READY? ALL RIGHT. WE'LL CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER. CITY COUNCIL OF ODESSA, TEXAS ON
[I. Call to Order]
[00:00:10]
JUNE 9TH, 2026 AT 6:00 AM. NORMALLY, YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. MAYOR PRESENT MAYOR PRO TEM STOKER PRESENT COUNCIL MEMBER. MITCHELL HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER. THOMPSON. PRESENT.COUNCIL MEMBER. COUNCIL PRESIDENT. COUNCIL MEMBER. HANEY HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER.
VASQUEZ'S ABSENT MAYOR. WE HAVE QUORUM. THANK YOU. IF YOU'RE ABLE TO PLEASE STAND. I'M GOING TO ASK PASTOR STEVE MOSS TO COME UP AND LISTEN TO WORD OF PRAYER. START THE MEETING.
SHALL WE BOW AS WE PRAY? YES, SIR. OH, GOOD AND GRACIOUS AND LOVING GOD. LORD, WE THANK YOU FOR THE GIFT OF THIS DAY. AND LORD, WE THANK YOU FOR THIS CITY, FOR ITS LEADERSHIP AND FOR ALL ITS CITIZENS. AND LORD, WE PRAY A BLESSING UPON THIS COUNCIL MEETING TONIGHT THAT OUR COUNCIL MIGHT. ANY DECISIONS THEY MIGHT MAKE, LORD, WOULD BE INSPIRED AND DIRECTED BY YOU. AND LORD, WE JUST PRAY THAT THIS MEETING WOULD GO ACCORDING TO YOUR PLANS AND TO THE CITIZENS OF THIS COMMUNITY. WE ASK THESE THINGS IN THE MATCHLESS NAME OF JESUS. AMEN.
AMEN. YOU REMAIN STANDING. COUNCILMAN HAYES ASKED TO DO THE PLEDGE FOR THE THIRD TIME IN A ROW. PRACTICE. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. HONOR. TEXAS. FLAG. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THEE. TEXAS, ONE STATE UNDER GOD, ONE AND INDIVISIBLE. PLEASE BE SEATED. YOU HAVE A GOOD TIME. CAN YOU REWARD ME AT
[V. Proclamations & Presentations]
THE FRONT NOW? WE'LL READ A PROCLAMATION. GIVE ME A PROCLAMATION. PROCLAMATION? HAVE TO GET MY TWO. MY EMPLOYEE RECOGNITIONS TO. THANK YOU. OKAY. I'D LIKE TO READ A PROCLAMATION TONIGHT, IF WE CAN, FOR PROJECT GRADUATION. WHEREAS PROJECT GRADUATION PROVIDES A SAFE, ENGAGING, AND MEMORABLE CELEBRATION FOR GRADUATES ON THEIR SPECIAL NIGHT, INCLUDING AN ENVIRONMENT FILLED WITH FUN ACTIVITIES, DELICIOUS FOOD, EXCITING PRIZES. ENSURING EVERY SENIOR CAN CELEBRATE THEIR ACHIEVEMENTS WITH THEIR PEERS IN A SAFE PLACE. AND WHEREAS PROJECT GRADUATION AIMS TO EMPOWER PARENTS AND THE COMMUNITY TO FEEL CONFIDENT IN KNOWING THAT THEIR GRADUATES HAVE A JOYFUL, PROTECTED WAY TO MARK THIS SIGNIFICANT MILESTONE IN THEIR LIVES. TOGETHER, WE CELEBRATE ACADEMIC SUCCESS AND FOSTER LASTING MEMORIES FOR STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES. AND WHEREAS THE GOAL OF PROJECT GRADUATION IS TO PREVENT TRAGEDIES CAUSED BY IMPAIRED DRIVING, SUBSTANCE USE, OR UNSAFE BEHAVIOR DURING A TIME OF CELEBRATION, AND WHEREAS THE PARENTS, SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS, COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, AND VOLUNTEERS HAVE COME TOGETHER TO ORGANIZE AND SUPPORT THIS IMPORTANT INITIATIVE. AND WHEREAS PROJECT GRADUATION REFLECTS A SHARED COMMITMENT TO THE SAFETY AND WELL-BEING OF OUR YOUTH AND OFFERS GRADUATES A MEMORABLE AND ENJOYABLE EVENT IN A SECURE ENVIRONMENT, NOW, THEREFORE, I, BERNARD CALVIN HENDRICK, BY VIRTUE OF AUTHORITY VESTED IN ME AS MAYOR OF THE CITY OF ODESSA, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM MAY 21ST, 2026 FOR PERMIAN HIGH SCHOOL AND MAY 22ND FOR ODESSA HIGH SCHOOL AS PROJECT GRADUATION DAYS. YOU CAN CLAP NOW. GUESS WHO'S HERE.OH. I'M SORRY. CAN I SEE YOU BACK THERE? COME UP HERE. CITY SOMEWHERE. PICTURES LIKE THAT CASTLE STOOD. NOW WE'RE GOING TO RECOGNIZE A COUPLE OF OUR DEPARTMENTS. AND I'M GOING TO START WITH COMMS DEPARTMENT. IF YOU'RE PART OF THE