Public Meetings - Corpus Christi, Texas

The Corpus Christi City Council met on July 22, 2025, beginning at 11:30 AM in Council Chambers. The meeting included approval of consent agenda items, public hearings, individual consideration items, and briefings on the Inner Harbor Water Treatment Campus and water supply updates. Key decisions included approvals of air service incentives, a family entertainment center incentive, solid waste infrastructure, and modifications to street closures and zoning for the Port of Corpus Christi. The meeting recessed for executive session and concluded at approximately 10:14 PM. Consent Calendar - Approved minutes of the July 15, 2025 meeting. - Approved ordinances for a no-fee 20-year FAA lease at the airport, appropriation of grant funds (Motor Vehicle Crime, Emergency Management), and issuance of various bonds and certificates of obligation (Items 5 and 7 passed individually after being pulled). - Approved acceptance of grants from ASPCA ($30,000) and NRPA ($15,000). - Approved abandonment of 2.5193 acres of public right-of-way related to the Harbor Bridge project (Item 11, pulled, discussed below). - Approved zoning changes for Port of Corpus Christi (Items 12 and 13, pulled, discussed below). - Approved contracts for 911 system upgrades, vehicles, investment advisory services, wastewater line design, and library exterior renovation (Item 20, pulled, discussed below). - Approved acceptance of homeland security grants and a lease for a radio shop. - Approved first-reading ordinances for PID assessment and airport lease amendments. Public Comments & Testimony - Item 11 (Street Closures): Multiple residents from Hillcrest and Washington-Coles neighborhoods opposed the closure, citing concerns about evacuation routes, historical significance, and the impact on community access. Speakers urged the council to keep streets open. Council members engaged in extensive discussion with Port and Public Works representatives. - Item 12 & 13 (Zoning): Numerous residents opposed rezoning to light industrial, arguing it would harm the historic Hillcrest neighborhood, increase environmental risks, and displace residents. Some speakers noted lack of notification. Councilman Hernandez proposed an amendment to Item 12 to rezone to CG2 with a special permit instead of IL. - Item 26 (Crime Control Budget): Residents expressed mixed views; some supported increased police funding, while others advocated for more crime prevention programs and cited examples from other cities. - Item 27 (HUD Annual Action Plan): Speakers supported funding for Rising Tide Ministries, Habitat for Humanity, and other social services. Some criticized code enforcement funding and the Salvation Army's past performance. - General Public Comment (5:30 PM): Over 40 speakers addressed the council on topics including opposition to the Inner Harbor desalination plant, support for alternative water sources, concerns about PFAS contamination, criticism of rezoning Hillcrest, police collaboration with ICE, and requests for improved public comment procedures. Discussion Items - Item 11 (Street Abandonment): Council and public debated the closure of New Oasis Street. Port representatives explained the need for a contiguous laydown area. Public Works clarified that only a small segment between Port Avenue and Coke Street was recommended. Councilwoman Campos offered an amendment to delay actual closure until 2027, which was accepted. The item passed 7-1. - Item 12 (Zoning ZN8534): Councilman Hernandez moved to amend from IL to CG2 with a special permit to protect a remaining residence. The amendment passed. The item as amended passed. - Item 13 (Zoning ZN8553): Similar rezoning request for larger area. Council approved the IL zoning as recommended by staff (overruling Planning Commission denial). - Item 20 (Library Renovation): Councilwoman Campos urged more tree planting. Discussion on water-efficient landscaping. Approved. - Item 31 (Air Service Agreement): Interim Aviation Director Jeremy Valgardson presented a minimum revenue guarantee agreement with Frontier Airlines for non-stop service to Denver starting October 9, 2025. Costs covered by SCASD grant, Visit Corpus Christi, and Type B Corporation funds. Unanimously approved. - Item 30 (Cinergy Incentive): Economic Development presented a Chapter 380 agreement for a $40 million family entertainment center at Rodd Field and SPID, providing up to $4.15 million in tax rebates over 15 years. Unanimously approved. - Item 26 (Crime Control Budget): FY2026 budget of $11.2 million for 78 sworn officers and 9 replacement vehicles, funded by sales tax and fund balance. Approved after public hearing. - Item 27 (HUD Action Plan): First reading of ordinance adopting FY2026 CDBG, ESG, and HOME allocations totaling $4.375 million. Councilwoman Paxson proposed amendments to shift funding from code enforcement to Habitat for Humanity and Rising Tide, but discussion deferred to second reading. Staff recommendation passed. - Item 28 (STWA Water Contract Deadline): Chief Operating Officer Drew Molly reported that due diligence could not meet the August 24 deadline. South Texas Water Authority representatives requested more time. Council amended the motion to waive the deadline and schedule an update on September 23. Passed. - Item 29 (Solid Waste Compost Yard): Award of $5.49 million construction contract to JE Construction for a compost facility at Cefe Valenzuela Landfill. Approved unanimously. - Briefing on Inner Harbor Water Treatment Campus (Item 32): Program Director Brett Van Hazel presented the 10% cost model update, showing total project cost estimated at $1.189 billion (up from $757 million). Drew Molly discussed rate impacts: residential monthly increase of $11.38 (with grants, $9.92) starting FY2029. Council debated costs, alternatives, and rates. The briefing was for information only; next steps include approval to advance to 60% design. Key Outcomes - Item 11 (Street Closures): Motion to approve with amendment to delay closure until 2027 passed 7-1. - Item 12 (Zoning ZN8534): Amendment to CG2 with special permit passed; item as amended passed. - Item 13 (Zoning ZN8553): IL zoning approved. - Item 31 (Air Service): Approved unanimously. - Item 30 (Cinergy Incentive): Approved unanimously. - Item 26 (Crime Control Budget): Approved after public hearing. - Item 27 (HUD Action Plan): First reading passed; second reading scheduled for July 29. - Item 28 (STWA Deadline): Motion to waive deadline and set update for September 23 passed. - Item 29 (Compost Yard): Approved unanimously. - Consent Agenda: Approved as amended (items 5,7,9,11,12,13,20 voted individually).

The City Council met on July 15, 2025, starting at 11:30 AM and concluding after 11:30 PM. The agenda included routine consent items, public hearings on street closures and rezoning for the Port of Corpus Christi, issuance of bonds and certificates of obligation, briefings on a proposed London Area Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone (TIRZ 7), a Department of Justice indictment involving OVG360, and an update on the Inner Harbor Desalination project. The council also reconsidered a roadway master plan amendment and enacted several changes to public comment procedures. Over 70 members of the public registered to speak, many expressing concerns about environmental justice in the Hillcrest neighborhood and the potential impacts of desalination on Baffin Bay. Consent Calendar - Items 2–15 were approved on a single vote, with the exception of Item 2 (approval of meeting minutes). Councilmember Paxson requested a clarification to the June 17, 2025 minutes regarding a discussion on meeting effectiveness, and the minutes were amended accordingly and approved. Public Comments & Testimony - Multiple speakers addressed the council on the proposed rezoning of Hillcrest to industrial use (Items 17‑18) and on the Inner Harbor Desalination project. Residents of Hillcrest and community activists overwhelmingly opposed the rezoning, citing decades of environmental racism, health impacts, and the destruction of a historic Black neighborhood. Speakers also voiced strong concerns about discharging brine from desalination into Baffin Bay, arguing that no independent environmental impact study had been done and that the bay is a unique hypersaline ecosystem vital to fishing and tourism. - Supporters of desalination emphasized the need for drought‑proof water supply, job creation, and the ability to manage growth. Some noted the city’s modeling showed minimal salinity increase. - A number of speakers also addressed the new public comment rules, asking for simpler, more accessible procedures. - The council allowed everyone who wished to speak, even if not on the official sign‑up list, due to the confusion over the new process. Discussion Items - Board & Committee Appointments (Item 1): The council appointed Mark Almaguer to the Airport Board and reappointed Mike Munoz and Trey Teichelman to the Planning Commission and Airport Zoning Commission. One vacancy was filled by appointing Jason Evnandis, James Edmund, and Aaron Ichan (later selected via vote). - Public Hearings (Items 16‑18): - Item 16: Street closures for Port of Corpus Christi lay‑down yard – staff recommended closing nine streets but not West Broadway. After public comment, the council approved the ordinance as recommended. - Item 17 (ZN8534): Rezoning from RS‑6 to Light Industrial (IL) on Lexington Avenue. A motion to table the item (to allow public input after new comment rules were clarified) passed, deferring the vote to a future meeting. - Item 18 (ZN8553): Rezoning from CN‑1/RM‑1 to Heavy Industrial (IH). Councilmember Roy moved to amend the application to Light Industrial (IL) as a compromise with the community and the port. The amendment passed, and the ordinance was approved with IL zoning. - Issuance of Debt (Items 19‑22): Four ordinances authorizing bonds and certificates of obligation for capital improvements (solid waste, streets, parks, public safety vehicles) were approved after debate. Councilmembers expressed frustration about approving debt for projects approved by previous councils, but noted the city’s hands were tied due to contracts already in place. The council was assured the tax rate would not increase. - Briefings (Items 23‑25): - Item 23: London Area TIRZ 7 – the council discussed the proposed 4,600‑acre TIRZ with sub‑zones, expressing concerns about process and equity. No action was taken; staff will finalize agreements with the county and Del Mar College. - Item 24: DOJ indictment of former OVG360 CEO – the Legal Department briefed the council. Several members expressed disappointment with OVG360 and frustration over contract termination costs. - Item 25: Inner Harbor Desalination update – representatives from Kiwit, GHD, and Freese and Nichols presented near‑field and far‑field modeling results, showing that the diffuser design would achieve 29‑fold dilution (a 50% improvement over the permit requirement) and that salinity increases at the intake and Harbor Bridge would be negligible (<0.5 PSU). Councilmembers requested a written report on the modeling; the project team agreed to provide one. - Reconsideration of Road Plan (Item 26): The council voted 6‑2 to reconsider its June 24, 2025 decision on County Road 22. After further debate, a motion to designate the entire road as a C‑1 collector (two‑lane) passed 6‑2. - Public Comment Policy Changes (Items 27‑30): After extensive deliberation, the council approved four motions: 1. Allow public comment on any agenda item or city‑related matter at the 5:30 PM session. 2. Allow speakers to ask questions during public comment (the council may, but is not required, to respond with statements of fact). 3. Eliminate advance sign‑up requirement for speaking on agenda items; the public may simply indicate their intent when the item is called. 4. Set the sign‑up deadline for general public comment at 5:30 PM to 4:00 PM on the day of the meeting (amended from 5:00 PM). Key Outcomes - Item 16 (Street Closures): Approved as recommended, with West Broadway retained as a through street. - Item 17 (ZM8534): Tabled to a future meeting to allow public comment under new rules. - Item 18 (ZN8553): Approved with Light Industrial (IL) zoning instead of Heavy Industrial (IH). - Items 19‑22 (Debt Issuance): All four ordinances approved (votes ranged 6‑2 to unanimous). - Item 26 (Road Plan): Reconsidered and changed to C‑1 collector status for County Road 22. - Items 27‑30 (Public Comment Rules): All four motions approved, effective immediately. The council will revisit the new procedures in a few weeks. - No action taken on Items 23 (London TIRZ), 24 (OVG360 briefing), or 25 (Desal briefing) as they were information items. Next Steps - The city staff will finalize the London Area TIRZ interlocal agreement and bring it back for a first reading. - The desalination project team will present a cost model on July 22 and a design amendment on July 29. - The council will continue to monitor the OVG360 situation and review contract termination options. - Public comment procedures will be evaluated and potentially refined at a future meeting.

