City Council

CITY COUNCIL MINUTES CITY OF ODESSA, TEXAS January 25, 2022 On January 25, 2022, a regular meeting of the Odessa City Council was held at 6:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers, 5th floor, City Hall, 411 W. 8th, Odessa, Texas. City Council present: Mayor Javier Joven; Council members: Mark Matta, District One; Steven P. Thompson, District Two; Detra White, District Three; Mari Willis, District Five; and Denise Swanner, At-Large. City Council absent: Council member Tom Sprawls, District Four. 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 Joven called the meeting to order, and the following proceedings were held: The invocation was given by Jeff Russell and followed by the Pledge of Allegiance and Texas flags. Citizen’s comments on non-agenda items. Kris Crow provided a proclamation for ethical leaders. He asked if Council was ethical or a hypocrite. He reviewed the actions of the STA contract with the City and Council member Thompson. He stated that December 2020 an STA contract was approved and on December 11, 2021 a conflict of interest was filed by Council member Thompson. On December 7, 2021 the contract was renewed. He showed the December 2021 conflict of interest for Council member Thompson. He provided Council member Thompson’s quote on integrity from the January 11, 2022 Council meeting. He reported that STA listed Council member Thompson as President under the Texas Secretary of State and the Better Business Bureau listed him as principal. The LinkedIn profile listed him as STA principal. He reported that the STA website listed his son as principal and president and his daughter as CFO and operations. Mr. Crow read a section from the Local Government Code Section 171.002 that stated the conflict of 1st degree by blood including son and daughter. He quoted Council member Willis from the January 11, 2022 meeting on ethics, honest and integrity. He asked to do what was right. He asked that the Council and the public voice their opinion and Council member Thompson to step down. CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS A. City Council minutes, January 11, 2022; B. Bid award to Crafco for $0.5757 per pound for crack sealing compound material. Motion was made by Council member Matta and seconded by Council member Willis to approve the consent agenda items. The motion was approved by the following vote: Aye: Joven, Matta, Thompson, White, Willis, and Swanner Nay: None Council Minutes January 25, 2022 Page 2 OTHER COUNCIL ACTION Bid award for the 2021-22 paving and drainage CIP. Yervand Hmayakyan, City Engineer, stated that two bids were received. The paving and drainage were to improve the areas in town. He reviewed the work that would be made. He recommended the lowest bid to Onyx for $356,797. Motion was made by Council member Willis and seconded by Council member Swanner to approve the bid award to Onyx. The motion was approved by the following vote: Aye: Joven, Matta, Thompson, White, Willis, and Swanner Nay: None Discuss and take action on a proposed settlement agreement for pending ligation, cause number A-18-01-0122-CV, Lourdes Rodriguez v. City of Odessa. Dan Jones, Senior Assistant City Attorney, stated that the settlement was for $60,000 for an automobile accident involved with a city employee. Motion was made by Council member White and seconded by Council member Thompson to approve the settlement agreement as recommended. The motion was approved by the following vote: Aye: Joven, Matta, Thompson, White, Willis, and Swanner Nay: None Purchase Axon’s Officer Safety Plan for the Police Department for $6,980,864. Mike Gerke, Police Chief, stated that the Axon contract was for ten years for $6,980,864. Ian Kapets, Police Corporal, stated that the contract would provide for a long term future including the use of body cams, taser, dash cameras, drone, software and community engagement. The all-inclusive package would be used daily. Council Member Willis stated it would benefit the officers and citizens. Mr. Marrero reviewed the financing. Motion was made by Council member Thompson and seconded by Council member White to approve the Axon Officer Safety Plan purchase as recommended. The motion was approved by the following vote: Aye: Joven, Matta, Thompson, White, Willis, and Swanner Nay: None RESOLUTION Resolution No. 2022R-06 – Accept a donation from Occidental Petroleum Corporation and appropriate the funds to Odessa Fire Rescue. John Alvarez, Fire Chief, stated that a $20,000 donation was provided from Occidental. The resolution would accept the donation and appropriate the funds to Odessa Fire Rescue. The funds would be used for rescue and training. Motion was made by Council member White and seconded by Council member Willis to approve the resolution. The motion was approved by the following vote: Aye: Joven, Matta, Thompson, White, Willis, and Swanner Nay: None Council Minutes January 25, 2022 Page 3 Resolution No. 2022R-07 – Accept a donation from Chevron and appropriate the funds to Odessa Fire Rescue. Chief Alvarez stated that a donation was provided from Chevron. The resolution would accept the donation and appropriate the funds to Odessa Fire Rescue. The funds would be used as needed. Motion was made by Council member Swanner and seconded by Council member White to approve the resolution. The motion was approved by the following vote: Aye: Joven, Matta, Thompson, White, Willis, and Swanner Nay: None MISCELLANEOUS Appointment of Boards: Building Board of Appeals and Odessa Development Corporation. Motion was made by Council member Swanner and seconded by Council member Matta to appoint James Kirk to the Odessa Development Corporation. Council member Thompson stated he hasn’t had time to visit with Mr. Kirk. The motion was failed due to the following tie vote: Aye: Joven, Matta, and Swanner Nay: Thompson, White, and Willis The appointment could be considered at the next meeting. 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, Willis, and Swanner Nay: None The meeting adjourned at 6:20 p.m. ATTEST: APPROVED: Norma Aguilar-Grimaldo, TRMC, CMC Javier Joven City Secretary Mayor