COMMUNICATION DEPARTMENT AND YOU'RE ABLE, PLEASE COME UP HERE AND STAND WITH ME. I'D LIKE TO READ SOMETHING. THEY'VE EARNED A GREAT, I SHOULD SAY, EARNED MULTIPLE AWARDS FOR THEIR WORK THIS PAST YEAR. AND I WOULD LIKE TO READ THIS FOR THEM. I WANT TO THANK TINA FOR HELPING ME PREPARE THIS. ALL RIGHT. LAST THURSDAY IN AUSTIN, THE CITY OF ODESSA RECEIVED STATEWIDE RECOGNITION FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER AT THE 2026 TEXAS ASSOCIATION OF MUNICIPAL INFORMATION OFFICERS. TAMU, AT THE TAMI EVENT. BRING IT HOME. SEVEN DIFFERENT AWARDS. ALL RIGHT. AMONG THOSE AWARDS WERE
[00:05:06]
TWO FIRST PLACE AWARDS FOR CRISIS COMMUNICATION AND SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGN, AN UNPLANNED ONE AT THAT. THE CITY ALSO RECEIVED AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE FOR ITS 2026 2027 STRATEGIC PLAN, BEST NEW LOGO AND THE FATHER DAUGHTER DANCE FLIER. IN ADDITION, THEY EARNED AWARDS FOR HONOR FOR THE CHRISTMAS MARKETING PLAN AND PHOTOGRAPHY PRODUCED FOR THE ODESSA ANIMAL SERVICES. THE TAMI AWARDS RECOGNIZE OUTSTANDING MUNICIPAL COMMUNICATION ACROSS TEXAS, CELEBRATING CREATIVITY, EFFECTIVENESS, AND PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT. THIS YEAR'S COMPETITION ATTRACTED A RECORD NINE 711 DIFFERENT ENTRIES FOR CITIES AND COUNTIES ACROSS THE STATE OF TEXAS. SO WOW, THINK ABOUT THAT. 711. THE COMMUNICATION DEPARTMENT ALSO RECENTLY RECEIVED RECOGNITION, RECEIVING TWO BRONZE TELLY AWARDS FOR ITS VIDEO PRODUCTIONS. THE TELLY AWARDS ARE AMONG THE WORLD PREMIERE COMPETITIONS HONORING EXCELLENCE, VIDEO AND TELEVISION AS THE TAMI AWARDS. WHAT SETS THESE AWARDS APART IS THE DEPTH OF THE JUDGING PROCESS. ENTRANTS DON'T JUST SIMPLY SUBMIT A VIDEO OR A PHOTOGRAPH, BUT INSTEAD JUDGES EVALUATE THE STRATEGY BEHIND EACH PROJECT, INCLUDING HOW THE IDEA WAS FORMED, HOW IT WAS DEVELOPED, IMPLEMENTED, AND MEASURED FOR SUCCESS. THE APPLICATION PROCESS REQUIRES COMMUNICATIONS TO DEMONSTRATE NOT ONLY CREATIVITY, BUT THE IMPACT AND THE RESULTS OF THEIR WORK. CONGRATULATIONS TO THE COMMUNICATION DEPARTMENT. I THINK THE. OKAY RIGHT HERE. THANK YOU, I APPRECIATE IT. ALL RIGHT. NOW, THIS WAS ONE OF MY.REALLY FRUSTRATED WHEN I RAN FOR MAYOR BECAUSE OF OUR FINANCIAL SITUATION. BUT I'M REALLY PROUD OF OUR FINANCE DEPARTMENT. SO I'M GOING TO ASK IF YOU'RE PART OF THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT, COME UP HERE AND STAND WITH ME WHILE I READ THIS. I WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE YOUR HARD WORK FOR THE PAST YEAR, REALLY MORE THAN THE PAST YEAR, BUT CERTAINLY THE PAST YEAR FOR GETTING OUR AUDITS DONE. NOT ONLY CAUGHT UP AGAIN, THIS YEAR'S DONE ON TIME, Y'ALL COME STAND BY ME. LAST WEEK, ODESSA REGAINED OUR DOUBLE A TWO BOND RATING WITH MOODY'S. THIS WAS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE HARD WORK AND DEDICATION OF OUR FINANCE DEPARTMENT, WHO'S REALLY SPEARHEADED THE EFFORTS TO GET THESE AUDITS, BOTH CAUGHT UP AND THIS YEAR, FILED ON TIME FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE THE 2017 2018. SO THAT'S QUITE AN ACCOMPLISHMENT. MOODY'S CITED ODESSA'S EXCEPTIONALLY STRONG FUND BALANCE, CONSERVATIVE BUDGET PRACTICES AND GROWING REVENUES, AND MANAGEABLE LONG TERM LIABILITIES AS KEY FACTORS IN GIVING US THIS RATING. THE AGENCY ALSO RECOGNIZED THE CITY'S STRONG FINANCIAL POSITION AND CONTINUED ECONOMIC GROWTH. THE RATING REINSTATES FOLLOWING EXTENSIVE WORK BY OUR CITY'S FINANCE DEPARTMENT TO BRING OUR REPORTING CURRENTLY UP TO DATE AND STRENGTHEN ALL OF OUR FINANCIAL PROCESSES.
