Mayor Kevin Cole presented a Pearland Fire Department crew with his "WHY" in Action challenge coins.

Pearland Fire Chief J. Taylor
Recently, Mayor Kevin Cole presented a Pearland Fire Department crew with his "WHY" in Action challenge coins. 
Trust, Respect, Ownership, Integrity, Teamwork, and Innovation are the hallmark values that the City of Pearland - Government are built upon. 
​These firefighters hit several of these marks recently when they went above and beyond to secure an elderly patient's door after transporting her to the hospital ER.  
We appreciate the Mayor for taking the initiative to share this type of recognition across all CoP departments. 
Congratulations to these firefighters in only being a reflection of the outstanding service all of our PFD personnel, including FMO, Code Enforcement, Logistics, and Community Outreach, provide on a daily basis, 24/7/365:
312: Training Division Chief Shane Bridges (not pictured)
PFD Ladder 1 Crew:
Lt. Kristen Lemmons
D/O Zachary Grady
FF Richard Christensen
FF Tim Smith
PFD Medic Crew: 
FF Jeff Bradley
FF Wilhem Guzman

​KEVIN'S PEAR PLAN
Kevin developed his PEAR Plan to help move Pearland forward in keeping with the city's economic development, crime and safety issues, infrastructure, and managing the city’s budget and resources.
PROTECTION
One of the key responsibilities of local government is to PROVIDE PROTECTION for its citizens. As Mayor, Kevin will take this responsibility seriously.
POLICE PROTECTION is vitally important to Pearland and Kevin will focus on the City’s efforts to keep a low crime rate.
FIRE PROTECTION is key in keeping both property safe and threats to life at a minimum. The City has been upgrading staffing and facilities to make sure the City has proper coverage for both fire and EMS calls.
Maintaining and increasing PROPERTY VALUES is important to both the City and to property owners.
FLOOD/DRAINAGE: Certain areas of the City continue to suffer from repetitive losses during large flooding events. Kevin understands drainage and the importance it plays. He will dedicate continuing efforts to resolve these long-standing issues.
On the far west end of Pearland, the BLUERIDGE LANDFILL COMPLIANCE ISSUES are also a drag on property values for homeowners. These issues should be important to Pearland as a whole because of the loss of property value in that area. The rest of the City has to make up the difference.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Homeowners pay the bulk of property taxes in Pearland, so it is important that we EXPAND PEARLAND'S TAX BASE by attracting clean industry and high-paying jobs. It is also important for us to DIVERSIFY PEARLAND'S TAX BASE so as not to be too heavily weighted in any particular industry. (Oil and gas is an example).
Pearland has existing businesses that contribute a great amount to the overall community. We need to RETAIN AND EXPAND PEARLAND'S EXISTING BUSINESSES.
One of the biggest keys to attracting or retaining companies is making sure they have an available and skilled workforce. WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT IS CRUCIAL. Kevin has experience through the Northern Brazoria County Education Alliance to help with this effort. Partnering with the ISDs, Community Colleges, and UHCL Pearland Campus will be important in making our workforce the best in the area.
Kevin has always been a believer in a MARKET-BASED APPROACH when it comes to growth and development. There are certain areas of the City that have not experienced economic development and the zoning needs to be looked at through the eyes of the market.
Small business is the backbone of the Pearland economy. Kevin will focus on making sure rules, regulations, and permitting are done in an efficient manner to FOSTER THE GROWTH OF SMALL businesses.
ACCESSIBILITY (MOBILITY AND TRAFFIC)
Kevin will focus on transportation needs in the city. This will include an emphasis on both SAFE AND RELIABLE TRAFFIC FLOW throughout the city which is key to our growth and quality of life.
Kevin will advance innovative ways to improve the traffic signal technology so we can MANAGE TRAFFIC FLOW MORE EFFICIENTLY.
As Mayor, Kevin will work with city staff and elected officials to IMPROVE THE TRAVEL TIME RELIABILITY of our corridors. Our travel in Pearland should not vary from day to day. Under Kevin’s leadership, our transportation system will be dependable.
Kevin will work closely with the Transportation Policy Council to leverage regional dollars to help us with local project funding. He knows H-GAC, and how they operate and will lead the city into the future to ADDRESS OUR NEEDS FOR GROWTH AND MOBILITY.
Kevin will lead Pearland as we update the city's Major Thoroughfare Plan which will be our ROADMAP FOR THE FUTURE OF SMART CITY GROWTH AND PROSPERITY.
RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
Kevin believes both that the City's TAX RATE IS TOO HIGH and that its DEBT BURDEN IS TOO HIGH, and that both are huge concerns for the city.
Kevin will lead Council to direct staff to get SPENDING ACCOUNTABILITY OF EVERY LINE ITEM IN THE BUDGET.
Kevin led a similar effort when serving on Council in 2007/2008. As a result, they REDUCED SPENDING by $600,000 by asking two questions:
Is the line item still meeting its intended purpose?
Is the intended purpose still needed?
Kevin will ensure that the same effort is applied to future budgets.
Kevin will use his City Council and professional experience in challenging staff to KEEP THE 2019 VOTER-APPROVED BOND PROJECT SPENDING TO A MINIMUM.
Paid Political Ad by Kevin Cole Campaign, Melynda Steed, Treasurer