City Council

CITY COUNCIL MINUTES CITY OF ODESSA, TEXAS November 25, 2025 On November 25, 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 St., Odessa, Texas. City Council present: Mayor Benard C. Hendrick; Council members: Craig Stoker, At-Large; Eddie Mitchell, District One; Steven P. Thompson, District Two; Gilbert Vasquez, District Three; Greg Connell, District Four and Chris Hanie, District Five. Staff present: Aaron Smith, Acting 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 Mr. Stretcher followed by the Pledge of Allegiance and Texas Flag. Proclamations & Presentations. Mayor Hendrick recognized Mr. Stretcher for his leadership and expressed his gratitude for serving as Interim City Attorney. Citizens’ comments on non-agenda items. None. Consent Agenda 1. City Council work session minutes, November 11, 2025; 2. City Council minutes, November 11, 2025; 3. Resolution No. 2025R-123 - Amend the interlocal agreement between the City of Midland, City of Odessa, Midland County and Ector County for the Permian Basin Interoperable Radio Communications System clarifying cost-sharing responsibilities, designating the City of Midland as the purchasing entity for the CIRRUSCentral Monitoring subsystem, and establishing reimbursement terms; 4. Resolution No. 2025R-124 - Authorize the allocation of funds for the construction phase of two CIP projects for 23rd and 52nd St.; 5. Resolution No. 2025R-125 - Advance funding agreement between the State of Texas through the Texas Department of Transportation and the City of Odessa; 6. Resolution No. 2025R-126 - First amendment to the Equipment Loan and Fuel purchase agreement; 7. Authorize the City Manager to negotiate benefits with the Assistant City Manager, Deputy City Manager or Department Directors as it relates to unileave per Ordinance 2012-62; 8. Annual purchase of side-loading refuse dumpsters, open top Council Minutes November 25, 2025 Page 2 containers, receiver, and compactor for $201,157. Motion was made by Council member Thompson seconded by Council member Connell to approve the consent agenda. The motion was approved by the following vote: Aye: Hendrick, Stoker, Mitchell, Thompson, Vasquez, Connell, and Hanie Nay: None Regular Authorize the Odessa Police Department to accept funds for the Tractor Supply Company Foundation donation of $500. Mayor Hendrick stated that the amount did not meet the threshold and there was no action. Resolution Resolution No. 2025R-127 – Authorize the Odessa Police Department to accept, appropriate funds and authorize expenditures for the Occidental Petroleum Corporation donation of $5,000. Chief Gerke stated that Oxy provided a $5,000 donation to be used for med kits. Motion was made by Council member Vasquez and seconded by Council member Thompson to approve the resolution. The motion was approved by the following vote: Aye: Hendrick, Stoker, Mitchell, Thompson, Vasquez, Connell, and Hanie Nay: None Resolution No. 2025R-128 – Authorize the Odessa Fire Rescue to accept, appropriate funds and authorize expenditures for the Occidental Petroleum Corporation donation of $15,000. Jason Cotton, Fire Chief, stated that Oxy provided a $15,000 donation to be used for personal protective equipment replacements. Motion was made by Council member Stoker and seconded by Council member Hanie to approve the resolution. The motion was approved by the following vote: Aye: Hendrick, Stoker, Mitchell, Thompson, Vasquez, Connell, and Hanie Nay: None Resolution No. 2025R-129 – Authorize the Odessa Fire Rescue to accept, appropriate funds and authorize expenditures from the Ambulance Services Supplement Payment Program for $134,509.47. Chief Cotton stated that the Ambulance Services Supplemental Payment Program award was in the amount of $134,509.47 to be used for indigent care on ambulance services. Motion was made by Council member Vasquez and seconded by Council member Thompson to approve the resolution. The motion was approved by the following vote: Aye: Hendrick, Stoker, Mitchell, Thompson, Vasquez, Connell, and Hanie Nay: None Resolution No. 2025R-130 – Accept, appropriate funds and authorize expenditures from the opioid settlement funds of $166,594.98. Ms. Aguilar stated that the City Council Minutes November 25, 2025 Page 3 received the second payment of $166,594.98 for the opioid settlement. Mr. Stretcher stated that the payment must be approved each time in order not to lose the funds. Motion was made by Council member Stoker and seconded by Council member Thompson to approve the resolution. The motion was approved by the following vote: Aye: Hendrick, Stoker, Mitchell, Thompson, Vasquez, Connell, and Hanie Nay: None Resolution No. 2025R-131 – Ector County Appraisal District Board of Directors for the 2026 term. Ms. Aguilar stated that David Dunn and Mari Willis were nominees for the Ector County Appraisal District Board of Directors. The City had 285 votes. Council voted to appoint David Dunn and Mari Willis with 142.5 votes each. Motion was made by Council member Vasquez and seconded by Council member Thompson to approve the resolution with