Texas 2023 - 88th Regular

Texas Senate Bill SR497 Compare Versions

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1	1	SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 497
2	2	WHEREAS, The City of South Padre Island is celebrating the
3	3	50th anniversary of its founding in 2023; and
4	4	WHEREAS, Situated at the southernmost tip of Padre Island
5	5	in Cameron County, the City of South Padre Island is located in
6	6	the vicinity of the Rancho de Santa Cruz de Buena Vista, settled
7	7	in the early 19th century by the island's namesake, Padre José
8	8	Ballí; it became a resort during the mid-19th century, and a
9	9	ferry later began serving the island; in the 1920s, civic leaders
10	10	tried to attract more tourists by building several seaside hotels
11	11	on wooden piers; and
12	12	WHEREAS, Development finally gained momentum following the
13	13	completion of the Queen Isabella Causeway in 1954; nearly two
14	14	decades later, dedicated citizens launched a campaign to
15	15	incorporate; they filed an application with Cameron County Judge
16	16	Ray Ramon in February 1973, and the election was conducted a
17	17	month later; on April 10, the judge counted 128 out of 158 ballots
18	18	in favor of incorporation; the board of aldermen held its first
19	19	meeting that June; and
20	20	WHEREAS, The community's population surpassed 300 by 1978
21	21	and then more than tripled within a decade; growth proceeded
22	22	apace as tourism flourished, and in 2009, the town became the
23	23	City of South Padre Island with the adoption of a home rule
24	24	charter; under its council-manager form of government, voters
25	25	elect a city council composed of the mayor, five district
26	26	members, and three at-large members; the council appoints the
27	27	city manager; and
28	28	WHEREAS, Tourism remains the major engine of the economy,
29	29	with more than 9 million people annually drawn by the sandy
30	30	beaches and subtropical landscape; city staff works with an
31	31	extensive volunteer network of committees, task forces, boards,
32	32	and commissions to preserve this lovely setting and support
33	33	world-class conservation efforts, including the protection of
34	34	the Kemp's Ridley sea turtle and an artificial reef; the South
35	35	Padre Island Birding and Nature Center, located on a major
36	36	migratory route, educates visitors about the more than 300 avian
37	37	species in the area, as well as other native flora and fauna; and
38	38	WHEREAS, Over the course of a half century, the City of
39	39	South Padre Island has distinguished itself as a community
40	40	characterized by natural beauty, livability, prosperity, and an
41	41	active, engaged citizenry; now, therefore, be it
42	42	RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 88th
43	43	Legislature, hereby congratulate the City of South Padre Island
44	44	on the 50th anniversary of its founding and extend to its
45	45	residents sincere best wishes for the future; and, be it further
46	46	RESOLVED, That an official copy of this Resolution be
47	47	prepared for the city as an expression of high regard from the
48	48	Texas Senate.
49	49	LaMantia
50	50	________________________________
51	51	President of the Senate
52	52	I hereby certify that the
53	53	above Resolution was adopted by
54	54	the Senate on May 1, 2023.
55	55	________________________________
56	56	Secretary of the Senate
57	57	________________________________
58	58	Member, Texas Senate