[ ♪ MUSIC PLAYING ♪ ] >> Mayor Guajardo: GOOD MORNING EVERYONE. I'D LIKE TO CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER AND WELCOME YOU ALL TO CITY HALL AND TO COUNCIL CHAMBERS. THIS MORNING OUR INVOCATION WILL BE GIVEN BY PASTOR GREG HOOD WITH REACH MINISTRIES. PASTOR. >> GOOD MORNING, CITIZENS AND SERVANTS. THAT'S THE GREATEST TITLE WE COULD HAVE, RIGHT? OUR LORD WAS A SERVANT AND SO WE'RE GOING TO APPROACH HIM NOW IN PRAYER. BOW WITH ME. ALMIGHTY GOD, FATHER, SON, AND HOLY GHOST, WE COME BEFORE YOU NEEDY PEOPLE -- THAT'S THE WAY YOU MADE US -- BUT YOU HAVE THE SUPPLY IN EVERY WAY. YOU PROMISED TO GIVE WISDOM WHEN WE ASKED. THE AIR WE BREATHE, THE SUNSHINE AND THE BREEZE WE ENJOY OUTSIDE HERE IS FROM YOUR GREAT HAND. WE LOVE YOU. YOU LOVE US AND SO WE WANT TO PETITION YOU NOW FOR WISDOM, FOR OUR SERVANTS. I PRAY, LORD, AS YOUR WORD SAYS, IF WE HUMBLE OURSELVES WE'LL FIND GRACE OR FAVOR FROM YOU. I PRAY ALL OF US WILL DO THAT. WE'LL HUMBLE OURSELVES BEFORE YOU SO THAT WE MIGHT FIND FAVOR IN THESE PROCEEDINGS. A LONG DAY, GIVE ENERGY AND GRACE FOR THAT. WE GIVE THANKS TO YOU THROUGH YOUR SON, JESUS CHRIST. AMEN. >> Mayor Guajardo: THANK YOU, PASTOR. AND TODAY OUR PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE UNITED STATES FLAG AND TO THE TEXAS STATE FLAG WILL BE LED BY KELLIE BOX. SHE'S AN ELEVENTH-GRADER AT TULOSE-MIDWAY HIGH SCHOOL. TOP 6% IN HER CLASS AND THIS IS HER THIRD YEAR PLAYING VARSITY VOLLEYBALL, AND SHE'S A STARTER. >> PLEASE JOIN ME IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. [PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE] >> PLEASE JOIN ME IN HONORING THE TEXAS FLAG. >> Mayor Guajardo: THANK YOU, KELLIE. GOOD LUCK IN SCHOOL. MS. HUERTA, WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL? [ROLL CALL] >> City Secretary: ERIC CANTU IS ABSENT. [ROLL CALL] >> City Secretary: MAYOR AND COUNCIL, A QUORUM OF THE COUNCIL AND THE REQUIRED CHARTER OFFICERS ARE PRESENT TO CONDUCT THE MEETING. >> Mayor Guajardo: THANK YOU, MS. HUERTA. SO AS WE PROCEED TO SECTION E, WHICH IS OUR PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD, I JUST WANT TO PROVIDE SOME CLARIFICATION ON THE PROCESSES THAT WE WILL BE USING FOR THIS MEETING AND MOVING FORWARD. ON JUNE 10, 2025, THE CITY COUNCIL PASSED A MOTION MOVING THE GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FROM NOON TO 5:30 P.M. DUE TO THIS CHANGE, THE ORDER OF BUSINESS ON THE AGENDA WAS REVISED. AFTER OPENING THE MEETING, THE FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS WILL BE BOARD OR COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS, IF ANY, FOLLOWED BY THE CONSENT AGENDA. THIS MEANS THAT THE CITY COUNCIL WILL BEGIN VOTING ON ITEMS AT THE BEGINNING OF EVERY MEETING. ON JULY 15, 2025 THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVED ADDITIONAL CHANGES, WHICH ARE SUMMARIZED BELOW. REGISTRATION IS NOT REQUIRED TO SPEAK ON A SPECIFIC AGENDA ITEM THAT IS BEING CONSIDERED. REGISTRATION TO SPEAK IS ONLY REQUIRED FOR THE 5:30 P.M. GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT SESSION. AND SPEAKERS CAN SIGN UP AT CORPUS CHRISTITX.GOV/SIGNIN OR IN PERSON AT THE KIOSK LOCATED OUTSIDE THE DOORS AT CITY HALL. SPEAKERS MAY COMMENT ON ANY AGENDA ITEM, THE 5:30 TIME, OR ANY CITY-RELATED TOPIC. THIS IS AT THE GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT SESSION. SO THE DEADLINE TO SIGN UP IS 4:00 P.M. IF YOU WANT TO SPEAK AT 5:30 GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT SESSION ON THE DAY, OF COURSE, OF THE COUNCIL MEETING. SPEAKERS MAY ASK QUESTIONS DURING THEIR TIME WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS AND/OR STAFF SHALL NOT ANSWER OR CANNOT ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS DURING THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD. SO WE JUST WANTED TO KIND OF REITERATE, AND WE'LL READ THAT AGAIN AS WE MOVE FORWARD, BEING THESE ARE NEW PROCESSES IN PLACE GIVING YOU FURTHER OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE PUBLIC COMMENT. SO, WITH THAT, WE GO TO SECTION F, WHICH WE DON'T HAVE ANY BOARDS OR COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS TODAY. AND WE WILL MOVE RIGHT ON TO SECTION H, WHICH IS OUR CONSENT AGENDA, ITEMS 1 THROUGH 25. LET'S SEE HERE, I KNOW WE HAVE SOME ITEMS THAT HAVE BEEN REQUESTED TO BE PULLED. WE HAVE ITEMS 9, 12, 13, 20, AND 11. IF ANY COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE ANY OTHER ITEMS OUTSIDE OF 9, 11, 12, 13, AND 20, LET ME KNOW. NO. 5 AND NO. 7. ANY OTHERS, COUNCIL MEMBERS? WITH THAT, I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION -- >> City Secretary: AND THE PUBLIC MAYOR? >> Mayor Guajardo: I'M SORRY. ANYBODY IN OUR AUDIENCE -- WOULD ANYONE IN OUR AUDIENCE LIKE TO PULL AN ITEM THAT WE HAVE NOT MENTIONED? YES SIR. >> [OFF MIC] >> Mayor Guajardo: THOSE ARE PULLED. 11 AND 20 ARE ALREADY PULLED. 26 AND 27. OKAY. OKAY. WITH THAT, I AM -- >> City Secretary: MAYOR, 26 AND 27 ARE NOT CONSENT. BUT WE'LL TAKE THOSE. YES MA'AM. >> Mayor Guajardo: WHAT ARE THOSE? >> City Secretary: 26 AND 27 ARE ON INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION, RIGHT? PUBLIC HEARINGS, EXCUSE ME. THEY'RE PUBLIC HEARINGS. WE'RE JUST DOING CONSENT. >> Mayor Guajardo: THANK YOU. AT THAT POINT YOU CAN MAKE THE COMMENT WHEN WE GET TO THAT ITEM. SO WE HAVE ITEMS 5, 7, 11, 12, 13, 9, AND 20. >> [OFF MIC] >> Mayor Guajardo: WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE. DO WE HAVE A SECOND? WE HAVE A SECOND. PLEASE SUBMIT. OH SHOOT. SORRY. I ACCIDENTALLY VOTED AGAINST. OKAY. THE MOTION CARRIES. WE DO HAVE ONE COUNCIL MEMBER ABSENT SO IT'S 8 UNANIMOUS. LET ME GO TO 5 FIRST. CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL OF AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE OF THE CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS COMBINATION TAX AND LIMITED PLEDGE REVENUE CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION. WHO PULLED NO. 5? COUNCILMAN HERNANDEZ. YOUR QUESTION OR COMMENT, SIR? >> Hernandez: THESE ARE THE CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION I VOTED NO ON SO I PULLED THEM SO I COULD VOTE NO. >> Mayor Guajardo: OKAY. SO I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM NO. 5. >> Barrera: I MOVE FOR APPROVAL. >> SECOND. >> Mayor Guajardo: WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. PLEASE SUBMIT YOUR VOTE. 7 PROBABLY THE SAME THING, COUNCILMAN? >> Hernandez: 7 THE SAME THING. >> Mayor Guajardo: THE MOTION CARRIES. >> Barrera: I MOVE FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM NO. 7. >> Mayor Guajardo: WE HAVE A MOTION FOR ITEM NO. 7, WHICH IS THE CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL OF THE ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE OF CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS COMBINATION TAX AND LIMITED PLEDGE REVENUE. WE HAVE A MOTION. DO WE HAVE A SECOND? WE HAVE A SECOND. PLEASE SUBMIT YOUR VOTE. THE MOTION CARRIES. THE NEXT ITEM PULLED WAS ITEM NO. 9. THIS IS AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE ACCEPTANCE OF $30,000 FROM THE AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR THE PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS. AND COUNCILWOMAN CAMPOS, YOU PULLED THAT ONE. YOUR QUESTION OR COMMENT. >> Campos: YES. I JUST WANTED TO KNOW THIS IS A RATHER LARGE $30,000, WHICH IS GREAT GRANT. HAVE WE EVER -- WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME THAT WE RECEIVED THIS GRANT OR HAVE WE BEEN APPLYING FOR THIS GRANT? >> SO WE'VE BEEN ACTIVELY APPLYING FOR EVERY GRANT THAT WE CAN. AND WE RECEIVED ONE OF THE GRANTS FROM THE ASPCA, WHICH WAS THE $95,000 ONE THAT WE USED TO REFURBISH THE KENNEL PARTITION WALLS AND INSTALL THE AC UNIT IN THE CAT BUILDING. NOT THIS ONE, NO. >> Campos: AND I ALSO WANTED TO KNOW WHAT IS YOUR VACANCY NOW IN YOUR DEPARTMENT? >> WE ARE NOW FILLING SOME OF OUR SPOTS. I CAN GET THAT UPDATED NUMBER TO YOU. >> Campos: THAT WOULD BE GREAT. THOSE WERE ALL THE COMMENTS I HAD. THANK YOU. AND, WITH THAT, I MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE. >> SECOND. >> Mayor Guajardo: OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. PLEASE SUBMIT YOUR VOTE. THE MOTION CARRIES. NEXT ITEM PULLED WAS ITEM NO. 11. THAT IS AN ORDINANCE ABANDONING, VACATING, AND CLOSING 2.5193 ACRES OF IMPROVED AND UNIMPROVED PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-WAY. WHO PULLED THIS ITEM? >> Campos: I DID BUT THERE WAS ALSO SOMEONE FROM THE AUDIENCE WHO WANTED TO MAKE A STATEMENT OR MAKE A COMMENT. >> Mayor Guajardo: OKAY. >> GOOD MORNING, MY NAME IS JIM KLEIN. I LIVE IN DISTRICT 2 HERE IN CORPUS CHRISTI. I JUST HAVE THE SAME CONCERNS I DID LAST WEEK STILL YET THAT THE CLOSURE OF THESE ROADS IS GOING TO FURTHER LIMIT EVACUATION ROUTES. I WOULD ASK YOU TO TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION WHEN MAKING YOUR DECISION TODAY. THANK YOU. >> Campos: AND -- >> Mayor Guajardo: DID WE HAVE SOMEONE ELSE IN THE AUDIENCE? IF YOU'LL COME UP ONE AT A TIME. I DON'T HAVE NAMES. >> MY NAME IS TINA BUTLER. I LIVE IN DISTRICT 3. IN DOING SOME OF OUR RESEARCH, IT SAID NUECES STREET IS IN CORPUS CHRISTI ASSOCIATED WITH HISTORICAL SETTLEMENT OF NUECES TOWN, SEPTEMBER 18, 1939, HENRY LAWRENCE KENNY AND HIS PARTNER ESTABLISHED A TRADE ON THE WEST VOLUNTARY OF CORPUS CHRISTI BAY, REPORTEDLY NEAR WHAT IS NOW THE 400 BLOCK OF NORTH BROADWAY. NUECES TOWN WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1852 BY HENRY L. KENNY, THE FOUNDER OF CORPUS CHRISTI. KENNY STREET IS ALSO HISTORICAL. NUECES TOWN WAS LOCATED ABOUT 12 MILES UP THE NUECES RIVER AIMING TO ATTRACT EUROPEANS. NUECES TOWN WAS NAMED FOR THE RIVER AND WAS INITIALLY A TRADING POST AND LATER A COMMUNITY WITH A FERRY, HOTEL, PACKERY, AND COTTON GIN. IN 1875, NUECES TOWN WAS THE SITE OF A RAID WHICH RESULTED IN VIOLENCE AND DESTRUCTION, FURTHER HIGHLIGHTING THE HISTORICAL TENSIONS IN THE AREA. THE SITE WHERE THE ORIGINAL OLD NUECES COURTHOUSE WAS BUILT IN 1853, AFTER THREE LOTS PURCHASED BY THE CORPUS CHRISTI FOUNDER, HENRY KENNY, STILL STANDS AND IS RECOGNIZED AS A HISTORIC LANDMARK. WHILE PERHAPS NOT EVERY STRUCTURE ON NUECES STREET IS HISTORICALLY DESIGNATED, THE OLD NUECES COUNTY COURTHOUSE AT THE STREET ADDRESS INDICATES THAT NUECES AND KENNY STREET ARE INTERTWINED WITH SUFFICIENT HISTORICAL EVENTS AND NUECES TOWN, WHICH PLAYED A SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN THE REGION'S DEVELOPMENT AND IN CORPUS CHRISTI'S PAST. FOR THESE REASONS, I ASK THAT YOU VOTE NO ON THIS AGENDA ITEM. >> Mayor Guajardo: THANK YOU. >> GOOD MORNING, GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS MONICA LYTLE. I'M FROM THE HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOOD OF HILLCREST. AS I WAS HERE LAST WEEK, STILL NO FOR THE CLOSING OF WINNEBAGO, NUECES, AND BROADWAY. BECAUSE OF THE INDUSTRY BEHIND HILLCREST, WE NEVER KNOW WHAT COULD HAPPEN. WE HAVE SEEN IT HAPPENING EVERY DAY IN THE AIRPLANE. WE SEE IT HAPPENING IN EVERY DESTRUCTION OF LIFE. WE'RE ASKING YOU TO PLEASE TAKE CONSIDERATION THAT HILLCREST CITIZENS AND ALL CITIZENS NEED OUTLETS IN CASE OF DISASTERS BECAUSE WE WILL ONLY HAVE LIMITED WAYS OF LEAVING THE DISASTERS. THANK YOU. >> Mayor Guajardo: THANK YOU, MA'AM. COUNCILWOMAN PAXSON. >> Paxson: THANK YOU, MAYOR. PETER, IF I'M LOOKING AT OUR PACKET HERE, PAGE 5 OF THE PRESENTATION, WHICH IS THIS PROPOSED STREET CLOSURE, I DON'T SEE WINNEBAGO LISTED IN THIS. IS THAT ACCURATE OR HAS THERE BEEN A CHANGE? >> Zanoni: IS WINNEBAGO LISTED? NO, IT'S NOT LISTED. WINNEBAGO IS NOT LISTED. >> Paxson: THANK YOU. DO WE HAPPEN TO HAVE ANYONE FROM THE PORT HERE TODAY? >> Zanoni: I WAS LOOKING FOR SAM. I DON'T SEE -- IS ANYBODY HERE FROM THE PORT? NO. THERE'S NOBODY HERE FROM THE PORT OF CORPUS CHRISTI. AND ALSO BROADWAY, UPPER BROADWAY IS NOT RECOMMENDED TO BE CLOSED AS WELL. I KNOW ONE OF THE COMMENTERS MENTIONED BROADWAY BUT LAST WEEK THE PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR RECOMMENDED NOT TO CLOSE THAT STREET. >> Paxson: SO WINNEBAGO IS NOT INCLUDED. BROADWAY WE'RE NOT CONSIDERING FOR CLOSURE. SO THE ONLY ONE THAT'S A VARIANCE HERE IS THE NUECES SECTION. >> Zanoni: CORRECT. YES MA'AM. >> Paxson: THANK YOU. >> BONNIE GARZA, DISTRICT 1. I'M HERE MAKING A COMMENT IN REGARDS TO THIS AGENDA ITEM ON THESE ROAD CLOSURES. I'M HAPPY TO SEE THAT COUNCIL AND THE CITY STAFF ARE WORKING TOGETHER -- WORKING OUT THE KINKS. WHEN YOU MAKE PROPOSALS, YOU DON'T ALWAYS GET IT RIGHT THE FIRST TIME. AND WE'RE ACTIVELY WORKING THESE KINKS OUT AND ONE OF THOSE KINKS IS THAT NUECES NEEDS TO STAY OPEN, ESPECIALLY WITH IT BEING SO CLOSE TO THE PORT, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T RULE OVER THE PORT AND TELL THEM WHAT THEY CAN AND CANNOT BE SHIPPING IN AND OUT. ACCIDENTS HAPPEN AND WHEN ACCIDENTS HAPPEN, THAT'S NOT THE TIME TO BE LIKE, OH, THAT STREET IS CLOSED AND WE HAVE TO EVACUATE THESE PEOPLE AND THEY GOT TRAPPED AND THE OPTICS BEHIND THAT LOOKS REALLY BAD. WE ALREADY HARMED THIS COMMUNITY WITH THE STRUCTURE OF THE BRIDGE. THE OPTICS ON IT JUST LOOKS BAD. IT'S LIKE, HERE, LET ME GIVE YOU A LOW-BALL OFFER ON YOUR PROPERTY AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO BUILD THIS BRIDGE AND MAKE ALL THESE EMPTY PROMISES, YOU KNOW, HAVE A POOL HERE, HAVE A PARK HERE. WE'RE GOING TO CLOSE THE STREETS TOO AND MAKE IT INACCESSIBLE FOR PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY TO USE IT. I'M A DISTRICT 1 VOTER. I'M A DISTRICT 1 ACTIVIST AND I WANT TO USE THOSE PARKS WHEN THEY'RE OVER THERE. MY TAXES ARE GOING TO BE PAYING FOR IT. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THESE CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION THAT WE HAVE TO BE PAYING ON THESE RIDICULOUS RATES AND I WANT TO USE THE STUFF THAT WE'RE HAVING TO PAY INTEREST ON. AND YOU'RE GOING TO CLOSE THESE STREETS OUT. WHAT KIND OF MESSAGE DOES THAT SEND TO THE COMMUNITY THERE THAT WE'RE TRYING TO WORK WITH THAT, HEY, YOU CAN ONLY GO DOWN THIS STREET BECAUSE IT'S JUST GOING TO BE AN INCONVENIENCE FOR INDUSTRY IF WE CLOSE THIS. YOU KNOW, I REALLY THINK THAT WE NEED TO KEEP NUECES OPEN. HONESTLY I THINK WE NEED TO KEEP WASHINGTON AND WILLIAMS AVENUE OPEN IF WE'RE GOING TO KEEP BROADWAY OPEN. WHEN I WATCHED THE PRESENTATION LAST WEEK, I WAS REALLY DISAPPOINTED THAT THE STAFF DIDN'T KNOW SOME OF THESE STREET NAMES. IT'S LIKE YOU DON'T CARE. SO THE OPTICS ON IT JUST DOESN'T LOOK GOOD. PLEASE KEEP NUECES OPEN. THANK YOU FOR CONSIDERING KEEPING BROADWAY OPEN BUT LET'S REALLY FOCUS ON TRYING TO KEEP MORE STREETS OPEN INSTEAD OF CLOSING THEM. >> Mayor Guajardo: THANK YOU, MS. GARZA. WE'RE GOING TO GET THROUGH THE PUBLIC COMMENT FIRST AND THEN WE'LL COME TO COUNCIL. >> GOOD MORNING, MAYOR, COUNCIL, STAFF. DAN McQUEEN, CORPUS CHRISTI. I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THESE STREETS FOR A MOMENT BECAUSE THERE ARE A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT REALLY BOTHER ME ABOUT IT. THE FOUR-PARTY AGREEMENT AND HOW WE'RE IMPACTING THE CITIZENS FOR ONE. IT'S A DIRECT VIOLATION. PART TWO, IF YOU HAVE NOT BEEN OVER TO THE BRIDGE AND HAVEN'T SEEN THE JEWEL THAT WE BUILT FOR THE WORLD RIGHT NOW, YOU HAVEN'T SEEN THE DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITY THAT'S THERE OR THE CARS THAT WERE LINED UP TO GO ACROSS THE BRIDGE OVER THE WEEKEND AND WALK THE BRIDGE AND SEE THIS AREA. THIS IS A VIBRANT AREA. THIS IS A NEW JEWEL THAT WILL BRING PEOPLE TO CORPUS CHRISTI TO SEE THIS AREA. AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WE'VE ALREADY PAID FOR. THIS IS CITY INFRASTRUCTURE AND WE'RE THINKING ABOUT MOVING IT INTO AN INDUSTRIAL AREA, CLOSING STREETS, LIMITING ACCESS. I HAVE SEEN A LOT OF PEOPLE DO BIKE RIDES THROUGH THESE AREAS, DO WALKS. THIS BECOMES AN ENTIRE GREENSPACE CONNECTION TO ALL OF OUR BAY. I'LL BE LOOKING FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK MORE. I'M HOPING EVERYBODY RECEIVED MY E-MAILS THAT I'VE SENT YOU, BECAUSE I SENT IT TO ALL OF COUNCIL, TO THE GOVERNOR ALL THE WAY UP TO THE PRESIDENT. YOU'RE NOT ALONE IN THIS. AND SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND CONTINUE TO FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT FOR THE PEOPLE OF CORPUS CHRISTI. HAVE A GOOD DAY. >> Mayor Guajardo: THANK YOU. >> ISABEL ARAIZA, DISTRICT 1. I WAS JUST COMING UP HERE TO REAFFIRM NOT JUST MONA'S STATEMENT ABOUT KEEPING NUECES OPEN, BUT ALSO EVERYBODY ELSE THAT WAS HERE LAST WEEK. THIS SPACE WAS PACKED AND THERE WERE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT DIDN'T WANT THOSE STREETS CLOSED. I ALSO WANTED TO REMIND YOU ALL THAT PART OF THE REASON WHY THEY WANT TO CLOSE THEM IS SO THEY CAN TURN THE AREA INTO A LIGHT INDUSTRIAL AREA, WHICH ALSO THE RESIDENTS OPPOSE. AND I WANTED TO CALL ATTENTION TO THE FACT THAT THE ITEM TALKS ABOUT THE HARBOR REPLACEMENT PROJECTS FOUR-PARTY AGREEMENT. RIGHT NOW THE ONLY PART OF THE FOUR-PARTY AGREEMENT THAT HAS BEEN ADHERED TO IS WHAT YOU'VE BEEN GIVING THE PORT. YOU'VE BEEN LEAVING THE HILLCREST AND WASHINGTON COLES RESIDENTS OUT TO DRY AND SO JUST ASKING YOU TO VOTE NO. >> Mayor Guajardo: THANK YOU, MS. ARAIZA. >> HELLO. I'M MARIAH BOONE FROM DISTRICT 2. I'M HERE TO ECHO THE COMMUNITY'S CONCERNS ABOUT CLOSING THESE STREETS. I WORRY VERY MUCH ABOUT EVACUATION, PARTICULARLY IN THE CASE OF DISASTER, SINCE WE KNOW THAT THESE NEIGHBORHOODS ARE OFTEN PARTICULARLY VICTIMIZED BY INDUSTRY AND THE DISASTERS THAT IT CAN CAUSE. I'M JUST VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THE COMMUNITY, IF IT'S HARDER TO GET OUT IN AN EMERGENCY. SO I WOULD ASK THAT YOU VOTE NO. THANK YOU. >> Mayor Guajardo: THANK YOU. OKAY. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK? WE'RE ON ITEM NO. 11. OKAY. THERE BEING NO ONE, WE'RE GOING TO -- >> [OFF MIC] >> Mayor Guajardo: OH. >> SORRY, MAYOR. I WAS LIVESTREAMING BECAUSE ON YOUTUBE IT SAYS IT STARTS AT 12:00. I HAD TO MAKE SURE SOME OF THESE COMMENTS WERE UP FOR THE PUBLIC TO BE ABLE TO VIEW. MY NAME IS ELLIE CASTILLO, I'M FROM TAFT. I BELIEVE I GET A MINUTE. EVEN THOUGH I DON'T RESIDE IN CORPUS CHRISTI, I DO SPEND A LOT OF MY TIME IN CORPUS CHRISTI, ESPECIALLY IN THE HILLCREST AND WASHINGTON COLES AREA. THESE STREETS ARE IMPORTANT TO THE COMMUNITY, NOT JUST FOR SAFETY ISSUES BUT FOR GETTING AROUND. AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S LIKE WHAT KIND OF MESSAGE DO YOU WANT TO DELIVER TO YOUR RESIDENTS? WHEN WE ARE CLOSING STREETS THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS. AND SO WE APPRECIATE THOSE OF YOU WHO WENT OUT AND SPENT TIME WITH HILLCREST RESIDENTS. YOU WERE ABLE TO TAKE A TOUR OF IT. PLEASE KEEP THE STREETS OPEN. THIS ISN'T A GOOD MESSAGE TO SEND OUT TO THE RESIDENTS OF CORPUS CHRISTI, TO THE HILLCREST COMMUNITY. WORK WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND KEEP THE STREETS OPEN. THANK YOU. >> Mayor Guajardo: THANK YOU. AND I THINK WAS THERE SOMEONE ELSE BACK THERE? NO? OKAY. SO ANYONE ELSE ON ITEM NO. 11? OKAY. SO -- DID YOU WANT TO SPEAK? YOU PULLED IT. DID YOU WANT TO SPEAK ON IT? >> Campos: YES. >> Mayor Guajardo: GO AHEAD. >> Campos: WELL, THE REASON I HAD PULLED IT, I WAS NOT ABLE TO BE HERE IN PERSON LAST WEEK BUT I KNOW THAT THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT TO THE PEOPLE OF HILLCREST. AND, AGAIN, JUST TO LET MY FELLOW COUNCIL MEMBERS KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, WE STILL HAVE NEIGHBORS AND, REALLY, THEY'RE NEIGHBORS AND THEY HAVE HOMES. AND ESPECIALLY HEARING THAT, YOU KNOW, WE AGREE WITH THE PORT AND WE BEND RULES FOR THE PORT. THIS TIME IT IS ABOUT JUST DOING THE RIGHT THING, WHICH IS JUST KEEPING THE STREETS OPEN. I MEAN, IT'S AS SIMPLE AS THAT. THESE ARE NEIGHBORHOODS AND THEY SHOULD BE KEPT OPEN. SO, OF COURSE, I WILL BE VOTING NO ON THIS. >> Mayor Guajardo: THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN. COUNCILWOMAN VAUGHN. >> Vaughn: SOMEONE FROM THE PORT HERE? NO? I THINK I SAW HIM COME IN. I ALSO WANT TO TALK TO YOU TOO. CAN YOU JUST TELL ME THE IMPORTANCE OF CLOSING NUECES? >> GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR, COUNCIL. SO FOR US, OUR PLAN IS TO DEVELOP A LAY-DOWN AREA TO SERVE MILITARY MOVEMENTS THAT COME THROUGH. WE NEED TO HAVE ONE CONTIGUOUS AREA TO DO THAT. THERE ARE SO MANY ELEVATION CHANGES IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. YOU CAN SEE WHERE THE OLD RIGHT-OF-WAY USED TO BE. YOU CAN SEE THE DEPRESSION THAT LEADS TO NUECES. IN ORDER TO MAKE THIS A CONTIGUOUS AREA THAT DRAINS TOWARDS THE DITCH, WE NEED TO HAVE THE STREETS CLOSED. >> Vaughn: THANK YOU. TELL ME HOW MANY WAYS DO THE HILLCREST RESIDENTS HAVE TO GET OUT OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD? >> YES, MA'AM. MAYOR, COUNCIL, ERNIE DE LA GARZA, DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS. FOR THE ITEM THAT WE PRESENTED TO YOU ALL, OF ALL THOSE STREETS, WE HAD SHOWN WEST BROADWAY STREET AS A STREET THAT PROVIDES INGRESS AND EGRESS OUT OF THAT NEIGHBORHOOD. WE ALSO HAVE BENEATH NUECES, ABOUT 300 FEET SOUTH IS WINNEBAGO STREET. AND THAT STREET ALSO PROVIDES INGRESS AND EGRESS OUT OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD FROM THE STREETS THAT ARE BEING REQUESTED ON THIS ITEM. NUECES IS A TWO-WAY STREET. IT IS AN IMPROVED STREET. IT DOES PROVIDE INGRESS AND EGRESS BUT THE REASON WE DID NOT RECOMMEND IT FOR CLOSURE IS BECAUSE IN BETWEEN NUECES STREET AND WINNEBAGO STREET IS PORT PROPERTY AND SO WE FIGURED SINCE WE STILL HAVE INGRESS AND EGRESS ON WINNEBAGO STREET TO LAKE STREET AS WELL AS TO BROADWAY STREET, IT WAS NOT NECESSARY, BASED ON OUR ASSESSMENT OF THE AREA. THE OTHER THING TO NOTE IS THAT NUECES STREET IS THE ONLY IMPROVED STREET ON THIS REQUEST. EVERYTHING ELSE IS A PAPER STREET. NONE OF THEM ARE PROVIDING CURRENT SERVICE TO ANY VEHICLES RIGHT NOW. IT'S EITHER A DEAD-END STREET OR IT DEAD ENDS INTO A DIRT ROAD AND NONE OF THOSE ARE GOING TO BE IMPROVED BY THE CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI IN THE FUTURE. >> Vaughn: OKAY. THANK YOU. >> Mayor Guajardo: COUNCILMAN ROY. >> Roy: CAN YOU CLARIFY FOR ME AGAIN. YOUR RECOMMENDATION IS KEEPING WINNEBAGO OPEN. >> WINNEBAGO IS NOT ON THIS LIST, SIR, TO BE CLOSED. >> Roy: RIGHT. I'M JUST ASKING. >> TO LEAVE WINNEBAGO ALONE. >> Roy: YOU WANT TO LEAVE WINNEBAGO ALONE. BUT ALSO I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND, YOU JUST SAID NUECES -- YOUR RECOMMENDATION, AGAIN, RESTATE THAT. WHAT IS YOUR RECOMMENDATION ON NUECES? >> RECOMMENDATION IS TO CLOSE NUECES STREET BECAUSE WE HAVE WINNEBAGO AS A BACKUP FOR INGRESS AND EGRESS. >> Zanoni: COUNCILMAN AND ERNIE, ON THE MAP, ON OUR EXHIBIT, IS THERE TWO SECTIONS OF NUECES? I THINK THAT'S WHAT MIGHT BE CAUSING CONFUSION. >> OH, YES. >> Zanoni: IF YOU PULL UP THE PRESENTATION AND GO TO THE LAST SLIDE. >> I APOLOGIZE, YES, SIR. SO IF YOU LOOK UP ON THIS MAP, THE PORTION OF NUECES THAT'S BEING RECOMMENDED FOR CLOSURE IS JUST THAT LITTLE SMALL SEGMENT, NOT THE PORTION THAT GOES TO THE WEST. >> Roy: CAN YOU POINT THAT OUT WITH YOUR FINGER OR SOMETHING, JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE CLEAR? OR HOWEVER WE CAN DO THIS. >> IF YOU LOOK THERE ON THE BLUE SQUARE, THE MOST BOTTOM BLUE SQUARE THERE WHERE IT SAYS PRIOUR AVENUE, JUST ON TOP OF PRIOUR AVENUE THERE'S A RED STREET THAT GOES ACROSS. THAT'S THE NUECES STREET PORTION THAT'S BEING CLOSED. THAT'S RECOMMENDED FOR CLOSURE. NUECES ACTUALLY GOES FURTHER TO THE WEST -- NOT THAT PART. WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT THAT PART. >> Roy: OKAY. SO YOU'RE REALLY TALKING ABOUT A SMALL PORTION OF NUECES. >> CORRECT. JUST THIS LITTLE RED PORTION. >> Roy: THAT GOES FROM BASICALLY THE PART THAT SAYS COKE STREET TO -- >> TO PORT AVENUE, THE UP AND DOWN. >> Roy: NUECES, THAT SECTION IS GOING TO REMAIN OPEN, THAT RUNS PARALLEL WITH BROADWAY. >> YES, SIR. IT'S A SMALL PORTION. >> Roy: OKAY. IS THERE ANY WAY -- I MEAN, IN TERMS OF MAKING SURE THAT SIX MONTHS FROM NOW THAT SOMEBODY SAYS, OH, NO, YOU GUYS VOTED ON IT, IS THERE ANY WAY WE CAN CLARIFY THAT AS FAR AS KEEPING THAT PORTION OF NUECES OPEN? >> WE CAN JUST TALK ABOUT INTERSECTION TO INTERSECTION. THAT COULD BE CLARIFIED, YES, SIR. >> Roy: WHAT I'M ASKING IS, SIX MONTHS FROM NOW, IF WE VOTE AND WE SAY WE'RE GOING TO CLOSE NUECES, WE'RE ONLY TALKING ABOUT A PORTION OF IT. I WANT TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS THAT. >> Zanoni: ERNIE, CAN YOU GET THE LIMITS? CAN YOU GET THEM NOW BEFORE THE VOTE? >> THE LIMITS ARE FROM PORT AVENUE TO COKE STREET. >> Zanoni: TO COKE. COUNCILMAN ROY, THE LIMITS THAT ARE BEING RECOMMENDED FOR CLOSURE ARE ONLY BETWEEN PORT STREET AND COKE STREET. >> RIGHT. >> Zanoni: AND SO THE REST OF NUECES IS NOT BEING CLOSED. ONLY THE LIMITS BETWEEN PORT AVENUE AND COKE STREET. THAT SEGMENT ONLY. >> Roy: OKAY. I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE DEFINE THAT AND EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT IT'S ON THE RECORD FOR THE PUBLIC SO THAT SIX MONTHS FROM NOW WHEN WE COME BACK, THAT EVERYBODY KNOWS. >> YES, SIR. >> Roy: THANK YOU. >> Mayor Guajardo: COUNCILWOMAN PAXSON. >> Paxson: THANK YOU, MAYOR. WHAT I'M TRYING TO SEE ON THIS MAP, I THINK, IF I RECALL, I BELIEVE NUECES HAD BEEN ONE OF THE CORRIDORS COMMONLY USED TO ACCESS THE DOWNTOWN AREA FROM THE HILLCREST AREA. AND IF I'M LOOKING AT THIS MAP, IT LOOKS LIKE WINNEBAGO, WHICH WE'RE LEAVING OPEN, ACCOMPLISHES THE SAME THING. SO I'M CURIOUS. I KNOW THAT THERE IS A HILLCREST COMMUNITY COMMITTEE GROUP. DO WE HAVE -- I'M NOT SURE WHO ALL IS ON THAT -- BUT I KNOW THEY HAVE BEEN RECOGNIZED VERY PROMINENTLY IN ALL THE DISCUSSIONS. DO WE HAVE ANYBODY HERE THAT'S ON THAT GROUP BECAUSE I DON'T UNDERSTAND THEIR REQUEST TO LEAVE IT OPEN AND I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW THE INSIGHT ON THAT. >> Zanoni: MS. MONA LYTLE IS HERE. IT'S CALLED THE -- IT'S THE COMMUNITY ACTION GROUP, I BELIEVE CAB. >> Paxson: AT FACE VALUE IT LOOKS LIKE WINNEBAGO DOES THAT SO I'M JUST CURIOUS. >> Zanoni: MS. MONA IS HERE. SHE'LL COME UP TO THE PODIUM. SHE'S AN ADVOCATE FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD AS WELL AS A MEMBER OF THE CAB. >> HELLO AGAIN. FROM PORT AVENUE, NUECES STARTS IN HILLCREST. YOU CROSS OVER PORT AVENUE AND YOU'RE ABLE TO GO TO NUECES. THAT USED TO BE A RESIDENTIAL AREA IN THE PAST. AND THE HILL HAS ALWAYS BEEN THERE BECAUSE IT USED TO TAKE US TO WHAT WE CALL THE NEW PROJECTS. IT WAS ALWAYS OPEN. NOW WHAT HAS HAPPENED SINCE THE RESTRUCTURE, WE NEED IT BECAUSE IN CASE THERE'S A DISASTER, WE'RE ABLE TO GO FORWARD TO SAM RANKIN STREET. IT WOULD TAKE YOU TO SAM RANKIN. THEY'RE NOT SHOWING THAT, I GUESS. BUT SAM RANKIN STREET -- >> Paxson: CAN WE PUT THE MAP BACK UP? >> I DON'T SEE SAM RANKIN. >> BECAUSE I TRAVEL IT. WHEN YOU GO DOWN FROM WHERE COKE IS, RIGHT NOW YOU HAVE WINNEBAGO. WINNEBAGO IS GOING TO COME TO A DEAD END. THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO GO TO THE LEFT. THEN YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE NUECES. NUECES IS GOING TO TAKE YOU -- WE HAVE TO STOP BUT NUECES IS GOING TO TAKE YOU UNDERNEATH THE BRIDGE. TAKE YOU FORWARD TO SAM RANKIN STREET. IT'S A THROUGH-STREET, AND THAT'S WHAT WE NEED IN CASE OF A DISASTER. >> Paxson: DO YOU SEE WHERE THE BLUE LINE IS, WHICH IS THE NEW -- WHERE IS SAM RANKIN RIGHT HERE? >> Mayor Guajardo: ERNIE, COULD YOU HELP US WITH THAT? >> ON THE FAR RIGHT. IT'S THIS ONE RIGHT HERE. YOU SEE THAT ORANGE SQUARE? >> Paxson: WHERE IT SAYS WASHINGTON COLES? >> THAT GREEN LINE UP AND DOWN. >> Paxson: THIS GREEN LINE WHERE WINNEBAGO IS THAT STAYS OPEN, YOU TAKE THAT LEFT AND IT WOULD TAKE YOU OVER TO WASHINGTON COLES. NUECES -- >> IS GOING TO TAKE YOU TO SAM RANKIN STREET. >> I'LL SHOW YOU. >> IT WILL TAKE YOU TO WHERE THEY HAVE THE NEW ONRAMP. >> Paxson: THE NEW ONRAMP TO THE BRIDGE. >> AND WE'RE ABLE TO GET TO OVEL WILLIAMS AND IT NEEDS TO REMAIN OPEN. >> Paxson: THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARIFICATION. I'M LOOKING FOR HIM. IF WE STILL HAVE OUR REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE PORT HERE. THERE HE IS. THERE HE IS. >> ALL RIGHT. DID YOU WANT TO POINT IT OUT? I CAN SHOW YOU. >> Paxson: SO YOU'RE SAYING -- >> SO THIS RIGHT HERE -- WINNEBAGO, I THINK WHAT'S CONFUSING EVERYBODY, THAT'S NUECES STREET. IT TURNS INTO WINNEBAGO. THIS IS ALSO NUECES STREET UP HERE. SO NUECES STREET, THIS STREET GOES THROUGH HERE AND THEN IT TURNS INTO WINNEBAGO. AND THEN IT CONNECTS TO LAKE STREET. AND THEN LAKE STREET TAKES YOU OVER TO SAM RANKIN. DO YOU SEE WHAT'S GOING ON THERE? SO THIS -- THE CONFUSION IS THIS IS NUECES TOO AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT'S CONFUSING EVERYBODY IS THAT THE STREET -- >> [OFF MIC] >> I APOLOGIZE. I'M NOT SPEAKING FOR YOU, SIR. YEAH. SO YOU STILL HAVE CONNECTIVITY TO LAKE STREET. I THINK NUECES STREET, THAT LITTLE PORTION IS REDUNDANT BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT THEY BOTH CONNECT TO LAKE STREET. >> Paxson: CAN YOU SPEAK TO WHERE SHE SAID THAT THE SECOND NUECES IS HOW WE WOULD GET TO THAT ACCESS TO THE BRIDGE. IS THERE A DIFFERENCE THERE? IS THAT THE ONLY ACCESS TO THAT BRIDGE? >> I'M NOT SURE WHAT ACCESS POINT YOU'RE -- >> Zanoni: THE PEDESTRIAN ONRAMP RIGHT BY WHERE IT SAYS LAKE STREET. THAT'S THE HIKE AND BIKE OR THE PEDESTRIAN. YES SIR. >> OKAY. >> Zanoni: RIGHT TO THE RIGHT OF THAT. >> SO EITHER WAY, LAKE STREET LOOKS LIKE THE ONLY WAY TO GET THERE. >> [OFF MIC] >> Zanoni: YEAH. THAT'S THE ONRAMP FOR THE PEDESTRIAN PATHWAY UP THE BRIDGE. THE ORANGE BOX IS WHERE THE CITY WILL HAVE A TRAILHEAD PARKING LOT PAVILION, RESTROOMS. >> Paxson: WE HAVE INVESTED A LOT. >> Zanoni: $10 MILLION. >> Paxson: I WOULD HATE TO DO ANYTHING THAT WOULD JEOPARDIZE ACCESS TO IT. >> Zanoni: THAT STREET WILL GET US THERE. THE WINNEBAGO, THE GREEN STREET. >> WINNEBAGO WILL GET YOU THERE AND TAKE LAKE STREET OVER. THAT WILL GET YOU TO THAT TRAIL, TO THE ONRAMP. >> BUT NUECES WOULD TAKE YOU -- IT WOULD BE IN FRONT. NOT ONLY THAT, WHY WOULD THEY WANT TO PUT A LAY-DOWN YARD IN THAT SECTION, BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A BRAND-NEW SWIMMING POOL ON WINNEBAGO. >> Paxson: TELL ME THIS, SAM -- THANK YOU FOR THE INFORMATION GUYS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT CLARIFICATION. SAM, SO TELL ME THIS. I KNOW WHEN YOU CAME BEFORE US PREVIOUSLY, YOU SAID THAT THE REASON WE HAVE TO MOVE THIS FORWARD RIGHT NOW IS BECAUSE YOU HAVE PERMITS AND YOU DON'T WANT TO RISK EXPIRING ON SOME OF THOSE THINGS. IF WE LEFT NUECES OPEN FOR RIGHT NOW, WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO STILL ACCOMPLISH WHAT YOU NEED ON THAT END? IT'S CLEAR TO ME THAT THERE'S SOME -- THERE'S A KINK IN THIS SOMEWHERE AND WE NEED TO IRON THIS OUT. I HAVEN'T GONE THROUGH BOTH ROADS MYSELF AND SEEN THOSE. BUT SOMEWHERE THERE'S A DISCONNECT. I WANT TO SUPPORT THE IDEA, I DO, BUT I ALSO WANT TO HEAR THE CONCERNS VERY MUCH. WHAT I'M HEARING IS CONSISTENTLY IS THERE IS A NEED FOR THIS NUECES TO STAY OPEN. I SEE ON THE MAP WHAT YOU'RE SAYING AND WHAT THE STAFF HAS RECOMMENDED, AND THAT DOES MAKE SENSE TO ME. SO MY QUESTION IS IF WE LEFT NUECES OPEN AT THIS MEETING TODAY, TO FINISH THAT CONVERSATION, DOES THAT HALT YOU ENTIRELY OR CAN YOU MOVE FORWARD? >> I WOULD SAY WE COULD NOT MOVE FORWARD. WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO ANYTHING ON THE GROUND UNTIL 2027. EVEN THOUGH YOU VACATE THE PROPERTY TODAY, THE ROAD WILL STILL REMAIN OPEN. WE HAVE NO INTENTIONS TO GO OUT THERE AND ESTABLISH ANY CLOSURES ALONG THE STREET UNLESS THE CITY ASKS US TO. THERE WILL STILL BE THE ABILITY TO GO BACK AND FORTH UNTIL WE START BREAKING GROUND OUT THERE. THAT WON'T BE, AT THE EARLIEST, UNTIL 2027. >> Paxson: SO IF YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BREAK GROUND UNTIL 2027, IF WE PASS THIS TODAY, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO TOUCH THAT NUECES. IF WE WERE TO GO OUT THERE AND FIGURE OUT AND WE CALLED YOU, HEY, GUYS, THERE'S AN ISSUE HERE. WE ARE GOING TO INHIBIT ACCESS TO SOMETHING, THERE WOULD STILL BE ROOM FOR THAT CONVERSATION. IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE SAYING? >> I GUESS IF YOU CLOSE IT TODAY, IT'S GOING TO REMAIN OPEN UNTIL 2027 -- >> Mayor Guajardo: I'M SORRY TO INTERRUPT YOU. MS. ARAIZA IN THE BACK, CAN WE PLEASE STOP WITH THE OUTBURST? MA'AM, WE'VE GOT A PROCESS HERE. THANK YOU. GO AHEAD, SIR. >> OUR PLAN TODAY IS JUST TO GET IT VACATED AND WE'LL BEGIN THE ACTUAL IMPROVEMENTS. OUR INTENT IS TO DO ENGINEERING, HOPEFULLY THE LAST QUARTER OF THIS YEAR AND NOT HAVE EVERYTHING FINALIZED UNTIL 2027, AT THE EARLIEST. >> Paxson: THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARIFICATION. >> Mayor Guajardo: COUNCILMAN BARRERA. >> Barrera: JUST TO CLARIFY -- I'M JUST DOING THIS. CAN WE PUT THE MAP BACK UP? I'M SORRY. I WAS LOOKING SOMEPLACE ELSE. SO HERE'S THE DEAL. SO I'M GOING DOWN NUECES STREET, WHICH TURNS INTO WINNEBAGO -- >> NO. NUECES TURNS INTO LAKE STREET. >> Barrera: NUECES BECOMES WINNEBAGO. THERE'S ANOTHER PORTION OF WINNEBAGO -- >> ON THE WEST SIDE OF PORT AVENUE. >> Barrera: YES. SO THEN IF I WANTED TO TAKE