SINCE NOVEMBER OF 23, THE DEPARTMENT HAS COMPLETED AUDITS FOR FISCAL YEARS 22, 23, 24 AND 25. IN ADDITION, THE FISCAL YEAR 2025 AUDIT WAS SUBMITTED ON TIME WITH THE LEGAL DEADLINE, WHICH WAS BEFORE MARCH 30TH OF 2026. CITY ALSO CONTINUES TO MAINTAIN STRONG FINANCIAL STANDING WITH FITCH, WHICH ALSO AFFIRMED ODESSA RATING BACK ON AUGUST 8TH OF 2024. SO TODAY, I WANT TO RECOGNIZE THIS ACHIEVEMENT AND THANK THE STAFF WHO UNDERSTOOD THE IMPORTANCE AND PRIORITY OF BRINGING OUR FINANCIAL RATINGS BACK ON A LEVEL OF EXCELLENCE. THANK YOU GUYS. CONGRATULATIONS. TEAM RIGHT HERE. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. EXCELLENT JOB.
THANK YOU LADIES. THANK YOU. DO I GET ONE MORE ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR OUR HARD WORK?
[Citizens’ comments on non-agenda items.]
GOOD JOB. DO WE HAVE ANY CITIZEN COMMENTS TONIGHT? YES WE DO. PLEASE. WHO'S OUR FIRST? SO FRANCISCO MORALES HAS A DESIGNATED HIS THREE MINUTES TO JOANNA KEYES. JOANNA. OKAY.YEAH, I'LL TAKE IT. I'LL LOOK AT THE BACK OF MY HEAD, SPIN IT BACK AROUND FOR. I'M SORRY I GOT TO SPIN IT FOR YOU. I KNOW SOME OF YOU HAVE ALREADY HEARD THIS, BUT I JUST KIND OF WANT
[00:10:06]
TO RECAP SOME MAIN POINTS FOR THOSE WHO ARE NEW AND WEREN'T HERE EARLIER. THERE WERE A COUPLE OF US THAT MADE THAT. WE RAISED OUR CONCERNS ABOUT THE PLANNED AI DATA CENTER THAT'S BEING BUILT NEAR PENWELL IN ECTOR COUNTY, BUT REALLY CLOSE TO THE CITY LIMITS. AND I THINK NOT. IT'S NOT JUST THE WHAT THAT'S IMPORTANT. I THINK THAT PEOPLE KNOW IT'S THE WHO'S DOING IT AND HOW AND HOW, YOU KNOW, A QUITE A SHADY AND JADED HISTORY, NEW ERA ENERGY AND DIGITAL HAS. I HAVE BEFORE ME A SETTLEMENT WITH THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO. THEY WERE SUED FOR FRAUD. I HAVE BEFORE ME SEC AND SEC PACKET DATED JUNE 1ST, WHICH IS. THAT'S THIS MONTH WHERE THE DOJ ACTUALLY FILED AGAINST THEM. AND THEN THERE'S ALSO TWO LAW FIRMS THAT ARE PURSUING A CLASS ACTION SUIT FROM THEIR INVESTORS. SO TO ME, THAT'S SUPER IMPORTANT THAT PEOPLE THAT PEOPLE DO YOUR HOMEWORK AND DON'T USE AI. TO, TO LOOK UP NEW ERA AND, AND, AND WHAT THEY'RE ALL ABOUT. AND IT'S ALSO MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THEY ARE BASICALLY GOING TO FILE TO BE THEIR OWN GAS PLANT. THEY ARE GOING TO USE NATURAL GAS AS THE MAIN COMPONENT FOR THEIR ENERGY. HOWEVER, THEY WILL HAVE SOME TYPE OF WATER LOOP COOLING SYSTEM. I DID TALK TO TWO OF THEIR GUYS EARLIER. THEY INVITED ME TO CALL THEM OR MEET WITH THEM TO GET THAT INFORMATION, BECAUSE THERE'S LITERALLY NONE OUT THERE. AS TO THE SPECIFICS OF WHAT BEHIND THE METER NATURAL GAS POWER GENERATION, ADVANCED LIQUID COOLING SYSTEM AND INCORPORATE CONSIDERATIONS FOR CARBON CAPTURE. CARBON CAPTURE WOULD BE GREAT IF WE COULD ENCOURAGE THAT. THAT WOULD BE FANTASTIC. BUT I KNOW IT COSTS MONEY. AND THEN ALSO, AS FAR AS THE CITY OF ODESSA, I THINK IN SUPPORT TO KNOW THAT THEY THAT THIS HUGE CAMPUS, WHICH IS WITH ODESSA, WILL UTILIZE AN INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT CONTRACT WITH THE CITY OF ODESSA. AND WHAT THAT MEANS IS THAT THEY CAN AVOID RESTRICTIVE. CITY OF ODESSA ZONING RULES. AND BASICALLY, THEY HAVE A LOT OF FLEXIBILITY IN HOW THEY AND HOW THEY COMPUTE AND OPERATE, WHICH TO ME IS SHADY AND CONCERNING. AND THEN ALSO MOST DATA CENTER, MOST DATA CENTERS FUNCTION AS WAREHOUSES FOR SERVERS RATHER THAN CORPORATE OFFICES. WE MIGHT BE LOOKING AT TEN JOBS, MAYBE LONG TERM. SO FOR ME, THIS IS NOT THIS IS NOT AN ECONOMIC INITIATIVE. THIS IS NOT ABOUT ECONOMIC GROWTH. AND THEN ALSO ONE THING THAT I THINK IS SUPER IMPORTANT IS THAT THEY WILL BE USING MUNICIPAL RESOURCES. SHOULD THEY HAVE A FIRE OR AN EMERGENCY, ALL ATTENTION AND ALL RESOURCES WILL GO TO PUTTING OUT THE FIRE OR, OR RESPONDING TO THOSE CALLS, WHICH