City Council

CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION MINUTES CITY OF ODESSA, TEXAS January 4, 2022 On January 4, 2022, a work session meeting of the Odessa City Council was held at 3:00 p.m., Council Chamber, fifth floor, City Hall, 411 W. 8th St., Odessa, Texas. City Council present: Mayor Javier Joven; Council members: Mark Matta, District One; Steven P. Thompson, District Two; Detra White, District Three; Tom Sprawls, District Four; and Denise Swanner, At-Large. City Council absent: Council member Mari Willis, District Five. Others present: Michael Marrero, City Manager; Norma Aguilar-Grimaldo, City Secretary; Natasha Brooks, City Attorney; Cindy Muncy, Assistant City Manager; and other members of City staff. A quorum being present, Mayor Joven called the meeting to order, and the following proceedings were held: Council member White gave the invocation. Award for the 2022 traffic signal improvement project. Hal Feldman, Traffic Engineer, reported that the bid award was for three signals. The recommendation was to Vaca Underground for $576,000. He stated that TxDOT used the vendor in its projects. Council member Thompson stated that the traffic on Faudree was congested and the lights would help. Bid award for side load refuse containers, compactor, and receiver for Solid Waste. JoAnn Samaniego, Director of Purchasing, stated that the annual purchase was for dumpsters. The bid award was to Roll-Offs USA with the cost was slightly higher. Bid award for refuse container panels and bottoms. Mrs. Samaniego stated that the purchase was for dumpster panels and bottoms for replacement parts. Authorizing the City of Odessa Police Department to apply for and accept; amending the fiscal budget to appropriate awarded funds as additional revenue and authorizing the expenditure of awarded grant funds from the 2023 STEP Speed, Occupant Protection, Intersection Traffic Control, Distracted Driving and Driving While Intoxicated Grant. Mike Gerke, Police Chief, stated that the grant was for $23,918.55 with a $6,075.93 cash match. The grant would pay for overtime to target areas in speeding, running stop signs and red lights. Purchase Critical Connect + Wave PTX Public Safety for the Police and Fire Departments. Chief Gerke stated that the purchase of public safety of Critical Connect would close the gap in communication with the law enforcement agencies in Ector and Midland Counties. The cost was $161,937 which would be funded from donation accounts. Council Work Session Minutes January 4, 2022 Page 2 Purchase of Lexipol software for the Police Department. Chief Gerke stated that the software cost was $65,507.89 for updated maintenance and training on policies. The one time expenditure was $38,511.84 with a yearly fee of $28,996.00 Accepting and appropriating funds donated by Occidental Petroleum Corp. to the Odessa Police Department. Chief Gerke stated that Occidental Petroleum donated $15,000 to be purchase video surveillance. Lease agreement with West Texas 4H and Junior Olympic Athletics Development Club. Mr. Marrero reviewed the location in West Odessa for a youth archery lease agreement. The area was a drainage area. The lease was for archery. No permanent structures would be allowed. Economic development agreement between ODC and Rhodes USA, LLC. Tracey Jones, Odessa Chamber Economic Development, stated that Rhodes would locate a manufacturing facility in Odessa to address workforce housing issues. Rhodes would provide 71 full-time employees and its annual payroll was $3.439 million over five years. Rhodes had two options for a grant. If Rhodes leased, the total grant was for $1,174,716 or if a new facility was constructed the grant was for $1,549,116 to be paid out over five years. Council member Thompson was disturbed about the process. He stated that ODC board member Mr. Russell participated in the discussion and abstained from the vote. He stated that there was no conflict of interest filed in the City Secretary’s office at that time. He stated that Mr. Russell’s business with the company compromises the integrity of the ODC board. Council member Sprawls was disappointed that the company was not further in the process. Ms. Jones stated that the company was waiting on OHFC funding. Council member Matta stated that the CEO was in Australia due to the COVID quarantine. Economic Development agreement between ODC and Taylor Holdings, Inc. Mr. Jones stated that the agreement was with Taylor Holdings for a local expansion. Taylor would provide 31 full-time employees and add 24 additional full-time employees. The annual payroll was $3,853,880 with a capital investment of $3.2 million. The company would extend the water line for fire suppression. The ODC approved a grant of $885,618 to be paid out over five years. Taylor Holdings was a manufacture and repair of heavy equipment. Artwork design concept for the Odessa parking garage mural. Randy Ham, Odessa Arts Executive Director, stated that the mural for the City’s parking garage mural at the conference center was selected by a committee. The budgeted amount was $50,000 to be funded with grants and donations. The committee selected Ernesto Maranje with a design that depicts Texas wildlife including a Texas longhorn. The artwork would be completed by the end of May. He showed mockups of artwork. Motion was made by Council member Swanner and seconded by Council member White to adjourn the meeting. The motion was approved by the following vote: Aye: Joven, Matta, Thompson, White, Sprawls, and Swanner Nay: None Council Work Session Minutes January 4, 2022 Page 3 The meeting adjourned at 3:42 p.m. ATTEST: APPROVED: Norma Aguilar-Grimaldo, TRMC, CMC Javier Joven City Secretary Mayor