Council continues talk on restructuring

The Odessa City Council on Tuesday will again discuss proposed changes to the board, following a meeting earlier this month that turned into a heated exchange on the city’s eastern sprawl.

Last month, the City Council shot down a request to call a special election in a 3-2 vote. The board is not scheduled to take any action on Tuesday.

The proposed changes would create a seven-member board with a mayor who can vote on council business and a new seat for a council member elected at large. Today, the mayor, who is already elected at large, only votes in cases of a tie among the five other council members representing single-member districts.

Odessa voters would have to approve the change if the petition forces an election.

State law requires local governmental bodies to call an election if five percent of voters sign a petition demanding one.

IN OTHER BUSINESS, THE CITY COUNCIL WILL:

• Consider approving a more than $95,000 grant from the state for rifle-resistant body armor.
• Consider approving more than $497,000 worth of vehicle replacements for city departments.
• Open a public hearing and consider first approval of a zoning request by Betenbough Homes for more than 165 acres northwest of the intersection of 87th Street and East Loop 338, made for the purpose of developing residential and retail development.
• Open a public hearing and consider the second and final approval of a request by 2012 Cross B, LLC to rezone three drill sites totaling more than 6 acres from Future Development-Drill Reservation to Special Dwelling District and a request from PBar Parks Bell Ranch LTD to rezone one existing drill site to Future Development-Drill Reservation to Special Dwelling, totaling more than 8 acres north and east of the Cross B Road and Kate Reed Drive intersection.
• Open a public hearing and consider the second and final approval of a request by Verna Schulte Headlee for retail zoning of a 2 acre tract of land southwest of the intersection of Loop 338 and East 56th Street.
• Open a public hearing and consider the second and final approval of a request by Russell D. Subia to rezone from Single Family-Three to Retail near the intersection of Linda Avenue and West 22nd Street.
• Consider approving an interlocal agreement with the Texas Department of Transportation for truck route signs on Loop 338.
• Consider approving a more than $168,000 contract with GEXA Energy Solutions for an audit to determine needs of the HVAC system at the police department, Municipal Court and Municipal Plaza.
• Discuss in a pre-meeting briefing session the City Council agenda, the University Boulevard widening project, the use of a consent agenda and Ector County Appraisal District board requirements.
• Consider approving minutes from the Jan. 9 City Council meeting and Jan. 16 finance committee meeting.
• Consider approving Colorado River Municipal Water District secondary delivery point agreements.
• Consider approving a more than $340,000 purchase of an ambulance, replacing a vehicle that will be auctioned.
• Consider approving a more than $86,000 purchase of a street crack shooting rig.
• Consider board appointments.