City Council

CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION MINUTES CITY OF ODESSA, TEXAS July 7, 2020 On July 7, 2020, a work session meeting of the Odessa City Council was held at 10:00 a.m., Floyd Gwin Park, PAL Gym, 1015 N. County Road W., Odessa, Texas. City Council present: Mayor David R. Turner; Council members: Michael Shelton, District One; Dewey Bryant, District Two; Detra White, District Three; Tom Sprawls, District Four; Mari Willis, District Five; and Peggy Dean, At-Large. Due to the COVID-19, the meeting was teleconferenced, as allowed by the Governor’s executive order. Council member Dean was present through teleconference. Others present: Michael Marrero, City Manager; Norma Aguilar-Grimaldo, City Secretary; Natasha Brooks, City Attorney; Phillip Urrutia, Assistant City Manager; Cindy Muncy, Assistant City Manager; and other members of City staff. A quorum being present, Mayor Turner called the meeting to order and the following proceedings were held: The invocation was given by Council member Shelton. Building Assessment Study. Mr. Urrutia stated that there was a proposal was for a building assessment study for city facilities. The study would include a study for structural, mechanical and future growth in the City. City space was needed. The firm specialized in building assessments. The Fire Stations would be reviewed structurally. Hal Sargent, Brinkley Sargent Architects, stated a need assessment would done on space, facilities, mechanical and architectural. The analysis would be at City Hall, Municipal Plaza, Municipal Court, 42nd complex and Pool Road complex. He would provide options on the future growth. A master plan would be developed on future growth. The plan could be divided up on number of years that could be less than ten years. The cost of the study was $224,876. Mr. Urrutia explained the funds were available from different line items including supplemental. Mr. Sargent stated to study work practices from home was not known but a point of conversation. TCAP professional services agreement for participation in SHP for procurement of wholesale energy. Margaret Somereve, Interim Director of TCAP, thanked the City for being a member since inception. TCAP had a new purchasing process that provided the opportunity to save the members funds. She stated electricity would be purchased for a year in two years in advance. Bill Starnes, energy consultant, would assist with negotiation of contracts. A plan would be adopted with a professional services agreement. Mayor Turner asked about purchasing electricity on a long term. Ms. Somereve stated that the one year did not have premiums as the longer terms had premiums. If the rate were higher, TCAP would wait to purchase electricity. Mr. Starnes stated that the contract would allow going to a fixed price for the remainder of the contract. Lab supplies purchase for use in Lab Services Division ($61,000). Jo Ann Samaniego, Director of Purchasing, stated that the annual purchase was for chemicals for testing the wastewater and any requirements from TCEQ. Council Work Session Minutes July 7, 2020 Page 2 Bid award to CED for purchase of 19 mini power packets ($94,050). Steve Patton, Director of Parks and Recreation, stated that the power packs were for replacing the old packs for Starbright Village. The packets were the central power and were waterproof. The cost was $94,050 and would last for ten years. Zone change request from Single Family-Two to Neighborhood Services District. Randy Brinlee, Director of Development Services, stated that the two residential lots was for a children’s clothing store. Zone change request from Single Family-Three-Drill Reservation to Single Family- Three. Mr. Brinlee stated that the location was at 87th and Dawn. The lot would be abandoned and there would be no drilling activity after the zone change. Original zoning to Light Commercial. Mr. Brinlee stated that the zoning to light commercial would allow expanding administrative offices from an oil field company. Renewal of Industrial District Agreement expiring December 2020 and possible write- off of delinquent accounts. Ms. Brooks stated that eight industrial agreements would expire in December 2020. She asked for Council direction to renew or provide an outside city limit agreement. There was a fee in lieu of property taxes. There were no delinquent accounts. Council member White emphasized that there needed to be a tracking system for the accounts not to be delinquent. Ms. Brooks reported that the eight companies requested not to be annexed into the city. She stated some companies were written off, as they were no longer in business. Council member Willis asked that there be a mechanism in place on not having delinquent accounts. Allocation of CDBG Coronavirus Funds. Merita Sandoval, Director of Community Development, stated that there were $827,410 in requests. The City was allocated $514,553 in CDBG Coronavirus funds. The requests were under four categories of food assistance, rent/mortgage and utility assistance, homeless assistance, and mental health counseling. There was also a request of administrative costs but was not eligible due to lack of information. The funds could be allocated on any of the four categories. Mrs. Sandoval would provide a deadline to the agencies that needed to submit the information on the administrative costs. Discuss mobile dent repair shops and roofing contractors. Mayor Turner stated that due to the hailstorm, there would be a lot of mobile dent repair shops and roofing contractors coming to our city from other areas. In the past, he has received complaints and the citizen could not get a hold of the company. He wanted to protect the citizens. Mayor Turner stated that Amarillo has a provision in place with bonding, a building permit and other mechanisms to hold accountable. The mobile dent shops were required to have an itinerant vender permit. Roofing companies’ licenses were checked. Mr. Brinlee stated that there was not a provision to hold the company accountable. Council member White encouraged that citizens to be cautious. Mr. Marrero stated that staff would check with other cities if they had provisions on protection. A task force with Mayor Turner, Council members Shelton and Sprawls would review the information and report to Council. Discuss game room operations inside city limits. Mayor Turner asked that the game rooms be surveyed for compliance of requirements from the State. Council member Willis stated that they should be reminded on complying with the State’s requirements during the pandemic. Council Work Session Minutes July 7, 2020 Page 3 Discuss future web-based City Council meetings. Mr. Marrero asked the Council if they wanted to meet by web-based meeting due to the environment of the community. The City was taking additional steps such as possibility of alternating work schedules. There were positive COVID-19 cases in our organization but the City would not close. Council members expressed their views. The next Council meeting would be web based. Discuss the establishment of a multi-jurisdictional EOC. Rodd Huber, Assistant Fire Chief, stated that discussions were held regarding a multi-jurisdictional EOC with the two hospitals, the County and Police Department. The cases were closely watched. Medical Center Hospital was at a 30% threshold of ventilator usage and there was nursing staffing shortages. Joey White, Assistant Fire Chief, reported that the medical community has not requested help. He stated that a virtual EOC could be set up in hours and people for the EOC was being reidentified. All necessary entities were being represented. He reported that the virtual EOC was as a real EOC where tracing and tracking were done. Chief Huber stated that the physical location for an EOC was difficult to find for the required space that was needed. Mayor thanked all the first responders on behalf of the City Council. Consider appointment of Associate Municipal Court Judge. Mayor Turner stated that the candidate accepted the offer. Motion was made by Council member Bryant and seconded by Council member Shelton to appoint Carlos Rodriguez to Associate Municipal Court Judge. The motion passed by the following vote: Aye: Turner, Shelton, Bryant, White, Sprawls, Willis, and Dean Nay: None Council member Bryant asked if the CARES funds could assist with the furlough nurses. Mr. Marrero reported that the hospitals received funding but the City could provide assistance. There was no other business, the meeting adjourned at 10:57 a.m. ATTEST: APPROVED: Norma Aguilar-Grimaldo, TRMC, CMC David R. Turner City Secretary Mayor