THE OTHER NUECES STREET, I WOULD HAVE TO TAKE A LEFT ON LEXINGTON AND THEN A RIGHT ON NUECES TO GET ME TO COKE STREET, WHICH WINNEBAGO STREET HAS ACCOMPLISHED. THERE'S REDUNDANCY THERE. IF I WANTED TO -- IF I WERE ON KENEDY THEN I WOULD HAVE TO GO TO DEMPSEY TO GO TO PORT, TO GO TO WINNEBAGO OR NUECES. IT'S A SMALL BLOCK TO BE ABLE TO DRIVE FROM THERE. BUT IF I WENT TO WEN KENNEDY -- YOU KNOW, THESE STREETS, THE WAY THEY RUN INTO EACH OTHER. THEY HAVE THE SAME NAME. COKE STREET BECOMES LAKE STREET WHICH LEADS ME TO SAM RANKIN. COKE STREET CAN ALSO TAKE ME TO 37 NORTH, RIGHT? IF I WANTED TO GO DOWNTOWN -- I DON'T KNOW WHY I WOULD WANT TO GO DOWNTOWN FOR -- I DON'T KNOW WHY I WOULD WANT TO GO DOWNTOWN TO BE ABLE TO -- IF THERE WAS AN INCIDENT, I WOULD WANT TO HEAD OUT 37 OR I WOULD WANT TO HEAD OUT ALL THE WAY OUT ON PORT. SO THE ESCAPE ROUTE, IF THERE WAS SUCH AN INCIDENT, WOULD BE PORT AVENUE. >> CORRECT. >> Barrera: SO I THINK THAT'S THE THING. THE OTHER ESCAPE ROUTE, TO MOVE AWAY FROM THE PORT AREA, WOULD BE STAPLES. SO MY THING IS THAT CLOSURE FROM NORTH PORT AVENUE TO COKE STREET IS ONLY REDUNDANT AND IT'S INCONVENIENT TO GET TO NUECES STREET FOR ANY INDIVIDUAL, BECAUSE YOU'RE GOING TO EITHER EVACUATE ON PORT OR ON STAPLES. SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT'S CLEAR FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS THAT AREN'T FAMILIAR WITH THE AREA, YOU KNOW, I PLAYED A LOT OF BALL AT TC AYERS AND I'M LOOKING TO PLAY A LOT OF BALL AT THE NEW PARK IT GOES INTO, OR AT LEAST TAKING MY GRANDCHILDREN THERE AT THE AQUATIC CENTER. I WOULD LOVE THEM TO COME DOWNTOWN. I UNDERSTAND THE CONSTERNATION. OBVIOUSLY WE HAVE REMEDIED IT WITH BROADWAY AND WINNEBAGO. IF SOMEBODY WANTED TO EVACUATE, THE KEY IS PORT AVENUE OR NUECES BAY BOULEVARD OR NORTH STAPLES. WHICH THERE'S ACCESS TO. AND NUECES STREET CANNOT BE -- NUECES STREET THAT IS GOING TO BE CLOSED FROM COKE STREET, WHICH THERE'S NO RESIDENTS, THAT PORT AVENUE IS THE EVACUATION ROUTE CORRECT? >> CORRECT. >> Barrera: ERNIE, CAN YOU VALIDATE THAT? I'M GOING TO SAY THAT, FOR THE RECORD. YOU'RE NODDING. >> I CONCUR WITH YOUR CONCLUSIONS THERE, YOUR ASSESSMENT. THAT'S A CORRECT STATEMENT AS FAR AS NUECES STREET AND WINNEBAGO GIVING YOU THAT INGRESS/EGRESS TO COKE STREET. YES SIR. >> Barrera: THANK YOU VERY MUCH MAYOR. >> Mayor Guajardo: THANK YOU. COUNCILWOMAN CAMPOS AND THEN -- YOU ALREADY SPOKE. WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON WITH THE VOTE AFTER MS. CAMPOS SPEAKS. GO AHEAD, MS. CAMPOS. >> Campos: THANK YOU, MAYOR. SO I JUST HEARD YOU SAY THAT YOU DON'T HAVE ANY PLANS TO CLOSE THE SECTION, THE NUECES STREET. BECAUSE THERE IS CONFUSION. LIKE COUNCILWOMAN PAXSON SAID, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO KIND OF WORK OUT THE KINKS. BECAUSE IT'S CALLED NUECES STREET. AND THE OTHER STREET IS CALLED NUECES STREET. >> CORRECT. >> Campos: OKAY. YOU CAN SEE WHY -- >> YES. >> Campos: WHY THERE'S CONFUSION. >> I BELIEVE THERE'S A PLAT TO THE RESOLUTION. >> Campos: WHAT YOU'RE SAYING AND WHAT YOU'RE PROPOSING , WE STILL NEED TO SEE IT IN WRITING. MY AMENDMENT WOULD BE YOU STATED THERE WOULD BE NO CHANGES TO THE NUECES STREET, THE RESIDENTIAL, THE -- I DON'T KNOW. HOW WOULD YOU DIFFERENTIATE THIS STREET? >> [OFF MIC] >> Campos: I WOULD SAY FROM COKE TO NUECES STREET, RIGHT? THAT SECTION. THAT'S THE SECTION WE'RE TALKING ABOUT. THAT THERE WILL BE NO CONSTRUCTION, NOTHING UNTIL 2027. AND THAT WE WOULD HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY STILL TO DISCUSS THIS, TO MAKE SURE -- BECAUSE THE OTHER FOUR-PART AGREEMENT THAT HAS BEEN MISSING IS THE BEAUTIFICATION OF THAT AREA. THE PORT HAS NOT BEAUTIFIED THE AREA AT ALL. I MEAN, THERE'S STILL RESIDENTS LIVING THERE. RIGHT NOW ALL THE PORT IS DOING IS JUST, YOU KNOW, CLOSING UP STREETS AND NOT REALLY DOING ANYTHING TO BEAUTIFY THE AREA. SO I GUESS MY AMENDMENT WOULD BE THAT WE WOULD NEED THIS IN WRITING THAT THERE WOULD BE NO FURTHER -- THAT THERE WOULD BE -- LET'S SEE. NO CONSTRUCTION UNTIL 2027. >> THAT'S FINE. >> Campos: TO GIVE US MORE TIME. >> Mayor Guajardo: YOU ARE AMENABLE TO THAT? >> THE PEOPLE WOULD BE VACATED TODAY BUT WE CAN'T OFFICIALLY CLOSE IT UNTIL 2027. YES. >> Mayor Guajardo: IS THAT CORRECT COUNCILWOMAN? IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE -- >> Campos: I'M OFFERING THE AMENDMENT -- >> Mayor Guajardo: WELL, HE'S AMENABLE TO IT. IF HE'S AMENABLE TO YOU SAYING YOU'RE AMENDING THIS TO TAKE EFFECT, HOWEVER -- >> Campos: LET ME JUST SAY THIS. THAT I AM OFFERING THIS AMENDMENT BUT THE WHOLE -- THIS ACTION ITEM, THIS AMENDMENT, I WOULD ACTUALLY STILL BE AGAINST IT. YEAH. YEAH. I GUESS -- SO I GUESS IT WOULD BE A NO. [LAUGHTER] I'M SORRY, BUT IT IS CONFUSING, YOU KNOW, TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT HOW, YOU KNOW, WE CAN STILL KEEP IT OPEN FOR THE RESIDENTS AND STILL BE OPEN TO HAVING THE PORT BEAUTIFY THE AREA. I MEAN, THEY STILL NEED BEAUTIFICATION AND I DON'T HEAR THAT ANYWHERE IN ANY OF THE CONVERSATIONS. SO I GUESS IT WOULD STILL BE A NO. >> Mayor Guajardo: THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN HERNANDEZ. >> Hernandez: OKAY. IT IS STATED IN THE APPLICATION THAT IT IS FROM PORT TO COKE STREET. RIGHT? SO IT DOESN'T GO -- THAT SECTION THAT GOES TO KENNY IS GOING TO REMAIN OPEN. SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT'S CLEAR. YOU KNOW, AS A LONGTIME EMPLOYEE OF THE COCA-COLA COMPANY, I'M A LITTLE DISAPPOINTED THAT COKE STREET IS GETTING ELIMINATED THERE, BUT THAT'S OKAY. THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS. THE FACT THAT THIS IS GOING TO BE AN IMPORTANT LAY-DOWN YARD FOR MILITARY EQUIPMENT IS A KEY THING FOR ME. I WAS VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE CLOSURE OF BROADWAY THAT YOU REQUESTED. WE ARE NOT GOING TO ALLOW THAT TO HAPPEN SO YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE WINNEBAGO IN COMBINATION WITH COKE AND LAKE STREET, BROADWAY, AND PORT. THERE'S NOTHING ELSE THERE. IT'S ALL VACANT LAND AND IT'S ALL OWNED BY THE PORT. WE STILL NEED THE EGRESS AND BECAUSE WE'RE KEEPING BROADWAY OPEN, I'M GOING TO SUPPORT THIS. THANK YOU. >> Mayor Guajardo: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN. OKAY. I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND -- THANK YOU, SIR. THANK YOU. >> Barrera: I MOVE FOR APPROVAL. >> Mayor Guajardo: WE HAVE A MOTION. DO WE HAVE A SECOND FOR ITEM NO. 11? DO WE HAVE A SECOND FOR ITEM NO. 11? >> I'LL SECOND. >> Mayor Guajardo: WE HAVE A SECOND. OKAY. PLEASE -- >> [OFF MIC] >> Mayor Guajardo: COUNCILMAN ROY. PLEASE SUBMIT YOUR VOTE. THE MOTION CARRIES. NEXT ITEM PULLED IS ITEM NO. 12. ITEM NO. 12 IS THE ZONING CASE NO. ZN8534, PORT OF CORPUS CHRISTI AUTHORITY REZONING VARIOUS PROPERTIES. COUNCILWOMAN CAMPOS. I'M SORRY? >> [OFF MIC] >> Mayor Guajardo: I THOUGHT YOU PULLED IT. SORRY. COUNCILMAN HERNANDEZ. >> Hernandez: OKAY. I VOTED NO AGAINST THIS LAST WEEK BECAUSE YOU HAVE RS-6 ACROSS THE STREET FROM THIS PARTICULAR LOCATION. I WOULD NOT DO THIS IN DISTRICT 5, SO I'M NOT GOING TO DO THIS HERE. AS LONG AS THERE'S RESIDENTS ON THAT SIDE OF THE STREET ACROSS THE STREET FROM IT, I WOULDN'T PUT THIS AS A LIGHT INDUSTRIAL OR HEAVY INDUSTRIAL. SO I WOULD MAKE THE MOTION TO CHANGE THIS TO CG-2 WITH A SPECIAL PERMIT. SO THAT WAY IF THEY EVER VACATE THIS PROPERTY IT GOES BACK TO CG-2 >> Campos: SECOND. >> Mayor Guajardo: OKAY. SO WE HAVE A -- CG-2. YOU'RE AMENDING. >> Hernandez: MAKING A MOTION TO AMEND OR TO CHANGE ZONING FROM LIGHT INDUSTRY TO CG-2 WITH SPECIAL PERMIT. >> Campos: WHAT IS CG-2. >> Hernandez: CG-2 IS COMMERCIAL. >> Mayor Guajardo: MR. DICE, COULD YOU EXPLAIN THAT, CG-2. >> Dice: MIKE DICE, DEVELOPMENT SERVICES, THE SP I I'M ASSUMING IS TO ALLOW THE IL USE. >> Hernandez: I UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY WANT TO USE IT FOR, BUT IT DOESN'T -- BUT WHAT I WANT TO AVOID IS IF THEY EVER DECIDE TO SELL THE PROPERTY, BECAUSE THEY CAN SELL IT TO -- IT WOULDN'T BE A LIGHT INDUSTRIAL SETUP BECAUSE YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT IT'S GOING TO BE IN THE FUTURE. AND YOU CAN'T DOWN ZONE SOMEBODY, SO I'D RATHER HAVE IT AS CG-2 WITH A SPECIAL PER FIT PERMIT FOR WHAT THEY NEED IT FOR, BUT IF THEY EVER DECIDE TO SELL IT, THAT IT GOES BACK TO CG-2, THAT WAY IF THERE'S RESIDENTS STILL ACROSS THE STREET. >> Dice: IT CREATES THE BUFFER. >> Hernandez: AND THERE'S ONE, IT STILL CREATES THAT BUFFER. >> Mayor Guajardo: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN. LET ME GET A COUPLE OF OTHER COMMENTS. COUNCILMAN ROY? >> Roy: SO WITH THAT RECOMMENDATION, IN THE INTERIM IF THEY DON'T SELL, IS THERE ANYTHING -- IS THERE A REQUIREMENT OR ANYTHING IN TERMS OF MAKING SOME TYPE OF -- YOU KNOW, IF THEY'RE GOING TO OPERATE, SOME TYPE OF FENCE OR SOMETHING THAT IS GOING TO PROVIDE THAT BUFFER? >> Dice: WELL, AT THIS POINT, IF -- LET'S JUST SAY THE ZONING DOESN'T PASS, THEN AT THAT POINT THEY STILL HAVE THE ABILITY TO FENCE THE PROPERTY. IT'S JUST THE USE -- I BELIEVE THEY STATED LAST WEEK A MECHANIC SHOP THAT WOULD HAVE TO BE PUSHED OUTSIDE OF THAT RED BUFFED AREA THAT'S ON THE MAP. >> Roy: OKAY. SO IT WOULD HAVE TO -- >> Dice: CORRECT. IF WE CAN PULL THE MAP UP. SO LET'S SEE IF WE CAN GET THIS TO WORK. ALL RIGHT. SO THIS RED AREA IS THE RS-6 BEING PROPOSED FOR REZONING TO IL. THIS IS CURRENTLY -- THIS IS PREVIOUS A TRANSMISSION SHOP. WHAT THEY'RE LOOKING TO DO IS EXPAND THE USE OF THE SHOP AND ADD ADDITIONAL BUILDINGS AND PARKING AND MAKE A MECHANIC'S SHOP FOR THE PORT. SO IF THIS WERE TO REMAIN AS IS, THEY COULD FENCE THE AREA IN, THAT WOULD BE ALLOWED, BUT THEY COULDN'T HAVE THE USE OF MECHANIC'S SHOP WITHIN THAT AREA. THAT WOULD BE ALLOWED UNDER CG-2 WITH THE SPECIAL PERMIT. >> Roy: OKAY. >> Dice: BUT IF THE -- AS COUNCILMAN HERNANDEZ STATED, IF THIS WERE TO CHANGE OWNERSHIP, THE SP WOULD THEN GO AWAY, THAT CREATES THIS AS BASICALLY A BUFFER, THE RED AREA. >> Roy: SO IN THE INTERIM, IT'S GOING TO PROTECT THAT PROPERTY. >> Mayor Guajardo: RIGHT. >> Dice: IT WILL CREATE THE BUFFER CORRECT. >> Roy: YEAH. THANK YOU. >> Mayor Guajardo: OKAY. I THINK THAT'S ALL THE COMMENTS. DO WE HAVE ANYBODY THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON ITEM NUMBER 12? >> MAYOR AND COUNCIL, MY NAME IS HENRY WILLIAMS AND I AM A RESIDENT OF THE HILLCREST AREA. MY QUESTION WITH REGARD TO THE ZONING THAT THE PORT IS WANTING TO DO, IT HAS TO DO -- WHAT IS THE PORT'S -- WHAT IS THEIR PURPOSE, OKAY, IN WANTING TO REZONE PROPERTIES IN THE HILLCREST NEIGHBORHOOD, OKAY? AND -- AND I AND SOME OTHERS HAVE MET WITH THE PORT OFFICIALS TO TRY TO GET CLARIFICATION, YOU KNOW, WITH REGARD TO THE ZONING CHANGES, THE STREET CHANGES AND SO FORTH. AND THE PORT, WHAT THEY'RE SEEKING TO DO IS TO CHANGE THE ZONING SO THAT THEY CAN, OKAY, ON THESE PROPERTIES, OKAY, CREATE LAYDOWN YARDS FOR MILITARY EQUIPMENT AND FAN BLADES. OKAY. AND THE FAN BLADES ARE WIND TURBINES FOR ELECTRICITY. OKAY. THESE FAN BLADES -- OKAY. IF THEY ARE PLACING FAN BLADES, OKAY, IN THE HILLCREST NEIGHBORHOOD FOR USE, WHAT THE PORT SHOULD DO IS PLACE THEIR LAYDOWN YARDS FOR THESE ITEMS WHERE THEY'RE USED. YOU KNOW, PLACING THEM, YOU KNOW, IN TAFT OR IN THE AREAS OF SINTON AND SO FORTH, NOT IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. DO YOU FOLLOW WHAT I'M SAYING? WELL, I CERTAINLY HOPE SO. BUT THIS ZONING CASE, AND I BELIEVE COUNCILMAN, YOU WERE SAYING THAT IT WOULD BE CHANGED TO CDQ? IT WOULD BE CHANGED TO CDQ FOR THE PRESENT TIME? OKAY. AND ONCE THAT HOME IS SOLD OR WHATEVER, THEN IT WOULD REVERT BACK TO LIGHT INDUSTRIAL, IS THAT WHAT WE'RE SAYING? >> Hernandez: ANSWER HIS QUESTIONS. OKAY. THE CG2 IS COMMERCIAL, AND THERE'S A LOT OF COMMERCIAL THAT IS RIGHT NEXT TO RESIDENTIAL AREAS. WHAT I WANT TO SAY IS IF THE PORT EVER SOLD THAT, THEN THAT SPECIAL PERMIT USE WOULD BE REMOVED AND IT WOULD JUST BE -- IT WOULD REMAIN COMMERCIAL. NOW, IF THEY EVER SOLD THE HOUSE ON THE OTHER SIDE WHERE IT'S RS-6, THEY CAN COME BACK AND ASK FOR A DIFFERENT ZONING, BUT TO PROTECT THAT RESIDENT THAT'S THERE, THEY HAVE ONE RESIDENT THERE, I DON'T WANT TO HAVE LIGHT INDUSTRIAL RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET FROM IT. SO LIKE I SAID, I WOULDN'T DO THAT IN DISTRICT 5, I'M NOT GOING TO DO IT IN HILLCREST. BUT COMMERCIAL USE IS ACCEPTABLE. AND WHERE IT PROTECTS THE NEIGHBORHOOD, IF THE PORT EVER DECIDES TO SELL IT TO A PRIVATE ENTITY, THEN IT WOULD LOSE THAT SPECIAL PERMIT AND IT WOULD STAY COMMERCIAL, NOT INDUSTRIAL. DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? IT'S JUST A MEANS TO PROTECT THE NEIGHBORHOOD. >> OKAY. THEREFORE AT THE PRESENT TIME, THE PORT WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO USE THAT PROPERTY, IS THAT CORRECT? >> Hernandez: SAY THAT AGAIN, SIR. MR. HERNA NDEZ, I THOUGHT THE POLICY WAS NOT DURING PUBLIC COMMENT. >> Hernandez: I THOUGHT THAT WAS DURING PUBLIC COMMENT. I WENT KIND OF A STATEMENT OF WHAT HE WAS ASKING WHAT IT ACTUALLY MEANS. I DON'T KNOW -- I'M ASKING A TECHNICAL QUESTION, MORE LIKE A STATEMENT OF FACT. >> Mayor Guajardo: WELL, BUT YOU ARE ANSWERING QUESTIONS. >> Risley: YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO ANSWER QUESTIONS, AND I'M NOT SURE HOW MUCH OF THAT WAS CORRECT, SO YOU MIGHT WANT TO BE ASKING THE PLANNER IF YOU'RE WANTING TO ASK QUESTIONS. >> Hernandez: IF MR. DICE CAN GIVE -- CAN CONFIRM WHAT I WAS SAYING. >> Mayor Guajardo: YEAH, STAFF NEEDS TO ANSWER. >> Dice: THAT'S CORRECT, SIR. SO THE -- WITH THE SPECIAL PERMIT WITH THE CG2 WOULD GO AWAY IF THE PROPERTY WERE TO CHANGE OWNERSHIP, THUS PROVIDING AS YOU STATED A BUFFER BETWEEN IL AND THE RS-6. >> Mayor Guajardo: HE NEEDS TO -- HE'S TRYING TO UNDERSTAND IT TO MAKE SURE. >> AND WOULD THE PROPERTY GO BACK TO RS-6, OR WHAT WOULD HAPPEN TO IT? >> Dice: NO, THE CG2 WOULD BE THE BASE ZONING. SO IN THE AREA IN RED, WHICH IS CURRENTLY RS-6, THAT WOULD GO TO CG-2, THE COMMERCIAL ZONE. >> City Secretary: I THOUGHT STAFF WASN'T SUPPOSED TO ANSWER QUESTIONS EITHER. >> Mayor Guajardo: WELL, YEAH, THIS WHOLE THING IS -- I DON'T KNOW HOW WE'RE GOING TO HANDLE ALL THIS. JEEZ. >> Dice: SO IN SHORT, IT WOULD GO FROM RS-6, TO CG-2, IF THERE WAS A PROPERTY DISPOSITION, IF IT WERE TO MOVE TO -- >> OKAY. WOULD THAT TAKE PLACE AT THIS MEETING? >> Dice: THIS MEETING IS FOR FINAL ZONING. >> Mayor Guajardo: ALL RIGHT. YES SIR. YES SIR. >> AND THAT WOULD TAKE PLACE AT THIS MEETING. >> Mayor Guajardo: YES, RIGHT NOW. THIS IS THE SECOND READING FOR THIS PARTICULAR ITEM, SO, YES, SIR. YES. SO, YES, WHAT'S BEEN OFFERED IS AN AMENDMENT TO THE C2, WHICH IS WHAT MR. DICE JUST EXPLAINED. >> OKAY. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I WILL ALSO LIKE TO SPEAK TO ITEM 13 WHEN IT COMES UP. THANK YOU. >> Mayor Guajardo: THANK YOU, SIR. WAS THERE ANYONE ELSE? >> GILBERT AGUIRRE, DISTRICT ONE AND 3, I HAVE PROPERTY IN BOTH. I JUST HAVE QUESTIONS, LIKE, DO YOU EVER SEE WHAT IT TAKES TO MOVE THESE PROPELLERS? I SEE IT ALL THE TIME FROM MY BUILDING. THREE RIGS AND THREE GUYS SPOTTING, A GUY WITH A BIG ANTENNA, ALL THESE THINGS TO MOVE THESE THINGS AROUND. YOU'RE TELLING ME YOU'RE GOING TO MOVE THOSE FROM THE SHIP AND YOU'RE GOING TO PAY ALL THAT MONEY TO MOVE THEM, TO STORE THEM, JUST TO MOVE THEM. ONE, FOR TWO, THAT LITTLE MAP YOU HAVE UP THERE, YOU HAVE A HEART OVER HERE, PART OVER HERE, YOU GET THE PIECE OUT OF THAT, IT'S NOT GOING TO TOUCH THE HEART. AND ANY KIND OF PLUMBING TELLS YOU THAT IT'S CONGESTION, A TURN, A TURN, A TURN, CITY PLANNERS, EVERY TURN'S A CONGESTION. BUT FOR AN EMERGENCY, YOU WANT TO GO DOWN AND UP AND UP AND RIGHT AND OUT AND OUT. AND THEN THAT DON'T MAKE NO SENSE. LISTEN TO YOU GUYS, LIKE NOTHING MAKES SENSE HERE. YOU'RE GOING TO MOVE -- YOU JUST PUT ALL THESE TRACTS NEXT TO BRUCESTER'S FOR ALL THIS MILITARY STUFF, ALL THIS STUFF THERE, I KNOW BECAUSE THE TRAIN BLOCKS THE ROAD FOR 45 MINUTES. THEY DON'T GIVE A SHIT, THEY'RE JUST WHA W WALKING AROUND. SO WE HAVE TO GO TO BROADWAY TO GET OUT, SO IN AN EMERGENCY, YOU'RE GOING TO TRY TO GET OUT OF THERE, NUECES, I'M GOING TO GO THIS WAY OR THAT WAY. IT SOUNDS LUDICROUS. LUDICROUS! AND YOU GUYS ARE LIKE, WELL, HOW ABOUT IF WE DO THIS AROUND -- >> Mayor Guajardo: SIR, THAT WAS THE ITEM YOU'RE SPEAKING ON BEFORE. >> I'M JUST SAYING THIS MAKES NO SENSE WHAT Y'ALL ARE SAYING. I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT, LIKE THERE'S SO MUCH THAT YOU DO NOW DAYS AND RESEARCH ON YOUR OWN, YOU DON'T HAVE TO GO TO THE DEWEY DECIMAL SYSTEM AND GO TO THE LIBRARY, YOU CAN GO ON YOUR PHONE AND DO ALL KINDS OF RESEARCH, AND YOU GUYS SHOULD DO YOUR RESEARCH, PLEASE. THANK YOU. >> Mayor Guajardo: THANK YOU, SIR. IF YOU'LL COME UP, WHOEVER'S READY TO SPEAK ON ITEM 12. >> DAN MCQUEEN, CORPUS CHRISTI. YOU JUST CLOSED A STREET THAT ALLOWED THE CITIZENS TO WALK OVER AND ENJOY THE BRIDGE, AND I HOPE YOU'RE HAPPY WITH THAT. AND NOW YOU'RE ABOUT TO REZONE INDUSTRY IN A NEIGHBORHOOD THAT NEEDS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. IT NEEDS US TO GROW THAT AREA SO THAT PEOPLE WANT TO HAVE A REASON TO COME AND VISIT CORPUS CHRISTI. BUT IT SEEMS LIKE YOU'RE BENT ON PUTTING INDUSTRIAL EQUIPMENT THERE AND PUSHING THE CITIZENS EVEN FURTHER. AND SO I'M AGAINST IT, AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS NEXT PHASE OF CORPUS CHRISTI. THANK YOU. >> Mayor Guajardo: THANK YOU, SIR. YES MA'AM? WELL, IF YOU'LL -- I THINK WE'VE GOT ONE PERSON AFTER HER AND THEN... >> OKAY. MARIE LYNN THAT GARZA, DISTRICT ONE. I FIRST WANT TO THANK COUNCILMAN HERNANDEZ FOR THAT AMENDMENT, THAT'S HOW WE PROTECT NEIGHBORHOODS, THAT'S HOW WE ACTUALLY STAND WITH HILLCREST. SOMETHING I WANT TO POINT OUT IS THAT THERE'S MORE THAN ONE WAY TO CLOSE A STREET. YOU CAN BLOCK A STREET WITH YOUR 18-WHEELER, HEY, WE'RE JUST UNLOADING THIS LOAD REAL QUICK, WE'LL BE DONE IN A LITTLE BIT. WHAT'S A LITTLE BIT? 30 MINUTES, AN HOUR. I USED TO LIVE ON MARGUERITE, AND WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF LIGHT INDUSTRY RIGHT NEXT TO US, THE STAMP WORKS OFFICE THEY SURE DO LIKE TO BLOCK ONE SIDE OF THE STREET AND I'VE GOT THE TENNIS CENTER ON THE OTHER SIDE WITH TERRIBLE PARKING AND I NEED EMERGENCY SERVICES FOR MY HEALTH, AND THERE WAS NO WADE EMERGENCY SERVICES WAS GOING TO COME OVER AND RENDER ME AID. THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE DOING TO THE PEOPLE IN HILLCREST. THEY SEEM REDUNDANT, BUT THEY'RE NOT REDUNDANT WHEN THERE'S A BIG PROPELLER BLOCKING PORT. E GOT TO GET THIS STRAIGHTENED OUT. IT'S OKAY TO VOTE NO. IT'S OKAY TO VOTE NO. THEY'VE HAD SIX MONTHS TO PREPARE FOR THIS, AND THEY SEEM CONFUSED. I'M L LIKE WAITING, LIKE MAYBE THAT'S THE FIRST READING THEY'RE GOING TO DO THEIR HOMEWORK. THEY JUST PRESENTED A PRESENTATION WITH TWO NUECES STREETS AND THEY'RE SITTING THERE, I DON'T KNOW, AND YOU'RE GOING TO STILL VOTE YES ON THIS? IT'S OKAY FOR THEM TO GO BACK TO THE DRAWING B BOARD, THEY TOLD YOU THEY'RE NOT GOING TO DO ANYTHING UNTIL 2027. IT'S OKAY TO REDO THE PERMIT. GET BETTER PEOPLE TO DO YOUR PERMITTING. IF I HAD SOMEONE MAKING A PROPOSAL TO ME LIKE THAT, I WOULD SAY, I'M SORRY, THIS SEEMS LIKE A GREAT IDEA, GO BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD, GET BETTER PEOPLE THAT CAN SPEAK AND KNOW MORE ABOUT THIS ISSUE. THIS IS JUST BAD BUSINESS. IT'S BAD OPTICS, TOO. IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IN OTHER PLACES. WE'RE SETTING A DANGEROUS PRECEDENCE IF WE DO THIS IN THIS COMMUNITY, WHAT'S NEXT? HILLTOP? FROM HILLCREST TO HILLTOP, THEY'RE GOING TO COME OVER THERE WITH THE AMMONIA PLANTS AND THEY'RE GOING TO START THEIR STUFF, WE WANT TO CLOSE THIS DOWN BECAUSE IT'S A FARM ROAD, NOBODY REALLY USES IT OTHER THAN FARMERS. I CAN ALREADY HEAR IT. VOTE NO ON THIS, PLEASE, VOTE NO. >> Mayor Guajardo: THANK YOU, MRS. GARZA. SIR? >> PETER MOORE, DISTRICT 4. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT CONCERNS ME IS THE LANGUAGE IN THIS DISCUSSION THAT REALLY MINIMIZES AGAIN AND AGAIN THE IMPACT OF REZONING DECISION. IT'S ONLY A SMALL PORTION OF ONE ROAD, IT'S ONLY LIGHT INDUSTRIAL, IT'S ONLY A LAYDOWN YARD. I THINK WE CAN SEE THE CUMULATIVE IMPACT OF SUCH GRADUAL CHANGES IN THE NEAR DESTRUCTION OF A NEIGHBORHOOD OVER TIME. AND SO I WOULD ASK THAT YOU PLEASE VOTE NO STOP THE ENCROACHMENT ON HILLCREST AND VOTE NO ON REZONING. THANK YOU. >> Mayor Guajardo: THANK YOU, SIR. YES MA'AM? >> I'M VOTING ON NUMBER 12. THE REZONING ON LEXINGTON STREET. I WAS TOLD -- BECAUSE THIS IS ALL NEW TO ME, THAT WHEN YOU REZONE, THE NEIGHBORS WITHIN 200 FEET ARE SUPPOSED TO GET NOTIFIED. I DIDN'T GET A NOTICE. I LIVE ON KENNEDY BEHIND LEXINGTON AVENUE, AND I'VE SPOKEN TO THOSE OF US ON KENNEDY, NONE OF US RECEIVED ANY TYPE OF LETTER INFORMING US OF THE REZONING. AND EVEN THE LADY THAT LIVE ON LEXINGTON, SHE DID NOT RECEIVE A REZONING. SHE HAD THE SIGNS POSTED, AND THAT'S HOW SHE KNEW ABOUT IT. SO THIS IS ALL NEW TO ME, I DON'T KNOW THE POLICY, BUT I'M SAYING THEY NEED TO DO IT THE PROPER WAY. BECAUSE IF THEY DO REZONE, YOU'RE GOING TO BE IN MY BACKYARD OF MY HOUSE, IF THEY DO A MECHANIC -- WHATEVER THEY WANT TO DO. THAT'S GOING TO BE IN MY BACKYARD, AND I DON'T THINK ANY OF YOU WOULD LIKE FOR IT TO BE IN YOUR BACKYARD. THANK YOU. >> Mayor Guajardo: THANK YOU. MR. DICE, CAN YOU SPEAK TO THAT? WHEN DID THOSE NOTICES GO OUT? >> Dice: SO NOTICES GO OUT AHEAD OF THE PROPOSED MEETING. THERE IS A TIME FRAME DICTATED BY STATE LAW. AS YOU CAN SEE, THE BUFFER 200-FOOT BUFFER FROM THE ZONING AREA IS JUST SHORT OF THE PROPERTIES ON KENNEDY, AS WELL AS JUST SHORT OF PORT. >> Mayor Guajardo: SO ALL OF THOSE WENT OUT TO THOSE PROPERTIES THERE WITH THE NUMBERS ON THEM? >> Dice: CORRECT. >> Mayor Guajardo: AND NOTHING CAME BACK? >> Dice: CORRECT. >> [OFF MIC] >> Mayor Guajardo: OKAY. THANK YOU. MRS. ARAIZA? >> DR. ARAIZA, I JUST WANT TO POINT OUT THAT MONA IS ACTUALLY A COMMUNITY LEADER WHO IS SUPER INVOLVED AND KNOWS AND TALKS TO EVERYONE, AND THAT LITTLE DRAWING IS CONVENIENTLY OUTSIDE OF HER PROPERTY. IT'S CONVENIENTLY OUTSIDE OF WHERE A LOT OF PEOPLE LIVE RELATIVE TO THE SPACE IN THERE. I DON'T KNOW IF THAT WAS INTENTIONAL OR IF THAT WAS OUT OF IGNORANCE, BUT THE CONSEQUENCE IS THE SAME. PEOPLE NOT KNOWING THAT ARE GOING TO BE DIRECTLY IMPACTED BY THIS. I -- I APPRECIATE THE -- I GUESS THE MOTION TO OFFER THE COMMERCIAL, BUT ALSO I DON'T LIVE THERE, SO I DON'T FEEL LIKE I HAVE A RIGHT TO TALK TO THAT. I IMAGINE THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE THERE, LIKE THEY REALLY NEED TO BE THE ONES TO BE SPOKEN WITH, AND I'M ALSO CONCERNED BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, OFTENTIMES LIKE WHO GETS BROUGHT TO THE TABLE TO HAVE THE DISCUSSIONS ACTUALLY SHAPES THE FEASIBILITIES OF THE PROJECTSES AND PEOPLE'S PERCEPTIONS OF THEM. A LOT OF TIMES MY SENSE IN TALKING TO RESIDENTS OF HILLCREST AND WASHINGTON COLES IS THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT GET HAND PICKED TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH, AND IT'S NOT THE ONES -- IT'S NOT MONA, YOU KNOW. AND MONA'S THE ONE THAT WHEN SOMETHING HAPPENS OR THERE'S SOMETHING THAT COMES OUT, THAT SHE'S THE ONE THAT ACTUALLY GOES DRIVING AROUND AND TALKING TO PEOPLE. WHEN THEY GET GRANTS FOR AIR PURIFIERS OR, YOU KNOW, JUST ANYTHING HAPPENS IN THE COMMUNITY, MONA TAKES IT UPON HERSELF TO REACH OUT AND TO MAKE PHONE CALLS. AND SOMETIMES WE SHOW UP AT MEETINGS BECAUSE MONA ASKED, YOU KNOW? AND SO WHEN I VIOLATE DECORUM TO SAY DON'T TRUST THE PORT, IT'S BECAUSE YOU DON'T NEED TO TRUST THE PORT. THEY GET TO COME BACK AND FORTH AND TALK ABOUT STUFF. >> Risley: MAYOR, SLE IS NOT ON THE SUBJECT OF THE DISCUSSION. >> OH, SORRY, AND BECAUSE MONA SAYS NO, I SAY NO. YOU KNOW, AND THE PORT GETS TO COME BACK OVER AND OVER AND PLEAD THEIR CASE AND SOMEBODY WHO HAS THE EAR OF THE RESIDENTS, SHE ALREADY GOT TO TALK ONCE, SO PLEASE VOTE NO. LIKE I SAID, I APPRECIATE THE MOTION. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. MY NAME IS FRANK AYALA, I'M FROM DISTRICT ONE. I'M AGAINST THIS ZONING CHANGE. THERE WAS A CENSUS THAT CAME OUT A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, I SAW IT ON THE LOCAL NEWS. IT SAID THAT CORPUS CHRISTI WAS A THIRD BORINGEST CITY IN THE NATION. HOW DID WE GET THERE? WELL, WE GOT THERE WHEN THE FEW VOTE FOR THE MANY. I THINK THIS ZONING CHANGE SHOULD BE DECIDED BY ALL OF CORPUS CHRISTI. IT SHOULD BE ON THE VOTING MACHINES UNDER PROPOSALS, AND THAT EVERYBODY IN CORPUS CHRISTI SHOULD BE ABLE TO -- WHO VOTES SHOULD VOTE FOR THIS, BECAUSE THEY SHOULD VOTE FOR WHETHER IF THEY WANT A NEW LAYDOWN YARD OR A NEW PLAYGROUND YARD. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> Mayor Guajardo: THANK YOU, SIR. YES MA'AM? >> HELLO. ELIDA CASTILLO, ONCE AGAIN, ALSO PROGRAM DIRECTOR FOR CHIEFS FOR TEXAS, WE HAVE A LOT OF MEMBERS IN HILLCREST AND WASHINGTON COLES AND THROUGHOUT THE COASTAL BEND. THE CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI HAS PRIVILEGE. THE CITY COUNCILMEMBERS, YOU HAVE PRIVILEGE, THE PORT OF CORPUS CHRISTI HAS PRIVILEGE, AND SO DOES THE INDUSTRY THAT DOES NOT EVEN RESIDE HERE, THEY HAVE PRIVILEGE. AND A LOT OF THESE DECISIONS THAT ARE BEING MADE ARE TO BENEFIT THOSE WHO DON'T EVEN HAVE TO BEAR THE CONSEQUENCES OF THESE DECISIONS THAT Y'ALL MAKE. SO THE PEOPLE OF WASHINGTON COLES AND HILLCREST DO NOT HAVE PRIVILEGE, NOT EVEN THE PEOPLE WHO RESIDE IN THE AREAS THAT HAS BEEN, YOU KNOW, CHOSEN FOR REZONING, A CITY'S POWER LIES IN ITS ABILITY TO REZONE THE AREA. AND THERE ARE TWO COUNCILMEMBERS WHO SIT ON THIS COUNCIL WHO WERE AROUND WHEN THIS FOUR-PARTY AGREEMENT WAS SIGNED. NOT EVERYBODY GETS A SECOND CHANCE TO DO THE RIGHT THING. YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY NOW TO DO THE RIGHT THING. PLEASE DO NOT REZONE THESE AREAS. THANK YOU. >> Mayor Guajardo: THANK YOU, MA'AM. I HAVE A QUICK QUESTION. DID -- WAS IT MENTIONED EARLIER THAT MRS. -- IS IT LYTLE MONA? SHE'S A PART OF A GROUP. WHAT WAS THE GROUP? >> CITIZENS ALLIANCE CAP. >> Mayor Guajardo: OH, THE CAP. OKAY. >> PETER MENTIONED IT. >> Mayor Guajardo: YES, HE DID MENTION THAT. >> MY NAME IS TINA BUTLER, I'M DISTRICT 3. I'M HERE TO EXPRESS STRONG OPPOSITION TO THE REQUESTED REZONING FROM RS-6, SINGLE FAMILY, TO LIGHT OR HEAVY INDUSTRIAL. YOU'RE RECEIVING SOME HANDOUTS NOW THAT I'LL BE DOING SOME EXCERPTS FROM REGARDING THE STUDY THAT WAS DONE IN 1999, AND I'LL BE REFERENCING HERE AS WELL AS IN THE NEXT AGENDA ITEM. AS PREVIOUSLY STATED, THE PROPERTY ACROSS THE STREET IS ZONED AS RS-6, WHICH -- WITH MULTIFAMILY USE, SO ALREADY THERE'S QUESTIONS ABOUT TRANSPARENCY AND CONSISTENCY. AT LAST WEEK'S MEETING THERE WAS A DISCUSSION ABOUT ONE REMAINING HOME AND WAYS TO PUSH THIS ITEM THROUGH WITH CONDITIONS JUST TO PREVENT THE PORT'S APPLICATION FROM EXPIRING. BUT WHAT ABOUT THE FAMILIES BEHIND THAT HOME? EVEN THOUGH THERE'S A HOME ACROSS THE STREET, THERE'S HOMES BEHIND THAT HOME. IF THIS PASSES WILL THE REZONING JUST CONTINUE STREET BY STREET UNTIL THE WHOLE NEIGHBORHOOD IS GONE? AS I SAID BEFORE AND ON LAST WEEK, IT'S OKAY TO VOTE NO. IN 1999 THE STUDY INDICATED THE AREA COULD BE CHANGED TO INCLUDE A VARIETY OF BUSINESS WITH SOME RESIDENTIAL COMPONENTS. IT ALSO WARNED THAT THE BALLPARK, THE ARENA AND CONVENTION CENTER EXPANSIONS WOULD BRING PRESSURES TO CHANGE THE AREA. NOW WE SEE THAT THAT'S HAPPENING, BUT THE RESIDENTS WERE NEVER FULLY INFORMED. LET'S BE HONEST, THIS ISN'T ABOUT THE HOME, IT'S ABOUT THE LAND. AND IF YOU'LL SEE ON EXHIBIT 5 AND 6, THOSE LANDS AND THOSE ROAD CLOSURES THAT THEY'RE ASKING FOR NOW ARE NOT ON THAT MAP. IF THE PORT ALREADY OWNS THE PURPLE SHADED AREA, WASHINGTON COLES, AS I SAID BEFORE, WHY NOT USE THE SPACE FOR LAYDOWN YARD OR MACHINE SHOP. WHY DOES THIS REZONING HAVE TO COME AT THE COST OF HOMES? BECAUSE THE LARGER PICTURE SEEMS CLEAR, TO REMOVE A HISTORICALLY AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY FOR INDUSTRIAL PROFIT. THAT IS JUST NOT POOR -- THAT IS NOT JUST POOR POLICY, IT'S ALSO ENVIRONMENTAL RACISM. I URGE YOU TO VOTE NO ON THIS REZONING REQUEST. IT WILL BE HARMFUL TO CURRENT RESIDENTS DRIVEN BY LONG-TERM DISPLACEMENT AND IT SENDS A MESSAGE THAT PROFIT MATTERS MORE THAN PEOPLE. THIS NEIGHBORHOOD DESERVES PROTECTION, NOT ERASURE, THANK YOU. >> Mayor Guajardo: THANK YOU, MRS. BUTLER. YES SIR? >> GOOD AFTERNOON, MY NAME IS JIM KLEIN, I LIVE IN DISTRICT 2 HERE IN CORPUS CHRISTI. I HAVE TWO QUICK POINTS. ONE IS THAT IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING, I'VE HEARD THIS THIRD-PERSON THAT THE RESIDENTS RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET FROM LEXINGTON, RIGHT ACROSS LEXINGTON FROM THIS PROPOSED ZONING CHANGE DID NOT RECEIVE THIS NOTIFICATION EVEN IF THEY ARE WITHIN THE 200 FEET RANGE. IF THAT'S THE CASE, I THINK THIS NEEDS TO BE RECONSIDERED, BUT, AGAIN, I WOULD DEFER TO STAFF TO MAKE SURE I'M SPEAKING CORRECTLY ABOUT THAT. SECONDLY, I WOULD ARGUE THAT IT'S A MISTAKE TO REZONE THIS AS LIGHT INDUSTRIAL WHILE THERE ARE RESIDENTS LIVING ACROSS THE STREET. I APPRECIATE COUNCILMAN HERNANDEZ'S EFFORT TO RECLASSIFY THIS. I MAY HAVE MISSED THIS, I DID NOT HEAR A SECOND TO HIS MOTION, SO I'M STILL ASSUMING YET THE OFFICIAL ISSUE BEFORE THE COUNCIL IS TO RECLASSIFY IT -- REZONE IT, I'M SORRY, AS LIGHT INDUSTRIAL. AND I WOULD APPOSE THAT. THANK YOU. >> Mayor Guajardo: THANK YOU, SIR. . >> Zanoni: MAYOR, CAN WE HAVE MICHAEL DICE, THE PROPERTY IN QUESTION, DID THEY RECEIVE A NOTICE. >> Dice: CORRECT. WE HAD 41 NOTICES SENT REGARDING THIS CASE, WE'RE PULLING UP THE LIST NOW, BUT EVERYONE WITHIN THAT 200-FOOT BUFFER GOT A NOTICE. >> Mayor Guajardo: WAS MAILED ONE. >> Dice: CORRECT, MAILED ONE PER STATE LAW. >> Zanoni: DO YOU POST A SIGN AT THE AREA AS WELL. >> Dice: WE DO HAVE A SIGN POSTED AS WELL. THAT'S STATE LAW. >> Zanoni: A YARD SIGN AT ALL THE LOTS? >> Dice: CORRECT, ON THE LOT THAT'S BEING REZONED, THAT'S THE NOTIFICATION SIGN. >> Mayor Guajardo: SPT IT MULTIPLE -- ISN'T IT MULTIPLE? >> Dice: FOR THAT ONE, WE JUST HAD ONE SIGN. >> Mayor Guajardo: OKAY. ALL RIGHTY. REVEREND, I'M SORRY, YOU ALREADY SPOKE ON IT. YOU ALREADY SPOKE ON THE ITEM, SO WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD -- WE HAVE TO MOVE ON. >> WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO IS TO ENCOURAGE THE COUNCIL, AS IT HAS BEEN SAID, TO VOTE NO TO THE CHANGE. THANK YOU. >> Mayor Guajardo: THANK YOU, SIR. ALL RIGHT. SO WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON NOW AND WE HAVE A COUPLE OF COUNCILMEMBERS THAT WOULD LIKE TO MAKE COMMENT AND THEN WE WILL VOTE ON THE ITEM. COUNCILWOMAN PAXSON? >> Paxson: THANK YOU, MAYOR. LOOKING AT THE EXHIBIT PROVIDED IN TODAY'S PACKET, I WAS VERY CURIOUS BECAUSE IT DOES APPEAR THAT THAT R6 IS SUPER CLOSE TO THE SUBJECT PROPERTY, SO MY QUESTION, MIKE, COULD YOU PROVIDE US A CLARIFICATION ON HOW WE DETERMINE THAT 200-FOOT RADIUS? BECAUSE JUST LOOKING AT THIS, THAT HOUSE -- THAT RS-6 IS RIGHT ON THE OTHER SIGN OF THAT FIRST LINE OF HOUSES. >> Dice: CORRECT. SO STATE LAW REQUIRES THAT THE AREA BEING REZONED, NOT JUST THE PROPERTY, BUT THE AREA OF THAT REZONE, IF YOU'LL NOTICE THAT -- IF WE PULL UP THE MAP, I CAN GET A BETTER -- THERE WE GO. THIS LACER DOESN'T REALLY SHOW UP. >> Zanoni: YEAH, USE THE ARROW. THERE YOU GO. >> I HAVE A SLIDE THAT HAS THE 200-FOOT RADIUS. >> Dice: YEAH, THIS ONE. SO THE ENTIRE PROPERTY IS CURRENTLY OBA OWNED BY THE PORT. AND THE TRANSMISSION SHOP YOU'LL SEE IN THE AERIAL ACTUALLY GOES ACROSS THIS, IT WAS BUILT PRIOR TO THE ZONING REQUIREMENT. SO WHAT THIS WILL DO IS THIS -- THIS IS THE PORTION THAT'S BEING REZONED. PER STATE LAW, IT'S 200 FEET FROM THE BUFFER OF THE ZONE, NOT NECESSARILY THE PROPERTY LINE. WE HAVE A 60-FOOT RIGHT OF WAY ACROSS THE STREET, AND THEN THE DEPTHS OF THESE LOTS DOES COME BEHIND THE PROPERTY LINE OF THE KENNEDY PROPERTIES. SO THIS DOES MEET STATE LAW OF THE 200 FOOTNOTE TIS. >> Paxson: SO YOU DREW THE 200 FEET FROM THE RED LINE? >> Dice: CORRECT. THE BUFFER OF THE ZONE. >> Paxson: OKAY. THAT WAS MY CURIOSITY, IF IT WAS DRAWN FROM THE CENTER OF THE PROPERTY OR THE OTHER SIDE, BECAUSE IT DID -- IT SEEMED REALLY TIGHT TO THE 200 FEET. >> Dice: IT IS TIGHT, CORRECT. BUT THIS IS GENERATED BY OUR GIS SOFTWARE AND IT'S WHAT WE USE FOR ALL CASES. >> Paxson: THANKS. I JUST WANTED CLARIFICATION ON PROCESS, THANK YOU, MIKE. IF I CAN, FROM SAM FROM THE PORT, IT WAS SAID A MOMENT AGO THAT YOU HAD ACTUALLY -- THE PORT HAD ENGAGED THE NEIGHBORS IN THIS AREA. >> YES. >> Paxson: COULD YOU THEM ME ABOUT WHO THAT WAS, WHO YOU ENGAGED, HOW THAT SELECTION PROCESS, IF IT WAS THIS SPECIFIC AREA, JUST SHED SOME LIGHT FOR ME ON THAT. >> SO MY INITIAL CONTACT WAS, I GUESS, THE LEADERSHIP OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD, AND THAT WAS SEPTEMBER 13TH, 2024. SO MR. REVEREND WILLIAMS WAS THERE, MONA WAS THERE, LAMONT TAYLOR WAS THERE, [INDISCERNIBLE] PEÑA WAS THERE. AT THAT MEETING -- I'M INVITED TO ATTEND THEIR MEETINGS, I GO. SO WE TALK ABOUT OUR ISSUES WITH LAWN CARE, TREE MAINTENANCE, THOSE TYPES OF THINGS. AND AT THAT MEETING I BRIEFED THEM -- I ALSO SHOWED THEM A MAP OF OUR CURRENT HOLDINGS WITHIN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, I BRIEFED