City Council

CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION MINUTES CITY OF ODESSA, TEXAS November 17, 2020 On November 17, 2020, a work session meeting of the Odessa City Council was held at 10:00 a.m. 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: Michael Shelton, District One; Dewey Bryant, District Two; Detra White, District Three; Tom Sprawls, District Four; Mari Willis, District Five; and City Council absent: Council member 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. Mayor Turner gave the invocation. Ordinance No. 2020-39- Canvas election returns and declare the results of the 2020 General City Election. Mrs. Grimaldo reported the votes for the November 3 General Election. The results declared Steven Thompson elected as Council member District 2. No candidate received a majority of the votes for Mayor, Council member District 1 and Council member At Large. Motion was made by Council member White and seconded by Council member Sprawls to approve the ordinance on first and final approval. The motion was approved by the following vote: Aye: Turner, Shelton, Bryant, White, Sprawls, and Willis Nay: None Issue the Certificate of Election to Councilmember elect Steven Thompson. Mayor Turned issued the certificate of election to Council member Thompson as required by the Texas Election Code. Ordinance No. 2020-40 - Call Runoff Election for Mayor, Councilmembers District One and At Large. Mrs. Grimaldo stated that with no candidate received a majority of the votes for the November 3, 2020 General Election. A runoff was need for Mayor, Council member District One and Council member At Large. The recommended runoff date was December 15, 2020. She reviewed the proposed vote centers. The ordinance provided for amending the budget to appropriate $25,000 for the runoff election. Motion was made by Council member Willis and seconded by Council member White to approve the ordinance on first and final approval with Council member Bryant abstaining for the Mayor runoff. The motion was approved by the following vote: Work Session Minutes November 17, 2020 Page 2 Aye: Turner, Shelton, White, Sprawls, and Willis Nay: None Abstain: Bryant Motion was made by Council member Sprawls and seconded by Council member Willis to approve the ordinance on first and final approval with Council member Shelton abstaining for Council member District One runoff. The motion was approved by the following vote: Aye: Turner, Bryant, White, Sprawls, and Willis Nay: None Abstain: Shelton Motion was made by Council member White and seconded by Council member Willis to approve the ordinance on first and final approval with Mayor Turner abstaining for the Council member At Large runoff. The motion was approved by the following vote: Aye: Shelton, Bryant, White, Sprawls, and Willis Nay: None Abstain: Turner Consider authorizing OPD to apply for and accept; amend and appropriate funds received from the 2022 STEP Speed, Occupant Protection, Intersection Traffic Control, Distracted Driving and Driving while Intoxicated Grant. Mike Gerke, Police Chief, stated that the grant would be for overtime to work speed, traffic control, DWI, and enforce traffic safety. The grant was for $24,000 with a cash match of $4,800. Allocation of $908,413 in CDBG Coronavirus Round 3 funds and $115,000 in unprogrammed CDBG Coronavirus Round #1 funds. Merita Sandoval, Director of Community Development, stated that $908,413 additional funding was received of Coronavirus funds. She reviewed the areas of focus to utilize the funds. Meetings were held. She reviewed the outside agencies’ requests. The rent and mortgage assistance were a major impact that citizens needed assistance. Acceptance of 1.56 acres of land as a right-of-way. Yervand Hmayakyan, City Engineer, stated that the conveyance of land was for a right of way for the future 100th St. Bid award to Edgardo Madrid & Associates for the Water-Wastewater Utilities job order contract and authorize the City Manager to execute the contract on behalf of the City of Odessa. Thomas Kerr, Director of Public Works/Utilities, stated that Edgardo Madrid was contracted to assist with the taps for the City. The bid award was for taps but expanded services to include fire hydrants maintenance and service line replacements as needed. He recommended the bid to Edgardo Madrid. The term was for five years. Request of Lament 325 for original zoning of Special Dwelling District. Randy Brinlee, Director of Development Services, reviewed the location and stated that the Planning and Zoning Commission approved the zoning. Request of Alfonso Leal to rezone from Single Family-Four District to Special Dwelling District. Mr. Brinlee reviewed the location, and the zone change was to develop a triplex unit. The Planning and Zoning Commission approved the rezoning. Work Session Minutes November 17, 2020 Page 3 Request by C5H Investment Group to rezone from Single Family-Three District Drill Reservation to Single Family-Three. Mr. Brinlee reviewed the location. The rezone was to remove the drill reservation designation. It would provide for single family residences. Purchase of three side load refuse trucks for Solid Waste. Mr. Urrutia stated that the refuse trucks were to pick up dumpsters. The cost was $754,550. The trucks to be replaced had over 150,000 miles. The cost was the same as last year. Award for the purchase of automotive vehicles for various departments. Mr. Urrutia stated that there were three items for vehicles. The cost was $280,192.82. He reviewed the fleet. Discuss COVID-19. Mayor Turner provided COVID-19 information on the region that included Odessa. There was a huge surge in hospital COVID patients and there was staff shortage. The people in the outlining area were being admitted in our hospitals since the smaller hospitals do not have the equipment or staff to handle COVID patients. He explained the Texas Regional J Advisory Council and its formula to close at 50%. He stated that options to help slow down the positive cases were put on businesses for mandated masks, provide for ideas on how to enforce Governor Abbott’s mask mandate or reduce the occupancy to 50%. Council member Willis asked that if all organizations in our community were following the CDC guidelines for all to be consistent. Robert Carroll, Senior Assistant City Attorney, reviewed and explained the Governor’s order #32 that allowed to enforce mask mandate which could extend to the businesses. There was a penalty and citation fine. He stated it was an option. Council member Bryant stated a plan of action was needed. Council member Shelton stated that wearing the masks was for taking care of others. Mayor Turner suggested a message from the TV personalities and a message to be sent to churches. Council member Willis stated that the medical community needed to be helped and we all needed to do our part in wearing masks. Council member Elect Thompson suggested to let business owners know that to police the Governor’s order of the mask mandate as opposed to go to 50% occupancy. He stated that the economy could not be shut down. John Alvarez, Fire Chief, stated that COVID-19 cases were up in the Fire Department. Mayor Turner reported that 40% of people were wearing masks and if more people would wear masks then it would reduce the virus. Council member Bryant stated that we each must be responsible. Mr. Marrero provided a report on the City employees as it has impacted 43 employees and masks were required to be worn in city facilities. Council member White stated that there was going to be the small percentage of people that do not wear masks, but the message must be sent to wear masks. Recess for Executive Session: 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. Personnel Matters – Deliberate the employment, evaluation, duties, discipline, complaint, or dismissal of the City Attorney (Texas Government Code 551.074). Reconvene in open session for possible action. Motion was made by Council member Sprawls and seconded by Council member Willis to go into executive session under 551.071 consultation with attorney. The motion was approved by the following vote: Aye: Turner, Shelton, Bryant, White, Sprawls, and Willis Nay: None Work Session Minutes November 17, 2020 Page 4 Reconvening from executive session, motion was made by Council member Sprawls and seconded by Council member Shelton to approve the City Attorney’s contract. The motion was approved by the following vote: Aye: Turner, Shelton, Bryant, White, Sprawls, and Willis Nay: None There was no other business, the meeting adjourned at 11:21 a.m. ATTEST: APPROVED: Norma Aguilar-Grimaldo, TRMC, CMC David R. Turner City Secretary Mayor