Oil and Gas Committee

Ordinance 8769 established an Oil and Gas Advisory Committee meeting of the City of Midland, consisting of licensed petroleum engineers or engineers appointed by a majority vote of the City Council. The Council shall also appoint two members to the Committee who have experience in real property development or real estate sales or development.  

The role of the five (5) member Committee will be to assist the Planning Division of the City of Midland with the administrative review of Oil and Gas Well Permit applications for: (1) technical compliance with this Section and (2) administrative completeness. The Committee may also recommend a surface location where there is disagreement between the Operator and the owner. The City Manager or his designee shall be an "ex officio" member of the Committee.  

2025-2026 Committee Member

The Oil and Gas Advisory Committee shall be subject to the Texas Open Meetings Act and shall serve at the will of the City Council. All written findings and conclusions of the Committee shall be included as part of the City staff report accompanying each permit application, which shall be delivered to the City Council, and a copy of such findings shall be made available to the Operator and will be available for public inspection.

The Committee shall not be classified as a department, agency, or political subdivision of the City and shall have no authority to:

1. Exercise judgment and discretion, except in an advisory capacity.
2. Make binding orders and judgments.
3. Affect the personal or property rights of private Persons.
4. Examine witnesses, compel the attendance of witnesses, or to hear the litigation of issues on a hearing; or
5. Enforce decisions or impose penalties.

The Oil and Gas Advisory Committee shall make a final decision within forty-five (45) calendar days after the Committee has received a full and complete application from the Operator. If the Committee fails to act within said forty-five (45) calendar days, the City Manager shall begin the process to have the application considered by the City Council.