THEM OF OUR INTENT TO REZONE THE PROPERTY ON THE WEST SIDE OF PORT AVENUE BUT ALSO FOR THAT MAINTENANCE FACILITY. SO I ENGAGED WITH THE RESIDENTS BEFORE I EVEN ENGAGED WITH OUR OWN COMMISSIONERS AND STAFF. OUR FIRST MEETING WITH STAFF ON STREET CLOSURES WAS DECEMBER 16TH, 2024. >> Paxson: 2024. >> YEAH. >> Paxson: THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARIFICATION SAM. >> YES. >> Paxson: AND MIKE, IT SOUNDED LIKE WE HAD A MOMENT AGO SOME INTEREST IN PUBLIC COMMENT, JUST TRYING TO GET UNDERSTANDING. THERE'S A MOTION ON THE FLOOR AND A SECOND RIGHT NOW THAT ECHOS SOMETHING THAT WE HAD TALKED ABOUT LAST WEEK, WHICH SEEMED LIKE IT WAS MEETING A LOT OF THE NEEDS, SO MY UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THIS AMENDMENT DOES TO THE SITUATION IS BASICALLY IT SAYS WE'RE GOING TO APPLY A COMMERCIAL ZONING STANDARD TO THE PROPERTY, A SPECIAL PROVISION, SO IT'S NOT GOING TO GO TO SOMETHING -- ANYTHING NEAR HEAVY INDUSTRIAL, IT'S STILL GOING TO HAVE TO OBSERVE ALL OF THAT OTHER STUFF, SO IT'S COMMERCIAL. THAT WAY IF IT SELLS, THE COMMERCIAL ZONING IS STILL WHAT THAT PROPERTY OWNER WILL HAVE TO ABIDE BY. >> Dice: THE BASE ZONE, CORRECT. >> Paxson: AND THAT IS TO OBSERVE THAT WE HAVE RESIDENTIAL JUST ACROSS -- AS WE SEE MAYBE 201 FEET, 202 FEET, OUT OF THIS ZONE, AND SO THIS IS SOMETHING WE DO IN OTHER DISTRICTS, AND SO I THINK A COUPLE COUNCILMEMBERS HAD MADE THIS IDEA AS A GOOD COMPROMISE FOR THAT, SO I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY THAT PROCESS. >> Dice: CORRECT. IT DOES -- IT'S ANOTHER WAY TO MEET THE NECESSARY REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEVELOP, WHILE GIVING A LEVEL OF PROTECTION FOR DISPOSITION OR ANY OTHER USE. >> Paxson: PERFECT. OKAY. THANK YOU, MIKE. >> Mayor Guajardo: THANK YOU. MR. ESCOVEL, A QUICK QUESTION. YOU SAID YOU ENGAGED. IN THAT ENGAGEMENT, WAS IT EVER AGREED UPON? >> NO, WE JUST INFORMED THEM OF OUR INTENT. >> Mayor Guajardo: SO Y'ALL HAD DISCUSSION. WAS THERE ANY, LET'S FIGURE OUT WHAT WILL WORK? >> NO, IT WAS JUST A MATTER OF FACT, THIS IS WHAT OUR INTENTIONS ARE, WE GOT FEEDBACK AT THAT TIME, THEY WERE STILL ADAMANT ABOUT THE STREET CLOSURES. >> Mayor Guajardo: THANK YOU, SIR. >> AND AS AN ADDITIONAL POINT, WE ENGAGED WITH THE RENTAL PROPERTY, AND NOW THE ASKING PRICE IS $400,000. >> Mayor Guajardo: THANK YOU, SIR. COUNCILMAN BARRERA. >> Barrera: SAM, I WAS GOING TO GET SOME CLARITY ON THAT. YOU'RE GETTING YOUR STEPS IN TODAY. SO THE PROPERTY OWNER -- AND MY THING -- WELL, HERE, I'LL GO BACK -- I'LL STICK WITH YOU. SO THE PROPERTY OWNER HAS OFFERED TO SELL THE PROPERTY. >> FOR $400,000, CORRECT. >> Barrera: 400. AND LAST WEEK IT WAS $300,000. >> WHEN I LAST ENGAGED WITH THEM, IT WAS $300,000. >> Barrera: AND IT'S ON THE TAX ROLLS FOR 70,000. >> FOR 2025, I THINK IT'S IN THE 90s. >> Barrera: MID 90s. >> YEAH. >> Barrera: I JUST WANT TO STATE THAT AGAIN FOR THE PUBLIC, THAT THE PROPERTY OWNER IS WILLING TO SELL THE PROPERTY. >> CORRECT. >> Barrera: OKAY. AND OF THE PROPERTIES ON LEXINGTON THAT ARE ZONED RS-6, HOW MANY OF THOSE PROPERTIES ARE OWNED BY THE PORT OF CORPUS CHRISTI? >> WE OWN EVERYTHING EXCEPT FOR THAT ONE PARTICULAR RENTAL PROPERTY. AND ON THE STREET THAT MONA LIVES, WE OWN EVERYTHING EXCEPT FOR H HER TWO PROPERTIES PLUS ANOTHER RENTAL PROPERTY TOWARDS 37. SO WE OWN ALL BUT THREE. >> Barrera: AND PARTICULARLY ON LEXINGTON AND MLK, YOU OWN ALL THE PROPERTY WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE ONE WITH THE PROPERTY OWNER, ONCE AGAIN, IS WILLING TO SELL. >> YES. >> Barrera: AND THE PRICE HAS GONE UP 25% IN ONE MEETING. >> SO WITHIN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, WE CURRENTLY OWN 401 PARCELS. >> Barrera: OKAY. >> AND WE HAVE ANOTHER EIGHT -- OR 15 PARCELS UNDER CONTRACT TO ACQUIRE WITHIN THE NEXT 60 TO 90 DAYS. >> Barrera: OKAY. AND ON THE CORNER OF MINTON AND LEXINGTON ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE, THERE WERE A COUPLE OF PROPERTIES AS WELL. I'M CURIOUS IF YOU OWN ON THAT ONE. >> WE OWN LOT 2 AND WE'RE IN DISCUSSION WITH THE PROPERTY OWNERS FOR LOT 3 AND 4. >> Barrera: AND THEY'RE OPEN TO SELLING. >> YES. >> Barrera: NUMBER ONE, I APPRECIATE THAT, BECAUSE THAT'S THE WHOLE THING. I THINK THAT SHOWS GOOD FAITH OF THE PORT THAT'S TRYING TO MAKE ACCOMMODATIONS SO THAT WAY THEY'RE NOT NECESSARILY FORCEFULLY PUSHING ANYBODY OUT AND THEY'RE WILLING TO NEGOTIATE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND -- OKAY. THANK YOU, SAM. AND -- THANK YOU, SAM. SORRY. WELL, YOU MIGHT WANT TO SIT CLOSER UNTIL -- THERE'S NOBODY ELSE OTHER THAN SYLVIA THAT WANTS TO ASK. MICHAEL -- MR. DICE? OKAY. THE SPECIAL PERMIT STILL ALLOWS A LIGHT INDUSTRIAL, CORRECT? >> >> Dice: CORRECT, AS PROPOSED. >> Barrera: SO I JUST WANTED TO MAKE THAT CLEAR. THAT THE SPECIAL PERMIT WILL ALLOW THAT. AND THEN I TYPICALLY AND THE OTHER TIMES WE'VE BEEN INVOLVED WITH THIS, SO THE NOTICES WERE SENT OUT TO PROPERTY OWNERS. >> Dice: CORRECT. AND THE PROPERTY OWNER FOR THAT PARTICULAR LOCATION LIVES IN PORTLAND. >> Barrera: LIVES IN PORTLAND. >> CORRECT. >> Barrera: SO THAT PROPERTY OWNER LIVES IN PORTLAND SO THAT PROPERTY OWNER HAS NO OBJECTION HOWEVER THEY'RE RENTING IT OUT TO AN INDIVIDUAL. >> Dice: WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY OBJECTION. >> Barrera: I JUST WANT TO PROVIDE THAT CLARITY FOR THE PUBLIC AND FOR THE COUNCIL. SO THAT WAY THAT THERE'S NOT -- AND I JUST WANT TO REITERATE, THAT THE PROPERTY OWNER IS OPEN FOR SELLING. AND THEN MILES, PETER, REBECCA AND MAYOR, I WOULD PLEASE ASK THAT -- THERE'S BEEN TWO OCCASIONS WHEN SOMEONE'S COME TO PUBLIC COMMENT AND THEY'VE USED PROFANITY. I DON'T MIND CONDESCENSION, I DON'T MIND SOMEBODY INFERRING THAT -- I DON'T HAVE ANY BRAINS OR WHATEVER, BUT I THINK IT'S WRONG -- THIS IS -- THE PUBLIC IS WATCHING THIS. THE PUBLIC IS WATCHING THIS. YOUNG CHILDREN CAN WATCH THIS ON YOUTUBE. AND I THINK IT'S VERY UNPROFESSIONAL AND I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE'S SOME CHALLENGES HERE, BUT I THINK IT'S WRONG TO BE PROFANE. IS THERE ANYTHING THAT WE CAN DO -- >> Risley: YES. ANY COUNCILMEMBER HAS THE RIGHT TO OBJECT TO PROFANITY. I'M SORRY, I DIDN'T HEAR THE PROFANITY, IT JUST WENT BY. >> Mayor Guajardo: I DIDN'T EITHER. >> Barrera: BUT ANY COUNCILMEMBER HAS THE SAME RIGHT TO OBJECT THAT I OBJECT. IN FACT, NORMALLY THE ATTORNEY CAN'T OBJECT EXCEPT I'M PERMITTED TO OBJECT BY THE REQUEST OF A COUNCILMEMBER, SO IT IS ANY COUNCILMEMBER HAS THE RIGHT TO OBJECT. >> Barrera: SO THE MOMENT SOMEBODY HAS PROFANITY, EVEN THOUGH WE OBJECT, DOES THAT -- IN ANY FORM LIMIT THEIR ABILITY? BECAUSE I WOULD THINK THE MOMENT SOMEBODY SAYS -- THAT USES PROFANE LANGUAGE, THAT THEY SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO FINISH THEIR COMMENTS. >> Risley: IT WOULD -- THE MAYOR. >> Barrera: I'M ASKING A QUESTION. >> Risley: THE MAYOR HAS THE AUTHORITY TO TERMINATE THEIR DISCUSSION WHEN THEY USE PROFANITY IF SHE WANTS TO USE THAT AUTHORITY. >> Barrera: ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARIFICATION. APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU, MAYOR. NO FURTHER COMMENTS. >> Mayor Guajardo: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN. COUNCILWOMAN CAMPOS? >> Campos: THANK YOU, MAYOR. OKAY. SO -- THANK YOU FOR CLARIFYING THAT -- SAM, THAT YOU HAD MET WITH THREE INDIVIDUALS, BUT YOU NEVER DID SAY UNTIL YOU WERE ASKED DID THEY AGREE WITH THE PROPOSAL, SO THE ANSWER WAS NO. AND I ALSO WANT TO JUST MAKE -- WANTED TO SAY ABOUT MY FELLOW COUNCILMAN BARRERA THAT STATES THAT IT'S OKAY FOR THE RESIDENT TO ASK FOR MONEY, BUT WHEN IT COMES TO, LET'S SAY, THE DESALINATION PROJECT, I MEAN, JUST EVERY MINUTE THAT WE ARE DISCUSSING IT, IT GOES UP THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS, BUT WE'RE OKAY WITH THAT. BUT NOT OKAY WITH RESIDENTS DEMANDING FOR THEIR SAY, FOR WHAT THEY'VE WORKED HARD FOR. SO, AGAIN, I'LL BE VOTING NO AND, YOU KNOW, WE'LL SEE HOW THIS GOES. >> Mayor Guajardo: THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN. WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND SUBMIT OUR VOTE NOW. >> City Secretary: JUST TO CLARIFY, THIS IS THE AMENDMENT. >> Mayor Guajardo: YES, COUNCILMAN ROY SECONDED -- >> City Secretary: SHE DID SECOND IT. >> Mayor Guajardo: THAT WAS THE INITIAL ONE? >> City Secretary: OKAY. SO THAT'S WHAT -- COUNCILWO MAN VAUGHN DID. PLEASE SUBMIT YOUR VOTE. >> Mayor Guajardo: THE MOTION CARRIES. >> City Secretary: OKAY. CAN WE PASS IT AS AMENDED? >> Mayor Guajardo: YES. >> Barrera: I MOVE TO PASS AS AMENDED. >> SECOND. >> Mayor Guajardo: PLEASE SUBMIT YOUR VOTE. >> City Secretary: IT'S GOING TO SHOW THE CG-2, MAYOR, I CAN'T TAKE IT OFF. >> Mayor Guajardo: BUT IT'S THE CORRECT VOTE. >> City Secretary: THIS IS AS AMENDED, I'M SORRY, IF IT LETS ME DO IT. >> Mayor Guajardo: WE CAN JUST TAKE A -- >> City Secretary: YES, MA'AM, IF YOU DON'T MIND DOING A VOICE VOTE. >> Mayor Guajardo: AS AMENDED, ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. (AYES.) >> Mayor Guajardo: ANY OPPOSED, SAY NO. >> Campos: NO. >> City Secretary: JUST MRS. CAMPOS. >> Mayor Guajardo: THE MOTION CARRIES. WE'RE MOVING ON TO ITEM CASE 13 WHICH WAS ALSO PULLED BY CAMPOS. ZN8553. COUNCILWOMAN, LET'S HEAR FROM THE PUBLIC FIRST, IF YOU'LL PLEASE COME UP AND FILE -- LET'S JUST FIGURE OUT HOW TO MAKE A LINE FOR ANYBODY THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON ITEM NUMBER 13. >> AGAIN, TINA BUTLER, DISTRICT 3. I'LL BE REFERENCING THE EXHIBIT HANDOUTS THAT I PROVIDED EARLIER. IN 1999 THE CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI INITIATED A SURVEY FOCUSING ON THE HILLCREST NEIGHBORHOOD WHICH IS EXHIBIT 1, AND IT USED IT AS THE FRONT COVER OF THIS STUDY AS STRATEGIES LOCATED BETWEEN THE CITY'S REFINERIES AND ARTS AND DOWNTOWN SECTOR. THE STUDY COST OF APPROXIMATELY $340,000 COVERED A TOTAL OF 350 ACRES, OF WHICH 70 ACRES WERE DEDICATED TO PUBLIC STREETS, PARKS, DRAINAGE, INFRASTRUCTURE AND CEMETERIES. THE AREA -- AND I'LL BE READING EXCERPT FROM THE STUDY. THE AREA IS FRAGMENTED AND AT ONE TIME WAS A HOME TO OVER 600 INDIVIDUAL PROPERTY OWNERS CITED AS A SIGNIFICANT HINDERANCE FOR FUTURE DEVELOPMENT. THE SURVEY ENVISIONED NEW AND REMODELED INDUSTRIAL, COMMERCIAL OFFICES, RESTAURANTS AND RETAIL SPACES ALONGSIDE MULTIFAMILY HOUSING THAT WOULD BRING INTO THE NEIGHBORHOOD 500 NEW RESIDENTS TO HILLCREST, WHICH IS EXHIBIT 3. SIMILAR STUDIES SHOW RETAIL AND OFFICE USERS OCCUPY STREET LEVEL SPACE WITH ONE TO TWO-LEVEL RESIDENTIAL SPACE ABOVE THAT. IT PROMOTES WALKING, PROVIDES AN EXCELLENT VIEW OF THE COASTLINE AND THE DOWNTOWN AREA FOR THEIR RESIDENTIAL UNITS. MIXED USE OPTIONS, FREEWAY PADS, LIGHT INDUSTRIAL BUILDINGS AND 232 TOWNHOUSE UNITS AND EIGHT RESTAURANTS WERE INCLUDED IN THIS STUDY. AND THAT'S EXHIBIT 4 AND 5, WHICH IS PART OF THE ROAD CLOSURES THAT THEY'RE ASKING FOR NOW. THE PROJECTED NUMBER OF RESIDENTS IN THE TOWNHOUSES ALONE WAS 348 FOR A TOTAL ESTIMATED NEW RESIDENTS OF THE ENTIRE REZONED AREA OF 496 NEW RESIDENTS. MOST EXISTING SEWER AND GAS LINES COULD BE REUSED, POTENTIALLY SAVING SIGNIFICANT REDEVELOPMENT COST FOR THE CITY. IF DEVELOPED AS ENVISIONED, THE TAXABLE PROPERTY VALUE COULD EXCEED $2 MILLION NOT ACCOUNTING FOR INFLATION. OVER FIVE YEARS, THIS COULD AMOUNT TO $10 MILLION, BUT COULD TAKE 10 TO 20 YEARS. AND, AGAIN, THIS STUDY WAS DONE IN 1999. THE LACK OF TRANSPARENCY AND CONCERNS FROM RESIDENTS ON WHY THEY ARE BEING OFFERED PENNIES FOR THEIR INADEQUATE COMPENSATIONS FOR THEIR PROPERTIES IS TRUE. SO WHY IS IT THAT CURRENT RESIDENTS CANNOT REMAIN IN THEIR HOMES AND REQUESTS ARE BEING MADE FOR PROPOSED ROAD CLOSURES AND REZONING? I'LL TELL YOU WHY. BECAUSE THERE'S A BIGGER PLAN THAT NO ONE WANTS TO SHARE, WHICH MAY BE WHY THE PURPLE SHADED AREA THAT THE PORT ALREADY OWNS NEAR THE PORT IS NOT BEING UTILIZED. THEREFORE, IT IS FOR THESE REASONS AND MANY OTHERS THAT I CANNOT GO INTO IN MY THREE-MINUTE TIME FRAME THAT I ASK THAT YOU VOTE NO FOR AGENDA ITEM 13. THANK YOU. >> Mayor Guajardo: THANK YOU, MRS. BOOKER. YES MA'AM? >> HELLO, I'M MARIAH BOONE FROM DISTRICT 2. I ALSO WOULD ASK FOR YOU TO VOTE NO ON THIS AGENDA ITEM. I REMAIN VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THE RESIDENTS OF HILLCREST AND WASHINGTON COLES NEIGHBORHOODS. I FEEL THAT THE CURRENT LEVEL OF INDUSTRY THAT IS IN PROXIMITY TO THESE NEIGHBORHOODS ALREADY ENDANGERED THEIR HEALTH A GREAT DEAL AND THAT CONTINUING TO INCREMENTALLY ADD MORE AND MORE AND MORE JUST MAKES IT VERY UNSAFE. WHEN I TAUGHT THE CHILDREN OF THESE NEIGHBORHOODS AT DRISCOLL MIDDLE SCHOOL, JUST TO GIVE A COUPLE OF EXAMPLES OF THE DANGERS, ONE DAY ONE OF THE REFINERIES HAD SOME SORT OF DISCHARGE THAT LEFT THIS WEIRD GOO ALL OVER OUR CARS AND THE PARKING LOT, AND WE WERE TOLD NOT TO TOUCH THEM, THAT WE SHOULD NOT TOUCH IT AND THE REFINERY PAID TO GET THEM ALL CLEANED BECAUSE IT WAS SOME KIND OF DANGEROUS SUBSTANCE, BUT THEY DIDN'T DO ANYTHING FOR THE KIDS WHO HAD BEEN WALKING TO AND FROM SCHOOL IN THAT SUBSTANCE FROM THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS. ALSO WE HAD TRAININGS FROM THE LAPC AT SCHOOL WHERE THEY WOULD COME AND GIVE US LITTLE PLASTIC BUCKET WITH A WATER BOTTLE AND A RADIO AND A WASHCLOTH AND SOME DUCT TAPE TO TELL US TO KEEP IN OUR CLASSROOMS IN CASE OF AN INDUSTRIAL EMERGENCY. THEY TOLD US THAT IF THERE WAS AN INDUSTRIAL EMERGENCY, WE WERE TO LOCK UP THE SCHOOL, WE WERE TO SEAL ALL THE DOORS AND WE WERE NOT TO OPEN THEM FOR ANYTHING, EVEN IF THERE WERE CHILDREN AND PARENTS LEFT DYING OUTSIDE. AND I KNOW THAT SOUNDS DRAMATIC, BUT THAT IS LITERALLY WHAT THEY TRAINED US TO DO. AND I DON'T THINK THEY WOULD HAVE DONE THAT IF IT WAS -- THERE WAS NOT A DANGER ALREADY. THERE IS SO MUCH DANGER FROM INDUSTRY IN THESE NEIGHBORHOODS ALREADY. WE DON'T NEED TO BE MAKING THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE THERE MORE SICK, AND THAT IS WHY I WOULD ASK YOU TO PLEASE VOTE NO. >> Mayor Guajardo: THANK Y YOU. >> MARIE LYNN THAT GARZA, DISTRICT ONE. I ASK THAT IN AMENDMENT SIMILAR TO WHAT WAS DONE ON AGENDA ITEM 12 BE DONE ON AGENDA ITEM 13 TO PROTECT THE CAPITALISTIC GREED THAT IS SURE TO FOLLOW. YOU KNOW, WHAT'S CRAZY IS THAT IT'S OKAY FOR WHATEVER THE FAT CAT DOES WITH THEIR PROPERTY, I'M GOING TO BUY THIS PROPERTY, I'M GOING TO REZONE IT THEN I'M GOING TO SELL IT, AND THAT'S A GOOD BUSINESS DEAL. BUT WHEN A POOR MAN RAISES HIS RATE, IF YOU'RE LISTENING TO ANY OF THE PROPERTY OWNERS OUT THERE, DOUBLE THE PRICE. IF YOU'RE GOING TO SELL, DOUBLE IT, TRIPLE IT, EVERY TIME THEY MENTION YOUR PROPERTIES, THAT'S JUST SO DISGUSTING, WHY DON'T WE TALK ABOUT SOME OF Y'ALL'S BUSINESS DEALINGS OUT IN THE OPEN? THAT'S GROSS. IT'S JUST GROSS, MAN. IT'S OKAY FOR HEAVY INDUSTRY -- IT'S OKAY FOR BIG BUSINESS TO DO BAD BUSINESS, BUT WHEN A POOR MAN MOVES FORWARD AND SAYS, I'M GOING TO ASK FOR A LITTLE BIT MORE, IT'S A PROBLEM. THAT JUST SHOWS WHAT KIND OF RESPECT LEVEL THAT YOU HAVE FOR THE INDIVIDUALS THERE. THEY'RE TRYING TO MAKE A PENNY. THAT MONEY'S GOING TO GO QUICKLY WITH THE ECONOMY THAT WE'RE IN. IT'S JUST DISGUSTING SEEING PEOPLE -- SEEING STAFF COME UP HERE AND JUST LIKE, OH, WE'LL CLOSE IT. OH, WHO CARES THAT THERE'S A CHURCH THERE, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT MY CHURCH. IT'S NOT MY KIDS WALKING IN THERE. JUST THE POOR KIDS. JUST A SYSTEMIC CONTINUATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL RACISM AND I JUST DON'T CARE ABOUT THE POOR MAN IS WHAT I SEE UP HERE. IT'S JUST SO DISAPPOINTING BECAUSE THERE WILL BE PEOPLE LINED UP FOR YOUR SEATS, THIS UPCOMING CYCLE. I'M GOING TO BE ONE OF THEM, BECAUSE IT'S JUST RIDICULOUS THAT WE HAVE ADVISORY BOARDS THAT WE -- WE PRETEND THAT WE'RE GOING TO LISTEN TO THESE ADVISORY BOARDS, THEY COME UP HERE, THEY MAKE THESE RECOMMENDATIONS WHO CARES WHO'S LIVING THERE, IT'S NOT ME RIGHT? DANGEROUS PRECEDENCE, AND IF YOU THINK THEY'RE GOING TO STOP IN HILLCREST, YOU'RE DEAD WRONG. THEY'RE LICKING THEIR LIPS, LOOKING AT ROBSTOWN, LICKING THEIR LIPS LOOKING AT CALALLEN, LONDON WILL PROBABLY BE ON THE LIST SOON, TOO, IF WE HAVE SOME OF THESE SAME PEOPLE SITTING UP ON THIS DAIS. NOT -- NOT UP TO ME. I'M NOT GOING TO JUST STAND TO THE SIDE AFTER WATCHING THAT MEETING LAST WEEK, I WAS LIKE, NO, MARI, DON'T GO OVER THERE AND MAKE A SCENE, BUT THESE ARE MY NEIGHBORS. I SEE THE SAME FLARES AS THEY DO. I SMELL THE SAME CAT URINE SMELL IN THE AIR JUST LIKE THEY DO. SOME MORNINGS I GO OUT ON MY PORCH ON FERMAN AND MY LUNGS BURN. I CANNOT IMAGINE WHAT IT'S LIKE FOR THOSE PEOPLE THERE. AND THE PEOPLE THAT I GO AND HELP WITH MY NONPROFIT IN THAT AREA, THEY REMIND ME OF MY GRAND PARENTS. AND I THINK TO MYSELF GROWING UP IN BEEVILLE, HOW WOULD I FEEL ABOUT A LAYDOWN YARD BEING OUTSIDE OF MY GRANDFATHER'S HOUSE? YOU KNOW, I WENT TO MONA'S HOUSE, THAT'S MY NEIGHBORHOOD BOR. I WENT AND BURIED HER DOG IN HER BACKYARD, I'M THINKING TO MYSELF, NEXT TIME I GO OVER TO MONA'S HOUSE I'M GOING TO MAKE SURE I HAVE COVERING FOR MY FACE. >> Risley: OBJECTION, WHAT SHE'S -- >> Mayor Guajardo: THANK YOU, MA'AM. MRS. ARAIZA. >> I JUST WANT TO SECOND EVERYTHING THAT'S ALREADY BEEN SAID BY EVERYBODY ELSE SO ELOQUENTLY. I'D LIKE YOU TO VOTE NO ON THIS ITEM. I ALSO WANTED TO POINT OUT, I JUST TRIED TO DO A REALLY QUICK GOOGLE SEARCH OF THE AMOUNT OF REVENUE THAT THE PORT HAS MADE FOR -- MADE FOR 2024 AND THOSE NUMBERS WEREN'T AVAILABLE REAL QUICK, BUT IT DID SAY THAT IN 2022, IN THE FIRST THREE MONTHS IT MADE $57.4 MILLION. SO TRIPLE IT, QUADRUPLE IT, BUT ALSO, TOO, AT MY CORE DON'T THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, THOSE AREAS ARE JUST REVENUE STREAMS. I REMEMBER MR. WILLIAMS TALKING ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF, YOU KNOW, GOING TO CHURCH AND BEING WITH HIS COMMUNITY AND NOT WANTING TO HAVE TO SEE A LAYDOWN YARD IN FRONT OF HIS CHURCH OR I THINK MR. HOLMES TALKING ABOUT THE FRUIT TREES AND THE GRAPE VINES THAT WERE DESTROYED WITH THE POISON. SO I WANTED US TO REMEMBER THAT THERE WERE PEOPLE THERE, THERE WAS A RICH HISTORY THERE. WE'RE STILL IN THE MIDDLE OF CREATING HISTORY AND JUST REMEMBER WHAT KIND OF LEGACY YOU'RE GOING TO BE LEAVING. >> City Secretary: CAN YOU STATE YOUR NAME, YOUR CITY. >> ISABEL, DISTRICT 2. >> City Secretary: THANK YOU. >> Mayor Guajardo: THANK YOU, MA'AM. DAN MCQUEEN, CORPUS CHRISTI. ALL OF YOU ARE MAKING DECISIONS THAT UNFORTUNATELY ADMINISTRATORS OF THIS CITY FOR YEARS HAVE MADE BAD DECISIONS WITH, WHEN WE WATCHED THE VETERAN COLISEUM BEING TORN DOWN, SIMPLY FOR A LAND DEAL SO THAT, YOU KNOW, WE CAN BUILD PROPERTY ON IT. WHEN WE HAD MAYORS AND COUNCIL THAT WERE INVOLVED WITH THE EXXON DEAL, AND WHEN YOU GUYS, SEVERAL OF YOU, WERE THERE WITH ME ON DAY ONE WHEN INDUSTRY PUT POISON IN THE WATER, BECAUSE WE KNEW WHO WAS IN CHARGE OF THIS CITY. AND I SEE THAT RIGHT NOW. AS WE LOOK AT THE FUTURE OF WHAT COULD BE VERY BEAUTIFUL. AND WE PUSH THE PEOPLE AND THE RESIDENTS OUT, WE CONTINUE TO LOOK AT THE VACANT, DECAY OF HIGH-RISE BUILDINGS, WE CONTINUE TO READ STORIES OF HOW THIS IS THE BORINGEST CITY, WE CONTINUE TO SEE THE NEGATIVITY. AND SO I LOOK AT YOU AS A VERY PROMISING GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS RUNNING THIS CITY. I SEE YOU COMING TOGETHER, AND I'M VERY PROUD OF THAT, BUT I THINK THIS IS ONE SITUATION WHERE WE NEED TO STAND FOR THE PEOPLE. I'M A VETERAN, AS A COUPLE OF YOU ARE, AND YOU PUT YOUR HAND UP AND YOU SAID DEFEND AGAINST ALL ENEMIES, FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC. WELL, WE HAVE ENEMIES HERE, DOMESTIC ENEMIES, AND I THINK IT'S UPON US TO GO BACK INTO THE "WE THE PEOPLE," AND START THINKING ABOUT WHO WE REPRESENT, THE PEOPLE. WE DON'T REPRESENT THE PORT. YOU WERE VOTED IN BY THE PEOPLE. YOU WERE VOTED IN BY THE COMMUNITY. YOU WERE VOTED IN BY THE CITY OPPORTUNITIES FOR GROWTH. AND I HOPE YOU GUYS UNDERSTAND THE DAMAGE THAT YOU'RE DOING RIGHT NOW WITH A VERY BIG, BEAUTIFUL BRIDGE THAT WE HAVE THERE, BUT SOME OF YOU ALREADY HAVE A PLAN. I ALREADY KNOW THAT. AND UNFORTUNATELY, WE'RE GOING TO PUSH OUT PEOPLE IN THAT PLAN. THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> Mayor Guajardo: THANK YOU, SIR. YES MA'AM. >> ALENA CASTEEL, TALK TEXAS. I THINK WE'VE TALKED A LOT ABOUT THE FOUR-PARTY AGREEMENT. THAT PART OF THE AGREEMENT FOR THE CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI TO THE RESIDENTS OF HILLCREST WAS TO OFFER A CDBG MINOR HOME REPAIR PROGRAM, CDBG SINGLE FAMILY REHABILITATION PROGRAM, CDBG APPLIANCE REPLACEMENT PROGRAM, HOME INVESTMENT PARTNERSHIPS, HOME BUYER ASSISTANCE AND HOME INVESTMENT PARTNERSHIPS REHABILITATION PROGRAM FOR VETERANS. THERE WAS ALSO SUPPOSED TO BE A COMMUNITY LIAISON THAT WAS HIRED TO BE WORKING ON A QUARTERLY BASIS WITH THE RESIDENTS OF HILLCREST. SO MUCH HAS BEEN MADE FOR THE PORT OF CORPUS CHRISTI. YOU HAD TO DO THIS BECAUSE OF THE FOUR-PARTY AGREEMENT, BUT WHAT ABOUT WHAT NEEDS TO BE FULFILLED FOR THE RESIDENTS OF HILLCREST AND WASHINGTON COLES? I READ THIS AND IT SAYS LEADERSHIP DOESN'T SHOW UP LATE, IT SHOWS UP WHEN IT'S HARD. THIS ISN'T ABOUT BEING HUMAN, IT'S ABOUT LEADING WITH MORALS. YOU GET TO SLEEP COMFORTABLY IN YOUR PRIVILEGE WHILE OTHERS SLEEP IN FEAR. THE RESIDENTS WHO LIVE IN HILLCREST AND WASHINGTON COLES HAVE THAT FEAR BECAUSE YOU HAVE RESIDENTS -- YOU HAVE REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE PORT OF CORPUS CHRISTI WHO ARE HARASSING THEM EVERY DAY TO SELL THEIR HOMES. >> Mayor Guajardo: THANK YOU. >> THAT IS NOT RIGHT. THANK YOU. >> MY NAME IS JAMES KLEIN. I LIVE IN DISTRICT 2 HERE IN CORPUS CHRISTI. I'LL JUST REITERATE OR ECHO THE COMMENTS MADE BY COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO ABOUT THE FOUR-PARTY AGREEMENT, BECAUSE I THINK THAT THAT'S GOING TO PUT PARKS AND PERHAPS A POOL NOW AS WELL IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THIS PROPOSED LAYDOWN YARD, I JUST DON'T THINK THAT'S A WISE LOCATION. THANK YOU. >> Mayor Guajardo: THANK YOU, SIR. OKAY. THAT COMPLETES OUR PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE ITEM. WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND SUBMIT. COUNCILWOMAN CAMPOS? >> Campos: AGAIN, I JUST WANTED TO THANK THE PUBLIC, TO THANK THE RESIDENTS FOR COMING HERE AND MAKING YOUR VOICES HEARD. I ALSO WANTED TO JUST MAKE SURE THAT -- THAT I DON'T KNOW IF YOU SUBMITTED THIS, YOU KNOW, FOR ALL -- NO, I KNOW WE HAVE IT. SO BECAUSE -- LOOK AT THE DIFFERENCE, 25 YEARS AGO HOW, YOU KNOW, WONDERFUL AND BEAUTIFUL THE CITY HAD A PICTURE FOR HILLCREST. AND AT THE TIME, IT WAS ALMOST 500, YOU KNOW, RESIDENTS LIVING THERE, AND IT'S JUST ASHAME THAT WE JUST KEEP CUTTING DOWN AND CUTTING DOWN AND CUTTING DOWN SO WHERE THERE'S, YOU KNOW, NO PEOPLE LIVING THERE ANYMORE. BUT THIS IS AT LEAST MY STAND TO SAY NO. I WILL NOT BE SUPPORTING THIS. COUNCILMA N HERNANDEZ? >> Hernandez: I NOTICE A LOT OF THIS IS -- SOME OF THE VACATED STREETS THAT ARE ON HERE, BUT YOU STILL HAVE BROADWAY ON HERE. WAS THAT REMOVED? >> Dice: IT'S REMOVED FROM THE ACTION BECAUSE IT WASN'T PART OF THE STREET CLOSURE, SO THERE IS NO ZONE TO BE ON A RIGHT OF WAY. >> Hernandez: OKAY. THANK YOU. >> Mayor Guajardo: OKAY. I'LL ASK EVERYONE TO PLEASE SUBMIT THEIR VOTE. >> City Secretary: MAYOR, WE DIDN'T HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND ON THE -- >> Mayor Guajardo: OH. >> City Secretary: -- ON THE ORDINANCE. >> Barrera: I MOVE FOR APPROVAL. >> City Secretary: I DIDN'T HEAR ONE IF WE DID. >> Scott: SECOND. >> Mayor Guajardo: WE HAVE A SECOND, COUNCILMAN SCOTT? BY THE WAY, DID YOU GET -- DID YOU RECORD MY VOTE, THE VOICE VOTE ON THE LAST ITEM FOR ME. >> City Secretary: YES, MA'AM. >> Mayor Guajardo: YOU VOTED NO? >> City Secretary: YES, MA'AM. >> Mayor Guajardo: I'M JUST MAKING SURE. SOMEBODY SENT ME A MESSAGE SAYING WE DIDN'T. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. PLEASE SUBMIT YOUR VOTE. THE MOTION CARRIES. THAT TAKES US TO THE LAST ITEM PULLED, WHICH IS ITEM NUMBER 20. THAT IS A MOTION AWARDING A CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT TO CRAW FORWARD HENDRICKSON AND CRAWFORD LLC OF ADDISON . AND WHO PULLED THIS ITEM? COUNCILWOMAN CAMPOS? >> Campos: YES. CAN YOU PRE. >> Mayor Guajardo: CAN YOU PRESS YOUR LIGHT, PLEASE. >> Campos: I THINK THIS IS A REALLY GOOD ITEM, BUT I JUST WANTED TO MAKE A PLEA FOR MORE TREES, OR AT LEAST KEEP THE EXISTING TREES. I DIDN'T SEE THAT IN THE RENDITION, THE PICTURES THAT I SAW, SO CAN YOU JUST CONFIRM THAT WE ARE GOING TO BE KEEPING SOME OF THE TREES, BECAUSE I KNOW THAT THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE PLUMBING OR WHAT HAVE YOU, BUT CAN YOU PLEASE SPEAK TO THAT? >> Edmonds: I THINK I'M GOING TO LET LAURA SPEAK TO THAT ONE. >> LAURA GARCIA, LIBRARY DIRECTOR. THE TREES WERE ACTUALLY REMOVED DURING THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE STREET WHEN THEY WERE DOING THE SIDEWALKS, THEY CAME IN TOO FAR, AND THEY STARTED DAMAGING THE ROOTS, AND THEN THERE WAS A TREE ON THE WEST SIDE THAT WAS -- WE WERE REALLY HOPING TO SAVE, BUT IT BECAME A SAFETY CONCERN FOR THE WORKERS. ONE DAY THEY HAD IT WITH -- TIED WITH A BULLDOZER, BECAUSE IT WAS GOING TO FALL WHERE THEY WERE WORKING ON IT. AND WE HAD TO MAKE A DECISION THAT COULDN'T SAVE THAT ONE EITHER. >> Campos: SO ARE WE PLANNING, THOUGH, TO PLANT MORE TREES? >> YES, THERE WILL BE SOME TREES PLANTED IN THE AREA. >> Campos: AND DO YOU -- BECAUSE I DIDN'T SEE A CURRENT PICTURE OF -- >> THERE SHOULD BE SOME. >> Zanoni: SLIDE 6 HAS A -- YEAH. THE NEXT ONE, JEFF, THERE'S SOME -- THERE'S A LOWER TREES THERE. AND THEN IF YOU GO TO THE NEXT TWO SLIDES, THERE'S -- IN THE BACK, THIS ABUTS THE PARK, T THE BLEUCHER PARK. >> Campos: I SAW SOME IN THE BACK, BUT NOT IN THE FRONT. SO THERE'S NOT GOING TO BE ANY IN THE FRONT? >> THERE'S SOME IN THE FRONT. >> Campos: I THINK WE COULD DO A LITTLE BIT BETTER, BECAUSE THERE'S HARDLY ANY SHADE. IT'S NOT EVEN -- WHAT KIND OF TREES ARE THOSE, THEY'RE LIKE, WHAT, CRAPE MYRTLES OR SOMETHING? I MEAN, NO. ANYWAY, I'M JUST ADVOCATING FOR MORE -- FOR MORE TREES. I MEAN, I KNOW THAT WE ENDED UP HAVING TO REMOVE SOME OF THEM, BUT I'M HOPING THAT WE WERE GOING TO HAVE -- TO PLANT SOME FOR THE FUTURE, SO THAT WE WOULD HAVE AT LEAST SOME SHADING FOR OUR -- ONE OF OUR OLDEST LIBRARIES. >> YEAH. >> Mayor Guajardo: YEAH, TO ADD TO THAT, COUNCILWOMAN, DON'T WE STILL HAVE TREES TO BE PLANTED THROUGH THE -- >> Zanoni: THROUGH OUR ENERGY PARTNER, I'M NOT SURE ON THAT ONE. >> Mayor Guajardo: RIGHT. WELL, IF Y'ALL CAN CHECK WITH PARKS, BECAUSE WHAT WE CAN DO IS TAKE SOME OF THOSE TREES, I THINK THERE IS A PLAN. I CAN'T RECALL -- I CAN'T RECALL WHERE, I THINK THERE IS A PLAN, THOUGH, OF WHERE THE TREES ARE GOING. BUT IF WE CAN MAYBE DIVERT SOME OF THEM TO COME -- >> Zanoni: OKAY. WE CAN LOOK INTO IT FOR SOME ADDITIONAL. >> Mayor Guajardo: YEAH. THAT WOULD BE GREAT. GOOD POINT. >> Campos: THANK YOU. COUNCILWO MAN VAUGHN? >> Vaughn: I AGREE, THERE DOES NEED TO BE TREES, I UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT WE NEED TO BE AWARE, WE'RE IN A DROUGHT AND PROBABLY BE FOR YEARS TO COME, I'M HOPING THE CITY IS THE EXAMPLE AND THAT WE DO ZERO LANDSCAPING, YOU CAN DO BEAUTIFUL STUFF WITH TREES AND YOU CAN HAVE SHADE WIT WITH XERILANDSCAPING. IF WE DON'T HAVE A POLICY, PETER, WE NEED TO HAVE ONE. COUNCILWO MAN PAXSON. >> Paxson: PETER, CAN WE -- I'M FAMILIAR WITH THIS PROPERTY. I ACTUALLY LOVED THIS LIBRARY GROWING UP. WE'D GO IN THE BACK AND HAVE NAR NNIA ADVENTURES IN THE BACK. IT'S A UNIQUE PROPERTY. THERE'S SLOPES AND LOW PLACES ALL THROUGHOUT, SO TO ANSWER TO I THINK COUNCILWOMAN CAMPOS AND COUNCILWOMAN VAUGHN, I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF REALLY UNIQUE WAYS WHERE YOU CAN CAPITALIZE ON THOSE NATURAL SLOPES TO DIRECT RAINWATER AND DRAINAGE FROM THE OTHER GUTTERS AND THINGS LIKE THAT, BUT STILL BE ABLE TO FACILITATE THESE TREES, BECAUSE TO ME, AS A CHILD, THAT WAS A BIG PART OF WHY THAT PROPERTY WAS SO SPECIAL BECAUSE IT'S -- IT'S UNIQUE FOR CENTRAL CITY CHILDREN AND FAMILIES FOR THAT TYPE OF GREEN SCAPE, SO I WOULD ALSO AGREE WITH THAT. >> Zanoni: OKAY. >> Paxson: AND PERHAPS, LIKE COUNCILWOMAN VAUGHN SAID, PERHAPS WE CAN REVISIT OUR CONSERVATION PLAN IN THE NEAR FUTURE. >> Zanoni: M UH-HUH, SURE. YEAH, OUR WATER CONSERVATION PLAN. >> Paxson: YEAH. >> Zanoni: YES, WE CAN. >> Paxson: AND WITH THAT, I MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE. >> SECOND. COUNCILMA N ROY? >> Roy: I WANTED TO JUST MAKE A STATEMENT. YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THIS BUILDING AND THE THINGS THAT HAVE TAKEN PLACE THERE WITH THE SENSORY ROOM AND A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT HAVE GONE ON. AND I WAS THERE POST ONE OF THE REALLY BAD TROPICAL STORMS AND IT WAS FLOODING AND YOU HAD A LOT OF ISSUES THERE, AND, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF CHILDREN AND ADULTS AND COMMUNITY THAT DEPEND ON THAT LIBRARY. AND I THINK THIS IS REALLY -- I MEAN, THIS IS A PROJECT THAT WAS A BOND PROJECT THAT THE VOTERS VOTED ON, BUT I THINK IN TERMS OF WHAT THIS IS GOING TO DO, IT'S GOING TO GIVE THE -- I GUESS GLASS IS GOING TO BE HURRICANE PROOF. IT'S CURRENTLY NOT, RIGHT? >> YES, CURRENTLY WE HAVE SHUTTERS THAT WE HAVE TO BRING DOWN. >> Roy: YES. >> AND UNFORTUNATELY, SOME OF THOSE SHUTTERS, ONCE WE BRING THEM DOWN, WE CAN'T BRING THEM BACK UP. IF YOU NOTICE IN SOME OF THE PICTURES, THAT'S WHY THEY'RE DOWN BECAUSE THEY'VE BROKEN, AND WE HAVE REPAIRED SOME ALONG THE WAY, BUT IT JUST BECAME AN ISSUE NOT TO CONTINUE REPAIRING. BUT THE WINDOWS WILL BE HURRICANE. >> Roy: YEAH, SO THIS CAMPUS IS REALLY GOING TO BE A BEACON IN TERMS OF THAT NEIGHBORHOOD, A NEIGHBORHOOD THAT I THINK NEEDS TO SEE AND CONTINUE TO SEE IMPROVEMENT. AND I JUST THINK IT'S A GOOD-NEWS ITEM, AND I'M GLAD TO BE A PART OF IT. >> THANK YOU, SIR. >> Roy: SO -- YES. >> Mayor Guajardo: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN. LET'S SEE. COUNCILMAN HERNANDEZ, BECAUSE YOU SPOKE ONCE, MRS. CAMPOS. >> Hernandez: GOKAY. IN THE BID TABULATION, YOU HAVE UNDERGROUND SPRINKLERS, SOIL PREPARATION, SODDING AND PLANTS. OKAY. YOU KNOW, I KNOW WE'RE TRYING TO SAVE ON WATER, BUT YET WE'RE PUTTING IN WATER REQUIREMENTS FOR LANDSCAPING. SO KIND OF EXPLAIN, I MEAN, IF WE'RE IN A DROUGHT, HOW ARE YOU -- HOW ARE WE -- YOU KNOW, AND COUNCILWOMAN VAUGHN JUST SAID XERISCAPING, WHAT ARE WE DOING? >> Edmonds: JEFF EDMONDS, DIRECTOR OF ENGINEERING SERVICES, AND ON A LOT OF THESE PROJECTS, IT'S GOING TO DEPEND. SO WE'VE GOT SOME THAT ARE REQUIRING THESE KIND OF LANDSCAPING REQUIREMENTS AND WE'RE MAKING CHANGES AS WE GET TOWARDS THE END. IF WE'RE IN THE WATERING RESTRICTIONS THAT WE HAVE NOW, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE SOME CHANGES. >> Hernandez: OKAY. SO PETER, DO YOU NEED A MOTION FROM US TO CHANGE THE REQUIREMENTS TO -- FOR SERRY SCAPING? DO WE NEED TO MAKE CHANGES TO THE UDC THAT REQUIRES A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF LANDSCAPING? I MEAN, WHAT IS IT THAT YOU NEED US TO DO HERE. >> Zanoni: I THINK, COUNCILMAN, AS JEFF SAID, PROJECT BY PROJECT WE'RE MAKING DECISIONS, IF THE DROUGHT CONTINUES. THE HOPE ONE DAY IS WE STILL WON'T BE IN A WATERING RESTRICTION SITUATION, BUT THE MOBILIZATION -- IF WE REMOBILIZE CREWS TO PUT IN LANDSCAPING AND TEAR UP EVERYTHING THAT WAS PUT IN, WHETHER IT WAS SOD OR SERRY SCAPE, IT BECOMES MORE EXPENSIVE, SO AT THE AMERICAN BANK CENTER AS AN EXAMPLE, WE PUT IN LANDSCAPING BUT WE'RE WATERING IT WITH EFFLUENT REUSE. >> Mayor Guajardo: RIGHT. >> Zanoni: AND WE'RE LOOKING AT USING THE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM AT SOME POINT. >> Hernandez: OKAY. BUT THAT'S NOT THE SCOPE OF THIS PROJECT. WE'RE NOT UTILIZING THE HVAC SYSTEMS TO -- >> Zanoni: NO. BUT IF WE DO PLANT THE LANDSCAPING, WE'LL WATER IT WITH EFFLUENT REUSE AS PART OF THAT PROJECT TO GET THEM ESTABLISHED. >> Hernandez: WHERE WOULD YOU GET THE EFFLUENT REUSE. >> Zanoni: FROM OUR OSO WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT. >> Hernandez: BUT THERE'S NOT A PURPLE PIPE. >> Zanoni: WE WOULD TRUCK IT IN. >> I JUST WANTED TO MAKE A COMMENT THAT WE HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT THE TYPE OF PLANTINGS THAT WE -- THAT WHAT WE PLANT THERE THAT HAS BEEN TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION NOT TO BE SOMETHING THAT WILL NEED -- REQUIRE A LOT OF WATERING, THAT'S WHY WE'RE STILL EVALUATING WHAT WE'RE ACTUALLY GOING TO PLANT AT THE TIME, BECAUSE THAT WAS CONSIDERED VERY LOW WATER REQUIREMENTS IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S ON THE. >> Hernandez: I UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT WE OR STILL PUTTING IN A SPRINKLER SYSTEM THAT WOULD EVENTUALLY USE WATER. SO IF WE'RE SERIOUSLY COMMITTED TO UTILIZING THINGS THAT DON'T REQUIRE WATER LIKE THAT, THEN WHY ARE WE DOING THIS HERE? WE COULD DO -- LIKE THEY DO IN SOME OF THE DESERT COMMUNITIES WHERE THEY PUT LIKE DECORATIVE ROCKS OR, YOU KNOW, OR ARTIFICIAL TURF. I MEAN, IT COULD BE A NUMBER OF THINGS THAT WOULDN'T REQUIRE US TO USE WATER. AND, YOU KNOW, ARE WE SETTING THE EXAMPLE OR NOT? I MEAN -- >> Zanoni: YEAH, SO THIS ONE -- IF YOU LOOK AT THE SLIDES F WE PUT IT UP, AS LAURA SAID, IT'S DROUGHT TOLERANT NATIVE PLANTS THAT SETS THE EXAMPLE. WE DO WANT SOME GREENERY STILL IN OUR CITY. WE KNOW THAT WE'RE IN A DROUGHT AND WE'RE REDUCING THE AMOUNT OF NONNATIVE SPECIES, SO EVENTUALLY WANTS THE PLANTS GET ESTABLISHED, THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO WITHSTAND DROUGHT CONDITIONS, BUT IF WE SEE ISSUES WITH THE PLANTS, IF WE'RE STILL IN A DROUGHT, WE'LL USE EFFLUENT REUSE, BRINGING IT IN WITH THE WATER CART OR A TRUCK, BUT ONE DAY WE HOPE TO NOT BE IN THESE CONDITIONS AND IF WE HAVE TO USE THE IRRIGATION SYSTEM, THEN WE WOULD IN THAT CASE. >> Mayor Guajardo: YEAH. AND COUNCILMAN, I BELIEVE WE ALLOWED DEVELOPERS TO LAY SOD, DON'T WE? >> Zanoni: WE DO, YEAH. >> Mayor Guajardo: WE ALLOW DEVELOPERS TO LAY THE SOD. >> Zanoni: WE DO, FOR 30 DAYS TO GET IT ESTABLISHED. >> Mayor Guajardo: RIGHT. I THINK WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT IS THE FUTURE, SO FIVE YEARS FROM NOW, YOU KNOW, I WOULD THINK THAT EVERYBODY COULD HAVE THEIR IRRIGATION SYSTEMS BACK ON AND IF WE'RE MAKING THE INVESTMENT NOW, THEN THAT WOULD JUST MAKE SENSE FOR THE FUTURE, ARE WE GOING TO USE THAT IRRIGATION SYSTEM? NO. DID THE DEVELOPERS, FOR EXAMPLE, WHO WE WHOLEHEARTEDLY SUPPORT AND TRIED VERY HARD TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT WE WORK WITH THEM, SO THAT WHEN THEY BUILD A HOME, IT'S NOT A DIRT FRONT YARD, YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHAT WE DID WITH THEM. AND SO I THINK HERE YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE FUTURE AS WELL AS BEING VERY COGNIZANT OF WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO END UP PLANTING WHEN THAT STAGE COMES. >> ESPECIALLY BECAUSE WE'RE ALSO WORKING WITH THE AUDUBON AND SO FORTH BECAUSE OF BLUCHER PARK BEING THERE, WE HAVE TO CONSIDER WHAT WE PLANT IN FRONT THAT IT WON'T IMPACT THE PARK AS WELL. >> Mayor Guajardo: OKAY. >> Hernandez: I SEE WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, RIGHT. >> YES, SIR. >> Hernandez: BUT WE'RE HERE TELLING EVERYBODY TO CONSERVE AND, YOU KNOW, DON'T UTILIZE -- YOU KNOW, DON'T WATER YOUR PLANTS AND THEN WE'RE IN THE SITUATION WHERE WE'RE CREATING A SCENARIO WHERE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO WATER, YOU KNOW, PLANTS AND GRASS, REGARDLESS IF IT'S -- >> Zanoni: THE GOAL IS TO GET THEM ESTABLISHED, LIKE ANY LANDSCAPING -- >> Hernandez: I GET IT, BUT YOU HAVE SHOWN IN THIS DRAWING IS A VERY LARGE, ROBUST LAWN. >> Zanoni: UH-HUH. >> Hernandez: I JUST -- YOU KNOW, I FEEL LIKE WE'RE BEING HYPOCRITES HERE. >> Zanoni: YEAH, THE LAWN'S A LITTLE DECEIVING. I DON'T THINK THE DEPTH IS THAT GREAT IN THE REALITY PICTURE, BUT WE DO -- WE DO -- IF THE AUDUBON SOCIETY WAS HERE, AND I'M NOT A HORTICULTURIST, BUT THERE IS BENEFIT IN LIVE PLANTS FOR AIR CLEANING AND BEAUTY FOR THE CHILDREN AND PEOPLE THAT GO THERE, SO WE'RE TRYING TO STRIKE A BALANCE. >> Hernandez: YOU CAN HAVE PLANTS THAT DON'T REQUIRE LOTS OF WATER. >> Zanoni: THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING. >> Hernandez: CACTUS AND -- I JUST THINK -- >> Mayor Guajardo: THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE DOING, THOUGH, THEY ARE GOING TO LOOK AT THE PLANTS TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE DROUGHT-PROOF. >> Edmonds: I'D LIKE TO CLARIFY TO EXPAND ON SOMETHING THE MANAGER SAID. IT IS A LITTLE DECEIVING ON THAT PHOTO. AS YOU KNOW THERE'S KIND OF A STEEP SLOPE GOING UP TO THE LIBRARY AND THERE'S GOING TO BE A THREE-TIER LANDSCAPING BEDS THAT HAVE DRIP IRRIGATION AND PLAPT THAT'S ARE INTENDED TO BE LOW WATER USE. AND THE LAWN AREA IS ACTUALLY NOT THAT LARGE IN FRONT OF THE -- >> [OFF MIC] >> Edmonds: YES, SIR. >> Mayor Guajardo: YEAH. >> Edmonds: THAT'S FOR THE LAWN AREA. IT IS DRIP IRRIGATION. >> Mayor Guajardo: THANK YOU, JEFF. COUNCILWOMAN CAMPOS? >> Campos: OKAY. I JUST WANTED TO ALSO REMIND THE AUDIENCE AND MY FELLOW COUNCILMEMBERS THAT TREES DO HELP FIGHT CLIMATE CHANGE AND THAT TREES, IN THE FIRST FIVE YEARS, USE VERY -- I MEAN, YES, YOU DO HAVE TO USE WATER, BUT IT'S WAY LESS THAN ACTUALLY DOING THE HAND HOSE, IF YOU WERE TO HAVE A DRIP IRRIGATION SYSTEM. AS A MATTER OF FACT, THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE AT CARROLL LANE PARK AND I BELIEVE THAT, YOU KNOW -- NOT I BELIEVE, I KNOW THAT THESE TREES ARE THRIVING AND IT DOES NOT HAVE TO COST, YOU KNOW, AN ARM AND A LEG. I THINK WE ENDED UP PAYING 2,000 THE FIRST TIME AND I THINK 1500 THE NEXT TIME FOR, LIKE, 30 TREES, SO, AGAIN, IT CAN BE DONE. AND, YES, WE CAN HAVE NICE THINGS. YES, I'M ALL ABOUT XERISCAPING, YES, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE STILL NEED TREES TO FIGHT CLIMATE CHANGE AND TO PROVIDE SHADE AND, YOU KNOW, FOOD FOR THE BIRDS OR WHAT HAVE YOU. SO WE CAN'T JUST, YOU KNOW, ELIMINATE TREES. SO, AGAIN, THANK YOU AND I THINK WE HAVE ALREADY A MOTION AND -- >> Mayor Guajardo: WE DO. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. ONE MORE COMMENT. >> Vaughn: I'M JUST GOING TO CLARIFY HERE, I DON'T WANT IT TO LOOK LIKE A DESERT, THAT'S NOT WHAT I'M SAYING. I'M JUST SAYING THERE ARE THINGS THAT WE CAN DO -- WE DO NEED TO LOOK FOR THE FUTURE, NOT JUST NOW. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE DROUGHTS AGAIN, THIS IS NOT THE ONLY DROUGHT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE. LET'S BE THE EXAMPLE, LET'S DO SEERR ROLAND SCAPING, YOU CAN DO BEAUTIFUL THINGS WITH THAT, AND, YES, SYLVIA, YOU CAN STILL HAVE A FEW TREES. THE ONES THAT TAKE A LOT OF WATER, THERE ARE THINGS THAT WE CAN DO THAT HAVE SHADE THAT AREXERILANDSCAPING THAT DO THE EXACT SAME EFFECT. THAT'S ALL I'M SAYING. THANK YOU. >> Mayor Guajardo: AND I THINK Y'ALL'S GRAPHIC COULD HAVE AVOIDED ALL OF THIS. YOU COULD HAVE PUT THE LITTLE PLANT THERE, MAYBE A TREE OR TWO. >> Zanoni: YEAH. >> Mayor Guajardo: AND CUT OUT SOME OF THAT GREEN. WE HEAR YOU, YOU'RE ALREADY DOING IT, YOU'VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT THE RIGHT PLANTS TO GO IN. WE BELIEVE YOU. SO THANK YOU. SO WE HAVE A MOTION, WE HAVE A SECOND. PLEASE SUBMIT YOUR VOTE. ITEM NUMBER 20. OKAY. THE MOTION CARRIES. OH GIL. OKAY. SO THE COUNCIL IS GOING TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION ON ITEMS 35 THROUGH 37 PER TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTIONS 551.071, 551.072 AND 551.087. WE WILL RETURN. [CITY COUNCIL IN EXECUTIVE SESSION] [EXECUTIVE SESSION] [EXECUTIVE SESSION] [EXECUTIVE SESSION] [EXECUTIVE SESSION] [EXECUTIVE SESSION] >> MY NAME'S JEREMY VALGART. IT BRINGS ME A LOT OF JOY AND HAPPINESS TO PRESENT THIS PROJECT TO YOU. IT'S A PROJECT THAT'S BEEN IN THE WORKS SINCE 1997. WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO GET ADDITIONAL AIR SERVICE HERE IN CORPUS CHRISTI FOR A VERY LONG TIME. WE GO OUT TO A LOT OF THE AIRLINES, WE PITCH THE IDEA OF CORPUS CHRISTI TO ALL OVER THE NATION AND THE WORLD. WE'VE ALWAYS WANTED ADDITIONAL AIR SERVICE. BACK IN 2021, WE APPLIED FOR WHAT'S CALLED A SMALL COMMUNITY AIR SERVICE DEVELOPMENT GRANT, AND WITH THAT SMALL COMMUNITY AIR SERVICE DEVELOPMENT GRANT, WE'RE LOOKING TO GET SERVICE TO A WESTERN DESTINATION. THE FEDERAL DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AGREED, THEY AWARDED US THE GRANT IN THE AMOUNT OF $750,000 AND GAVE US THE TASK TO GO FIND AN AIRLINE TO GO TO A WESTERN DESTINATION. TODAY I'M HAPPY TO ANNOUNCE THAT FRONTIER AIRLINES HAS REACHED OUT TO US BASED OUT OF DENVER WOULD LIKE TO OFFER SERVICE BETWEEN CORPUS CHRISTI AND DE DENVER INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. DENVER'S ALWAYS BEEN A BIG ROUTE FOR US. IF YOU LOOK AT THE DATA, 63,000 PEOPLE A YEAR MAKE THEIR WAY FROM DENVER OR DOWN TO CORPUS CHRISTI, FLYING, DRIVING, TAKING A TRAIN HOWEVER THEY DO IT, GETTING FROM CORPUS CHRISTI TO DENVER. THIS IS A GOOD MARKET, THIS IS A GOOD MARKET FOR UNITED AND SOUTHWEST. THEY DON'T LIKE TO OVERFLY A HUB AIRPORT TO GET TO THE DESTINATION AIRPORT. THEY'RE GOING TO STOP IN HOUSTON OR DFW. THIS SERVICE IS A NONSTOP FLIGHT FROM CORPUS TO DENVER. HERE'S ANOTHER SLIDE HERE THAT SUPPORTS THIS, SO OF ALL THE PEOPLE THAT ARE FLYING TO DENVER OR FROM DENVER TO CORPUS, ONLY 27 OF THOSE PEOPLE OUT OF 87 PASSENGERS PER DAY, ONLY 27 OF THOSE PEOPLE ARE ACTUALLY FLYING OUT OF CORPUS. BIG REASON FOR THAT IS OBVIOUSLY THE COST, RIGHT, AND THERE'S NO DIRECT FLIGHT. THERE'S NO NONSTOP FROM HERE TO DENVER. SO THIS WOULD REALLY HELP US CAPTURE THIS 87 PASSENGERS PER DAY THAT WE'RE NOT GETTING DUE TO NOT HAVING THAT DIRECT FLIGHT ACCESS. THIS IS KIND OF A BIGGER PICTURE, SO LOOKING BEYOND DENVER, THERE'S -- WITHIN OUR CATCHMENT AREA, THERE'S 2.1 MILLION PEOPLE A YEAR THAT FLY TO OR FROM THE CORPUS CHRISTI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT -- OR EXE EXCUSE ME, THAT FLY OUT OF OUR CATCHMENT AREA. PEOPLE ARE DRIVING TO ANOTHER AIRPORT. WE BELIEVE A LOT OF THAT IS BECAUSE OF NONSTOP SERVICE AND THE PRICE PER TICKET. SO THIS NEW PROPOSED SERVICE TO US WOULD REALLY HELP HOPEFULLY CAPTURE SOME OF THAT TRAFFIC AND BRING THEM BACK TO FLYING LOCALLY OUT OF OUR AIRPORT. IT'S NO LONGER A PROPOSED CARRIER, WE KNOW IT'S FRONTIER, BUT HERE'S JUST A LITTLE SNAPSHOT THAT SHOWS, YOU KNOW, FRONTIER'S PROPOSED OR ESTIMATED ROUND TRIP COST FOR A FAMILY OF FOUR WITH TWO CHECKED BAGS IS GOING TO RUN ABOUT $200 FOR A ROUND TRIPTYCHETTE. TRIP TICKET. IT BECOMES MORE AFFORDABLE FOR TAKING A TRIP TO THE MOUNTAINS AND FOR THE PEOPLE IN COLORADO TO COME TO CORPUS CHRISTI. SO HERE'S KIND OF D DETAILS OF THE MINIMUM REVENUE GUARANTEE. THEY'RE ASKING FOR A MINIMUM REVENUE GUARANTEE, WHICH IS FOR THEM TO COME AND TEST THE MARKET. THERE'S NO AIRLINE OUT THERE RIGHT NOW THAT'S RUNNING AT RISK FOR A SMALL AIRPORT LIKE US, SO THEY'RE ASKING US TO HELP PAY FOR THAT FLIGHT IN THE EVENT THAT IT DOESN'T MAKE A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF MONEY. OKAY? MZ WHAT THEY'RE ASKING FOR IS FOR US NEVER TO EXCEED AN AMOUNT OF $6,568 PER LEG AND THAT'S GOING TO BE BILLED OUT ON A QUARTERLY BASIS. SO ONE MONTH DURING OUR SPRING AND OUR SUMMER MONTHS ARE DOING REALLY WELL AND IT'S BILLED OUT ON A QUARTERLY BASIS, WE CAN CREDIT THOSE HIGHER YIELD FLIGHTS TO SOME OF THE LOWER YIELD FLIGHTS AND HOPEFULLY NOT BE OUT ANY MONEY. SO WE ONLY PAY ANYTHING OUT OF OUR POCKET IF THE AIRLINE DOESN'T MEET A CERTAIN LEVEL OF PROFITABILITY. WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING IS THAT THIS MONEY WOULD COME FROM 437,000 WILL COME FROM THE GRANT THAT I TOLD YOU ABOUT EARLIER. WE'RE REQUIRED TO MATCH THOSE FUNDS AT 44%. WE AS AN AIRPORT CAN'T DO THAT. WE CANNOT SUBSIDIZE ONE AIRLINE OVER ANOTHER AIRLINE, SO WE HAVE TO GET SOME COMMUNITY SUPPORT TO DO SO. SO WE'VE REACHED OUT TO VISIT CORPUS CHRISTI. THEY'VE COMMITTED $100,000, AND WE WENT TO THE TYPE B CORPORATION YESTERDAY AND TYPE B CORPORATION APPROVED AND HAS AGREED TO PAY THE REST. SO THESE ARE KIND OF THE DETAILS OF THE AGREEMENT USING THE GRANT, WE HAVE TO FUND 787,000 OF THAT. ONCE THE SCASD FUNDS AND THE COMMUNITY SUPPORT HAS RUN OUT THERE WILL BE A DIRECT AGREEMENT BETWEEN TYPE B AND THE AIRLINE ITSELF. AGAIN, NONE OF THIS IS COMING FROM THE GENERAL FUND, AND, AGAIN, WE ONLY PAY THIS MONEY OUT IF THE ROUTE IS NOT SUCCESSFUL. IF THE ROUTE IS NOT SUCCESSFUL AT THE END OF THE DETERMINE -- SO THEY'RE GOING TO FLY, IT'S GOING TO START -- IS IT ON THIS SLIDE? HERE WE GO. THEY'RE GOING TO START OCTOBER NIERNT IS THE FIRST DAY YOU CAN FLY OUT. FRONTIER BEAT US TO THE BUNCH, THEY ALREADY MADE THE ANNOUNCEMENT, YOU CAN BUY TICKETS TODAY GOING TO DENVER. IT'S TWO ROUND TRIP FLIGHTS A WEEK, SO IT'S THURSDAYS AND SUNDAYS, THEY'RE PROPOSED SCHEDULE IS 6:30 P.M. ARRIVAL IN CORPUS AND IT FLIES OUT AT 7:30 P.M. THAT SAME DAY. IT'S A REALLY GOOD SCHEDULE FOR A LEISURE MARKET, TRYING TO GET UP TO THE MOUNTAINS FOR THE WEEKEND OR COME DOWN TO THE BEACHES FOR THE WEEKEND. THERE'S -- OF COURSE, A LITTLE BIT -- THE LEVEL OF RISK HERE, IF WHEN THE AIRLINE GETS THROUGH THAT AGREEMENT, IF WE END UP SPENDING EVERY BIT OF THE SCASDMRG, THEY COULD PULL SERVICE. IF IT'S SUCCESSFUL, WHICH IS OUR HOPE, THEY WOULD STAY AND RUN AT RISK AND AT THAT POINT THEY'RE LOOKING TO OPEN UP SOME ADDITIONAL CITIES. SO IT'S REALLY PRIMING THE PUMP FOR MORE AIR SERVICE HERE IN CORPUS CHRISTI. SO WITH THAT, ANY QUESTIONS? >> Mayor Guajardo: I THINK COMMENTS. FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU AND YOUR TEAM. THANK YOU TO THE TYPE A -- OR I'M SORRY, TYPE B BOARD TO VISIT CORPUS CHRISTI BECAUSE WITHOUT THAT PARTNERSHIP, WE WOULDN'T BE HERE TODAY. SO THANK EVERYBODY THAT I JUST MENTIONED AND I JUST WANT TO SAY THIS REALLY REFLECTS THE STRONG DEMAND AND THE STRATEGIC WORK THAT OUR AIRPORT TEAM IS DOING. THIS IS TRULY A GAME-CHANGER. SINCE 1997, WE HAVE NOT HAD A -- I THINK WE CALL IT A MAINLINE, NONSTOP FLIGHT. SO THIS IS SO EXCITING. I WANT TO THANK FRONTIER, I KNOW THEY'RE NOT HERE TODAY WITH US, BUT CERTAINLY THEY'RE WATCHING. THANK YOU FOR BELIEVING IN CORPUS CHRISTI FOR FINALLY BELIEVING IN CORPUS CHRISTI. AND KEEP THOSE -- I WOULD IMAGINE NOW ONCE THEY SEE HOPEFULLY THIS IS SUCCESSFUL, WHEN YOU HAVE OVER 60,000 PEOPLE TRAVELING AWAY FROM CORPUS CHRISTI, WHETHER IT BE BY VEHICLE OR AIRPLANE TO GET TO DENVER, YOU KNOW, THE DEMAND IS HERE. SO THIS IS -- THIS IS REALLY EXCITING. SO HOPEFULLY THAT WILL LEAD TO, YOU KNOW, OTHER DIRECT FLIGHTS. THIS -- AGAIN, IT ADDS TREMENDOUS CONVENIENCE TO ALL OF THESE, YOU KNOW, THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WHO ARE ALREADY MAKING THIS TRIP. SO I'M VERY EXCITED. THIS IS HUGE DAY FOR CORPUS CHRISTI, SO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR TEAM. >> THANK YOU, MAYOR. COUNCILWO MAN PAXSON? >> Paxson: THANK YOU, MAYOR. THIS IS A GREAT STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. WE ALL SITTING HERE KNOW -- UNDERSTAND, BELIEVE AND LOVE OUR CITY AND ITS POTENTIAL, SO THANK YOU FOR DOING THE WORK TO MAKE THIS WHERE IT CAN BE PRESENTED TODAY. AND IT'S THE FIRST STEP. I'LL SAY THAT AGAIN, SO LET'S MAKE SURE IT'S ONLY THE FIRST STEP, AND WE'LL KEEP GOING IN THAT DIRECTION, OR SHOULD I SAY FLYING, BUT WE'LL GET THERE. THANK YOU FOR THAT. AND WITH THAT, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION IN SUPPORT. COUNCILWO MAN CAMPOS? >> Campos: OH, OKAY. AGAIN, I JUST FLEW IN FROM CHICAGO LAST WEEK AND HAD TO -- WAS EXPERIENCING THE AIRPORT AND I HADN'T BEEN TO THE AIRPORT. AND SO IT WAS LOVELY TO BE ABLE TO EXPERIENCE THE COMPARISON FROM LARGE AIRPORTS TO WHAT WE HAVE HERE. AND, YOU KNOW, JUST TO HAVE THIS WONDERFUL -- JUST OPPORTUNITY FOR FRONTIER TO INVEST IN OUR CITY IS JUST WONDERFUL. I CAN'T WAIT. I ALREADY HAVE IT DOWN ON MY CALENDAR. I UNDERSTAND IT'S OUR -- WELL, I -- COUNCILMAN'S BIRTHDAY, SO, YEAH, ON THAT DAY, OCTOBER THE NINTH, SO I'M EXCITED. WE'RE EXCITED, AND THANK YOU, AGAIN, TO YOU AND YOUR STAFF FOR STAYING WITH IT AND I HOPE THAT WE CONTINUE MORE. HOPEFULLY MAYBE, YOU KNOW, WILL GET TO SEE THE MONTERREY FLIGHT STRAIGHT, BUT ANYWAY, CONGRATULATIONS AND I THINK IT'S A WIN/WIN FOR EVERYONE. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> Mayor Guajardo: I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND OPEN PUBLIC COMMENT. JEREMY, THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION. WOULD ANYONE LIKE TO MAKE COMMENT ON ITEM NUMBER 31? OKAY. WE'LL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT. WE HAVE A MOTION. COUNCILMAN SCOTT MADE A SECOND. AND EVERYONE, PLEASE SUBMIT YOUR VOTE. THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND WHAT WE'D LIKE TO DO ACTUALLY AT THIS TIME, IF THE COUNCIL CAN COME DOWN TO THE WELL, I THINK WE HAVE A NICE ADVERTISEMENT. DO WE HAVE THAT -- YEAH, THAT BANNER, SO WE CAN TAKE A PHOTO WITH OUR AIRPORT LEADERSHIP. COME ON DOWN. OKAY. NEXT WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND GO TO ITEM 30. THAT'S A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF A CHAPTER 380 INCENTIVE AGREEMENT WITH CINERGY 112, LLC. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL. ARTURO MARCUS, OFFICE OF CITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND IT'S MY PRIVILEGE TO PRESENT TO YOU THIS NEXT ITEM WHICH IS CINERGY ENTERTAINMENT ESPECIALLY AFTER THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THIS NEW FLIGHT. THIS IS ALSO AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DRIVER, AND LET'S GO AHEAD AND GET STARTED. JUST FOR LOCATION PURPOSES, THE SITE OF THIS PROJECT IS LOCATED IN THE INTERSECTION OF RODD FIELD AND SPID. LET ME JUST EXPLAIN A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHO IS CINERGY. THEY'RE A DALLAS, TEXAS, BASED ENTERTAINMENT GROUP WITH NINE DIFFERENT LOCATIONS, WITH OKLAHOMA, TEXAS AND NORTH CAROLINA AND ILLINOIS BEING SOME OF THOSE AREAS. THE COFOUNDERS ARE JEFF AND JAIME BENSON AND THEY ESTABLISHED CINERGY BACK IN 2009. THEY OPENED UP THEIR FIRST CINEMA IN 1999 AND FOUNDED MOVIE TAVERN BACK IN 2001. IT IS NOW THE LARGEST CHAINS OF DINE-IN MOVIES. THE CINERGY CINEMAS ALSO DINE-IN FOOD AND BEVERAGES AND ALSO ADDITIONAL AMENITIES WHICH INCLUDE ARCADE, BOWLING, ROPES SOURCE, ESCAPE ROOMS, LASER TAG, AXE THROWING, THEY WERE AWARDED THE BRASS RINGS AWARDS FOR THE TOP FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT CENTERS OF THE WORLD IN 2009 FROM THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF AMUSEMENT PARKS AND ATTRACTIONS. SO MORE SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THIS PROJECT IN CORPUS CHRISTI, SO WE'RE LOOKING AT A 10-ACRE LOT WITH THE CREATION OF 90,000 SQUARE FEET OF FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT CENTER. IT IS INCLUDING SIX MOVIE THEATERS, A MINIMUM OF 10 BOWLING LANES AND IT HAS OVER 100 ARCADE GAMES. IT HAS INTERACTIVE GAMING AND OF COURSE IT DOES OFFER FULL FOOD AND BEVERAGE OFFICERS. OFFERS. IT HAD A DESIGNATED OF SPORTS BOOK ATMOSPHERE AND THE TOTAL INVESTMENT IS GOING TO BE 40 MILLION. THE ZONING CHANGED TO CG-2 WAS ACTUALLY APPROVED ALREADY IN CITY COUNCIL BACK IN JULY OF 2024, AND THE CONDITION OF PLATS WAS APPROVED THROUGH THE PLANNING CONDITION IN NOVEMBER OF 2024. I ALSO DO WANT TO POINT OUT AND HIGHLIGHT THE FACT THAT THIS IS AN AG EXEMPT LOCATION CURRENTLY ONLY RECEIVING $772 A YEAR FOR THE CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI. NOW, HERE WE HAVE SOME CONCEPTUAL PLANS OF WHAT THE LAYOUT WOULD LOOK LIKE. AND HERE WE HAVE A COUPLE OF RENDERINGS OF THE BOWLING ALLEYS AND CINEMA AND, OF COURSE, SOME OF THE LOUNGE AREAS. I ALSO WANT TO POINT OUT THAT THE INDUSTRY STANDARD FOR BOWLING LANES IS TYPICALLY ONE LANE IS USED FOR EVERY 2,000 PEOPLE, WHICH WOULD LEAD CORPUS CHRISTI TO HAVE A MARKET THAT CAN SUSTAIN ABOUT 160 BOWLING LANES. CURRENTLY, CORPUS CHRISTI ONLY HAS ROUGHLY 20. SO, THEREFORE, WE WILL BE FILLING IN A MARKET NEED THAT IS A DIRE NEED IN CORPUS CHRISTI. FOR THE PROPOSED AMENITY, HERE ARE SOME PICTURES AND ALSO TO POINT OUT WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT DAVE & BUSTERS, THEY ONLY PROVIDE 17,000 SQUARE FEET WHEREAS THIS ONE, AGAIN, ALL IN ALL, IS ABOUT 90,000 SQUARE FEET. SO HERE ARE SOME OTHER PICTURES OF THE BARS, THE ARCADES AND THE VIRTUAL REALITY. AND, OF COURSE, WE ADD TO THE FINANCIAL INCENTIVE. SO JUST REAL QUICKLY, I WANT TO GO THROUGH THE ECONOMIC IMPACT. SO THIS PROJECT IS LOOKING INTO CREATING 143 JOBS, THAT IS BOTH FULL-TIME AND PART-TIME POSITIONS WITH AN ESTIMATED WAGE TO BE PAID OF $2.86 MILLION. THE OVERALL BENEFIT TO THE COMMUNITY AS YOU'LL SEE ON YOUR BOTTOM RIGHT-HAND CORNER IS $16.7 MILLION AND THAT IS EXCLUDING THE INCENTIVE OF 4.15 WHICH I'LL GO OVER IN JUST A SECOND. THIS 60 MILLION -- $16.7 MILLION BENEFIT TO THE COMMUNITY IS THROUGH THE SPAN OF THE 15-YEAR TERM THAT WE'LL TALK ABOUT IN JUST A SECOND, AND IT DOES INCLUDE THE BENEFIT OF THE GENERAL FUND THROUGH THE CITY REAL PROPERTY AND PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX. THE SALES TAX, WHICH, AGAIN, THIS WILL NOT BE IMPACTED THROUGH THE TYPE A/TYPE B. THE RTA SALES TAX AND, OF COURSE, OUR PARTNERS AT THE NUECES COUNTY, THE HOSPITAL DISTRICT AND THE K COLLEGE WOULD ALSO BENEFIT FROM THIS DEAL. AGAIN, THEIR BENEFIT WOULD BE ROUGHLY ABOUT $6.8 MILLION. SO THE INCENTIVE, AS I MENTIONED, IS A REQUEST OF $4.15 MILLION OVER THE SPAN OF 15 YEARS, AND THIS WOULD BE, OF COURSE, WHICHEVER OCCURS FIRST. AND IT WOULD BE AN ANNUAL REIMBURSEMENT FROM THE NEW TAX REVENUE OF THE PROPERTY AND SALES TAX, AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, THIS IS AG EXEMPT, SO THIS WOULD ESSENTIALLY BE ALL NEW TAX CREATED. HERE WE HAVE A TABLE OF THE BREAKDOWN OF WHAT THAT INCENTIVE WOULD LOOK LIKE. AND ONE OF THE BENEFITS WITH THIS DEAL IS THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF DIFFERENT ITEMS THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE PLACING ON THE ACTUAL CONTRACT TO MAKE SURE THAT IT BENEFITS THE CITY. ONE OF THE EXAMPLES IS THAT THE ACTUAL PAID AMOUNT TOWARDS THE COMPANY WOULD MAX OUT AT 375,000 A YEAR. WHAT THAT MEANS IS THAT IF THE COMPANY SELLS MORE THAN -- IN SALES TAX THAT GENERATES OVER 375, THAT ADDITIONAL SALES TAX GENERATED WOULD GO TO THE CITY. AGAIN, THE CAP WOULD BE 375 PER YEAR. AGAIN, WE ARE LOOKING AT A REIMBURSEMENT OF BOTH PROPERTY TAXES AND SALES TAX. THIS IS THE SALES TAX THAT IT GENERATED THROUGH GENERAL FUND TO THE CITY. AGAIN, THE TYPE B AND TYPE A WOULD NOT GET AFFECTED, AND AS I MENTIONED, THIS IS A CAP AMOUNT OF $4.1 MILLION OR 15 YEARS, WHICHEVER COMES FIRST. SO IF THE COMPANY'S ABLE TO GENERATE TAXES -- SALES TAX QUICKLIER OR FAST ENOUGH TO PAY OFF THAT $4.1 MILLION CONTRACT, THEN WE WOULD JUST BE OFF THE CONTRACT SOONER. EVEN THOUGH THIS IS A 15-YEAR PROJECTED CONTRACT, AS YOU CAN SEE ON THE TABLE, WE DO ANTICIPATE, AGAIN, BASED ON CONSERVATIVE NUMBERS, THAT WE WOULD ACTUALLY FINISH OUT PAYING THE CONTRACT ITSELF A LITTLE EARLY. AND ONE OF THE OTHER ITEMS THAT I HAD MENTIONED WAY IN THE PAST WAS THAT WE WERE GOING TO START IMPLEMENTING WHAT'S CALLED A MINIMUM BASE VALUE OF THESE NEW DEVELOPMENTS. AND WHAT THAT MEANS IS THAT THIS DEVELOPMENT, AFTER ITS COMPLETED, CANNOT GO -- OR CANNOT BE VALUATED THROUGH NUECES COUNTY LESS THAN $12 MILLION. SO WHAT THAT DOES IS THAT IT PROTECTS THE CITY FROM GENERATING LESS MONEY AND ALSO ENSURES THAT THE CITY WILL AT ALL TIMES DURING THE TERM OF THE CONTRACT GENERATE A MINIMUM, THE 12 MILLION IN ASSESSED VALUE, AGAIN, WHATEVER THAT MEANS IN PROPERTY TAXES. AND LASTLY, THUS ST. LOOKING AT A 100% REIMBURSEMENT ON BOTH PROPERTY TAXES AND SALES TAXES, AND IT EXCLUDES ANY REIMBURSEMENT ON PERSONAL PROPERTY. SO ANY FF & E WOULD NOT BE INCLUDED IN THIS DEAL. WITH THAT, I DO WANT TO OPEN IT UP FOR QUESTIONS AND WE ALSO HAVE MR. CADE PITMAN HERE REPRESENTING, OF COURSE, THE DEVELOPMENT, IF YOU GUYS HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ALSO, SO... >> Mayor Guajardo: OKAY. THANK YOU. COUNCILWOMAN PAXSON? >> Paxson: THANK YOU, MAYOR. THIS IS CERTAINLY A LONG ANTICIPATED, VERY EXCITING -- THIS WAS TWO EXCITING PRESENTATIONS BACK TO BACK. THIS IS A GREAT DAY SO FAR. I WAS CURIOUS, AND PERHAPS A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE -- OF THE ACTUAL PROJECT MAYBE COULD ANSWER. >> SURE. >> Paxson: MY CURIOSITY IS ON TIMELINES. AFTER TODAY'S MEETING, WHAT DOES THAT -- WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE? SO WE CAN SHARE THAT WITH EVERYONE THAT'S EXCITEDLY AWAITING THAT PROJECT. >> FOR THAT, I'LL HAVE MR. PITMAN GIVE US A QUICK UPDATE. >> GOOD AFTERNOON. WE HAVE A VERY AMBITIOUS TIMELINE. WE INTERNALLY ARE TARGETING BREAKING GROUND OR STARTING CONSTRUCTION IN Q4 THIS YEAR. HOW POSSIBLE THAT REALLY IS DEPENDS ON THE PLANNING PROCESS, BUT EARLY NEXT YEAR WE WOULD ANTICIPATE BEGINNING CONSTRUCTION. >> Paxson: AND FROM START TO FI FINISH, BALLPARK. >> IN ALL GOES WELL IT WOULD OCCUR IN GENERALLY 12 MONTHS BUT GENERALLY SPEAKING IT WILL BE A 12-MONTH CONSTRUCTION CYCLE. >> Paxson: YOU'RE RIGHT, THAT'S A VERY POSITIVELY AMBITIOUS. >> IT'S A PROTRACTED PROCESS. >> Paxson: WE'RE HOPEFUL AND EXCITED TO SUPPORT THAT. SO THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU'VE DONE TO HELP GET US TO THIS POINT, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION, ARTURO, AND I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE. >> SECOND. COUNCILWO MAN VAUGHN, IT'S A FIGHT FOR -- >> Vaughn: WE ALL WANT TO HIT THAT BUTTON. FIRST, I WANT TO THANK YOU, MR. PITMAN, FOR BRINGING THE PROJECT TO CORPUS CHRISTI, BECAUSE YOU KNOW WE ARE THE THIRD MOST BORING CITY IN THE STATE, SO HOPEFULLY THAT'S GOING TO HELP MOVE US DOWN A LITTLE BIT. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND ALSO TO HEATHER AND MR. ZANONI FOR MOVING THE PROJECT FORWARD. AND IT WOULDN'T HAVE HAPPENED HAD DEBBIE LINDSAY BEEN CONSTANTLY ON US. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT IT. CAN'T WAIT TO DO THE AXE THROWING. >> Mayor Guajardo: OH, GOSH. >> Vaughn: AND I HOPE WE GET TO PICK OUR TARGETS, ROLAND. >> Mayor Guajardo: THAT WOULD BE GREAT. [LAUGHTER] COUNCILMA N HERNANDEZ? >> Hernandez: SO I GUESS JEFF DIDN'T MAKE THE TRIP, HUH? >> JEFF DID NOT MAKE THE TRIP. HE'S VERY BUSY, HE'S PROBABLY SOMEWHERE PLANNING THIS PROJECT RIGHT NOW, IF I KNOW JEFF. >> Hernandez: I KNEW JEFF FROM MY PREVIOUS LIFE AT COCA-COLA. AS A MATTER OF FACT, I WAS THERE WHEN HE HAD HIS VERY FIRST CINERGY CINEMA AND GOT HIM HOOKED UP WITH A NORTH AMERICA PROGRAM AT THE TIME. AND THEN HE JUST KIND OF EXPANDED FROM THERE. UNFORTUNATELY, THE ONLY ONE I'VE SEEN WAS THE ONE IN ODESSA, BUT IT'S GREAT TO -- I NEVER ACTUALLY WORKED WITH HIM DIRECTLY, JUST KIND OF RAN INTO HIM AT EVENTS, STUFF LIKE THAT, BUT I'M GLAD THAT HE'S HERE. BE LOOKING FORWARD TO GOING TO HIS FACILITY. THANK YOU. >> Mayor Guajardo: YEAH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, ALL, FOR THE TEAM. I KNOW MARGO'S BACK THERE AND EVERYBODY'S BEEN WORKING ON THIS FOR YEARS. YEARS. SO -- BUT THANK YOU FOR CARING ABOUT WHAT GOES THERE, BECAUSE I KNOW -- I KNOW YOU DID, AND THAT WAS A BIG THING FOR YOU. AND THAT MEANS CARING FOR THE COMMUNITY. SO WE APPRECIATE THAT VERY MUCH. THIS IS -- IT IS VERY EXCITING, AND THIS DOES GO TO SHOW, YOU KNOW, RIGHT AFTER YOU HAVE AN AIRPORT ITEM -- AN AIRLINE, YOU KNOW, THAT'S COMING DIRECTLY, YOU KNOW, FEEDING DIRECTLY TO ANOTHER MAJOR HUB, THAT'S A HUGE MILESTONE FOR CORPUS CHRISTI. THIS IS A HUGE MILESTONE FOR CORPUS CHRISTI, AND IT SHOWS THAT, YOU KNOW, WE ARE ON THE MAP. AND THOSE SILLY THINGS THAT COME OUT ABOUT BORING THIS OR THAT, THAT'S NOTHING. WE HAVE SO MUCH TO OFFER. AND THIS JUST ADDS TO IT. I'VE SEEN THEM GOING TO AUSTIN. I MEAN, IT'S -- I DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY'RE CALLED BUT I'VE SEEN A COUPLE OF -- YOU KNOW, THE MODEL, AND SO I THINK IT'S A HUGE INVESTMENT. AND I UNDERSTAND THAT BOWLING, YOU GUYS DID LIKE A WHOLE THING ON BOWLING, A WHOLE -- RESEARCH ON BOWLING, AND IT IS VERY MUCH, I GUESS, IN DEMAND; IS THAT CORRECT? >> IT'S VERY MUCH AN ANCHOR IN WHAT WE DO, THE CINEMA AND THE BOWLING ARE KIND OF THE CORE COMPONENTS OF OUR MODEL. AND IT'S -- AND AS YOU MENTIONED, IT'S -- THERE'S A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY FOR BOTH OF THOSE HERE WITHIN THE MARKET AND THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE YOU HAVE HERE, AND TOURISM, IT'S VERY ATTRACTIVE FOR US. WE'RE SUPER EXCITED. AND IF I MAY, I JUST WANT TO THANK THE COUNCIL, THE CITY STAFF'S BEEN WONDERFUL. MARGO, JASON ALANIZ AND HEATHER HAVE BEEN WONDERFUL THROUGHOUT THIS ENTIRE PROCESS, IT'S BEEN A LONG PROCESS AND WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT IT. >> Mayor Guajardo: THANK YOU FOR MENTIONING THEM, I KNOW THEY'VE BEEN WORKING ON IT A LONG TIME. SO THANK YOU, HEATHER. ARTURO, ALL OF YOU. OKAY. WELL THANKS. WE APPRECIATE YOU VERY MUCH AND WE CAN'T WAIT. CAN'T WAIT FOR THE FINISHED PRODUCT. SO ANYONE IN THE AUDIENCE, WOULD ANYONE LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT ON ITEM NUMBER 30? OKAY. THERE BEING NO ONE, WE'LL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. PLEASE -- YES, FOUR SECONDS. PLEASE SUBMIT YOUR VOTE. OKAY. THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU, AGAIN. OKAY. WE'RE GOING TO GET BACK IN LINE AND GO TO PUBLIC HEARINGS, ITEM NUMBER 26 IS AN ORDINANCE APPROVING THE CORPUS CHRISTI CRIME CONTROL AND PREVENTION DISTRICT BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. DAVID BLACKMAN, POLICE DEPARTMENT. I WILL BE PRESENTING THE FY '25-'26 PROPOSED CRIME PREVENTION DISTRICT BUDGET. ON NOVEMBER 4TH, 1997, THE CRIME CONTROL PREVENTION DISTRICT WAS ESTABLISHED FOR FIVE YEARS. IT'S BEEN RENEWED FOR THREE YEARS SINCE THEN. IN NOVEMBER OF '26, THE VOTERS HAVE THE ABILITY TO RENEW THIS, WHICH IS SET TO EXPIRE IN APRIL OF '27. THE CRIME CONTROL PREVENTION DISTRICT IS FUNDED WITH THE 1/8-CENT SALES TAX. THE EXPENDITURES THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE FOR THE FY '25-'26 BUDGET INCLUDES 78 SWORN OFFICERS, $7,800 IN OVERTIME INCREASE, AND NINE MARKED POLICE PACKAGE VEHICLES WHICH ARE GOING TO BE REPLACEMENT VEHICLES. AS WE LOOK AT THE BUDGET OVERVIEW, YOU'RE GOING TO SEE HERE -- AND IT'S A LITTLE CONFUSING AT FIRST, SO OUR TOTAL EXPENDITURES ARE GOING TO BE 11,245 -- I'M SORRY, 11,245,362. NOW, OUR TOTAL REVENUE FROM THE SALES TAX IS GOING TO BE 9,363,764, SO THAT MEANS THAT WE'RE ACTUALLY GOING TO GO INTO OUR ENDING FUND BALANCE OF $1,881,000 AND SOME CHANGE, WHICH IS EXPECTED, BECAUSE THE PREVIOUS COUNCIL HAD AGREED ON THAT WE WERE GOING TO PAY ADDITIONAL OFFICERS OUT OF THIS CRIME CONTROL BUDGET AND SPEND OUT OF THE FUND BALANCE. SO THAT IS WHAT WE'RE DOING. SO WE'LL BE GOING INTO OUR FUND BALANCE, WHICH WILL LEAVE US AN ENDING BALANCE OF 2,128,858. LOOKING AT OUR REVENUES, YOU'LL SEE THAT THE MAJORITY OF OUR REVENUES DO COME FROM THAT SALES TAX WHICH IS THE 9,281,841. AS WE GO INTO OUR EXPENDITURES, THE POLICE OFFICER COSTS ARE GOING TO BE A MAJORITY OF THAT, WHICH IS $9,745,000 AND WE ARE GOING TO HAVE THE $1,400,000 WHICH IS FOR THE PUBLIC SAFETY VEHICLES AND EQUIPMENT, WHICH INCLUDES THE VEHICLES, UPFITING I.T. AND ALL THAT KIND OF STUFF. THERE IS A COST TO THAT. AND THAT IS THE PROPOSED BUDGET OVERVIEW, AND I STAND BY FOR ANY QUESTIONS ON IT. >> MOTION TO APPROVE. >> Mayor Guajardo: SECOND. OKAY. COUNCILWOMAN VAUGHN? OR WAS THAT TO MAKE THE MOTION. >> Vaughn: THAT WAS TO MAKE A MEXICO. >> Mayor Guajardo: OKAY. COUNCILWOMAN CAMPOS. >> Campos: I HAD -- THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE PRESENTATION, BUT I ALSO JUST WANTED TO POINT OUT, AND I DID SEND OUT AN ARTICLE TO OUR CHIEF ABOUT HOW BALTIMORE HAD REDUCED THEIR CRIME, BUT HE DID INFORM ME THAT THEIR CRIME RATE OF COURSE WAS A LOT HIGHER THAN OURS, BUT THE POINT BEING WAS THAT, YOU KNOW, I'D LIKE TO SEE JUST MORE COMMUNITY PROGRAMS FROM OUR POLICE FORCE, ESPECIALLY WITH THE CRIME PREVENTION MONEY. AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I NOTICED, OR THAT WAS POINTED OUT TO ME, WAS IN ONE OF OUR CENTERS THE JOE GARZA, THERE'S A -- YOU KNOW, IN BETWEEN, LIKE -- I WANT TO SAY BETWEEN JUNE AND MAYBE AUGUST, THAT THERE'S NOTHING GOING ON AT JOE GARZA, AND I'M WONDERING IF MAYBE CC PALS COULD COME IN AND MAYBE HAVE SOME KIND OF PROGRAMMING. BUT, AGAIN, I DO SUPPORT IT, BUT I DO ALSO THINK THAT THERE'S MORE THAT WE CAN DO AS FAR AS BEING IN THE COMMUNITY. AGAIN, I WAS ASKING EARLIER IN THE MORNING ABOUT WHY, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T HAVE AS MANY HOMELESS IN DOWNTOWN, AND I FEEL, AND I AGREE THAT WITH COUNCILMEMBER BARRERA'S STATEMENT EARLIER THAT HE SAID, WELL, COULD IT BE THAT IT'S THE BICYCLE, YOU KNOW, PATROL. SO, AGAIN, I THINK IT DOES MAKE A DIFFERENCE WHEN THE POLICE OFFICERS ARE ACTUALLY, YOU KNOW, IN THE COMMUNITY, NOT -- NOT IN THEIR CARS, BUT ACTUALLY ENGAGING WITH THE COMMUNITY. AND IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE -- I MEAN, IT JUST -- WE JUST NEED MORE COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT. AND I HOPE TO SEE THAT IN THE NEAR FUTURE. >> AND COUNCILWOMAN CAMPOS, I'M GOING TO THROW CHIEF MARKLE'S WORDS IN, TWO THINGS CAN BE TWO AT THE SAME TIME. I THINK WE ARE ALL IN FAVOR THAT WE NEED MORE PROGRAMS IN THE COMMUNITY AND WE ALL KNOW THAT WE NEED MORE POLICE OFFICERS ALSO, AND IT'S BECAUSE OF THOSE POLICE OFFICERS THAT Y'ALL HAVE ADDED TO THIS DEPARTMENT, SO WHETHER IT'S THE ADDITION OF OUR BIKE PATROL OR IT'S OUR VIOLENT CRIME UNIT WHICH HAS TAKEN THESE VIOLENT OFFENDERS AND THESE RACERS OFF THE STREET, IT HAS PAID DIVIDENDS. YOU'LL SEE THAT OUR CRIME RATE IS ACTUALLY GOING DOWN, AND WE LOOK AT CLEVELAND OR BALTIMORE, I DON'T REMEMBER WHICH ONE IT WAS, THAT THEIR RATE IS VERY HIGH, YOU KNOW, BUT THEY ARE DOING THE SAME THINGS NOW THAT WE HAVE BEEN DOING FOR MANY YEARS. SO WE -- YOU KNOW, WHEN THE CRIME CONTROL DISTRICT WAS INITIALLY ESTABLISHED, PART OF THAT WAS THE DIRECT PATROL OFFICERS AND THE BIKES AND ALL THAT. THOSE WERE PULLED OUT AND WE DID ABSORB THOSE. WE HAVE ACTUALLY GROWN THOSE THINGS. I WAS A BIKE PATROL OFFICER WHEN I WAS VERY YOUNG AND A PATROL OFFICER AS WELL. WE'RE CONTINUING TO GROW THESE THINGS AND BE PART OF THE COMMUNITY. WE HAVE POLICE PROGRAMS THAT WE'VE ABSORBED AND CONTINUE TO DO. WE HAVE COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAM, I CAN SIT UP HERE FOR 20 MINUTES THAT ALL THE PROGRAMS THAT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, WHETHER IT'S OPERATION SAFE RETURN OR THE CHRISTMAS ANGELS, THE CHIEF AND I HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN FOR OVER 20 YEARS. LAST YEAR WE HAD A BUSINESS LEADER THAT ST VOLUNTEERED TO STEP IN AND TEAR DOWN A HOUSE BECAUSE IT WAS AN EYE SORE FOR THE COMMUNITY. THE SUCCESS COMES WHEN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, THE CITY AND OUR COMMUNITY COMES TOGETHER TO DO THESE COMMUNITY PROJECTS. SO YOU ARE EXACTLY RIGHT AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK ON THOSE THINGS. >> Campos: I APPRECIATE THAT. AND I KNOW THE COMMUNITY DOES AS WELL. SO I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE GOT A SECOND, BUT, YEAH, SECOND. >> Mayor Guajardo: SHE'S GOT A SECOND. THAT WAS ME. I SECONDED. YES MA'AM? >> Vaughn: I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU. I THINK SOMETIMES WE DON'T TELL THE POLICE FORCE THANK YOU. Y'ALL DO A GREAT JOB AND WE'RE SO BLESSED TO HAVE A GOOD CHIEF AND GOOD OFFICERS, SO WE APPRECIATE YOU GUYS. >> WE WOULDN'T BE SUCCESSFUL WITHOUT Y'ALL, SO WE APPRECIATE Y'ALL VERY MUCH. >> Mayor Guajardo: THANK YOU. WE APPRECIATE THAT. AND I DO RECOGNIZE WHAT THE COUNCILWOMAN IS POINTING OUT, SHE HAS MENTIONED THAT BEFORE, AND PROGRAMS ARE IMPORTANT. AND I KNOW Y'ALL HAVE -- AS A MATTER OF FACT, I DON'T KNOW, WHAT WAS IT A MONTH AGO MAYBE, THAT YOU GAVE US THE LIST OF ALL -- OR YOU CAME HERE AND PRESENTED IT OF ALL THE THINGS THAT YOU'RE INVOLVED IN, AND THERE ARE DIFFERENT WAYS OF BEING INVOLVED AND AFFECTING CRIME -- OR PREVENTION OF. AND SO WE APPRECIATE IT. AND I KNOW IT HAS BEEN A REAL PRIORITY TO BRING IN THE OFFICERS FIRST, JUST BECAUSE WE WERE SO FAR BEHIND AND WE'VE MADE GREAT STRIDES. SO THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU TO THIS COUNCIL AND THANKS FOR ALL YOU DO. