What to watch: The Midland City Council meets Tuesday, May 12, at 10 a.m. for a state-required public hearing to re-lease part of Taylor Park to the Boys & Girls Club for another decade, review a contested rezone in the Solomon Estates neighborhood that has drawn a written protest from residents, and the first of two public hearings on how Midland will spend roughly $1.14 million in federal Community Development Block Grant money.

Key points:

  • Taylor Park lease: Council will hold a public hearing before potentially leasing a nearly two-acre tract of Taylor Park to the Boys & Girls Club of the Permian Basin for another 10 years at $1 per month, with a 10-year renewal option. The Boys & Girls Club has occupied the site under a 1995 ground lease for 30 years and built the existing facility on the property.

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Code requires the council to find that there is “no feasible and prudent alternative” to leasing parkland for a non-park purpose. The club has used the property for educational and after-school programs and sports activities that benefit the community, and the club wants to continue those uses.

  • Solomon Estates rezone: The council will consider rezoning 4.5 acres on Alysheba Lane for a 37-lot subdivision. A group of 28 property owners at Solomon Estates has protested, citing traffic, safety, lot size, and community engagement concerns. However, only seven objections fall within the 200-foot buffer, meaning the objection rate is below the threshold that would require a three-fourths council supermajority.
  • CDBG federal grant: Council will hold the first of two required public hearings on the city’s 2026–2027 federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) action plan. CDBG is the annual federal block of money Midland receives from HUD for projects serving low- and moderate-income residents. At least 70% of CDBG funds must go to projects benefiting low- and moderate-income residents under federal rules.

The city expects to receive roughly $1.14 million, but has received 18 applications totaling $2.38 million in requests. A prioritization committee will meet in May and June, the second public hearing is June 10, and the council acts in July. Funding requests include replacing the parking lot at the MLK Center, a Code Enforcement Officer, and a First-Time Homebuyer down-payment assistance program.

  • Sports agreements: Council will consider renewing annual agreements with 11 sports organizations, including the Boys & Girls Club, the YMCA, Midland Junior Baseball, Midland Soccer Association, and others. The agreements stipulate that the city pays for long-term facility maintenance, but if the organization wants to build or replace something at the facility, the city may, at its discretion, pay for half of the cost.
  • Holiday Hill storage: City staff recommends denial of a rezoning request of three acres at Holiday Hill and Becker Drive for self-storage units. Staff cited incompatibility with the residential neighborhood to the north and inconsistency with the Tall City Tomorrow Comprehensive Plan, which designates the area as a park or open space.

If the council approves the rezoning, staff says it should require a masonry screening wall along every property line where the storage facility abuts residential homes.

  • City roads update: Council will receive a fiscal year 2026 progress report on the city’s roads.