City Council

CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION MINUTES CITY OF ODESSA, TEXAS April 7, 2020 On April 7, 2020, a work session meeting of the Odessa City Council was held at 10:00 a.m. in the Council Chambers, City Hall, 411 West 8th Street, Odessa, Texas. Due to the COVID-19, the meeting was teleconferenced, as allowed by the Governor’s executive order. City Council was present through teleconference. City Council present: Mayor David R. Turner; Council members: Dewey Bryant, District Two and Detra White, District Three; Tom Sprawls, District Four; Mari Willis, District Five; and Peggy Dean, At-Large. Others present: Michael Marrero, City Manager; Norma Aguilar-Grimaldo, City Secretary; Natasha Brooks, City Attorney; Phillip Urrutia, Assistant City Manager; Cindy Muncy, Interim Assistant City Manager; and other members of City staff. Council member Bryant gave the invocation. Covid-19 Testing Report - ORMCH and Medical Center Health System. Mr. Marrero stated this was an update on testing and facilities from the clinical experts. Russell Tippin, Medical Center Health System CEO, explained the importance on testing. The hospital and staff were following the CDC guidelines closely for stability. He reported that other states had testing sites but were not following the CDC guidelines and created mass testing. The mass testing provided data and comfort. The guidelines provided for doctors’ orders for testing. He appreciated the support of the City Council. Stacey Brown, Odessa Regional Medical Center President, provided statistical testing data. The hospital was following the CDC guidelines. She reported that the hospital had 500 kits and were used in a prudent fashion. The hospital will be receiving new equipment that will allow for rapid results in five minutes as opposed to days. Dr. Rohith Saravanan, Chief Medical Officer, explained the testing medium used. The swabs were limited and the criteria was more stringent than today. The mediums for testing has expanded and there were more testing available. Council member White asked about the outlining area hospitals if they were capable of handling extreme cases. Mr. Tippin had a meeting with the area hospitals and the healthcare has slowed outside the COVID-19. The area hospitals had limited equipment. If needed, the non-COVID-19 patients would be sent to the outlining hospitals and the COVID- 19 patients to Odessa. Council member Willis asked about the symptoms, if there was only one symptom would it fall under the category. Dr. Saravanan confirmed that one symptom would qualify but would be evaluated by doctors. Council member Bryant supported the plan and thanked all the staff for their work. Council member Dean confirmed the message that the health care staff was more judicious in following guidelines and it worked well. The Council thanked all the health care staff for all their work. Purchase of NIBIN cartridge acquisition and Triage package ($218,858). Mike Gerke, Police Chief, stated that that purchase of the cartridge and package was for ballistic imaging. The cartridges would become part of a finger print network. Work Session Minutes April 7, 2020 Page 2 Establish signalized intersections, speed limits, school and parking zonings. Hal Feldman, Traffic Engineer, explained the proposed traffic lights, speed limits and school zones. With the parking at Muskingum, ORMC requested the parking. Mr. Feldman explained the difference between the school zones and crosswalks. The traffic light would help traffic control on 87th St. Council member White asked about the school zones around the daycares. Mr. Feldman stated that if the request was from ECISD for a school zone then there was no concern for placement of the zone. He explained the difference of the request from ECISD and the daycare. Mr. Marrero stated that if the request was outside of ECISD, the requestor would pay for the equipment and the City would maintain the equipment. Adoption of revised Master Thoroughfare Plan. Mr. Feldman stated that Council adopted the Master Thoroughfare Plan on October 17, 2019. There were five roadways identified that needed updating. The revised plan would update the plan with upgrading the five roadways. Mr. Marrero would provide Council a presentation of the plan. Approve a PSA with KDC Associates. Steve Patton, Director of Parks & Recreation, stated that the agreement was for the design of Floyd Gwin Park and there would be an option to included Sherwood Park as an alternate, if funding allowed. KDC would provide inspections and host meeting updates. Kelly Cook, KDC, visited with the contractors and many were interested in the project. The project would employ 75 – 125 employees in late summer and be beneficial to the economy with its new jobs. Purchase 33 sets of personal protecting