City Council

CITY COUNCIL MINUTES CITY OF ODESSA, TEXAS August 26, 2025 On August 26, 2025, 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 Benard C. Hendrick; Council members: Eddie Mitchell, District One; Steven P. Thompson, District Two; Gilbert Vasquez, District Three; Greg Connell, District Four; and Chris Hanie, District Five. City Council absent: Council member Raymon Stoker, At Large. Staff present: David Vela, City Manager; Norma Aguilar, City Secretary; Keith Stretcher, Interim City Attorney, and other members of City staff. A quorum being present, Mayor Hendrick called the meeting to order, and the following proceedings were held: Roll call. Ms. Aguilar conducted the roll call for the City Council. The invocation was given by council member Hanie and followed by the Pledge of Allegiance and Texas flags. Proclamations and Presentations. None. Citizens’ comments on non-agenda items. D’Vorak Smith had concerns with a case that was not dismissed. Ally Bowling had concerned with 56th St. and its proposed roundabout. She stated that the roundabout would be proximity to the Compass school and would produce traffic issues. Marisol Ramon, landowner on Kelly Ave., stated that her property was remodeled and a fence was built. There was misunderstanding on the fence and City staff told her that there was no permit for the fence and it had to be torn down. She requested a variance. Consent Agenda 1. City Council work session minutes, August 12, 2025; 2. City Council minutes, August 12, 2025; 3. Resolution No. 2025R-86 – Appropriate $460,000 from the Stormwater Revenue Fund for a 19-mile scope of underground infrastructure; 4. Resolution No. 2025R-87 - Emergency Communication District of Ector County budget 2025-2026; 5. Purchase Aimpoint SCRO sights and holsters for police officers’ handguns. 6. Purchase of two Ford F-150 vehicles to support the operational needs of the Stormwater Division for $102,332; 7. Teen Court program interlocal agreement. Council Minutes August 26, 2025 Page 2 Motion was made by Council member Thompson seconded by Council member Vasquez to approve the consent agenda. The motion was approved by the following vote: Aye: Hendrick, Mitchell, Thompson, Vasquez, Connell, and Hanie Nay: None Regular Public Hearing Open a public hearing for Fiscal Year 2025-2026 budget. Kaylie Banda, Director of Finance, reviewed the philosophies of the budget and the revenue and expenditure. No one came forward and the public hearing was closed. Open a public hearing to consider approval of the request by Tolunay Engineering Group, owner, agent for a zone change from MF-2, Multi Family-Two District to NS, Neighborhood Services District, on Lots 5-6, Block 97, S. Williams Subdivision, City of Odessa, Ector County, Texas.(Located on the SW corner of N. Tom Green Ave. and E. 11th St). Maria Prieto, Planning Manager, reviewed the location. The purpose was for office use. She reviewed the condition for the zone change. No one came forward and the public hearing was closed. Motion was made by Council member Connell and seconded by Council member Hanie to approve the ordinance on first approval. The motion was approved by the following vote: Aye: Hendrick, Mitchell, Thompson, Vasquez, Connell, and Hanie Nay: None Open a public hearing to consider approval of the request by SW Howell for a zone change from FD, Future Development District to LI, Light Industrial District, on a 36.0- acre tract of located in Section 31, Block 42, T-2-S, T&P RY CO. Survey, City of Odessa, Ector County, Texas. (Generally located on the south Loop 338 approximately 550 feet east on the south side of W Murphy St). Mrs. Prieto reviewed the location that was vacant. The zone change was for light industrial for an oil field trucking company. No one came forward and the public hearing was closed. Motion was made by Council member Hanie and seconded by Council member Mitchell to approve the ordinance on first approval. The motion was approved by the following vote: Aye: Hendrick, Mitchell, Thompson, Vasquez, Connell, and Hanie Nay: None Resolution Resolution No. 2025R-88 – Establish a maximum tax rate of $0.470700 for Fiscal Year 2025-2026. Ms. Banda stated that the proposed tax rate was $0.470700 per $100 valuation for fiscal year 2025-2026. The proposed rate of $0.004425 was higher than the tax rate approved for the 2024-2025 fiscal year. The proposed rate was $.027163 higher than the No-New Revenue Rate of $0.443537 and was $0.000001 lower than the total Voter- Approval Rate of $0.470701. The vote on the proposed tax rate would occur on September 17 and September 23, 2025. Council Minutes August 26, 2025 Page 3 Dallas Kennedy stated that the tax rate was a correction and not a hike as it was lower than 2023. Motion was