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND IF EVERYONE WOULD PLEASE SUBMIT YOUR VOTE. >> City Secretary: MAYOR, IT'S A PUBLIC HEARING. >> Mayor Guajardo: I'M SO SORRY, ANYBODY IN THE AUDIENCE THAT WOULD LIKE TO MAKE PUBLIC COMMENT ON ITEM NUMBER 26. >> SUZIE LUNA SALDAÑA, DISTRICT 2. I DO WANT TO MAKE A COMMENT BECAUSE I AM IN DISTRICT 2. AND THE POLICE OFFICERS ARE VERY COMMUNITY MINDED. THEY HAVE STOPPED BY AND JUST CHECKED THAT EVERYTHING'S GOING ON IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, AND THAT'S A ROUGH NEIGHBORHOOD. SO THERE IS COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT. OUR POLICE OFFICERS ARE THERE, THEY'RE AVAILABLE, AND I SEE IT GONE EVERYWHERE, BUT ESPECIALLY IN OUR DISTRICT. SO I DO WANT TO THANK THE POLICE OFFICERS FOR DOING THAT. >> Mayor Guajardo: THANK YOU, MS. SALDAÑA. MRS. GARZA? >> >> MARILYNNA GARZA, DISTRICT ONE. AS SOMEONE WHO'S GONE TO SOME OF THESE CRIME PREVENTION MEETINGS, I'M JUST A LITTLE DISAPPOINTED THAT MOST OF THE MEETINGS ARE PRESENTATIONS BY THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. YOU KNOW, THE ADVISORY BOARD IS SUPPOSED TO BE ASSISTING THE POLICE IN PREVENTING CRIME. SO BEFORE CRIME EVEN HAPPENS, WE'RE TRYING TO PREVENT IT. AND YOU KNOW HOW YOU CAN PREVENT CRIME. Q. IT'S NOT JUST PUTTING THE BURDEN ON THE POLICE OFFICERS. A LOT OF TIMES, AND ESPECIALLY IN THIS, WE'RE PUTTING THE CART BEFORE THE HORSE. WE'RE GETTING POLICE OFFICERS BEFORE WE EVEN HAVE THE VEHICLES, AND THEN WE'RE HAVING TO GET INTO CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION WITH AN INTEREST RATE TO GET THE VEHICLES BECAUSE -- I UNDERSTAND THIS WHOLE THING WITH GETTING THE OFFICERS, THERE'S SOME FUNDING THAT'S TIED TO IT, THERE'S A CERTAIN TIME LIMIT THAT WE HAVE TO GET THESE POLICE OFFICERS, BUT, AGAIN, PUTTING THE CART BEFORE THE HORSE, WE'RE GETTING POLICE OFFICERS BEFORE THEY EVEN HAVE VEHICLES. AND IT'S GOING TO TAKE TIME PROCURING THOSE VEHICLES FOR THESE POLICE OFFICERS, SO FOR A LITTLE BIT, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE POLICE OFFICERS THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO ENGAGE EFFECTIVELY INTO THE FIELD. THINGS THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT'S CRIME PREVENTION IS THINGS LIKE LIGHTING PROGRAMS. WE DON'T HAVE TO BUY A VEHICLE TO BUY LIGHTS. WE COULD REALLY HELP INVEST IN THEIR DRONE PROGRAM, THEY'RE SEEKING FUNDING, I'VE GONE TO THE MEETINGS. THEY'RE NEEDING SOME ADDITIONAL FUNDINGS TO GET THESE DRONES, TO GET MORE PILOTS, TO EXPAND THE DRONE PROGRAM. THAT DOESN'T REQUIRE US GETTING VEHICLES. YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU GET A POLICE OFFICER, IT'S NOT JUST THE VEHICLE THAT YOU'RE PUR CHASING FOR THEM, BUT THE 401-K, THE LIABILITY, THERE'S A LOT OF HIDDEN PRICE TAGS WHEN WE ADD POLICE OFFICERS, AND I'M NOT AGAINST ADDING POLICE OFFICERS, BUT I -- WE'RE REPEATING THE SAME THING OVER AND OVER AND EXPECTING A DIFFERENT RESULT. WE NEED DIFFERENT RESULTS. YOU KNOW, A LOT OF THE ADVISORY BOARD HAVE NO GRASP OVER WHAT THE SERVICE PROVIDERS THAT COULD BE ASSISTING THEM DO. I'VE GONE TO THOSE MEETINGS AND A LOT OF PEOPLE -- A LOT OF THE ADVISORY BOARDS ARE ASKING REDUNDANT QUESTIONS TO THE COPS, AND I'M JUST LIKE, THERE IS A PROGRAM THAT DEALS WITH THAT, THERE'S A PROGRAM THAT DEALS WITH THAT, BUT IF YOU'RE ALWAYS HAVING PRESENTATIONS DONE BY CCPD AND NOT HAVING ENTITIES LIKE THE FREE STORE, MISSION 9-1-1, I THINK THAT'S WHAT COUNCILMAN CAMPOS IS TRYING TO HIGHLIGHT, WE'VE BEEN DOING THE SAME THING OVER AND OVER, WE NEED TO ASSIST THE POLICE, THE POLICE ARE NOT IN CONTROL OF REDUCING AND INCREASING CRIME, IT'S -- CRIME IS SLIPPERY AND IT TAKES THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY, NOT JUST CCPD AND US CALLING ON THE PHONE, OH, THERE'S A HOMELESS PERSON OUT HERE. WE'VE GOT TO DEVELOP THESE PROGRAMS BETTER AND NOT JUST BE PUSHING THE BRUNT ONTO THE COPS AND SAYING, WELL, YOU DEAL WITH IT. WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE ASSISTING THEM AND WE HAVE MONEY TO ASSIST THEM AND YOU CAN ASSIST THEM BY MAKING SURE THAT EVERYTHING IS WELL LIT AND WE HAVE A HOUSELESSNESS DEPARTMENT THAT THEY CAN WORK WITH, BECAUSE THAT'S A SOCIAL PROGRAM, NOT A CRIME PROBLEM. >> Mayor Guajardo: THANK YOU, MRS. GARZA. WOULD YOU PLEASE ADDRESS THE COMMENT ON NEW OFFICERS AND THE VEHICLES, YOU KNOW, THE ISSUE. >> Chief Markle: I DON'T THINK -- THEY WEREN'T BOUGHT WITH THE C OF OS. WE PULLED 4 MILLION OUT OF FUND BALLAST YEAR, RIGHT, TO BUY AN ADDITIONAL 40 UPDATED CARS. WE'RE NOT BEHIND IN VEHICLES. THEY'RE GETTING READY TO GO AS WE SPEAK. AND WE'RE HIRING THE OFFICERS. WE HAVE ROUGHLY 469 OFFICERS NOW, ANOTHER 25 IN THE ACADEMY, SO WE'LL BE ALMOST AT THE 500. >> Mayor Guajardo: AND THEY'RE ON THE STREETS -- >> Chief Markle: EXCEPT FOR THE ACADEMY STARTED LAST WEEK, YES MA'AM. BUT IT'S A BALLET, AND -- OR SCE STRAITION RATHER AND IT'S A COORDINATED EFFORT. REMEMBER, WE HAD A PRETTY GOOD PLAN, HOW TO GROW, AND THEN HOW TO SUPPLY THE MATERIALS NEEDED TO DO THE JOB AT THE SAME TIME, AND THEY'RE SPILLING OUT IN UNISON AS THEY SHOULD. SO THAT'S A -- SHE MAKES -- I'M SORRY, MA'AM, SHE MAKES SOME GOOD POINTS, RIGHT? SOCIAL PROGRAMS ARE IMPORTANT, BUT, AGAIN, WE MADE A CONCERTED EFFORT, DECISION, A PLAN TO DIP INTO FUND BALANCE TO CATCH UP WITH OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT. AND PART OF THAT OBLIGATION WAS TO SET ASIDE PROGRAMMING FOR NOW. AND NEXT YEAR, WE'LL MOVE SEVEN OFFICERS IN GENERAL FUND AND EIGHT AFTER THAT, THE YEAR AFTER THAT, SO '27, '28, WE'LL BE MOVING THOSE 15 OFFICERS OVER TO -- BACK TO GENERAL FUND AND MAYBE YOUR FUND BALANCE OR THE FUND FOR CRIME CONTROL CAN SUPPORT SOME KIND OF PROGRAMMING. BUT THIS IS THE JAGGED FIELD WE CHOSE TO SWALLOW WHILE WE CATCH UP. >> Mayor Guajardo: RIGHT. THANK YOU, CHIEF. >> YES, MA'AM. >> Mayor Guajardo: YES, MA'AM? >> HI, I'M MARIAH BOONE IN DISTRICT 2. I HAVE -- WHEN THE CRIME CONTROL AND PREVENTION DISTRICT WAS ORIGINALLY AUTHORIZED BY THE VOTERS, IT WAS AUTHORIZED BOTH FOR THE CRIME CONTROL PART, WHERE WE FUND THE POLICE OFFICERS AND FOR EVIDENCE-BASED YOUTH CRIME PREVENTION. THAT'S WHAT THE VOTERS APPROVED. AND ALMOST 10 YEARS AGO NOW, THE DISTRICT VOTED TO DEFUND OUR EVIDENCE-BASED YOUTH CRIME PREVENTION PROGRAMMING AND SINCE THEN, WE'VE HAD INCREASING PROBLEMS WITH YOUTH CRIME, WHICH IS NOT SURPRISING. IT'S VERY TRUE THAT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS INVOLVED IN LOTS OF WONDERFUL, VALUABLE COMMUNITY INITIATIVES. AND I APPLAUD THE WORK THAT THEY DO. THAT'S WONDERFUL. BUT IT'S NOT THE SAME THING AS EVIDENCE-BASED CRIME PREVENTION. I HAVE OFFERED NUMEROUS TIMES IDEAS ABOUT SOME OF THE BEST YOUTH CRIME PREVENTION PROGRAMS THAT ARE THE MOST STUDIED IN OUR COUNTRY TO THE CRIME CONTROL AND PREVENTION DISTRICT AND THEY HAVE NOT BEEN INTERESTED. I FEEL LIKE THE COUNCIL SHOULD NOT APPROVE A CRIME CONTROL AND PREVENTION BUDGET THAT DOESN'T INCLUDE EVIDENCE-BASED CRIME PREVENTION PROGRAMMING, AND THAT'S WHY I WOULD ASK YOU TO VOTE NO. I WISH THAT THE COUNCIL FOUND CRIME PREVENTION RESEARCH AS INTERESTING AS BOWLING RESEARCH. I THINK, YOU KNOW, BOWLING'S GREAT, BUT I THINK YOUTH CRIME PREVENTION'S MORE IMPORTANT, AND YOU HAVE A LOT OF GOOD RESOURCES THAT YOU CAN LEAN ON AND I DON'T -- I DON'T SEE THEM BEING UTILIZED. THANK YOU. >> Mayor Guajardo: THANK YOU. YES, >> MY NAME IS JAMES PERKINS, DISTRICT 2. I AM AGAINST THE APPROVAL OF THIS BUDGET FOR MANY REASONS. THE OTHER TWO I STATED. BUT REALLY IT BOILS DOWN TO CRIME PREVENTION. I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS THAT GO INTO HOW AND WHY PEOPLE ARE COMMITTING CRIMES IN THE FIRST PLACE. BUT IF YOU CANNOT GET DOWN TO THE NITTY-GRITTY OF WHAT'S GOING ON IN YOUR CITY AND HOW WE CAN PREVENT THESE PEOPLE FROM COMMITTING CRIME IN THE FIRST PLACE, THEN ADDITIONAL OFFICERS ARE NOT GOING TO STOP THAT CRIME. ALL IT IS GOING TO DO IS PERPETUATE A CYCLE. IT IS GOING TO LEAD MORE PEOPLE TO COMMIT MORE CRIME. YOU'RE GOING TO BE REMOVING PEOPLE FROM THE STREET WHO HAVE NO OTHER OPTION BUT TO DO THE THINGS THAT THEY'RE DOING. IT'S A CYCLE THAT DOESN'T REALLY END ITSELF. AND I MEAN WE CAN PUT AS MANY PEOPLE IN JAIL AS WE WANT TO BUT IT'S NOT GOING TO STOP PEOPLE FROM NOT BEING ABLE TO AFFORD RENT. NOT BEING ABLE TO AFFORD FOOD. NOT BEING ABLE TO AFFORD THEIR WATER BILL, THEIR LIGHT BILL. I'VE BEEN THERE BEFORE. I HAVE WORKED TWO JOBS TRYING TO MAKE IT BY MYSELF, NO SUPPORT SYSTEM. I HAVE HAD TO STEAL FOOD TO SURVIVE. WORKING TWO JOBS YOU DON'T GET TO MAKE IT TO THE FOOD BANKS. NOT HAVING A CAR, YOU DON'T GET TO MAKE IT TO THE RESOURCES. THE RESOURCES ARE NOT BEING AVAILABLE TO YOU WHEN YOU'RE AT WORK. IT'S ROUGH. AND WITH THAT, I DON'T THINK ADDING MORE OFFICERS, ADDING MORE VEHICLES, IT'S NOT THE SOLUTION WE NEED. WE NEED TO GET DOWN TO WHY YOUR RESIDENTS ARE COMMITTING THE CRIME AND HOW CAN WE HELP THEM SO THAT THEY DON'T HAVE TO DO THIS. >> Mayor Guajardo: THANK YOU, SIR. >> I'M NOT SURE IF I WAS SUPPOSED TO SIGN UP AHEAD OF TIME FOR THIS. I HAVEN'T HAD THE TIME TO SIT IN THIS LONG IN A CITY COUNCIL MEETING, WHICH IS GREAT. THIS IS SUMMERTIME. BUT I WASN'T GOING TO SAY ANYTHING. >> City Secretary: CAN YOU STATE YOUR NAME AND CITY. >> MELISSA ZAMORA, CORPUS CHRISTI, DISTRICT 2. I SAW SOMETHING, A PICTURE THAT I HAD SENT A FRIEND AND IT RELATES TO THIS SO I WANTED TO SHARE IT WITH Y'ALL. BALTIMORE MAYOR, BRANDON SCOTT, INVESTED IN 42 SUMMER YOUTH PROGRAMS AND CAMPS. 29 LITERACY PROGRAMS, EXTENDED THEIR REC CENTER HOURS TO 11:00 P.M. PLANNED BLOCK PARTIES THROUGHOUT HIS CITY. OPENED THE POOLS FOR SAFE FUN AND OPENED SEVERAL SCHOOLS UP FOR SUMMER CLASSES AND CRIME IS DOWN 62% BECAUSE OF THAT. SO THE BALTIMORE, MARYLAND MAYOR, BRANDON SCOTT, IF YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY LOOKED THAT UP. JUST PUTTING IT OUT THERE THAT THERE IS MAYORS AND CITY COUNCILS GETTING OUT THERE AND GETTING INTO DIFFERENT TYPES OF INITIATIVES AND THE RESEARCH IS SHOWING THAT THE CRIME IS DOWN. JUST TAKING THAT INTO CONSIDERATION. THANK YOU. >> Mayor Guajardo: THANK YOU. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE THAT WOULD LIKE TO MAKE COMMENT ON ITEM NO. 26? OKAY. WE'RE GOING TO CLOSE PUBLIC HEARING. WE HAVE A MOTION -- YES, COUNCILWOMAN. >> Campos: YES, THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU SO MUCH, MELISSA, FOR ACTUALLY POINTING OUT THE PROGRAMS, THE EXTENSION OF THE HOURS, AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE. THE SWIMMING POOL. BUT THAT'S WHAT I WAS SAYING THAT WE DO NEED TO INVEST MORE IN OUR PUBLIC SPACES. AGAIN, THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR DOING THAT. >> Mayor Guajardo: OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. PLEASE SUBMIT YOUR VOTE. THE ITEM CARRIES. ITEM NO. 27 IS AN ORDINANCE ADOPTING THE CITY FISCAL YEAR 2026 AND U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT, HUD PROGRAM YEAR 2025 ANNUAL ACTION PLAN. >> DANIEL MCGINN, INTERIM ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER AND DIRECTOR OF THE PLANNING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT. ALSO WITH ME TO PROVIDE SOME ASSISTANCE IS JENNIFER BUXTON. THIS ITEM IS A FIRST-READING ORDINANCE APPROVING THE HUD ANNUAL ACTION PLAN FOR FY '26. SO EVERY FIVE YEARS CITIES ARE REQUIRED TO COMPLETE CONSOLIDATED ACTION PLAN TO SET THE PRIORITIES AND GOALS AND OBJECTIVES FOR THE USE OF FEDERAL FUNDS OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS. AND IN ADDITION TO THAT, CITIES ARE REQUIRED TO DO AN ANNUAL ACTION PLAN THAT IDENTIFIES THE FUNDING FOR THAT PARTICULAR YEAR. CURRENTLY WE'RE IN OUR THIRD YEAR OF THAT FIVE-YEAR PROGRAM. WITHIN THE ANNUAL ACTION PLAN, WE HAVE THREE PROGRAMS, GRANT PROGRAMS, WHICH HAVE SPECIFIC PARAMETERS IN HOW THE FUNDS CAN BE USED. THE FIRST ONE IS OUR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT, OUR CDBG. THIS ONE HAS THE MOST FLEXIBILITY OF THE THREE BUT IS INTENDED TO SUPPORT LOW-INCOME AND MODERATE-INCOME AREAS. WE HAVE A LOT OF PARKS AND DIFFERENT THINGS WE FUNDED OUT OF HERE. WE HAVE SOME HOME IMPROVEMENT PROGRAMS FUNDED OUT OF THAT. THE NEXT ONE, EMERGENCY SOLUTIONS GRANT, ESG, FOCUSES ON GETTING PEOPLE BACK IN HOUSING AND HOMELESS ISSUES. AND THE FINAL ONE IS OUR HOME PROGRAM, WHICH CREATES AND MAINTAINS AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN OUR COMMUNITY. THE ALLOCATION WE GOT THIS YEAR IS SIMILAR TO LAST YEAR, IT'S ABOUT 10K MORE, SO A TOTAL OF $4 MILLION. YOU CAN SEE THE BREAKDOWN JUST UNDER 2.7 FOR CDBG. $233,000 ESG. AND THEN 1.15 FOR THE HOME GRANT. IN PREPARING THE ANNUAL ACTION PLAN, WE HAVE KIND OF A SERIES OF STEPS THAT WE GO THROUGH AND SO IT STARTED BACK IN FEBRUARY. WE HAD PUBLIC MEETINGS IN ALL THE COUNCIL DISTRICTS. WE DID DO -- THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MS. CAMPOS SUGGESTED THIS AND IT WORKED OUT WELL WHERE WE HAD AN ADDITIONAL OPEN PUBLIC HOUSE. WE PROVIDED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE WORKSHOPS IN MAY, SO THAT WAS FOR ALL THE THIRD PARTIES OR ENTITIES WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY, IF THEY HAD ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE PROGRAM, ELIGIBILITY AND HOW TO PREPARE THEIR APPLICATION. FINALLY, THE APPLICATIONS WERE DUE IN JUNE. WE HAD A PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR THE PLAN AND NOW HERE WE ARE AT THE FIRST READING. WE HAVE SECOND READING NEXT WEEK AND THEN WE DO HAVE A PRETTY STRICT DEADLINE WITH HUD WHERE WE HAVE TO GET IT SUBMITTED TO THEM BY AUGUST 16th. THE STAKEHOLDER -- WE HIT ON THIS. THIS WAS ABOUT THE PUBLIC MEETINGS WE HELD. AND THEN THESE ARE JUST SOME OF THE GOALS AND PRIORITIES THAT WERE IDENTIFIED IN THAT FIVE-YEAR PLAN. INCREASE AND MAINTAIN AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR LOW-INCOME AND MODERATE HOUSEHOLDS HERE. THAT INCLUDES HOME REPAIR, HOME BUYER PROGRAMS, NEW CONSTRUCTION, AND RENTAL HOUSING NEEDS. PUBLIC FACILITIES WAS ANOTHER HIGH PRIORITY. THAT INCLUDES A LOT OF OUR YOUTH CENTERS, OUR NEIGHBORHOOD IMPROVEMENTS WITHIN THE PARKS THERE. ACCESSIBILITY IMPROVEMENTS ARE ELIGIBLE, SIDEWALKS, THAT TYPE OF THING ARE ELIGIBLE UNDER THAT PROGRAM. ADDRESSING HOMELESSNESS AND THEN PUBLIC SERVICES FOR HEALTHY OUTCOMES, JOB TRAINING, AND THEN CODE ENFORCEMENT IS ALSO SOMETHING THAT IS AN ELIGIBLE ITEM OR WAS A RECOMMENDED ITEM. THESE ARE SOME EXAMPLES OF SOME PROJECTS THAT HAVE OCCURRED IN THE LAST YEAR. THE PAVILION WAS JUST FINISHED AT THE DILWORTH PARK. LITTLE MARTIN'S REHAB IS WRAPPING UP THERE IN THE HERITAGE PARK AREA. OF COURSE WE GET -- THERE'S A LOT OF GREAT THINGS THAT CAN BE DONE WITH THESE FUNDS BUT THIS LIST HERE HIGHLIGHTS THOSE EITHER PROJECTS OR PROGRAMS BEING RECOMMENDED FOR THIS YEAR'S PLAN. THE MINOR HOME REPAIR PLAN IS ONE WE RUN IN-HOUSE AND HAVE A LOT OF SUCCESS WITH. THAT PROVIDES REPAIRS FOR FOLKS THAT ARE IN DESPERATE NEED FOR SOME THINGS TO BE IMPROVED IN THEIR HOMES. WHETHER IT'S FLOORING ISSUES. COULD BE A BATHROOM OUT OF COMMISSION OR HVAC IMPROVEMENTS. WE HAVE CODE ENFORCEMENT STAFFING THAT'S STILL BEING PROPOSED FOR THE CDBG. THEY USE THE CLEANUP DOLLARS AS PART OF THEIR ACTIVITIES AS WELL. THE BEN GARZA GENERATOR IS A BIG ITEM. WE ARE REALLY DESPERATE TO HAVE THAT IN PLACE. THE BEN GARZA GYM FACILITY SERVES AS KIND OF AN EMERGENCY SHELTER IN WEATHER EVENTS. SO WE RECENTLY REDID THE BATHROOMS AND LOCKER FACILITIES THERE, SO IT'S READY TO GO. WE JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE POWER TO THAT FACILITY IN THOSE WORST CONDITIONS, YOU KNOW, WHETHER IT'S COLD WEATHER, HEAT. AND THEN, FINALLY, WE HAVE PROGRAM, ADMIN, AND DELIVERY. THAT COVERS THE STAFF INVOLVED IN RUNNING ALL THE PROGRAMS THAT WE HAVE. ESG AGAIN IS A MUCH LOWER AMOUNT. IT'S A $233,000 LEVEL. THIS IS, YOU KNOW, BETWEEN THE TWO PROGRAMS, THE SALVATION ARMY AND HOPE HOUSE, THEY'LL USE THAT FOR RENTAL ASSISTANCE OR EMERGENCY SHELTER OPPORTUNITIES COULD BE UTILIZED WITH THOSE DOLLARS. FINALLY OUR HOME. THE PALO VERDE APARTMENT PROJECT. THAT IS THE LIKELY WINNER OF OUR TAX CREDIT PROGRAM FOR OUR REGION. THAT'S LOCATED ON HUNTWICK AVENUE BY THE SUPER H-E-B THERE AT SARATOGA AND STAPLES. HUNTWICK IS ACTUALLY UNDER CONSTRUCTION NOW OR ABOUT TO START CONSTRUCTION AND WE COORDINATED THE ENGINEERS ON THAT SO HOPEFULLY IT WILL COORDINATE WELL. THIS PROJECT IS REQUESTING A MILLION DOLLARS OF HOME DOLLARS. HABITAT, WE'RE ALSO RECOMMENDING. THAT WOULD CONSTRUCT TWO HOUSES AND MAYBE SOME ADDITIONAL IMPROVEMENTS ON SOME OTHER PROPERTIES. AGAIN, THERE'S SOME ADMIN RELATED TO RUNNING THAT PROGRAM AS WELL. THAT IS ALL I HAVE FOR OUR PRESENTATION. HAPPY TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS. I DO HAVE JENNIFER HERE AND TRACY CANTU WITH CODE ENFORCEMENT AND THEN CHIEF WADE, IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE GENERATOR AND EMERGENCY SERVICES. >> Mayor Guajardo: THANK YOU. COUNCILWOMAN PAXSON. >> Paxson: THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU, DAN FOR YOUR PRESENTATION. MY FIRST QUESTION IS FOR THE GENERATOR, SOMETHING I HAD EVALUATED WITH A DIFFERENT AGENCY PREVIOUSLY IS SOMETIMES THERE'S STATE FUNDING FOR EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT-TYPE EQUIPMENT. AND AT ONE POINT WE HAD IDENTIFIED THAT THERE WAS A ROUND OF FUNDING FOR GENERATORS IF THEY WERE TO BE -- FOR A BUILDING USED AS A MASS SHELTER-TYPE FACILITY. HAVE WE EXPLORED THAT OPTION FOR THIS ITEM? >> I'M NOT AWARE. CHIEF WADE, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE ANY BACKGROUND ON THAT. >> THANK YOU. SO BRANDON WADE, FIRE DEPARTMENT. I DON'T KNOW SPECIFICALLY FOR THIS ONE. I KNOW THIS OPPORTUNITY CAME UP AND WE WERE SUPPORTING IT IN THIS FASHION. BUT I DON'T KNOW OF THE OTHER SPECIFIC GRANTS FOR IT RIGHT NOW. BUT THIS WAS ONE THAT WHEN THEY WERE LOOKING AT A FUNDING WAY FOR THIS, THEY HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO USE THE BEN GARZA BEFORE WHEN WE'VE DONE OPERATIONS BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF A GENERATOR. >> Paxson: MY INTEREST -- BECAUSE THESE ARE SUCH FLEXIBLE FUNDS THAT WE CAN UTILIZE FOR REALLY MEANINGFUL IMPACTS IS IF WE CAN PURSUE THAT FOR THIS TYPE OF THING. BECAUSE MY NEXT THOUGHT WOULD BE IF WE DID MOVE FORWARD WITH APPROVAL TO STILL SEEK AN ALTERNATIVE, BECAUSE THEN WE COULD GO BACK TO THOSE FUNDS. >> FOR SURE. WE MAY BE ABLE TO DO IT. I KNOW THERE'S A NUMBER OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT BILLS AND LEGISLATION THAT'S COMING UP IN THE SPECIAL SESSION, ESPECIALLY AFTER ALL OF THE DISASTERS UP IN CENTRAL TEXAS. SO WE'LL DEFINITELY BE KEEPING OUR EYE OPEN TO SEE WHERE MORE FUNDING WILL BE ABLE TO COME IN. WHETHER IT'S THROUGH GRANTS AND PROGRAMS FOR ITEMS SUCH AS THIS FOR SHELTERING. >> Paxson: I CAN'T SPEAK FOR MY PANEL OF COLLEAGUES, BUT AT LEAST FOR MYSELF, IF I SUPPORT THIS ITEM HERE TODAY THEN I'LL HAVE TO CONTINUE TO BUG YOU ON THAT TO SEE IF WE CAN SHUFFLE THAT OVER. >> SURE. ABSOLUTELY. >> Paxson: THANK YOU, CHIEF. MY NEXT QUESTION. IN MY DISCUSSIONS WITH OUR CITY MANAGER OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF FREEZES, IT'S BEEN MY EXPERIENCE THAT ALL OF OUR YEARS OF INVESTMENT WITH THE SALVATION ARMY THIS SEASON, WE HAVEN'T REALLY SEEN A LOT OF ACROSS THE TABLE MUTUAL ASSISTANCE. AND SO FOR THIS ITEM, FOR ME, DAN, TO NOT BELABOR THE TIME WITH OUR PREVIOUS DISCUSSIONS -- I KNOW THERE'S REALLY ONLY THESE TWO THAT WOULD QUALIFY FOR THIS. THE HOPE HOUSE AND SALVATION ARMY. SO MY FIRST INTEREST WOULD BE TO CONSOLIDATE THOSE TWO ITEMS AND PROVIDE THE ENTIRETY OF THOSE TO THE ONE, THE HOPE HOUSE. THAT WOULD BE MY FIRST INTEREST ON THIS. MY SECOND IS UNDER THIS CODE ENFORCEMENT STAFFING, MY FIRST PREFERENCE, GOING OVER THE PACKET -- AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT Y'ALL INCLUDED ALL OF THE APPLICANTS, WHAT THEY WERE ASKING FOR, ALL OF THAT REALLY GREAT BACKGROUND. AND THEN ALSO THE SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION ON WHO QUALIFIES FOR THIS UNDER THE PARAMETERS OF THIS. I WOULD ACTUALLY LIKE TO CHANGE THE DESIGNATION OF THAT 402 FROM THE CODE ENFORCEMENT SECTION AND FULFILL THE $150,000 REQUESTED BY HABITAT FOR THEIR OWN -- I FORGOT HOW THEY HAD IT LISTED IN HERE. EXTREME REPAIR PROGRAM. AND THEN THERE'S TWO OTHER REQUESTS THAT YOU SAID QUALIFIED, BOTH FROM RISING TIDE. AND THEN, IF WE COULD, THERE WOULD BE A LITTLE BIT OF A REMAINDER THERE. >> Mayor Guajardo: CAN YOU PULL UP THAT SLIDE, PLEASE? >> THIS SLIDE IS THE RECOMMENDATION. WE DO HAVE A MATRIX. THAT'S IN YOUR PACKET THAT DOES SHOW THOSE THAT APPLIED BUT WERE NOT RECOMMENDED. I THINK THAT'S WHAT MS. PAXSON IS REFERENCING. THERE WAS -- I THINK THE FIRST RECOMMENDATION MADE WOULD BE TO GIVE THE SALVATION ARMY MONEY TO THE HOPE HOUSE, CORRECT? >> Paxson: YES, SIR. >> I THINK THE SECOND ITEM WAS REMOVING THE MONEY FOR CODE ENFORCEMENT AND THEN GIVING THAT 402 TO -- THERE'S -- TO RISING TIDE, WHICH EQUALED ABOUT 100K. AND THE SECOND -- >> Paxson: THE OTHER ONE YOU SAID QUALIFIED WAS HABITAT. I WOULD BE INTERESTED IN THE HOPE HOUSE BUT WITH THE PRESENTATION YOU PROVIDED, IT SOUNDS LIKE THAT'S NOT ELIGIBLE, UNLESS THEIR $171,000 REQUEST FOR FACILITIES WAS SO THAT THEY COULD OFFER SERVICES TO MEN ON THEIR FACILITIES, WHICH WOULD THEN MAKE THEM ELIGIBLE FOR THIS. DO WE KNOW IF THAT'S THEIR INTEREST? IT'S NOT MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THAT IS. THAT'S WHAT I SAW. SO THE ONES THAT ARE ACTUALLY ELIGIBLE IS HABITAT AND RISING TIDE. AND MISSION 9-1-1, THE REMAINDER OF THIS GL, DOES NOT FULFILL THAT $300,000 NEED. THAT WOULD GIVE US ABOUT $152,000 LEFT OUT OF THAT 400? >> Zanoni: COUNCILWOMAN, YOU'RE SAYING 50, 150, AND WHAT WAS THE OTHER ONE? 50 FOR THE RISING TIDE? >> Paxson: YEAH. ON PAGE -- LET'S SEE. THEY HAVE APPLICATION 7, 8, AND 9. >> Zanoni: I MISSED THE SECOND ONE. OKAY. SO 250 MINUS THE 402. >> Paxson: AND MY FIRST PREFERENCE, BECAUSE I KNOW THAT YOUR HOME REPAIR PROGRAM, WE HAVE ALMOST $900,000 THERE. THAT TOUCHES A LOT OF LIVES BUT OF COURSE OUR CAPACITY TO ADMINISTER THOSE GRANTS WOULD BE DEPENDENT ON STAFFING. SO I'D ALMOST LIKE TO PUT, IF THEY COULD FACILITATE IT, I'D ALMOST LIKE TO PUT THE REMAINING 150 IN THE PROGRAM HABITAT IS ASKING TO CREATE, WHICH IS A SIMILAR PROGRAM. A CRITICAL REPAIR PROGRAM. BECAUSE THEN WE WOULD HAVE ABOUT 300 PLUS OUR 900 GOING TO CRITICAL REPAIRS IN THE COMMUNITY. SO THAT WOULD BE MY MOTION FOR APPROVAL ON THIS ITEM. >> Mayor Guajardo: LET'S HEAR FROM OTHER PEOPLE ON THAT. >> Paxson: THAT WAS COMPLICATED, SO I WANTED TO MAKE SURE I SPELLED ALL THAT OUT. >> Barrera: CAN I JUST SAY SOMETHING ABOUT THE PROCESS? I'LL BE QUICK. I PROMISE. >> Mayor Guajardo: GO AHEAD. >> Barrera: IS THERE A WAY THAT YOU COULD PUT A SPREADSHEET UP THERE SO THAT WAY IT SHOWS THE PLUSES AND MINUSES? I'M WRITING STUFF DOWN. IS THERE A WAY WE COULD LOOK AT IT FROM THAT STANDPOINT? MY SUGGESTION. THANK YOU. >> Mayor Guajardo: COUNCILMAN ROY. >> Roy: THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION. YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS I WANT TO TALK ABOUT, I THINK JUST THIS PROGRAM, AS YOU ANALYZE IT EVERY FIVE YEARS, IT'S JUST SO IMPORTANT. RIGHT NOW, ON A DAILY BASIS, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'M SEEING -- AND I JUST FEEL LIKE I NEED TO TOUCH BASE ON THIS -- IS THE FACT THAT IT'S GETTING TOUGHER AND TOUGHER FOR PEOPLE TO HAVE HOME OWNERSHIP AND TO BE ABLE TO HOLD ON TO THEIR HOMES. AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'M SEEING IN THE COMMUNITY IS AN INCREASE IN FORECLOSURES OVERALL, WHICH DOES CONCERN ME. BUT THE OTHER THING IS -- AND I APPLAUD THIS -- ONE OF YOUR PROJECT RECOMMENDATIONS -- IS THE HOME REPAIR GRANT PROGRAM. AND ALSO BEING ABLE TO ASSIST PEOPLE WITH THEIR UTILITY NEEDS. I THINK THESE PROGRAMS ARE REALLY IMPORTANT. YOU KNOW, THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING. RIGHT NOW, AS FAR AS GRANTS GO, I'M SEEING RIGHT NOW ON A DAILY BASIS, PROBABLY 60% OF OUR BUSINESS IS WHERE WE'RE DOING ASSISTED DOWN PAYMENT PROGRAMS BECAUSE PEOPLE JUST WANT TO BE ABLE TO OWN A HOME BUT THEY DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO THAT. AND SO AT THE STATE LEVEL WE'RE DOING GRANTS TO BE ABLE TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN. THEY'RE NOT HOMES THAT ARE $500,000, $700,000 HOMES. THESE ARE HOMES THAT ARE IN THE 150 TO $250,000 RANGE. AND THERE'S QUITE A FEW OF THEM. BUT BEING ABLE TO GIVE PEOPLE HOPE AND PUT THEM IN A HOME I THINK IS SO CRITICALLY IMPORTANT. AS FAR AS CODE ENFORCEMENT GOES, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT MY OWN OPINION ON THIS IS WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT CODE ENFORCEMENT. I TELL YOU THE REASON WHY. YOU KNOW, IN DISTRICT 1, I PROBABLY -- AND IF DENISE WAS HERE, SHE PROBABLY WOULD ECHO THIS, MY ASSISTANT. WE SPEND A LOT OF TIME GOING OUT THERE AND TRAVELING THROUGHOUT DISTRICT 1 LOOKING AT AREAS AND TRYING TO ASSESS WHERE WE CAN MAKE A PHONE CALL AND GET CODE ENFORCEMENT INVOLVED TO BE ABLE TO CLEAN UP THE AREA. BECAUSE HERE'S A NEVER-ENDING PROBLEM. YOU HAVE PEOPLE WHO WANT TO TAKE PRIDE IN THEIR HOME OWNERSHIP, AND THEY'LL DO THAT. YOU SEE THEM IN EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE YOU'VE GOT ONE OR TWO PEOPLE THAT ARE TRYING THEIR BEST TO KEEP THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD LOOKING REALLY, REALLY GOOD AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THEY HAVE THREE OR FOUR PROPERTIES THAT ARE RIGHT AROUND THEM THAT SOMEBODY ISN'T TAKING CARE OF OR WHATEVER THE CASE IS. THEY'VE GOT MULTIPLE VEHICLES SITTING THERE. NOT ONLY IS IT A SAFETY ISSUE THERE BECAUSE OF THE RODENTS AND OTHER THINGS, BUT THERE'S A LOT MORE TO THAT. AND SO, I MEAN, I UNDERSTAND THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT MAYBE TRYING TO SWITCH SOME THINGS AROUND BUT I WOULD HOPE THAT MY OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS WOULD LOOK AT PROBABLY THINKING TWICE BEFORE WE REDUCE CODE ENFORCEMENT. THE OTHER THING I WANT TO JUST TALK ABOUT IS HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO CONTINUE WITH OUR SENIOR PROJECTS AND THE PROJECTS THAT ARE -- IF YOU CAN'T BUY, THEN AT LEAST BEING ABLE TO RENT AT A REASONABLE COST. I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT HAVE MADE THE NEWS LATELY THAT'S FLUFF, BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE USING THOSE THINGS AS A TAX ABATEMENT. I'M TALKING ABOUT REAL AFFORDABLE HOUSING THAT WE'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN IN THE PAST THAT ALLOWS PEOPLE, BASED ON THEIR INCOME AND THEIR NEEDS, TO BE ABLE TO SECURE A PLACE FOR THEIR FAMILY. I THINK THOSE ALL ARE THINGS THAT ARE IMPORTANT. AND, YOU KNOW, I ACTUALLY CONCUR WITH YOUR PROJECT RECOMMENDATIONS. SO, THANK YOU. >> THE CODE ENFORCEMENT, THAT REPRESENTS FIVE STAFF MEMBERS. PRETTY SIGNIFICANT PERCENTAGE. >> Mayor Guajardo: RIGHT. COUNCILWOMAN CAMPOS. >> Campos: THANK YOU, MAYOR. OKAY. SO ON THE CODE ENFORCEMENT STAFFING, I DON'T KNOW HOW WE ARRIVED THERE, HOW CODE ENFORCEMENT WOULD HAVE BEEN PART OF THE CDBG, YOU KNOW, GRANT. BUT I WOULD LIKE TO, YOU KNOW, AGREE TO PHASE THIS OUT, IF NOT, YOU KNOW -- I UNDERSTAND. I MEAN, I LOVE MY CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER. I REALLY DO. THE LEAD. BUT I THINK THAT THERE'S OTHER FUNDING THAT -- I MEAN -- >> Zanoni: THERE ISN'T. YEAH, COUNCILWOMAN, WE'RE A LITTLE BIT AHEAD OF THE CITY BUDGET WE'RE GOING TO PRESENT NEXT WEEK, BUT WE'RE GOING TO BE RECOMMENDING IN THE GENERAL FUND REDUCING SOME OF THE CODE OFFICERS BECAUSE THE REVENUES ARE DOWN THIS YEAR. SO WE ACTUALLY -- THERE WAS A PLAN TO MOVE THESE TO THE GENERAL FUND OVER A THREE, FOUR-YEAR PERIOD, BUT WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO AFFORD IT WITH THE RESOURCES WE'VE HAD. JUST FYI. >> Campos: IF WE WERE TO APPROVE THIS BUDGET, THE RECOMMENDATIONS? >> Zanoni: IF YOU WERE TO APPROVE THE AMENDMENT FROM COUNCILWOMAN PAXSON, WE WOULD ELIMINATE FIVE CODE COMPLIANCE POSITIONS, BRINGING US DOWN TO 22 CITYWIDE. JUST TO GIVE YOU SOME CONTEXT. >> Campos: OKAY. BECAUSE SOME OF THESE OTHER PROJECTS THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT SHE HAD MENTIONED -- I GUESS WE NEED MORE TIME TO LOOK AT THIS. BECAUSE WHEN WE WERE BEING REVIEWED, I DID NOT HAVE -- OR I HAD NOT LOOKED THROUGH THE MATRIX LIKE I PROBABLY SHOULD HAVE. BUT I'D LIKE TO HAVE MORE TIME TO SPEND ON THIS. >> Mayor Guajardo: WHEN DOES THIS NEED TO BE APPROVED, JENNIFER? YOU'RE NOT ON. >> IT NEEDS TO GO TO HUD BY AUGUST 16th. THERE IS A SECOND READING NEXT WEEK. >> Mayor Guajardo: A SECOND READING NEXT WEEK. BECAUSE SALVATION ARMY, YOU KNOW, THEY ARE NOT EVEN HERE TO SPEAK. I DON'T KNOW WHAT CONVERSATION Y'ALL HAD BUT THEY PROVIDE A GREAT SERVICE TO THIS COMMUNITY AND I THINK THIS IS A ONE TIME WHERE WE ARE USING FUNDING, WHERE WE DESPERATELY NEED THAT GENERATOR FOR HELPING PEOPLE IN THE EVENT OF A WEATHER EVENT OR SOME EMERGENCY AND I THINK YOUR RECOMMENDATIONS ARE ADEQUATE. I THINK THEY'RE GOOD. I HAVE SPOKEN MYSELF TO SOME OF THE SMALLER NONPROFITS. THEY COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND AND SUPPORT THE $500,000 GOING TOWARDS THE GENERATOR THIS TIME AND WE CAN COME BACK LATER AND DO WHAT WE ALWAYS DO. BUT CHANGING EVERYTHING UP HERE ON THE DAIS DOESN'T GIVE EVERYBODY -- I MEAN, IF NINE PEOPLE DID THAT AGAINST YOUR RECOMMENDATION, IT JUST DOESN'T MAKE SENSE. WE HAVE A WEEK TO LOOK AT ALL OF THIS. I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING. I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM PUSHING IT FORWARD ONE WEEK -- NO, I'M SORRY. YOU SAID WE HAVE ANOTHER READING. SO WE HAVE TIME. WE ACTUALLY HAVE TIME. SO WE CAN PASS THIS AS-IS AND THEN COME BACK AND IN THAT MEANTIME, EVERYBODY HAVE CONVERSATIONS OR, YOU KNOW, WE CAN'T CHANGE IT NINE TIMES. AND SO, AGAIN, I AGREE WITH YOUR RECOMMENDATION. I LIKE IT. I SPOKE WITH YOU ABOUT THIS ITEM. OH, YOU SPOKE WITH EVERYBODY, REALLY RIGHT? OR YOU ATTEMPTED TO. COUNCILWOMAN, YOU HAVE ANOTHER WEEK. TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, WE ARE KIND OF PUSHING IT -- NOT PUSHING IT BUT WE HAVE MORE TIME. YEAH. YES COUNCILWOMAN. >> Paxson: I DON'T THINK THAT WE'RE CHANGING IT NINE TIMES. I APPRECIATE THE CONVERSATION THAT WE HAD OVER THE ITEM. IT WAS A LOT OF DISCUSSION BACK AND FORTH. I FEEL LIKE I ASKED THE QUESTIONS THAT WERE VERY IMPACTFUL TO MY RECOMMENDATIONS. YOU ANSWERED WHAT WAS QUALIFYING AND WHAT WASN'T. MY POINT FOR CLARIFICATION IS THE WAY IT WAS DESCRIBED TO ME WAS THE 400 FOR CODE ENFORCEMENT WAS AN INITIATIVE THAT YOU GUYS WOULD LIKE FOR INCREASED CODE ENFORCEMENT HOURS. THAT WAS THE WAY IT WAS DESCRIBED TO ME IN YOUR PRESENTATION. SO IF NOW I'M HEARING WE'RE LOSING THE FIVE AND IT'S GOING OVER TO HERE, THAT WASN'T DEPICTED TO ME ON THIS ITEM. HOWEVER, NOW THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT CHIEF WADE LOOKING FOR THAT 500 FOR THE GENERATOR -- I DON'T WANT TO HEAR THAT THE GENERATOR WASN'T IMPORTANT -- THAT WASN'T ARTICULATED TO ME. >> Zanoni: ANY COMMENT, JENNIFER, ON THAT? >> I'M SORRY IF YOU MISUNDERSTOOD, BUT IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN THAT THE CODE ENFORCEMENT, IT USED TO BE DOUBLE THE CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS THAT IT WAS. AND THEN TWO YEARS AGO WHEN IT WENT TO DEVELOPMENT SERVICES, THE CITY GENERAL FUND ABSORBED HALF OF THOSE POSITIONS WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT THESE OTHER FIVE POSITIONS WOULD BE PUT INTO THE GENERAL FUND. THAT'S NOT FEASIBLE THIS YEAR. SO IN ORDER TO FUND THOSE FIVE POSITIONS, THEY HAVE TO STAY IN CODE ENFORCEMENT. IT IS NOT FOR ADDITIONAL HOURS. IT IS NOT FOR ADDITIONAL CODE ENFORCEMENT STAFF MEMBERS. AND I DON'T BELIEVE WE EVER SAID THAT IT WAS. >> Mayor Guajardo: OKAY. COUNCILWOMAN VAUGHN. >> Vaughn: JUST A COUPLE OF THINGS. I THINK I KNOW WHERE SHE'S COMING BACK FROM THE SALVATION ARMY. BECAUSE DURING THE FREEZE THE SALVATION ARMY DID NOT COME THROUGH UNTIL THE MAYOR HAD TO CALL THEM. THEY DID NOT TAKE PEOPLE LIKE THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO. THE CITY ENDED UP DOING IT. I GET THAT. THAT TICKED ME OFF TOO. BUT, JENNIFER, WE HAD A GOOD CONVERSATION, BECAUSE I WAS ASKING ABOUT THE BUILDING WHERE THEY GO IN, BECAUSE THEY HAVE THIS BIG BUILDING. YOU SAID ONE OF THE REASONS THEY CAN'T GO IN IS BECAUSE THERE'S FAMILIES AND YOU HAVE TO VET THE MEN THAT COME IN THERE, IS THAT CORRECT? >> YES, MA'AM. PART OF EMERGENCY WEATHER RESPONSE IS THAT YOU TAKE EVERYBODY HOW THEY ARE. AND SO YOU DON'T DO BACKGROUND CHECKS ON PEOPLE COMING IN THROUGH THE DOOR. AND THE SALVATION ARMY'S MAIN BUILDING, THEY SERVE FAMILIES IN THERE. YOU CANNOT TAKE FOLKS WHO DON'T HAVE A BACKGROUND CHECK AND PUT THEM IN THAT MAIN BUILDING. YOU PUT THE FAMILIES THAT ARE IN THERE AT RISK, DEPENDING ON THE CRIMINAL HISTORY OF THOSE THAT YOU'RE TAKING IN THE EMERGENCY WEATHER. AGAIN, AN EMERGENCY REFUGE CENTER IS JUST THAT. IT'S LOW TO NO BARRIER. SO THERE'S NO BACKGROUND CHECKS DONE. >> Vaughn: BUT THAT BEING SAID, THEY HAD ANOTHER BUILDING THAT HAD STUFF IN IT, BOXES AND STUFF, AND THEY KNEW THE EMERGENCY WAS COMING. WE ALL KNEW THE FREEZE WAS COMING BUT THEY DID NOT CLEAN IT OUT. THEY DID NOT DO ANYTHING. THAT TICKED ME OFF. THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN PREPARED IF THEY'RE AN EMERGENCY CENTER. THE MAYOR HAD TO CALL AND THAT'S WHEN THEY TOOK THEM IN THE NEXT TIME. BUT THE CITY STEPPED IN AND DID THAT. I THINK THAT WAS WRONG AND CAN WE COUNT ON THEM? THEY'RE NOT HERE FOR US TO ASK. >> THE SALVATION ARMY IS HERE. >> Vaughn: WELL, WE CAN'T ASK, CAN WE? >> THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING ITEM. THEY CAN COME AND SPEAK ON THEIR SERVICES. >> Vaughn: BECAUSE THAT WAS DISAPPOINTING. HEY, COME ON DOWN. SORRY. THAT'S YOUR JOB. >> HELLO, MAYOR AND CHAIRMAN, COUNCIL. MY NAME IS ELENE ROSA. YOU MENTIONED ABOUT THE FREEZE SEASON. THE BUILDING YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT IS THE GYM. WE DON'T HAVE THE AC AND IT'S NOT REALLY SAFE TO PUT THE PEOPLE TO STAY IN THERE, SO THAT'S WHY WE JUST USE THAT TO STORE. >> Vaughn: WELL, THE REASON GIVEN BACK THEN WAS BECAUSE YOU STORED -- YOU DIDN'T NEED AN AC. >> WE DON'T HAVE ANY HEATERS. I HAVE BEEN WITH THEM FOR EIGHT AND A HALF YEARS. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WE DIDN'T OPEN OUR DOORS AN IT WAS SOMETHING NEW TO US. THAT BUILDING JUST WASN'T SAFE. >> Vaughn: BUT YOU ENDED UP DOING IT -- >> THAT'S WHY WE MADE THE DECISION NOT TO OPEN IT. HOWEVER, WE STILL DID WHAT WE COULD AND THAT'S WHAT MATTERS. WE STILL DID WHAT WE COULD, EVEN WHEN THE MAYOR CALLED US, WE STILL OPENED OUR CHURCH FACILITY TO HOUSE THE 20 INDIVIDUALS. >> Vaughn: THAT'S JUST MY POINT. IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE FROM THE GET-GO. >> WE ALSO DIDN'T HAVE STAFF. WE LOST A LOT OF PEOPLE. SO US WORKING -- I MEAN, I HAVE A FAMILY TOO. I WORKED NIGHTS THERE. I WORKED MY OWN JOB AND I STAYED THERE OVERNIGHT. I MEAN, IT WAS HARD AS WELL. I MEAN, WE DID WHAT WE COULD. >> I THINK THE REASON IS BECAUSE WE'RE SHORT STAFFED. WE DON'T HAVE VOLUNTEERS. WE DON'T HAVE ANYBODY TO HELP US, TO RUN THE SHELTER, THE OVERNIGHT SHELTER. SO FOR US TO BE ABLE TO RUN THE OVERNIGHT SHELTER, WE HAVE TO HAVE PEOPLE HAVE TRAINING AND HOW TO REACT IF SOMETHING HAPPENS. >> Mayor Guajardo: YOU KNOW, IT SOUNDS LIKE THIS PAY BE -- AND BACK TO THE BUDGET, PETER WHERE WE HAVE -- WE DON'T HAVE ANYONE. WE DON'T HAVE ANY -- AND NOBODY -- I WAS CALLING THEM. BUT WE DON'T HAVE A HOMELESS, HOUSELESS, WHAT THE TITLE IS -- HANG ON A SECOND -- TO BE THE POINT PERSON. TO SAY WHAT'S GOING ON OVER THERE AT SALVATION ARMY. RIGHT? THAT'S THE PROBLEM HERE. THERE WAS NOT THAT COMMUNICATION. AND SO I THINK, YOU KNOW, I THINK Y'ALL MEANT WELL BUT IT WASN'T PROACTIVE. >> Vaughn: NO, IT WAS NOT. >> Mayor Guajardo: AND WE WERE IN A STATE OF EMERGENCY. AND SO FORTHCOMING WE'RE GOING TO SEE THAT, I THINK, AS A POSSIBLE POSITION. >> Zanoni: WE'RE GOING TO BE RECOMMENDING SOMETHING IN THE BUDGET NEXT WEEK. >> Mayor Guajardo: WHAT WERE YOU GOING TO SAY? >> Zanoni: NO, THAT WAS IT. THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE THE STAFFING. WE HAVE JENNIFER BUXTON, WE HAVE OUR EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COORDINATOR, JACE JOHNSON, THE FIRE CHIEF. >> Mayor Guajardo: YES BUT IN THE MIDST OF AN EMERGENCY EVERYBODY IS DOING A THOUSAND THINGS. IT GOES TO SHOW WE DO NEED A POINT PERSON WHEN IT COMES TO THIS ISSUE. WE DO NEED IT. THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN THE PERSON IN BETWEEN SAYING WHAT'S YOUR SITUATION. AND THAT WAS ME, IN THIS CASE, AMONGST EVERYTHING ELSE THAT I WAS DOING. YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT THE RIGHT MODEL. BUT I UNDERSTAND YOUR POINT, COUNCILWOMAN VAUGHN, BECAUSE IT'S TRUE. THERE WASN'T ANYTHING PROACTIVE AND THAT'S WHAT SHE'S SAYING. TODAY WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THESE FUNDS AND HOW THEY WOULD BE USED. YOU GUYS ARE THE ONLY SHELTER -- YOU AND THE HOPE HOUSE. >> Vaughn: THANK YOU. I STILL HAVE THE FLOOR, RIGHT? I HAVEN'T USED MY FIVE MINUTES. >> Mayor Guajardo: YOU DO. >> Vaughn: BUT I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING. THANK YOU. THANK Y'ALL. I JUST THINK WE HAVE TO BE PREPARED. I'M LOOKING AT WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, KAYLYNN, AND YOU'RE WANTING TO GIVE MORE MONEY TO HABITAT BUT THEY ALREADY HAVE IT DOWN AT THE BOTTOM DOWN HERE. I'M DONE, GIRLS. SORRY. LADIES. CAN YOU MOVE ESG DOWN TO THE HOME? >> Zanoni: NO, YOU CAN'T, COUNCILWOMAN. YOU HAVE TO KEEP IT IN THOSE CATEGORIES. >> Vaughn: SO YOU CAN'T MOVE IT? OKAY. YEAH. WELL, I WAS JUST GOING BACK TO WHAT YOU WERE SAYING. OKAY. I THINK WE, IF THEY'RE WANTING TO CHANGE IT UP, Y'ALL MUST HAVE HAD SOME KIND OF CRITERIA THAT MADE YOU PICK THESE, CORRECT? AND WHY DIDN'T YOU PICK THE OTHERS? THE ONES SHE'S WANTING TO PICK -- I THINK YOU'RE WANTING TO GIVE MORE TO HOPE HOUSE. >> Zanoni: YES. >> Vaughn: BUT I DON'T THINK WE CAN CHANGE IT UP WITHOUT DISCUSSION AND LETTING YOU GUYS COME BACK. I THINK Y'ALL HAVE TO -- >> THIS IS OUR RECOMMENDATION. THEY BOTH HAD GOOD APPLICATIONS AND ARE BOTH GOING TO PROVIDE GREAT SERVICES WITH THOSE DOLLARS. >> Mayor Guajardo: THANK YOU, DAN. COUNCILMAN HERNANDEZ. >> Hernandez: OKAY. SHE HAD MENTIONED THIS THAT THESE FUNDS ARE KIND OF SEPARATE. YOU CAN'T SWITCH THEM FROM ONE GROUP TO ANOTHER ONE, LIKE THE ESG FUNDS AND THE HOME FUNDS, THE PROJECTS CAN'T BE MOVED AROUND RIGHT. >> CDBG IS A LITTLE BIT FLEXIBLE SO THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT CAN FUND OUT OF CDBG OUT OF THE OTHER CATEGORIES. BUT THE HOME PROGRAM IS ONLY AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND ESG IS ONLY HOMELESSNESS. YOU CAN'T PUT STUFF NECESSARILY INTO HOME OR INTO ESG OUT OF THE OTHER CATEGORIES. CDBG DOES HAVE SOME FLEXIBILITY. >> Hernandez: BUT YOU CAN'T PUT HABITAT FOR HUMANITY IN ESG FUNDS. >> CORRECT. >> Hernandez: BASED ON WHAT YOU HAD REQUESTED FOR ESG YOU HAD SALVATION ARMY, HOPE HOUSE, AND MISSION 9-1-1 AND YOU SELECTED SALVATION ARMY AND HOPE HOUSE CORRECT? IS HABITAT FOR HUMANITY ABLE TO ABSORB SOME OF THESE FUNDS, CONSIDERING THE CHANGE IN LEADERSHIP? >> WE HAVEN'T TALKED WITH THEM IF THEY COULD TAKE ADDITIONAL FUNDS. WE TALKED WITH THEM ABOUT THE MONEY THEY'RE BEING AWARDED CURRENTLY. YES, THEY JUST HAD A CHANGE IN LEADERSHIP AS OF LAST WEEK OR TWO WEEKS AGO NOW. WE DO HAVE MONEY WITH THEM CURRENTLY FROM PREVIOUS YEARS THAT THEY'RE NOW STARTING TO SPEND. >> Hernandez: PREVIOUS YEAR'S FUNDS THEY HAVEN'T SPENT? >> THAT'S PART OF OUR EVALUATION PROCESS. >> Hernandez: THAT MIGHT BE SOMETHING YOU MIGHT WANT TO BRING TO US IN THE NEXT READING TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY CAN USE ALL THE FUNDS WITHIN THE YEAR THAT THEY ARE ALLOTTED. IF NOT, I'M SURE THERE'S OTHER ORGANIZATIONS THAT COULD PROBABLY USE THEM MORE URGENTLY. I WOULD RATHER -- THE WAY THE CITY MANAGER SAYS, WE'VE GOT TO PUT THIS MONEY IN PRODUCTION. >> THEY'RE MOVING QUICKLY NOW. THEY HAVE THOSE LOTS AT THE LAMAR PROPERTY AREA, OR THE LAMAR REDEVELOPMENT, AND THEY HAVE A FEW HOMES GOING UP NOW. THEY HAD A GROUNDBREAKING ON A HOME. >> Hernandez: ALSO YOU MIGHT WANT TO DO SOME RESEARCH ON WHAT COUNCILWOMAN PAXSON SAID ABOUT ADDITIONAL GRANT FUNDING. IF THERE'S SOME ADDITIONAL GRANT FUNDING AVAILABLE FOR IT, LET'S TRY AND MAXIMIZE WHATEVER FUNDS WE GET HERE. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU CAN FIND IT OUT BY NEXT WEEK. AT LEAST MAKE AN ATTEMPT. >> I KNOW MAHOGANY IS ALSO LOOKING AT GRANTS AND SENDING THEM TO DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS. >> Hernandez: MAYBE COUNCILWOMAN PAXSON CAN LOOK AT HER ORGANIZATION, WHERE SHE GOT THE INFORMATION FROM, TO HELP YOU OUT WITH THAT. THANK YOU. >> Mayor Guajardo: COUNCILMAN BARRERA. >> Barrera: I JUST WANT TO REITERATE I KNOW I WAS ONE OF THE ONES, WHEN WE GOT CREATIVE IN REGARD TO TAKING THE CODE ENFORCEMENT DOLLARS AND PULLING THEM OUT OF CDBG. I'M AN AT-LARGE COUNCILMAN -- I'M AT-LARGE BUT NOW I'VE BEEN FOUND. I KNOW, IN PARTICULAR, HOW IMPORTANT THE CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS -- WERE IN DISTRICT 3, PARTICULARLY IN THE MOLINA AREA WHERE WE HAD A LOT OF CHALLENGES AND A LOT OF ISSUES WITH THOSE LOTS. I THINK SOME OF THE THINGS, PARTICULARLY IN THE INNER CITY HOMES, YOU HAVE SENIOR CITIZENS THAT TAKE CARE OF THEIR HOMES AND THEY'VE OWNED IT THEIR WHOLE LIVES FOR DECADES. AND NEXT DOOR IS A HOUSE THAT'S DILAPIDATED AND WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO GO IN AND ABATE THOSE. SO I THINK IT'S A QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUE, PARTICULARLY FOR THOSE IN THOSE TYPE OF NEIGHBORHOODS. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE MAINTAIN THOSE FIVE FTEs. THE OTHER THING AS WELL IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE DISCUSSED WITH REGARD TO THE GENERATOR, YOU KNOW, THE FACILITY THAT WE HAD, OBVIOUSLY THAT WE UTILIZED, WAS THE NATATORIUM, OR AT LEAST THE CORPUS CHRISTI GYM. IT JUST WASN'T FEASIBLE BECAUSE THE MAJORITY OF THE HOMELESS POPULATION IS ON THIS SIDE OF TOWN. THAT WAS PART OF THE CHALLENGE, FACILITATING TO MOVE THEM OVER THERE. IT DRAINED OUR RESOURCES AND IT CREATED MORE CHALLENGES. YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT MAKES A WHOLE LOT OF SENSE. THAT'S WHERE THE DEMAND IS AND, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF OUR COMMAND CENTER IS OVER HERE ON THIS SIDE OF TOWN. SO I THINK IT'S JUST IMPORTANT. PLUS, YOU KNOW, THE SITUATION -- MY ENCOUNTERS WITH THE SALVATION ARMY, YOU KNOW, THE WORK THAT THEY DO IS THE LORD'S WORK, OBVIOUSLY. I REMEMBER THE TIMES THAT WE HAD A DEAL WITH THEM -- TYPICALLY THEY DEAL WITH FAMILIES, YOU KNOW, AND MY -- I HAVEN'T DONE THIS IN A LONG TIME. WHEN I WAS ON THE BOARD FOR THE CHILDREN'S ADVOCACY CENTER AND WE HAD THOSE FAMILIES THAT WERE DISPLACED. AND KIDS RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT. I MEAN, I GUESS TO GET THEM TO THE PROCESS TO GET THEM THERE AND THE SALVATION ARMY WAS THE ONES THAT AT LEAST HELPED THOSE PEOPLE GET BACK ON THEIR FEET. I JUST THINK THAT WE'RE ABLE TO DO THIS THROUGH THE CSG GRANT, PUT THEM IN A POSITION TO PROVIDE US THE SUPPORT. IF YOU SEE THEIR FACILITY AND WHAT THEY HAVE ON THIS SIDE, IT'S IMPORTANT. OBVIOUSLY, I SUPPORT STAFF RECOMMENDATION AND I CAN'T JUST SEE MAKING ANY CHANGES RIGHT NOW. I MEAN, IF THERE NEEDS TO BE MORE CLARIFICATION, THIS IS THE FIRST READING AND THEN WE CAN HASH ALL THAT OUT IN MEETINGS OVER THE NEXT WEEK. I'LL MAKE MYSELF AVAILABLE, IF NECESSARY, WHETHER BY ZOOM OR IN PERSON. WITH THAT, I MOVE FOR APPROVAL TO MOVE FORWARD WITH STAFF RECOMMENDATION. >> Mayor Guajardo: I'LL SECOND. COUNCILWOMAN PAXSON. >> Paxson: I WANTED TO CLARIFY. MAKING THAT SUGGESTION UNDER CODE ENFORCEMENT, I REALIZE THAT YOUR TEAM FEELS LIKE SOMETHING DIFFERENT WAS SAID IN OUR DISCUSSION. IT IS WHAT IT IS. THAT WAS THE UNDERSTANDING I WALKED AWAY FROM THE CALL WITH AND I FELT LIKE I ASKED AMPLE QUESTIONS FOR CLARIFICATION. WHAT I'M INTERESTED IN, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE THIS IS A TWO-READING ITEM -- MR. ZANONI, YOU CAN HELP US WITH THIS. IF WE CAN FIND GRANT FUNDING FOR THAT GENERATOR, THAT'S $500,000. THAT'S EVEN MORE FUNDING SITTING THERE FOR CODE ENFORCEMENT. I 100% SUPPORT CODE ENFORCEMENT. THEY DO WONDERFUL THINGS. BUT THEN WE CAN TAKE CARE OF ALL THE NECESSARY ITEMS. AT WORST-CASE SCENARIO, IF WE COULDN'T FIND THE GRANT FOR THAT AND WE TAKE OUT OF THAT FUND, THAT'S $250,000 REMAINING IN THERE. WE WOULD ONLY HAVE TO FIND THE $250,000 FOR THAT GENERATOR. MAYBE THERE'S A FUND THAT COULD PARTIALLY COVER THAT GENERATOR IF WE CAN'T FIND THE GRANT. INVESTING IN THESE GROUPS THAT HAVE APPLIED FOR THIS, THAT QUALIFY FOR THIS HELPS US, ONE, PARTNER WITH THE COMMUNITY. TWO, MAXIMIZE THESE DOLLARS. WE DON'T HAVE THE RESOURCES THEY HAVE. THEY HAVE STAFFING, BUILDINGS, VOLUNTEERS. THEY HAVE A LOT OF THINGS THAT WE'RE NOT NEEDING TO COMMIT TO TO STILL TOUCH THE COMMUNITY. SO THAT IS ALWAYS MY FIRST PREFERENCE. IF WE CAN GET ALL THAT INFORMATION BEFORE THE SECOND READING, WE STAND TO MAXIMIZE THIS. >> Mayor Guajardo: THANK YOU. I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND OPEN PUBLIC HEARING. >> Zanoni: MAYOR, CAN I JUST CONFIRM? COUNCILWOMAN PAXSON, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT NO. 7, 8, AND 9, THE 250. TWO $50,000 TO RISING TIDE AND 150 FOR HABITAT FOR HUMANITY AND 250 REMAINING FOR THE GENERATOR? OKAY. >> Mayor Guajardo: I'M GOING TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING. IS THERE ANYONE IN THE AUDIENCE THAT WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT ON ITEM NO. 27? COME ON DOWN. >> LISA CURTIS. I LIVE IN DISTRICT 2 BUT RISING TIDE MINISTRIES IS IN DISTRICT 4. AND WE ARE JUST SO VERY GRATEFUL FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU ALL DO. I MEAN, I'M AN ACCOUNTANT BY TRADE BUT MY GOODNESS. YOU GUYS HAVE SO MUCH, SO MANY MOVING PARTS. AND WE REALLY DO APPRECIATE THE PAST SUPPORT WE HAVE RECEIVED HERE AND UNDERSTAND THERE'S SO MANY PULLS ON THE FUNDING. THERE'S A LIMITED AMOUNT OF FUNDING. MANY OF THE THINGS WE DO AT RISING TIDE MINISTRIES ADDRESS THE ISSUES THAT HAVE BEEN SPOKEN ABOUT HERE TODAY. WE HELP PEOPLE GET I.D.s. NOT EVERYBODY WE HELP GET THEIR I.D. WILL BECOME A PRODUCTIVE MEMBER OF SOCIETY BUT IF YOU DO NOT HAVE I.D., YOU WILL NOT. AND SOMETIMES IT'S PRETTY QUICK, ONE OR TWO VISITS AND WE'RE DONE. WE RECENTLY SPENT SIX MONTHS ON A WEEKLY BASIS WORKING WITH A GENTLEMAN WHO WAS BORN AS A MILITARY DEPENDENT OVERSEAS. AND HE WAS IN HIS 50S, I THINK. YOU CAN'T GET I.D. YOU CAN'T GET YOUR BIRTH CERTIFICATE WITHOUT I.D. SO IT'S HARD TO DO IT HERE IN CORPUS CHRISTI BUT BEING IN GERMANY, IT'S EVEN HARDER. AND WE FINALLY CONNECTED WITH MICHAEL CLOUD'S OFFICE AND THEN THE STATE DEPARTMENT. THE STATE DEPARTMENT SAID, YES, HIS MOTHER CAN REQUEST HIS BIRTH CERTIFICATE BUT WE NEED A NOTARIZED LETTER FROM HIM STATING THAT HIS MOTHER CAN GET THE BIRTH CERTIFICATE. YOU CAN'T GET A LETTER NOTARIZED IF YOU DON'T HAVE I.D. AND THAT'S WHAT I SAID TO THE STATE DEPARTMENT REPRESENTATIVE. AND SHE SAID VERY GOOD POINT. SO SHE SAID, OKAY. GET ME HIS PICTURE IN HIS HIGH SCHOOL ANNUAL. DID I MENTION HE WAS IN HIS 50S? THROUGH THE MAGIC OF FACEBOOK WE GOT ONLINE AND WITHIN AN HOUR I HAD THREE PEOPLE THAT HAD THAT YEAR ANNUAL. AND WE WERE ABLE TO SEND THAT TO THE STATE DEPARTMENT AND HE FINALLY GOT HIS BIRTH CERTIFICATE. SEVERAL PEOPLE WE HAVE WORKED THAT LONG AND HARD WITH BUT IF YOU DON'T HAVE I.D. YOU CANNOT BECOME A PRODUCTIVE MEMBER OF SOCIETY. WE BRING RESOURCES, WE BRING JOB TRAINING. WE BRING EVERYTHING FROM ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE, SPANISH, MICROSOFT WORD, EXCEL. OUR GOOGLE IT COURSES ARE ALL FREE, PARTIALLY BASED ON THE PAST SUPPORT FROM THE CITY. BUT OUR GOOGLE I.T. COURSES, PEOPLE CAN GET A CERTIFICATE IN ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, IN CYBERSECURITY, AND PROJECT MANAGEMENT. THOSE ARE GOOD-PAYING JOBS. IF WE CAN GET THIS TRAINING TO PEOPLE, THEN THEY CAN AFFORD TO BUY A HOUSE BECAUSE NOW THEY HAVE A BETTER-PAYING JOB. SO EVERY DAY BRINGS NEW CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES TO SERVE. AND OUR TEAM MADE UP OF PRIMARILY DEDICATED VOLUNTEERS. WE HAVE 35 VOLUNTEERS, I BELIEVE, ON OUR LIST TODAY. WE MEET WITH COMPASSION AND DETERMINATION. WE NEVER KNOW EXACTLY WHAT SOMEBODY IS GOING TO NEED WHEN THEY COME IN, BUT WE ARE COMMITTED TO SERVING THEM. WE APPRECIATE YOUR PAST SUPPORT AND YOUR CONTINUED LEADERSHIP IN CORPUS CHRISTI. WE PARTNER WITH YOU. WE REMAIN COMMITTED TO WORKING ALONGSIDE YOU, UPLIFTING AND EMPOWERING OUR CITY RESIDENTS. PLEASE KNOW THAT WE'RE PRAYING FOR YOU. >> Mayor Guajardo: WE APPRECIATE THAT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> Mayor Guajardo: THANK YOU. >> MARY ELENA GARZA, DISTRICT 1. YET AGAIN TAKING MONEY FROM THE POOR TO COVER OUR BUTTS. IT'S JUST FRUSTRATING. AS FRUSTRATING AS THIS GENERATOR DILEMMA YOU'VE GOT GOING ON. YOU KNOW WE SHOULD HAVE A GENERATOR AT LA RETAMA. THAT WHOLE AGENDA ITEM I WAS NOT ASKED IF I COULD MAKE PUBLIC COMMENT ON, WAS WE HAVE TO FIX THE OUTSIDE OF THE BUILDING BECAUSE AS THEY WERE GETTING READY FOR THE GENERATOR THEY WERE LIKE, UH-OH. THE BUILDING IS NOT UP TO PAR AND WE CAN'T SUPPORT THE GENERATOR IT NEEDS SO NOW WE HAVE TO COME BACK TO THIS AGENDA ITEM AND ASK FOR THEM TO APPROVE IT. WHAT IS THERE A GUARANTEE WHEN YOU GO AND PUT THAT GENERATOR AT BEN GARZA -- BECAUSE THE BEN GARZA GYM HAS BEEN GETTING RENOVATED. THE FLOORS WERE TORE UP. IT'S BEEN GOING UNDER REPAIRS. WERE THEY MAKING THE REPAIRS IN PREPARATION FOR THE GENERATOR? PROBABLY NOT. WE'RE GOING TO BUY THIS GENERATOR AND SIT ON IT. PEOPLE LIKE ME AND RISING TIDE, MISSION 9-1-1, ALL OF US, WE NEED THE MONEY LAST CYCLE AND WE'RE GOING TO SPEND THIS MONEY ON THE GENERATOR WHEN THERE ARE MORE CREATIVE WAYS TO FIND MONEY. THIS IS THE EASY WAY OUT, JUST TAKING IT FROM THIS FUND. JUST LIKE WE'RE INNOVATIVE FOR THE PORT, WE CAN BE INNOVATIVE FOR THE PORT TOO. I THINK BUYING THE GENERATOR WITH THE BLOCK GRANTS, AS MUCH AS I REALLY WANT THAT GENERATOR AT BEN GARZA, BECAUSE IT'S A BETTER LOGISTICAL SPACE FOR HOUSING OUR UNHOUSED INDIVIDUALS AND FOR EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, I AGREE. WE NEED IT OVER THERE AT BEN GARZA. BUT YOU DO NOT NEED TO PULL IT FROM THIS FUND. FIND IT FROM SOMEWHERE ELSE. WE NEED THESE FUNDS AND OF COURSE YET AGAIN THE SALVATION ARMY'S GETTING THE EMERGENCY SHELTER GRANT. DO YOU KNOW WHO OPENED THEIR DOORS? GOODSAM. SHE ASSUMED A LOT OF RISK TAKING ALL THOSE PEOPLE LAST MINUTE, OVER CAPACITY. IF SOMETHING BAD HAD HAPPENED AT HER PLACE, WHO WOULD HAVE BEEN AT FAULT? NOT THE CITY. SHE WOULD HAVE. THAT ORGANIZATION WOULD HAVE TAKEN THE LEGAL BRUNT FOR IT AND THEY'RE NOT GETTING ANY MONEY. BUT THE SALVATION ARMY, OF COURSE, GET MORE MONEY. AND THEY ALWAYS HAVE EXCUSES. THIS MULTIBILLION DOLLAR COMPANY -- AND I FEEL BAD FOR THE PEOPLE WHO WORK FOR SALVATION ARMY BECAUSE THEY'RE PAID INADEQUATELY. MULTIBILLION DOLLAR. DO YOU KNOW HOW BIG THE SALVATION ARMY IS? THEY HAVE THEIR OWN TAX CODE WITH THE I.R.S. WHEN I FORMED MY NONPROFIT, THEY HAD A WHOLE COLUMN JUST FOR THE SALVATION ARMY. THE I.R.S. SO THAT BIG ENTITY NEEDS THAT MONEY? NO, THEY DON'T. GIVE IT TO SOMEONE ELSE. BUT THE REASON WHY WE'RE HAVING TO GO WITH THE SALVATION ARMY IS BACK TO THAT WHOLE THING ABOUT THE HOMELESSNESS DEPARTMENT THAT WE NEEDED THAT I WAS BEGGING Y'ALL NOT TO GET RID OF? THAT'S WHY WE HAVE TO GO WITH THE SALVATION ARMY BECAUSE WE HAVE NO ONE TO PUSH THE PAPER. WE HAVE NO ONE TO MAKE THE CALLS AND KEEP THEM COMPLIANT. IT'S NOT ONE PERSON WE NEED, WE NEED A DEPARTMENT OF PEOPLE. >> Mayor Guajardo: THANK YOU, MS. GARZA. LET'S MAKE SOME STATEMENT OF FACT. TWO PEOPLE, TWO ORGANIZATIONS APPLIED FOR THIS, CORRECT? THREE? OKAY. I'M SORRY. GOODSAM, THEY DON'T ACCEPT STATE OR FEDERAL MONIES. >> THEY DID NOT APPLY. >> [OFF MIC] >> Mayor Guajardo: HANG ON, MS. GARZA, YOU HAD YOUR THREE MINUTES. I WANT TO MAKE A STATEMENT OF FACT. GOODSAM, GOOD SAMARITAN, DOES NOT ACCEPT -- THEY DO NOT WANT STATE OR FEDERAL FUNDING. BECAUSE SHE RUNS HER ORGANIZATION THERE THE WAY SHE RUNS IT. WE LOVE HER. WE SUPPORT HER. I WORK WITH HER IN EVERY EVENT, ANY WEATHER OR EMERGENCY EVENT. SHE IS GOOD AND GOLDEN. AND GOD BLESSES HER WITH A WHOLE LOT. SO THAT IS HER CHOICE IN HOW SHE RUNS GOOD SAMARITAN. I JUST WANT TO MAKE THAT STATEMENT. I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH PEOPLE GET PAID AT SALVATION ARMY BUT I CAN SAY THERE IS NO ORGANIZATION THAT IS PERFECT. BUT WITHOUT THOSE PARTNERSHIPS, WE CAN'T HELP ANYONE. SO I APPRECIATE ALL OF THEM FROM, YOU KNOW, RISING TIDE, WHO I BROUGHT TO THE TABLE HOW MANY YEARS AGO, BECAUSE THEY WERE A LITTLE GUY. AND YOU'RE GROWING. AND THE WORK YOU DO IS TREMENDOUS. AND THAT'S WHY YOU'RE AT THE TABLE. MS. GARZA, YOU'RE AT THE TABLE. SO WE WORK WITH EVERYONE. AND WE HEAR YOU. AND Y'ALL ARE TESTAMENTS OF THAT SO WE APPRECIATE YOUR WORK. EVERYTHING YOU DO AND EVERYTHING, YOU KNOW, THE BIGGER ORGANIZATIONS DO. BUT THANK YOU FOR YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT. WE STILL HAVE SOME MORE. >> THE GENERATOR IS ACTUALLY UNDER DESIGN, JUST ABOUT FINISHED. ANY IMPROVEMENT TO ACCEPT THE POWER INTO THE BUILDING WOULD BE A PART OF THE RECOMMENDED IMPROVEMENTS, PART OF THOSE PLANS. THAT'S ALL GOING TO WRAP UP IN THE NEXT MONTH. THE PLANS WILL BE READY TO GO. THIS IS JUST FOR THE ACTUAL CONSTRUCTION WORK. >> Mayor Guajardo: YES, MA'AM. Y'ALL CAN COME FORWARD. THERE'S THIS WHOLE ROW OF SEATING IF Y'ALL WANT TO SIT HERE, SO YOU'RE CLOSER. >> GOOD AFTERNOON. I'M MELISSA JUAREZ, CORPUS CHRISTI. I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT THE TRUE MEASURE OF A GREAT CITY CAN BE SEEN IN THE QUALITY AND DEDICATION OF HOW IT TAKES CARE OF ITS MOST VULNERABLE. ALL OF US AT CORPUS CHRISTI HOPE HOUSE WISH TO EXTEND OUR DEEPEST GRATITUDE TO YOU AND TO THOSE WHO ASSIST YOU WITH THE ESG GRANTS THAT HAVE BEEN PLACED IN OUR WATCHFUL CARE AND PRUDENT DISTRIBUTION. WITHOUT THIS HELP ONE CAN ONLY IMAGINE THE ADDED SUFFERING AND STRESS PLACED UPON ALL OF US WHEN ONE OF US IS IN DISTRESS. WITH YOUR HELP, WE WILL CONTINUE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF SO MANY WHO MAY NEVER BE ABLE TO SAY THANK YOU. TODAY WE THANK YOU FOR THEM AND FOR ALL OF CORPUS CHRISTI. EVERYTHING THAT THE CITY DOES TO HELP US, TO HELP THE COMMUNITY IS VERY TRULY APPRECIATED. >> Mayor Guajardo: THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> JAMES PERKINS, DISTRICT 2. I KIND OF WANT TO POINT OUT THAT WHAT THESE GRANTS ARE GOING AFTER IS KIND OF WHAT I MEAN BY CRIME PREVENTION. BY RESTORING BUILDINGS, BY MAKING SURE THESE PEOPLE HAVE THESE AFFORDABLE HOUSING THAT WORK WITH THEIR PAYCHECKS, BY ENABLING THEM TO HAVE A PLACE TO GO, THAT'S WHAT I MEAN WHEN I SAY THAT WE NEED MORE OF THAT IN OUR COMMUNITY. WE DON'T NEED MORE POLICE OFFICERS. THAT'S $6 MILLION THAT Y'ALL ARE SPENDING OVER THERE COULD BE BETTER UTILIZED HERE WHERE WE CAN GUARANTEE THAT THESE PEOPLE CAN GET TO THE LOCATIONS THAT THEY GET TO. I'M VERY FAMILIAR WITH THE RTA AND HOW THEY OPERATE AND IT IS VERY DIFFICULT FOR THEM TO MOVE IN THE HOUSELESSNESS COMMUNITY WHEN THEY NEED TO GET TO PLACES IN AN EMERGENCY. I DISAVOW THE SALVATION ARMY DUE TO THEIR ANTI-QUEER DISCRIMINATORY VIEWS BUT THEY STILL PROVIDE A MEDIOCRE PIECE OF HELP HERE IN THE COMMUNITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI. EVEN THOUGH OUR HOUSELESSNESS POPULATION HAS MORE THAN TRIPLED IN THE LAST THREE YEARS. BY FUNDING THESE THINGS, BY FUNDING CODE ENFORCEMENT, BY FUNDING THE HOUSING INITIATIVES, WE ARE HELPING OUR CITIZENS DIRECTLY. I REALLY URGE YOU TO VOTE YES FOR THESE THINGS BECAUSE THIS IS WHAT WE NEED. WE NEED THE CRIME PREVENTION. >> Mayor Guajardo: JENNIFER, WOULD YOU -- >> IF I COULD MAKE ONE CORRECTION. THE SAME-SEX FAMILY COMPOSITION IS DONE AT THE LOCAL LEVEL AND OUR LOCAL SALVATION ARMY DOES TAKE SAME-SEX FAMILIES. THEY TAKE THE FAMILY, REGARDLESS OF WHAT THE HOUSEHOLD COMPOSITION IS. THEY DO PREFER THAT IF THERE ARE CHILDREN INVOLVED, THAT THERE'S SOME SORT OF DOCUMENTATION SOMETIMES. BUT THEY TAKE SAME-SEX COUPLES. >> Mayor Guajardo: THANK YOU. YES MA'AM. >> MY NAME IS LEETA VASQUEZ AND I LIVE IN CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS. MAY I SAY MY SPEECH IF IT DOESN'T PERTAIN TO WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT RIGHT NOW? >> Mayor Guajardo: AT THIS MOMENT, IT'S ON THIS PARTICULAR ITEM. WE'RE ONLY SPEAKING ON THIS PARTICULAR ITEM. AT 5:30 YOU CAN SPEAK ON CITY RELATED -- ACTUALLY, ANYTHING CITY RELATED OR GENDER RELATED. >> MY NAME IS JIM KLEIN. I LIVE IN DISTRICT 2. I JUST WANT TO MAKE A COUPLE OF QUICK POINTS. THEY'RE PROBABLY NOT GOING TO BE POPULAR. IN THE TWO YEARS THAT I SERVED ON THE CITY COUNCIL, I KEPT ASKING FOR A REPORT FROM SALVATION ARMY ON HOW THAT MONEY IS BEING SPENT. I NEVER SAW ANYTHING. AND I JUST THINK THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME ACCOUNTABILITY. I THINK THEY DO GOOD WORK BUT I DON'T KNOW THAT BECAUSE THERE'S BEEN NO RECORD. I WOULD ASK YOU MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL TO PURSUE THAT. REGARDING CODE ENFORCEMENT, THAT'S IMPORTANT BUT IT'S GOT TO BE A LOW PRIORITY. IT'S GOT TO BE A LOWER PRIORITY. THERE ARE MUCH BETTER WAYS TO SPEND THAT MONEY COMING IN FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, FROM HUD, THAN CODE ENFORCEMENT IN POOR NEIGHBORHOODS. THANK YOU. >> Mayor Guajardo: THANK YOU, SIR. MA'AM, YOU SPOKE ON THE ITEM ALREADY SO WE CAN ONLY SPEAK ONE TIME. YES MA'AM. THANK YOU, THOUGH. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON ITEM NO. 27? >> [OFF MIC] >> City Secretary: SHE WAS JUST ANSWERING QUESTIONS. SHE WAS ASKED TO COME UP BY MS. VAUGHN, I BELIEVE. >> Mayor Guajardo: OKAY. NEW RULE. YOU CAN COME BACK UP. IT DIDN'T COUNT. >> MY NAME IS ELENE ROSA FROM THE SALVATION ARMY. I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE CITY FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF THE SALVATION ARMY THE PAST YEAR. WITH ALL YOUR SUPPORT, IN FISCAL YEAR 2024, WE WERE ABLE TO PROVIDE 38,000 MEALS AND 29,167 NIGHTS OF SHELTER, INCLUDING 31 CHILDREN EACH DAY. RENT AND UTILITY ASSISTANCE FOR 531 FAMILIES. 2,841 FOOD BOXES. WHEN THE CLIENTS, THEY ARE IN SHELTER, WE SET A GOAL FOR THEM , WE HELP THEM WITH I.D., HAVE THE JOB TRAINING FOR THEM TO BE -- TO HAVE THEIR OWN PLACE. WITH THE CITY FUNDS FOR THE PAST YEAR, WE WERE ABLE TO HELP AT LEAST SIX HOUSEHOLDS FROM THE SHELTER FOR RAPID REHOUSING FOR THEIR OWN PLACE. I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR HELP. AND I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO PLANNING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT. JENNIFER AND DEB ARE ALWAYS THERE TO SUPPORT US FOR ANY QUESTIONS WE ASK, TO MAKE SURE WE USE THE FUND CORRECTLY, FOR THE RIGHT ELIGIBLE REASONS FOR US. I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU. >> Mayor Guajardo: THANK YOU SO MUCH. WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND CLOSE PUBLIC HEARING. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND, SO PLEASE SUBMIT YOUR VOTE ON ITEM NO. 27. THE MOTION CARRIES SECTION K, INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION ITEMS. ITEM NO. 28 IS A MOTION TO WAIVE THE CITY COUNCIL'S AUGUST 24, 2025 DEADLINE TO SUBMIT A CONTRACT FOR WATER FROM SOUTH TEXAS WATER AUTHORITY IN RESPONSE TO THEIR REQUEST AND SOUTH TEXAS WATER AUTHORITY'S ONGOING NEGOTIATIONS WITH SEVEN SEAS. YOU KNOW, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, I'M SORRY. I JUST REALIZED IT'S 5:24. OUR GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT BEGINS AT 5:30. SO WE WILL JUST TAKE A FIVE-MINUTE RECESS -- BECAUSE THIS IS A PRESENTATION AND I DON'T WANT TO HAVE TO INTERRUPT THE PRESENTATION TO GO TO GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT AND THEN COME BACK. WE'LL TAKE A FIVE, SIX-MINUTE RECESS. WE'LL COME BACK, GO TO PUBLIC COMMENT, AND THEN WE'LL START BACK ON THE AGENDA. [RECESS] >> Mayor Guajardo: WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND RECONVENE OUR MEETING. SO WE'RE GOING TO -- LET'S SEE HERE. OKAY. SO DURING THIS TIME, WE HANDLE VERY SIGNIFICANT MATTERS CONCERNING TAXPAYER DOLLARS AT ALL OF OUR MEETINGS, MAKING IT IMPERATIVE THAT WE UPHOLD THE HIGHEST STANDARDS OF DECORUM AND ADHERENCE TO OUR POLICIES. OUR CORE POLICIES GUIDE OUR ACTIONS AND WE AIM TO ACHIEVE THEM WHILE RESPECTING OUR CITY COUNCIL POLICY WHICH HAS BEEN IN PLACE FOR 30 YEARS. PUBLIC COMMENT SERVES AS ONE AVENUE FOR COMMUNICATION. YOU CAN ALSO REACH OUT TO YOUR MEMBERS OF COUNCIL BY PHONE, E-MAIL OR EVEN SCHEDULING AN IN-PERSON APPOINTMENT. WITH THAT SAID, WE OR GOING TO PROCEED TO PUBLIC COMMENT KEEPING IN MIND THE IMPORTANCE OF DECORUM AND ADHERENCE TO THIS POLICY. BEFORE WE BEGINNING, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK OUR CITY ATTORNEY MILES RISLEY TO PLEASE REVIEW OUR RULES OF DECORUM. MR. RISLEY. >> Risley: ALL CITIZENS MUST BE COURTEOUS, POLITE AND RESPECTFUL OF ONE ANOTHER, INCLUDING THE CITY COUNCIL AND CITY STAFF. THE MAYOR AND COUNCILMEMBERS SHALL BE REFERRED TO BY TITLE AND/OR TITLE SURNAME. ALL MARKS MUST BE ADDRESSED TO THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL AND NOT TO THE COUNCILMEMBERS AS INDIVIDUALS. CITIZENS ARE ONLY PERMITTED TO SPEAK ON CITY-RELATED SUBJECT MATTER. SPEAKING ON ANY NONCITY-RELATED MATTER IS PROHIBITED. LOUD, BOYD ROUSE, PROFANE OR OBSCENE LANGUAGE OR BEHAVIOR IS NOT ALLOWED. CITIZENS MUST REFRAIN FROM ANY DISTURBING NOISE, DEMONSTRATION OR OTHER ACT DISRUPTING TO THE CITY COUNCIL BUSINESS. >> Mayor Guajardo: THANK YOU, MR. RISLEY. PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND THE CITY IN WHICH YOU LIVE BEFORE BEGINNING YOUR COMMENTS. CITIZEN COMMENTS ARE LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES WHILE NONRESIDENT COMMENTS ARE LIMITED TO ONE MINUTE. A VISIBLE TIMER POSITIONED NEAR THE CITY CERTIFICATE'S DESK WILL HELP MANAGE THAT ALLOTTED TIME. SPEAKERS MAY ASK QUESTION DURING THEIR TIME WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT WE K CANNOT ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS DURING THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD. RESPECTS OF CORPUS CHRISTI WILL BE GIVEN PRIORITY IN SPEAKING OVER NONRESIDENTS, AND IF YOU HAVE A PETITION OR ANY RELEVANT INFORMATION THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WITH US, IF YOU'LL PLEASE PRESENT IT TO THE CITY SECRETARY PRIOR TO SPEAKING, THAT WOULD BE APPRECIATED. WE HAVE 47 TOTAL PUBLIC COMMENTERS THIS AFTERNOON, AND THE FIRST WILL BE MR. CHRIS HAMILTON. LET ME -- I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND READ THE NEXT FIVE. IT WILL BE BRADLEY BARTLETT SON, DANIEL... MR. HAMILTON. >> THANK YOU, MAYOR, THANK YOU COUNCIL. FIRST I WANT TO THANK THE CITY MANAGER AND STAFF, PETER, MICHAEL HEATHER SONY DREW MANY OTHERS. I'VE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF WORKING WITH EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU PERSONALLY. >> City Secretary: SIR, STATE YOUR NAME. >> I THOUGHT I DID. SORRY. CHRIS HAMILTON, CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS. YOU WORK TIRELESSLY OFTEN IN THE FACE OF PUBLIC CRITICISM FROM PEOPLE WHO AIM TO DISCREDIT YOUR EFFORTS. I WATCH IT HAPPEN IN THIS VERY ROOM. I WANT YOU TO KNOW I SEE YOU, I THANK YOU, I APPRECIATE YOU, AND I SUPPORT YOU QUIETLY BEHIND THE SCENES AND RIGHT HERE IN PUBLIC. THIS CITY SUPPORTS YOU, DON'T LISTEN TO THE NOISE. KEEP DOING THE WORK. TODAY I'M HERE IN FULL SUPPORT OF DESALINATION. I'M NOT HERE TO REHASH THE SCIENCE, IT'S BEEN VETTED, DEBATED CONFIRMED. YOU DON'T GET PERMITS FROM TCEQ, EPA, THE U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS UNLESS YOUR SCIENCE IS SOLID. THESE AGENCIES DON'T RUBBER STAMP ANYTHING. THEY EXIST TO DENY PROJECTS THAT DON'T MEET THE HIGHEST STANDARDS. OURS PASSED, EVERY SINGLE ONE. THE SCIENCE IS PROVEN, THERE'S OVER 15,000 DESAL PLANTS OPERATING AROUND THE WORLD SAFELY, SUSTAINABLY AND SUCCESSFULLY. THE MISINFORMATION NEEDS TO STOP. THIS IS CLEAN, VIABLE AND NECESSARY WATER SOLUTION. NOW LET'S TALK ABOUT THE ECONOMICS. PRICES RISE, A LOAF OF BREAD, A TRUCKLOAD OF