Corpus Christi City Council Meeting – October 7, 2025

The City Council met on Tuesday, October 7, 2025, at 11:30 AM in the Council Chambers. The meeting began with an invocation led by Senior Officer Manuel Lewis of the Corpus Christi Police Department and the Pledge of Allegiance led by Diamond Watson, a 12th grader at Premier High School. Mayor Paulette Guajardo called the meeting to order. The council approved the consent agenda (items 1–16) without discussion, conducted a lengthy debate on a proposed water reservation fee for the Harbor Island Seawater Desalination Plant, discussed hiring an outside attorney for an internal investigation, received a quarterly update from the Corpus Christi Regional Economic Development Corporation (CCREDC), and heard public comments on a variety of topics. The meeting adjourned shortly after 5:33 PM.

Consent Calendar

• Items 1–16: Approved unanimously by voice vote. Included approval of minutes, budget amendments, supply agreements, professional services agreements, cooperative purchase agreements, memoranda of understanding, joint funding agreements, grant applications, reappointments, cooperative agreements, and development participation agreements. (Ordinary and routine items; no separate discussion.)

Individual Consideration Items

Item 17 – Water Reservation Fee for Harbor Island Seawater Desalination Plant

• Proposal: Motion authorizing a short-term non-refundable option for a potable water reservation and diversion contract with the Nueces River Authority (NRA) to reserve 56,007 acre-feet per year (50 million gallons per day – MGD) from the Harbor Island Seawater Desalination Plant, at a one-time cost of $2,737,622.16 (funded from the Water Fund).
• Presentation: Nick Winkleman, Interim Chief Operating Officer of Corpus Christi Water, presented the project details. The NRA project is a 100 MGD desalination plant planned to start construction in March 2027 with water delivery by December 2029. The reservation fee would secure 50 MGD for the city, with a $0.10 discount per 1,000 gallons on future water costs. Permits (TCEQ intake/discharge, Army Corps) are not yet obtained; design is not complete; power and financing are still being arranged. The city would also need a separate conveyance line project to connect to the NRA’s pipeline, with costs unknown.
• Council Discussion: There was significant debate over whether to approve the reservation fee given the many unknowns (final water cost, permits, financing, power, conveyance). Concerns were raised about the non-refundable nature of the fee, the lack of a business plan, and the impact on water rates. Council members who supported the reservation (Paxson, Vaughn) argued it was a necessary long-term water supply and the city risked being shut out if others reserved capacity. Opponents (Barrera, Campos, Roy, Scott, Hernandez) called the move premature, noting the city had not determined total water needs, had not consulted wholesale customers, and lacked detailed cost and timeline information. NRA Executive Director John Byron stated that 38 MGD had already been reserved by others, and failure to act could leave the city without access to the plant’s capacity. City Manager Peter Zanoni recommended approval, citing the risk of missing the opportunity.
• Outcome: Councilman Hernandez made a motion to postpone consideration to October 21, 2025, and requested: (1) a timeline for the NRA’s conveyance line and production, (2) communication with wholesale customers on their willingness to participate, and (3) a clear projection of the city’s total water need over the next 10–20 years. The motion carried.

Item 18 – Outside Attorney for Internal Investigation (Homewood Suites Fraud Allegation)

• Proposal: Discussion and possible action on hiring a separate outside attorney for an internal investigation into the Homewood Suites fraud allegation, as requested by Council members Cantu, Hernandez, and Campos.
• Legal Discussion: City Attorney Miles Risley stated that the agenda item as written likely violated the City Charter (Article 10, Section H), which requires the City Attorney to request in writing any hiring of private counsel, with the City Manager’s consent. After debate, the council adopted a replacement motion that complied with the charter: “I move to request city staff execute a contract within the city manager’s authority, subject to available appropriated funding, to contract with an attorney to investigate fraud allegations pursuant to the Homewood Suites transaction referenced in the lawsuit of Ajit David versus the City et al., selected from the following list of attorneys…” The list included Scott Ray Pemberton and Gaul (Daniel Ray), O’Hanlon, Murtha & Castillo, Justice Patricia Alvarez, and Carlos Valdez.
• Comments: Council members expressed differing views on the need for an additional attorney, with some arguing the existing outside counsel (George Hyde of Hyde Kelly LLP) could handle both the litigation and investigation. Others insisted on a separate investigator to ensure independence. Public comment included accusations of corruption and calls for transparency.
• Outcome: The motion carried (with Councilman Roy abstaining). Staff is expected to vet the listed attorneys and return within one to two weeks with a selection and a written statement of necessity.