MEANS LESS RESPONSE FOR THE REST OF US SHOULD WE HAVE AN EMERGENCY. BUT I ENCOURAGE YOU TO RESEARCH NEW THIS NEW ERA, WHICH WAS FORMERLY NEW HELIUM. THEY HAD A BANKRUPTCY AND THEY HAD TO REINCORPORATE. AND THEY ARE BRINGING IN PARTNERS THAT MAY SEEM ON THE UP AND UP. AND ALSO, I THINK IT'S ANOTHER IMPORTANT POINT TO POINT OUT, THAT NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT PROHIBITS MICROCHIPS AND OTHER COMPONENTS FOR THESE AI DATA CENTERS TO BE USED IN THE US. SO AS FAR AS THEIR I DON'T KNOW WHERE THEY'RE SOURCING, THEY MIGHT BE SOURCING THEM FROM INDIA, AND THAT'S FINE. BUT AGAIN, THESE ARE IMPORTANT QUESTIONS THAT I FEEL LIKE WE DON'T HAVE ANSWERS TO. I COULD FIND NOTHING ABOUT WHERE THEY SOURCE ALL OF THEIR COMPONENTS FOR THEIR AI DATA CENTERS. OKAY.THAT'S IT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. YOU'RE WELCOME. THANK YOU. TYLER ROUNDTREE. HOWDY, Y'ALL.
THANKS FOR LETTING ME SPEAK. I'M ALSO GOING TO TALK ABOUT MY CONCERNS ABOUT HAVING AN AI IN A DATA CENTER. EXCUSE ME. OUT HERE IN ODESSA, I HAVE A FEW PERSPECTIVES FROM THAT. MY FIRST IS KIND OF ON THE HUMAN SIDE. AI, AI DATA CENTERS HAVE BEEN DOCUMENTED TO BE BASICALLY LIKE LOW GRADE NOISE WEAPONS IN NEIGHBORHOODS NEAR THEM. IT'S BEEN THERE'S BEEN A REALLY GOOD REPORTER WHO'S GONE AND LOOKED AT MULTIPLE DATA CENTERS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES AND HAVE FOUND THAT THEY KIND OF ACT AS THERE'S LIKE LOW GRADE NOISE, WHICH IS HARMFUL FOR HUMANS, MESSES WITH LIKE SLEEP CYCLES CAUSE LIKE VERTIGO, OTHER KINDS OF ISSUES. ON TOP OF THAT, THEY CONSUME A HUGE AMOUNT OF WATER. EVEN IF THEY ARE CLOSED LOOP ADVANCED SYSTEMS, THEY STILL
[00:15:03]
NEED TO PULL WATER FROM SOMEWHERE. AND EVEN IF THEY DO SOURCE THEIR OWN WATER, I WOULD BE WARY OF THAT JUST BECAUSE THERE'S BEEN A REPORT THAT A DATA CENTER, I BELIEVE IN PENNSYLVANIA BASICALLY SOURCED, THEY WERE CHARGED FOR HALF OF THE WATER THEY CONSUMED FROM THE MUNICIPALITY, EVEN THOUGH THEY USED TWICE AS MUCH AS THEY WERE BILLED FOR. ON TOP OF THAT, AS JOANNA SAID, THEY ARE GOING TO BUILD BEHIND THE METER GENERATORS, WHICH SHOULD PUT NO STRAIN ON OUR RESOURCES NECESSARILY. BUT MY CONCERN IS THE MOST EFFICIENT METHOD. GAS TURBINES WE'RE TALKING ABOUT YEARS OUT BEFORE THEY BECOME BEFORE THEY CAN EVEN GET THEIR HANDS ON ONE. LESS EFFICIENT RECIPROCATING GENERATORS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM, EXCEPT IT'S MONTHS. AND SO WE'RE LOOKING AT REALLY LONG CONSTRUCTION TIMES. WHILE AI RIGHT NOW IS KIND OF BECOMING LESS ECONOMICAL. SEVERAL CORPORATIONS MICROSOFT, UBER AND GOOGLE ALL HAVE CHANGED WHERE THEY USE AI BECAUSE OF THE RISING COSTS. THE BIG COMPANIES, OPENAI AND THE OTHER ONE, ANTHROPIC, HAVE STARTED CHARGING USING TOKENS INSTEAD OF JUST GIVING THEM LIKE A GENERIC BILLING. PEOPLE ARE RUNNING INTO COMPANIES ACROSS THE WORLD OF THE PLANET WHO HAVE BEEN USING THESE THINGS, HAVE BEEN RUNNING INTO RUNNING OUT, GETTING THEIR MONTHLY ALLOWANCE RUN UP IN LIKE A WEEK. I BELIEVE UBER HAS TALKED ABOUT HOW AS THEIR EYES BECOME MORE EXPENSIVE THAN THE EMPLOYEES THAT THEY HIRED TO FACILITATE AI TOKEN USE. AND SO IN THAT KIND OF SITUATION, WE'RE TALKING IF WE'RE TALKING YEARS OUT, IF WE'RE TALKING, YOU KNOW, HIGH COST OF STARTUP, HIGH COST OF ENERGY, WE'RE LOOKING AT KIND OF NOT A GOOD ECONOMIC SITUATION FOR THAT KIND OF THING. IN ADDITION, IN UI HAS THEY'VE TALKED APPARENTLY IN SOME OF THEIR THINGS ABOUT HOW THEY HAVE THEIR OPEN AIR PERMITS FOR DOING BEHIND THE METER GAS GENERATION. I LOOKED AT THE TECH WEBSITE TODAY ABOUT 430 IN UI IS NOT LISTED. TCDC IS NOT LISTED. I DIDN'T SEE ANY REAL MENTION OF AI AT ALL. AND YOU KNOW, IF THEY HAD APPLIED FOR THEIR PERMIT, IT WOULD IT WOULD SHOW UP EVEN IF THEY JUST APPLIED, EVEN IF THEY DIDN'T HAVE IT APPROVED