2001-01-30 CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES279
MINUTES OF A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
PEARLAND, TEXAS, HELD ON JANUARY 30, 2001, AT 5:30 P.M., IN THE COUNCIL
CHAMBERS, CITY HALL, 3519 LIBERTY DRIVE, PEARLAND, TEXAS.
The meeting was called to order with the following. present:
Mayor
Tom Reid
Mayor Pro -Tem
Klaus Seeger
Councilmember
Helen Beckman
Councilmember
Woody Owens
Councilmember
Larry Marcott
Councilmember
Larry Wilkins
Interim City Manager
Alan Mueller
City Attorney
Darrin Coker
City Secretary
Young Lorfing
Others in attendance: City Engineer John Hargrove.
PURPOSE OF THE MEETING:
CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE ACTION - REGARDING AN AIR QUALITY PERMIT
AS FILED BY CRESPO FAMILY SERVICES. Mayor & City Council.
Interim City Manager, Alan Mueller, introduced the representative from Crespo Family
Services.
Anthony Crespo, Crespo Family Services, gave a brief overview of the nature of his
proposed business, All Gods Creatures, who is requesting an air quality permit. Mr.
Crespo stated his business would provide professional death care for pets.
Mayor Pro -Tem Seeger made a motion, seconded by Councilmember Wilkins, to open this
item for discussion.
Mayor Reid stated there is a 30 -day period from the time of application to TNRCC for
comments, and stated the 30 -day period expires February 9, 2001.
Mayor Pro -Tem Seeger reported he attended the TNRCC Public Hearing regarding Crespo
Family Services. He stated at this meeting there were quite a few citizens who attended
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to voice their opposition to this permit. He reported their concern was mainly due to the
homes adjacent to this proposed facility. He stated the very fact that Crespo had to file an
application with TNRCC was of concern to citizens since it meant that something was to
be emitted in the air.
Mr. Crespo stated that TNRCC measures five different pollutants during the application
process. He reports that out of the five pollutants, most measured either nonexistent or
minuscule in comparison to the allowable amount.
Madeline Crespo, Crespo Family Services, stated that because of the way legislation is
written only commercial, for-profit companies have to go through the TNRCC application
process for this type of air permit. She stated if their business was not-for-profit they would
not have to go through the application process at all.
Councilmember Owens asked if there were any older crematories in existence in Pearland.
Ms. Crespo reported that South Park Crematory on Main Street has two adult, human
crematories that have been in operation for 25 years. South Park also does cremation six
days a week, 8-10 hours a day. She stated there is no visible smoke and no odor from this
facility. She added that human crematories can operate without TNRCC regulation.
Mayor Reid asked if there was a limit on how many animals they could cremate per day
Ms. Crespo stated the air permit from TNRCC does not regulate according to how many
animals are cremated but how many pounds per hour. She further stated they are limited
to 100 pounds per hour,
Mayor Reid asked whether some of the animals would be buried as opposed to cremation.
Ms. Crespo answered that they have additional property for burial use but most people
prefer cremation for their animals. She also added that they chose a particular
manufacturer from which to purchase cremation equipment since this equipment was the
most environmentally friendly and state-of-the-art. She further stated it exceeds any other
animal crematory in use in the area and even exceeds South Park's crematory in regards
to being environmentally -friendly.
Further discussion ensued between representatives of Crespo Family Services and Council
regarding the location, description of the facility, future expansion of the facility and
resident's opposition to the facility being built.
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r Mayor Pro -Tem Seeger made a motion to contact TNRCC and protest the air quality
permit. The motion failed due to the lack of a second.
Mayor Reid stated that citizens would have an opportunity to voice their opinion regarding
the air quality permit at the upcoming council meeting on February 12, 2001.
ADJOURNMENT:
Meeting was adjourned at 6:19 p.m.
Minutes approved as submitted and/or corrected this the 12 day of Februar , 2001.
Tom Reid
Mayor
ATTEST:
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