2011-05-02 CITY COUNCIL PUBLIC HEARING MEETING MINUTESr MINUTES OF A PUBLIC HEARING OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
1 PEARLAND, TEXAS, TO BE HELD ON MONDAY, MAY 2, 2011, AT 6:30 P.M. IN
THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS, CITY HALL, 3519 LIBERTY DRIVE, PEARLAND,
TEXAS.
Mayor Reid called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. with the following present:
Mayor
Mayor Pro -Tem
Councilmember
Councilmember
Councilmember
Councilmember
City Manager
City Attorney
City Secretary
Tom Reid
Scott Sherman
Woody Owens
Steve Saboe
Felicia Kyle
Ed Thompson
Bill Eisen
Darrin Coker
Young Lorfing
Others in attendance: Jon Branson Assistant City Manager; Danny Cameron Public
Works Director; Glen Turner Director of Fire Services; J.C. Doyle Police Chief; Trent
Epperson Project Director; Roland Garcia Fire Marshal; Bonita J. Hall Director of
Human Resources and Safety Management; Mike Hodge Assistant City Manager; Lata
Krishnarao Planning Director; Narciso Lira City Engineer; Claire Bogard Finance
1 Director; Michelle Smith Director of Parks and Recreation; Jeff Sundseth EMS
Operations Director; Fred Welch Executive Director of Economic Development
Corporation; David Whittaker Director of Inspection Services.
PURPOSE OF HEARING — PROPOSED ANNEXATION OF APPROXIMATELY 589
ACRES (AREA 5)
589 ACRES OF LAND, MORE OR LESS, AREA GENERALLY LOCATED WEST OF
SH 35, EAST OF THE RAILROAD, SOUTH OF HASTINGS FIELD ROAD AND NORTH
OF HASTINGS CANNON ROAD. (AREA 5)
STAFF REVIEW OF THE FEASIBILITY PLAN AND SERVICE PLAN:
Planner II Evan Duvall stated this is the second of two Public Hearings regarding this
proposed annexation. The zoning of the property will be addressed following the
annexation if it is approved. The area is approximately 589 acres located west of Main
Street and south of Hastings Field Road. The land has a combination of uses, which
include residential, industrial, and agricultural. There are also approximately ninety-
eight oil rigs in the area. Residents will have the ability to have an agricultural
exemption or development agreement with the City for agricultural land being annexed.
The City hosted an Open House, mailed out certified letters, and did a walk-through to
place door hangers along with letters inviting resident to meet one on one with staff.
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Common comments from residents have been that services offered by the Volunteer
Fire Department, and Brazoria County have been satisfactory. The residents are also
satisfied with current septic systems and water wells. Concerns voiced by residents
include police and fire services, paying taxes with little returns, and animal restrictions.
Residents have also stated concerns regarding the operation of oil field having
diminished the quality of the roads. Upon approval of the proposed annexation, the City
will provide residents with police services, fire services, emergency management
services, and code enforcement. After the annexation is complete the proposed zoning
for the area will be Suburban Development District.
CITIZEN COMMENTS:
James Fields, Denbury Resources, Inc., addressed Council and stated Denbury is
drilling of the fifth of a nine well drilling package in the field which will bring new well
bores to replace those that could not be rehabilitated. They have completed six
recompletions to replace pipe and have scheduled ten more. Mr. Fields provided
Council with an overview of Denbury Resources, Inc. operations within the proposed
annexation area.
Jim Williford, 9180 County Road 414, addressed Council and stated he has lived in this
area for thirty-five years and is strictly against the annexation.
G. C. Cannan III, South of County Rd 128, addressed Council and stated his concern is
the affect of the taxes, the agriculture exemption, and the animal ordinance. The
residents are against the annexation.
Sarah Fusig, 18613 County Rd 414A, addressed Council and stated her concerns
regarding economic times and the negative effect that will take place on the families and
residents in the Hastings Field area should the City choose annex the area.
COUNCIL/STAFF DISCUSSION:
Councilmember Thompson stated he would like additional information regarding any
concerns the Citizens may have about the City being proactive and regulating the oil
and gas operations and future growth issues.
Planner II Evan Duvall stated the concern was mainly regarding the degradation of the
roads due to oil operations and oil spills.
Discussion ensued between Council, Planning Director Lata Krishnarao Planner II Evan
Duvall, and Assistant City Engineer Trent Perez regarding the proposed annexation.
Mary Price, 5204 Main, stated she has oil wells on her property and was told they were
going dry at the time she purchased the land. Since 2009, Denbury Resources, Inc.
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has had approximately eight oil spills on her property and run the wells twenty-four
hours a day. The twenty-four hour activity violates the City Noise Ordinance and she
would like this addressed.
i
Councilmember Kyle asked if Denbury Resources, Inc. is currently operating within the
guidelines of the Noise Ordinance.
James Fields, Denbury Resources, Inc. stated Denbury Resources, Inc. is currently in
compliance with the City Ordinance.
Couniclmember Thompson stated he would like more information regarding the field
and the complete production agreement between Denbury Resources, Inc. and the City
of Alvin.
James Denbury Resources, Inc. entered into an industrial Agreement with the City of
Alvin that states the company will be exempt from the City's annexation for a specified
amount of time. Denbury Resources, Inc. will pay a reduced amount of ad valorem
taxes.
Discussion ensued between Council, City Attorney Darrin Coker, and James Field,
Denbury Resources, Inc. regarding the proposed annexation.
Mayor Pro -Tem Sherman asked how long Area No. 5 had been located within the City's
Extraterritorial Jurisdiction and if the City has had the option to annex the land since that
time.
Planner II Evan Duvall stated the land became a part of the City's Extraterritorial
Jurisdiction in 1962 and the City has had the ability to annex it since then.
Mayor Pro -Tem Sherman asked how residents are informed that the City has the ability
to annex the property when they purchase it.
Assistant City Manager Jon Branson stated the realtor should inform the buyer and the
contract they enter into for the purchase tells them to check with the municipality they
reside in or are located in their Extraterritorial Jurisdiction.
Councilmember Owens requested a copy of any additional anticipated cost to the City
that would result from the proposed annexation.
Assistant City Manager Mike Hodge stated the City departments have been asked to
review the services required and establish if they need any additional funding to provide
the level of service provided to the rest of the City at this time.
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Assistant City Manager Jon Branson stated that a supplement request from the Street
Department additional maintenance money for roads that need improvement in the
proposed annexed area that are not available at this time.
City Manager Bill Eisen stated the City must take into consideration that any information
regarding property value and lease hold increases are only assumption at this point.
Councilmember Owens stated he would like to see the projected estimated value this
proposed annexation would bring to the City.
Meeting was adjourned at 7:35 p.m.
Minutes approved as submitted and/or corrected this the 13th day of June, A.D., 2011.
ATTEST:
r
Tom Reid
Mayor
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