YET. SHOULD BE THERE. I DIDN'T SEE IT WHEN I LOOKED THIS AFTERNOON. SO YOUR TIME IS UP AND THAT'S ALL I'VE GOT. SO THANK YOU GUYS. WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME. Y'ALL HAVE A GOOD ONE. THANK YOU. THAT'S ALL. THAT'S IT. OKAY.ALL RIGHT. LET'S GO TO OUR ROMAN NUMERAL. MR. MAYOR, MAY I HAVE TWO MINUTES BEFORE YOU CONTINUE YOUR BUSINESS? ABSOLUTELY. I'D JUST LIKE TO SAY TO MY MAYOR, TO MY FELLOW COUNCILMEN, MR. CITY MANAGER, AND TO THE EMPLOYEES, ESPECIALLY THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT. I KNOW SOME OF YOU THAT'S IN THE COMMUNITY MAY NOT KEEP UP WITH A LOT, BUT WE RECEIVED A GREAT RATING LAST WEEK. SO THIS CITY IS ON THE REBOUND AND WE'RE JUST ASKING YOU TO HANG IN WITH US. I APPRECIATE IT, I LOVE IT THAT WE'RE NOT IN THE HOLE WE WERE IN WHEN WE FIRST COME IN. BUT ODESSA IS ON THE REBOUND AND I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING WE ALL DO FOR IT. ALRIGHT, THANKS. THANK YOU. ANY. LET'S GO TO OUR CONSENT AGENDA. GENTLEMEN, IF
[VI. Consent Agenda]
EVERYONE HAD A CHANCE TO REVIEW THE WORK COUNCIL MINUTES, MINUTES AND MOVE APPROVAL.APPROVED BY COUNCIL. THOMPSON. SECOND COUNCILMAN HANEY. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTIONS? UNANIMOUS. LET'S GO TO OUR REGULAR AGENDA NUMBER SEVEN PUBLIC HEARING.
[VII. Regular]
WE'RE GOING TO OPEN A PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER APPROVAL OF THE REQUEST BY GEORGE T GARRETT, THE SECOND FOR A ZONE CHANGE FROM GR GENERAL RESIDENTS TO NRS NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICE ON A .414 ACRE TRACT OF LAND LOCATED IN. LOST 26 TO 28 BLOCK 19 PATTERSON EDITION SIX FIVE TEXAS, WHICH BASICALLY IS WEST PART OF BUNCH AVENUE, ABOUT 80FT NORTH OF MYRTLE STREET.THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. WE SENT OUT NOTICES, 20 NOTICES. WE HAVE ONE APPROVAL, ZERO PROTEST AND ONE NOTICE RETURNED. THIS PROPERTY IS INVOLVED IN THE PROPERTY INVOLVED IN THIS REQUEST IS LOCATED IN THE NORTHWEST CORNER OF THE INTERSECTION OF BUNCH AVENUE AND MYRTLE STREET. THE PROPERTY IS CURRENTLY ZONED GENERAL RESIDENCE AND IS OCCUPIED BY KING SOLOMON CHURCH. SURROUNDING LAND USES INCLUDE RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT TO THE NORTHEAST, SOUTH AND WEST. THE APPLICANT, MR. OR BISHOP GARNET, IS REQUESTING A ZONE CHANGE TO NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES TO ALLOW RESTAURANT WITH A DINING HALL OF AN. WITHIN AN EXISTING CHURCH, THE PROPOSED RESTAURANT WILL OPERATE WITHIN THE EXISTING FELLOWSHIP HALL AND WILL BE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. THE DINING AREA WILL ACCOMMODATE UP TO 15 PATRONS, AND THE BUSINESS WILL PRIMARILY BE FOCUSED ON TAKEOUT AND FOOD DELIVERY SERVICES, WITH LIMITED ON SITE DINING. STAFF FINDS THAT THE PROPOSED RESTAURANT USE IS EXPECTED TO GENERATE ADDITIONAL VEHICLE TRIPS AND CUSTOMER ACTIVITY, RESULTING IN INCREASED TRAFFIC WITHIN AN AREA THAT IS PREDOMINANTLY SURROUNDED BY EXISTING
[00:20:04]
RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT. BASED UPON THE PRECEDING ANALYSIS, STAFF RECOMMENDS DENIAL OF THE REQUEST. STAFF FINDS THAT THESE IMPACTS ARE NOT CONSISTENT WITH THE CHARACTER OF THE SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOOD, AND MAY ADVERSELY AFFECT THE NEARBY RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES, AND I'M HERE FOR ANY QUESTIONS. THANK YOU. LET'S OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING. AT THIS TIME, WE'RE OPEN. A PUBLIC HEARING WISH TO SPEAK MAY DO SO. PLEASE LIMIT YOUR COMMENTS TO THREE MINUTES.I KNOW SOMEBODY MUST WANT TO SPEAK AND THAT'S ALL. COME ON UP HERE, SIR. MY NAME IS GEORGE T GARNET. I AM THE PASTOR OF THE KING SOLOMON MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH HERE IN ODESSA.
