Corpus Christi City Council Meeting – July 15, 2025

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.