made by Council member Connell and seconded by Council member Hanie to approve the maximum tax rate of $0.470700 per $100 valuation for fiscal year 2025- 2026.Theproposed rate is $0.004425 higher than the tax rate approved for the 2024-2025 fiscal year. The proposed rate is $.027163 higher than the No-New Revenue Rate of $0.443537, and it is $0.000001 lower than the total Voter-Approval Rate of $0.470701.The Voter-Approval Rate consists of a 2025 unused increment rate of $0.013625, and a current Voter Approval Rate of $0.457076.The first vote on the proposed tax rate will occur on September 17, 2025. The second and final vote on the proposed tax rate will occur on September 23, 2025. The motion was approved by the following vote: Aye: Hendrick, Mitchell, Thompson, Vasquez, Connell, and Hanie Nay: None Miscellaneous Discuss and consider all City of Odessa commissions and board members including appointment, re-appointment, removing, or modification including the following: Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, Emergency 9-1-1 Advisory Board and Odessa Housing Finance Corporation. Motion was made by Council member Vasquez and seconded by Council member Thompson to appoint Matthew Sparks to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board. The motion was approved by the following vote: Aye: Hendrick, Mitchell, Thompson, Vasquez, Connell, and Hanie Nay: None Motion was made by Council member Hanie and seconded by Council member Connell to reappoint Mike Gerke to the Emergency 9-1-1 Advisory Board. The motion was approved by the following vote: Aye: Hendrick, Mitchell, Thompson, Vasquez, Connell, and Hanie Nay: None Motion was made by Council member Thompson and seconded by Council member Vasquez to appoint Mike Withrow and Courtni Ward and reappoint Lance Marker to the Odessa Housing Finance Corporation. The motion was approved by the following vote: Aye: Hendrick, Mitchell, Thompson, Vasquez, Connell, and Hanie Nay: None Pursuant to Texas Government Code §551.101, the City Council held an Executive Session, which was closed to the public, to discuss the following matters as permitted under the following sections of the Texas Government Code: a. Section 551.072, Deliberation Regarding the purchase, exchange, lease or value of real property located in Section 3, Block 41, T-3-S, A-354, T&P RR Co. Survey, Midland County, Texas. The deliberation in an open session would have a detrimental effect on the position of the governmental body in negotiations with a third person. Council Minutes August 26, 2025 Page 4 b. As authorized by the Texas Government Code Section Sec. 551.089 (Deliberation Regarding Security Devices or Security Audits), the City Council may adjourn into executive session to: deliberate: (1) security assessments or deployments relating to information resources technology; (2) network security information as described by Section 2059.055(b) Texas Government Code; or (3) the deployment, or specific occasions for implementation, of security personnel, critical infrastructure, or security devices. Motion was made by Council member Vasquez and seconded by Council member Connell to go into executive session under 551.072 and 551.089. The motion was approved by the following vote: Aye: Hendrick, Mitchell, Thompson, Vasquez, Connell, and Hanie Nay: None No action was taken in executive session. Motion was made by Council member Mitchell and seconded by Council member Thompson to return from executive session. The motion was approved by the following vote: Aye: Hendrick, Mitchell, Thompson, Vasquez, Connell, and Hanie Nay: None Remove from the table to consider authorizing the City Manager to execute the purchase of Palo Alto Prisma software with DWG for cloud security. Motion was made by Council member Thompson and seconded by Council member Hanie to remove the item from the table. The motion was approved by the following vote: Aye: Hendrick, Mitchell, Thompson, Vasquez, Connell, and Hanie Nay: None Tony Flores, Director of Information Technology, stated that the purchase for the Palo Alto Prisma software was $124,318.96 with $60,000 recurring. Motion was made by Council member Hanie and seconded by Council member Connell to approve the purchase of Palo Alto Prisma software. The motion was approved by the following vote: Aye: Hendrick, Mitchell, Thompson, Vasquez, Connell, and Hanie Nay: None Motion was made by Council member Vasquez and seconded by Council member Hanie to adjourn the meeting. The motion was approved by the following vote: Aye: Hendrick, Mitchell, Thompson, Vasquez, Connell, and Hanie Nay: None Council Minutes August 26, 2025 Page 5 The meeting adjourned at 7:04 p.m. ATTEST: APPROVED: Norma Aguilar, TRMC, CMC Benard Calvin Hendrick VII City Secretary Mayor