equipment. Saul Ortega, Assistant Fire Chief, stated that 33 sets of equipment would be purchased for $78,001. The equipment expired every ten years but was tested twice a year. The new equipment would replace expired equipment. He provided information on equipment in stock. An update would be sent to Council. Purchase for remodel of Fire Station #2. Chief Ortega stated that a bedroom would be added to Station #2 for $75,382 which would allow to house another person. Overall, it would help with the increase in runs. Purchase of four Lucas automatic CPR devices. John Alvarez, Fire Chief, stated that four CPR machines would be purchased to improve the EMS fleet. It would help with the transport of the patient. Accept JRAC Trauma funding. Chief Alvarez stated the funding for trauma was for $13,484. Accept and appropriate grant funding from Walmart Community grants team. Chief Alvarez stated that the Walmart Community grant was for $5,000 to purchase items and for training. Resignation of City Council member District One Malcolm Hamilton. Ms. Grimaldo stated that the Texas Election Code required that the governing body accept the resignation from any member of the City Council. Motion was made by Council member Willis and seconded by Council member White to accept the resignation of Malcolm Hamilton, Council member District One. The motion was approved by the following vote: Work Session Minutes April 7, 2020 Page 3 Aye: Turner, Bryant, White, Sprawls, Willis, and Dean Nay: None Discuss and consider the process for the vacancy of District One. Mayor Turner stated that in 2016, the last vacancy, Council opened a time frame for applications for anyone interested in serving. Ms. Grimaldo stated the City would provide notice through a press release to all media, an article in the newspaper, and all types of social media. After further discussion, the Council agreed to accept applications until April 20, at 5 p.m., interview on April 21, during the work session and appoint on April 29 during the Council meeting. Motion was made by Council member Bryant and seconded by Council member Willis to set the dates as outlined. The motion was approved by the following vote: Aye: Turner, Bryant, White, Sprawls, Willis, and Dean Nay: None Discuss and authorize the Mayor to negotiate and execute on behalf of the City of Odessa, an agreement to approve the use of ODC funds for COVID-19 Supply Sourcing and Manufacturing, related infrastructure based projects, and to provide COVID-19 related assistance. Mayor Turner reported that there were businesses that were manufacturing medical equipment. He stated that MOTRAN had a WIFI study that will be beneficial to provide towers in the county. Wesley Burnett, Chamber of Commerce Economic Development Director, stated that there was medical equipment being manufactured to help with the COVID-19 testing. The company was a supply source and manufacturing that would create job retention. With the infrastructure, towers were needed to provide WIFI for all of Ector County, as the south and west were underserved. There would be discussions with PSP to partner with this endeavor. The Odessa Development Corporation (ODC) had a healthy balance and the ODC funds could be used for the related infrastructure needed. The Perryman Report study was to evaluate issues including job losses and hardships. It would identify actions to provide a plan to overcome the COVID-19 and oil shock. The information would be disseminated. The study was $127,200 and would be completed in two weeks. Council member Dean supported the study and asked about the four way splitter. Mr. Burnett stated that there was not commitment made. Council member Dean stated it was important that Council stay informed. Council member Bryant stated that the items needed to be expedited during these times. Mr. Marrero would provide a summary on ODC activity. Council would meet and vote on any items for ODC funding. Council member White asked about the splitters on the respirators for two patients using the same machine. Representatives were discussing the splitters. Mr. Burnett stated that Mark Merritt was working with Texas Tech Health Science Center on the tests and prototype. Mayor Turner stated that there was a 40% usage of respirators and 33% was the critical point. Motion was made by Council member Dean and seconded by Council member Sprawls to approve the Perryman Study for $127,200. The motion was approved by the following vote: Aye: Turner, Bryant, White, Sprawls, Willis, and Dean Nay: None Work Session Minutes April 7, 2020 Page 4 Council member Willis thanked the Mayor and Mr. Marrero for their leadership during this crisis. There was no further business, the meeting adjourned at 11:42 a.m. ATTEST: APPROVED: Norma Aguilar-Grimaldo, TRMC, CMC David R. Turner City Secretary Mayor