Benefits, the city parking garage and the sale of city-owned property on University Boulevard are among the topics on Tuesday’s Odessa City Council agenda.
During the city council’s work session at 3 p.m., the council members will discuss the possibility of hiring a consultant who has experience planning and designing employee benefit programs and who can go out to bid for medical, dental, vision and pharmacy insurance.
According to materials provided to the council, the new consultant, who is expected to cost around $244,000, will also be expected to perform financial impact analyses, develop a long-term benefits strategy and monitor and evaluate performance measures.
The council will also be talking about going out to bid for a consultant who can design a new municipal parking garage at North Lee and West Third streets.
Two engineering firms agree the existing two-story, 100 parking spot building is corroding and needs to be replaced.
According to documents provided to the council, Jeff Fisher, the strategic development manager for the city’s Development Services Department, hopes to build a four-story garage that would include space for at least six micro-retail stores of 200-400 square feet each, 280 parking spots and separate parking areas and entrances for the Odessa Police Department.
The price tag for the demolition of the existing garage and the design and construction of its replacement is expected to be around $3 million.
Also on the work session agenda is the possibility of hiring a consultant who would help the city create a new landscape ordinance that would include new design standards for street trees, parking lots, commercial areas and industrial areas. It would also create new irrigation practices.
The consultant would be required to conduct research and meet with stakeholders, create the ordinance standards and present the results to the city council.
The council will also discuss entering a new YMCA management contract for the city’s pools and a new organizational chart.
During the council’s regular session, they’ll discuss passing a resolution that will ensure Downtown Odessa is no longer a city department. They’ll also discuss lowering the sales price of the old Fire Station No. 6 from $350,000 to $295,000. Megan and Andrew Prado of Town and Country Drug, who recently decided to purchase the building, have since discovered the roof needs to be replaced.
In addition, the council will hear from Copper Key Realty’s John Herriage about bids being made on vacant city-owned University Boulevard lots.
