City Council

CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION MINUTES CITY OF ODESSA, TEXAS October 6, 2020 On October 6, 2020, a work session meeting of the Odessa City Council was held at 10:00 a.m., Odessa, Texas in the Council Chambers, City Hall, fifth floor, 411 W. 8th St., Odessa, Texas. City Council present: Mayor David R. Turner Council members: Michael Shelton, District One; Dewey Bryant, District Two; Tom Sprawls, District Four; Mari Willis, District Five; and Peggy Dean, At-Large. City Council absent: Council member Detra White, District Three. Others present: Michael Marrero, City Manager; Norma Aguilar-Grimaldo, City Secretary; Natasha Brooks, City Attorney; Cindy Muncy, Assistant City Manager; Phillip Urrutia, 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: Council member Shelton gave the invocation. UTPB interlocal cooperation contract for street services. Tom Kerr, Director of Public Works/Utilities, stated that the UTPB contract was for street services that included ditch cleaning and other maintenance. The contract was for three years with a 1% cost escalation each year. Purchase of new Fire Station Alerting (FSA) system ($869,829). Saul Ortega, Assistant Fire Chief, stated that the purchase for the alert system would replace a 20-year-old system. The funds to purchase was from past supplemental funding and Lifeline funds. He explained the system as it interfaced with the City’s network and how it dispatched the engines from the 9-1-1 calls. It would be installed by January or February. Mike Parrish, Director of Information Technology, stated that it was tied to the cloud and used fiber and wireless connection. Bid award for Water Treatment Plant Generator Integration Project. Mr. Kerr introduced Esteban Acosta who would be the lead project manager for the Water Treatment Plant improvement project. He stated that an old generator was out. The purchase of the new generator would replace the failed generator. The generator cost was $488,108. The temporary generator rental was an average of $17,000 a month. Discuss proposal from ECISD for CARES CRF funds. Mr. Marrero stated that 75% of the CARES CRF funds required funding for dedicated programs to health or payroll. The 25% qualified for other types of programs. Dr. Scott Muri, ECISD Superintendent, thanked the Council for their service and opportunity for a partnership. He stated that ECISD has challenges due to the COVID-19. A challenge was to provide access to tools and technology to every ECISD student. ECISD was working on a project to secure broadband. ECISD has purchased $4 million in devices and the Texas Education Agency paid $2 million. There was a matching program from the state. He requested $985,261.50 from the City to assist with the payment for approximately 12,000 devices that was provided to ECISD Council Work Session Minutes October 6, 2020 Page 2 students. The request would be matched from the Texas Education Agency. Council member Shelton asked that the parents be assisted with those having problems connecting to the internet. Dr. Muri reported that most locations inside the city limits had broadband. With outside the City limits, hot spots were being provided to help families. He was working on expanding the wireless on campuses for the students. Council member Willis thanked Dr. Muri and ECISD for working, collaborating, and coordinating to provide the teaching to the students. She stated it was crucial that the community work together. Council member Dean asked if the County was participating with ECISD. Dr. Muri had not communicated with Ector County regarding CARES funding. Public Facility Corporation (PFC) presentation and discussion. Jim Plummer provided an overview of the PFC. He stated that it was a tool for economic development and workforce housing. There were currently no plans or projects as it would only develop the corporation. The City’s benefits were to decide on when, where, and how it would be used. The Council would designate the area. The PFC was not a tool for low income housing. The tool could be used for the development of a certain area. An income level would be chosen along with a 50% market rate. It was not for tax credit projects. The PFC could be used in a very narrow and specific purpose as directed by Council. Council member Dean requested contacts from cities that have used PFC. The pitfalls and upsides should be understood. Mr. Plummer provided the City of Cibolo as an example. The Council must set the purpose and goals. Council member Willis stated that the tool would be used as a benefit and should be communicated to the community and constituents. She stated it was a good tool to utilize in reaching goals of the city. Council member Sprawls asked about the oversight, audit, and recourse if violations. Mr. Plummer stated that the Council determined the terms. He has seen quarterly reporting with an annual audit. The Council had a right to declare default if there were violations. Larry Robinson, citizen, asked about the tax exemptions with the other entities. Mr. Plummer stated that the property received a tax exemption. If a project was built, the city, county and hospital would not receive