Mayor Paulette Guajardo called the Corpus Christi City Council meeting to order at 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, June 24, 2025, in Council Chambers at 1201 Leopard Street. The meeting opened with an invocation by Reverend Dr. Chip Blackshear of First Presbyterian Church of Corpus Christi and the Pledge of Allegiance led by Joshua William Martinez, a 6th grader from Tuloso Midway Elementary School. City Secretary Rebecca L. Huerta called the roll of Charter Officers. The agenda included an update on alternative water supply projects, a public comment period with 15 speakers, the consent calendar, an MOU update with South Texas Water Authority, a resolution regarding Corpus Christi Housing Authority property acquisitions, a discussion of Oak View Group 360's (OVG 360) performance and the Convention Center Complex naming rights, a resolution on Inner Harbor Seawater Desalination Project procurement authority, and executive session items. No meeting minutes were available in the source material. City Manager's Update on Alternative Water Supply Projects (Item 1) - City water official Drew Molly presented the update on alternative water supply projects. - Beneficial rainfall between June 10 and June 15 raised the combined reservoir level of Choke Canyon and Lake Corpus Christi from 14.7 percent to 15.9 percent; Lake Corpus Christi was the biggest beneficiary, while Choke Canyon registered little change. - Lake Texana rose from 81.4 percent to essentially full at 99.4 percent. On Monday, the general manager of the Lavaca Navidad River Authority, Pat Briskowski, made 4,500 acre-feet of interruptible water available to the city. - The water supply dashboard model, updated every two weeks, now shows the previously predicted water shortfall pushed back from October 2026 to December 2026. - Drew Molly reported that South Texas Water Authority (STWA) entered into a water supply agreement with Seven C's in August 2024 to design, permit, construct, finance, and operate a 4 million gallon per day (MGD) brackish water desalination treatment facility. STWA has expressed interest in expanding the facility to 30 MGD, of which 28 MGD could potentially be made available to the City of Corpus Christi on a take-or-pay contract basis. The water supply agreement was released to the city on Friday night as a confidential document, and on June 23 the city agreed on a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with STWA allowing 45 days of deeper evaluation. - On effluent reuse, council previously approved an award to the company Garver for professional services; the contract was executed on June 20. The first step will evaluate reuse options, followed by a 12-month source water characterization study of the effluent, working in concert with TCEQ. - On the Nueces River groundwater well project: two contractors are working around the clock drilling wells. Phase one is expected to provide 13 to 15 million gallons a day of water into the Nueces River using up to eight wells. Phase two would treat that water at a future brackish reverse osmosis plant. The state has provided roughly $30 million in grant funding to support the project. A TCEQ temporary bed and banks application permit was declared administratively complete; the city still needs the official three-year temporary permit to protect the water as its own. - In response to council questions, Drew Molly confirmed three wells are currently operational, with TDS (total dissolved solids) test results of approximately 5,000 milligrams per liter for the first well and approximately 3,000 milligrams per liter for the other two. Normal river TDS ranges from about 500 to 1,000 milligrams per liter; the Evangeline aquifer ranges between 750 and 900. The well water has arsenic below the EPA/TCEQ maximum contaminant level of 10 parts per billion. Councilman Hernandez expressed concern about liability to downstream users with senior water rights (including San Patricio Municipal Water District, Flint Hills, Celanese, and Water District No. 3 in Robstown), and staff stated real-time monitoring devices and conversations with all downstream users are in place. - The Mary Rhodes Pipeline has been operating at a reduced 55 million gallons a day; the repaired pump was delivered over the weekend, and the system is expected to return to its 70 million gallons a day flow within 24 to 48 hours. Consent Calendar (Items 2–16) - The consent agenda was approved by one vote with the exception of items 2, 6, and 13, which were pulled for individual consideration. - Item 2 (Roadway Master Plan/Urban Transportation Plan amendments for County Road 22 near the Mirabella and Kingslake West developments): Interim Assistant City Manager Ernie Delagarza presented. Staff modified its recommendation after receiving a June 22 email from a London ISD trustee stating that ongoing discussions for multiple school sites in the area could be negatively impacted by the proposed reductions. The new staff recommendation changed only street 1 from a C3 to a C1 collector; streets 2, 3, and 4 remain as shown on the master plan. Councilman Hernandez noted discrepancies between the Infrastructure Design Manual and the UDC regarding right-of-way and pavement width descriptions and said he would work to migrate those definitions into the UDC. The item was approved as amended. - Item 6 (Municipal Court judge appointments): The recommendation was amended to remove Arnold McAdams from the part-time judge 6 position because he was no longer interested. The ordinance was approved as amended. - Item 13 (TCEQ Agreed Order for Oso Wastewater Treatment Plant): Wesley Nippen, Director of Water Systems Infrastructure, explained that the agreed order allows the city to make improvements at the Oso Wastewater Treatment Plant in lieu of a $236,955 administrative penalty. The maintenance items stemmed from delays during the 2016–2018 consolidation study and recovery from Winter Storm Uri; the city is now performing maintenance items at all wastewater plants. The resolution was approved. Public Comments & Testimony - Steven Klepper (Corpus Christi resident): Criticized the city's budget transparency, stating the city lacks fundamentals of transparent budgeting, no data on efficiency and effectiveness, and no explicit definitions of services and service levels. He reminded the council that the city auditor's office, established in November 2010, can objectively answer those questions. - David Lafeld (District 5): Called the recycling program a failure, citing a 13.8 percent diversion rate and estimating the curbside recycling rate at no more than five to seven percent. He said the city spends $2.5 million a year on a program with the most expensive processing contract in the state. - Susie Saldania: Criticized the naming rights decision at the American Bank Center, saying the city is 'throwing away money,' and called Councilman Mark Scott's comparison of the two bidding law firms to the Proud Boys shameful. - John Hanzelik (District 5, owner of TFW Construction employing about 60 people): Expressed support for the Inner Harbor seawater desalination plant as a viable long-term solution, and said passing agenda item 19 would send a message that the council is not in favor of the city's proposed desalination plant, potentially jeopardizing funding. - Absede Fuentes (District 1, speaking on behalf of Mary Carroll High School early graduation class of 2026): Cited over 1,100 homeless people, a top-ten neediest ranking, teen pregnancy 46 percent above the national average, and nearly 15 percent of local adults lacking a high school diploma. She asked the council to fund an education and family resilience initiative, launch a parenting and life skills program, build career and vocational pipelines, expand youth housing and mental health services, and create youth civic fellowships. Councilman Hernandez asked staff to share information about existing city programs with her. - Jason Hale: Raised concerns about hypoxia risks from the proposed desalination plant, requesting that GHD modeling tell how long salinity plumes last before they erode. He flagged that the modeling domain appeared to be missing the intake for the Nueces Bay Power Station, which diverts around 300 million gallons a day, potentially overestimating outflow to Corpus Christi Bay by about 20 percent. He asked for answers at the July presentation. - Isabella Araiza (District 2, co-founder of For the Greater Good): Opposed the desalination project, stating the pilot project modeling is solely for diffuser design, extends only to the mouth of the ship channel, and runs for just one month. She cited cost estimate discrepancies of $5 million, up to $18 million, and $11–12 million. She supported item 19, referenced the city manager's office spending $44,000 on restaurant food in 11 months, and said extrapolating from pilot costs suggests a build cost of $1.7 to $2.7 billion. - Chloe Torres (District 2, Texas Campaign for the Environment): Supported item 19, and quoted expert testimonies from Dr. Scott Socolofsky (Ph.D., MIT) and Dr. Ben Hodges (Ph.D., Stanford) stating that additional far-field modeling is needed to adequately determine discharge impacts. - Jay Hernandez (District 2): Supported item 19, arguing that elected officials should hold decision-making power over how millions of tax dollars are spent on design and material contracts for the desalination plant. - Adam Rios (District 5): Shared personal negative experiences with the current arena management company, including a job application that received no follow-up and a Nitro Circus event he said lacked marketing and promotion. He noted the company's Austin venue is under a Department of Justice antitrust probe. - Rachel Caballero (District 1): Called for terminating OVG's contract, citing the American Bank Center running at a loss, no financial update in two years, a naming rights 'disaster' resulting in a $7 million loss, and questioned the housing authority apartment purchases, which she said could result in tax roll losses in excess of $350 million. She supported item 19. - Joshua Frederick: Supported adding a question period to public comment with questions allowed but not answered, opposed moving public comment to 5:30 p.m., and asked the council to consider an ordinance requiring labeling of produce grown using treated fracking water. - Travis (virtual, District 2): Supported item 19, stating the council should hold primary decision-making power over the Hillcrest desalination facility rather than the unelected city manager. - Laramie Fain (virtual, District 2): Supported item 19 and argued for extending council oversight to all future projects, criticizing the city manager's behavior and spending. - Andrea Puyol (virtual, District 2): Stated her opposition to the Inner Harbor desalination plant, saying it is '100% to bring in more industry,' and supported item 19 to take decision-making power away from the city manager. Discussion: South Texas Water Authority MOU (Item 20) - The council heard item 20 early to accommodate a visiting STWA commissioner. Staff confirmed the MOU between the City of Corpus Christi and South Texas Water Authority had been executed on June 23 with all signatures complete by approximately 4:30 p.m. - STWA Commissioner Morris stated the MOU creates a framework to determine if a brackish desalination project is viable for both operations; the project is currently projected at 3 MGD but STWA is exploring a larger amount up to 28 MGD. He noted Seven C's helped speed release of information and thanked the city for its