Texas 2019 - 86th Regular

Texas Senate Bill SCR63 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

Old	New		Differences
1	1		By: Zaffirini S.C.R. No. 63
	2	+	(In the Senate - Filed May 14, 2019; May 15, 2019, read
	3	+	first time and referred to Committee on Administration;
	4	+	May 21, 2019, reported favorably by the following vote: Yeas 7,
	5	+	Nays 0; May 21, 2019, sent to printer.)
	6	+	Click here to see the committee vote
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4	9		SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
5	10		WHEREAS, For thousands of years, the mermaid has been one of
6	11		the most striking symbols of humanity's connection with the natural
7	12		world, and over the past century, this legendary figure has come to
8	13		represent the city of San Marcos and its special relationship to the
9	14		water resources of Central Texas; and
10	15		WHEREAS, The story of the mermaid in San Marcos begins with
11	16		the abundant springs that every day release 100 million gallons of
12	17		freshwater from the Edwards Aquifer into the San Marcos River;
13	18		considered a sacred place by Native Americans, and regarded as the
14	19		creation site of the Coahuiltecans, the springs have drawn people
15	20		to their banks for more than 11,500 years, making this area what is
16	21		thought to be one of the oldest continually inhabited sites in North
17	22		America; and
18	23		WHEREAS, In 1845, Edward Burleson, a former vice president of
19	24		the Republic of Texas, dammed the headwaters of the San Marcos
20	25		River, thereby creating Spring Lake; over the ensuing years, the
21	26		water from the lake powered gristmills, sawmills, an ice factory,
22	27		and an electric light works; the San Marcos River also constituted
23	28		an important water stop along the Chisholm Trail; and
24	29		WHEREAS, A. B. Rogers bought Edward Burleson's homestead in
25	30		the 1920s and built a resort hotel on the shore of the lake; he later
26	31		began offering rides in glass-bottomed boats that allowed visitors
27	32		to see through the crystal water to the bubbling springs beneath;
28	33		his son Paul, who succeeded him, established the Aquarena Springs
29	34		amusement park on the property and in 1950 built an underwater
30	35		theater, where young women known as "aquamaids" staged exhibitions
31	36		of synchronized swimming and underwater ballet; at the peak of its
32	37		popularity, the park drew up to 350,000 visitors every year and was
33	38		featured in Life magazine, and the submerged theater was featured
34	39		on the cover of Popular Mechanics; in time, the show came to include
35	40		Glurpo, a pipe-smoking clown, and a swimming pig named Ralph; and
36	41		WHEREAS, The performances continued until the 1990s, when
37	42		Texas State University acquired the park and set a new course for
38	43		the property; today, the site hosts the Meadows Center for Water and
39	44		the Environment, which conducts research and educational programs
40	45		focused on promoting sustainable water management and
41	46		environmental stewardship; the critical nature of the center's work
42	47		is underscored by the fact that the Edwards Aquifer supplies
43	48		drinking water to several million people and serves as the
44	49		principal source of water for agriculture and industry throughout
45	50		the region, while waters discharged by the aquifer also support
46	51		recreation and tourism; in addition, the aquifer system sustains
47	52		over 40 highly adapted species and a number that are either
48	53		threatened or endangered, including five found in the San Marcos
49	54		Springs and a stretch of river just below the springs; and
50	55		WHEREAS, In 2016, the Mermaid Society of San Marcos was
51	56		created to foster harmony among the varied interests of
52	57		environmentalism, the arts, and economic growth; the society has
53	58		established an annual Mermaid Week, which includes a parade, the
54	59		Mermaid Society Ball, and the Mermaid SPLASH Festival; and
55	60		WHEREAS, Through its arts program and with revenue from its
56	61		hotel occupancy tax, the City of San Marcos has funded a number of
57	62		mermaid-themed works of public art, including a mural and a series
58	63		of seven-foot-tall statues decorated by various artists; and
59	64		WHEREAS, By adopting the mermaid as a symbol of the city, the
60	65		people of San Marcos are encouraging public interest in the natural
61	66		environment and highlighting the central role that their community
62	67		is playing in preserving the water resources of the Lone Star State;
63	68		now, therefore, be it
64	69		RESOLVED, That the 86th Legislature of the State of Texas
65	70		hereby designate San Marcos as the Mermaid Capital of Texas; and, be
66	71		it further
67	72		RESOLVED, That, in accordance with the provisions of Section
68	73		391.003(e), Government Code, this designation remain in effect
69	74		until the 10th anniversary of its designation.
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