City Council

CITY COUNCIL MINUTES CITY OF ODESSA, TEXAS December 9, 2025 On December 9, 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, City Manager; Norma Aguilar, City Secretary; James Parker, 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 Pastor Renee Phillips, River of Hope, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance and Texas Flag. Proclamations & Presentations. None. Citizens’ comments on non-agenda items. Council member Mitchell stated that the donation of land to Habitat for Humanity was a great project for District One. Consent Agenda 1. City Council minutes, November 18, 2025; 2. City Council and ODC joint minutes, November 18, 2025; 3. City Council work session minutes, November 25, 2025; 4. City Council minutes, November 25, 2025; 5. Resolution No. 2025R-133 - Odessa Development Corporation and The University of Texas Permian Basin performance agreement for the purpose of developing a civil engineering program and authorizing the city manager to sign any documents necessary to implement; 6. Resolution No. 2025R-134 - Renew Motorola Solutions Inc. radio system maintenance and software update agreement the upgrade to Virtualized Prime, AXS Consoles and DSeries Multicarrier; 7. Resolution No. 2025R-135 - Ector County interlocal agreement for a joint Drainage Improvements Master Plan; 8. Purchase FUSUS and DFR for the Odessa Police Department. Motion was made by Council member Vasquez to approve the consent agenda. Mr. Parker stated that item number 7, the Ector County agreement would have a correction on a statutory change. Council Minutes December 9, 2025 Page 2 Motion was amended by Council member Vasquez seconded by Council member Hanie to approve the consent agenda with the correction on the agreement on item number 7. The motion was approved by the following vote: Aye: Hendrick, Stoker, Mitchell, Thompson, Vasquez, Connell, and Hanie Nay: None Regular Donation of two decorative rabbits to the Odessa Community Foundation. Jon Rogers, Director of Parks and Recreation, stated that two rabbits at Progressive Park would be donated to the Odessa Community Foundation. Mayor Hendrick stated that the rabbits would go on tour with the Treaty Oak Revival band, representing Odessa. Motion was made by Council member Stoker seconded by Council member Thompson to approve the donation of the rabbits as recommended. The motion was approved by the following vote: Aye: Hendrick, Stoker, Mitchell, Thompson, Vasquez, Connell, and Hanie Nay: None Public Hearing Open a public hearing to consider approval of the request by LCA for a zone change from LC, Light Commercial District to CB-1, Central Business-One District, on a 6.27- acre tract of land located in Lots 1-6, Block 50, Original Town Replat, & Lot 1, Block 1, Postal Addition Replat, Section 27, Block 42, T-2-S, T&P RY CO Survey, Odessa, Ector County, Texas. (Generally located on the northeast corner of the intersection of E. 2nd St., and N. Texas Ave.) Mr. Smith stated that the zone change was to allow the development of the courthouse. No one came forward and the public hearing was closed. Motion was made by Council member Stoker seconded by Council member Vasquez to approve the ordinance on first approval. The motion was approved by the following vote: Aye: Hendrick, Stoker, Mitchell, Thompson, Vasquez, Connell, and Hanie Nay: None Resolution Resolution No. 2025R-136 – Authorize the release of a 38-acre surface drainage easement in Section 46, Block 41, T-1-S, T&P RR Co. Survey, Midland County Texas; authorizing the acceptance of 2.07-acre surface drainage easement and a 2.60-acre surface drainage easement in Section 46, Block 41, T-1-S, T&P RR Co. Survey, A-765, Midland County, Texas in exchange for the release of said 38-acre surface drainage easement; authorizing the city manager to sign any documents necessary to implement this resolution. Steve Poscik, Attorney, stated that the area was for development, and the City would release a 38 acre drainage easement and accept a 2.07 acre and a 2.60 acre surface drainage easement. Council member Thompson stated that one area was for the fire station at Yukon and Park Bell. Motion was made by Council member Thompson and seconded by Council member Connell to approve the resolution. The motion was approved by the following vote: Council Minutes December 9, 2025 Page 3 Aye: Hendrick, Stoker, Mitchell, Thompson, Vasquez, Connell, and Hanie Nay: None Resolution No. 2025R-137 – One City Council meeting in December 2025. Ms. Aguilar stated that it is tradition to have one meeting in December due to the holidays. Motion was made by Council member Mitchell 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 Ordinance Reappointment and salary