the votes for David Dunn and Mari Willis. The motion was approved by the following vote: Aye: Hendrick, Stoker, Mitchell, Thompson, Vasquez, Connell, and Hanie Nay: None Resolution No. 2025R-132 – Appoint Aaron Smith as the City Manager for the City of Odessa effective December 1, 2025; approving an Employment Agreement with Aaron Smith who will assume the duties of Odessa City Manager as of December 1, 2025, said agreement being attached to the resolution as Exhibit “A” and incorporated into the resolution for all legal purposes; directing the City Secretary to post said agreement in a prominent place on the city's internet website; and authorizing the Mayor to execute the agreement on behalf of the City of Odessa, Texas. Mayor Hendrick stated that Council went through an extension process in the Spring for City Manager candidates. He appreciated Mr. Smith’s job. It was in the best interest of the City to appoint Aaron Smith as the City Manager. Motion was made by Council member Hanie and seconded by Council member Stoker to approve the resolution. The motion was approved by the following vote: Aye: Hendrick, Stoker, Mitchell, Thompson, Vasquez, Connell, and Hanie Nay: None Miscellaneous Remove from the table to discuss name change and the naming of streets. Council member Connell stated that there was a strong public passion for and against renaming streets. He stated that the developers named the streets. He did not support the item of renaming the streets. Council member Hanie stated that there were certain names that needed to be renamed as MLK. He suggested honoring citizens with signs for certain portions of the road. He thanked the young man for submitting the petition. He was inspired but there should not be any renaming of streets. Mayor Hendrick recognized Francisco Moralez for his hard work and appreciated his investment in the city. Motion approving improvements to traffic signals at the area of the intersection of MLK Street and South Grant Avenue and West Murphy Street. Mr. Smith stated that the traffic signal was being addressed and handled internally. No action. Council Minutes November 25, 2025 Page 4 Discuss and consider all City of Odessa commissions and board members including appointment, re-appointment, removal or modification including the Board of Survey, Citizens Golf Advisory Committee, Historic Preservation Commission, Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, Planning and Zoning Commission, Traffic Advisory Committee, and Zoning Board of Adjustment. Motion was made by Council member Hanie and seconded by Council member Connell to reappoint Eddy Shelton and Bill Cleaver to the Board of Survey. The motion was approved by the following vote: Aye: Hendrick, Stoker, Mitchell, Thompson, Vasquez, Connell, and Hanie Nay: None Motion was made by Council member Vasquez and seconded by Council member Thompson to reappoint Mark Windham, Tony Hurt, and Gary Bittick to the Citizens Golf Advisory Committee. The motion was approved by the following vote: Aye: Hendrick, Stoker, Mitchell, Thompson, Vasquez, Connell, and Hanie Nay: None Motion was made by Council member Thompson and seconded by Council member Connell to reappoint Kathleen McCulloch and John Herriage to the Historic Preservation Commission. The motion was approved by the following vote: Aye: Hendrick, Stoker, Mitchell, Thompson, Vasquez, Connell, and Hanie Nay: None Motion was made by Council member Connell and seconded by Council member Hanie to reappoint Geno Montes and La-Tasha Gentry to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board. The motion was approved by the following vote: Aye: Hendrick, Stoker, Mitchell, Thompson, Vasquez, Connell, and Hanie Nay: None Motion was made by Council member Thompson and seconded by Council member Stoker to reappoint Bill Cleaver, Gary Sims, Connie Coots, and as an alternate Henry Enriquez and appoint Denver Pradon to the Planning and Zoning Commission. The motion was approved by the following vote: Aye: Hendrick, Stoker, Mitchell, Thompson, Vasquez, Connell, and Hanie Nay: None Motion was made by Council member Vasquez and seconded by Council member Hanie to reappoint Jeffrey Stenberg and Israel Galvan to the Traffic Advisory Committee. The motion was approved by the following vote: Aye: Hendrick, Stoker, Mitchell, Thompson, Vasquez, Connell, and Hanie Nay: None Motion was made by Council member Hanie and seconded by Council member Connell to reappoint Kyle Newton, Priscilla Contreras, Geraldo Arzate, and as an alternate Norberto Brito to the Zoning Board of Adjustment. The motion was approved by the following vote: Council Minutes November 25, 2025 Page 5 Aye: Hendrick, Stoker, Mitchell, Thompson, Vasquez, Connell, and Hanie Nay: None Motion was made by Council member Vasquez and seconded by Council member Mitchell to adjourn the meeting. The motion was approved by the following vote: Aye: Hendrick, Stoker, Mitchell, Thompson, Vasquez, Connell, and Hanie Nay: None The meeting adjourned at 6:27 p.m. ATTEST: APPROVED: Norma Aguilar, TRMC, CMC Benard Calvin Hendrick VII City Secretary Mayor