Subia to be next nominee

District 5 City Councilman Benjamin Velasquez is expected to nominate optometrist Dr. Russell D. Subia to the Odessa Development Corp. board Tuesday, City Manager Richard Morton said.

“(Velasquez) sent that, so I expect him to make that nomination and for council to vote on it,” Morton said.

According to a copy of Subia’s resume contained in the council’s information packet, Subia wrote that his objective was, “To assist in creating new ideas to diversity the economic development and formation of new manufacturing jobs in Odessa, Texas.”

Subia’s resume said he has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas of the Permian Basin an a doctorate of optometry from Inter American University of Puerto Rico. He owns businesses in Alpine and Odessa.

When reached Friday, Subia said it wasn’t a good time to talk because his father had died Thursday.

At a June 23 council meeting, Velasquez nominated banker and community organizer Art Leal to the position on the board that is currently held by Jim Breaux, owner of Pemco, a well service repair and manufacturing company. Breaux filled the unexpired term of Bob Glast.

Leal’s nomination was defeated by a 3-2 vote, with Mayor Larry Melton casting the tie-breaking vote.

Council members will consider the Velasquez’s latest nomination at its Tuesday meeting, which starts at 6 p.m.

Council members will also go over a total of 21 groups that have requested a total of $2.398 million from hotel-motel tax funds.

The largest requests come from the Odessa Convention and Visitors Bureau ($871,240), the Odessa Council for the Arts & Humanities ($419,919) and the Odessa Parks Department’s Fall Fun Festival ($122,301).

The funds must be used toward events that will lure people to spend hotel nights in Odessa, Morton said. For example, if Diamond Lanes were to receive the $6,000 it’s requesting, it would have to spend it on an event like a bowling tournament that would draw visitors.

Morton said the hotel-motel taxes set aside to fund the projects has more than enough money to take care of all the requests.

“That doesn’t mean everybody will get what they’re asking for — or they may,” Morton said. “That’s up to council.”

Council will also consider the naming of the skate park under construction in Sherwood Park. A resolution is on the agenda to name it the Ruben “Kasper” Pier Memorial Skate Park.

Pier, 16, was killed in 2003 when a car struck him while riding his skateboard. Since then, his mother, Suzanna Pier, has campaigned for a skateboard park to be built. She chaired the city’s skate park committee.

Ground broke on the new $350,000 facility June 26, and it’s expected to be open next month.

In other action, the council will consider:

>> An interlocal agreement to apply for Justice Assistance Grant funds with Ector County.

>> Matching $13,225 toward a bulletproof vest grant program.

>> Annual maintenance for Tiburon public safety software for $95,319.

>> Second and final approval to change speed limits due to recent annexations and remove parking restrictions on Van Street at Blackstone. It would also add two new EZ Rider bus stops in the downtown area.

>> Separate lease agreements to allow State Rep. Tryon Lewis and the Odessa Hispanic Chamber of Commerce to lease office space at Municipal Plaza.

>> An application for $1.5 million in Neighborhood Stabilization Program funds.

>> Purchasing solid waste side-load refuse containers for $194,925.

>> A public hearing on zoning for planned development-housing for 17.5 acres at the southwest corner of the intersection of East Loop 338 and Grandview Avenue.

>> A public hearing on a zoning change to light industrial for an area east of the intersection of Interstate 20 and West County Road to allow for expansion of Love’s Truck Stop.

>> A public hearing to consider an appeal to the board of survey’s order to remove a structure at 700 E. 36th St.

>> The removal of a traffic signal at Fifth Street and Washington Avenue because Medical Center Hospital is buying the adjacent street and it no longer meets the necessary warrants for signalization. The city plans to convert it to an all-way stop.

>> An oil and gas lease between the city and Devon Energy Production Co.

>> A memorandum of understanding between the city of Odessa and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to provide city water to residents in a state superfund area near the intersection of 48th Street and Andrews Highway.

CITY COUNCIL MEETING

>> When: 6 p.m. Tuesday

>> Where: City Hall, fifth floor council chamber, 411 W. Eighth St.

>> Call: 325-3276.