work. - Kleberg County Judge Mendray explained his involvement, saying he helped spearhead the project with STWA, represents his constituents and taxpayers, and cited benefits including Baffin Bay replenishment. He said Senator Hinojosa has given his 'absolute 100 percent support' and called the agreement a benchmark for regionalization in Texas. - Councilman Hernandez questioned why the city was requesting details such as TCEQ permits, energy contracts with AEP/NEC, and hydrological surveys. City Attorney Miles Risley responded that the city's own information is generally public and obtainable via public information requests, but when dealing with private entities not subject to the Texas Public Information Act that lack a long track record, the city must delve into that information and handle risks through contractual provisions. - Councilwoman Vaughn noted the council's prior 9–0 vote in support of moving forward and mentioned a ribbon cutting scheduled for July 8. Staff stated the STWA project is expected to be built by mid-2027. Discussion: Corpus Christi Housing Authority Property Acquisitions (Item 17) - The resolution before the council found that the authorization and purchase of properties by the Corpus Christi Housing Authority (CCHA) related to 21 apartment complexes (Armon Bay, Azure, Churchill Square, Ocean Palms Apartments, Sandcastle, Sawgrass, South Lake Ranch, Stoneleigh Apartment, The Icon, The Summit, The Veranda, Tuscany Bay South, Villas of Ocean Drive, Arts at Ocean Drive, Caspian Apartments, Gulf Breeze, Shadow Bend, Bay Vista, Bay Vista Point, Baypoint, and Solana Vista) were void by operation of law, and that the related memorandums of understanding, ground leases, and operating agreements were illegal. It requested CCHA to acknowledge the findings and immediately terminate the void/illegal land acquisitions, related contracts, and actions. - CCHA CEO Gary Alsa defended the actions, stating the housing authority is an independent unit of government, state statutes clearly indicate the actions were legal, no properties were purchased (they were acquired through MOUs in recognition of providing 50 percent of units for affordable housing), and there was no purchase, no bonds, and no borrowing of money governed by Chapter 392. He cited a similar Plano housing authority case and expressed concern about rumors that the city's objection was based on where residents would live. - Councilwoman Vaughn said she disliked the transactions and thought they 'sound like a scam,' but stated the council is not a court of law and cannot declare actions illegal. Councilman Hernandez objected to the word 'illegal' as inappropriate, and Councilman Roy moved to amend the language to 'appears illegal' or 'apparently illegal' with further action possibly required; the amendment was adopted by voice vote. The resolution was then approved as amended. - Public comments on item 17 included Susie Saldania urging removal of two remaining housing authority commissioners, and Rachel Caballero, as President of the Corpus Christi Taxpayers Association, saying developers are trying to escape tax burdens while the city faces a $7 million budget deficit. Discussion: Oak View Group 360 Performance and Naming Rights (Item 18) - Council members Cantu, Vaughn, and Hernandez requested discussion of OVG 360's performance and financial reporting as operator of the Convention Center Complex, including possible termination, returning naming rights authority to the council, and directing staff to initiate a new bidding process for arena management services. - OVG representatives (Daniel Melissa, General Manager; Liam Weslow, Senior Vice President of Partnerships; Greg Odell, President of Venue Management; and Claudio Olivery, District General Manager) announced they are moving into contract negotiation with Hilliard Law for naming rights, with an offer of approximately $13.3 million over a 10-year term, compared to Thomas J. Henry's publicly offered $20 million over 10 years. - OVG explained its rationale: the Thomas J. Henry package contained roughly 50 elements while the Hilliard package contained about 30, leaving approximately $400,000 per year of additional sellable inventory; conversely, OVG projected between $375,000 and $895,000 per year in negative impact from unnamed sponsors, tenants, or partners who said they would reconsider support if Henry were selected. OVG stated these partners asked to remain unnamed. - Council members expressed significant concerns about transparency and the roughly $7.7 million difference between offers (approximately $5.5 million to the city after the 80/20 split). Councilman Hernandez calculated the city loses approximately $536,000 per year under the lower offer. Several members stated they believed the decision was political rather than financial. - OVG reported operational gains: sponsorship and suite revenue grew from $330,000 annually prior to OVG to $1.3 million; sponsors grew from 1 to 22 and suite holders from 2 to 9; total visits grew from an average of about 504,000 to a projected 739,000; and the facility has hosted 9 globally televised or streamed events in the last two and a half years. - City staff member Heather explained that audits have been delayed because the prior vendor SMG fell behind on its audits; OVG has complied with monthly financial reporting and operates a city bank account with full transparency of ins and outs. An audit firm has been hired and audits are expected to be caught up within several months. - City Attorney Miles Risley outlined the contract term: the agreement runs through September 30, 2027, with non-renewal notice required on or before March 1, 2027. Termination outside that window is limited and tied to material breaches, bankruptcy, failure to fund, or failure to meet performance measures in two consecutive operating years. Breaking the contract would expose the city to damages. - No formal action was taken on termination. Councilwoman Paxon requested quarterly financial and performance reports moving forward; Heather committed to providing reports by the end of the week and quarterly thereafter. Councilman Scott apologized for his earlier comparison of the two law firms to Antifa and the Proud Boys. - Public comments on item 18 included Michael Miller offering $5,000 immediately to buy a suite and saying there will be plenty of sponsors to replace any that back out; Bon Zim raising concerns for the approximately 200 American Bank Center employees; and Eloisa Lozada urging a fair process and a return of naming rights decisions to the council. Discussion: Inner Harbor Seawater Desalination Procurement Authority (Item 19) - The original agenda item was a resolution to rescind Council Resolution 033396, which authorized the City Manager or designee to execute contracts and amendments for design services or construction materials for the Inner Harbor Seawater Desalination Treatment Plant Project and acquisition of property. - Councilwoman Vaughn stated the intent was not to stop desalination but to restore checks and balances and council oversight, and she objected to what she characterized as bullying from the Chamber and others. Councilman Cantu said he received 50 to 60 text messages, including threats, but insisted the goal is transparency, not stalling. - Brett Van Hazel, the officer in charge (OIC) for the project, explained that the city executed a contract with Kiwit in December 2024 for phase one (planning and design through GMP). Under the contract, the city manager no longer holds execution authority for amendments; that authority falls to the OIC. Staff stated they had not yet studied the unintended consequences of rescinding the resolution, and warned of time and cost impacts. The design phase authorization was $138 million total, including approximately $68 million for design and $69 million for early work packages, long-lead items, and property/easement acquisition. - Drew Molly stated the project remains on schedule for water delivery by June 2028, with a cost model to be presented on July 15. Construction spending could reach $30 to $40 million per month. City Attorney Miles Risley cautioned that rescinding the resolution could remove the legal basis for the already-executed Kiwit contract, potentially rendering it void. - Councilman Hernandez withdrew his original motion and substitute resolution, and moved a modified version that (1) instructs the city manager to follow normal procurement procedures for all future purchases, contracts, and amendments for the project; (2) requires the city manager to provide accurate accounting to council for all funding spent and encumbered for the project and acquired property; and (3) states the resolution is effective July 1, 2025. This substitute resolution passed by a 5–4 vote. - Public comments on item 19 included one speaker urging the council not to delay or stop desalination, and Bob Pollison, executive director of the Coastal Bend Industry Association, urging the council to listen to the recommendations of professional staff and to avoid adding risk in time and cost. Briefings (Items 21–22) - The briefing on the City Proposed Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone 7 London Area (Item 21) and the briefing on the Inner Harbor Water Treatment Campus Update (Item 22) were postponed to the next council meeting. Executive Session and Real Estate Purchases (Items 23–25) - The council entered executive session pursuant to Texas Government Code § 551.071 and § 551.072 to consult with attorneys on the potential long-term agreement with 1PointFive USA, LLC (1P5) to purchase reclaimed water and potential property rights near the Greenwood Plant; the potential acquisition of properties at/adjacent to Leopard Street and Corn Products Road and near Airline Drive and St. Pius Drive; and a potential agreement with Ticona (aka Celanese) to purchase water. - Upon reconvening, the council authorized: (1) execution of a real estate sales contract with Ted Donald Cohen, Lewis J. Cohen, William A. Cohen, and Ann Cohen Clem to purchase approximately 9.26 acres on Leopard Street between Benny's Road and Corn Products Road (HL Kenny Tract) for $655,000; and (2) purchase of 713 Airline Road (Lee Kwan) for $375,000. The motion carried. Key Outcomes - The consent calendar was approved with items 2, 6, and 13 pulled; all three were approved as amended or as presented. - The MOU between the City of Corpus Christi and South Texas Water Authority was confirmed as executed on June 23; a 45-day evaluation period is underway, with the project target of mid-2027. - Item 17 (Housing Authority properties) was approved as amended, replacing 'illegal' with 'appears illegal/apparently illegal' language. - Item 18 (OVG 360) was discussion only; no termination action was taken. OVG is proceeding with Hilliard Law naming rights contract negotiations, and the city will receive quarterly financial and performance reports. - Item 19 (Desalination procurement authority) was approved as a substitute resolution by a 5–4 vote on June 24, 2025, modifying rather than rescinding Resolution 03396: the city manager must follow normal procurement procedures for future purchases, contracts, and amendments, provide accurate accounting to council of all funds spent and encumbered, with an effective date of July 1, 2025. - The council authorized two real estate purchases totaling $1,030,000 ($655,000 for the Leopard Street 9.26-acre tract and $375,000 for 713 Airline Road). - Briefing items 21 and 22 were postponed to the next council meeting, and the meeting was adjourned.

