Tag: Odessa City Council

Four Candidates for Odessa City Manager Selected for Trimetrics and Interview Process for June 20th

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Odessa, Texas/June 7, 2023-On Tuesday, June 6th, the Odessa City Council held a special public meeting regarding the progress in the hiring of a new city manager. A representative of T2 Professional Consulting presented a recap of the requirements and process referred for the candidates applying for Odessa city manager position created by council members with the collaboration of T2 Professional Consulting. The Odessa City Council had three options to consider and voted unanimously on option 3-to continue with consulting firm until August 13th. 

(Javier Joven, Mayor-Odessa City Council/Odessa, Texas) 

The term TRIMETRICS are benchmarks that were set by the Odessa City Council during an open meeting earlier this year. Some of the benchmarks include Integrity, leadership, communication and other concepts that are requirements for the new city manager. 

(Javier Joven, Mayor-Odessa City Council/Odessa, Texas) 

Under 100 people from the State of Texas and from across the country applied for the Odessa city manager position. T2 Professional Consulting chose fifty qualified applicants and narrowed it down to four candidates. 

(Steve Thompson, Councilman-District 2, Odessa City Council/Odessa, Texas) 

The vision of the Odessa City Council is of a City Manager that will live up to the benchmarks that council has mandated. 

For DRB Media Communications Digital News, Danny Barrera 

Odessa City Council and T2 Professional Consulting Held 1st Benchmark Meeting for New City Manage

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Odessa, Texas/March 16, 2023-On Tuesday, March 14th, the Odessa City Council held their first Benchmark meeting with Mica Lunt representing T2 Professional Consulting LLC, brainstorming and formatting the requirements, qualifications and responsibilities of the office of the Odessa City Manager. 

(Javier Joven, Mayor-City of Odessa, Texas) 

The council came up with a list of concepts they want to see in a city manager. Some of those ideas are integrity, communication, Leadership, knowing how to develop budgets and understanding finance. 

(Javier Joven, Mayor-City of Odessa, Texas) 

City Councilman, District 2 Steve Thompson emphasized the importance that the city manager follows the City Charter. Other discussions included what type of degree should the City Manager have, either a Master’s Degree in Public Administration or a Bachelor’s Degree or just experience working within the city organization. 

(Javier Joven, Mayor-City of Odessa, Texas) 

The City Council wants to be somewhat broad in the qualifications of the City Manager position in attracting applicants. Currently, the City Council plans to focus on applicants statewide only. The final Benchmark meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, March 21st at 3pm at the Council chambers. 

For DRB Media Communications Digital News, Danny Barrera. 

Odessa City Council Held Special Meeting along with T2 Professional Consultants

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Odessa, Texas/March 10, 2023-On Tuesday, March 7th the Odessa City Council held a special meeting presenting an update on a study done by T2 Professional Consulting. During the power point presentation several terms were introduced to the council: Silos- situations where employees, teams, or departments don’t share information, resources, or ideas with others in the organization. 

Definition of other terms used during the T2 Professional Consulting presentation: Grey Rhinos-is highly probable and has high impact, yet it’s neglected as a threat. and Black Swans-is an event that comes as a surprise, has a major effect, and is often inappropriately rationalized after the fact with the benefit of hindsight. 

(Javier Joven, Mayor-City of Odessa, Texas) 

During the special meeting it was revealed that the City of Odessa Policy, Procedures and Practices manual had not been updated since 2008. The failure from other city council administrations to update the policy, could potentially trigger lawsuits from employees and/or staff regarding sexual harassment, sexual misconduct, and racial and other types of discrimination. 

(Javier Joven, Mayor-City of Odessa, Texas) 

T2 Professional Consulting suggested to the Odessa City Council to form a Benchmark committee comprised of two members of the council, business leaders and two citizens of Odessa to find a new City Manager. Odessa City Council, by unanimous vote will be the Benchmark Committee, eliminating community engagement. 

(Javier Joven, Mayor-City of Odessa, Texas) 

The City of Odessa Mayor, Javier Joven, is hopeful that the City Council will wrap up all business with T2 Professional Consulting sometime in July.  

For DRB Media Communications Digital News, Danny Barrera.  

 

Historic Work Session Meeting Between the ODC, Ector County Commissioners, Odessa City Council

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Odessa, Texas/February 24, 2022-On Tuesday, February 21st a historic work session between the Odessa Development Corporation, Ector County Commissioners Court and the Odessa City Council was held at the Saulsbury Conference Center inside the Science Technology Building at Odessa College. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss and gather information on several interlocal agreements that affect the City of Odessa and Ector County. The three governmental agencies discussed: Economic development, acquisition of property taxes and sales tax on commercial and residential development.  

