84R8872 BPG-D
	By: Laubenberg	H.R. No. 754

	R E S O L U T I O N
	WHEREAS, Residents from Collin County are gathering at the
	State Capitol on March 2 and 3, 2015, to celebrate Collin County
	Days, and this event provides an opportunity to pay tribute to its
	many prosperous communities; 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 holds a high school diploma and about
	half has earned at least a bachelor's degree; such highly skilled
	workers also make the county a leader in job growth; and
	WHEREAS, Plano is the largest city in the county and home to
	such major companies as Frito-Lay, J. C. Penney Company, Inc.,
	Ericsson, H. P. Enterprise Services, and Dr Pepper Snapple Group,
	Inc.; Toyota has established its North American headquarters in
	Plano, as has Hilti Corporation; cited as one of the top 10 best
	cities in which to find a job, Plano has also been named one of the
	Best Run Cities in America by 24/7 Wall St.; 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, Home of the Collin County Regional Airport, McKinney
	hosts such major employers as Raytheon Company, Encore Wire
	Corporation, Emerson Process Management, and Torchmark
	Corporation; its historic downtown encompasses more than 130
	boutiques, and it earned the ranking of #1 Best Place to Live 2014
	by Money magazine; and
	WHEREAS, Allen was named among the 10 safest cities in the
	nation in its class for the third time by CQ Press, and it has also
	placed 13th on Money magazine's list of the Best Places to Live; the
	city received the Keep Texas Beautiful Governor's Community Award
	for its environmental efforts, and its residents are proud of the
	2014 6A Division 1 high school football champions, the Allen
	Eagles; and
	WHEREAS, Defining "Progress in Motion," Frisco is the
	second-fastest growing city 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, world-class venues, and four professional sports teams,
	with another on the way; 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
	two museums and hundreds of public and private art installations
	displayed throughout Frisco's 72-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 second-best small city in the
	country in which to raise a family; 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, Richardson is the home of The University of Texas at
	Dallas and the Telecom Corridor; it has been recognized by the Texas
	Legislature as the official International Business Capital of North
	Texas and is the second largest employment center in the DFW
	Metroplex; more than 10,000 people will soon be employed at the
	CityLine development by KDC, which includes State Farm's new
	regional campus and Raytheon's Intelligence Information and
	Services unit; welcoming numerous visitors, the city hosts the
	Wildflower! Arts and Music Festival, the largest such event in
	North Texas, and the Cottonwood Art Festival, one of the top outdoor
	arts festivals in the nation; 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 more than 550 single-family housing permits in 2014, and it
	has a billion-dollar mixed-use development in the works; it is home
	to several top housing developers, including Blue Star Development,
	LandPlan, and Terra Verde Group; Prosper's citizens have passed a
	$710 million bond package for their public schools, which have
	maintained academic excellence while experiencing a growth in
	enrollment of 50 percent over the last three years; the city's
	outstanding police department offers such community outreach and
	crime prevention programs as Citizens on Patrol, the Citizens
	Police Academy, and Prosper Community Watch, among others; and
	WHEREAS, One of two platinum-level Scenic Cities in Texas,
	Fairview has been recognized as a Tree City USA and earned a 2012
	Growing Green Cities Award; the city is home to the first street in
	Texas illuminated by LED lighting and is a three-time recipient of
	the Texas Municipal League Municipal Excellence Award; the city's
	Veterans' Park has been recognized with a Patriotic Achievement
	Award from the Military Order of the World Wars; 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, Since its incorporation in 1959, Lucas has embraced
	its serene rural lifestyle, which creates a high quality of life for
	its citizens; it is a country oasis of spacious homes, small
	ranches, and farms, with 25 miles of trails for horses and
	pedestrians along Lake Lavon; the focus on wildlife habitat
	preservation has made it the perfect home for the Blackland Prairie
	Raptor Center; moreover, quality schools and a vibrant residential
	market keep Lucas family friendly; the city's emphasis on financial
	stability and transparency has earned it the Certificate in
	Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting from the
	Government Finance Officers Association, along with the Texas
	Comptroller's Leadership Circle Platinum Award, and an AA+ bond
	rating; enhancing the safety of the public, the City of Lucas Fire
	Department provides emergency medical services; the department
	continues to benefit from volunteerism, and the community is justly
	known as a small city with a big heart; 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 4,000, 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, 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, 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 citizens of Copeville, Lavon, Lowry Crossing,
	Melissa, Nevada, New Hope, Princeton, Royse City, Sachse, St. Paul,
	Westminster, and Weston, along with parts of Dallas and Garland,
	and those 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 84th Texas
	Legislature hereby recognize March 2 and 3, 2015, as Collin County
	Days at the State Capitol and extend sincere best wishes to the
	visiting delegation for an informative and enjoyable visit to
	Austin.