LWV P/CC Advocacy Actions

LWV Plano/Collin County takes actions and advocates their positions on key issues based upon grass roots consensus at local, state, and national levels.

LWV Action and Advocacy Policies The League of Women Voters takes action on an issue or advocates for a cause when there is an existing League position that supports the issue or speaks to the cause. Positions result from a process of study. Any given study, whether it be National, State, or Local, is thorough in its pursuit of facts and details. As the study progresses, a continuing discussion of pros and cons of each situation occurs. Prior to the results of the study being presented to the general membership, study committee members fashion consensus questions that are then addressed by the entire membership. Additional discussion, pro and con, takes place as members (not part of the study committee) learn the scope of the study. After the members reach consensus, the board forms positions based on that consensus. Consensus -- the statement resulting from the consensus questions -- that becomes a position. Firm action or advocacy can then be taken on the particular issue addressed by the position. Without a position, action/advocacy cannot be taken.

The League of Women Voters of Plano/Collin County supports the following issues, adopted after study and consensus:

1.  Parks and Open Space in Collin County  (1977) (Revisions in 1987, 1997, 2001, 2005)

 The LWV of P/CC supports a strong program for the acquisition of open space in Collin County, its towns and cities, to assure that adequate land will be set aside for the purposes of recreation, conservation, and preservation.

Explanation:  LWV advocates a program of land acquisition to preserve open space.  We emphasize the importance of conservation, natural recreation areas, and the economic feasibility of leaving land undeveloped as opposed to the cost of providing municipal services for developed land. 

The League supports the use of state and federal aid as well as the encouragement of private donations, land trusts and other gifts.  In addition, all devices available to the city, such as zoning regulation, tax abatements, easements, etc., should be employed in the accomplishment of the objective.

2. Flood Plain Management   (1977)

 The LWV of P/CC supports a strict interpretation of the flood plain ordinance and limitation of  the issuance of special use permits and variances, as well as providing an adequate method to seek out violations and employ all legal tools to correct them.

Explanation:  LWV advocates the environmentally sound management of flood plain areas in Plano and Collin County.   We advocate the formation of an Environmental Commission to review requests for the building of permanent structures in a flood plain and providing the Planning and Zoning Commission and City Council with information outlining the projected effects of such structures. 

The City of Plano should be concerned with the quality of the creeks within our city limits and whether encroachment in the flood plain area will alter the ecosystem.  In addition, concern should be expressed to the Planning and Zoning Commission and the City Council about residual effects, if any, on the Trinity Water System. 

 3. Mass Transportation  (April, 1979, by concurrence with LWV of Dallas) (Amended 2001)

We recognize that mass transportation as an essential public service should be subsidized from public funds as necessary to provide a satisfactory level of service for all residents. We support:

§         Funding of the Regional Transportation Authority by general use of sales tax (up to 1%).          

§         Development of a balanced system to provide for alternate and coordinated forms of transportation, rapid and convenient systems, and improvement and preservation of environmental quality.

§         Inclusion of citizen education and participation early and during the entire planning process through better and more consistent communication between government and its constituents.

This system should have the power to carry out its transportation functions through the action of a Board of Directors.  The composition of the Board should be part private citizens and part elected officials, chosen to provide equitable representation of the participating cities and counties.  It should have the responsibility to seek citizen input and review any activity on a continuing basis.

4. Economic Growth  (1981) (Revised 1997)

 The LWV of P/CC believes that Plano and other towns in the county should promote controlled economic growth in order to expand the tax base so that the quality of life may be maintained at a reasonable cost to taxpayers.  Control criteria should be developed by local governments with public participation in the planning and decision-making process.

Explanation:  The LWV of P/CC believes that rapid growth makes controlled economic expansion a necessity if the quality of life is to be maintained at a price affordable to the taxpayer.  This price is not only in dollars but includes the loss or change in the character of the community.  Towns in the county should actively work to encourage expansion of the tax base in order that businesses, industries, and residents share municipal fiscal responsibilities.  However, the change from a primarily residential community to a balanced community needs to be planned carefully and realistically. 

For this reason, the LWV of P/CC advocates the development and use of control criteria.  These criteria should be formulated through the joint efforts of city government, a citizens’ advisory board, and business interests.  This citizens' advisory board should be composed of a representative cross section of impartial community residents. 

 The League favors growth with a focus on human needs while maintaining high standards with regard to environmental impacts of transportation, water quality, air quality, and open space.  The criteria which are developed should take into account these standards, after which the criteria should go through the normal public hearing process including the citizens' advisory board, Planning and Zoning, and City Council public hearings.

 In the absence of law prohibiting tax abatements, creating a level playing field for areas competing with each other to attract new enterprise, the League supports the granting of tax abatements under very limited conditions.

5. Public Education (1982) (Revised 1995, 2005)

The LWV of P/CC supports effective school guidance and counseling programs.  Essential elements of an effective guidance and counseling program include, but are not limited, to:

§         Services for students of all ages and stages of development.

§         A comprehensive program designed to address the academic, personal, social, and career development of all students.

§         The availability of informational materials for non-English-speaking students and parents, wherever practical.

§         Resources to help guidance counselors address student needs and increase the time available for student/counselor interaction.

The LWV of P/CC supports school health service programs with sufficient staff and facilities to provide health education and address health problems that influence the ability of students to learn.  The school health service should provide:

• Nurse/student ratios that take into account the health status of the student population and the recommendation of the National Association of School Nurses.

• Support staff to assist nurses with clerical tasks and routine screening procedures.

6.  Health Care in Collin County (1986) (Revised 1995, 2001, 2005) 

The League of Women Voters of Plano/CC believes that a basic level of quality health care at an affordable cost should be available to all Collin County residents.  There should be public input in the process of defining and providing public health services, which should include those recommended by the State of Texas for Public Health Regions 2 and 3.  We recommend that the Collin County Commissioners Court create and maintain a countywide information system that provides at a minimum:

• Clear definitions of eligibility requirements for obtaining public health care services, which are easily understood, obtainable, and kept up-to-date;

• Coordination of services sufficient to meet the demographic (age, race, gender, socioeconomic level) and geographic (urban, suburban, rural) needs of Collin County residents; and,

• Information regarding availability of public health services, which includes types of service, location (street address and city), days and time of service-delivery, and required paperwork necessary to obtain service.

The League of Women Voters of Plano/CC believes that persons or families meeting the income definitions of indigent or Medicaid should have access to:

Laboratory and x-ray services,
Emergency outpatient and inpatient hospital services,
Mental health care services,
Skilled nursing facility services,
Care provided by physicians, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners.

The League of Women Voters of Plano/Collin County also supports and acts upon the programs of LWV-TX and LWV-US.