RATHER THAN GO OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD, I WANT TO JUST READ WHAT I HAVE HANDED OUT TO YOU GUYS AS IT RELATES TO THE DISCUSSION. COUNCIL MEMBERS, MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY, THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TODAY IN SUPPORT OF APPROVING THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMITTEE'S RECOMMENDATION FOR SOUTHERN MADE SOUL FOOD TO OPERATE WITHIN THE KING SOLOMON FELLOWSHIP HALL HERE IN ODESSA. THIS PROPOSAL IS ABOUT FAR MORE THAN OPENING A RESTAURANT. IT'S ABOUT ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY, CULTURAL PRESERVATION, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, AND INVESTING IN AN UNDERSERVED, UNDERSERVED AREA OF OUR CITY.
SOUTHERN MADE SOUL FOOD WOULD SERVE AUTHENTIC SOUL FOOD CUISINE, INCLUDING OXTAIL.
NOBODY GET HUNGRY, SMOTHERED PORK CHOPS, FRIED CHICKEN, CHICKEN FRIED STEAK, SWEET POTATO PIE, PEACH COBBLER, PEACH PECAN PIE, AND OTHER TRADITIONAL DISHES THAT REFLECT THE GENERATIONAL GENERATIONS OF CULTURE, FAMILY AND HISTORY. BUT THE TRUE VALUE OF THIS BUSINESS EXTEND FAR BEYOND THE MENU. CURRENTLY ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF ODESSA, THERE IS ONLY ONE PRIMARY SOUL FOOD ESTABLISHMENT SERVING THIS COMMUNITY, AND THAT'S ED AND TOM'S BARBECUE, OWNED AND OPERATED BY OUR OWN DISTRICT ONE COUNCILMAN EDDIE MITCHELL.
THE SUCCESS AND LONGEVITY OF THAT ESTABLISHMENT CLEARLY DEMONSTRATES BOTH THE DEMAND FOR SOUL FOOD DINING AND THE IMPORTANT ROLE THE RESTAURANT PLAYS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY.
SOUTHERN SOUL FOOD WOULD HELP MEET THE CONTINUED AND GROWING DEMAND ACROSS THE AREA.
STRETCHING FROM EIGHTH STREET TO INTERSTATE 20. BASED UPON CENSUS TRACT FOUR, FIVE, SIX AND SEVEN. USING 2020 CENSUS DATA, DATA AND 24 2024 PROJECTION, THIS AREA REPRESENTS APPROXIMATELY 10 TO 20 000 RESIDENTS. THIS RESTAURANT WOULD BRING ADDITIONAL INVESTMENT AND ACTIVITY INTO A PART OF ODESSA THAT DESERVES CONTINUED ECONOMIC GROWTH AND OPPORTUNITY. IT WOULD CREATE JOBS. IT WOULD SUPPORT ENTREPRENEURSHIP. IT WOULD CREATE PATHWAYS TOWARD WEALTH BUILDING AND GENERATIONAL BUSINESS OWNERSHIP, AND IT WOULD SUPPORT LOCAL SUPPLIERS AND MARKETS THROUGH THE PURCHASE OF FRESH INGREDIENTS AND GOODS. IMPORTANTLY, THIS PROJECT ALSO ADDRESSES ACCESSIBILITY TO ENTREPRENEURSHIP ITSELF. WITHOUT THE USE OF EXISTING EQUIPMENT AND FACILITIES INSIDE KING SOLOMON FELLOWSHIP HALL AND OR DINING HALL, THIS RESTAURANT LIKELY LIKE MANY START UPS, SOUL FOOD RESTAURANTS, SIMPLY WOULD NOT HAVE THE FINANCIAL CAPITAL NECESSARY TO PURCHASE COMMERCIAL, COMMERCIAL GRADE EQUIPMENT OR SECURE STANDALONE FACILITY. UTILIZING AN EXISTING COMMUNITY ASSET REMOVES BARRIERS TO ENTRY FOR SMALL BUSINESS OWNERSHIP AND CREATE AN OPPORTUNITY THAT OTHERWISE MIGHT NOT EXIST. THIS IS EXACTLY THE TYPE OF INNOVATIVE COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP CITY SHOULD ENCOURAGE, BUT SOUL FOOD RESTAURANTS HAVE HISTORICALLY BEEN MORE THAN BUSINESSES. THEY ARE COMMUNITY INSTITUTIONS.
