The Odessa City Council voted unanimously to award WGI the design contract for a new downtown municipal parking garage and to appropriate $200,000 for design and construction drawings.

City staff presented the recommendation for WGI after a second request for qualifications produced five proposals. “This is phase 1,” a city staff member presenting the item said, describing the council vote as approval of the design and planning phase; construction would be a separate decision. The presenter told council the selected firm has built municipal parking garages statewide and proposed features including separate gated areas for police vehicles, wayfinding and ParkSmart systems, space for retail on the first floor and future flexibility to repurpose levels if needs change.

The project site is the location of the existing police parking garage downtown, which a prior structural study found deteriorated. The presenter said the firm proposed a layout with roughly 470–475 spaces (more than 400 total, with a majority reserved for police) and that the firm estimated a 50–60 year lifespan for a new structure. He also said the firm proposed design features intended to allow rapid egress for emergency vehicles and separate ramps so police vehicles can leave quickly if needed.

Council members asked about security and separation of police vehicles from public or after-hours parking, and staff said the design would include gated access and two separate ramps so police could exit independently. A staff member also described options considered but not recommended tonight: an automated parking system and a public–private financing model. The presenter said the automated option had potential funding partners but the city selected WGI after evaluating overall fit, timeline and stakeholder-engagement plans.

A member of the public asked whether municipal employees or the public would be charged to park. The presenter said parking and revenue details remain under consideration and that revenue collection would primarily target after-hours and weekend usage to help offset long-term maintenance costs.

Councilmember Thompson moved to award WGI the design contract and councilmember Connell seconded. The motion to approve WGI and to appropriate $200,000 for the design phase passed unanimously.

The council’s action tonight approves the designer and authorizes initial funding for detailed drawings; the council must later approve any construction contract and a final budget for building the garage.