Odessa council approves Park Hill sports-complex zoning, pool repairs, street resurfacing, finance signatories and board appointments

Odessa City Council on March 11 unanimously approved a set of routine and project measures, including original zoning for a planned sports complex, a $157,387 pool repair contract, a $511,850 street restoration contract and updates to financial authorized representatives.

The approvals advance a request by Park Hill/Park Bell Ranch to rezone a 104.187-acre tract to a planned-development recreation center district to allow construction of the sports complex, authorize repairs at Floyd Gwynne Pool, fund pavement work on about 16 miles of city streets, update city representatives on local investment pools, appropriate $22,000 for EMS personal protective equipment and confirm multiple commission appointments.

Council opened a public hearing on a request by Park Hill (Park Bell Ranch) to rezone a 104.187-acre tract identified in the notice as located in Section 40, Block 41, T-1-S, T&P RR Company survey, abstract 16, Ector County. City planning staff asked the council to adopt the developer's exhibit as part of the planned-development approval and to add conditions A through C to the resolution. Planning staff said design is in progress and referenced differing completion estimates in the meeting (a staff estimate of about 80% design completion and an indicator that the drawing before council was a 60% submittal). Councilman Thompson moved to approve the zoning amendment; Councilman Stoker seconded; the motion carried unanimously.

Council awarded a $157,387 contract for repairs to Floyd Gwynne Pool. Parks staff described work to re-plumb the deep end to the pump house, install a chemical automation system and replace plumbing between the collection tank and the circulation pump. Staff said work can begin April 1 and is expected to take roughly one to three weeks; the contractor named was Commercial Swim. Council approved the contract by voice vote with all members present voting yes.

Public works staff described a sole-source pavement restoration contract with Pavement Restoration for about 16 miles of street work at a contract price of $511,850. Staff said the work is budgeted; the company typically performs work in spring and fall and would likely start in May. Council approved the contract unanimously.

City finance staff presented updates to authorized representatives for the Local Government Investment Cooperative (LOGIC) and Techstar accounts. Staff said the LOGIC pool balance was about $33,500,000 and paying roughly 4.5% interest, and Techstar held about $26,600,000 at 4.3625%. The council approved changes to add Kayla Hedges and Aaron Smith as authorized signatories and to remove a prior designee; motions passed unanimously.

Odessa Fire Rescue requested an appropriation of $22,000 from the EMS lifeline revenue account to an EMS lifeline expense account to buy helmets, gloves, boots, hoods and other PPE for replacement needs and recent hires. Council approved the appropriation by voice vote.

Council also approved multiple board and commission appointments: Councilmember Vasquez agreed to continue serving on the Animal Shelter Advisory Committee; Marilyn Hancock indicated interest in that committee as well; Noreen McBride and Grace King indicated interest in the Historic Preservation Commission; and Councilmember Mitchell nominated Bill Cleaver to the Planning and Zoning Commission. Council moved and approved those appointments unanimously.

Several of the motions were taken with brief discussion and standard voice votes. Consent items were approved unanimously earlier in the meeting; the transcript identifies no recorded roll-call tallies beyond unanimous voice approval on each item. Several staff members provided project and budget context during the discussion: planning staff “Liz” on the Park Hill item, Jonathan on the pool repairs, Joe on the pavement project and finance staff on the investment pools.

Votes at a glance

- Consent agenda: approved unanimously (motion by Councilmember Vasquez; second by Mayor Pro Tem Stoker). - Agenda item 14 — Park Hill/Park Bell Ranch: original zoning to Planned Development Recreation Center District for a 104.187-acre tract (adopt exhibit, conditions A–C); motion by Councilmember Thompson; second by Mayor Pro Tem Stoker; outcome: approved unanimously. - Agenda item 15 — LOGIC authorized representatives: update to add Kayla Hedges and Aaron Smith and remove prior designee; motion carried unanimously. - Resolution 16 — Techstar authorized representatives: similar update; motion by Councilmember Haney; second by Mayor Pro Tem Stoker; outcome: approved unanimously. - Agenda item 17 — Floyd Gwynne Pool repairs: contract $157,387; work includes replumbing deep end, chemical automation, and pump-house plumbing; contractor named Commercial Swim; outcome: approved unanimously. - Pavement restoration contract (annual mill/overlay): Pavement Restoration contract $511,850 for about 16 miles of street work; outcome: approved unanimously. - Agenda item 19 — EMS lifeline appropriation: $22,000 from EMS lifeline revenue to EMS lifeline expense for PPE (helmets, gloves, boots, hoods); motion carried unanimously. - Agenda item 20 — Board/commission appointments: multiple appointments and reappointments approved unanimously.

The meeting record shows all motions carried by voice vote with no recorded dissents; Councilmember Connell was absent and noted to be attending a homeless awareness event in Austin on behalf of the city.