The Odessa City Council on Sept. 23 approved one-year interlocal agreements with Ector County Emergency Service Districts (ESD) No. 1 and No. 2 to have Odessa Fire Rescue provide emergency response in those districts, adopted a property tax rate of $0.4707 per $100 valuation after a legal clarification and reconsideration, and approved several budget and zoning items while tabling an annexation and specific-use permit connected to a proposed youth detention center.

The interlocal agreements with ESD No. 1 and ESD No. 2 take effect Oct. 1 and require the districts to pay the city $250,000 per quarter — $1,000,000 per year — for fire and rescue services. Keith Strecker, the city attorney, told council the contracts were written for a one-year term “so we have a year to work on it,” and he cited Odessa Fire Department activity in 2024 as context, saying the department made “21,796 total runs for service in the calendar year 2024” and “4,789 runs for service in the boundaries of the district,” roughly 21 percent of the total.

The council adopted the tax rate after a two-step process. Kaylee (staff name in packet) presented the required second reading of the tax ordinance and finance staff explained how interest allocation and enterprise fund restrictions limit use of some revenues. During a legal clarification after the regular meeting, City Attorney Strecker read a precise motion form and a percentage increase; the final, recorded outcome exceeded the supermajority threshold needed under state law. Strecker summarized the financial effect on a $100,000 home as an increase of about $5.31 per year for maintenance and operations under the adopted rate.

Council also approved $700,000 in transfers within the parks budget to a project account for planned improvements at McKinney Park. John (staff presenter) said the city is working with a contractor on a proposal and will return to council with the detailed contract for council approval once received.

The council approved a $6,000 request from the Peace Academy (International Cultural Festival) to cover tents and limited media support for an Oct. 25 festival. The council voted to support the request and staff said the funds would be appropriated from the general fund and formalized on the Oct. 14 agenda; finance staff noted this award would be outside the regular application period for hotel-occupancy-tax-funded (HOT) grants and, if organizers want HOT funding in future years, they should supply metrics showing nonlocal attendees.

On zoning and development items the council approved a zone change requested by Maverick Engineering from Future Development (FD) to Light Industrial (LI) for a roughly 3-acre tract; staff noted Planning & Zoning recommended approval 5–0. The council also approved an amended planned-development site plan for a Water Veil Express retail use in North Country Club Estates; staff said internal routing produced no objections and Planning & Zoning recommended approval.

Councilmembers tabled two related items — an annexation request and a specific-use permit for a proposed new youth detention center on a roughly 4.897‑acre tract — after members said they needed more information about an existing interlocal agreement that supplies water and sewer to nearby county-owned facilities. City staff said the new facility’s owner intends to request annexation for the new site but not for the existing facility. A motion to table both items carried unanimously.

The council also accepted two items for Odessa Fire Rescue: an unsolicited $5,000 donation from a Bedford Foundation check (donor listed as Margaret S. and Frederick H. Bedford Jr. Foundation, per staff) and a $19,942 pass-through grant from the Texas J Regional Advisory Council for EMS; both approvals were unanimous.

Other actions included approval of a three‑year lease with Trish Lagotto Land Company LP for a 6.477‑acre tract for storage of goods and equipment; a short amendment to the city code regarding water‑service disconnection procedures under Chapter 13; and a council resolution supporting continued advancement of interstate corridors I‑14 and I‑27 through West Texas. The lease, ordinance amendment and interstate resolution passed unanimously.

Votes at a glance
- Interlocal agreement with ESD No. 1 (one year; $250,000 per quarter / $1,000,000 yearly): motion to approve with mayor authorized to make minor modifications; mover Councilman Stoker; second Councilman Haney; outcome: approved unanimously.
- Interlocal agreement with ESD No. 2 (mirrors ESD No. 1): motion to approve with mayor authorized to make minor modifications; mover Councilman Stoker; second Councilman Haney; outcome: approved unanimously.
- Property tax rate adoption, fiscal year 2025–26 (0.4707 per $100 valuation): motion made and after legal clarification the council adopted the rate; final recorded tally exceeded the statutory threshold (legal counsel reported the vote ultimately recorded as exceeding 60% of the full governing body). Outcome: adopted (final tallies recorded in meeting minutes).
- McKinney Park improvements: transfer/appropriation of $700,000 within parks budget to a project account; mover Councilman Thompson; outcome: approved unanimously.
- Peace Academy / International Cultural Festival request: $6,000 to cover tents and media support; council approved funding and staff will return with appropriation action on Oct. 14; outcome: approved unanimously (subject to formal appropriation).
- Annexation and specific‑use permit for proposed youth detention center (LCA applicant on behalf of Ector County): public hearings opened then both items TABLED so staff can review interlocal agreement terms; outcome: tabled unanimously.
- Lease with Trish Lagotto Land Company LP (6.477 acres for storage): three‑year lease approved; outcome: approved unanimously.
- Zone change (Maverick Engineering) FD → LI, ~3 acres: planning recommended 5–0; council approved unanimously.
- Site‑plan amendment (Water Veil Express / Rampart Texas LLC): planning recommended approval; council approved unanimously.
- Fire Rescue donations/grant: $5,000 donation accepted; $19,942 Texas J Region grant accepted; both outcomes: approved unanimously.
- Ordinance amending Chapter 13 water disconnection procedures: approved unanimously.
- Resolution supporting I‑14 and I‑27 corridors: approved unanimously.

Why it matters: The emergency‑service interlocal agreements formalize how Odessa Fire Rescue will provide services and be reimbursed while the new ESDs begin operations and tax collection; the tax‑rate adoption sets the city’s revenue baseline for the coming fiscal year and the McKinney Park transfer authorizes capital work now under contracting. Tabling of the youth‑detention annexation delays a decision tied to utility and interlocal‑agreement details.

Council members and staff said they will return to future meetings with the appropriation resolution for the festival funding, the McKinney Park contract for improvements, and with any modified interlocal agreement language resulting from further attorney negotiation. The annexation and permit items will return only after staff and the council resolve outstanding interlocal and easement questions.