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Votes at a glance: Odessa City Council approves multiple purchases, zone changes, grants and infrastructure repairs
Summary
At its April 8 meeting, the council approved purchases for emergency services equipment and uniforms, two zone changes, multiple traffic‑safety grants, park and water/sewer repairs, a home rehabilitation contract and an amendment to the mobile food‑truck code; appointments and a public comment request were also recorded.
The Odessa City Council approved a series of motions on April 8 covering equipment purchases, zoning changes, grants, repairs and appointments. Most motions passed unanimously; one item recorded an abstention and one recorded a single opposed vote on a separate matter.
Key votes and motions (motions as recorded in the meeting):
- Purchase of Panasonic CF‑33 mobile data terminals and installation (MDTs) for five Odessa Fire Rescue medic units. Motion moved by Councilman Vasquez; seconded by Councilman Haney. Council approved; item budgeted at $110,159.25.
- Zone change: LECO Energy and Investments — from Special Preservation District (SPD) to Special Drilling District for a 4.8‑acre tract (northwest corner of Boise Drive and North Grandview) to allow residential subdivision into 21 lots. Motion moved by Councilman Thompson; seconded by Councilman Connell. Public hearing opened and closed with no speakers; council approved unanimously.
- Zone change: S31 B42, LLC — future development to light industrial for a 41.44‑acre tract near SW Loop 338. Motion moved by Councilman Bosticketts; seconded by Councilman Canal. Staff reported no objections; council approved unanimously.
- Purchase of 11 ZOLL cardiac monitors and 13 AEDs for Odessa Fire Rescue (to downsize monitor inventory and add AEDs to fire trucks). Motion by Councilman Haney; seconded by Councilman Thompson. Council approved; projected savings cited in staff remarks totaled $682,438.12 and the purchase requested budget amendment totaling approximately $431,006.80 from one capital outlay and $242,505.88 from other capital funds.
- Reconsideration and approval to award the rehabilitation/reconstruction contract for 313/315 McKinney Avenue to R & W Construction (general contractor), with associated subcontractors. Motion moved by Councilman Vasquez; seconded by Councilman Mitchell. Vote recorded unanimous with Councilman Haney abstaining.
- Multiple traffic‑safety and enforcement grants and a state‑administered donation: council authorized application for and acceptance of several STEP (Selective Traffic Enforcement Program) grants, ‘‘Click It or Ticket’’ and commercial vehicle enforcement grants with state matching requirements, and accepted a one‑time state distribution check of $1,088.97 to the police department. Chief Gerke and staff stated the grants fund overtime enforcement and training; council approved all grant requests unanimously.
- Approval of purchase of new Odessa Fire Rescue uniforms for department personnel (three shirts and two pants per employee for 93 personnel). Motion moved by Councilman Thompson; seconded by Councilman Stoker. Council approved; item budgeted at $73,003.68.
- Parks: approve purchase of 43 park signs at $50,422.84; staff to provide color samples (green, tan, brown) before production. Motion moved by Councilman Vasquez; seconded by Councilman Haney. Council approved unanimously.
- McKinney Park splash pad repairs: council approved repairs to the pump house, piping reroute, updates to chemical automation and pumps at a total project cost of $212,463.67; contractor timeline estimated about three weeks; motion moved by Councilman Haney; approved unanimously.
- Emergency replacement of a 24‑inch aerial sewer line: approval to award construction to Triune Construction and authorize interim city manager to negotiate contract. Project cost $1,690,759.56 plus a requested 15% contingency ($291,656.04) for a total allocation of $1,944,373.50; motion moved by Councilman Thompson; approved unanimously.
- Amendment to mobile food‑truck provisions in the city code (Chapter 6, Article 6‑6) to streamline permitting into a one‑stop process. Motion moved by Councilman Stoker; seconded by Councilman Mitchell; council approved. Ordinance will proceed through first and second readings and becomes effective five days after adoption.
- Appointments: council appointed Ditra (Deidra) White to the animal shelter board; other applications will be considered for remaining vacancies.
Why it matters: The approvals fund equipment and repairs for public safety and utilities, change land‑use designations that permit development and light industrial uses, and provide grant funding for traffic enforcement that includes state matches. Several actions include capital allocations and will require implementation by city departments.
Details and next steps: Departments cited budget sources (capital outlay or budgeted items) where applicable. Grants contain specified state matching amounts that require city contributions; the food‑truck ordinance change will require the standard ordinance readings before taking effect.
