What to watch: The Midland City Council met on Tuesday, Jan. 27, to approve airport planning contracts, review alcohol permit conditions for downtown bars and venues, and revisit how the city regulates noise complaints tied to special use permits.

Key points:

  • Airport services: Council approved a professional services agreement to fund design and environmental work for multiple projects at Midland International Air & Spaceport. Councilman John Burkholder pulled the item to better understand the scope and cost.

City staff explained that completing design work allows the airport to compete for Federal Aviation Administration discretionary grants and ensures eligibility for reimbursement. Staff emphasized that the city’s 10% share of the total cost comes from airport user revenue, not the general fund.

  • Sports complex: Council approved a rental agreement allowing the Tall City Black Gold minor league football club to use Astound Broadband Stadium and auxiliary fields at the Scharbauer Sports Complex. Burkholder said he pulled the item to ensure the city applied its standard contract terms.

Staff confirmed that the agreement followed the city’s standard rental contract, with a limited amendment covering the number of home games.

  • Double Bar Saloon: Council conducted the required seven-month review of Double Bar Saloon’s alcohol permit, which included security requirements. Staff reported about 25 incidents over seven months, averaging 3.5 per month, compared to 40 incidents and a 5.7 monthly average in the prior period. Staff noted that incident reports often reflect activity near a business rather than incidents directly tied to it.

Carlin Smith, a co-owner, told council the business complied with every requirement that council imposed. Smith said the bar shut down for a month, maintained security from the day it opened, spent $47,000 on security, and paid for rideshares to keep patrons safe. She added that the bar felt singled out compared to other venues.

Council members thanked the owners for their efforts and emphasized consistency across establishments. Council voted unanimously to restart the SUD process, remove the additional conditions, and waive fees tied to the repeated review.

  • Live Oak venue: Council reviewed the six-month SUD check-in for the venue at Live Oak following earlier noise complaints. Staff reported only two incidents over six months, both related to noise, and said the applicant provided records showing sound levels did not exceed the 85 decibel requirement.

Owner Steve Jeter told council the venue complied with all requirements and documented sound levels during events. Council took no action on the SUD review, allowing it to continue under existing terms. Council then addressed the separate Temporary Land Use item imposing the 85-decibel condition. Members and staff discussed enforcement challenges, subjectivity in measurements, and reliance on voluntary compliance.

Mayor Lori Blong said the city should avoid singling out individual venues saying she did not want to impose requirements on one establishment that the city does not impose on others. She asked city staff to review broader, citywide approaches. Council voted unanimously to remove the decibel restriction.