A Pearland group’s petition to
order a local-option election this
November to allow the sale of all alcohol within city limits failed to get the required number of signatures.[/caption]

A petition to order a local-option election to allow all alcohol sales within Pearland’s city limits did not reach the required number of signatures by the June 22 deadline. The shortfall ended any chance the measure would be included on the ballot in November.

The 2014-15 Leadership Pearland class sought to gain support for the petition—which needed the signatures of more than 7,000 registered voters—in order to bring alcohol sales reform to a vote.

A program sponsored by the Pearland Chamber of Commerce designed to increase resident involvement in city affairs, Leadership Pearland took on the endeavor in an effort to make a lasting change in the city, said Mark Smith, one of the group’s 12 graduating members.

Pearland laws restrict businesses from selling alcohol within the city limits unless the business acquires a food and beverage permit. To qualify for the permit, an establishment must earn at least 51 percent of gross sales tax revenue from food sales, city officials said.

“The more we thought about it, the [alcohol sales] law that is in place prevents some businesses from operating,” Smith said. “Even though Leadership Pearland is not technically the [Pearland] Chamber of Commerce, we’re still all business leaders. We wanted to follow [the chamber’s] mission of promoting business.”

Increased sales tax revenue and entertainment options in Pearland are some of the anticipated benefits alcohol sales reform would bring the city, officials said. However some feel the lack of alcohol-dominant businesses, such as bars and liquor stores, does not hurt the city.

“Our economic development and growth does not depend on whether or not we sell alcohol,” Pearland City Council Member Greg Hill said. “That is of no consequence.”

[polldaddy poll=8995387] Although Pearland’s alcohol sales laws prohibit alcohol-dominant businesses within city limits, there are several bars and liquor stores nearby. Officials said many residents are not aware of the alcohol restrictions because these establishments are so close.[/caption]

Grass-roots effort

Leadership Pearland’s petition began circulating April 20 in hopes of reaching the benchmark of 7,038 signatures, or 35 percent of Pearland voters in the November 2014 election. While officials said there was an overwhelming positive response within the community, the group only gathered around 2,000 signatures through door-to-door solicitation and efforts at local businesses and events.

“Getting involved with the actual requirements of getting it done was a little bit more daunting than we had initially anticipated,” Smith said.

The shortfall in signatures is a reflection of voter turnout in city elections, Hill said.

“I think people for the most part wanted to see this happen, but voter participation is so bad that the amount of signatures they needed would be more than the amount of people [who] actually vote in the [city] election,” Hill said. “It’s just going to be difficult to [gather enough signatures].”

Others said they believe many residents fail to realize the city’s alcohol sales restrictions because of an abundance of restaurants with bars and liquor stores just outside city limits in cities such as Friendswood or Houston.

“I think the majority of folks don’t know the [alcohol sales] laws currently on the books,” Council Member Tony Carbone said. “After you explain [it] to them and they think through it, most of the time they’ll then realize it and support the change.”

A successful petition is required to bring the local-option election to a vote, officials said. The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission does not allow any state government entity outside of the city of Abilene to order a local-option election.

“Unfortunately the law is written [so] that the only way to get it on the ballot is through this petition initiative,” Smith said. “You have to go through the petition, get it on the ballot and then actually have the election.”

Economic effect

Attracting bars and nightlife options to Pearland would increase sales tax revenue and bring jobs to boost the economy, officials said. The alcohol restrictions now are sending those dollars elsewhere.

“We’re essentially forcing [Pearland residents] to go outside the city limits to spend tax dollars,” Carbone said. “I’m a big proponent of keeping everything local when we can.”

Allowing alcohol-dominant operations would also increase Pearland’s attractiveness to business travelers and vacationers, which would boost hotel occupancy tax revenue, Carbone said.

In addition some establishments may be in danger of being shut down because their alcohol sales are beginning to exceed food sales, Smith said. Smith said he believes The Wild Geese Tavern—once located on Broadway Street—closed because of this scenario.

“There would be some businesses that operate in Pearland now, if the law isn’t changed, that might not be able to continue to operate because of the percentage sales issue,” he said.

Resident concerns

While Smith said an unscientific survey conducted by Leadership Pearland showed almost 80 percent in favor of full alcohol sales, there were some who raised concerns about the change.

Officials said some residents worried about the location of potential future bars and liquor stores. However, Hill and other officials said Pearland’s strict zoning codes would quell any problems related to alcohol-dominant businesses interfering with neighborhoods or other places, such as schools or churches.

“Do I want a biker bar showing up in [my mom’s] neighborhood? No,” Smith said. “But the good thing about Pearland [is] with the zoning ordinance, City Council and the Planning and Zoning [Commission] can really put the establishments that would come in in appropriate areas to where they would be really viable for the city.”

The local-option election also would have no bearing on the prohibition of sexually-oriented businesses in Brazoria County, an issue that concerned some residents. Negative feedback included a fear of increased drunk driving, but Smith said it is a nonissue.

“[Drunk driving] is more of a personal choice [by] the person who decides to violate the law as opposed to [an issue of] whether they can have access to [alcohol] or not,” he said.

The chamber has had preliminary talks about attempting another petition in the fall and formed a committee to explore strategic options July 10.

Chamber President Carol Artz-Bucek said making it a valid petition will require more volunteers or a professional signature-gathering firm.

“The Leadership [Pearland] class didn’t have the manpower,” she said. “I think that’s the only thing that kept them from having success the first time. It’s not dead yet. We just have to refocus and come up with a new strategy.”