of a Presiding Municipal Court Judge and Associate Municipal Court Judge for a term of two years. Ms. Aguilar stated that state statute requires that the governing body consider the appointment or reappointment of the Municipal Court judges. The ordinance would reappoint Presiding Municipal Judge Robert Martin and Associate Municipal Court Judge Carlos Rodriguez at the salary directed by the City Council. The salary listed was the salary approved with the 4% increase approved by Council in October. Motion was made by Council member Connell and seconded by Council member Mitchell to approve the ordinance on first approval. The motion was approved by the following vote: Aye: Hendrick, Stoker, Mitchell, Thompson, Vasquez, Connell, and Hanie Nay: None Miscellaneous Tabled - Discuss and consider the design and placement of commemorative signs honoring individuals including but not limited to Charlie Kirk, Jovita Idar, and other individuals as designated by City Council, and authorize City Manager to order signs. Council member Connell suggested commemorative signs based on the considerations of petitions or other citizen suggestions to honor individuals. He stated a free standing sign on a street. He discussed the names brought for consideration of Jovita Idar, a civil rights advocate, and Charlie Kirk, who provided a platform for debate. Council member Hanie suggested the signs on Maple St. and not renaming any streets. The signs should be facing both ways. Council member Mitchell stated that there would be other people who would come forward to honor individuals. Mr. Smith had a draft policy that would be given to the Council. He stated that there were other suggestions to honor individuals such as a walkway, civic areas, and park benches. Jeff Russell discussed the process of petitions in Austin at the State Capitol. The requester would provide the funding sign. He stated that a policy was a good standard to put in place. Bill Cleaver stated that guidelines must be set and every person should be vetted. Lewis Whilden stated not to bring in cultural wars and the people needed to be vetted. JoAnna Keese provided quotes from Charlie Kirk. She did not support a sign honoring Charlie Kirk. Ally Bowling commended the spirited debate and asked for information on the cost of the sign. She stated it should not affect tax dollars. Francisco Morales stated that many students were against Charlie Kirk. He wanted to add a quote for the sign for Jovita Idar, “When you educate a woman, you educate the family.” Mayor Hendrick was appreciative of the citizens taking part in the conversations. He stated Council Minutes December 9, 2025 Page 4 that there were a lot of deserving people. The policy would be considered at the January 13 Council meeting. Council member Hanie stated to honor those petitions that were brought before the Council. Motion was made by Council member Thompson and seconded by Council member Connell to table the item until the January meeting. The motion was approved by the following vote: Aye: Hendrick, Stoker, Mitchell, Thompson, Vasquez, Connell, and Hanie Nay: None Discuss and consider all City of Odessa commissions and board members including appointment, re-appointment, removal or modification including the Board of Survey, Odessa Development Corporation (ODC), and Traffic Advisory Committee. Motion was made by Council member Vasquez and seconded by Council member Stoker to appoint Ramiro Salinas to the Board of Survey. The motion was approved by the following vote: Aye: Hendrick, Stoker, Mitchell, Thompson, Vasquez, Connell, and Hanie Nay: None Mayor Hendrick thanked David Boutin for his service on the Odessa Development Corporation board. Motion was made by Council member Vasquez and seconded by Council member Hanie to reappoint Ronnie Phillips to the Odessa Development Corporation. 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 appoint Mike Withrow to the Odessa Development Corporation. 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 Angie King to the Traffic Advisory Committee. The motion was approved by the following vote: Aye: Hendrick, Stoker, Mitchell, Thompson, Vasquez, Connell, and Hanie Nay: None John Landgraf thanked David Boutin, the ODC board for the UTPB funding on the civil engineering program. Sandra Woodley, UTPB President, stated that it would produce a civil engineering program. The UTPB Engineering team was introduced. Mayor Hendrick thanked the citizens for voicing and getting involved in the process of municipal government. Council Minutes December 9, 2025 Page 5 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 6:59 p.m. ATTEST: APPROVED: Norma Aguilar, TRMC, CMC Benard Calvin Hendrick VII City Secretary Mayor