1996-07-15 PEARLAND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION BOARD PUBLIC HEARING MEETING MINUTES - 7:00PMMINUTES OF A PUBLIC HEARING OF THE PEARLAND ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION BOARD, OF THE CITY OF PEARLAND,
TEXAS, HELD MONDAY, JULY 15, 1996 AT 7:00 P.M., IN THE COUNCIL
CHAMBERS, CITY HALL, 3519 LIBERTY DRIVE, PEARLAND, TEXAS.
The hearing was called to order at 7:07 .m. with the following present:
BOARD MEMBERS
Chairman Dennis Frauenberger
Vice President Tricia Holland
Secretary Susan Lenamon
Board Member Bill Berger
Board Member Stella Roberts
Board Member Bob Lewis
Board Member Connie Beaumont
EX -OFFICIO BOARD MEMBERS
Mayor Tom Reid
Chamber of Commerce Billye Everett
Tritech Regional Council John Knox
STAFF MEMBERS
Asst. Executive Director John R. Bowman
Marketing & Events
Coordinator Terrie Morgan
Administrative Asst. Perla N. Lehman
NUMBER SIGNING ATTENDANCE ROSTER: 29
1
PURPOSE OF HEARING: To consider a proposed project to develop and implement
an industrial effluent pre-treatment program to accommodate Pearland industries in
accordance with the Development Corporation Act of 1979, as amended.
PRESENTATION OF THE PROPOSED PROJECT - Assistant City Manager Richard
Burdine gave a detailed presentation regarding the proposed project. Mr. Burdine,
representing the city asked the board to consider funding a pre-treatment program whose main
objective will be to protect the environment by preventing problems such as, interference with
POTW (publicly -owned treatment works) operations, pass-through of pollutants, municipal
sludge contamination, and exposure of workers to chemical hazards.
Mr. Burdine presented the board with a list of the first year's start up costs consisting of
Engineering Assistance at $10,000.00, Personnel at $28,950.00, Equipment at $23,950.00 and
the Laboratory Tests at $6,000.00. The total cost to put the program in place would be
$68,000.00.
The benefit to businesses that generate industrial eluent is the program enables them to
discharge into the city's system, versus the high cost of having hauled off in a vacuum truck.
PERSONS WISHING TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE PROPOSED PROJECT
1. David S. Miller - 2706 Shady Creek - stated he was in favor of the program, but had
some questions concerning the actual proposal. He felt having a wastewater treatment
program is something which probably would be a great benefit to not only our community,
but to industries that are going to be locating in our town. Mr. Miller wanted to know if
this was a proposal to consider doing a study to see if the city needs a program or if this
was a proposal to establish the program? If it is a proposal to consider doing a study, then
he was in favor of doing the study. Whether to establish this particular program, he
stated, is a little questionable. He inquired about the industries that would be effected by
putting a program like this in place. He wanted to know about the costs that they are
incurring now? Would these businesses reimburse part or all of the cost to the city or
PEDC? Would the personnel costs be a permanent situation for the PEDC to fiord or is
this for the city to fund? Are there any businesses that could be brought in to handle this
rather than have the city handle it? He informed the board that there are companies who
specialize in this. And, he wanted to know what the annual budget would be?
2. Mayor Tom Reid - 2716 Stratford St. - stated that the Clean Water Act, when
enacted, was far reaching and a very wise decision on the part of legislative action in that
it contributed to and is still contributing to improved water conditions throughout the
nation. Pearland has always stepped forward and has always been one of the cities that
has taken the lead and complied with the process. Mr. Reid said he saw this as a logical
next step for Pearland's growth and what it represents as a community. He was very
supportive of this project and suggested we move forward with it.
next step for Pearland's growth and what it represents as a community. He was very
supportive of this project and suggested we move forward with it.
3. Billye Everett - Pearland/Hobby Area Chamber of Commerce- shared with the board
that she had called two major businesses and asked questions regarding their current costs
and to see if they had an interest in a project like this. One company said they currently
pay $50,000.00/year to treat their waste water and if they expand, they will definitely be
interested in this project. The other company said they pay $1,000.00/ month to treat
their waste water. These are just two examples of businesses in need of this project, she
said.
PERSONS WISHING TO SPEAK IN OPPOSITION - None came forward at this
time.
At this time, Chairman Dennis Frauenberger opened the floor for any comments from
members of the board.
COMMENTS BY THE PEDC BOARD
Bill Berger - Agreed with Mr. Miller's comments that there's a lot more to learn about
this whole project in terms of its purpose, funding, who will control, operate, staff, EPA
involvement, monitoring , how often they issue reports and to whom and so on. Mr.
Berger stated he had done some research and found out that there are two types of
treatment: A primary treatment - removes about 60% of impurities and a standard
treatment - adds another 30% to that. He wanted to know what kind of treatment was
being discussed.
Stella Roberts concurred with Mr. Miller and Mr. Berger. She wanted to know exactly
what it was the board was being asked to do. She needed clarification regarding this
proposal and what its going to do.
Susan Lenamon - concurred with her fellow board members.
Dennis Frauenberger added that he felt that this was definitely something the board needed
to consider. He stated that he would like to know where the funding would stop.
Tricia Holland - concurred with her fellow board members and said that she thought this
was something the board needed to take a closer look at.
Connie Beaumont - stated that we should move forward and pursue it.
Bob Lewis - stated that the main mission of this board was to create infrastructure within
the city and suggested we move forward with this project.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
After all board member questions and concerns were addressed satisfactorily, Chairman
Dennis Frauenberger opened the floor to move for an adjournment.
ADJOURNMENT
Adjourned: 7:58 p.m.
Minutes approved as submitted and/or corrected this
A.D., 1996.
ATTEST:
— cY
erla N. Lehman, Administrative Assistant