Briefings

Item 19 – Corpus Christi Regional Economic Development Corporation (CCREDC) Quarterly Update

• Presentation: Mike Colbertson, CCREDC President, delivered a quarterly briefing (his final one). He highlighted the importance of water for economic development, noting that the region needs about 150 MGD to support growth. He reported that the Port of Corpus Christi and related industries support tens of thousands of jobs (direct, indirect, induced) and that insufficient water could lead to economic decline. He also discussed efforts to attract industries that require less water (e.g., drones, shipbuilding components). Colbertson thanked the council for their service and stressed the need to plan for both short- and long-term water supplies.
• No action taken; the briefing was for information only.

City Manager’s Comments / Update on City Operations

Item 20 – Frontier Inaugural Denver Flight

• Announcement: City Manager Peter Zanoni introduced the new Airport Director, Richard McCurley (formerly of Albuquerque and Houston Hobby). McCurley announced that the inaugural Frontier Airlines flight from Corpus Christi to Denver would take place on Thursday, October 9, 2025, at 5:30 PM (arrival) with a departure at 6:45 PM. The flight will operate on Thursdays and Sundays. The council expressed welcome and support.

Public Comments & Testimony

(General public comment began at approximately 5:33 PM.)

• Economic relief for businesses affected by construction: A speaker requested the city create a relief program for businesses losing income due to long-term construction projects. He noted a petition representing $4 million in lost revenue.
• Reinstatement of Bill Whitliff as instructor: Several speakers (students and a licensed plumber) urged the council to reinstate Bill Whitliff, a master code professional who taught plumbing courses for the AGC and ICC, stating his removal harms workforce training.
• Water conservation and demand: Multiple speakers advocated for stronger water conservation measures, including ordinances for car wash water reuse, rainwater harvesting, condensate collection, and industrial water audits. They questioned why the city is not pursuing these options before major new supply projects.
• Libraries: A speaker criticized the city for lacking a master plan for the Harte and Garcia libraries and alleged that the city is stalling while “Flower Bluff ISD” seeks to acquire the Harte library. She demanded a reasonable timeline and accused the council of failing library users.
• Desalination and industrial water use: Several residents opposed the Harbor Island desalination plant, arguing it benefits industry at the expense of residents, harms the environment, and that the city should prioritize conservation and local needs.
• Decorum and public comment policy: Speakers criticized the mayor for limiting public comment and alleged violations of First Amendment rights. Others defended the mayor and called for civil discourse.
• Other topics: Skate parks, affordable housing, sidewalks, literacy programs, and the need for more community events were also raised.

Key Outcomes

• Consent Agenda: Approved unanimously.
• Item 17 (Water Reservation Fee): Postponed to October 21, 2025, with staff directed to provide additional information on water needs, customer buy-in, and project timelines.
• Item 18 (Outside Attorney for Investigation): Motion passed to authorize the city manager and city attorney to contract with an outside attorney (from a council-provided list) to investigate the Homewood Suites fraud allegations, in compliance with the city charter.
• No action taken on briefings or public comments, though the council formally received information on the CCREDC quarterly update and the new Denver flight.
• Executive sessions were held (items 21 & 22) under Texas Government Code §§ 551.071 and 551.072 to discuss legal issues related to water rights and property acquisitions, but no action was reported on those items.