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Odessa council tables commemorative-sign plan after heated public comment
Summary
The city council heard competing public petitions to honor Jovita Idar and Charlie Kirk, drew sharp public criticism and support, and voted to delay any approvals until staff presents a formal naming policy in January.
The Odessa City Council on Dec. 9 debated whether to approve low-cost commemorative signs proposed for local streets, then voted to table the item until council reviews a formal naming policy.
Councilmembers Kevin Haney and (Councilman) Canel introduced the proposal as an alternative to renaming streets, saying the signs would let the city honor residents without imposing the costs and disruptions of a formal renaming. “We’re not changing names of streets,” Haney said; “we’re just honoring these two on this street,” proposing Maple Street as one possible location.
The item drew extended public comment. Jeff Russell, who said he gathered petition signatures, urged a structured petition process and suggested that petitioners pay initial sign costs and provide periodic renewals, citing examples he’d seen in Austin. “I think it would be wise to incorporate a formal process to do this,” Russell told the council.
Several speakers opposed placing Charlie Kirk’s name alongside Jovita Idar. Louis Wheldon, a history teacher, said the council should not import “culture war issues into this chamber,” and argued Idar’s record as a civil-rights advocate made her a very different figure from Kirk. Joanne Keith, a public commenter, urged against honoring the conservative activist and delivered sharply critical remarks about Kirk’s public statements; her comments drew attention from other attendees who urged the council to vet proposals carefully.
Supporters of a petition-driven, low-cost memorial approach included Ally Bowling, who praised the deliberative process and asked staff to provide cost estimates for sign fabrication. Student speaker Francisco Morales said he collected paper signatures and asked the council to include a quote from Jovita Idar on any memorial sign.
After discussion, council members agreed staff should draft a formal naming/nominations policy that would set petition thresholds, funding/maintenance rules and placement standards; the council voted unanimously to table the item and take up the policy in January.
What’s next: the city manager’s office will circulate the draft policy to council members for review; the council plans to return the commemorative-sign item to a future agenda after the policy is distributed.
