The Odessa City Council unanimously approved a $75,000 settlement agreement for pre-litigation of an auto collision involving an Odessa Police Department vehicle and Patricia Flores.
The settlement approval happened Tuesday night on the fifth floor of City Hall in the City Council Chambers located at 411 W. Eighth St.
Senior Assistant City Attorney Dan Jones detailed to council the collision happened at 7:25 p.m. June 17, 2020 in the 2100 block of E. 8th Street.
Jones said the OPD vehicle collided with the driver’s side of Flores’ vehicle. Jones said due to the collision Flores sustained substantial injuries.
“Unlike the City of Odessa’s previous settlements, this does not have a cause number and hasn’t been filed in a court of law,” Jones said as he addressed city council members.
Jones said the pre-litigation settlement was negotiated on behalf of the City of Odessa by Permian Claim Service. Jones said this is official because the parties agreed to resolve the matter without litigation.
The city council also approved 6-1 the donation of a 7.65 acre tract to the Odessa Housing Finance Corporation located on Rochester Avenue on the south side of Odessa. The housing would be for low- to -moderate income families.
Prior to the approval, Midland Habitat for Humanity Executive Director Joey Hopkins spoke to council that he felt disappointed as his non-profit organization was left out of the conversation. He hopes in the future that Midland Habitat for Humanity can be in the discussion.
The donation’s lone “nay” came from District 2 Council member Steve Thompson. He said it’s a worthy project, but can’t get behind it as he believes it’s helping someone get into business in Odessa at the city’s expense.
Thompson spoke with the Odessa American after the city council meeting and explained his “nay” choice further.
“OHFC brought Rhodes (USA) to the table to do the housing and build it,” Thompson said. “There weren’t any other options. Habitat for Humanity is out there and they weren’t even considered. That bothered me a little bit.
“Rhodes (USA) doesn’t have to pay for the land. They don’t have to pay for the infrastructure. They just get to go build houses.”
Public hearings
Consider approval of the request by Arturo Villalobos, owner, to rezone from Single-Family Residence Three (SF-3) to Light Commercial (LC) on the northern portion of Lot 1 Block 1, Arturo Addition, City of Odessa, Ector County, Texas (927 S. Muskingum Ave.) (Ordinance – First Approval).
Consider approval of the request by Robert Llanez, lessee, Raja LLC, owner, for a specific use permit to allow a tavern use in a Retail-One (R-1) zoning district on Lot 1, Block 6, Brownstone Addition (4101 Medical Park Dr. Ste. 100 & 105) (Ordinance – First Approval).
Consent agenda
>> Approval of City Council Work Session minutes, October 5, 2021.
>> Approval of City Council minutes, October 12, 2021.
>> Approval of City Council Work Session minutes, October 19, 2021.
>> Approve purchase of traffic signal equipment.
>> Approve renewal of contract with Weaver and Tidwell, LLP to provide professional auditing services.