(Dustin Fawcett, Ector County Judge-Ector County Commissioners Court/Odessa, Texas) 

During the last City Council Administration under Mayor David Turner, some parts of the industrial areas near I-20 in South Ector County, Pct. 4 were annexed into the city. It is reasoned, if a company in Ector County wants city services, the business entity can request to be annexed. 

(Javier Joven, Mayor-City of Odessa, Texas) 

Odessa Fire Rescue provides emergency services to Ector County. During the meeting it was revealed that the City of Odessa has not been compensated in 2021 and 2022 for those emergency services rendered. 

(Javier Joven, Mayor-City of Odessa, Texas) 

One of the interlocal agreements discussed is services provided by Odessa Fire Rescue. People that plan to move to Ector County need to be educated in the services the county can and can’t provide, as in Odessa Fire Rescue emergency services. Ector County Judge Dustin Fawcett acknowledges that the City of Odessa needs to be compensated for those emergency services provided, especially in West Odessa in West Ector County. 

(Dustin Fawcett, Ector County Judge-Ector County Commissioners Court/Odessa, Texas) 

 

The work session between the ODC, Odessa City Council and the Ector County Commissioners was to acquire information in hopes of moving the City and County forward. The next work session meeting will be announced for early spring or sometime in mid-summer. 

For DRB Media Communications Digital News, Danny Barrera. 

Odessa City Councilman, District 2 Concerned With T2 Professional Consulting LLC Contract

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Odessa, Texas/January 15, 2023-During the last Odessa City Council meeting on January 10th, 2023 the council approved 5 to 2 a contract between the City of Odessa and T2 Professional Consulting LLC. Councilman Steve Thompson is very concerned, even days after the City Council meeting, that the contract signed by Mayor Javier Joven and Michael D. Wilson, Managing Member of T2 Professional Consulting LLC, was not vetted by the whole City Council. 

(Steve Thompson, Odessa City Councilman, District 2-Odessa, Texas) 

According to Mayor Javier Joven, T2 Professional Consulting LLC, formed 15 months ago, consists of former government officials and industry leaders that reflect a combined 125 years of expertise. 

(Javier Joven, Mayor-City of Odessa/Odessa, Texas) 

When googled, the business location at 2500 Lotus Ave, listed on the contract, shows a two-story home in a residential area of Ft. Worth, Texas. There is no website for T2 Professional Consulting, The OpenCorporates-The Open Database of the Corporate World website does list T2 Professional Consulting LLC. Odessa City Councilman, Thompson is concerned that Mayor Joven is using a campaign gmail account to conduct City business instead of using the city-government email provided to Mayor Javier Joven. 

(Steve Thompson, Odessa City Councilman, District 2-Odessa, Texas) 

Mayor Javier Joven acknowledges that the contract between the City of Odessa and T2 Professional Consulting LLC can be canceled after giving a 30-day notice. 

(Javier Joven, Mayor-City of Odessa/Odessa, Texas) 

According to Odessa City Councilman, Steve Thompson, constituents of District 2 have been reaching out to him and voicing their disapproval of what Mayor Joven and other members of the Odessa City Council are doing to the city. 

(Steve Thompson, Odessa City Councilman, District 2-Odessa, Texas) 

The Odessa City Council meetings are scheduled on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month. The next meeting, January 24th, 2023 at 6pm. 

For DRB Media Communications Digital News, Danny Barrera.

Lawsuit filed by the Gaven Norris Law firm Triggers Odessa City Council “Re-Do”

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Odessa, Texas/January 10, 2023-The filing of a law suit by the Gaven Norris Law Firm against the City of Odessa and each member of the Odessa City Council triggered a “do-over” for the council to allow residents of Odessa to speak against the termination of City Manager, Michael Marrero and City Attorney, Natasha Brooks, despite the positive job performance and evaluation by the previous council. 

(Gaven Norris, Attorney-The Gaven Norris Law Firm-Odessa, Texas) 

Long time Odessan, Gene Collins voiced the history he had with Michael Marrero in developing projects in the southside of Odessa. 

(Gene Collins, Resident/Pastor/NAACP-Odessa, Texas) 

Several key staff members that have working knowledge of and operations of the City of Odessa have retired early, causing concern with Mari Willis, former Odessa City Council Member, District 5. 

(Mari Willis, Former Odessa City Council Member, District 5-Odessa, Texas) 

Savanah Morales, a resident of Odessa and an outspoken critic of Mayor Javier Joven would like to see a mayoral candidate in the next local election cycle step up and be a real representative of the people of Odessa. 

(Savanah Morales, Concerned Citizen-Resident of Odessa) 

Commentary on social media suggested that the Odessa City Manager, Michael Marrero and Odessa City Attorney Natasha Brooks were terminated by Mayor Javier Joven and the new City Council due to the game rooms that were popping up around the city of Odessa. 

(Javier Joven, Mayor-City of Odessa/Odessa, Texas) 

For DRB Media Communications Digital News, Danny Barrera