City Council

CITY COUNCIL MINUTES CITY OF ODESSA, TEXAS August 25, 2020 On August 25, 2020, a regular meeting of the Odessa City Council was held at 6:00 p.m., Odessa, Texas. Due to the COVID-19, the meeting was teleconferenced, as allowed by Governor Abbott’s executive order. The City Council was present through teleconference. 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. 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 Mayor Turner and followed by the Pledge of Allegiance and Texas flags. Mayor Turner read the West Texas Strong proclamation that was issued by the City of El Paso for our city. CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS A. City Council minutes, August 11, 2020; B. City Council work session minutes, August 18, 2020; C. Resolution No. 2020R-54 – State and local HIDTA task force agreement between the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Odessa Police Department. Motion was made by Council member Bryant and seconded by Council member Shelton to approve consent agenda items. The motion was approved by the following vote: Aye: Turner, Shelton, Bryant, White, Sprawls, and Willis Nay: None OTHER COUNCIL ACTION August 31 memorial proposal to be located at Memorial Gardens. Randy Ham, Odessa Arts Executive Director, stated that the August 31 memorial would pay tribute, honor victims, and provide for a place of grieving and healing. Council member Dean joined the meeting. A budget for the art piece was $300,000. There were 138 artist that applied for the commission of the design. The committee recommended the art piece Bright Stars by artist Jim Sanborn. Mr. Ham described the art piece of the 11’ cylinder with the engraved names of Council Minutes August 25, 2020 Page 2 the victims and injured and quotes from first responders and dispatchers. The cylinder was $200,000 and $100,000 for the landscape around the cylinder. There would be a redesign of Memorial Gardens to place the memorial piece. The redesign budget was anticipated at $565,000. The goal was to unveil next year on August 31. There would be space to use for events. The total cost for the project was $850,000. Mr. Ham was optimistic that the funds would be raised through foundations and donations. Mayor Turner stated it needed to be done in a timely fashion. Council member Willis stated that the funds would be raised quickly, and the Odessa Arts board supported the recommendation. Motion was made by Council member Willis and seconded by Council member Bryant to approve the proposal as recommended at Memorial Gardens. The motion was approved by the following vote: Aye: Turner, Shelton, Bryant, White, Sprawls, Willis, and Dean Nay: None PUBLIC HEARING Open a public hearing for fiscal year 2020-2021 budget. Mrs. Muncy stated that the proposed budget was filed August 10 with the City Secretary. The proposed 2020-2021 budget had total revenues at $241,643,906 and total expenditures at $236,322,305. A proposed increase in water and sewer rates were included in the budget. Mrs. Muncy provided the prosed annual increase for an average customer. A repair and replacement program for water and sewer lines would be established. There was a 10% decrease in sales tax projections. The no new revenue rate was 0.477115. Council member Dean stated that Council has reviewed the budget in detail. No one came forward and the public hearing was closed. Motion was made by Council member Sprawls and seconded by Council member Shelton to approve the budget. The motion was approved by the following vote: Aye: Turner, Shelton, Bryant, White, Sprawls, Willis, and Dean Nay: None RESOLUTION Resolution No. 2020R-55 – Odessa Development Corporation (ODC) General Development Plan for FY 2020-2021. Robert Carroll, Senior Assistant City Attorney, stated that ODC General Development Plan was updated. There was an inclusion of a non- discrimination policy, adjusted grants and updated goals and missions for the contractors was reflected the plan. The Black Chamber of Commerce and the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce were included. Motion was made by Council member Willis and seconded by Council member White to approve the resolution. The motion was approved by the following vote: Aye: Turner, Shelton, Bryant, White, Sprawls, Willis, and Dean Nay: None Resolution No. 2020R-56 – Odessa Development Corporation economic development agreement with Apergy. Wesley Burnett, Chamber of Commerce Economic Development Director, stated that Apergy consolidated from Midland to Odessa and a lab from Oklahoma Council Minutes August 25, 2020 Page 3 to Odessa. There would be a capital investment of $2 million with 20 new jobs and 130 maintained jobs. The grant was for $1 million over five-years. Council member Dean left the meeting at 6:33 p.m. Motion was made by Council member White and seconded by Council member Sprawls to approve the resolution. The motion was approved by the following vote: Aye: Turner, Shelton, Bryant, White, Sprawls, and Willis Nay: None Resolution No. 2020R-57 – Odessa Development Corporation third training facilities grant with UTPB. Mr. Burnett stated that this was the third grant for a manufacturing and workforce training center. The grant was for $2.1 million over three years. Motion was made by Council member Shelton and seconded by Council member Bryant to approve the resolution. The motion was approved by the following vote: Aye: Turner, Shelton, Bryant, White, Sprawls, and Willis Nay: None Resolution No. 2020R-58 – Establish a maximum tax rate of $0.477115 for Fiscal Year 2020-2021. Mrs. Muncy stated that the tax rate was established at $0.477115 valuation for fiscal year 2020-21. The proposed tax rate was equal to the no new revenue tax rate and no public hearing was required. The rate was lower than the voter approval rate of $0.481917. There was an overall decrease in values. She compared the certified values from 2019. Total exemptions were 18.35%. Mrs. Muncy provided comparison increased rates of a home value. The vote would be on September 8 at 6 p.m. and the final vote on September 15. Dallas Kennedy stated that this was a rough year, but Odessa was resilient. There were many homes for sale, people losing jobs, high unemployment, and businesses were down. The citizens needed a break and asked that the rate be the same. Motion was made by Council member White and seconded by Council member Shelton to approve the resolution. The motion was approved by the following vote: Aye: Turner, Shelton, Bryant, White, Sprawls, and Willis Nay: None Resolution No. 2020R-59 – Odessa Development Corporation annual budget and Resolution No. 2020R-60 – ODC economic development contractor agreements for FY 2020-2021. Mrs. Muncy provided an overview of the ODC budget. Highlights included a reduction of sales tax revenues proposed at $9.5 million. The contractors were identified. The Hispanic Chamber and the Black Chamber of Commerce were funded through the marketing funds. The ending Fund Balance was $9.1 million. Motion was made by Council member Bryant and seconded by Council member Shelton to approve the resolution. The motion was approved by the following vote: Aye: Turner, Shelton, Bryant, White, Sprawls, and Willis Nay: None Council Minutes August 25, 2020 Page 4 MISCELLANEOUS Appointment of Boards: Animal Shelter Advisory Committee, Board of Survey, Citizens Golf Advisory Committee, Odessa Housing Finance Corporation, Traffic Advisory Committee, Zoning Board of Adjustment, and Midland Odessa Urban Transit District. No action. Citizen’s comments on non-agenda items. No comments. There was no other business, the meeting adjourned at 6:47 p.m. ATTEST: APPROVED: Norma Aguilar-Grimaldo, TRMC, CMC David R. Turner City Secretary Mayor