City Council

CITY COUNCIL MINUTES CITY OF ODESSA, TEXAS May 9, 2022 On May 9, 2022, a special meeting of the Odessa City Council was held at 1:06 p.m. in the Council Chambers, 5th floor, City Hall, 411 W. 8th, Odessa, Texas. City Council present: 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: Mayor Javier Joven and 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; Phillip Urrutia, Assistant City Manager; and other members of City staff. A quorum being present, Mayor Pro Tem Sprawls called the meeting to order and the public hearing, and the following proceedings were held: Mayor Pro Tem Sprawls called the meeting to order. Presentation by outside legal consultant of proposed redistricting plans. Syd Falk, Bickerstaff Heath Delgado Acosta consultant, stated that redistricting was driven by the Federal law requirement. If the difference was by 10% population then redistricting must be made. He reviewed the population based on the 2020 census data. The overall deviation was 40.72%. He reviewed Plan A that had a balanced plan and an overall deviation of 6.33%. Mr. Falk reviewed Plan D which had an overall deviation of 6.10%. Council member Thompson asked about the changes in Plan D versus Plan A. Council member Swanner stated that the County precinct population, the growth in East Odessa and cleaner boundaries was considered in the proposed changes. She stated that the voting precincts were kept together. Mr. Falk stated that the precincts were considered in not splitting the precincts but there were already one or two precincts that were split. Open a public hearing to discuss potential redistricting options for drawing new single-member district Council boundaries and consider 2020 census data, including proposed redistricting plans, and possible discussion of comments and proposed plans. Gene Collins, a business owner and minister, had a problem with the redistricting. He was concerned that the At Large position, and three elected officials could live next to each other and it needed to be fair. Jo Ann Davenport Littleton was concerned of the redistricting drawing. She stated that the City was going backwards without having the minority being represented and was left out in the proposals. She stated that as elected officials there needed representation in the whole city. She stated that District One was left out of the process and wanted to be informed. Council member Swanner stated that the committee received the data from the demographer. Mrs. Littleton stated that the voters should have been notified and not left out of the process. Mr. Collins stated that under the voter act an enforcement act could be filed. He stated that organizations should have been contacted. Darlene Mays was concerned with the proposals and stated that Plan B was a win for all. She asked about Plan B not being considered. She wanted to be included to discuss the plans. Mr. Falk stated that the proposed plan voting strength was not Council Minutes May 9, 2022 Page 2 substantially reduced. The meeting adjourned at 1:38 p.m. ATTEST: APPROVED: Norma Aguilar-Grimaldo, TRMC, CMC Tom Sprawls City Secretary Mayor Pro Tem