The Odessa City Council will discuss the Bob Derrington plant, Odessa Fire Rescue raises and a memorandum of understanding regarding the city’s new sports complex on Tuesday.
According to the council’s work session agenda, the council will talk about an MOU for the development and financing of the city’s new 140,000 square foot multi-use sport complex and surrounding fields.
The cost of the park, which will be located near Faudree and Yukon on 100 acres donated by the Bell family, is expected to be about $80 million.
According to materials provided to the council, the non-profit Sports Foundation of Texas will ground lease the property from the city for the development and financing of the park for a period of 99 years at a cost of $1 per year. At the same time, the Centurion Foundation, a Georgia nonprofit, will sublease the property at $1 per year and then lease it back to the city, with the base rent being decided prior to closing.
The materials indicate the park may be financed by the issuance of tax-exempt and taxable lease rental revenue bonds.
The park will be developed by Sports Med Properties and operated by Radd Sports. Its construction is expected to take 18 months.
The council will also hear an update about the condition of the Bob Derrington Wastewater Reclamation Plant from Utilities Director Kevin Niles.
Back in December, a representative from Performance Services Inc. spoke to the council about the plant and repeatedly used words like corrosion, non-functioning, malfunctioning, inoperable, uncontrollable, inefficient, degraded, unsafe, unrepairable and crumbling.
During the council’s regular meeting, the council members will consider approving an internal salary study conducted by OFR and adopting the recommendations made therein.
According to materials provided to the council, in order to offer a competitive salary and solve compression issues, OFR needs an extra $458,545 this year and will need more than $1 million annually in the coming years.
City Manager John Beckmeyer indicated there is $7.6 million left in federal COVID relief funds and they’ll be used for the adjustments.
During the council’s regular session, council members will also discuss:
- Entering into an interlocal agreement with the Texas Government Accountability Association, which will provide consulting and advisory services “with the implementation of and adherence to a transparency and ethics policy.”
- Creating a special projects coordinator position with an annual salary of $105,241. The coordinator will focus on continuing downtown projects and spearheading planning activities such as feasibility studies and project design. They’ll also provide project management and support.
- Hiring the Navarro Group for $50,000 to plan Firecracker Fandango, Dia de Los Muertos and the Christmas Parade and Festival.
- Buying 10 Volvo side load solid waste trucks for $3.3 million and a solid waste truck for just under $464,000.
- Entering into a $595,000 contract with the YMCA for the daily operations of the city’s aquatic facilities.
- Passing a resolution that will give $250,000 to Special Olympics Texas.
- Passing a resolution approving an agreement between Odessa and the Texas Department of Transportation so that flashing yellow arrow traffic signals will be added to existing traffic signals along Grandview Avenue from Murphy Street to Business Interstate 20 and BI20 to East 52nd Street. Odessa will be responsible for $284,000 of the $1.6 million project. It’ll be covered by the 2019 bond fund.
The council is also expected to go into executive session with Ector County Hospital District consultants and Medical Center Hospital CEO Russell Tippin.
The council will also discuss during its work session:
- Partnering with the National Fitness Campaign to build an outdoor fitness court. Grant funding is available up to $60,000 and the cost after grant funding would be up to $167,000, plus $30,000 for shade structures.
- Installing lighting at Salinas Park for $57,628.
- Renovating the Ratliff Ranch driving range for $981,471.
- Banning e-cigarettes within 50 feet of city building entrances.
- Consider awarding a $12.2 million contract to Reece Albert Inc. for reconstructing 1.2 miles of Crane Avenue. The contract would also include replacing 5,500 linear feet of water lines and 20 manhole covers.
