The Odessa City Council unanimously approved a series of routine and budget items, including zone changes, a long-term lease with Downtown Odessa Inc., interlocal grant division, grant acceptances and a multi-department staffing appropriation.

Key votes at the meeting included: the transfer of a $126,000 insurance payment to reimburse the police training academy project; a zone change approving a career-technical education campus site from future development to light industrial; a zone change approving a Special Planned District (SPD) for about 602 housing units; a 10-year lease (with a 10-year renewal option) of municipal plaza office suites to Downtown Odessa Inc.; acceptance and division of the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant funds for the county; acceptance of the 2025 STEP impaired driving mobilization grant; and an appropriation totaling $761,095.30 to post and fund a list of vacant positions across multiple departments under the city’s needs-based staffing approach.

On item specifics:
- Item 6: Council approved transferring $126,000 received from the Texas Municipal League Intergovernmental Risk Pool (TML) to reimburse the PD training academy facility project for an animal shelter unit replacement. The motion was moved by Council member Vasquez and passed unanimously.
- Item 7: The council opened and closed a public hearing and approved a zone change requested by the board of trustees for the county Independent School District, changing a property from Future Development to Light Industrial for a career-technical education (CTE) use. Staff said internal review found no objections and the P&Z recommended approval.
- Item 8: Council approved a zone change requested by LECO Energy Investments LLC to create an SPD Special Dwelling District (with surface drainage conditions) for a proposed development of approximately 602 homes; Planning and Zoning voted 7–0 to recommend approval.
- Item 9: Council authorized a 10-year lease with Downtown Odessa Inc. for municipal plaza suites 101, 103 and 105 and required an annual written report on programs and activities as a condition of the lease. Staff said the lease is for public purposes supporting downtown revitalization; the lease will not require rent but will require annual reporting.
- Items 10–11: The council approved an interlocal agreement to divide the 2024 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (Justice Assistance Grant) with Ector County and approved paperwork accepting and appropriating the allocated amount for the Odessa Police Department and county agencies. Staff said Odessa’s share was approximately $45,654 (transcript review indicated $45,654 assigned to Odessa with county shares making a $51,354 total—staff corrected minor numeric inconsistencies during the meeting).
- Item 12: Council authorized the Odessa Police Department to apply for and accept 2025 STEP impaired-driving mobilization grant funds. Staff said the grant pays overtime for officers to staff holiday and high-risk periods when impaired driving enforcement is increased.
- Item 13: Council approved appropriations totaling $761,095.30 across general fund, solid waste and equipment services funds to post and fund multiple vacant positions identified under the needs-based staffing methodology. Staff described the process used to vet and prioritize positions and said approved amounts include salary and benefits.

All motions noted above passed on unanimous voice votes.