Tag: Odessa City Council

Odessa City Council Terminates City Manager and City Attorney-Overview

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Odessa, Texas/December 15, 2022-On Tuesday evening, December 12th, the Odessa City Council held its regular scheduled meeting. After the Proclamations, Presentations and the Awards section of the agenda, Mayor Javier Joven and the council addressed and discussed the terminations of the City Attorney and the City Manager. The Odessa City Council voted 5 to 2 for the termination of the City Manager, Michael Marrero and 5 to 2 on the termination of City Attorney Natasha Brooks. 

(Video Provided by: City of Odessa, Texas) 

After the termination of the City Attorney and City Manager a dispute and shouting exchange erupted between Mayor Javier Joven and attorney Gavin Norris. 

(Nat Snd) 

Former Odessa City Council members Filiberto Gonzales and Deitra White, Hispanic Heritage of Odessa director, Carol Uranga, as well as Gene Collins addressed Mayor Joven and the City Council and voiced their opposition to the termination of employment of Michael Marrero and Natasha Brooks.   

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

Gavin Norris addressed the City Council and declared a federal law suit against the city and each member of the City Council. Norris, then called out Councilman, District 1 Mark Matta of not representing properly District 1 which is in the southside of Odessa. 

(Nat Snd) 

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

Casey Hallmark, Executive Director of Downtown Odessa, Inc made accusations of alleged bullying by Mayor Javier Joven and by Odessa City Councilman, District 5 Chris Hanie against her as well as other accusations. 

(Casey Hallmark, Executive Director-Downtown Odessa, Inc. – Odessa, Texas) 

At the end of the Odessa City Council meeting Mayor Joven did not take any questions, but made a statement to media. 

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

For DRB Media Communications Digital News, Danny Barrera. 

 

No Quorum No Odessa City Council Work Session

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Odessa, Texas/December 7, 2022-The Odessa City Council had scheduled a work session for 3pm on Tuesday, December 6th. 15 items were on the agenda. Then this happened. 

(Nat Snd) 

The first item on the agenda: Discussion and consider the reports and recommendations from Evergreen Solutions LLC. Representatives from Evergreen Solutions were at the Odessa City Council Chambers, when the announcement of the work session was canceled by City Councilman, District 2, Steve Thompson. 

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

Rumors had been circulating on social media that Mayor Javier Joven and the new City Council were considering the termination of the Odessa City Manager, Michael Marrero. 

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

During a phone interview with the Odessa City Secretary, Norma Grimaldo, confirmed that Mayor Javier Joven, Odessa City Councilmember-At Large, Denise Swanner and City Councilman, District 4 Greg Connell informed the City Secretary that they would make the work session. City Councilman, District 1 Mark Matta was not sure if would attend the scheduled meeting. 

For DRB Media Communications Digital News Danny Barrera 

New Odessa City Council Vote for Sanctuary City for the Unborn Ordinance-DRB Media Communications Digital News

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Odessa, Texas/November 23, 2022-During the regularly scheduled meeting of the Odessa City Council the new council was sworn into office. Gilbert Vasquez, District 3; Greg Connell, District 4, and Chris Hanie, District 5. The Oath of Office was administered by the Honorable Judge Bill McCoy. 

The new City Council addressed and considered the ordinance outlawing abortion, and declaring Odessa a Sanctuary City for The Unborn. Councilman District 5, Chris Hanie read biblical scriptures during the public meeting of the city council as a way to voice his support and approval of the Sanctuary City for the Unborn Ordinance. 

(Chris Hanie, District 5-Odessa City Council, Odessa, Texas) 

During a city council work session in January 5th, 2021, a discussion was held with the previous council regarding the Sacturary City for the Unborn ordinance. That council did not want to consider this ordinance. The newly sworn-in members of the Odessa Council approved the ordinance 5 to 1. 

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

City Councilman, District 2, Steve Thompson voted against the ordinance two years ago and voted against the ordinance at Tuesday night’s City Council meeting.

