What to watch: The Midland City Council will meet on Sept. 23 to decide on a $10.3 million renovation of Hogan Park Golf Course, whether to update the city’s long-range growth plan, and whether to adopt new pedestrian safety rules that could also help reduce panhandling along busy roads.

Key points:

  • Safety ordinance: Council will consider a new rule that limits where people can stand or sit near intersections, crosswalks, medians, and curbs. The goal is to reduce crashes involving pedestrians and bicyclists. Between 2018 and 2022, Midland had 153 such crashes, and more than one-third caused serious injuries or deaths. The number of severe accidents rose 89% from 2022 to 2024.

The ordinance would also likely reduce panhandling in roadways. It makes exceptions for things like crossing the street, emergencies, permitted work, or free-speech activities. Police would first issue a warning, then fines of up to $100 for a first ticket and up to $500 for repeat violations.

  • Hogan Golf: Council will vote on awarding a $10.3 million contract to renovate Hogan Park Golf Course. Planned work includes a new irrigation system, fixes for drainage problems, turf and bunker upgrades, and a water treatment system that will serve both courses. Construction would start in November and wrap up by fall 2026. A bond issued in 2024 covers most of the cost, with the rest coming from the city’s oil and gas fund.

  • MOTRAN funding: The Midland Development Corporation (MDC) board approved $142,500 in funding for MOTRAN Alliance, a group that lobbies for highway and transportation projects to connect Midland to other markets. Now city council will have to approve the MDC’s board recommendation for it to take effect.

  • MDC lease: The MDC board also approved expanding the lease for AST & Science, a satellite technology company, at a building at Midland International Air & Space Port. The company will now lease the entire building instead of part of it. Rent will increase to match the additional space, but MDC will reimburse the lease if AST continues to meet its job and investment promises.

  • Tall City Tomorrow: Council will consider moving $250,000 into next year’s budget to update the city’s comprehensive plan, which is Midland’s long-term roadmap for growth. The update would cover land use, major roadways, housing needs, and key development areas like Northeast Midland. The city will use new technology tools to make the plan more data-driven and modern.