Midland City Council approves Hogan Park renovation, AST expansion, multiple drilling permits and new pedestrian safety ordinance

Midland — At its September meeting, the Midland City Council approved several capital and land-use actions and adopted a new pedestrian safety ordinance, while council members and staff debated measures to limit truck traffic through neighborhoods and to guide commercial development along Loop 250.

The most prominent items the council approved were a renovation contract for the Hogan Park Quail golf course, amendments to economic-development and lease agreements for AST SpaceMobile, issuance of several oil-and-gas drilling permits with waivers for road-repair agreements, and a zoning change to allow regional retail on a two-acre parcel along Loop 250. Council also moved $400,000 into the Compass program for alley and substandard street improvements and adopted a “clear zone” ordinance intended to reduce pedestrian crashes. The council generally approved the staff recommendations and several amendments on final vote.

Why it matters: The decisions direct public funds and regulatory permissions that affect public infrastructure (streets, golf course irrigation), economic development (AST expansion and jobs), residential neighborhoods (oilfield traffic routes and zoning adjacency), and pedestrian safety policy. Several actions also included conditions or follow-up direction from council (for example, requiring clarified traffic routes and outreach to service providers, and requesting plans for surplus equipment).

Hogan Park Quail Course renovation The council approved awarding the Hogan Park Quail Course renovation contract to Mid America Golf and Landscape (award and project details discussed by staff) and authorized project-related expenditures. Staff described this as the first phase of a multi‑phase master plan for Hogan Park, including full irrigation replacement (including an RO system to serve both courses), new greens, fairway turf and other reconstruction. Staff said the contract bid closely matched the architect’s estimate.

Council amended the staff resolution on the floor to expressly add construction alternates 1, 2, 5 and 12 (alternate 1 was described as a 25‑year warranty at no cost to the city). Staff said alternates netted roughly $41,992 after deducts and additions. Timeline presented: construction to begin in November with anticipated completion in September 2026. Council members emphasized the city’s policy that the golf course operate on user fees rather than property-tax subsidy going forward; staff reiterated that earlier council direction removed the large property‑tax subsidy historically used for the course.

AST SpaceMobile lease and economic development amendment Council approved an amendment to the economic development agreement between the Midland Development…