Corpus Christi City Council Meeting – June 23, 2026: Water Supply, Zoning, and Budget

The City Council met on Tuesday, June 23, 2026, starting at 11:30 a.m. and adjourning at approximately 8:27 p.m. The meeting featured a major water supply dashboard update, public comments from 25 speakers, approval of consent agenda items, zoning public hearings, and a mid-year budget adjustment ordinance. The council also went into executive session for legal consultations.

Consent Calendar

• Approved consent agenda items 3–29, with items 9, 11, 13, 21, 22, 23, and 24 pulled for individual consideration. All pulled items were subsequently approved:
  • Item 9: Three-year supply agreement for 55-gallon rain barrels (passed).
  • Item 11: Purchase of 60 sets of firefighter protective clothing (passed).
  • Item 13: Purchase of 45 replacement and 22 additional light- and heavy-duty vehicles (passed).
  • Item 21: Interlocal agreement with DSHS for mobile food vendor inspections (passed 6–3; Councilmembers Cantu, Vaughn, and Paxson voted no).
  • Item 22: 16-inch water main extension contract (passed, Mayor abstained).
  • Item 23: Boat haul out/office/retail facility construction contract (passed).
  • Item 24: Arena rehabilitation at Hilliard Center (passed).

Public Comments & Testimony

• Brad Bartleson criticized TCEQ’s modeling of harbor flows for the desalination permit, calling it “extensively misleading” and urged revocation.
• Steve Clepper (District 2) urged the council to ensure the city’s audit committee maintains an independent and effective internal audit function, citing past struggles.
• Sean Flanagan (District 2) praised the declaration of June as Responsible Fatherhood Month and requested libraries create displays on responsible fatherhood.
• Jessica Viarell (District 2) opposed the expansion of groundwater wells in Nueces County, arguing it could impact rural groundwater users and the shared aquifer system.
• Susie Luna Saldaña expressed frustration with the city attorney’s handling of mediation and called for accountability from council members.
• Jesus Mondragon requested that Greenwood fields be leased (not rented) for girls’ fast-pitch softball, arguing rental fees are prohibitive for nonprofits.
• Scott Barraza (Nueces County) criticized the city for not releasing a hydrology report, questioned the need for 15 new wells, and announced he would contest permits.
• Margaret Fratila (District 3) described repeated burglaries and vandalism at her home, requesting police assistance and stronger crime prevention.
• Daniel Peña (District 1) opposed the interlocal agreement with DSHS for food truck inspections, alleging the state and city do not enforce rules.
• Jared Suanez asked the council to disclose water commitments and spending transparency, proposing four-minute public comment and a public chart of council expenses.
• Amanda Geddae (District 5) warned against budget cuts that may affect services and called for employee input during budget discussions.
• Mark Munster criticized industrial tax abatements and the inner harbor desalination plant, arguing they benefit corporations at taxpayers’ expense.
• Melinda de los Santos (District 7) raised concerns about flooding on Everhart Road, enforcement of storm sewer pollution rules, and requested a Title IX display at libraries alongside Pride displays.
• Sondra Meyer (District 4) urged the council to recuse themselves from potential conflicts of interest (e.g., Homewood Suites) and recommended outsourcing the HR audit.
• Jim Klein (District 2, Sierra Club president) suggested splitting long council meetings over two days to improve decision-making.
• Rachel Camba (District 1) praised the water update and criticized four council members for lack of collaboration, warning that the city will oppose further industrial water use.
• Robin Cox (District 3) objected to paid parking downtown, arguing it hurts struggling businesses.
• Additional speakers included: Sean Merritt (Channel 361 News) criticized travel expenses and the mayor’s transparency; Albert Sartuche (District 3) opposed the inner harbor desalination plant; Jared Gracia thanked God for the rain and urged smart water decisions.

Discussion Items

City Manager’s Comments / Water Supply Dashboard Update (Item 1)

• City Manager Peter Zanoni reported that due to recent rains, the projected date for Level 1 water emergency has been pushed to September 2027 (previously December 2026).
• Nick Winkleman, CCW COO, presented the updated dashboard: combined western reservoir capacity at 15% (Lake Corpus Christi 31.3%, Choke Canyon 8.7%). The model assumes minimal future inflows and includes offsets from wastewater reuse, reduced demand from Alice/Mathis/Beeville, and a 20% LNRA curtailment in May 2027. The Mary Roads pipeline will operate at reduced schedules for a few weeks to allow pump station upgrades.
• Council members expressed cautious optimism but emphasized the need to continue diversifying water supplies (desalination, groundwater, reuse). Councilman Scott questioned demand assumptions and called for an operating model independent of western lakes. Councilwoman Campos and Councilman Hernandez discussed the importance of updating drought triggers to include all sources.

Board & Committee Appointments – RTA (Item 2)

• Approved reappointment of David Berlanga, Gabby Canales, Eloy Salazar, and Susie Luna Saldaña, and appointment of Susie Sullivan (replacing Jeremy Coleman). Councilman Cantu requested a future review of appointment rules regarding representation and criminal records.

Public Hearings – Zoning Cases (Items 30–33)

• Item 30 (ZN9048): Rezoning at 2601 David Street from RS-6 to RS-TF (two-family). Approved with Councilman Hernandez voting no.
• Item 31 (ZN8600): Rezoning at 526 Caribbean Drive to CN-1/SP for a 110-foot cell tower. No motion or second; item died.
• Item 32 (ZN9288): Coastal Dunes, LLC – PUD overlay on SH 361 (34.12 acres). After extensive discussion, tabled to June 30 for developer to modify setbacks and height along Lost Colony border.
• Item 33: Annexation and rezoning of 5.24 acres at FM 2444 and SH 286 for a Stripes store (CG-2). Approved. Councilman Hernandez and Councilwoman Vaughn raised drainage concerns.

Individual Consideration – Mid-Year Budget Adjustment (Item 34)

• Ordinance authorizing mid-year budget adjustments: elimination of 7 parking enforcement positions (transferred to code compliance), reduction of 4 code compliance positions (vacant), and other savings totaling $1.7 million annually. Also adjusted Type A and Type B sales tax allocations and appropriated funds for capital projects.
• Council approved the ordinance as amended, removing $200,000 for parking strategy improvements (signage, meter removal, repainting) to allow further discussion with Downtown Management District and TIRS.
• Councilwoman Vaughn expressed concern about the reduction in force; staff noted efforts to place affected employees in other vacancies.

Key Outcomes

• Water supply date extended: Level 1 emergency now projected for September 2027, giving the city additional time to complete new supply projects.
• RTA board appointments finalized: Five members appointed.
• Zoning actions: One rezoning approved (ZN9048); one cell tower request died; one PUD tabled to June 30; one annexation approved.
• Budget adjustment passed: Mid-year cuts approved with amendment to delay $200,000 in parking improvements for stakeholder engagement.
• Consent agenda approved: All pulled items passed except where noted (Item 21 passed 6–3).
• The council will reconvene on June 30, 2026, for the second reading of the budget ordinance and further discussion on tabled zoning case ZN9288.