CONCRETE, STEEL ELECTRONICS EVERYTHING COST MORE THAN IT DID A YEAR AGO. THAT'S NOT SPECULATION, IT'S REALITY. IT'S EXACTLY WHY DELAYING THIS PROJECT WILL ONLY MAKE IT MORE EXPENSIVE. I'M IN THE CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS, ONE OF OUR BIGGEST COST IN RECENT YEARS, LABOR. WHY IS THAT? BECAUSE SOUTH TEXAS WAGES HAVE FINALLY NORMALIZED FOR THE REST OF THE STATE. THIS IS A GOOD THING FOR OUR COMMUNITY BUT YES IT INCREASES COST. ANOTHER REASON TO DO IT NOW. IN 20 YEARS NO ONE WILL CARE WHETHER THIS THING IS 750 MILLION, 1 BILLION OR 2 BILLION. WHAT THEY WILL CARE ABOUT IS WHETHER OR NOT YOU GUYS HAD THE COURAGE TO GET US THE WATER WE NEED. THAT'S WHAT WILL MATTER. WE WILL EITHER BE REMEMBERED AS THE PEOPLE THAT ENSURED THE FUTURE GROWTH OF THIS COMMUNITY OR THE ONES THAT DID NOT. LET'S BE CLEAR, THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF NOT SECURING A DROUGHT-RESISTANT SOURCE IS FAR HIGHER THAN THIS ONE, TWO, $750 MILLION PROJECT, WHATEVER IT ENDS UP BEING, HIGHER, ALREADY HAS BEEN. THIS PROJECT IS FULLY PERMITTED, THE FINANCING IS IN PLACE, THE COMMUNITY OVERWHELMINGLY SUPPORTS IT, THIS IS OUR MOMENT TO ACT. IN CLOSING, I KNOW MANY OF YOU PERSONALLY. I'VE SUPPORTED YOUR LEADERSHIP. I WILL CONTINUE TO STAND WITH EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU WHO SUPPORTS THIS PROJECT, PUBLICLY PRIVATELY ACTIVELY. AND I'LL WORK JUST AS HARD TO REMOVE THOSE THAT DON'T. THANK YOU. >> Mayor Guajardo: THANK YOU, MR. HAMILTON. BRADLEY BARTLESON. >> OKAY. GOOD EVENING. I'M BRAD BARTLESON FROM DISTRICT 5. AGAINST A BROAD DATASET OF COST AND COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS, SEAWATER RO YIELDS THE LEAST DESIRABLE RESULTS COMPARED WITH BRACKISH WATER RO AND FRESH WATER OPTIONS, CONSIDERING OUR PRESENT POSITION, BRACKISH WATER RO OFFERS SPEED TO SOLUTION AND PRESERVES CAPITAL FOR PROJECTS WITH LOWER COST BENEFIT RATIO. HIGH PRESSURE AND ENERGY REQUIREMENTS OF SEAWATER RO IN PART HIGHER COST AND INCREASE DOWNTIME. FOR EXAMPLE, THE CARLSBAD SEAWATER RO PLANT HAS PRODUCED ONLY 34% THEY EXPECTED 50 MILLION-GALLONS PER DAY. BRACKISH WATER RO, AND THEN FRESH WATER SYSTEMS OFFER IMPROVED ENERGY COSTS AND RELIABILITY. OPERATORS IN THE MIDDLE EAST, AS WELL AS CALIFORNIA, STATE THAT THEY PURSUE SEAWATER RO AS THE LAST OPTION DUE TO COST. IT FINDS ITS USE PREDOMINANTLY IN WEALTHY COUNTRIES WITH NO OTHER OPTIONS. SIMILARLY, FLORIDA HAS LED WITH BRACKISH WATER RO PLANTS FOR THE SAME REASONS, LOWER CAP, OP ECS AND COASTAL ENVIRONMENTAL RISK. WE HAVE ABUNDANT, UNTAPPED FRESH WATER OPTIONS, WE CAPTURE 10% OF THE AVAILABLE 3 MILLION-ACRE FEET PER YEAR, LOSE ABOUT THE SAME AMOUNT AS WE USE, TO EVAPORATION AT CHOKE CANYON AND LAKE CORPUS CHRISTI. THE COASTAL REGIONS OFFER US OPPORTUNITIES RECEIVING MORE RAIN AS IT INCREASES AS WE PROCEED ALONG THE COAST. WE CAN ENJOY MORE OF THE SUCCESS WE'VE HAD AT LAKE TEXANA AND AND CLEO CREEK BY INCREASING STORAGE IN THIS KRAIR. ADDING FLOATING ISLANDS AT OUR RESERVOIRS IS A SIMPLE METHOD TO REDUCE EVAPORATION AND CLEAN IT UP. COVERING 29% OF LAKE CORPUS CHRISTI WITH AN ARRAY OF FLOATING ISLANDS WOULD GIVE BACK 21 MILLION-GALLONS PER DAY TO CORPUS CHRISTI WITH NO MOVING PARTS. LAKE OWNERS AND USERS WOULD ENJOY THE RETURN OF THE LAKE LEVEL, AS WELL AS HAVE A MORE INTERESTING AND BOATING AND FISHING EXPERIENCE. PROCEEDING WITH BRACKISH WATER RO FOR IMMEDIATE DEMAND WOULD PRESERVE CAPITAL AND ALLOW US TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF OUR LOWER COST, LOWER ENVIRONMENTAL RISK FRESH WATER OPTIONS. BRACKISH WATER COMBINED WITH LAKE CORPUS CHRISTI EVAP CONTROL IN THE STORMWATER REUSE PLAN I PROVIDED EARLIER WOULD GIVE US 77 MILLION-GALLONS PER DAY. FURTHER CAPTURE ALLOWS US LARGE AMOUNTS OF CLEAN WATER AT VERY LOW COST AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT. THANK YOU. >> Mayor Guajardo: THANK YOU, SIR. DANIEL RESLY. >> DANIEL RESLY FROM CORPUS CHRISTI DISTRICT 4. I'LL TELL YOU, WHAT A HOT BUTTON ISSUE DESAL IS. I'M HERE TO SUPPORT THE SOUTH TEXAS WATER AUTHORITY BRACKISH WATER DESAL CONTRACT, AND I WOULDN'T DELAY THIS HARDLY ANY AT ALL. IT'S THE CHEAPEST WAY TO GO AS FAR AS I CAN SEE. COMPARED TO THE DATA I HAVE ON INNER HARBOR. SO I GUESS THE BOTTOM LINE, GO DESAL, BUT GO WITH SOUTH TEXAS WATER AUTHORITY. THANK YOU. >> Mayor Guajardo: THANK YOU, MR. RESLY. ELIDA VASQUEZ. >> HI, GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS ELIDA VASQUEZ, I LIVE IN CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS. THE PEOPLE OF CORPUS CHRISTI, REGARDLESS OF IMMIGRATION STATUS, NEED TO KNOW THAT OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT STANDS WITH US, EVEN IF THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT DOES NOT. WHITE NATIONALIST AND RACE TRADERS ARE SMALL IN NUMBERS HERE. >> Risley: IT'S NOT CITY RELATED. >> YOU'VE SEEN THE LEGALLY ORGANIZED PROTESTS. WHETHER YOU LIKE IT OR NOT 61% OF YOUR CONSTITUENTS ARE RESPECTS OF CORPUS CHRISTI AND ARE LATINO, THE OTHER 39% CONSIST OF WHITE, BLACK, ASIAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDER PEOPLE. MY GOOD FRIEND HAS MADE IT A POINT TO CALL A NUMBER OF YOU OUT ON THE FACT THAT YOU HAVE YOUR HANDS IN JARS THAT YOU SHOULD NOT AND IF YOU DON'T STAND WITH YOUR CONSTITUENTS AND DEFEND OUR CITY AGAINST FASCISM AND SAY NO TO JERRYMANDERING THEN YOU WILL BE VOTED OUT. >> Risley: MAYOR, I DON'T BELIEVE THIS IS A CITY-RELATED ISSUE. >> Mayor Guajardo: HOW ARE YOU RELATING IT, MRS. VAZQUEZ TO -- >> SEEING ICE AT DEL MAR COLLEGE. >> Mayor Guajardo: I'M SORRY. >> SEEING ICE AT DEL MAR COLLEGE. >> Risley: THAT'S NOT CITY RELATED. >> DEL MAR IS A COLLEGE IN CORPUS CHRISTI. MRS. VAZQ UEZ, THE PUBLIC COMMENT MUST BE RELATED TO CITY BUSINESS DIRECTLY. >> IT IS RELATED -- >> Mayor Guajardo: I'M SORRY, I'M SPEAKING. >> [OFF MIC] >> Mayor Guajardo: MA'AM, I'M SPEAKING TO THE PERSON AT THE PODIUM. MRS. VASQUEZ, IF YOU CAN RELATE IT TO CITY BUSINESS, CONTINUE. IF NOT, YOU CAN E-MAIL US, YOU CAN CALL US, YOU CAN REACH OUT TO US IN ANY OTHER WAY. >> SO LIKE YOUR CONSTITUENT JUST SAID, CCPD HAS BEEN COLLABORATING WITH ICE. >> Mayor Guajardo: OKAY. HOW DOES THIS RELATE TO CITY BUSINESS, I'M ASKING YOU FOR YOUR -- >> [OFF MIC] >> Mayor Guajardo: I'M GOING TO NEED THE THREE OF YOU TO PLEASE STOP BREAKING DECORUM. PLEASE. >> [OFF MIC] >> Mayor Guajardo: THIS IS GETTING RIDICULOUS. >> I BELIEVE THAT AS WELL. >> Mayor Guajardo: GO AHEAD, PLEASE RELATE IT TO CITY BUSINESS AND CONTINUE IF THAT'S WHAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO DO. IF NOT, THIS ISN'T THE FORUM. >> DO YOU NOT OVERSEE THE CORPUS CHRISTI POLICE DEPARTMENT. >> Mayor Guajardo: RELATE IT TO THAT, THEN, IF C THAT'S WHAT YOU WANT TO DO. . >> (LAUGHING) ALL RIGHT. WELL, YEAH, I DON'T KNOW, YOU GUYS TOOK UP A BUNCH OF MY TIME WITH THAT. WE KNOW THAT PEOPLE ARE BEING RACIALLY PROFILED DAILY BY ARMED MASKED ICE POLICE OFFICERS THAT REFUSE TO IDENTIFY THEMSELVES. >> Mayor Guajardo: I'M SORRY, THAT'S NOT CITY RELATED. SO WE'RE GOING TO BE DONE WITH PUBLIC COMMENT FOR NOW. THIS ISN'T CITY RELATED. I'M SORRY, MA'AM. AND I GAVE YOU THAT OPPORTUNITY. >> YOU PEOPLE ARE RIDICULOUS. AND YOU WILL BE VOTED OUT. >> Mayor Guajardo: DAVID LOWE. >> I FORGOT MY WATER. >> DAVID LOWE, CORPUS CHRISTI. THANK YOU FOR YOUR DISCUSSION EARLIER ABOUT YOUR LANDSCAPING AND WATER USE. IT WAS HEARTENING TO SEE THE COUNCIL LEADING BY EXAMPLE. I CAN REPORT THAT DUE TO YOUR PREVIOUS CALLS FOR CONSERVATION AND THE FACT THAT YOU MADE TYPE 1 WASTEWATER AVAILABLE, MY BUSINESS USES NO TAP WATER OF ANY KIND FOR LANDSCAPING POWER WASHING OR ANY OTHER OUTDOOR USE, AND HASN'T DONE SO SINCE YOU MADE TYPE 1 AVAILABLE. ON INNER HARBOR DESAL, IT'S A BIG ESTIMATE, PRETTY INTIMIDATING. HERE'S ANOTHER BIG NUMBER. 328.5BILLION. THAT'S HOW MANY GALLONS OF WATER THE BIG ESTIMATE BUYS THIS COMMUNITY OVER THE NEXT 30 YEARS. IN MORE HUMAN TERMS AT THE CURRENT ESTIMATE, IT MEANS THE RAW WATER IN A 20-OUNCE BOTTLE OF WATER WILL COST LESS THAN HALF A TENTH OF A CENT. IT'S NOT MUCH. SO THE PRICES FOR 2.1 TRILLION BOTTLES OF WATER OVER THE NEXT 30 YEARS. AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, I WAS NOT ALWAYS A SUPPORTER OF THIS PROJECT. I THOUGHT THERE WERE SOME OTHER DEALS THAT MIGHT BE BETTER. THE ONE I REALLY LIKED HAD A 20-YEAR TIMELINE TO COMPLETE. THAT'S NOT FEASIBLE TO SOLVE OUR IMMEDIATE NEEDS. TWO YEARS AGO I STOOD IN FRONT OF THE COUNCIL AND SAID IT WAS TIME TO MOVE FORWARD ON INNER HARBOR BECAUSE IT WAS WHAT WAS POSSIBLE IN THE TIME FRAME NEEDED. THAT'S STILL TRUE. THIS IS ABOUT WHAT CAN BE DONE IN THE TIME WE HAVE. WATER SUPPLY IS THE NUMBER ONE ISSUE FOR THIS COMMUNITY RIGHT NOW. OUR ECONOMY AND THE SERVICES THAT RELY ON TAX REVENUE FROM THE ECONOMY WILL BE ABSOLUTELY DEVASTATED IF WE RUN OUT OF WATER. THIS IS A GENERATIONAL INVESTMENT. THE REST OF YOUR CAPITAL BUDGET SHOULD BE SHAPED AROUND MAKING SURE THIS CAN BE PAID FOR, BECAUSE IF IT IS NOT, YOUR CAPITAL BUDGET WILL BE EVEN MORE HEAVILY SHAPED AROUND THE EFFECTS OF NOT HAVING MOVED FORWARD. IF YOU HAVE THE NEED TO CUT LESS CRITICAL PROJECTS TO AFFORD THIS, THEN DO IT. EVERYTHING IS LESS CRITICAL. THROUGH THE HARD WORK OF MANY PEOPLE YOU HAVE SOME TOOLS AT YOUR DISPOSAL, YOU HAVE THE STATE AS A PARTNER AND THEY'VE COME THROUGH WITH GRANTS FOR THE WELLS AND PIPELINE PUMP EXPANSION. THANK YOU AGAIN TO OUR DELEGATION. THE STATE MADE A COLOSSAL INVESTMENT IN THE FORM OF A LOW INTEREST LOAN. IT IS ONE OF THE LARGEST INVESTMENTS THE STATE HAS EVER MADE IN A COMMUNITY WHERE THE PROJECT WAS NOT STATE CONTROLLED. THINK ABOUT THAT FOR A SECOND. THE STATE OF TEXAS LOOKED AT THIS PROJECT AND SAID, THAT'S A GOOD ENOUGH IDEA AND PROCESS THAT WE TRUST THEM WITH $750 MILLION OF TAXPAYER MONEY WE CONTROL. THAT BUY ITSELF SAVES US $300 MILLION IN INTEREST COSTS. ADDITIONALLY, YOU HAVE THE INDUSTRY SURCHARGE THAT CAN BE DEPLOYED TO LOWER RATES. SO WHILE YOU RIGHTLY INSTRUCT YOUR STAFF AND CONTRACTOR TO SHARPEN THEIR PENCILS ON COST ESTIMATES BECOME ACTUALS, I ENCOURAGE YOU TO PUT YOUR FINANCIAL STAFFS AND YOURSELF ON LOWERING THE RATE IMPACT. I KNOW SEVERAL OF YOU HAVE ALREADY BEEN DOING THIS QUIETLY. I ENCOURAGE YOU TO SPEAK UP AND LEAD AS I KNOW YOU CAN. YOU HAVE OPTIONS ON DELAYING OTHER PROJECTS, ASKING FOR MORE SWIFT LOAN FUNDING, THAT BY ITSELF WOULD BE AN ALMOST $200 MILLION SAVINGS. REDOUBLING EFFORTS ON THE BUREAU OF RECLAMATION GRANT, FINDING OTHER GRANTS, ASKING YOUR STAFF FOR ALTERNATIVES ON HOW TO DEPLOY THE SURCHARGE. LOOK FOR INNOVATIVE WAYS TO BRING DOWN THE RATES, DO SO BY MOVING FORWARD. WE CANNOT AFFORD TO WAIT ANY LONGER. THANK YOU. >> Mayor Guajardo: THANK YOU, MR. LOWE. JASON HALE. AND THEN WE HAVE JENNIFER AGUIRRE, GREG GALLAGHER, SUZIE SALDAÑA AND DAN MCQUEEN. >> JASON HALE, CORPUS CHRISTI. THANK YOU, MAYOR, GOOD EVENING COUNCILMEMBERS. TODAY I'M GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE BOTTLING FOR THE INNER HARBOR WATER TREATMENT CAMPUS. WE LEARNED A LOT LAST WEEK. I THINK Y'ALL HAD A GOOD DISCUSSION, BUT I WANTED TO RAISE A COUPLE OF ISSUES AND TO GIVE RECOMMENDATIONS ON HOW THEY CAN BE RESOLVED. OKAY. SO LAST WEEK WE FOUND OUT THAT CHANGES WERE MADE TO THE CITY'S NEAR FIELD MODEL. IT HAS AN UPDATED DIFFUSER DESIGN WITH A 50% BETTER DILUTION AND THOSE RESULTS WERE FED INTO THE FAR FIELD MODEL. WE LEARNED A LOT ABOUT THE FAR FIELD MODEL, GOT A COUPLE OF PICTURES OF THE RESULTS. PERSONALLY, I WHICH WE COULD HAVE SEEN MORE DATA. WE WAITED FOR MONTHS FOR THE RESULTS AND DIDN'T REALLY GET THAT MUCH, WHICH TO ME IS CONCERNING BECAUSE THERE IS A $50 MILLION VOTE ON THE 60% DESIGN NEXT WEEK. IT'S TOO LATE TO GET MORE INFORMATION BEFORE THEN, SO LOOKING TOWARDS NEXT -- THE NEXT BIG VOTES, I WANTED TO PUT IN REQUESTS THAT WE GET MORE MODELING INFORMATION AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, PREFERABLY IN THE FORM OF A REPORT. THE PORT DID THIS LAST YEAR FOR THEIR LA QUINTA MODEL. IT'S ABOUT 40 PAGES LONG AND IT'S A GOOD WRITEUP. THEY EXPLAIN THE MODEL, HOW IT'S SET UP AND THE RESULTS FROM THE MODELING. IT WOULD BE GREAT IF CCW COULD CREATE SOMETHING SIMILAR, SO, FOR EXAMPLE, HERE YOU CAN SEE THE WATER DEPTH FOR THE MODEL'S DOMAIN, AND HERE'S THE SECTION ON TIDAL FORCING WHICH WAS USED TO DETERMINE VELOCITIES THROUGHOUT THE MODEL. THE VELOCITY FOR THE INNER HARBOR WOUND UP BEING MUCH LESS THAN WHAT FREESE & NICHOLS HAS BEEN USING, WHICH MAKES ME CONCERNED THAT WE COULD BE OVERESTIMATING THE AMBIENT FLOW AND THE DILUTIONS IN THE CHANNEL. SO I'D LIKE TO KNOW WHAT CHANGED WITH THE NEAR FIELD MODELING, SMALL CHANGES HERE CAN MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE IN THE RESULTS AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THOSE CHANGES HAVE BEEN VETTED. NEXT IS BOUNDARY CONDITIONS, I LIKED WHAT WE HEARD FROM CHRIS, BUT IT WOULD BE NICE TO SEE A WRITEUP ON THAT WITH MORE DETAIL. TO ME THE BIGGEST OMISSION WAS THE LACK OF DETAILS ON THE DIFFUSER/INTAKE INTERACTION. A HIGH INTERACTION WOULD LEAD TO LOWER PRODUCTION, SO I'D LIKE TO SEE A WRITEUP DESCRIBING HOW THE INTERACTION WAS DETERMINED AND HOW IT WAS USED IN THE MODEL BECAUSE I'M CONCERNED SOME CORNERS WERE CUT HERE. SO IN SUMMARY, I'M REQUESTING THE CITY TO PRODUCE A PRELIMINARY REPORT COVERING THE MODEL AND ITS RESULTS, AND FOR THE REPORT TO BE COMPLETED WITHIN THE NEXT MONTH OR TWO SO IT CAN BE REVIEWED BEFORE UPCOMING VOTES. I'M REQUESTING THE CITY TO SHARE THEIR CORE MIX FILES SINCE THAT SHOULDN'T BE PROPRIETARY INFORMATION AND A REQUEST THAT THE CITY WORK WITH AN INDEPENDENT MODELER TO VERIFY THE CITY'S RESULT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. THAT WAY IF THEY FIND SOMETHING WRONG, WE CAN ADDRESS IT BEFORE THE MODELING IS COMPLETELY FINISHED AT THE END OF NEXT YEAR -- OR END OF THIS YEAR. ANYWAYS, THAT'S IT. THANKS. >> Mayor Guajardo: THANK YOU, MR. HAIL. JENNIFER AGUIRRE. . >> HELLO, MY NAME IS JENNIFER AGUIRRE AND I AM DISTRICT ONE AND 3. I AM TALKING ON BEHALF OF MANY RESIDENTS OF CORPUS CHRISTI REGARDING THE RECENT MEETINGS CONCERNING THE PROPOSED REZONING OF MULTIPLE PORT AREAS TO HEAVY INDUSTRIAL. UNFORTUNATELY, A NUMBER OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS WERE UNABLE TO ATTEND PREVIOUS MEETINGS DUE TO CHANGES IN SCHEDULING. THERE APPEARS TO BE A DELIBERATE EFFORT BY THE PORT OF CORPUS CHRISTI TO LIMIT PUBLIC PARTICIPATION THROUGH INSINT SCHEDULING AND INADEQUATE PUBLIC NOTIFICATION. IT IS OUR UNDERSTANDING THAT PUBLIC NOTIFICATIONS WERE MAILED ONLY WITHIN 200-FOOT RADIUS OF THE REZONING AREA, MOST OF WHICH IS OWNED BY THE PORT ITSELF. OF THE APPROXIMATELY 28 TO 32 NOTIFICATIONS SENT, 26 WERE REPORTEDLY RECEIVED BY THE PORT, AND ONLY THREE BY THE MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC. THIS APPROACH UNDERMINES THE SPIRIT OF PUBLIC TRANSPARENCY AND THE CIVIC ENGAGEMENT. AND IN OUR VIEW, IS AN INTENTIONAL EFFORT TO SUPPRESS COMMUNITY INPUT. WHILE SENDING INTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS IS NOT INHERENTLY UNLAWFUL, WHEN NOTICES ARE PRESENTED AS PUBLIC NOTIFICATIONS BUT ARE LARGELY ROUTED BACK TO THE NOTIFYING PARTY, IT RAISES SIGNIFICANT ETHICAL AND POSSIBLY LEGAL CONCERNS. THESE ACTIONS VIOLATE THE COMMUNITY'S TRUST AND OUR FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT TO PARTICIPATE IN DECISIONS THAT IMPACT OUR HEALTH, ENVIRONMENT AND FUTURE. IN REGARDS TO THE DESAL, WE ARE IN THE WATER CRISIS NOT BECAUSE OF PEOPLE OF CORPUS CHRISTI, IT'S DUE TO THE NEGLIGENCE OF THE PORT, THE CITY AND THE REFINERIES. WE HAVE BEEN UNDER WATER RESTRICTIONS STAGE III FOR TOO LONG. WHEN WILL YOU BE FOR THE PEOPLE AND NOT AGAINST. WHY NOT STAGE IV? REFINERIES HAVE THEIR WATER RUNNING 24/7 LITERALLY 365 DAYS A YEAR. WHO'S ACTUALLY BENEFITING FROM THIS DESAL. 1.2BILLION IS NOT SOMETHING WE THE PEOPLE OF CORPUS AGREED ON. WE THE PEOPLE DO NOT WISH TO DESTROY OUR BAY. WE ARE NOT WILLING TO BE SOMEONE'S GUINEA PIGS. I'M SURE ONCE THE DESAL IS BUILT, PAYCHECKS WILL GO UP, BUT NOT OURS FOR SURE, JUST OUR WATER BILLS. DESAL WILL COST US DEARLY ON OUR WATER BILLS. DESAL IS TERRIBLE FOR OCEANS, IT EMITS A LOT OF CLIMATE POLLUTIONS. IT IMPOSES HIGH RISK ON OUR ALREADY BURDENED COMMUNITIES. IF YOU DO NOT SEE THAT THE COMMUNITY IS STRUGGLING, YOU NEED TO WAKE UP. CORPUS IS BECOMING THE HOME OF THE RENTERS BECAUSE IT'S ONLY GETTING HARDER TO OWN HERE IN CORPUS. THERE ARE MANY OTHER WAYS TO RESOLVE THE WATER CRISIS THAT WE'RE IN DUE TO NEGLIGENCE OF THE PORT, CITY AND REFINERIES. WE ELRECT OUR REPRESENTATIVES TO ACT IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE PEOPLE. THE CITIZENS OF CORPUS CHRISTI ARE ASKING YOU TO STAND WITH US BY REJECTING THIS PROPOSED REZONING AND DESAL. WE DO NOT WANT ADDITIONAL HEAVY INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT IN OUR COMMUNITY. OUR VOICES MATTER AND WE ASK THAT YOU HEAR US CLEARLY. THANK YOU. >> Mayor Guajardo: THANK YOU, MRS. AGUIRRE. GREG GALLAGHER. IS GREG GALLAGHER WITH US? OKAY. SUZIE SALDAÑA? >> >> SUZIE LUNA SALDAÑA, DISTRICT 2. I WANT YOU TO JUST PUT YOURSELF IN A PLACE WHERE YOU CAN SEE WHAT THE PEOPLE IN CORPUS CHRISTI, THE CITIZENS, EVERYBODY THAT LIVES HERE, REALLY NEEDS. WATER. WITHOUT IT, WE DON'T LIVE. WITHOUT IT, WE DON'T MAKE IT. SO WHEN IT COMES TO DESAL, I'VE ALWAYS BEEN IN FAVOR OF DESAL BECAUSE IT WILL BRING US WATER. HOWEVER, I'M NOT LOOKING AT THE LONG TERM BECAUSE THAT'S WAY AHEAD IN THE FUTURE. WE NEED SOMETHING NOW. SO AS YOU EXPLORE THE OTHER WAYS OF FINDING WATER LIKE WELLS THAT YOU'RE BUILDING AND WHATEVER PROBLEMS YOU CAN SOLVE WITH THAT, AND THE PEOPLE THAT ARE COMING BEFORE YOU IN A LITTLE WHILE, I BELIEVE THEY'RE SOUTH TEXAS WATER GROUP, THEY OFFER A SOLUTION THAT'S CLOSER. AND DON'T LET THOSE KIND OF THINGS GET OUT OF YOUR HANDS BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO NEED WATER. WE NEED WATER TO LIVE, WE NEED WATER TO COOK, WE NEED WATER TO TAKE CARE OF THINGS AND THE PEOPLE OUT IN THE COMMUNITY ARE NOT ASKING HOW MUCH YOU'RE GOING TO PAY FOR THIS OR HOW MUCH YOU'RE GOING TO PAY FOR THAT. THEY'RE ASKING TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU GIVE THEM WATER. WATER THAT IS NEEDED AND IMPORTANT TO THEM. WATER TO DRINK, WATER TO TAKE CARE OF OUR CHILDREN, WATER TO TAKE CARE OF OUR LAWNS. HEY, WE CAN'T EVEN DO THAT ANYMORE. WE CAN'T WASH A CAR ANYMORE. YOU CAN'T DO THE BASIC BOTTOM LOGICAL THINGS ARE WHAT YOU NEED TO LOOK ATMENT AND WHERE AT. AND WHERE IS THAT GOING TO COME FROM? WE'RE ASKING YOU TO TAKE A LOOK AT THOSE THINGS. WHILE YOU'RE AT IT, I ALSO WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT I APPRECIATE THOSE OF YOU THAT COME FORWARD AND STAND UP FOR THE PEOPLE, AND ACTUALLY SPEAK FOR THEM. AND THOSE OF YOU THAT ARE OUT THERE SCREAMING FOR A RECALL, WATCH OUT WHAT YOU ASK FOR. YOU MAY GET IT ON YOURSELVES. BECAUSE ALL OF THOSE PEOPLE THAT ARE ASKING FOR THE RECALL AND HAVING THEIR SECRET LITTLE MEETINGS ABOUT HOW TO GET RID OF PEOPLE THAT ACTUALLY CARE ABOUT THE COMMUNITY, BE CAREFUL. YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT CAN HAPPEN, AND YOU NEVER KNOW THAT YOU'RE GOING TO BE THE ONE THAT GETS RECALLED. HAVE A GREAT DAY. >> Mayor Guajardo: THANK YOU, MS. SALDAÑA. DAN MCQUEEN? >> >> DAN MCQUEEN, CORPUS CHRISTI. I WANT TO SPEAK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WATER. I HOPE I GAVE YOU ALL ENOUGH COPIES. I'M NOT GOING TO READ THIS, BECAUSE I'M TIRED. I KNOW YOU GUYS ARE TIRED. AND I COMMEND YOU ON YOUR EFFORTS. OKAY? BUT WHAT YOU ALL SEE HERE IN CORPUS CHRISTI ARE REAL STORIES ABOUT HOW -- AND SOME OF YOU VOTED FOR THE GULF COAST GROWTH VENTURE, THE $10 BILLION DEAL, THE 25 MILLION-GALLONS OF WATER A DAY, AND SO WHEN THE PUBLIC SITS HERE AND THEY TALK ABOUT THE WATER THAT YOU OVERSOLD, AND I DON'T MEAN YOU SPECIFICALLY, BUT I DO MEAN THE ADMINISTRATION, WE'RE SPECIFICALLY TALKING ABOUT OUR WATER, THE WATER FOR THE CITIZENS. AND SO THE DOCUMENT I GAVE YOU TALKS ABOUT HOW THAT GROUP, EXXON IS WHAT I GO BY, BECAUSE SOME OF YOU WERE IN THAT FIRST MEETING WITH ME WHEN I SAID I WAS AGAINST IT, AS THE MAYOR. SOME OF YOU RECALL THAT. AND SAN PATRICIO COUNTY SAID THEY WERE AGAINST IT. AND SO NOW WE LOOK IN THE JOBS DIDN'T COME THROUGH AND THE PAY SCALE DIDN'T COME THROUGH AND THE TAX SUBSIDIES, AND THEY'RE NOT PAYING THEIR FAIR SHARE. THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT, MULTIPLE VIOLATIONS. WE SEE ALL OF THIS, AND I'LL GIVE YOU THE REFERENCES IF ANYBODY IS INTERESTED IN THE REFERENCES OF ALL OF THE MEDIA ACROSS THE COUNTRY THAT HAS REPORTED ON THIS. HOWEVER, IN CORPUS CHRISTI, WE TURN A BLIND EYE AND WE CREATE SMEAR CAMPAIGNS. AND WE TRY TO GET PEOPLE OFF THE COUNCIL, EVEN THOUGH THEY WERE ELECTED IN, BECAUSE Y'ALL DON'T AGREE WITH IT. I GET IT, YOU DON'T AGREE WITH IT. THE ECONOMIC MODEL DOESN'T RELY ON INDUSTRY SUCKING OUR WATER. THERE ARE A LOT OF OTHER EXAMPLES OUT THERE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. >> Mayor Guajardo: THANK YOU. SAMUEL ANDRE FRYER. >> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, COUNCIL. I'M SAMUEL ANDRE FRYER. I LIVE IN CORPUS CHRISTI. FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO THANK AT LEAST THE SECRETARY'S OFFICE BECAUSE I BELIEVE THEY'RE DOING A PHENOMENAL JOB WITH WHAT THEY DO, PARTICULARLY MRS. REBECCA HUERTA AND MRS. STEPHANIE BOX. EVERY TIME I'VE GONE TO ADDRESS ANYTHING OR NEEDED TO ASK QUESTIONS, THEY POINTED ME IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, REALLY HELPED ME, SO I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT AND I WANTED TO MAKE THAT PUBLIC STATEMENT. I DO HAVE A CONCERN, THOUGH, AND A CONCERN IS NOT R RELATED TO THEM, BUT A CONCERN I HAVE IS TO ENSURE THAT WE HAVE EQUITABLE TREATMENT OF ALL CITIZENS GIVING PUBLIC COMMENTS, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THEIR CONCERNS ARE PALATABLE OR AGREED WITH OR NOT. AND IN SAYING THAT, WHAT I'VE NOTICED IS THAT AT TIMES CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS MAY GET UP AND THEY DON'T -- AND ONCE THEIR TIME IS UP, IS IMMEDIATELY THANK YOU VERY MUCH, AND THEN THAT'S IT. BUT THAT'S NOT ALWAYS THE CASE FOR EVERYONE. ALSO WHEN SOMEONE'S SPEAKING, BEING INTERRUPTED OR SOMEONE'S ROLLING THEIR EYES -- I ACTUALLY THOUGHT ONE COUNCILPERSON -- HEAD WAS GOING TO SWIVEL AROUND AND GREEN PUKE WAS GOING TO COME OUT THEIR MOUTH AT ONE POINT JUST BECAUSE SOMEONE WAS QUOTING SCRIPTURE, BUT THAT'S IN AND OF ITSELF. AND THEN ALSO JUST BEING INTERRUPTED. I'LL BE HONEST WITH YOU, AS A MAN, THAT'S -- TO ME, THAT'S A VERY DISRESPECTFUL THING, AND I KNOW I PROBABLY WAS OUT OF CHARACTER BY SNAPPING BACK AND SAID THANK YOU FOR INTERRUPTING. SO I ASK THE COUNCIL TO FORGIVE ME FOR THAT BECAUSE THAT WAS OUT OF CHARACTER. SO I CAN UNDERSTAND YOU WANT TO MAINTAIN EVERY CERTAIN THINGS. BUT -- AND GOING A LITTLE FURTHER, I DO WANT TO MAKE A POINT AND, WELL, SPECIFICALLY WHEN IT DEALS WITH THE RULES OF DECORUM OR THE CITY POLICY ITSELF, BECAUSE IT SAYS CITY COUNCIL, CITY STAFF AND ALL FELLOW CITIZENS SHALL BE COURTEOUS, POLITE, CONCISE AND RESPECTFUL OF ONE ANOTHER AND SHALL RESPECT THE LETTER AND SPIRIT OF THESE RULES SO THAT THE CITY COUNCIL MAY FAIRLY HEAR ALL SIDES OF AN ISSUE AND DUE DELIBERATION ACT IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE CITIZENS. AND THAT'S WHY IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO LET PEOPLE SPEAK AND LET THEM BE HEARD SO THAT YOU CAN REALLY DIGEST AND UNDERSTAND. LASTLY, I BELIEVE IT'S A GOOD THING THAT YOU ALL PASSED THE FOUR COUNCIL REQUESTED ITEMS LAST WEEK -- LAST WEEK, IN ORDER FOR THE PUBLIC COMMENTS THEMSELVES. I BELIEVE THAT WHAT COUNCILWOMAN KAYLYNN PAXSON, COUNCILWOMAN CAROLYN VAUGHN AND COUNCILMAN GIL HERNANDEZ FOR THEM TO SUPPORT THAT AND PUT THAT OUT, I BELIEVE IT DID CREATE AND HELP A LOT OF THINGS, AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT. AND FINALLY, PLEASE SUPPORT THE -- WHAT WAS PRESENTED BY THE PACKET FOR THE ACTUAL POLICE DEPARTMENT. WE DON'T NEED TO HAVE THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WORK AGAINST ICE. WE'RE SUPPOSED TO SUPPORT THE LAWS OF THE LAND. THANK YOU. >> Mayor Guajardo: THANK YOU, MR. FRYER. MARRY LYNN THAT GARZA, AND THEN WE'LL HAVE MELANIE SANCHEZ, TINA BUTLER, MELISSA ZAMORA, SAGE JIMENEZ. >> PROMISE, IT'S THE LAST ONE FOR TODAY. I'M SO TIRED. MARILYNNA GARZA, DISTRICT ONE. I'M MAKING COMMENT TODAY IN REGARDS TO THE NEW CHANGES TO PUBLIC COMMENT. WHILE I APPRECIATE THAT THE COUNCIL AND THE CITY AS A WHOLE IS TRYING TO GET MORE CIVIC ENGAGEMENT FROM OUR TAXPAYERS, OUR RATEPAYERS, OUR VOTERS, IT'S STILL REALLY, REALLY MESSED UP. FOR EXAMPLE, TODAY THERE WAS AN OPEN MEETINGS VIOLATION ON AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 20. I HAD VOICED TO PULL IT, AND THEN NO PUBLIC COMMENT WAS OFFERED. PER THE OPEN MEETINGS ACT, THE PUBLIC IS ALLOWED AND HAS A RIGHT TO SPEAK BEFORE THE AGENDA ITEM. SO BY HAVING GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT AT 5:30, PEOPLE ARE GOING TO COME UP HERE AND MAKE COMMENTS ON SECOND READING ITEMS THAT YOU GUYS ALREADY VOTED. THERE'S TIMES BEFORE YOU EVEN CALL PUBLIC COMMENT, THERE'S ALREADY A MOTION AND A SECOND ON THE FLOOR. SO WHAT DOES THAT FEEL LIKE TO THE PUBLIC? IT FEELS LIKE Y'ALL ARE NOT ALREADY LISTENING. YOU ALREADY MADE THE MOTION AND THE SECOND, SO WHAT'S THE POINT OF EVEN COMING UP, BECAUSE YOU'VE ALREADY MADE THE DECISION BEFORE THE PUBLIC EVEN HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. SO WE DEPARTMENT HAVE THAT ISSUE AND IT WASN'T SOMETHING THAT I WANTED TO HARP ON, BUT SINCE YOU GOT RID OF THE PUBLIC COMMENT AT NOON, THE ONLY WAY FOR ME TO EVEN SPEAK ON THESE AGENDA ITEMS BEFORE THEY ARE VOTED ON IS STAYING FOR THE AGENDA AND WAITING AND THE AGENDA GETS MOVED AROUND, IT'S A LOT FOR A SINGLE PERSON TO REMIND -- TO REMEMBER, OH, WE NEED TO CALL FOR PUBLIC COMMENT. BUT IF YOU HAD PUBLIC COMMENT BEFORE THE AGENDA EVEN STARTED, LIKE WE HAD PRIOR, IT WOULDN'T BE AN ISSUE. BUT THAT WAS AN OPEN MEETINGS VIOLATION TODAY THAT I WITNESSED. IT'S' GOING TO CONTINUE TO HAPPEN UNTIL YOU HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT BEFORE YOU HAVE THE AGENDA, SO IN SAN ANTONIO, THEY HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT THE DAY BEFORE AT 5:30. I'M NOT SUGGESTING THAT. WHAT I'M SUGGESTING IS THAT YOU HOLD A MEETING THAT FOLLOWS THE OPEN MEETINGS, AND TODAY IT WAS NOT FOLLOWED. >> City Secretary: MAYOR, MAY I ADDRESS MRS. GARZA'S COMMENT. >> Mayor Guajardo: YES. >> City Secretary: SO THE ITEM NUMBER 20 WAS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA, AND THE CONSENT AGENDA IS VOTED ON -- THEIR ROUTINE, NONCONTRAVER SHALL ITEM AND THEY'RE VOTED ON AT ONE TIME. SO THE WAY WE HANDLE PUBLIC COMMENT, AND I'M GOING TO ASK THE MAYOR NEXT TIME, WE'LL ADDRESS THAT MORE CLEARLY BECAUSE THERE WAS SOME CONFUSION ON THAT. SO WHEN SHE ASKED DOES ANYBODY WANT TO PULL ANYTHING ON CONSENT ITEMS, SHE'LL ASK THE COUNCIL AND THEN SHE ASKS THE PUBLIC, SO IF YOU HAD WANTED TO TALK ON 20, YOU WOULD HAVE SAID AT THAT TIME, I WANT TO TALK ON 20. AND THEN WE WOULD HAVE PULLED IT. WE WOULD HAVE ALLOWED YOU TO SPEAK THEN. SO IF WE MISSED THAT, THAT'S -- MY APOLOGY, BUT THAT'S HOW IT WORKS. IT'S NOT DONE INDIVIDUALLY, BUT. >> I WAS REGARDING THAT I HAD CALLED FOR THAT TO BE PULLED AND I WAS DIRECTED THAT 26 AND 27 WERE NOT PART OF THE CONCEPT. YOU HAD CORRECTED ME AT THAT POINT BUT I HAD LISTED 20 BUT IT WAS SNOWBALLED OVER THAT. >> City Secretary: ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, MRS. GARZA. >> Mayor Guajardo: YEAH, WE DID PULL 20. >> City Secretary: SHE'S SAYING WE DIDN'T CALL FOR PUBLIC COMMENT ON 20. >> Mayor Guajardo: OH, OKAY. OKAY. OKAY. MELANIE SANCHEZ. >> GOOD EVENING. MELANIE SANCHEZ, LIFELONG RESIDENT OF CORPUS CHRISTI. THIS IS IN REFERENCE TO HOW BUSINESS HAS BEEN CONDUCTED. I WOULD LIKE TO PREFACE THIS BY SAYING THAT I VOTED FOR SOME OF YOU WITH THE BELIEF THAT Y'ALL WOULD REPRESENT ME AND THE REST OF OUR COMMUNITY WITH FIRMNESS AND FIDELITY. I HAVE BEEN OBSERVING CITY COUNCIL FOR A FEW MONTHS NOW, AND ESPECIALLY AFTER TODAY, I AM ALARMED TO SEE A PATTERN OF BEHAVIOR. ITEMS 11 THROUGH 13 TODAY WERE DEALT WITH BY WHAT IFS, MAYBES, AND IN 2027. ITEMS 11 THROUGH 13 TODAY WERE VOTED ON WITH OBVIOUS CONFUSION AND UNCERTAINTY. SOMEONE MADE A GOOD POINT ABOUT NEEDING TO IRON OUT SPECIFIC DETAILS AND Y'ALL PROCEEDED TO VOTE ON THE MATTERS BASED LARGELY ON A VERBAL EXCHANGE OF HYPOTHETICALS. I THINK COUNCILWOMAN PAXSON FOR SEEKING CLARIFICATION AND FEEDBACK BUT IT STILL FELT LACKING. THAT MAKES ME DEEPLY UNCOMFORTABLE. THAT MAKES THIS LEADERSHIP LOOK BAD. AS SOMEONE WHO HAS WORKED IN SPECIAL ED, I KNOW THE IMPORTANCE OF GETTING SPECIFIC PLANS AND DECISION-MAKING, ESPECIALLY AT THIS MAGNITUDE, IN WRITING. I KNOW THE IMPORTANCE OF MAKING SURE EVERYBODY IS ON THE SAME PAGE, I KNOW THE IMPORTANCE OF GATHERING FEEDBACK BEFORE -- I'M SORRY, BEFOREHAND IN ORDER TO MAKE DECISIONS IN THE BEST INTEREST. I DON'T CARE THAT THE PORT COULD HAVE HAD TO WAIT ANOTHER SIX MONTHS BEFORE GETTING AN AUDIENCE WITH CITY COUNCIL AGAIN. THEY HAD SIX MONTHS TO PREPARE AND THEIR PRESENTATION WAS JUMBLED AT BEST. YET YOUR DECISION TO PROCEED WITH THESE ITEMS WILL IMPACT REAL PEOPLE LIVING IN HILLCREST. YOU ARE THE SAFEGUARD. MOVING FORWARD, I URGE YOU TO USE YOUR ABILITY TO SAY NO, TO DEMAND CLARITY AND SOLID PREPARATION TO SEND THINGS BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD WHEN NEEDED. THANK YOU. MAISHZ THANK YOU, MRS. SANCHEZ. TINA BUTLER. TINA BUTLER. OKAY. MELISSA ZAMORA? >> >> MELISSA ZAMORA, AFTER LAST WEEK'S MEETING MY SON ASKED WHY DO THEY CONTINUE WITH DESALINATION AND THE REZONING WHEN IT'S OBVIOUS THAT PEOPLE DO NOT WANT THESE THINGS TO HAPPEN. I THOUGHT THAT WAS A REALLY GOOD QUESTION COMING FROM AN ADOLESCENT THAT IS NOT REALLY USED TO THESE TYPES OF MEETINGS, BUT I'VE DEFINITELY TAKEN HIM TO A LOT. SO I HAD TO THINK ABOUT THAT BEFORE ANSWERING, AND I REMEMBER GOING AND TAKING HIM WITH ME TO MANY PUBLIC COMMENT -- OR PUBLIC MEETINGS REGARDING THE INTAKE AND THE DISCHARGE OF THE DESALINATION PLANTS, THE TCEQ MEETINGS, THE PORT MEETINGS, THE TOWN HALL MEETINGS THAT OTHER ORGANIZATIONS HAVE PUT ON AND SOME OF THE CITY ONES, BUT ALL OF THEM WERE IN THE MAJORITY, EVERY TIME, THE PEOPLE THAT SHOWED UP TO SPEAK WERE IN OPPOSITION AND HAD VERY LEGITIMATE CONCERNS. THERE WAS, LIKE, VERY LITTLE IN SUPPORT. THE CONCERNS WERE THE LACK OF SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH FOR DESALINATION IN A BAY LIKE OURS AND THE SHIP CHANNEL AREA SPECIFICALLY. THERE'S NONE LIKE IT IN THE WORLD. CUMULATIVE IMPACTS OF NUMEROUS DESALINATION PLANTS BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT THIS ISN'T THE ONLY ONE, AND MORE OIL AND GAS INDUSTRIES FURTHER HINDERING OUR AIR AND WATER QUALITY. THE COST OF WATER BILLS INCREASING, SO GOING BACK TO THE QUESTION OF WHY THIS IS STILL MOVING FORWARD, DESALINATION AND THE OVERINDUSTRIALIZATION OF OUR AREA, I CAN'T HELP BUT NOTICE THAT THE ENTITIES AND THE SMALL AMOUNT OF PEOPLE SUPPORTING THIS HAVE DIRECT TIES ASSOCIATED WITH THE PROFITING OF THE PRODUCTS THAT WILL BE MADE FROM THESE OPERATIONS. AS YOU MAY OR MAY NOT KNOW, THE PORT AND SURROUNDING INDUSTRIES DO NOT PAY TAXES OR VOTE, BUT RESIDENTS DO. AND LEARNING MORE ABOUT SOME OF YOUR CAMPAIGN FINANCE REPORTS, NOT SHOCKING TO SHOW THAT THE PACS AND COMPANIES PAYING FOR YOUR CAMPAIGNS THAT YOU'RE WORKING FOR THEIR INTERESTS INSTEAD OF THE RESPECTS THAT RESIDE IN YOUR DISTRICTS. A COUNCILMEMBER HAD MENTIONED LAST WEEK ABOUT QUESTIONING HAVING A THIRD-PARTY CONDUCT THE DESAL MODELING AND RESEARCH. THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS COMING FROM A SCIENTIFIC STANDPOINT IS THAT THIRD PARTIES ARE NEUTRAL AND THEY DON'T HAVE VESTED INTERESTS OR INVESTED -- YEAH, INVESTED INTEREST IN THE PROJECT WITH NEITHER BEING FOR OR AGAINST. SO IF WE GOT SOMEBODY IN HERE JUST PROVIDING NONBIASED FACTUAL INFORMATION BASED ON SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH, THAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT FOR US AND VITAL THAT WE DON'T HAVE DIFFERENT COMPANIES THAT ARE PROVIDING RESEARCH FOR SOMETHING THAT THEY WILL BENEFIT FROM. THAT'S CONCERNING. SO I WILL MENTION REGARDING MY OPPOSITION OF THE DESAL, I HAVE, LIKE, ALL THESE OTHER THINGS TO SAY ABOUT THE TAMPA BAY DESALINATION AND HOW WE'RE COMPARED TO THEM. TAMPA BAY IS LIKE 400 SQUARE MILES. CC BAY IS 167. THE TAMPA BAY DESALINATION PLANT HAS ALSO EXPERIENCED NUMEROUS PROBLEMS, INCLUDING THE MEMBRANE FAILING, HIGH COST CONSTRUCTION DELAYS. A LOT OF -- THEIR CONTRACTORS GOING BANKRUPT, SO JUST LOOKING MORE INTO THAT IN THE FUTURE. THANK YOU. >> Mayor Guajardo: THANK YOU, MRS. ZAMORA. SAGE JIMENEZ. >> SAGE JIMENEZ, DISTRICT 2. I JUST WANT TO SAY NO TO THE REZONING FOR HILLCREST BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S REAL MESSED UP HOW PEOPLE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO BE LIVING CLOSE TO THOSE INDUSTRIES, WHICH THEY ALREADY ARE, SOME OF THEM, AND EVEN MORE HEALTH PROBLEMS ARE GOING TO COME. AND NO TO THE DESALINATION. I MEAN, WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO FIGHT IT FOR SO LONG, BUT WE NEED THE WATER, SO JUST SAY NO. THANK YOU. >> Mayor