The City Council convened on Tuesday, June 17, 2025, at 11:30 AM, concluding around 8:50 PM. The lengthy session featured extensive public comment, a major budget debate over Animal Care Services, briefings on crime statistics, water supply, the Inner Harbor Desalination project, and a comprehensive post-legislative session update. Consent Calendar - The bulk of Items 3 through 29 were approved in one motion. Items 5, 6, 14, 20, 24, 25, and 29 were pulled for individual consideration. Public Comments & Testimony - Stephen Clepper: Expressed strong support for amending the city auditor ordinance to enhance independence and objectivity, arguing the current system lacks proper checks and balances based on his experience as an auditor. - Clint Miracle: Alleged unfair preferential treatment for a specific marathon in acquiring city permits, claiming his own event was hindered and requested an investigation into equitable permit processes. - Susie Luna Saldania: Urged council not to overlook long-term water supply issues and expressed concern over the Housing Authority CEO’s salary, calling for council oversight. - Mark Munster: Criticized the city’s characterization of desalination opponents as a “small group,” noted the city’s marketing spend, and argued the Housing Authority situation demands public accountability. - Brad Bartelson: Presented a case for stormwater capture as a simpler, cheaper alternative to seawater desalination, citing preserved city infrastructure and lower treatment difficulty. - Rachel Caballero (CCTA President): Presented financial records showing over $482,000 in city expenditures for the Fourth of July event over four years, including alcohol purchases, contradicting prior statements that the event used no taxpayer dollars. - Isabel Rizer: Connected firefighters’ personal pleas for cancer screening funding to broader budget priorities, questioning spending on the desalination pilot and the impact of industrial district agreements. - Jason Hale: Supported water diversification but cautioned against fully diverting wastewater from the Oso Bay system, noting its positive ecological impact. - Melissa Zamora: Supported rainwater capture, linking industrial encroachment in Hillcrest to environmental racism. - Mike McFarland: Thanked the Mayor for proclaiming June as Responsible Fatherhood Month. - Adam Rios: Expressed gratitude for city support of alternative sports, specifically the Ray High School skateboard club. - Moses Mastagashi (Coastal Bend Lots): Supported the proposed roadway reclassifications but strongly warned against the city’s continued approval of “half-street” developments, citing long-term traffic and safety issues. Discussion Items - City Manager’s Report: Peter Zanoni briefed council on the 3-month agenda forecast planning tool and introduced Drew Molly for the weekly water update. Councilwoman Compos noted a communication error led residents to attend expecting a Hillcrest item that was delayed by the applicant at the port. - Water Supply Update: Drew Molly reported significant rainfall (5-6 inches) in the western watershed, raising lake levels to 15.4%. Lake Texana reached 100% capacity, offering an interruptible water supply of 4,500 acre-feet. The Nueces River groundwater well project permit is deemed administratively complete. A water poaching investigation was initiated with TCEQ. - Item 5: Animal Care Services Mid-Year Budget: Debate centered on an $821,000 concrete parking lot and a $1 million air conditioning project. Councilwoman Vaughn and Councilman Cantu criticized the costs, seeking cheaper alternatives (asphalt) and questioning prioritization of capital projects over direct animal care. Council voted to approve the item minus the parking lot, which will be re-evaluated. - Item 6: Audit Standards Ordinance: Councilman Scott attempted to amend the ordinance to require a supermajority (6 votes) for removal of audit committee members to ensure independence. The amendment failed (motion to approve as presented carried). - Item 24: Council Travel Policy: Councilman Hernandez successfully advocated for reverting from a shared travel pool back to an individual budget system for council members. The policy was approved. - Item 25: Roadway Master Plan Map Update: The council approved a first reading to reclassify several roads (arterials to collectors) based on traffic studies. Moses Mastagashi supported the reductions but criticized half-street approvals. - Item 30: SAFER Grant Application (Fire Dept): Fire Chief Wade requested approval to apply for a $4 million federal grant for 15 firefighters. A potential 2-cent property tax increase was discussed as necessary to fund the city's match. Council voted to submit the application, understanding withdrawal is an option if the budget doesn't allow the funding. - Item 31: Granicus Software: Approved to expand the 3-1-1 system capabilities with text messaging. - Item 32: Municipal Court Judges: Appointments for full and part-time judges were approved. - Item 33: Council Meeting Schedule: Councilman Hernandez proposed bi-weekly meetings to reduce staff burnout. Councilman Cantu and Councilwoman Paxson opposed, preferring meetings based on business needs. No immediate action was taken. - CCHFC Meeting: The board discussed a proposed Housing Needs Assessment and Toolkit. A September meeting is planned for action, with a project cap of $150,000 recommended. Briefings - Crime Statistics (Police): Chief Todd Green and Deputy Chiefs presented data showing violent crime decreased in 4 of 5 districts (except District 2). Clearance rates for homicide (95%) and motor vehicle theft (16%) exceeded national averages. The new Violent Crime Unit seized 93 firearms. The gang unit reported dismantling a major prison gang operation with a 30-count federal indictment. Homeless crime data was difficult to track systematically. - Inner Harbor Water Treatment Campus (Desalination): Brettman Hazel provided an update. Phase 1A is complete. The demonstration plant is scheduled for a 30-day run cycle in September/October. Near and far field modeling results are expected July 15. Councilmembers expressed concerns over the 30-day pilot period being potentially insufficient and escalating costs (an estimated $18 million lump sum was avoided by using a time-and-materials contract). - 89th Legislature Post-Session: Ryan Skrobarczyk and Snapper Carr detailed major wins, including a $46 million direct appropriation for emergency water supply projects (from Representative V. Lobos), a successful amendment for the Project Finance Zone (from Chairman Hunter), and TWIA windstorm reform. Anti-city bills on debt caps (HB 19) and land use preemptions were narrowly defeated but will return. Minimum lot sizes (SB 15) were reduced to 3,000 sq ft for cities like Corpus Christi, necessitating upcoming UDC updates. Key Outcomes - Approved/Adopted: Consent Agenda (as amended), ACS Budget (parking lot deferred), Audit Ordinance, Travel Policy, Roadway Master Plan (1st reading), SAFER Grant application, Granicus Software, Municipal Court appointments, CCHFC policy update. - Deferred/Re-evaluated: ACS parking lot cost evaluation (returning in July). SAFER grant funding mechanism to be decided in budget process. Council meeting schedule to be reviewed by staff. - Next Steps: ACS parking lot analysis to compare concrete vs. asphalt. GHD to present modeling results on July 15. Land Use code updates needed to comply with new state minimum lot sizes.

The Corpus Christi City Council met on Tuesday, June 10, 2025, in Council Chambers. The meeting included a hurricane preparedness briefing, a second-quarter financial report, a lengthy public comment period, executive session actions, and votes on water supply, animal care funding, audit rules, convention center naming rights, and the public comment process. Consent Calendar - The council approved the consent agenda (items 4 through 12) after pulling items 9, 11, and 12 for individual consideration. - Public hearing items 13 and 14 were also approved later in the meeting: a wastewater trunk line construction and reimbursement agreement with MPM Development, and a rezoning request for M&R Home Solutions at or near 2345 Yorktown Boulevard. Public Comments & Testimony - Hillcrest/Washington Coles rezoning opposition: Multiple residents and advocates, including Andrea Puyol, Gilbert Aguirre, Lamont Taylor, Christina English, Mona Lytle, Eli McCain, Isabel Reiser, and Daniel Pena, opposed the Port of Corpus Christi rezoning request to heavy/light industrial uses and proposed street closures in the Hillcrest and Washington Coles neighborhoods. Several speakers said the item had been moved to June 24 and urged the council to deny the rezoning for any industrial use. - Firefighter cancer screening support: Firefighters Johnny Stobbs, Santiago Garcia, and Battalion Chief Scott Marsh urged approval of the multi-cancer early detection testing agreement. Stobbs cited research that firefighters face a 9% higher chance of cancer diagnosis and a 14% increased risk of dying from cancer compared to the general public. Marsh described his own three melanoma diagnoses and said early screenings could save lives. - Recycling and budget suggestions: David Lafeld, District 5, recommended eliminating the litter critter event and the city recycling program, saying the recycling rate is 5% and contamination runs 26–28% on a good year and has reached 40–42%. He said cuts could save about $2.5 million. The city manager said staff would provide more information. - South Texas Water Authority support: Sean Flanagan called the proposed STWA water agreement a “gimme” and urged unanimous support. Gail Anderson also voiced support during item 20 public comment. - Desalination and water concerns: Jason Hale asked for timely release of GHD’s Inner Harbor desalination modeling results and requested GHD participate in the presentation. Leah Ariza Ortiz, Melissa Zamora, Isabel Reiser, and Myra Alanis expressed concerns about pollution, industry growth, aquifer depletion, and desalination impacts. Rachel Caballero urged moving to Stage 4 water emergency and criticized the public comment scheduling and city leadership. - Juneteenth proclamation: Tina Butler and Jennifer Gracia, representing the Texas Association of Black Personnel in Higher Education, said the city did not schedule a Juneteenth proclamation for June and invited the council to their three-day festival June 20–22 marking the 160th anniversary. Butler said she submitted the request on May 8. - Ritz Theatre: Charlie Webb, Ritz board member, thanked the city and announced a $30 million state of Texas award for the theater’s restoration. Adam Rios also spoke in support of the Ritz and his wife’s work as its executive director. - Fourth of July naming: Patsy Vasquez Contes praised Mayor Paulette Guajardo’s continuation of the Mayor’s 4th of July Big Bang tradition; later Susie Luna Saldania criticized council members for spending time on the naming issue. - Other comments: Al Ariola, president/CEO of the United Corpus Christi Chamber of Commerce, supported advancing the Inner Harbor Seawater Desalination Project and suggested later public comment opportunities. John Hendricks proposed making the Feast of Corpus Christi an official city holiday. Several speakers discussed public comment timing, city ethics, and neighborhood history. Discussion Items - Hurricane Preparedness Update: Emergency Management Coordinator Jace Johnson presented the 2025 hurricane season outlook. The season runs June 1 through November 30. NOAA forecasts 13 to 19 named storms, 6 to 10 hurricanes, and 3 to 5 major hurricanes. Johnson described the Emergency Operations Center at the old Frost Building, department operations centers, planning exercises, regional coordination, reverse alert expansion to Aransas, Refugio, and San Patricio counties, the new Office of Emergency Management website, evacuation assistance through RTA, and sandbag distribution events. A full-scale evacuation exercise at the Natatorium was scheduled for the following Friday. - Second Quarter Financial Report: City Manager Peter Zanoni presented the FY2025 second quarter budget and finance report covering October 1, 2024, through March 31, 2025. General fund revenues were about $4.2 million above plan; expenditures were about $11 million under planned amounts for the six-month period. Public safety accounts for 52% of general fund spending. Hotel occupancy tax revenue came in slightly under plan. Water fund revenues were above plan due to wholesale sales; wastewater revenues were close to plan. The FY26 budget shortfall was initially