85R18467 KSM-F

By: Laubenberg H.R. No. 1128

R E S O L U T I O N

WHEREAS, Residents from Collin County are gathering in Austin on March 28 and 29, 2017, 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 277,000, Plano is the largest city in the county and home to six Fortune 1000 companies, including JC Penney, Alliance Data Systems, Cinemark Holdings, Dr Pepper Snapple Group, Rent-A-Center, and Denbury Resources; Toyota has established its North American headquarters in Plano, as has Hilti Corporation; the city has been named the number one Best Place to Live in America and the Best Place to Live in Texas by Money magazine, the number one city to find a job by WalletHub, and the fifth-ranked 2016 Best Performing City 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 Service First Mortgage and Aramark's first "clean room" in Texas; furthermore, the city's historic downtown encompasses more than 130 boutiques, and it earned the ranking of #1 Best Place to Live 2014 from Money magazine; and

WHEREAS, Allen is a dynamic and welcoming home to more than 98,000 residents and has been ranked among the safest, most affordable, and most family-friendly cities nationwide, and the city continues enhancing the Texas workforce through the addition and expansion of such international companies as KONE, IntelliEPI, and WatchGuard Video; in 2016, the city received the coveted National Recreation and Park Association Gold Medal award 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 five professional sports teams, namely the Frisco Roughriders, Dallas Stars, FC Dallas, Texas Legends, and Dallas Cowboys; 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; 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, and it 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, 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 669 single-family housing permits in 2016, and the city has 1.1 million square feet of commercial development under construction with an additional 530,000 square feet of shovel-ready projects due to break ground in 2017; it is home to several top housing developers, including Blue Star Development, LandPlan Development, and Terra Verde 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 three consecutive years, and the district continues to be one of the state and national leaders in student growth; 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 and earned a 2011 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 it earned a Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting from the Government Finance Officers Association for fiscal years ending in 2014 and 2015; moreover, the Texas Chapter of the American Planning Association honored Fairview with a Certificate of Achievement for Planning Excellence in 2015 and 2016, and 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.com; 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, 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, as well as a AAA bond rating; the residents number about 4,500, 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, Settled in the mid-1850s, the city of Lavon is nestled along the southeastern shore of Lake Lavon; more than 3,000 residents 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, pursuit of quality retail and commercial businesses, and commitment to service contribute to the outstanding quality of life; 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 residents of Copeville, Lowry Crossing, Melissa, Nevada, New Hope, Princeton, Royse City, Sachse, 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 85th Texas Legislature hereby recognize March 28 and 29, 2017, 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.