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

For DRB Media Communications Digital News, Danny Barrera

Odessa City Council-Classification & Compensation Study Update From Evergreen Solutions LLC-DRB Media Communications Digital News

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Odessa, Texas/October 12, 2022-During the regular scheduled meeting of the Odessa City Council, the council heard a project update by Evergreen Solutions LLC regarding the public safety classification and compensation study. The Odessa City Council had voted in an earlier City Council meeting to hire a consultant to do a compensation study. The Study includes the Odessa Police Department, and Public Safety Communications, but focuses on Odessa Fire Rescue. 

(John Alvarez, Fire Chief-Odessa Fire Rescue-Odessa, Texas) 

The Odessa Fire Department has lost around 32 firefighters within this year to higher paying oil and gas jobs. 

(Denise Swanner, Council Member At-Large-Odessa City Council-Odessa, Texas) 

Denise Swanner, Odessa City Council Member At-Large said the council believes there is money available for the much-needed raises to Odessa Fire Rescue. 

(Denise Swanner, Council Member At-Large-Odessa City Council-Odessa, Texas) 

Evergreen Consultants LLC informed the Odessa City Council answers regarding the study would be available within 2 to three weeks. 

For DRB Media Communications Digital News, Danny Barrera 

DRB MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS DIGITAL NEWS(050922)ODESSA CITY COUNCIL 2ND PUBLIC HEARING ON REDISTRICTING

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Odessa, Texas/May 9, 2022-The Odessa City Council held the 2nd  and final public hearing on redistricting at Monday’s work session. The City Council’s demographer presented a demographics report on the summary of the 2020 census, and also presented redistricting maps for Plan A and Plan D adopted by the Odessa City Council. 

(Denise Swanner, Odessa City Council-At Large) 

Redistricting is the revision or replacement of existing electoral districts, resulting in new districts with different geographical boundaries. The basic purpose of redistricting is to equalize population among districts. 

(Denise Swanner, Odessa City Council-At Large) 

During the public hearing on redistricting, Gene Collins and JoAnn Davenport-Littleton and other members of the African-American voiced their opposition to the redistricting maps of Plan A & D 

(Joann Littleton, Community Activist) 

Joann Littleton and other African American residents believe that the demographer skewed the district numbers in favor of the city council leaving out input from minority residents of Odessa. 

(Joann Littleton, Community Activist) 

The Odessa City Council will soon vote on which plan to adopt, either at the next work session or upcoming city council meeting. 

For DRB Media Communications Digital News, Danny Barrera 

DRB MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS DIGITAL NEWS(0415220-ODESSA MAYOR WANTS MORE RESTRICTIONS ON GAME ROOMS

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ODESSA, TEXAS/APRIL 15, 2022-DURING THE RECENT MEETING OF THE ODESSA CITY COUNCIL, MAYOR JAVIER JOVEN AND ATTORNEYS WITH THE CITY OF ODESSA MADE AMENDMENTS TO THE CITY ORDNANCE IN AN EFFORT TO STREAMLINE DAILY OPERATIONS OF GAME ROOMS WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS OF ODESSA. 

(JAVIER JOVEN, MAYOR-CITY OF ODESSA, TEXAS)

AFTER SIX YEARS IN LITIGATION THE SECOND COURT OF APPEALS FAVORED THE CITY OF FT. WORTH’S POSISTION ON EIGHT-LINERS. THE SECOND COURT OF APPEALS OPINED THAT GAMING DEVICES KNOW AS EIGHT-LINERS ARE UNCONSTITUTIONAL LOTTERIES. 

(JAVIER JOVEN, MAYOR-CITY OF ODESSA, TEXAS)

THE REMOVAL OF GAME ROOMS FROM THE CITY OF ODESSA WOULD BRING RELIEF TO CONCERENED RESIDENTS, BUT WOULD HAVE A SOMEWHAT NEGATIVE IMPACT PROPERTY OWNERS LEASING TO GAME ROOM OPERATORS.

(JAVIER JOVEN, MAYOR-CITY OF ODESSA, TEXAS)

THE ODESSA CITY COUNCIL VOTED 5 TO 1 TO TABLE THE AGENDA ITEM FOR FURTHER STUDY. GAME ROOMS WILL BE DISCUSSED AT THE NEXT ODESSA CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION ON TUESDAY, APRIL 19TH, AT 3PM. 

FOR DRB MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS DIGITAL NEWS, DANNY BARRERA