPMorgan Chase & Co., Boeing Global Services, NTT DATA,
JCPenney, FedEx Office, Frito-Lay, and Capital One; in 2018, the
city was recognized as the best place to live in America by
AreaVibes, the best city to buy a house in America by Niche, and the
best city for jobs in America by Forbes, while maintaining its
status as one of the safest cities in America by WalletHub and among
the top five best-performing cities in America by the Milken
Institute; 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, County seat and home of the McKinney National
Airport, the city of McKinney hosts such major employers as the
aerospace division of Raytheon Company, Encore Wire Corporation,
Emerson Process Management, and Torchmark Corporation; recent
relocations include PACCAR and Moss Construction, and the community
continues to cultivate its own businesses, including Playful, a
virtual reality gaming company; in addition, Independent Bank is
completing construction of its new headquarters; furthermore, the
city's historic downtown encompasses more than 130 boutiques; this
rapidly growing community currently has a population of nearly
188,000, a 230 percent increase from 2011; the McKinney National
Airport maintains its status as an economic engine with a $16
million construction project that will update and expand its
facilities, including a new state-of-the-art FBO terminal and an
additional 40,000-square-foot hangar; and
WHEREAS, Allen is a dynamic and welcoming home to more than
103,000 residents and has been ranked among the safest, most
affordable, and most family-friendly cities nationwide, and the
city continues to enhance the Texas workforce through the addition
and expansion of such international companies as NETSCOUT, Boss
Fight Entertainment, and CyrusOne; in 2017, the city was named the
number two "Best Place to Live" and number one "Best Place to Live
in the South" by Money magazine, and the city received the coveted
National Recreation and Park Association Gold Medal Award in 2016
for its creation and stewardship of more than 1,100 acres of
parkland, 67 parks and facilities, and 62 miles of hike-and-bike
trails; moreover, its volunteer efforts were recognized with the
2016 Keep Texas Beautiful Governor's Community Achievement Award
for efforts in environmental education, community beautification,
and litter prevention; and
WHEREAS, Defining "Progress in Motion," Frisco is one of the
fastest-growing cities 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, Preston Ridge Campus, world-class venues, and seven
professional sports organizations, namely the Frisco RoughRiders,
Dallas Stars, FC Dallas, Texas Legends, Dallas Rattlers, Dallas
Cowboys, and the PGA of America; 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 three museums and hundreds of public and private art
installations displayed throughout Frisco's approximately
70-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 best small city in the country
in which to raise a family and the hottest suburb in Texas; 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, The city of Richardson, which is known globally for
its high-tech business leadership, is home to the Telecom Corridor
area and was named the International Business Capital of North
Texas by the 82nd Texas Legislature; Richardson is a major
employment center, with companies including Blue Cross and Blue
Shield of Texas, Fossil, RealPage, Fujitsu Network Communications,
and Cisco Systems having headquarters in the city; other major
employers include State Farm, Raytheon, UnitedHealthcare, Texas
Instruments, and AT&T; Richardson offers a high quality of life, a
diverse array of neighborhoods, and easy access to a multimodal
transportation infrastructure; the city has repeatedly been
recognized as one of the top places to live, work, and obtain an
education by national and local media; in 2018, CBS News ranked
Richardson the 16th-best city in the United States to live, and it
finished ninth nationally among top cities for STEM workers by
Livability; Richardson is home to The University of Texas at
Dallas, the fastest-growing university in the state, and the city
remains dedicated to continued improvement as well as to the
principles of open government and two-way communication with
residents; and
WHEREAS, The city of Murphy, a diverse, historically
significant residential community in southeastern Collin County,
continues to create a distinctive ambience of homeowner pride and
neighborhood vitality, and it has maintained its designation as a
Top 10 Best Suburb by D Magazine since the inception of the ratings;
Murphy's commitment to an enhanced quality of life is reflected in
the number and level of excellence in its parks system, as well as
its highly regarded year-round special events; the emerging
business community offers a wide range of desirable retail and
culinary options, and residents enjoy the safety and security of
professionally managed public safety functions; and
WHEREAS, Recognized by D Magazine as a top 10 suburb, Prosper
ranked number one on the Dallas Business Journal's 2018 list of
fastest-growing cities and is currently experiencing a 13 percent
annual growth rate; located where the northern edge of Dallas'
Golden Corridor meets the booming U.S. 380 Corridor, the town is
poised for explosive commercial, office, and retail growth and
continued residential development, issuing 915 single-family
housing permits and permits for 865,000 square feet of commercial
development in 2018, with an additional million square feet of
shovel-ready projects due to break ground in 2019; Prosper is home
to several top housing developers, including Blue Star Land,
LandPlan Development, and the Tellus Group; the Prosper Independent
School District has been voted by the Dallas Morning News as one of
the Top 10 Places to Work in Dallas/Fort Worth for five consecutive
years, and the district continues to be one of the state and
national leaders in student growth; recognized as a Tree City USA
and certified as a Scenic City silver-level community, Prosper has
more than 350 acres of open space and over 22 miles of hike-and-bike
trails; moreover, the city's outstanding police department offers
such community outreach and crime prevention programs as Citizens
on Patrol, the Citizens Police Academy, the Community Safety
Initiative, and Smart911; and
WHEREAS, Having been a platinum-level Scenic City in Texas
since 2011, Fairview has also been recognized as a Tree City USA
community and earned a Growing Green Cities Award, and it is home to
the first street in Texas to be illuminated by LED lighting; the
town is a three-time recipient of the Texas Municipal League
Municipal Excellence Award and on an annual basis continues to earn
the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial
Reporting from the Government Finance Officers Association; the
Fairview Economic Development Corporation was awarded a
Certificate of Achievement for Economic Excellence by the Texas