taxes. The City may receive income more than the taxes. The school district was not affected. He stated that the PFC was to enhance the overall area. Mr. Robinson stated that there was a 26% drop in apartment rents. There was an abundance of apartments due to the downturn of the economy. Mayor Turner stated that the oil and gas was here, and workforce housing was the key for the future. The PFC provided a tool to put housing in areas for redevelopment such as south, west, and north of the city. It would help address economic development and keep taxes in Ector County. There was a short break from 10:59 a.m. – 11:07 a.m. Sports Master Plan update. Steve Patton, Director of Parks and Recreation, introduced Mike Svetz, Pros Consulting to provide an overview of the sports field study. Mr. Svetz reported that an inventory and assessment was made and ECISD fields were not included. Neighborhood parks were used by organizations but lacked the support facilities such as restrooms. The utilization of the fields was identified. There was not an immediate need to expand athletic fields except for football fields. He identified short term and long-term actions for the strategic action plan. The UTPB Sports Complex contract was up in August 2021. The complex needed a lifecycle replacement and upgrade amenities as it was heavily used by local organizations. He stated if a long-term agreement with UTPB was not reached then there would be deficiency in fields. A recommendation for a ten-year capital improvement was reviewed with a cost of $70 million. If the population grows, then the system would need to be expanded. All field types were needed for future local needs. The competition analysis identified that there was significant competition around the area. There was not an active marketing and recruitment for outside sporting events to Odessa. Mr. Council Work Session Minutes October 6, 2020 Page 3 Svetz proposed a multi-purpose and diamond field complexes. The complexes could be self-operating or a contract management. He reviewed the operational pro forma for self- operation. He explained that the lifecycle was replacement of assets to keep the fields functional. There would be a strain on the organizations and families without a complex. Mr. Patton stated that the sports field study would be included in the Parks Master Plan. Specific use permit to allow a beauty shop-one chair use. Randy Brinlee, Director of Development Services, reviewed the location which was in a cul-de-sac. The permit was for a beauty shop one chair use. There was no impact for the area including traffic. Zone change request of Light Industrial on proposed Lot 1, Block 1, Metal Solutions addition. Mr. Brinlee stated that the light industrial would be appropriate zoning and there were no issues. Amend City Code, Chapter 4, Article 4-6, Section 4-6-9, “Permit Required for Peddlers, Solicitors and Itinerant Vendors”. Mr. Brinlee stated that the amendment would include the use of trailers to clarify the type and purpose for the itinerant vendors. Some vendors were using tandem axle trailers. Adopt a new rate review mechanism (RRM) with Atmos Energy. Mr. Urrutia stated that Atmos Energy filed a new rate mechanism on March 31. The increase was for $6.6 million annually for residents and commercial users. After negotiations, the filing was settled to $5.9 million for the West Texas Cities. The last rate increase was September 2019. With the new rate, the residents would have a 7.54% increase or $3.04 per month. The funds would be used for infrastructure in its capital improvement program. Discuss next round of CARES funding. Merita Sandoval, Director of Community Development, stated that the City was awarded an additional $908,413 of CARES funding. The total funding was $1,422,966. She reviewed the type of eligible uses for the funds. Public hearings would be held for the funds that were awarded. Discuss future Council meeting locations. Mr. Marrero stated that other venues have limited its use. The Council meetings could be held in the Council Chambers or PAL gym. After discussion, the Council had a consensus to meet in the Council Chambers unless if it needed to be held at the gym. As authorized by the Texas Government Code, Section 551.071 (Consultation with Attorney), the City Council may adjourn into executive session to consider pending or contemplated litigation. Reconvene in open session for possible action. Motion was made by Council member Willis and seconded by Council member Shelton to go into executive session under 551.071. The motion was approved by the following vote: Aye: Turner, Shelton, Bryant, Sprawls, Willis, and Dean Nay: None The Council reconvened in open session. Motion was made by Council member Sprawls and seconded by Council member Willis to accept the attorney’s recommendation and present the best and last offer to water rates. The motion was approved by the following vote: Council Work Session Minutes October 6, 2020 Page 4 Aye: Turner, Shelton, Bryant, Sprawls, Willis, and Dean Nay: None There was no other business, the meeting adjourned at 12:44 p.m. ATTEST: APPROVED: Norma Aguilar-Grimaldo, TRMC, CMC David R. Turner City Secretary Mayor