City Council

CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION MINUTES CITY OF ODESSA, TEXAS May 17, 2022 On May 17, 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; Mari Willis, District Five; and Denise Swanner, At-Large. 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: Council member Thompson gave the invocation. Water Treatment Plant Rehab and miscellaneous upgrades project update. Tom Kerr, Director of Public Works/Utilities, provided a Water Treatment Plant update. The project was on schedule and completion date was October 6, 2024. He reviewed the areas that were being rehabbed that included mobilization, site work and excavation. Plant 2 rehab was in service and the support columns were being repaired. Plant 1 was decommissioned and would be in service in the summer of 2024 as it was under remodel. He reviewed the updates on electrical systems, filter rehab and the Golder pump station. Mr. Kerr stated that the rehab would not affect the water quality as it was disinfected and cleaned. Bid award for the 2022 Traffic Signal Improvements project. Hal Feldman, Traffic Engineer, stated that the traffic signal project was at Faudree and P Bar Ranch Road. The bid from Willis Electric was $139,000. The signal would be completed by the end of Summer. Currently, there was an all-way stop at the intersection. Renew Motorola Premier One software. Mrs. Muncy stated that the annual budgeted item was for annual software that included mapping, routing, and records. The cost was $302,728. Consider amending the Odessa City Code Chapter 8, “Offenses and Nuisances”, Section 8-1-27(b), “Social Host Accountability” and Section 8-1-15, “Discharging or dumping liquids or waste on street, right-of-way or easement”. Monique Wimberly, Senior Assistant City Attorney, stated that the social host ordinance had two proposed amendments. She stated that a removal of Exhibit A, Section 15B 4 was proposed as it no long existed. Sara Hinshaw, Midessa Community Alliance Coalition Program Director, reported that the social host accountability ordinance was passed in 2017 that held persons accountable for providing a place for underage drinking. The violation had a fine between $250 to $2,500. She requested to amend the ordinance to included party buses, limousines and other recreational vehicles. If there was a violation, the fine would be to the person that rented the vehicles. Mayor Joven stated that the driver was not held accountable as it was hard for prosecution. He stated it was a direct request from local law enforcement agencies. Council Work Session Minutes May 17, 2022 Page 2 Motion was made by Council member Sprawls and seconded by Council member White to approve the ordinance on first approval. The motion was approved by the following vote: Aye: Joven, Matta, Thompson, White, Sprawls, Willis, and Swanner Nay: None Consider adopting an ordinance approving the redistricting of the City’s single- member Council Districts based on 2020 census data and establishing the new boundaries for the five single-member Council districts. Gene Collins stated that there was no opportunity for input. He would like to meet with the demographer on input and what was best to serve the community. Armando Rodriguez, Ector County Commissioner, stated that people were not informed on the redistricting and to allow the community to be involved. He stated that the minority needed to be represented on the Council. The community and leaders needed to be involved in redistricting. Mayor Joven asked how the County Commissions involved the community in the redistricting process. Mrs Grimaldo stated that the filing period was July 23 through August 22, 2022. Mayor Joven reviewed Plan A and Plan D demographics. Council member Matta reviewed the total population with Hispanics, Non-Hispanic White and Non-Hispanic Black in Plan A and D. He stated it was impossible to gerrymander with the Black population over 6%. Council member Swanner explained that Plan D brought the deviation down. She explained that the growth was in District 2 and both are clean plans. She stated that there were five public notices and apologized if anyone felt excluded from the meetings. Council member Willis did not attend the public hearings due to a family emergency. She stated that redistricting matters and the boundary lines could impact who wins the election and control policy. She wanted to allow the people’s voices to be heard. She hoped that the options would be fair to all citizens and encouraged participation and be active in the community. Council member Thompson applauded Council member Swanner on her hard work. Council member Sprawls heard the people were disenfranchised bud hasn’t heard what was wrong with the plans. He called the question. Motion was made by Council member Sprawls and seconded by Council member Thompson to approve the ordinance with Plan A on first approval. The motion was approved by the following vote: Aye: Joven, Matta, Thompson, White, Sprawls, Willis, and Swanner Nay: None Executive Session – As authorized by the Texas Government Code, Section 551.101, the City Council will hold an executive session, which is closed to the public, to discuss the following matters permitted under the following sections of the Texas Government Code: Section 551.071, Consultation with the City Attorney and attorney(s) employed by the City of Odessa 1. Discuss matters in which the duty of the attorney(s) to the governmental body under the Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct of the State Bar of Texas clearly conflicts with Chapter 551 of the Texas Government Code. 2. Discuss contemplated litigation involving Chapter 387 of the Texas Local Government Code. 3. Discuss pending litigation with the City Attorney and attorneys hired by the City, Cause No. 11-22-00052-CV, AIM Media, Texas LLC d/b/a The Odessa American vs. City of Odessa, Texas, in the 11th Court of Appeals for the State of Texas. Motion was made by Council member Sprawls and seconded by Council member Matta to go into executive session under 551.071. The motion was approved by the following vote: Council Work Session Minutes May 17, 2022 Page 3 Aye: Joven, Matta, Thompson, White, Sprawls, Willis, and Swanner Nay: None Motion was made by Council member Matta and seconded by Council member Thompson to return from executive session. The motion was approved by the following vote: Aye: Joven, Matta, Thompson, White, Sprawls, Willis, and Swanner Nay: None No action was taken in executive session. Motion was made by Council member Sprawls and seconded by Council member Willis to adjourn the meeting. The motion was approved by the following vote: Aye: Joven, Matta, Thompson, White, Sprawls, Willis, and Swanner Nay: None The meeting adjourned at 4:50 p.m. ATTEST: APPROVED: Norma Aguilar-Grimaldo, TRMC, CMC Javier Joven City Secretary Mayor