by Nicole Bradford
Pearland’s first-ever cultural arts plan became official on Monday with the approval of the City Council.
“It’s the city’s first — momentous — and intended to benefit residents of the City of Pearland as well as visitors,” lead consultant David Plettner-Saunders said. “Since it was sponsored by Visit Pearland, the plan is also intended to grow overnight stays and the (hotel occupancy) tax revenues and generally increase the vitality of the community.”
Under development for 14 months, the arts plan was contracted to San Diego-based Cultural Planning Group for just under $90,000 and funded through the Pearland Convention and Visitors Bureau. The plan calls for an Arts Administrator position, a signature event for Pearland, and a nonprofit arts foundation.
Up to 15 percent of annual hotel occupancy tax revenue can be used for arts, but arts in a community is stronger when there is a diversified set of revenues, Plettner-Saunders said.
“The plan’s funding recommendations include how to pay for it,” he said. “It also calls for creation of a foundation, a fundraising nonprofit. We have some indication from the success of the parks foundation and others in the community that there are resources available for arts and culture and that a nonprofit would help leverage public and private dollars.”
Grants are also available, he said.
A signature event was discussed at a recent council retreat and is described in the implementation plan as a Year 3 item.
The plan also recommends developing Old Town as a cultural district, enhancing public art, particularly in parks, and creating a “next generation of pear-scape program.”
“People love the pear-scape trail; it’s also become part of your brand,” Plettner-Saunders told the council. “We want to celebrate it and build on it. It’s one of the starting points in the implementation plan.”
Councilmembers changed the plan before adoption, including removing language regarding development fees and capital improvement funding. Councilman Joseph Koza also made a successful motion to make the pear-scape more inclusive through corporate, public, and private sponsorships and encouraging its expansion without limitation.
Councilman Rushi Patel made a motion to remove the step of hiring an arts administrator, but that motion was not seconded.
“If you truly want this plan to move forward, you’re going to have to somebody marshaling it,” Mayor Kevin Cole said.
