[The City Council held a marathon meeting spanning over 13 hours. The session was dominated by debate over the Inner Harbor Seawater Desalination Project and its supporting Far Field Study. Over 100 members of the public registered to speak on topics ranging from the drought contingency plan to the desalination contract. The council narrowly approved an updated drought plan after contentious debate and ultimately voted to table the desalination contract.]
I'd like to call this meeting to order. Uh, this morning our invocation uh will be given by Reverend Dr. Chip Blackshear with First Presbyterian of Corpus Christi. What a privilege to be able to join you and to uh to lead us in prayer this morning. Would you join me in prayer? Almighty God, we paused this morning to ask that you would be present with us in this gathering in this meeting in these deliberations. We also pause to thank and praise you for your many blessings. And today we especially thank you for answered prayers for rain and water in our reservoirs recently. And we humbly ask that you would continue to provide for our needs and that we would recognize our need for you. And so we come before you today with gratitude for the opportunity to serve our community to demonstrate that unity. God, we ask that you would grant wisdom to the members of this council as they deliberate on matters affecting the lives of their neighbors. Help them, Lord, to look beyond personal interests and political differences and to work together for the welfare, safety, and prosperity of this city. And Lord, I ask your protection and blessing on those who serve our community every day, our first responders, our public employees, our educators, our health care workers, our business leaders, our volunteers, our pastors and churches, and all who contribute to the well-being of our neighbors. Lord bless their efforts, strengthen them in their work. I ask all of this in the holy name of Jesus. Amen. Amen. Thank you, Pastor. And this morning, our pledge of allegiance to the flag of the United States and to the Texas State flag will be led by six uh I'm sorry, uh Heilee Morgan, who is a sixth grader, or will be, right? A sixth grader at Flower Bluff Intermediate. She's an AV honor role. She's a pitcher for Little Miss Kickball Southern Screamers team. And when she grows up, she wants to be a U.S. Marine. Please join me in the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge of allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands one nation under God, invisible with liberty and justice for all. Please join me in honoring the Texas flag. Honor the Texas flag. I pledge allegiance to the Texas one state under God, one and indivisible. Thank you, highly, and good luck. Miss Martin, would you please call the role? Mayor Paulette Waharardo. Present. Council members Roland Barreta. Sylvia Campos. Eric Anthu. Mr. Ganthu. Yeah. Gil Hernandez. Here. Kaelin Paxson. Everett Roy. Mark. Carolyn Bond. City Manager Peter Zanoni. Present. City Attorney Mouse Resley. Mayor and Council, the quorum of the council, and the required charter officers are present to conduct the meeting. Thank you, Miss Watson.