Economic Development Council in 2017, and the Texas Chapter of the
American Planning Association honored Fairview with a Certificate
of Achievement for Planning Excellence in 2015, 2016, and 2017; in
addition, the town's Veterans Park has been recognized with a
Patriotic Achievement Award from the Military Order of the World
Wars; Fairview also features two of the Top 25 Best School Districts
in Texas as ranked by Niche and continues to be ranked as one of the
safest and most desirable places to live in Texas; and
WHEREAS, With 78 square miles of land, Celina has the
second-largest geographic footprint of any city in Collin County;
strategic growth plans allow the city to manage new development
along the Dallas North Tollway, Preston Road, and future Collin
County Outer Loop corridors; Celina is one of the fastest-growing
communities in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex, having issued 1,249
single-family housing permits in 2018; the city's robust "Texas
historic" downtown is filled with a number of unique shops,
offices, and award-winning restaurants, including Tender
Smokehouse, which was rated the number two best place to eat on
Yelp; its school district was recognized for its academic
achievements with a prestigious "A" rating, and the city has
received numerous accolades for its outstanding budgeting and
financial reporting; residents and visitors come together to enjoy
a number of special events throughout the year, including Movie
Nights on the Square, Oktoberfest, Splash & Blast, and Cajun Fest;
Celina's natural rural beauty, coupled with its exquisite
recreational fields and amenities, creates a welcoming, small
country-feel culture; and
WHEREAS, Lucas has maintained a peaceful, rural lifestyle,
helping to sustain a high quality of life for its citizens; the city
is pleased to offer 25 miles of trails along Lake Lavon for
equestrian enthusiasts and continues to focus on wildlife habitat
preservation, making it the perfect home for the Blackland Prairie
Raptor Center; moreover, exceptional schools and a vibrant
residential market, combined with one of the lowest tax rates in
Collin County, make Lucas an excellent value for its residents; 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; the residents number more than
5,000, 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, Boasting an area of 64 square miles and the access of
three major highways, Anna is a family-friendly community with
hometown appeal; the city, Anna Independent School District, Anna
Community Development Corporation, and the Greater Anna Chamber of
Commerce often collaborate to maintain a small community atmosphere
as the area undergoes rapid urbanization, and it was ranked among
the safest cities in Texas in 2018 by a SafeWise report; Collin
McKinney, one of the 5 drafters and 59 signers of the Texas
Declaration of Independence, lived in Anna for a number of years;
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, Settled in the mid-1850s, the city of Lavon is
nestled along the southeastern shore of Lake Lavon, and it is home
to approximately 3,800 residents who enjoy the friendliness of the
small-town atmosphere combined with the benefits of living near an
exciting metro area; the city's growing parks and trail system,
planned capital improvements, attraction of quality business
development, growth opportunities, and commitment to service
contribute to an outstanding quality of life; and
WHEREAS, The city of Melissa is one of the fastest-growing
communities in Collin County, gaining roughly one new family per
day; residents enjoy a friendly atmosphere and close access to a
number of amenities, as well as more square feet per dollar for the
price of homes; Melissa is beginning to grow commercially to
provide its citizens with even more amenities; and
WHEREAS, Other
communities add much to Collin County's
allure; the growing community of Blue Ridge is committed to
revitalizing its downtown by providing a small-town rural feel;
with its beautiful rolling hills, open skies with magnificent
sunrises and sunsets, and friendly residents, Blue Ridge has a
quaint charm all of its own; Cattlemans Cafe, established in 1953
and featured in D Magazine and on Texas Country Reporter, adds to
the town's neighborly atmosphere with its outstanding chicken fried
steak; known as the "Home of the Last Texas Prairie in Collin
County," the drive to Blue Ridge is replete with scenic open spaces
dotted with cattle and horses; and
WHEREAS, Located in the center of Collin County, the city of
Princeton is a planned community that was named the number one place
for first-time home buyers in the DFW area by NerdWallet in 2016;
the city has continued to lead Collin County as one of its
fastest-growing cities with an average 20 percent growth rate since
2017, and it issued more than 900 single-family permits in 2018;
Princeton cultivates a small-town atmosphere by prioritizing the
addition of new parks, trails, and open space, and it maintains a
low crime rate by national standards; the city places emphasis on an
open and transparent government, and it has been recognized with
the Government Finance Officers Association's Distinguished Budget
Presentation Award annually since 2015 and its Certificate for
Excellence in Financial Reporting annually since 2013; the
Princeton Independent School District earned an "A" rating from the
state, and it is home to the CATE Center, which provides vocational
training across numerous skill-based fields; moreover, the
district participates in the Jump Start Program and offers students
the opportunity to receive an associate's degree while attending
high school; and
WHEREAS, Sachse is a vibrant, diverse, well-educated, and
growing community that offers its residents a high quality of life
while retaining its small-town charm; recently named the
11th-safest city in Texas, the community prides itself on providing
its families with a safe place to live; with its prime location
along the President George Bush Turnpike, Sachse has become a
regionally significant point of access for the fastest-growing city
in eastern Collin County; it is the home of an increasingly large
retail trade area that recently announced a $250 million mixed-used
development that includes new residential and more than 400,000
square feet of commercial space; and
WHEREAS, Also contributing to the development of Collin
County are the residents of Copeville, Lowry Crossing, Nevada, New
Hope, Royse City, St. Paul, Westminster, and Weston, along with
parts of Dallas and Garland, and these 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 86th Texas
Legislature hereby recognize March 26 and 27, 2019, as Collin
County Days at the State Capitol and extend to the visiting
delegation sincere best wishes for a meaningful and memorable stay
in Austin.
Leach
Sanford
Shaheen
Holland
Noble
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 802 was adopted by the House on March
27, 2019, by a non-record vote.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House