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Pearland Vision Statement

Pearland offers a vigorous, diversified economy solidly based upon a pro-growth business environment, a highly skilled and motivated workforce, and an environmentally friendly industrial base. It is an economy that offers a full spectrum of retail, health, transportation and business services that meet all the needs of the community. The community boasts of one of the highest per capita incomes in the state. The community provides a wide range of attractive and affordable housing in some of America's best planned neighborhoods. These developments offer many recreational amenities which blend in aesthetically with the environment and are conveniently accessible by a modern thoroughfare plan.

Pearland's local government sets a national standard in providing open, inclusive, and equitable government grounded in consensus planning. This government is proactive in ensuring that Pearland's citizens enjoy an attractive, safe, and wholesome environment where the quality of life is second to none. Based upon its “good-partner” approach to economic development, the city is exemplary in attracting industry that makes a positive contribution to the tax base and the quality of the community's business portfolio.

Recognizing that education is the key that unlocks the benefits of future growth and development, the citizens of Pearland maintain an interactive communication network among parents, teachers, administrators, and community leaders; maintain relationships with business to ensure educational objectives are meeting industrial requirements; and offer a world class educational system that utilizes the most progressive communication and computing technologies in teaching, training, and re-training students and workers of all ages in the community.

The citizens of Pearland recognize that their future will always lie with themselves. They know that the present is built upon the past. Recognizing that the culture of the community is grounded in the traditional values of being good neighbors and good citizens, they are committed to preserving those values in the face of a changing world. They support each other in times of need and celebrate in each other's success. They open their civic organizations, churches, schools and neighborhoods to newcomers as sources of new ideas, knowledge, and friendships. The multi-cultural diversity of the community provides for a wide range of activities and organizations for residents to involve themselves. When it comes to accomplishing community projects, they believe their individual efforts will be maximized through collective actions. Therefore, the residents are committed to working together to plan the future.

Welcome
While our website is designed to help you conveniently locate information about our community and conduct City business, we never want to miss the opportunity to visit personally with you about Pearland. You will find easy access to contact information of our executive staff to contact the person or locate the information you are seeking regarding our City.

In everything we do, our employees strive to provide responsive services driven by exceptional customer service. In this task, the City Manager is supported by a professional and dedicated staff that cares for our community, its residents and guests. We appreciate your input on the services we are providing and those we should consider.

Duties

Operating under the council-manager form of local government, the City Manager is appointed by the City Council serving as the Chief Executive Officer of Pearland. Responsibilities include staff organizational management, personnel appointment and removal, preparation and execution of the City budget, as well as administration of City Ordinances and policies adopted by the City Council.

Awareness
The following video was prepared by the International City / County Management Association to raise awareness of the role professional local government managers play in building communities we're proud to call home. Local managers play an important role in making local government and the services it provides more effective, efficient, ethical, and transparent.

Political Leadership & Professional Management

The council-manager form is the system of local government that combines strong political leadership, representative democracy through elected officials, and professional management. The form establishes a representative form of government by concentrating all power in the elected City Council.

The City Council hires a professionally trained and educated City Manager to oversee the delivery of public services and the daily operations of the City. Councilmembers are part-time volunteers who serve as the policy making board for the City's government.

Costs to Local Governments

Local governments have found that overall costs have been reduced with competent management. Savings come in the form of reduced operating costs, increased efficiency and productivity, improved revenue collection, and effective use of technology.

Structuring

Not all council-manager forms are structured the same way. One of its most attractive features is that the council-manager form is adaptable to local conditions and preferences. For example, some communities have councils that are elected at large while other councils are elected by district. Some local governments have mayors who are elected by the voters at large. Others are elected by their colleagues on the City Council.

Cities & Counties

The council-manager form is not restricted to only certain kinds of cities. In fact, it is used by counties as well. Currently, 3,625 cities operate under this form. Additionally, 529 counties indicate that they operate under the county administrator form. They vary greatly in size and characteristics, including independent cities, center cities, suburbs, and counties.

Large Communities

The council-manager form is popular in large communities. Out of 199 cities with greater than 100,000 citizens, 112 use this form of government. Some examples include Phoenix, San Diego, Dallas, Cincinnati, San Antonio, Kansas, Missouri, and Mecklenburg County, North Carolina.

Removing a Manager from Office

Managers serve at the pleasure of the council or governing body. They can be terminated by a majority vote of the council, consistent with local laws, ordinances, or employment agreements they may have with the council. Control is always in the hands of the elected representatives of the people.

Pearland City Council

Functions & Board Authority
The City of Pearland is governed by the Council/Manager form of government in accordance with the Home Rule Charter adopted by the voters in February 1971.

The City Council is the legislative and policy-making body of the city. It consists of 7 members elected at-large for 3-year, staggered terms. Elections are held annually on the second Saturday in May. The Mayor and Council provide community leadership, develop policies to guide the city in delivering services and achieving community goals, and encourage citizen awareness and involvement. Elected members of the City Council serve part-time as part of their commitment to the community and serving Pearland. The City Manager, City Attorney, and Municipal Court Judge are under the direction of the Mayor and City Council. Under Council/Manager form of government, the City Manager oversees City staff.

Unless otherwise rescheduled, the City Council meets on the second and fourth Mondays of each month at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall. Meeting agendas are posted to the city website at least 72 hours in advance of meetings.

Requests for public documents are available through the City Secretary at 281.652.1651. The City Secretary also responds to inquiries regarding voter registration, city elections and early voting.

Contact City Council

Strategic Priorities
City Council Rules and Order of Business

Born in Houston, Mayor Emeritus Tom Reid acquired his conservative philosophy growing up in the farming and ranching country of Central Texas. He moved with his family to Pearland in 1965 and both his son and daughter graduated from Pearland schools. Mayor Reid became active in Pearland and served as Scout Troop Committee Chairman, City Planning Commissioner, City Councilman, Chairman of the Pearland Library Board, Chairman of Brazoria Drainage District #4, and as Mayor. Mayor Reid retired in November 2020 and upon retirement was awarded the mayor emeritus position.

His professional career includes scientific writing, underwater defense research for the Navy Department, and as a Junior Design Engineer with WKM Valve Manufacturing Company. He was hired by Rockwell International and worked at Johnson Space Center from 1965 to 1997. He supervised and managed complex projects with sizeable staffs and tight budgets on Gemini, Apollo, Apollo-Soyuz, Skylab, and Space Shuttle Programs, and spent the last 10 years at JSC in the Space Shuttle Program Office.

Mayor Reid is highly visible in community activities. He is a Board Member of Pearland Arts League, PISD District Education Improvement Committee, and Adult Reading Center. He is a member of the Gideon Society, Chamber of Commerce, C. F. Spencer Lodge, and many other community organizations. He is an Eagle Scout, Ordained Elder in the First Presbyterian Church, and is a 32 Degree Mason and a Shriner.

He has a history of regional participation and currently represents Pearland as a Board Member and Past President of the Houston-Galveston Area Council and the Texas Association of Regional Councils, and is Secretary of the H-GAC Transportation Policy Council. He is on the Executive Board of Bay Area Transportation Partnership and is a Vice President of the Economic Alliance of the Houston Port Region. He is also Chairman of the Pearland Development Authority, and the Pearland Area Citizens Corps.

Mayor Reid believes that regional partnerships on transportation, surface water, and air quality are essential to economic growth and quality of life for both Pearland and the Houston Gulf Coast area. He is working with local, regional, and state organizations and officials to make Pearland a quality city that will make us all proud to say we live in Pearland.