SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 288
	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,
	Incorporated, Ericsson, H. P. Enterprise Services, and Dr Pepper
	Snapple Group, Incorporated; 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
	Dallas-Fort Worth 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, Saint
	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 Senate of the State of Texas, 84th
	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.
	Taylor of Collin, Estes
		________________________________
		President of the Senate
		I hereby certify that the
		above Resolution was adopted by
		the Senate on March 2, 2015.
		________________________________
		Secretary of the Senate
		________________________________
		Member, Texas Senate
		________________________________
		Member, Texas Senate