THEY PRESERVE CULTURE, FAMILY TRADITIONS, ANCESTRAL CONNECTIONS. THEY MAINTAIN RECIPES, COOKING TECHNIQUES, STORIES THAT REFLECT AFRICAN AMERICAN RESILIENCE, CREATIVITY, FAITH, PERSEVERANCE. WHAT WAS ONCE FOOD ASSOCIATED WITH SURVIVAL BECAME A SOURCE OF PRIDE, CELEBRATION AND IDENTITY. THESE RESTAURANTS ALSO SERVE AS GATHERING PLACES. SOCIAL HUBS WHERE MENTORSHIP, FELLOWSHIP, NETWORKING AND COMMUNITY RELATIONS ARE BUILT. AS THE PERMIAN BASIN FACES PROJECTED WORKFORCE DEMANDS, AN INCREASE OF APPROXIMATELY 191 000 JOBS BETWEEN 2026 AND 2050. SPACES LIKE SOUTHERN SOUL FOOD CAN ALSO CONTRIBUTE TO WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT BY PROVIDING HANDS ON TRAINING, CUSTOMER SERVICE EXPERIENCE, CULINARY SKILLS, PATHWAYS INTO ENTREPRENEURSHIP FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS. COUNCIL MEMBERS APPROVING THIS RECOMMENDATION IS NOT SIMPLY APPROVING A RESTAURANT, IT'S A PROVEN OPPORTUNITY. IT'S A PROVEN INVESTMENT IN SOUTH ODESSA. IT'S A PROVEN CULTURAL PRESERVATION, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND LOCAL ECONOMIC GROWTH. SOUTHERN MADE SOUL FOOD HAS THE POTENTIAL TO BECOME A
[00:25:03]
MEANINGFUL ASSET TO OUR CITY AND A SOURCE OF PRIDE FOR THIS COMMUNITY. I RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT IN APPROVING THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMITTEE'S RECOMMENDATION.THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION. THANK YOU AGAIN. LET ME ASK YOU A QUESTION.
SINCE YOU'RE STANDING THERE, YOU'RE JUST GOING TO ADD ON TO THE CHURCH, THE EXISTING CHURCH.
NO, WE'RE NOT ADDING ON AT ALL. WE'RE UTILIZING THE DINING HALL THAT'S ALREADY IN PLACE. I GOT YOU. YES, SIR. MAKES SENSE. NO CONSTRUCTION AT ALL IS NEEDED. OKAY. THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO. I COULDN'T FIGURE OUT IF YOU'RE ADDING ON OR YOU'RE JUST GOING TO USE WHAT YOU HAVE. WE'RE USING EXACTLY WHAT WE HAVE ALREADY, THE EQUIPMENT AND EVERYTHING IS ALREADY ON THE INSIDE OF THE DINING HALL AND THE KITCHEN. IT'S ALREADY COMMERCIALIZED. AND WITH THE FIRE, ALL OF THE FIRE APPARATUS THAT ARE THAT ARE NECESSARY ALARM SYSTEM, ANSUL SYSTEM, ALL OF THOSE THINGS ARE ALREADY IN PLACE. WE INSTALLED THOSE BACK IN 2000 AND I THINK FIVE AND SIX. AND SO THE MONEY'S BEEN SPENT FOR THAT. WE'VE USED THE MONEY'S PAID IT OFF. AND SO IT MAKES IT SO MUCH EASIER ECONOMICALLY TO JUST COME INTO A FACILITY THAT IS PREPARED AHEAD OF SPENDING 70 OR 80 OR $100,000 TO GET THE EQUIPMENT TO DO SO. WE ALREADY HAVE ALL THAT IN PLACE. THANK YOU SIR. YES, SIR. DO WE HAVE ANY OTHER SPEAKERS LIKE TO COME UP? MR. MAYOR? I'M. HE NAMED ALL THEM FOODS OFF, AND I DIDN'T GET A SAMPLE OF ANY OF IT. I DON'T KNOW, I DON'T KNOW IF I CAN SUPPORT THIS OR NOT. I THINK HE'S SAYING A LITTLE TASTE OF SOMETHING. A COUPLE PLATES OF FOOD WOULD HAVE GONE A LONG WAY TONIGHT. THIS DISCUSSION AND ALL WE'RE SAYING, ALL RIGHT, SEEING NO OTHER SPEAKERS, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. GENTLEMEN, QUESTIONS THOUGHTS, COMMENTS. I'D LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE WAS A MAILING BY ZONING, A MAILING BY ZONING. AND WHAT WAS THE PUBLIC RESPONSE? I THINK SHE SAID THERE WAS NO YES. WE SENT 28 NOTICES. WE HAVE ONE APPROVAL, WHICH WAS MR. BISHOP'S. AND I'M SORRY, MR. GARRETT'S. WE HAD ZERO PROTESTS AND ONE OF THEM WAS RETURNED. OKAY. AND THAT WAS WITHIN A RADIUS OF THAT WAS WITH THE RADIUS OF 200FT FROM THE SURROUNDING PROPERTY OWNERS.