estimated at $7 million and has grown to about $13 million. The proposed FY26 budget is scheduled for presentation July 29, 2025, with community workshops and September adoption. - Board and Committee Appointments: The council approved Deborah Sibilla’s reappointment to the Civil Service Board/Commission and Joel Mumford and Israel Dalamantis as alternate Civil Service Board members. For the Ethics Commission, Casey O’Donnell and Christina Garcia were selected after nominations. - Item 9 – Firefighter Cancer Screenings: The council approved a two-year professional services agreement with Grail Inc. for multi-cancer early detection tests for the Corpus Christi Fire Department. Council members expressed strong support after hearing emotional testimony from firefighters. - Item 11 – Homeless Services Agreements: The council approved canceling agreements with the City of Corpus Christi and MHID and increasing the agreement with Mission 911 to $217,000. Council discussion noted the lack of a dedicated homelessness department and called for future budget consideration of staff positions to coordinate homeless services. - Item 12 – Audit Standards and Audit Committee Changes: Councilman Gil Hernandez offered an amendment changing how audit committee members are selected and removed. The amended language requires the mayor to select four council members at the beginning of each term, subject to majority council approval; the mayor appoints the chair; and the mayor or a majority of the council may remove a member for “justifiable cause that does not reflect and support the mission of the audit committee,” with the mayor selecting a replacement subject to council approval. The ordinance language was approved as amended after a motion to postpone failed. - Item 20 – South Texas Water Authority MOU: John Motes of the South Texas Water Authority and Kleberg County Judge Rudy Madrid presented the Seven C’s brackish desalination project in Driscoll. The project is designed to deliver water to STWA and potentially sell surplus water to Corpus Christi, using the existing 42-inch transmission line. Motes said the plant could provide up to roughly 28 million gallons per day beyond STWA’s current use, with a target online date of 2027. The city’s attorney stated the negotiated rate is not to exceed $5.50 per thousand gallons for 30 years, plus electricity and CPI adjustments, with no upfront city infrastructure cost. Councilwoman Carolyn Vaughn moved to enter an MOU with STWA within 10 days and direct the city manager to bring back a contract within 45 days; the motion carried. - Item 17 – Alternative Water Supply Update: Chief Operating Officer Drew Molly reported that combined Lake Corpus Christi and Choke Canyon levels were at 14.7%. May 2025 water use was 3.22 billion gallons, down from 3.45 billion gallons in May 2024. The Mary Rhodes pipeline is currently operating near 70 million gallons per day. The water supply dashboard projected a level one water emergency around October 2026 under current assumptions, assuming no significant rainfall. Groundwater wells are being brought online, with roughly 10 million gallons per day expected by mid-July and an additional 3 million gallons per day in August. Molly also discussed the Evangeline project, the EV Ranch proposal, and ongoing partnership discussions with the South Texas Water Authority. Council members raised concerns about pipeline reliability, seniors’ water bills, and the pace of water supply development. - Item 19 – Fourth of July Event Naming: Council members discussed whether a current mayor’s name should be used for the city’s Fourth of July event. A motion to stop using the mayor’s name in future publications failed for lack of a second. The mayor noted the event is sponsored and organized through the mayor’s office with private donations, not city funds. - Item 21 – Convention Center Naming Rights: The council considered a non-binding motion supporting award of the naming rights to the most responsible entity offering the most funding. Danny from OVG 360 said the process considers overall value and the best partner for the facility, not just the dollar amount. The motion was amended to add “most responsible entity” and then carried on a voice vote, with two no votes. Mayor Guajardo abstained. - Item 22 – Public Comment Process: The council voted to move the general, non-agenda public comment period from noon to 5:30 p.m., effective July 15, 2025. Agenda-related comments will still be taken when agenda items are heard. The motion also stated that the city council remains in session during the 5:30 p.m. public comment period even if a quorum is lost. Staff will work out sign-up logistics. - Item 23 – Luminaire Contract Inquiry: Council members asked whether to refer an inquiry to the city auditor regarding a Luminaire Inc. contract. City Manager Zanoni explained that the city had a contractual obligation to pay Luminaire $262,000, the company had performed, and the prior health director had wrongly refused to pay. A mediation had produced a lower settlement figure, but Zanoni rejected it and paid the full contractual amount using grant funds. No formal motion was made to send the matter to the auditor. - Item 24 – Council Meeting Schedule: A proposal to consider reducing meeting frequency was discussed but a motion to table it to the next meeting carried, with two no votes. Key Outcomes - Approved the purchase of approximately 250.116 acres of Sutherland Ranch from BAPO Land Inc. for an amount not to exceed $2,133,500. - Approved a settlement of Thomas Joseph Moore’s personal injury claim against the city for an amount not to exceed $125,000. - Approved Civil Service Board/Commission appointments and Ethics Commission appointments of Casey O’Donnell and Christina Garcia. - Approved the consent agenda with items 9, 11, and 12 pulled and individually approved. - Approved the firefighter cancer screening agreement with Grail Inc. - Approved the Mission 911 homeless services contract increase to $217,000. - Approved the audit standards ordinance amendment as amended. - Approved the MOU with the South Texas Water Authority, directing the city manager to finalize an MOU within 10 days and return a contract within 45 days. - Approved the wastewater trunk line agreement with MPM Development and the M&R Home Solutions rezoning. - Approved utility system revenue bond parameters: approximately $181 million in new money and $162 million in refunding, subject to a maximum 30-year maturity, a maximum true interest cost of 5.5%, and a refunding savings requirement of at least 2.5%. - Approved a $4,077,839 mid-year budget adjustment for Animal Care Services; Councilman Hernandez voted no. - Approved the amended non-binding convention center naming rights resolution; Mayor Guajardo abstained and two council members voted no. - Approved moving general public comment to 5:30 p.m. effective July 15, 2025. - Tabled the council meeting schedule policy discussion to the next meeting.

The City Council met on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, beginning at approximately 11:30 a.m. in Council Chambers at 1201 Leopard Street. The agenda included the FY 2024 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report, public comment, an Inner Harbor Water Treatment Campus briefing, a grant activity update, the 89th Texas Legislative Session briefing, a consent agenda, two individual consideration items, and executive sessions. The Council approved the consent agenda, a resolution opposing improper or illegal housing authority property tax exemptions, a resolution supporting Texas moving image incentive legislation, and the FY 2025 plan of finance / certificate of obligation notice. The legislative briefing was deferred and sent to Council by email. City Manager's Comments / FY 2024 ACFR Briefing - Briefing by Assistant City Manager Heather Hurlbert and Matt Rogers of Weaver and Tidwell, LLP. - Independent audit resulted in an unmodified ("clean") opinion on the ACFR; no material weaknesses and no material noncompliance were identified. - One recurring significant deficiency was cited relating to the timeliness of financial statement close procedures and staffing turnover; the auditor said improvement was seen and expected resolution in FY 2025. - The federal single audit was clean; major programs were immunization grants and ARPA/Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds. The state single audit was clean; its major program was hospital preparedness. The airport passenger facility charge audit was also clean. - One uncorrected misstatement was reported: capital assets in FY 2023 were classified as repairs and maintenance but should have been capitalized; it was corrected through a beginning balance adjustment. No corrected material misstatements were identified. - Council discussion focused on staff turnover, standard operating procedures, and Council members asking to receive the large financial report earlier. City Manager Zanoni noted the city has about 4,000 employees and a $1.8 billion budget. Public Comments & Testimony - Steve Clepper, a 30-plus-year resident, criticized the City Attorney for interrupting his previous public comment; he said rhetorical questions were not questions to the Council and asked for courtesy toward all speakers. - Susie Saldana voiced strong opposition to Corpus Christi Housing Authority land transactions, calling them a "money grab" and urging the Council to stop them; she claimed the city could lose tax revenue and asked for charges to be filed. - Eli Oliver, a Life Scout, requested support for his Eagle Scout project to install four interpretive panels at Bill Witt Park memorializing the NASA tracking station; he said he was close to his $15,000 fundraising goal. City staff and council members praised the project and said they would follow up. - Kent Oliver, Eli's father, asked the parks department and Council to place the panels in a high-traffic area near the new aquatic center and to coordinate design and color matching. - Rob Bailey provided historical context on the tracking station's role in NASA missions, including the first live television broadcast from space over Corpus Christi during Apollo 7. - Isabella Ariza of District 2 criticized water summit sponsorship tiers, alleged the city was prioritizing wealth over residents, criticized housing authority tax exemptions, and called for City Manager Zanoni to be fired. - Martilena Garza of District 1 raised concerns about cooling centers, library budget cuts, and barriers for people with pets during extreme heat; she asked the city to address those gaps. - Rachel Caballero of District 1 called for the City Manager's resignation or performance review and listed grievances including a broken CCAT cremation unit, employee turnover, deferred maintenance, use of certificates of obligation, population growth concerns, public information requests, and drought planning. - Eli McCain criticized the City Manager and an at-large council member for comments at the budget workshop; she said council members should represent all residents and listen before speaking. - Adam Rios publicized donation details for the Bill Witt Park project and the Ritz Mahjong tournament, then delivered a personal tribute to his mother and the importance of community. - John Hendrix, VFW Post 2397 quartermaster, thanked the city for funding restoration of the new baby cemetery; he proposed making the Feast of Corpus Christi an official city holiday and noted it falls on Juneteenth this year. Briefing: Inner Harbor Water Treatment Campus Update - Brett Van Hazel, PMO Director, reported Phase 1A is nearly complete as of June 1; deliverables include a basis of design report and an early cost model, with the cost model expected at Council in July. Phase 1B started in April. Construction is planned to begin in early 2026 and continue through summer/fall 2028; operations would transition to the city after one year. - TCEQ-required modeling by GHD covers only the Inner Harbor Ship Channel, about 7.2 miles west and 1.5 miles east of the discharge. Results are expected at the end of June and will be presented in July; the modeling will evaluate dissolved oxygen and stratification relevant to hypoxia. - The demonstration plant is scheduled to begin construction in June, begin operation in July/August, and run continuously for 30 days around September/October, followed by a feasibility report to TCEQ. - Drew Molly, COO, provided an alternative water supply update. On the Nueces River groundwater wells project, four wells are installed; well 1 was producing roughly 1,100 gallons per