Speaker numbers apply only to this recording. Names come from transcript evidence. “Possibly” marks uncertain attribution.
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.
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.
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.
Good morning, everyone. And thank you for your patience. I'd like to call this meeting to order. Ms. Wether, would you please call the roll? Mayor Palette Wahardo Present. Council members Roland Baretta. Here. Soya Campos. Eric Anthu is absent. Killer Nandas. Caitlin Paxon. Everett Roy. Mark Scott. Carolyn Vaughn. City Manager Peter Zanoni. Present. City Attorney Mause Resley. Mayor Council Accorum of the Council and the required chair officers are present to conduct the meeting. Thank you, Ms. Wenther. Okay. So this morning we are um, we've got what, two items on the agenda, and that would be uh the why we're here today, which is the budget goal setting session that we are expecting to um discuss from ten o'clock or ten fourteen this morning to twelve thirty PM. Uh break for lunch for thirty minutes and then return and from one to three PM, uh, discuss animal care services assessment or have an animal care assessment uh services briefing. So with that, uh, Mr. Zanoni, I will, or did you have some I think he covered it manager just that we have uh we're going to focus on the general fund this morning, the general fund and main uh major departments in the general fund, so we're not going through the entire operation. But that does include police, fire, parks, and recreation, code enforcement, solid waste, uh, libraries and streets, and then some of our enterprise funds, uh, storm water and corpus Christi water, so water wastewater. We do have a segment for uh debt, uh general fund and and and revenue backed debt, and we'll do an update on Health Bill 19 as part of that, and um and then that will close out the workshop. So the goal of the budget input session here from the council is to is to generally get uh some feedback from the council now because over the next two months we'll be developing a proposed budget uh that will be balanced, and I'll present that to City Council at the end of July. So today's information from the council will help guide us. Uh we'll we're gonna be listening closely for what we may hear um in terms of consensus priority uh for for things uh in our operations. We know that with a projected shortfall and with even less revenue coming in from things like the housing authorities recent decisions to take property off the tax rolls and other entities doing similar. Uh, we're gonna have to reduce the budget. And there's no doubt about that. So uh we have to know what is the priority of the council, what is the priority of the community? Uh the the proposed budget that I'll present in January in July is not the budget, it's this first start. This is the proposed budget required by charter. Uh but what we get today will help us shape that first step, and then we'll listen to the council even more over a five-week period and the community through maybe at least seven different workshops uh in the community, like we did last year, and then ultimately council will be responsible for adopting a balanced budget in early September as required by the charter. Adopting the budget is one of your one of the council's most significant responsibilities. Our job is to get you started with a proposed budget, get you information, and so today's the goal of today is to get some feedback from you so we can present a proposed budget that closely resembles what you are thinking as a body. And so to that end, Mayor, we'll turn it back over to you. Uh Amy, I think is our first presenter, our budget director is gonna just shape a little bit uh of the budget and remind us of the schedule. Great, great. Thank you. Amy, you're coming up first. Right?