Officials with the Bellaire Culture and Arts Board, which integrates visual and performing arts in the town, asked during the Jan. 5 City Council meeting for council members to consider reinstating the streetlight banner program.

City council members voted unanimously in favor of the program and offered $12,500 in city funds to pay for it.

About the program

The streetlight banners were first hung in 2008 to commemorate Bellaire's Centennial Celebration and were displayed along Bellaire Boulevard until 2019, when the program was discontinued due to budget constraints, according to the agenda item.

The item states the board believes reinstating the program will positively impact Bellaire's visual identity, reinforcing a sense of place and signaling to residents and visitors that they are in the heart of Bellaire.


"One of our initiatives this year is to try and get a lot of community involvement," said board Chair Gay Mayeux. "And we feel like if people are driving down Bellaire Boulevard and they see these banners flying, that it will help them appreciate the city."

What we know

The proposal includes reestablishing the program with one banner design to be installed on existing brackets, with the option to introduce additional designs and explore expanding the program to include additional streetlights in the future. For fiscal year 2026, the first design will celebrate the 250th anniversary of the United States. Mayeux said the design will depict Bellaire "saluting" America.

Here's what else residents need to know about the banners:
  • Size: 2 feet wide by 4 feet tall
  • Vendor: Kronberg's Flags
  • Total project cost: $12,5000
  • Location: along Bellaire Boulevard from Bissonnet Street to Avenue B
  • Number of banners: 61
Funding the project


During the meeting, the Culture and Arts Board originally proposed to contribute $5,000 from its own fundraising efforts toward the overall cost. However, council member Ross Gordon made a motion for the city to cover the entire cost of the project. His motion was unanimously approved by City Council.

Next steps

Mayeux said the Culture and Arts Board will prepare 2-3 designs for the banners and will present the final options to the city manager for approval until a design is selected. Per the agenda item, the banners are anticipated to be installed by March.