minute, about 1.5 million gallons per day. A temporary Bed and Banks permit application was submitted to TCEQ on May 12, and letters were sent to the governor; Mathis, Beeville, and Alice have expressed support. The full wellfield build-out would produce about 10-12 million gallons per day. Approximately $6 million has been spent on the wells to date. - Evangeline, EV Ranch, South Texas Water Authority/Seven Cs, and reclaimed water projects are being evaluated with consultant Garver, which received notice to proceed on May 5. Staff said they are working toward an initial business-case update around June 10. - Council discussion included Stage 3 drought criteria: combined Choke Canyon/Lake Corpus Christi storage would need to exceed 30%, compared with about 14% now. Staff described Formosa water as an insurance supply given reduced deliveries from the Colorado River and Lake Texana. Communications Briefing: Inner Harbor / Water Security Campaigns - Alisa Olson, Director of Communications, presented three public education campaigns: the local Inner Harbor campaign cost $49,995; the Texas Tribune statewide campaign cost $30,000; and the four-tier water security campaign cost approximately $43,000. Council members noted the total was roughly $123,000. - The Inner Harbor website is cctx.info/innerharbor. The campaign includes paid social media, Google search/display ads, radio, TV, and billboards. The Texas Tribune campaign had more than 100,000 website impressions, more than 80,000 email impressions, and more than 900 clicks. - Council members were split. Some questioned spending before final desalination approval and called the campaign "propaganda," while others defended public education, noted prior councils requested it, and said education is needed. Councilman Hernandez cautioned that government campaigns can be perceived as propaganda; Councilman Roy defended the campaign and criticized opposition misinformation. Councilwoman Vaughn asked for more conservation and drought-crisis messaging. Councilwoman Bond said council members remain committed to finding water. Consent Agenda - Items 5-11 were approved by one motion; no council member or citizen pulled an item. - Approved items included: the May 6, 2025 regular meeting minutes; Health Department grant renewals up to $2,772,910 and 32 grant positions; real estate sales contracts totaling up to $1,534,880 for the Nueces River Water Pump Station plus short-term leases; an ADK Environmental vactor/preventative maintenance agreement up to $255,000, with up to $765,000 if options are exercised; a Mako Contracting Huntwick Avenue reconstruction contract up to $954,452.20; nomination of CITGO as a Texas Enterprise Zone single enterprise project; and an ordinance prohibiting crossing buoy markers at Choke Canyon Reservoir with a penalty not to exceed $500. Executive Session and Housing Authority Action - The Council entered executive session on items 14 and 15: legal consultation and deliberation concerning potential property purchase/value involving the Corpus Christi Housing Authority, and legal consultation regarding proposed legislation on water rate appeals. - After reconvening, City Manager Zanoni publicly stated that the Corpus Christi Housing Authority had removed hundreds of millions of dollars in taxable property from tax rolls. He estimated the impact to the city at $3.5 million in initial lost revenue, rising to up to $7 million if all transactions occur. He emphasized that the City Council did not authorize or vote on those transactions. - Councilwoman Paxson moved, and the Council unanimously adopted, a resolution authorizing active opposition to "improper and/or illegal" use of property tax exemptions by Corpus Christi Housing Authority affiliates and connected entities. Councilman Hernandez expressed caution about the word "illegal" but supported the resolution as written. Individual Consideration: Texas Moving Image Incentive Resolution - The Council approved a resolution supporting Senate Bill 22 and House Bill 4568, which would create the Texas Moving Image Industry Incentive Program and Fund. - Councilman Hernandez and Councilman Scott spoke in support, saying the state incentive would make Texas competitive for film production. Councilman Barrera shared a personal story about his daughter leaving Texas for film work after incentives dried up. The motion carried. Individual Consideration: FY2025 Plan of Finance / COs - Victor Kidogo presented the FY 2025 financing plan: five transactions totaling $379,825,000, including $259,320,000 for project funding and about $120 million for utility debt refinancing. The refinancing is expected to generate about $5.7 million in interest savings. The city carries AA credit ratings, and past refinancings over 10 years saved about $272 million. - Finance staff requested approval of the Notice of Intention to issue up to $43,200,000 in Certificates of Obligation for FY 2025 Capital Budget items. Allocations included $4.4 million for solid waste, $4.1 million for public health and safety, $14 million for streets, $6 million for stormwater, $11.9 million for parks and recreation, and $2.5 million for public facilities. - Council debate focused on certificates of obligation. Some members opposed broad use; City Manager Zanoni said he did not recommend new COs in the current budget and that future projects would go through voter-approved bond programs rather than COs, except for rollovers. Other members defended COs as a bridge for cost overruns and long-lead projects. The resolution was approved. Briefing: Grant Activity Update - The Finance Director presented the grant activity update. Grant functions were centralized under Finance starting in FY 2022, and the city currently has one filled grant writer position out of two budgeted positions. - In the prior fiscal year, the city was awarded about $17.7 million in grants and had about $53.2 million in grant expenditures, including about $22 million in ARPA funds. - As of March 31 in the current fiscal year, the city had applied for about $35.6 million in grants and been awarded about $38.8 million. Grants ranged from about $1,000 to $16 million; larger awards included about $12.2 million for aviation, about $15 million for CCW, and about $2.4 million for NAS. - Council discussion emphasized the need to analyze grant writer capacity, prioritize departments, and create funding for grant matches. Staff noted the ERP grant module is not yet implemented, and specialized grant applications sometimes require outside consultants, as with the $13 million trestle grant, which required engineering and application costs. No action was taken. Legislative Session Briefing - Item 4, the 89th Texas Legislative Session update by Ryan Skrobarczyk, was not presented live. The Council agreed by consensus that he would email the presentation to Council members instead. Key Outcomes - Consent agenda items 5-11 were approved by one motion. - The Council adopted a resolution opposing improper or illegal use of property tax exemptions by Corpus Christi Housing Authority affiliates, unanimously. - The Council adopted a resolution supporting Senate Bill 22 and House Bill 4568, the Texas Moving Image Industry Incentive Program. - The Council approved the FY 2025 Plan of Finance and publication of the Notice of Intention to issue up to $43,200,000 in Certificates of Obligation. - Staff were directed to follow up on earlier ACFR/audit briefing distribution, the Bill Witt Park NASA tracking station panels, cooling center pet and access barriers, and a more detailed grant writer/cost-share analysis. - Additional alternative water project briefings and the desalination cost model presentation are scheduled for June/July. - The meeting adjourned after the grant briefing.

This workshop on May 8, 2025, was split into two major sessions. The morning session focused on establishing goals for the FY 2026 budget, revealing a projected $7 million shortfall and directing priorities for public safety, infrastructure, and quality of life. The afternoon session detailed the findings of the CityGate assessment of Animal Care Services (ACS), presenting 170 recommendations for operational and structural reform. FY 2026 Budget Goal Setting Session Fiscal Overview: City Manager Peter Zanoni and Budget Director Amy Cowley reported a projected $7 million gap between revenues and expenses for FY 2026. The forecast assumes a 2.5% growth in property tax revenue and no change to the tax rate. The City Manager noted that the recent decision by the Housing Authority to take property off the tax rolls has further tightened revenue. Public Safety (Police & Fire): Police Chief Markle and Fire Chief Wade presented on staffing and capital needs. Chief Wade expressed strong support for four-person staffing on all apparatus, describing it as "25% more effective." He also advocated for a firefighter wellness program pending state legislation. Councilman Scott expressed strong support for funding all 28 requested new public safety positions ($2.8M), stating "we should fund public safety first." The City Manager acknowledged this priority. Quality of Life (Parks, Libraries, Code): Parks Director Robert Dodd noted that mandated increases for new facilities require significant maintenance funding ($1.1M for Harbor Bridge parks, $435k for Bill Witt Aquatics Center). Library Director Laura Garcia stated the city ranks 12th out of 15 comparable Texas cities in library funding. Councilwoman Campos expressed strong support for increasing park and library investments despite cuts, citing their importance to quality of life. Infrastructure & Enterprise Funds (Streets, Stormwater, Solid Waste, Debt, HB19): Public Works Director Ernie DeLaGarza outlined a $17-18 million funding gap for streets in FY 2027. Council debated options for a dedicated street fund. Councilman Scott and Councilwoman Vaughn expressed strong support for reauthorizing a street user fee; Mayor Guajardo opposed placing it on the utility bill, preferring a general fund approach or a ballot referendum. Legal and financial advisors presented on House Bill 19, which staff and council strongly opposed, noting it would cap debt service at 20% of property tax collections and potentially freeze the issuance of $250 million in voter-approved bonds until approximately 2038. Animal Care Services Assessment Briefing Consultant Findings: Jan Glickman from CityGate presented the assessment, highlighting 170 recommendations. The report cited a need to overhaul standard operating procedures, improve workplace culture (staff expressed a "lack of respect for leadership"), upgrade the outdated facility (kennels lack air conditioning), and improve data accuracy. Glickman stated that 772 animals were euthanized in 2023, with a reported 21 deaths attributed to "length of stay/kill for space." Council Reaction & Direction: Council members expressed significant frustration with the department’s historical leadership and operational failures. Councilman Vaughn urged immediate installation of air conditioning and replacement of the non-operational crematory. Mayor Guajardo detailed the city’s decade-long funding increases ($78,000 in 2014 to $884,000 in 2024) but argued the core problem is operational and cultural, not merely financial. City Manager Zanoni committed to not reducing ACS’s budget and pledged to bring forward a recommendation to allocate $3.7 million in one-time ARPA interest funds for critical capital needs (AC, plumbing, vehicles). Councilman Too requested the item return to the June 10, 2025, meeting for formal action on those funds. Councilwoman Paxson requested 30-day progress updates to the council. Key Outcomes - ACS Budget Commitment: The City Manager committed to not requesting budget reduction proposals from ACS and keeping its budget whole. - Capital Funding Plan: Staff will present a plan to council to allocate $3.7 million in one-time ARPA interest funds for priority capital improvements at the ACS facility. - ACS Progress Reports: Council requested regular 30-day updates on the non-budgetary operational improvements from the 170 recommendations. - Public Safety Funding Priority: Council consensus emerged to prioritize funding for the 28 new police and fire positions in the FY 2026 budget over other discretionary items. - Street Funding Debate: Council initiated a discussion on how to address the FY 2027 street funding gap but reached no formal consensus on reauthorizing a dedicated street user fee. - HB 19 Opposition: The city formally opposes HB 19, and council requested an update on the positions of the state legislative delegation.