I'M INCLINED TO LIKE THE IDEA OF RESTAURANTS. I'M INCLINED TO LIKE THE IDEA OF HELPING SOUTH ODESSA DO MORE. I REALIZE THAT'S NOT A STAFF RECOMMENDATION, BUT I'M LEANING TOWARDS THIS IS BEING A GOOD IDEA FOR OUR COMMUNITY, GENTLEMEN. WELL, IT PAST PLANNING AND ZONING. SO THEY THINK IT'S A GOOD IDEA, I AGREE. ANY OTHER THOUGHTS, GENTLEMEN? BECAUSE NOT I MIGHT ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO HAVE THEM SERVE DINNER NEXT WEEK. SO MOVED. I DEFINITELY SAY SO. MOVED ON THAT ONE. ALL RIGHT. MOTION TO APPROVE THE ZONING CHANGE BY COUNCILMAN HAYNES. YOUR SECOND SECOND SECOND BY COUNCIL. EDDIE MITCHELL, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION UNANIMOUS. CONGRATULATIONS. THEY LOOK. ALL RIGHT. LET'S LOOK AT AGENDA ITEM NUMBER EIGHT. CONSIDER ADOPTION OF AN ORDINANCE TO AUTHORIZE THE COLLECTION OF A FINE BY THE CITY OF ODESSA MUNICIPAL COURTS. NOT TO EXCEED THE AMOUNT AS AUTHORIZED BY STATE LAW. THE OFFENSE OF FAILURE TO APPEAR AND THE OFFENSE OF OF OF VIOLATE PROMISE TO APPEAR. ATTORNEY. CITY ATTORNEY. PARKER. YES, SIR.
MR. MAYOR, THIS WAS BROUGHT UP IN WORK SESSION, I BELIEVE, A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, AND I STATED THAT I WOULD BE BRINGING IT BACK FOR A FIRST READING, AS STATED IN THE WORK SESSION WHEN THIS WAS DISCUSSED, STATE LAW REQUIRES THAT THE CITY ADOPT AN ORDINANCE THAT ADOPTS OR APPROVES A FINE FOR A MUNICIPAL COURT. CASES WHERE THERE'S A FAILURE TO APPEAR OR A VIOLATION OF PROMISE TO APPEAR SO BEFORE A FINE CAN BE ISSUED ON THOSE TYPES OF VIOLATIONS, THE CITY COUNCIL MUST APPROVE AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THAT FINE. AND THAT'S WHAT THIS ORDINANCE DOES FOR THE CITY. PERFECT. WHAT IS THE FINE RIGHT NOW? IT'S IT'S A $25 FINE BY STATE LAW. THIS IS TIGHTLY CONTROLLED BY STATE LAW. SO WE WHAT WE'RE DOING IS ESSENTIALLY THE STATE LAW EXPRESSLY REQUIRES THE ORDINANCE TO BE ADOPTED. AND IT'S. AND THE STATE LAW SETS THE FINE. AND SO ALL WE'RE DOING IS ESSENTIALLY COMPLYING WITH THE STATE LAW TO ADOPT AN ORDINANCE THAT RESTATES OR ADOPTS THE FINE AS SET BY STATE LAW. PERFECT. AND GENTLEMEN, ANY OTHER THOUGHTS, DISCUSSIONS OR QUESTIONS? GOOD IDEA. I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION.
SO MOVED. I THINK THAT WAS CLOSE. SECOND. THAT'S OKAY, I THINK. GOT IT. COUNCILMAN, CAN L MOTION TO SECOND? I'LL SECOND IT. OKAY. COUNCILMAN THOMPSON SECONDED. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION UNANIMOUS. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. NOW LET'S GO TO AGENDA ITEM NUMBER NINE. DISCUSS AND CONSIDER ALL CITY OF ODESSA COMMISSIONS AND BOARD
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MEMBERS, INCLUDING APPOINTMENT, REAPPOINTMENT, REMOVAL AND MODIFICATION, INCLUDING. LET'S START WITH HOUSING AUTHORITY OF ODESSA. NORMA. AT THIS TIME, WE DON'T HAVE ANY MEMBERS FOR CONSIDERATION. WE'RE STILL LOOKING FOR A RESIDENT FOR THAT. YES, THEY'RE STILL LOOKING FOR RESIDENT. ALL RIGHT. AND WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING FROM ANIMAL SHELTER YET. CORRECT. DO WE WANT TO APPOINT RENEE AND GET HER APPLICATION OR WHAT DO WE WANT TO DO? I ENTERTAIN A MOTION. I'LL MAKE A MOTION. WE APPOINT RENEE CULPEPPER TO THE ANIMAL ADVISORY BOARD. ALL RIGHT. MOTION BY COUNCILMAN STOKES. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND, SECOND BY COUNCILMAN HANEY. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION UNANIMOUS. WOW. WHAT A SHORT AGENDA. I WISH I COULD DO MORE FOR Y'ALL, BUT WE'RE OUT OF AGENDA ITEM. ANYBODY LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO ADJOURN? IN THE ABSENCE OF MR. VASQUEZ? I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO ADJOURN.COUNCILMAN THOMPSON, A MOTION TO ADJOURN. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND. ALL
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.