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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The City of South Padre Island is celebrating the |
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50th anniversary of its founding in 2023; and |
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WHEREAS, Situated at the southernmost tip of Padre Island in |
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Cameron County, the City of South Padre Island is located in the |
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vicinity of the Rancho de Santa Cruz de Buena Vista, settled in the |
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early 19th century by the island's namesake, Padre José Ballí; it |
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became a resort during the mid-19th century, and a ferry later began |
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serving the island; in the 1920s, civic leaders tried to attract |
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more tourists by building several seaside hotels on wooden piers; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, Development finally gained momentum following the |
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completion of the Queen Isabella Causeway in 1954; nearly two |
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decades later, dedicated citizens launched a campaign to |
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incorporate; they filed an application with Cameron County Judge |
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Ray Ramon in February 1973, and the election was conducted a month |
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later; on April 10, the judge counted 128 out of 158 ballots in |
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favor of incorporation; the board of aldermen held its first |
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meeting that June; and |
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WHEREAS, The community's population surpassed 300 by 1978 and |
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then more than tripled within a decade; growth proceeded apace as |
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tourism flourished, and in 2009, the town became the City of South |
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Padre Island with the adoption of a home rule charter; under its |
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council-manager form of government, voters elect a city council |
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composed of the mayor, five district members, and three at-large |
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members; the council appoints the city manager; and |
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WHEREAS, Tourism remains the major engine of the economy, |
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with more than 9 million people annually drawn by the sandy beaches |
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and subtropical landscape; city staff works with an extensive |
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volunteer network of committees, task forces, boards, and |
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commissions to preserve this lovely setting and support world-class |
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conservation efforts, including the protection of the Kemp's Ridley |
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sea turtle and an artificial reef; the South Padre Island Birding |
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and Nature Center, located on a major migratory route, educates |
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visitors about the more than 300 avian species in the area, as well |
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as other native flora and fauna; and |
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WHEREAS, Over the course of a half century, the City of South |
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Padre Island has distinguished itself as a community characterized |
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by natural beauty, livability, prosperity, and an active, engaged |
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citizenry; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the Senate of the 88th Texas Legislature |
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hereby congratulate the City of South Padre Island on the 50th |
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anniversary of its founding and extend to its residents sincere |
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best wishes for the future; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for the city as an expression of high regard by the Texas |
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Senate. |