The Corpus Christi City Council convened at 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, May 6, 2025, in Council Chambers at 1201 Leopard Street. Mayor Paulette Guajardo presided, and City Secretary Rebecca Huerta confirmed that a quorum of the Council and required Charter Officers was present. The meeting included public safety recognitions, public comment, board and committee appointments, two Corpus Christi Water briefings, an executive session, a withdrawn motion to reconsider, and a consent agenda. Call to Order, Invocation, and Pledge - Rabbi Naftoli Schmulker with Chabad Coastal Bend gave the invocation. - Hannah Nichole Hominick, a 12th grader from Calallen High School, led the Pledge of Allegiance to the U.S. and Texas flags. City Manager’s Comments and Recognitions - The Council recognized the seven graduates of MetroCom’s 61st 911 Call Operator Academy class; four graduates attended. Assistant Chief Christopher White explained that graduates complete about 240 hours of academy training, state licensing, and on-the-job training. MetroCom now has 64 employees answering and dispatching emergency calls. Council members congratulated the graduates and noted that average dispatcher turnover is about eight years. - City Manager Peter Zanoni and police leadership recognized National Police Officers Week, May 11-15, 2025. The 37th annual candlelight vigil in Washington, D.C., will read the names of 345 fallen officers, including Corpus Christi officers Vicente Ortiz and Kyle Hicks. Officer Marco Ramirez was announced as a national TOP Cop Award recipient for his actions after Officer Hicks was killed. Council and staff expressed pride and gratitude for his bravery. Public Comments & Testimony - Stephen Clepper, a 35-year District 2 resident, urged the Council to demand budget efficiency and effectiveness measures and to make budget data and analysis public. - Cheryl Martinez disputed statements about Animal Care Services and the group PAC, said she offered free training that was not accepted, and raised concerns about euthanized animals being sent to the landfill and environmental risks from euthanasia chemicals. - Susie Saldania spoke about documents involving Council member Sylvia Campos and a possible lawsuit against the city; Robin Sanders later said it is not a lawsuit yet. Ms. Saldania said taxpayers have a right to speak up when they believe representation is wrong. - Robin Sanders praised police officers, criticized the location of the detention center on the Leopard Street corridor, and discussed crime, recidivism, and impacts on the tax base. - Gary Alsepp, CEO of the Corpus Christi Housing Authority, discussed the need for affordable housing, cited 30,000 people on the Section 8 waitlist, and warned that a proposed 43 percent federal HUD cut and each 10 percent Section 8 cut could mean 300 currently housed families in Corpus Christi losing housing. - Ronald Cole spoke about a possible city-funded movie and alleged government corruption related to the Abscam investigation and Mel Weinberg. - Tom Tagleboom asked the Council to name the future Oso Pedestrian Bridge after the late Assistant City Manager Tom Utter for his 25 years of service. - Adam Rios highlighted Travel and Tourism Week, citing $199 billion in statewide economic impact, 1.3 million Texas jobs, about $55.8 billion along the coast, about 14,000 local jobs or 6.7 percent of local employment, and an estimated 15 to 25 percent local revenue increase or about $30 million locally. - Jason Hale requested timely Council updates on GHD far-field modeling for the proposed desalination plant, including questions about diffuser design completion, permit amendments, hypoxia modeling, bay-wide modeling, and salinity impacts on Nueces Bay. Board & Committee Appointments - Animal Care Advisory Committee: Reappointed Diana Gaidadiness and Ronald Smith, and appointed Kylie Long to the remaining vacancy. - Building Standards Board: Appointed Chick Henderson as a regular voting member and Lindsay Clark as the alternate member. - Corpus Christi Regional Economic Development Corporation: Appointed George Polakis. - Sister City Committee: Appointed Romero and Gonzalez to the two vacancies. - All appointments were approved by voice vote with no announced opposition. Discussion Items Inner Harbor Water Treatment Campus Project Update - Brett Van Hazel, Director of the Program Management Office, presented the project history and status. The Council previously authorized a Freeze & Nichols amendment of $3.78 million for RFP/RFQ work and bond issuance of up to $211 million; later a $12 million Freeze & Nichols pre-construction amendment; and in December 2024, a $9.25 million phase 1A contract with Kiwit Infrastructure South as the progressive design-builder. - Phase 1B began April 15, 2025. The Army Corps permit and TCEQ discharge permit were received ahead of schedule. More than 100 task force meetings and over 20 workshops have been held. The draft basis of design report is under review, and a draft cost model is expected at the end of May, with a more reviewed cost update around July. The guaranteed maximum price is tied to 60 percent design and is expected to be presented around December 2025. - The project is not yet 10 percent designed, so final pricing remains uncertain. The demonstration plant cost estimate increased from roughly $6 million to about $18 million; staff said Kiwit attributes this to off-the-shelf equipment costs and does not expect it to be indicative of the full plant cost. - GHD’s far-field modeling is focused on the inner harbor and ship channel from CC Polymers to the bridge, not the entire bay. Staff said it is being completed to support TCEQ permit compliance, no permit changes are anticipated, and results should be available within one to two months and can be shared publicly. - Staff estimated the facility could use more than 20 megawatts per day. Energy costs and operational staffing costs are still being refined and will affect future water rates. - Staff are pursuing a federal Bureau of Reclamation large-scale recycling grant of up to $180 million, with an application planned in the fall. Council members asked for specific grant details and a timeline. - Councilwoman Vaughn expressed concern about the demonstration plant cost increase and asked for monthly spending reports. Councilman Cantu asked when the Council would know if the project costs too much; staff said cost certainty will improve over the next seven months. Councilwoman Campos stated her opposition to the Inner Harbor project and asked for regular rate impact updates in per-1,000-gallon terms. Councilman Hernandez questioned energy consumption, grant specifics, and a rendered building design he called too extravagant. Councilman Scott supported the education/demonstration concept and asked for written responses to far-field modeling questions. Alternative Water Supply Projects Update - Drew Molly, Chief Operating Officer of Corpus Christi Water, provided an update. The region remains in exceptional drought, and staff meet weekly with the National Weather Service and quarterly with wholesale water customers. - Evangeline Groundwater Project: A non-binding MOU is in place. The landowner is now offering to sell water rather than lease it from an about 23,000-acre site near Sinton, with potential supply up to 24 million gallons per day. The first 12 million gallons per day could be delivered through the Mary Rhodes pipeline. A counteroffer is due around June 2, 2025. - Catahoula / Eshelman Voigt Ranch: A potential brackish groundwater supply about 70 miles southwest of Corpus Christi, with up to 28.5 million gallons per day possible. No MOU has been signed yet. - Nueces River Groundwater Well Project: Three wells are complete and a fourth is being drilled. Well one produced about 1.5 million gallons per day, well two about 2 million gallons per day, and well three produced roughly 2 million gallons per day more than expected. TDS levels range from about 2,000 to 5,000 mg/L. The TCEQ permit application is planned to be submitted the following Monday, with a permit expected by late June. A future phase two could use a brackish reverse-osmosis facility to produce up to 12 million gallons per day. - Reclaimed Water Reuse Project: Garver’s contract has been approved, and the notice to proceed is expected within about a week. Staff also discussed the May 22-23 water summit at the American Bank Center, which is sold out at 400 attendees and will raise money for utility assistance and provide TCEQ operator training hours. - South Texas Water Authority: General Manager John Madez said STWA is drilling a brackish reverse-osmosis test well north of Driscoll with Seven C’s and is committed to regional collaboration with Corpus Christi. Results are expected within a few weeks. - Council members requested a consolidated cost, volume, and timeline comparison of all alternative water supply projects; asked for more information on the Evangeline MOU and groundwater district risks; and asked staff to explore reclaimed water options with Flint Hills and to provide a CC Polymers update at the next report. - No formal action was taken on the briefings; they were for Council information only. Executive Session - The Council entered executive session during the meeting on agenda items 19 and 20 under Texas Government Code Sections 551.071 and 551.072, and the professional conduct rule, to consult with attorneys about a Corpus Christi Housing Authority land purchase and legal issues related to petitions and appeals involving Corpus Christi water rates before the Texas Public Utility Commission, including SOAH Docket No. 473-24-19854 and PUC Docket No. 56427. No public action on these items was announced after returning to open session. Consent Calendar - The Council approved the consent agenda by one motion, with items 11, 13, 14, 16, and 17 pulled for individual consideration. The items approved en bloc included: - Item 7: Approval of the April 29, 2025 Regular Meeting Minutes. - Item 8: Acceptance of a $247,669 Operation Stonegarden grant for police overtime, fringe benefits, a replacement Chevy Tahoe, and fuel/maintenance. - Item 9: Acceptance of a $30,734 Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation grant for rescue lifting bags, lifting cushions, and a Multiforce bag. - Item 10: Acceptance of a $15,092,700 Texas General Land Office CDBG-Mitigation grant for Greenwood and Oso wastewater treatment plant resiliency improvements. - Item 12: Award of a $3,041,742 construction contract to Crawford Henrichson & Crawford LLC for the Fire Department Resource Center Phase II project. - Item 15: Award of a $2,858,521.20 contract to Bay, Ltd. for Calallen Drive reconstruction from Red Bird Lane to Burning Tree Lane. - Item 18: Authorization of three real estate purchases totaling up to $1,534,880 for the Nueces River Water Pump Station Project and two short-term lease agreements. Individually Considered Consent Items - Item 11: Approved a one-year service agreement with Lone Star Blower, Inc., with two one-year options, in an amount not to exceed $310,000 and potential total of $930,000, for blower repairs and alignment at wastewater treatment plants. Staff explained the award was based on best value and demonstrated experience. - Item 13: Approved rejecting D&J Utility Services LLC’s bid as non-responsive and awarding a construction contract to Southern Trenchless Solutions, LLC, in an amount up to $3,891,631.24, with two renewal options totaling not more than $11,674,893.72, for citywide wastewater manhole improvements. - Item 14: Approved a construction contract with Reytec Construction Resources, Inc., up to $20,991,575.94, and Amendment No. 3 with Plummer Associates, Inc., for $55,767, bringing that contract to $1,274,626, for filtration system hydraulic improvements at the O.N. Stevens Water Treatment Plant. Staff said the project improves regulatory compliance, reliability, and resiliency. - Item 16: Approved a professional services contract with Freese & Nichols, Inc., not to exceed $1,263,059, for design, bid, and construction phase services for the Holly Road Train Trestle project. Several Council members asked for data on how much engineering work is distributed across firms. - Item 17: Approved an ordinance authorizing the City Manager to apply for and accept twelve grant renewals totaling up to $2,772,910, authorizing 32 grant positions, and accepting up to $55,000 in program income for Health Department grant programs. Motion to Reconsider - The Council withdrew agenda item 6, which was a motion to reconsider the award of a construction contract to Barcom Construction, Inc., for a new Wastewater Maintenance Building at the Greenwood Wastewater Treatment Plant. No vote was taken on the reconsideration. Key Outcomes - Board and committee appointments were approved by voice vote with no announced opposition. - The consent agenda and all pulled items were approved; no roll-call tallies were taken, so all recorded votes were voice votes with no announced opposition. - Agenda item 6 was withdrawn. - The Council requested staff to provide: written responses to GHD far-field modeling questions; monthly spending updates on the Inner Harbor project; a cost, volume, and timeline summary for alternative water supply projects; specific federal grant details; and data on engineering contract distribution across firms. - Upcoming milestones noted in the meeting include the Evangeline counteroffer by June 2, the Nueces River well permit expected in late June, the demonstration plant amendment this month, a cost model review in July, and a guaranteed maximum price presentation expected around December 2025.

