Government
BY JAMES T. NORMAN
Pearland OKs master plan for cultural arts
Friendswood keeps 5-minute rule for resident comments Friendswood City Council voted July 1 against reducing how long residents have to give public hearing comments. The full story Friendswood allows five minutes for residents to speak at a public hearing and three minutes for general public comment, the latter of which doesn’t have to be about a specific agenda item at a meeting. City Council opted against reducing the amount of time residents have for public comments, which city staff pitched to make it consistent with general public comments. “I think [five minutes] gives everybody ... a chance to really make their points,” council member Joe Matranga said.
Goals of the plan
The plan lays out five key goals, as well as details and tactics to help carry out each goal, according to the master plan. The goals and timelines are:
After more than a year of development, Pearland City Council approved the city’s first master plan for cultural arts at its July 22 meeting. What you need to know The plan, created by the firm Cultural Planning Group, or CPG, lays out five key goals and calls for hiring an arts administrator and a part-time public art manager, according to the plan. It also offers a path to help fund the various art upgrades, namely through dedicating a percent- age of the city’s hotel occupancy taxes to the program, and various types of grants. Officials at the July 22 meeting said they hope the plan will bring a focus to Pearland’s culture scene, enhance the city’s offerings of music and restaurants, help with public art and fund projects, among other things. The Pearland Cultural and Visitor’s Bureau
Bring in staff and funding needed to carry out the program (1-3 years)
Build and expand the city’s public art program (1-3 years)
Expand arts and cultural offerings for residents (3-5 years) Add new cultural centers in town (5-7 years) Expand cultural tourism within the city (3-5 years)
SOURCE: CITY OF PEARLAND/COMMUNITY IMPACT
paid CPG around $89,000 to develop the plan in May 2023, according to city documents. Creating the plan took place over a year and included community outreach.
Manvel police ask for personnel, equipment additions Demand for the Manvel Police Department has grown in recent years, and as a result, officials are looking for an increase in the budget for fiscal year 2024-25. The details As part of that growth, Manvel Police Chief adding two patrol officers. If approved, it would bring the police department’s staffing to 47 people, according to city documents.
From FY 2021-22 to FY 2023-24, demand for policing has increased in a number of areas. Some examples, based on estimates, include: Rising demand for policing
160% increase in calls for service 160% increase in traffic stops
225% increase in citations 165% increase in arrests
In FY 2021-22, the department had 28 staff mem- bers, according to city documents. If the additions are approved, it would mean a 68% increase in personnel since then. Traylor also requested patrol vehicles and other equipment, totaling $423,600, documents show.
Keith Traylor requested some personnel additions at City Council’s July 1 meeting, which included
SOURCE: CITY OF MANVEL/COMMUNITY IMPACT
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PEARLAND - FRIENDSWOOD EDITION
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