The Corpus Christi City Council met in Council Chambers at 1201 Leopard Street on Tuesday, April 29, 2025, beginning at 11:30 a.m. Mayor Paulette Guajardo presided. The meeting opened with an invocation by Pastor Rob Bailey, pledges led by Elizabeth Franco, and a roll call of charter officers. The agenda included city manager recognitions, public comments, a consent agenda, several individual contract and ordinance items, a FY2026 General Fund budget briefing, and executive session. City Manager’s Report and Recognitions - City Manager Peter Zanoni introduced Brook Kaufman, the new CEO of Visit Corpus Christi. Kaufman began April 15, 2025, and said her early priorities are relationship building, group and convention sales, and evolving the sports commission. - The council recognized Fire Chief Brandon Wade, who was reappointed on April 4, 2025, by Governor Greg Abbott to the Texas Commission on Fire Protection for a six-year term ending in 2031. Chief Wade said he would continue to help set statewide fire service standards. Consent Calendar - The council approved the consent agenda (Items 4–25) by one motion, with Items 11, 17, 19, and 25 pulled for individual consideration. - Approved routine items included: April 15, 2025 meeting minutes; law enforcement and fire grants totaling approximately $58,733.34 for police/fire training; a $100,000 TxDOT Routine Airport Maintenance Program grant; two zoning cases (ZN8561 and ZN8584); the Holly Road Train Trestle to Tourism Trail Advance Funding Agreement with $11,797,839 from TxDOT; water/gas supply and service agreements (Omicron Controls $98,633.72; American Generator Services $146,500 with potential $732,500; Firetrol access control replacement $189,236.60; Wilnat gas meters $408,750); Flour Bluff Elevated Storage Tank demolition ($216,495); Bonner Drive reconstruction ($3,618,872.60); property insurance renewal ($3,178,178.61); the 2025 Annual Audit Plan; Operation Stonegarden grant ($247,669); and Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation grant ($30,734). Public Comments & Testimony - Stephen Clapper, District 2, former city auditor and 27-year city employee, expressed concern that the 2025 Annual Audit Plan was postponed by leadership despite a city code timeline, and questioned organizational independence of the audit function. City Manager Zanoni responded that he and his staff were not involved in delaying or placing the audit plan and that the auditor reports directly to the mayor and council. - Susie Luna Saldana, District 2, addressed a prior exchange about her wearing hats, provided medical information to legal counsel, and voiced support for building a desalination plant. Sylvia Campos clarified that she is not suing the city and that the matter is a petition for discovery. - Dr. Christina Nelson, board president of the Children’s Advocacy Center of the Coastal Bend, reported that Nueces County was removed from the center’s designated service area effective April 22, 2025. She said the center served more than 1,000 children in 2024, including 525 from Nueces County, and is working to ensure uninterrupted services. - Jason Hale criticized city staff for omitting details from a March 25 desalination modeling presentation, including a March 19 GHD document about expanding the model domain, confirming near-field results, running scenarios, and assessing hypoxia. He also questioned the timeline, citing GHD’s statement that it was about halfway through with roughly two months remaining. - Adam Rios promoted the West Good Skate Games on May 4, 2025, at 9720 Up River Road, and announced a June 17 proclamation recognizing Ray High School’s skateboard club. - Isabel Areisa, co-founder for the Greater Good, District 2, said crime control funds go almost entirely to police rather than prevention programs, that clearance rates for burglary and larceny are low, and that crime rates are above national and state averages. She called for metrics and prevention investments. - Maggie Peacock said the Carlsbad desalination plant visit was misleading because Carlsbad discharges into the open Pacific Ocean, whereas the proposed Hillcrest plant would discharge into the closed Corpus Christi Bay system. Individual Consideration Items Item 11 – Engineering Services Additional Positions (Failed) - An ordinance to add 20 full-time positions and equipment to Engineering Services, with an FY 2025 impact of $1,705,243 and FY 2026 recurring cost of $1,969,676, was pulled by Councilmember Hernandez. He voted against it and the motion failed. He recommended the city pursue an RFP for contracted project management services; the City Secretary noted that would require a future agenda item. Item 17 – Cathodic Protection IDIQ Contract (Approved) - The council awarded a construction contract to RUTS Construction, LLC, in an amount up to $2,500,000, with two renewal options for a potential total of $7,500,000, for the Citywide Large-Size Water Line Cathodic Protection System. Staff explained the project was bid three times; the first two attempts drew zero bids, and the low bid exceeded the engineer’s estimate. The motion carried. Item 19 – Wastewater Maintenance Building (Approved) - The council awarded a construction contract to Barcom Construction, Inc., in an amount up to $8,476,293 for a new Wastewater Maintenance Building at the Greenwood Wastewater Treatment Plant. The Director of Water Systems Infrastructure said the project addresses decades of deferred maintenance, protects more than $500 million in assets, and supports the consent decree. The current workspace is about 5,000 square feet; the new building will be 16,000–18,000 square feet for roughly 50–51 employees. About $6 million was already encumbered in the capital improvement program; the remaining $2.5 million would add approximately three cents per year to the average residential wastewater customer’s bill. Councilmembers Hernandez and Paxon spoke against the project, but the motion carried. Item 25 – GLO Grant for Wastewater Plant Resiliency (Approved) - The council accepted and appropriated $15,092,700 from the Texas General Land Office Community Development Block Grant-Mitigation Program for operational resiliency at the Greenwood and Oso wastewater treatment plants. Staff said the grant funds flood mitigation and backup power generation, and is separate from the $102 million treatment-process project. The motion carried. Item 27 – Greenwood WWTP DAFT Rehabilitation and Odor Control (Approved) - The council awarded a construction contract to RAVA Construction, LLC, for up to $102,000,000, and approved a resolution waiving bid irregularities. Jeff Edmonds, Director of Engineering Services, said the low bidder had not yet met the five-year business requirement but brought seasoned staff, and the city manager accepted the risk because the bid saved about $7 million. Staff said the project will change the treatment process from anaerobic to aerobic and could address the odor within roughly the first year of the four-year project. The motion carried. Item 28 – Bond 2024 Residential Streets IDIQ Contracts (Approved) - The council authorized indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contracts with JE Construction Services, Anderson Columbia Co., Inc., and Tex-Mix Paving, all local firms, for up to $18,000,000 each, with a combined aggregate not-to-exceed amount of $35,187,388.41, for the voter-approved Bond 2024 Residential Streets project in the Rapid Pavement Program. The motion carried. Briefing: FY 2026 General Fund Financial Forecast - The Office of Management and Budget presented an informational forecast for FY 2026, which begins October 1, 2025. The forecast projected a $7 million gap: beginning fund balance of $73.5 million, revenues of $341.5 million, total available of $415 million, expenses of $351.7 million, and an ending balance of $63.3 million compared to a required 20% reserve of $70.3 million. - Revenue assumptions included 2.5% property tax growth (0.5% from existing properties and 2% from new value), flat sales tax, and renegotiated industrial district payments-in-lieu of tax. The FY 2025 budget had reduced property tax revenue by about $12 million through doubling the homestead exemption to 20% and increasing the over-65/disabled exemption. - Expense assumptions included no additional general fund transfers to streets, a $13 million increase in required street contributions, and a $1.5 million placeholder for commodity and equipment increases. - City Manager Zanoni said closing the gap will require difficult expenditure reductions, potentially affecting library hours, code compliance services, and park amenities. The next budget goal-setting workshop is scheduled for May 8, 2025, with a proposed balanced budget expected at the end of July. Key Outcomes - Approved the consent agenda with the exception of Items 11, 17, 19, and 25. - Failed Item 11 (Engineering Services 20 FTEs). - Approved Items 17, 19, 25, 27, and 28. - Item 26, the outside-city-limits water mediation settlement item, was pulled by the City Manager after receiving late legal information; it will be considered at a future meeting. - The council went into executive session on Item 32 pursuant to Texas Government Code Sections 551.071 and 551.072, then adjourned.