Guajardo: THANK YOU, MR. JIMENEZ. MARK MÜNSTER. >> MARK MÜNSTER, CORPUS CHRISTI. JUST WATCHING THE -- I WAS WATCHING THE REZONING TALKS EARLIER AND JUST REMINDS ME, I HADN'T HEARD THE TERM OLD BOY'S CLUB UNTIL TALKING TO PEOPLE ABOUT CORPUS CHRISTI STUFF, TALKING ABOUT POLITICS, DESALINATION STUFF, AND LIKE MANY OCCASIONS, THAT'S WHAT I HEARD DESCRIBED ABOUT CORPUS AND JUST GROWING UP, THAT WAS THE NARRATIVE ABOUT HOW CORPUS POLITICS ARE. AND I MEAN, IT'S JUST SO OBVIOUS, GETTING OLDER AND IT'S LIKE, OF COURSE -- JUST DO NOTHING ABOUT IT? JUST SAY NOTHING ABOUT IT? AND, YEAH, AND IT'S LIKE WHEN IS ENOUGH ENOUGH. ESPECIALLY LOOKING AT THE HILLCREST NEIGHBORHOOD, THE PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT WHAT THE CITY'S REPORTS OF IN THE '90S ABOUT HILLCREST AND FUTURE PLANS AND STILL TODAY THAT THERE'S MORE -- WANT MORE REZONING, WANT MORE STREET CLOSURES WHEN THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT THAT THEY ALREADY OWN OVER 600 PROPERTIES IN THE AREA AND HOW THERE'S ONLY A COUPLE LEFT THAT THEY DON'T HAVE. AND THAT THERE'S PEOPLE HERE. LAST WEEK, A LOT OF PEOPLE. OVER THE LAST YEARS, A LOT OF PEOPLE COMING TO SPEAK FOR HILLCREST AND JUST ALL THOSE PEOPLE THAT WERE HERE EARLIER AND IT WAS THE ONE -- OR A COUPLE OF PEOPLE FROM THE PORT THAT ARE JUST PAID PEOPLE REPRESENTING A BIG, HUGE ENTITY MULTIMILLIONS BILLIONS OF DOLLARS ENTITY VERSUS JUST REGULAR PEOPLE THAT ARE ACTUALLY IMPACTED IN THEIR EVERY DAY LIVES. NOT ONLY WHAT THEY HAVE NOW NOT ENOUGH IN TERMS OF MONEY AND PROFITS AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES? IS THAT THEY WANT THE CITY GOVERNMENT TO DEFU FUND THE DESALINATION PLANT OVER BILLION DOLLARS. I REMEMBER LEARNING ABOUT THE HOMELESS DEPARTMENT CUTS AND POTENTIAL CUTS TO THE LIBRARIES AND JUST LOOKING AT THE COST OF THIS DESALINATION PLANT AND WHAT THE ANNUAL MAINTENANCE COSTS ARE GOING TO B IT'S JUST HARD TO SWALLOW AND HARD TO BE OKAY -- TO JUST ACCEPT THAT'S THE WAY THINGS ARE. AND THERE'S OBVIOUSLY BEEN A LOT OF OPPOSITION TO THIS AND IT'S -- HOW ARE WE GOING TO BE CONVINCED THAT THIS IS -- ALL THIS MONEY THAT WE'RE SPENDING ON IT, THE RISKS THAT WE'RE TAKING WITH THE ENVIRONMENT, PUSHING PEOPLE OUT OF THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS, WHERE IS -- WHERE IS HOW IT'S GOING TO ACTUALLY BE WORTH IT? IS THERE ANY GOOD REASONING THAT YOU CAN GIVE US, THE PEOPLE THAT ARE SO OPPOSED? AND," YEAND, YEAH, IF THE COST WAS THIS HIGH FOR ANY OTHER THING, WOULD YOU STILL SUPPORT IT? I REMEMBER ONE OF THE THINGS WHEN FIRST READING ABOUT DESALINATION AND THE CONCERNS ABOUT IT WHEN I READ THAT CITY COUNCILMEMBERS WERE GOING TO WASHINGTON, D.C. TO LOBBY FOR IT, I COULD NOT BELIEVE THAT WAS HAPPENING. AND JUST THE WAY THE PUBLIC COMMENT WAS HANDLED EARLIER WAS PROBABLY ONE OF THE WORST HANDLING OF SOMEONE COMING UP HERE AND EXPRESSING CONCERNS THEY HAVE ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE CITY, AND, OF COURSE, THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT FASCISM AND YOU LIMITED THE PUBLIC COMMENT. >> Mayor Guajardo: THANK YOU, MR. MÜNSTER. ANDREA PEOL. >> ANDRE YEAH PEOL, DISTRICT 2. I'M HERE TODAY TO COMMENT FOR A VARIETY OF TOPICS. I GUESS REALLY JUST TWO. FIRST I'D LIKE TO STATE MY SOLIDARITY WITH THE RESIDENTS OF HILLCREST AND I'M OPPOSED TO THE REZONING THAT WAS APPROVED HERE TODAY. Y'ALL HAVE SUCCESSFULLY MADE ANOTHER STEP TOWARDS ENDING THE HISTORIC HILLCREST I'M WONDT WOULD YOU LIKE YOUR NEIGHBORHOOS IT'S DEFINITELY NOT HAVING YOUR STREETS CLOSED OR FOR A NEIGHBORHOOD TO BECOME A SACRIFICE ZONE FOR INDUSTRY AND FUTURE AND INDUSTRIAL PROJECTS. IT'S NOT GIVING FALSE PROMISE AFTER FALSE PROMISE FROM THE CITY. THIS POSES A THREAT TO THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD, ESPECIALLY IN TERMS OF SAFETY. NOW, I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO SPEAK ON THE INNER HARBOR DESAL PLANT, WHICH I'M ALSO OPPOSED TO. I THINK THIS PLANT IS A TERRIBLE IDEA FOR THE BAY, THE MARINE LIFE, THE RESIDENTS, THE CITY, HOW LITTLE WE KNOW ABOUT THE SAFETY, THE RELIABILITY OF THIS SORT OF PLANT. NOW THERE'S TOXIC FOREVER CHEMICALS WHERE THE INTAKE FOR THE -- WHERE THE WATER INTAKE IS PROPOSED TO BE HAPPENING, MEANING THIS WATER WON'T EVEN BE SAFE TO DRINK. SO WHAT ARE WE DOING HERE? I DON'T THINK Y'ALL ARE FRUSTRATED THAT PEOPLE ARE MAKING VALID POINTS ABOUT THE PLANT. I KNOW YOU ARE NOT LISTENING TO THE FACTS BECAUSE IF YOU LISTENED TO THEM AND THE REASONS THAT THIS PROPOSED PLANT IS A BAD IDEA, Y'ALL WOULD HAVE ABANDONED THIS A LONG TIME AGO. Y'ALL ONLY LISTEN TO THE DOLLAR SIGNS AND WHO THIS WILL BENEFIT, WHICH IS INDUSTRY. SOME OF YOU HAVE SAID THAT OUR REAL CONCERNS AS RESIDENTS ARE A HINDRANCE TO THE PROJECT AND YOU ONLY CARE ABOUT COMPLETING PROJECTS SO WE DON'T GET SUED OR FINED. EVEN THOUGH THE COSTS FOR FULFILLING CERTAIN CONTRACTS IS WAY LOWER THAN THE ENTIRE PROJECT. I THINK Y'ALL ARE UPSET Y'ALL THOUGHT Y'ALL COULD GET AWAY WITH THIS. THE TCEQ IS A RUB-STAMPING ASSOCIATION. THEY DO NOT CARE ABOUT RESIDENTS. THEY ONLY CARE ABOUT THESE PROPOSED NUMBERS LOOK GOOD? COOL. Y'ALL CAN BUILD THE THING. TWO OR THREE PEOPLE HERE ARE IN FAVOR. LAST WEEK THERE WAS AN OVERWHELMING OPPOSITION. A LOT OF FISHERMEN CONCERNED ABOUT THEIR BUSINESSES, THEIR COMMERCIAL FISHING AND HOW THAT'S GOING TO AFFECT THEM. PEOPLE ARE WAKING UP. PLEASE CONSIDER OTHER SOLUTIONS. THIS PLANT IS GOING TO TAKE SO LONG TO BUILD, IT'S GOING TO BE SO EXPENSIVE AND, LIKE, WHEN HAS A PROJECT EVER GONE SMOOTHLY? LOOK AT THE BRIDGE. THAT TOOK SO LONG TO BUILD. PLEASE, PAUSE THE DESAL CONTRACTS AND REASSESS THIS UNSAFE AND UNRELIABLE PROJECT. >> Mayor Guajardo: THANK YOU. AMANDA GUERRA. JAMES PERKINS. >> HOWDY. JAMES PERKINS, DISTRICT 2. I'M AGAINST THE REZONING OF HILLCREST FOR A VERY SPECIFIC REASON HONESTLY. >> City Secretary: MR. PERKINS, YOU SPOKE ABOUT THAT EARLIER. >> I'M GOING TO BRING IT UP AGAIN REAL QUICK. >> City Secretary: YOU CAN SPEAK ON IT ONE TIME WHEN THE ITEM COMES UP OR DURING GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT. >> I WASN'T EVEN HERE WHEN THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT IT. I'M LOSING PRECIOUS TIME TALKING ABOUT THAT. I JUST LOST 30 SECONDS FOR THAT. CAN I HAVE THOSE 30 SECONDS BACK PLEASE? I FEEL LIKE THAT'S ONLY FAIR. >> [OFF MIC] >> MY TOPIC WAS CRIME PREVENTION. IT IS DEFINITELY A LONG DAY. I HAVE BEEN UP SINCE 3:00 A.M. THE WORK DEFINITELY HITS YOU HARD. APPRECIATE IT. YES. IF I COULD HAVE Y'ALL'S ATTENTION PLEASE. I AM AGAINST THE REZONING OF HILLCREST FOR A VERY SPECIFIC REASON. YOU SEE, I GREW UP ON MARGARET AVENUE AND THAT IS A STONE'S THROW AWAY FROM THE REFINERIES. IN FACT, IT WAS SO CLOSE THAT ON THE SUMMER NIGHTS, ME, MY STEP BROTHER, MY COUSINS COULD SWIM BEHIND OUR HOUSE BY THE LIGHT OF THE FIRE AND IT WOULD BURN SO HOT THAT IT WOULDN'T EVEN BE COLD DURING THE WINTER NIGHTS SO WE COULD ENJOY THOSE EVENINGS. IT HAS GIVEN ME A LOT OF CHRONIC ASTHMA ISSUE. MY FAMILY MAY HAVE A LOT OF GENETIC DISORDERS BUT ASTHMA WASN'T ONE OF THEM AND NOW I HAVE ASTHMA FOR LIFE. I CAN'T GET RID OF THAT. THESE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE LIVING DOWN THE STREET OF AMMONIA PLANTS, OF MILITARY VEHICLES. Y'ALL WANT TO PARK MILITARY VEHICLES. WE HAVE ALL THAT LAND BY LONDON AND SARATOGA WHERE THEM BUILDING ALL THOSE BIG, PRETTY HOUSES THAT NOBODY HERE IN HILLCREST CAN AFFORD TO MOVE TO. EVEN IF Y'ALL PAID THEM TO LEAVE, WHICH I KNOW Y'ALL WON'T, Y'ALL ARE JUST GOING TO WAIT THEM OUT WITH THE POISONS AND THE CHEMICALS FROM THE AMMONIA PLANTS. THE SECOND THING, I AM AGAINST THE DESALINATION PLANT FOR ANOTHER VERY SPECIFIC REASON. HOW LONG DID IT TAKE FOR THAT BRIDGE TO GO UP? WE WAS TOLD FOUR YEARS AND THEN WE WAS TOLD FOUR YEARS A YEAR LATER. AND THEN WE WAS TOLD FOUR YEARS A YEAR LATER. YOU COULD START TOMORROW. YOU COULD BREAK GROUND TOMORROW. I GUARANTEE THAT'S NOT GOING TO BE READY BY THE TIME WE RUN OUT OF WATER AND YOU'RE GOING TO LOSE ALL THOSE JOBS FROM VALERO ANYWAY. YOU'RE GOING TO BE DEALING WITH AN ECONOMIC CRISIS AND CORPUS CHRISTI WILL BE A GHOST TOWN. THEY'RE DOING CONSTRUCTION ON MY STREET RIGHT NOW AND THEY SAID WE'RE GOING TO START IN MAY AND BE DONE BY THE BEGINNING OF JUNE. I STILL CAN'T PARK ON MY STREET. IT'S RIDICULOUS HOW ESTIMATIONS ARE GOING FOR CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS WHEN WE CAN VERY CLEARLY SEE THAT THINGS DO NOT GO AS PLANNED. THERE IS ONLY ONE REAL SOLUTION FOR THE WATER CRISIS. Y'ALL AREN'T GOING TO DO IT THOUGH. I KNOW Y'ALL AREN'T GOING TO DO IT BECAUSE VALERO PAYS A LOT OF MONEY TO CORPUS CHRISTI AND WE MIGHT OWE A LOT OF MONEY TO VALERO. THE PROBLEM IS INDUSTRY IS DRINKING THE WATER UP FROM CORPUS CHRISTI CITIZENS. MY WATER BILL'S GOING UP. I HAVEN'T DONE NOTHING DIFFERENT. I TAKE ONE SHOWER A DAY. I BOIL ONE CUP OF RAMEN. WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO HERE? I CAN'T DO NOTHING DIFFERENTLY. SHOOT, I WAS DONE AT THE BEACH TWO WEEKS AGO. MY CAR IS COVERED IN SAND. I HAVEN'T VISITED A CAR WASH BECAUSE THAT'S MORE WATER WE DON'T HAVE. WHERE IS THE SENSE IN STARTING THIS NOW IF IT'S NOT GOING TO BE DONE BY THE TIME WE'RE OUT OF WATER. AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO HAVE ANGRY CITIZENS OUT OF JOBS AND OUT OF WATER. >> Mayor Guajardo: THANK YOU, MR. PERKINS. THANK YOU. MICHAEL MILLER. >> MICHAEL MILLER, DISTRICT 2. MAYOR AND COUNCIL, LAST WEEK I PROVIDED YOU WITH A SIMPLE COST ANALYSIS OF THE CITY'S INNER HARBOR DESAL. MUCH LIKE YOU WOULD EVALUATE A HOME. I WILL EXPAND ON THAT WITH ANOTHER EXAMPLE THAT TAKES A LARGE NUMBER, $1.2 BILLION, AND SIMPLIFIES IT INTO TERMS THAT A COMMON CORPUS CHRISTIAN CAN UNDERSTAND. LET'S SAY YOU HAVE BEEN THINKING ABOUT BUILDING A NEW HOUSE. YOU HAD SPOKEN TO A BUILDER FOUR YEARS AGO AND GAVE THEM SOME BASIC INFO AND AT THAT TIME HE TOLD YOU HE COULD BUILD YOU A HOUSE, WHICH IS THE DESAL PLANT, FOR SOMEWHERE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF 150 TO $220,000, DEPENDING ON THE SIZE. BECAUSE YOU WERE LOOKING AT SOME OTHER HOUSES AT THE TIME AND HAD A PLACE TO LIVE, YOU THANKED HIM AND SAID WE WILL FOLLOW UP WITH YOU WHEN WE ARE READY TO PULL THE TRIGGER. UP UNTIL RECENTLY YOU HAD A PRETTY SWEET DEAL LIVING WITH YOUR PARENTS IN THEIR OLD HOUSE, THE WESTERN RESERVOIRS. BUT YOUR PARENTS DECIDED TO LEASE IT OUT IN THE COMING YEAR TO A COUPLE THAT IS MOVING IN HERE TO WORK FOR ONE OF THE NEW INDUSTRIAL PLANTS COMING INTO TOWN. NOW YOU ARE A YEAR AWAY FROM YOUR PARENTS KICKING YOU OUT AND YOU HAVE TO MOVE QUICKLY. YOU CALL YOUR BUILDER BACK AND ASK SOME BASIC QUESTIONS. WHAT SIZE HOUSE DO YOU NEED? WHAT'S YOUR BUDGET? HE EXPLAINS THE COST HAS RISEN DRAMATICALLY, A REVELATION YOU WERE EXPECTING. THE GOOD NEWS IS YOUR PARENTS HAVE OFFERED TO GIVE YOU A LOW-INTEREST LOAN BECAUSE THEY ARE GOING TO GET SOME RENT FROM THE INDUSTRIAL COUPLE. YOU EXPLAIN TO THE BUILDER THAT YOUR ABSOLUTE MAX BUDGET INCLUDING DESIGN, FURNITURE, RUGS, FORKS, KNIVES, ET CETERA, IS $756,000. BUILDER SAYS NOT A PROBLEM. WE CAN GET THAT DONE FOR $605,000 AND OFF THEY GO DRAWING PLANS, TAKING BIDS, ET CETERA. TWO MONTHS IN THEY GIVE YOU AN UPDATE. YEAH, YOUR HOUSE IS GOING TO BE MORE LIKE $1.2 MILLION. OH, AND I NEED $138,000 IN ADVANCE SO I CAN FINISH THE DRAWINGS AND START BUYING LIGHT FIXTURES. OOH. YOU REALLY WANT THAT HOUSE BUT YOU'RE ONLY APPROVED FOR $756,000 AND THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO INCLUDE 20% CONTINGENCY FOR ANY WHAT-IFS YOU ENCOUNTER ALONG THE WAY. TIME IS RUNNING OUT AND YOU ONLY HAVE ABOUT NINE MONTHS LEFT BEFORE YOU ARE ON THE STREETS. WHAT DO YOU DO? WHAT I WOULD DO IS REEVALUATE MY OPTIONS INCLUDING LOOKING FOR SOMETHING TO RENT WHILE I LOOK FOR CHEAPER HOUSES. MAKE A DEAL WITH EVANGELINE YESTERDAY AND LET'S GET REALISTIC ABOUT OUR OPTIONS MOVING FORWARD. IT WAS AN INTERESTING IDEA FOUR YEARS AGO BUT WE CAN NO LONGER AFFORD THIS. [INDISCERNIBLE] >> Mayor Guajardo: BY THE END OF THE MONTH. THANK YOU, MR. MILLER. CHRISTINE WILLMONT. IS CHRISTINE WILL MONT WITH US? WALLY GONZALES? ADAM RIOS? >> ADAM RIOS, CORPUS CHRISTI, DISTRICT 5. JUST GOING TO RUN OVER A FEW THINGS IN THE TIME THAT I HAVE ALLOTTED. ABOUT THREE YEARS AGO, I HAD COME TO COUNCIL WITH THE IDEA OF SALINAS PARK DEVELOPING OR BECOMING A BEACON OF THE BMX COMMUNITY, NOT JUST HERE BUT THROUGHOUT THE STATE. I BROUGHT SOME NUMBERS AND PRESENTATIONS BEFORE COUNCIL. I'M HERE TO TELL YOU THAT I STILL BELIEVE IT CAN BECOME A REALITY. WE REALLY KIND OF WANT TO REVIVE THAT SPORT HERE IN THE AREA BECAUSE BY 2030, AT LEAST WITHIN THE STATE OF TEXAS, AND I CAN GO OVER THIS PRIVATELY WITH SOME OF YOU, THE BMX MARKET VALUE IS PROJECTED TO REACH $381 MILLION OVERALL IN THE STATE, WHICH IS NOT BAD FOR AN ALTERNATIVE SPORTS MARKET THAT'S GOING TO REACH ABOUT $26.8 BILLION BY THAT SAME TIME. AND I ALSO THINK THAT IT WOULD REALLY KIND OF HELP REVITALIZE NOT JUST SALINAS PARK BUT THAT AREA TO HAVE AN ALTERNATIVE SPORTS PROGRAM IN THAT AREA BECAUSE WE'RE DEVELOPING IN ALL THESE OTHER AREAS, WHICH WE'RE ALL VERY GRATEFUL FOR BUT SPECIFICALLY THAT AREA IT WOULD BE INCREDIBLE. I'M KIND OF ASKING THAT WE CAN COLLECTIVELY COME TOGETHER TO MAKE CORPUS CHRISTI A PREMIER ALTERNATIVE SPORTS DESTINATION. BUT WE CAN REALLY MAKE THAT HAPPEN. THERE'S A WHOLE RENAISSANCE GOING ON WITH ALTERNATIVE SPORTS AND THERE'S A LOT OF FOCUS ON CORPUS CHRISTI. I KNOW IT'S NOT JUST ME HARPING ON IT, IT'S ARTICLES THAT I CAN PRESENT TO YOU AND PEOPLE THAT I TALK TO, NOT JUST THROUGHOUT THE STATE BUT THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY. WE HAVE SKATEBOARDING, WE HAVE BMX, WE HAVE SURFING THROUGH THE TGSA, WE HAVE WIND SURFING AND KITEBOARDING. WE NEED TO COLLECTIVELY GET VISIT CORPUS CHRISTI TOGETHER WITH PARKS AND REC AND THE CITY BUT INVITE THE THRIVING INDEPENDENTLY-OWNED AND OPERATED BUSINESSES THAT ARE HAPPENING RIGHT HERE IN CORPUS CHRISTI. WE'RE DOING THIS -- WHEN I TALK WITH PEOPLE OUTSIDE OF THE STATE, THEY FEEL LIKE WE'RE DOING THIS BEHIND ENEMY LINES. WE'RE NOT. THIS CITY IS PROGRESSING. WE ARE TRYING TO MAKE THESE THINGS HAPPEN AND I JUST THINK THAT GIVEN ALL THE ENTITIES AND ALL THE ATTENTION THAT WE HAVE THAT WE CAN REALLY DO SOMETHING WITH ALTERNATIVE SPORTS HERE. I ALSO WANTED TO TAKE A MOMENT TO INVITE EVERYBODY. IF I MISPRONOUNCE THE TITLE OF THIS. LAST YEAR MY WIFE AND I HAD A GREAT TIME AT DEL MAR AT THE MEXICAN AMERICAN -- IT WAS A CULTURAL STUDIES PROGRAM THAT WAS HAPPENING. WE REALLY LOVED ALL THE DIFFERENT PANELS. I ESPECIALLY LOVED TALKING ABOUT QUINCEANERAS AND THE RIGHT OF PASSAGE OF WOMEN IN NATIVE CULTURE AND ALSO HAVING AN ANGLO MOM WHO GAVE MY SISTERS SWEET 16s. IN MY LAST 15 SECONDS, YOU TALK ABOUT A STORY OF REGRET TO RECONCILIATION. I LEAVE YOU WITH THESE WORDS: YOU GOT TO BELIEVE IN FOOLISH MIRACLES. IT'S NOT HOW YOU PLAY THE GAME, IT'S IF YOU WIN OR LOSE. YOU CAN CHOOSE. DON'T CONFUSE. IT'S UP TO YOU. OZZI OSBOURNE MEMORIAL COLISEUM. I WAS THERE. >> Mayor Guajardo: THANK YOU. >> LOVE AN OZZY QUOTE. JOSHUA FREDERICK, CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI. I HAVE A LOT OF THINGS TO TALK ABOUT TODAY BUT LET'S START WITH THANK YOU. THANK YOU TO THE COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT CHAMPIONED THE ABILITY TO ASK QUESTIONS OF OUR ELECTED. I REALLY, REALLY APPRECIATE IT FOR THE THREE PEOPLE WHO PUT THEIR NAME ON THAT, THAT'S FANTASTIC. THANK YOU. THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY WHO VOTED IN FAVOR OF IT. OBVIOUSLY I HAVE BEEN UP HERE TALKING ABOUT IT FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS SO I'M HAPPY WE GOT TO MAKE PROGRESS ON THAT. I WANT TO THANK YOU, MAYOR PAULETTE, FROM NUECES BREWING COMPANY AND MYSELF FOR BEING ONE OF OUR GUEST JUDGES AT THE BARBECUE ON THE FOURTH OF JULY. I KNOW IT'S A VERY BUSY DAY FOR YOU, BIG BANG CELEBRATION GOING ON. DEDICATING A COUPLE OF HOURS TO COME BY OUR SMALL BUSINESS AND BE ONE OF THE JUDGES, IT REALLY IS TREMENDOUS OF YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT AND FOR ANYBODY ELSE ON COUNCIL THAT EVER WANTS TO BE A FOOD JUDGE, YOU'RE MORE THAN WELCOME TO COME TO ANY OF OUR CONTESTS. IT'S NOT AS FUN AS YOU MIGHT THINK. I HAVE DONE THE CHILI CONTEST A FEW TIMES AND THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO THINK IT'S ACCEPTABLE TO PUT BEANS IN THEIR CHILI IS ABYSMAL. IT IS NOT OKAY. IF THAT COULD BE A CITY ORDINANCE, I WOULD REALLY APPRECIATE THAT. SPEAKING OF SUPPORT FOR SMALL BUSINESSES AND THE EFFORTS YOU GUYS ARE PUTTING IN, I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF TALK ABOUT GETTING A COSTCO OR THE BASS PRO SHOP THAT'S ALLEGEDLY COMING. AND I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF WORK THAT GOES IN BEHIND THERE BUT I WANT TO KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DOING FOR THE CURRENT BUSINESSES THAT ARE HERE, PLACES LIKE ROY'S BAIT AND TACKLE WITH BEING OFFERED THE SAME INCENTIVES AND TAX BREAKS AND LOW-INTEREST LOANS AND ALL OF THAT SUPPORT TO GROW THEIR BUSINESS AS OPPOSED TO BRINGING IN AN OUTSIDE COMPANY. I'M REALLY, REALLY BUMMED OUT RECENTLY, JUST A FEW MONTHS AGO WE LOST PROBABLY ONE OF THE BEST TACO STANDS IN CORPUS CHRISTI WHEN CHACHO'S TACOS CLOSED DOWN. I'M CURIOUS IF ANYBODY HERE ATTEMPTED TO HELP THEM OUT. I KNOW IT'S NOT FAIR TO SINGLE THEM OUT OR SINGLE YOU OUT BECAUSE THERE'S SO MUCH GOING ON IN THE CITY. BUT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT WHERE OUR PRIORITIES ARE IN SUPPORTING SMALL BUSINESSES VERSUS BRINGING IN THESE BIG GUYS LIKE COSTCO OR BASS PRO SHOP, I REALLY THINK THE FOCUS SHOULD BE ON THE PEOPLE THAT ARE ALREADY HERE IN OUR CITY. THANK YOU AND Y'ALL HAVE A NICE DAY. >> Mayor Guajardo: THANK YOU, MR. FREDERICK. JAKE HERNANDEZ. >> JAKE HERNANDEZ, CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT 2. I HONESTLY HAVE A LOT ON MY MIND TODAY TO SPEAK TO THE COUNCIL ABOUT. BUT I WANT TO START BY ADDRESSING SOME THINGS THAT WERE SAID LAST WEEK ON THE DAIS, NAMELY THAT TEXAS CAMPAIGN FOR THE ENVIRONMENT COMMISSIONED THE STUDY THAT CAME OUT THAT REVEALED THAT WE HAVE DANGEROUS LEVELS OF PFOS IN THE INNER HARBOR WHERE WE PLAN TO INTAKE THE WATER FOR THE HILLCREST DESAL PLANT. THAT STUDY WAS ACTUALLY NOT COMMISSIONED BY TEXAS CAMPAIGN FOR THE ENVIRONMENT. IT WAS ACTUALLY A COALITION EFFORT BETWEEN MULTIPLE DIFFERENT OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS. AND I ALSO WANT TO ADDRESS SOMETHING THAT WAS SAID ABOUT PAID ORGANIZERS COMING UP AND TALKING ABOUT CITY ISSUES. AND TO BE CLEAR, I AM A PAID ORGANIZER. I AM BLESSED AND I AM PRIVILEGED TO SPEND MINIMUM 40 HOURS A WEEK WITH MY FULL ATTENTION ON THE WATER MANAGEMENT IN OUR CITY. NOT EVERYBODY GETS TO DO THAT. A LOT OF PEOPLE PUT THEIR 40 HOURS IN AT THEIR JOB AND THEN THEY COME TO ALSO FOCUS ON THE WATER MANAGEMENT IN OUR CITY. AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S REALLY INSPIRED ME TO DO EVEN MORE ORGANIZING WORK OUTSIDE OF THE 40 HOURS THAT I PUT IN TO WATCHING CITY COUNCIL, WATCHING THE DEVELOPMENTS OF OUR WATER MANAGEMENT. ALSO, JUST THE AUDACITY TO HEAR THAT ALSO OF US BEING PAID ORGANIZERS AND NOT ACTUALLY CARING. TO HEAR THAT COME OUT OF THE MOUTH OF A CAREER POLITICIAN, LIKE, THE IRONY CAN'T EVEN BE STATED ENOUGH. DOG, WE REMEMBER YOU RAN FOR STATE REP. LIKE, WE WERE ALL THERE FOR THAT. SO FOR SOMEBODY WHO IS USING BEING A CITY OFFICIAL AS A PLATFORM, AS A LAUNCHPAD TO A LARGER POLITICAL CAREER FOR THEIR OWN ECONOMIC GAIN AND SOCIAL CLOUT, THAT'S JUST REALLY DISTURBING AND IT'S REALLY HYPOCRITICAL AND IT'S REALLY ANNOYING TO HEAR THAT. SO WITH THE LAST 30 SECONDS, I JUST WANT TO WRAP UP BY SAYING AS ANOTHER RESIDENT THAT, NO, I AM AGAINST THE DESALINATION PLANT IN THE HILLCREST NEIGHBORHOOD. AGAIN IN THE HILLCREST NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE PEOPLE STILL CURRENTLY RESIDE. I THINK IT'S A SHAME THAT THE CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI, THAT OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS HAVE DECIDED TO REZONE THAT AREA FOR INDUSTRIAL USE, CONSIDERING THAT PEOPLE STILL LIVE THERE AND CONSIDERING THE DECADES OF ENVIRONMENTAL RACISM THAT HAS GONE ON IN THAT COMMUNITY. IT'S JUST FRANKLY REALLY DISGUSTING. YEAH. >> Mayor Guajardo: THANK YOU, MR. HERNANDEZ. BEATRICE ALVARADO. >> HELLO. MY NAME IS BEATRICE AND I LIVE IN DISTRICT 1. I AM ALSO A PAID ORGANIZER AND IT DEFINITELY GOES BEYOND THE 40 HOURS THAT WE ARE PAID TO DO THIS. I CAN STAND BY THAT. I'M HERE TO SPEAK AGAINST THE CITY COUNCIL -- >> City Secretary: CAN YOU STATE YOUR FULL NAME, PLEASE? >> BEATRICE ALVARADO. I'M HERE TO SPEAK AGAINST THE CITY COUNCIL FORCING RESIDENTS TO PAY FOR WHAT COULD BE THE MOST EXPENSIVE DESALINATION FACILITY IN THE WORLD. BUDGET DISCUSSIONS ARE AROUND THE CORNER SO I'M HERE TO URGE YOU TO REMOVE ANY AND ALL DESAL ITEMS FROM THE CITY BUDGET. WE CANNOT AFFORD MORE DEBT WITH THE $7 MILLION SHORTFALL AND NO ALTERNATIVE WATER SOURCE IS FULLY SECURED. RESIDENTS SHOULD NOT BE FORCED TO ENDURE RATE INCREASES TO MAKE INDUSTRY'S DESAL DREAMS A REALITY. AS A RATEPAYER I DON'T CONSENT FOR MY UTILITY BILLS TO BE USED TO BUILD A NEW WATER SOURCE FOR INDUSTRY. A PRICE TAG THAT ADVOCATES WARNED YOU ABOUT YEARS AGO. YOU HAVE ALLOWED HEAVY INDUSTRIAL WATER USERS UNFETTERED ACCESS TO OUR FRESH WATER WHICH WILL DEPLETE OUR PRIMARY RESERVOIRS IN THE COMING YEARS. YOU'RE CORNERING US INTO PAYING FOR A DESALINATION PLANT THAT WILL KILL MORE BODIES OF WATER AND SKYROCKET OUR WATER RATES. TOP-DOWN DECISIONS TO OVERSELL OUR WATER SUPPLY SHOULD NOT FALL ON THE RESIDENTS. BY REFUSING TO FORCE INDUSTRY TO CURTAIL WATER USE, YOU'RE ALSO OPENING US UP TO THE PRIVATIZATION OF OUR DRINKING WATER. THE PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP WITH SEVEN SEAS SOUNDS ENTICING BECAUSE THEY WOULD PUT UP ALL THE FRONT. THEY WOULD PUT UP-FRONT EXPENSES. THEY WOULD PUT UP ALL OF THE EXPENSES BUT AT WHAT COST? YOU WOULD BE PUTTING RESIDENTS AT THE MERCY OF PRIVATE INTERESTS, WHICH WILL -- WHICH NEVER ENDS WELL. IT'S ALSO DANGEROUS TO ALLOW SEVEN SEAS TO EXPERIMENT HERE WHERE WATER IS SCARCE DUE TO YOUR DECISIONS. DESALINATION IS NOT OUR SAVING GRACE, TRUE LEADERSHIP IS. I URGE YOU TO TAKE FORCED CURTAILMENT SERIOUSLY INSTEAD OF CONTINUING TO FUND THE INNER HARBOR DESAL PLANT WITH PUBLIC FUNDS. IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO BRING BETTER JOBS TO THE AREA THAT DON'T DEPLETE OUR DRINKING WATER AMID THE CLIMATE CRISIS. LIKE I SAID LAST WEEK, WE'RE NOT GIVING UP OUR WATER. DESALINATION FOR INDUSTRY DOES NOT BELONG IN OUR CITY BUDGET. WE HAVE MORE THAN ENOUGH WATER FOR RESIDENTS. THANK YOU. >> Mayor Guajardo: THANK YOU, MS. TORRES. ISABEL ARAIZA AND THEN WE'LL HAVE AMANDA BRELAND -- >> [OFF MIC] >> Mayor Guajardo: I'M SO SORRY. CHLOE -- I'M SORRY, MS. ARAIZA, CHLOE TORRES IS NEXT. THEN ISABEL ARAIZA, AMANDA BRELAND, ROBIN COX, ARMON ALEX. >> OKAY. CHLOE TORRES, DISTRICT 2. I DID WANT TO COME BACK AND BECAUSE WE, AS A COALITION, REALLY ACTUALLY DO RESPECT HONESTY AND TRANSPARENCY. I DO WANT TO CORRECT THE STATEMENT EARLIER ABOUT WHO COMMISSIONED THE PFOS STUDY. IT IS CORRECT, THERE WAS A FALSE STATEMENT GIVEN BY A COUNCILMAN LAST WEEK IN REGARDS TO THE TESTING DONE BY THE INNER HARBOR TO CONFIRM THAT IT IS CONTAMINATED WITH CHEMICALS. THE CAMPAIGN WAS AT TEXAS CAMPAIGN FOR THE ENVIRONMENT AND A FAVORITE SMEAR TARGET OF THOSE ON COUNCIL COMMISSIONED THE STUDY. THAT'S INCORRECT. IF THE COUNCILMAN WHO GAVE THE FALSE STATEMENT WOULD ACTUALLY USE THE E-MAIL THAT IS LISTED ON THE CITY WEBSITE FOR RESIDENTS TO CONTACT HIM, HE WOULD HAVE SEEN THAT HE RECEIVED THE MEMO, ALONG WITH ALL OF THE COUNCIL , AMONGST MANY OTHER CITY -- FOLKS IN CITY LEADERSHIP THAT I WAS REFERENCING IN MY PUBLIC COMMENT FROM LAST WEEK. WHICH STATED THE FOLLOWING: AS BOTH THE PORT AND THE CITY ARE AWARE, THE NOVEMBER 2024 INNER HARBOR SURFACE WATER SAMPLES REVEALING PFOS CONTAMINATION AND IT WAS OVERSEEN BY DR. ROGERS. HE IS THE DIRECTOR OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AT WEST TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY. THROUGH HIS CONSULTING FIRM, DR. ROGERS WAS COMMISSIONED TO CONDUCT THE ANALYSIS BY DR. DARRELL BROWNLOW. DR. BROWNLOW IS AN ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTANT. DR. MINCE IS CERTIFIED WITH EXPERTISE IN CANCER SURGERY . THESE PROFESSIONALS REACHED OUT TO CCW AND BECAUSE THEY WERE ALARMED BY THE LACK OF RESPONSE FROM BOTH THE PORT AND THE CITY. BOTH DOCTORS APPROACHED DIFFERENT ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS IN THE REGION WHO HAD THE INTEGRITY TO BRING THIS UP TO THE PUBLIC. SO I GUESS THE LAST PART OF THIS IS LIKE EVEN IF WE HAD COMMISSIONED THE STUDY, YOU'RE WELCOME. WE DID YOUR JOBS FOR YOU, ACTUALLY. BECAUSE WE ARE COMMITTED TO REAL PUBLIC SAFETY AND NOT JUST MAKING OUR DONORS HAPPY. SO I GUESS WITH MY LAST 30 SECONDS I'D LIKE TO SAY IT IS NOT ENOUGH TO PAY LIP SERVICE TO THE RESIDENTS OF HILLCREST THAT YOU WANT THEM TO LIVE IN A HEALTHY COMMUNITY, A SAFE COMMUNITY. YOU ACTUALLY HAVE TO ACT ON IT AND YOUR ACTION ON THIS COUNCIL IS YOUR VOTE. SO IF YOU ARE PAYING LIP SERVICE TODAY THAT DID NOT ALIGN WITH YOUR VOTE, I INVITE YOU TO REFLECT ON THAT. LASTLY, I JUST WANTED TO SAY TO PRESTON GRAHAM, WHO WAS MURDERED BY CCPD ONE YEAR AGO TODAY. >> Mayor Guajardo: THANK YOU, MS. TORRES. ISABEL ARAIZA. >> ISABEL ARAIZA, DISTRICT 2. I HAVE A LOT TO SAY TODAY. I DID WANT TO BRING UP THE PUBLIC COMMENT THING TOO BECAUSE WHEN I SENT AN E-MAIL ABOUT PULLING ITEMS 12 AND 13 ON THE CONSENT AGENDA, I RECEIVED AN AUTOMATIC REPLY FROM ROLAND BARRERA AND HIS E-MAIL SAID TO USE HIS PRIVATE E-MAIL. IT ALSO SAYS THAT HE IS STILL A MEMBER OF DISTRICT 3. SO HE HASN'T CHANGED IT SINCE HE HELD THIS NEW POSITION. I DON'T THINK THAT CITY COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVES OR CITY STAFF SHOULD BE USING PRIVATE E-MAIL ADDRESSES WHEN THEY'RE DOING CITY BUSINESS. WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO REQUEST INFORMATION AND THAT'S A PUBLIC E-MAIL ADDRESS AND WHO KNOWS WHAT THEY HAVE ON THEIR PRIVATE PHONES. SO I FIND THAT OFFENSIVE AND A REAL THREAT TO TRANSPARENCY IN GOVERNANCE. I ALSO WANTED TO MENTION THAT WITH THE CRIME PREVENTION PACKAGE, I VOTED AGAINST IT. AGAIN IT WAS BECAUSE THERE WAS NO MONEY FOR PREVENTION BUT I ALSO WANTED TO RAISE THE ISSUE THAT THE PRESIDENT OF THE COMMITTEE DOESN'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT PREVENTION. DIDN'T EVEN WANT TO BRING IT INTO THE AGENDA. AND WE NEED TO HAVE PEOPLE APPOINTED THAT ARE WILLING TO THINK ABOUT CRIME AND PREVENTION, NOT JUST BASICALLY SUBSIDIZING THE POLICE DEPARTMENT'S BUDGET. I ALSO WANTED TO TALK ABOUT THE HOUSING AUTHORITY. THE NAVARRO PLACE HAS A REALLY BEAUTIFUL PLAYGROUND AREA IN THE BACK. THEY HAVE THESE GREAT OAK TREES AND THE KIDS LIKE PLAYING THERE. BUT IT SMELLS LIKE URINE REALLY BAD. SO PEOPLE ARE SLEEPING ON THE CONCRETE SLAB THAT OFFERS SHADE. AND THEN WHEN THE KIDS GO OUTSIDE TO PLAY OUT THERE, SOMETIMES THE SMELL IS SO BAD THAT THEY CAN'T PLAY AND THEY HAVE TO BE ASKED TO HAVE THAT AREA CLEANED. THE HOUSING AUTHORITY HAS ALSO, WHEN IT RAINED A LOT, THE GRASS GROWS. THEY ONLY MOWED THE YARD BY THE PLAYGROUND AREA. THEY DIDN'T MOW IT BY THE OPEN SPACE WHERE THE KIDS CAN PLAY. AND THE KIDS DON'T HAVE A LOT OF PLACES TO PLAY AND THEY DON'T HAVE A REC CENTER TO GO TO, WHICH IS ALSO SOMETHING THAT I NOTICED WITH THE ZAVALA SENIOR CENTER. I WENT OVER THERE AND THERE WERE KIDS PLAYING UNDER A COVERED TOP, JUST HANGING OUT ON THEIR BIKES. THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT. IT HURT MY HEART, THOUGH, BECAUSE THERE'S A REC CENTER JUST DOWN THE STREET BUT WHEN I WENT TO THE REC CENTER THE DOOR WAS CLOSED AND THERE WAS A STAFF MEMBER THERE BUT THERE WERE NO ACTIVITIES THERE. IN ORDER FOR THE KIDS TO PLAY, THEY'VE GOT TO SIGN UP FOR ACTIVITIES AT LINDALE RECREATION CENTER. THAT CENTER IS NOT GOING TO BE OPEN UNTIL AUGUST. THAT IS CRIME PREVENTION. MY TIME IS UP AND I DIDN'T GET TO TALK ABOUT HOW WE'RE NOT EVEN TALKING ABOUT THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM WITH DESALINATION AND OUR WATER CRISIS. IT IS A MANUFACTURED CRISIS. THIS IS CRISIS POLITICS IN DEALING WITH DESAL AND IT'S GOT TO STOP. >> Mayor Guajardo: THANK YOU, MS. ARAIZA. WE'LL TAKE NOTE OF THAT ON THE HOUSING. AMANDA BRELAND. >> AMANDA BRELAND, DISTRICT 1. I HAVE A FEW THINGS TO TALK ABOUT SO, YEAH. I'M GOING TO START WITH A QUOTE, THOUGH. POLITICIANS HIDE THEMSELVES AWAY. THEY ONLY STARTED THE WAR. WHY SHOULD THEY GO OUT TO FIGHT? OH, THEY ONLY STARTED THE WAR. TIME WILL TELL MAKING -- >> City Secretary: NO PROFANITY. >> ANYWAY, TREATING PEOPLE JUST LIKE PAWNS IN CHESS WAIT UNTIL THEIR JUDGMENT DAY COMES. FOR ANYONE WHO IS IGNORANT, THAT QUOTE IS FROM THE LATE PRINCE OF DARKNESS, OZZY OSBOURNE. I FEEL LIKE THOSE WORDS HIGHLIGHT HOW THINGS WORK AROUND HERE. EVERYONE WHO VOTED IN FAVOR OF THE REZONING OF HILLCREST SHOULD BE ASHAMED. Y'ALL ARE PLAYING WITH THESE PEOPLE'S LIVES, THEIR HOMES, THEIR COMMUNITY. I SAY EVERYONE WHO VOTED IN FAVOR OF IT SHOULD MOVE THERE. AND ALSO IF YOU SUPPORT THE DESALINATION PLANT, YOU SHOULD ALSO BE THE ONES WHO LIVE IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD. WE DON'T EVEN HAVE A DEPARTMENT DEDICATED TO ASSISTING HOUSELESS PEOPLE OF THE CITY BUT YOU ARE WILLING TO SPEND OVER A BILLION DOLLARS ON A DESALINATION PLANT THAT WILL NOT SOLVE THIS MANUFACTURED WATER CRISIS. I WON'T EVEN BEGIN TO GET INTO HOW WASTEFUL THE OVER $1 MILLION FOR THE POLICE BUDGET IS. IT'S NOT HELPING. ALSO, I'D LIKE TO CIRCLE BACK TO A COMMENT THAT WAS GIVEN EARLIER. NUECES COUNTY IS PART OF THE 287G PROGRAM, WHICH ALLOWS STATE AND LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT ENTITIES TO ENTER INTO A PARTNERSHIP WITH ICE. THIS IS A CITY ISSUE. OTHER MAYORS AND CITY COUNCILS ARE STANDING UP FOR THE UNDOCUMENTED FOLKS IN THEIR CITY BUT WHAT ARE Y'ALL DOING? NOTHING. Y'ALL ARE COLLABORATING WITH THE MODERN-DAY GESTAPO. SHAMEFUL. GROW A [BLEEP] SPINE. >> Mayor Guajardo: MA'AM, WE'RE NOT DOING VULGARITIES AND PROFANITY. THERE'S NOTHING WE CAN DO ABOUT IT AT THIS POINT BUT WE'LL BE TALKING ABOUT WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IN THE FUTURE. THAT'S NOT ACCEPTABLE. >> [OFF MIC] >> Mayor Guajardo: ROBIN COX. >> HI, I'M ROBIN COX AND I'M NOT PAID BY ANYBODY BUT I AM A SIZE 2 LULULEMON IF ANYBODY WANTS TO SEND ME SOMETHING. BUT I'M MAINLY HERE TO TALK ABOUT DESAL. OVER THE WEEKEND MY BOYFRIEND AND I WENT TO THE BEACH AND I SAW MORE PEOPLE THAN I'VE EVER SEEN AT THE BEACH. SO I DECIDED TO WALK DOWN AND TALK TO MOST OF THEM. BECAUSE I HAD NEVER SEEN THEM BEFORE AND I HAVE BEEN AN AVID SURFER AND FISHERMAN. MY BOYFRIEND IS AN AVID SURFER AND MY SON. THEY SAID IT'S THE ONE THING THEY CAN STILL AFFORD TO DO IN CORPUS AND ENJOY. MOST OF THEM DON'T HAVE BOATS AND CAN'T GO DEEP-SEA FISHING BUT THEY CAN FISH OFF THE PIERS. THEY'RE VERY CONCERNED WHAT IT'S GOING TO DO, THE DESAL PLANT, TO OUR WATERS. SO I DID A QUICK GOOGLE ON IT. ANYBODY CAN DO IT AND IT SAYS THE BRINE DISCHARGE POSES A SERIOUS THREAT TO THE HYPERSA HYPERSALINE LAGUNA MADRE. IT SAID FURTHER, IN SHORT WHAT MAY SEEM LIKE A SOLUTION TO DROUGHT COULD BECOME A FINANCIAL AND ECOLOGICAL STRAIN ON CORPUS CHRISTI'S VULNERABLE RESIDENTS. WE DO HAVE OTHER AREAS WHERE WE CAN GET WATER. IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE IN OUR WETLANDS. AND I LOOK AT HOW WE'VE WASTED SOME OF OUR MONEY. I WAS A SINGLE MOM. I USED TO TAKE MY CHECKBOOK -- I'M THINKING A LOT OF YOU HERE HAVE NEVER BEEN A SINGLE MOM. MAYBE WE NEED TO GET A FEW ON THE COUNCIL BECAUSE WE CAN STRETCH MONEY. WE GET OUR CHECKBOOKS. I DON'T HAVE MONEY FOR THIS. WE DON'T BUY IT. WE DON'T GET OUR CHECKBOOKS AND SAY I DON'T HAVE MONEY BUT I'M GOING TO BUY SOMETHING BIGGER. WAIT. I'M IN A DROUGHT. LET ME PUT A HUGE POOL ON THE SOUTH SIDE. WE DON'T DO THAT. WE WATCH OUR MONEY. BUT YET I DON'T THINK A LOT OF YOU ARE DOING THAT. THERE ARE OTHER WAYS WE CAN LIVE. I'M FOR INDUSTRY. WE CAN LIVE HAND IN HAND TOGETHER. INDUSTRY, I KNOW WE NEED THAT. I'M AN APARTMENT OWNER. I'M ALSO WORRIED WHAT THE COST IS GOING TO GO UP. I DO THANK YOU, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO HAVE ANSWERED THE PHONE, TAKEN OUR QUESTIONS. I HOPE TO GET A FEW OF YOU ELECTED. SOME OF YOU I AM SO THRILLED I DID. SOME OF YOU, NOT SO MUCH. SO I KIND OF WORRY ON WHAT CHANGED YOUR MIND. AND WHEN DID YOU STOP BECOMING FOR THE PEOPLE? PEOPLE HERE WANT TO BE ABLE TO ENJOY SURFING, GOING TO THE BEACH. SO THERE ARE OTHER WAYS WE CAN HAVE IT AND I DON'T THINK THE INNER HARBOR IS A GOOD IDEA. IT'S A WASTE OF OUR MONEY AND IT ALSO WE DON'T KNOW WHAT IT'S GOING TO DO. Y'ALL SAY TRUST US. YOU KNOW, RONALD REAGAN SAID ONE OF THE SCARIEST THINGS IS THE GOVERNMENT. WE'RE HERE TO HELP. ANOTHER THING THAT SOMEONE QUOTED ONE TIME, PRESIDENT JOHNSON TOLD THE SOLDIERS IN VIETNAM, HEY, THE RISK OUTWEIGH THE BENEFITS -- WHEN HE WAS SPRAYING AGENT ORANGE ON THEM. WE DON'T KNOW WHAT IT'S GOING TO DO TO US. I DIDN'T PLAN ON LEAVING WITH THIS QUOTE, SINCE WE'RE ALL QUOTING OZZY OSBOURNE, I GUESS THE ONLY QUOTE I KNOW. SOMETIMES WHEN I'M UP HERE, I FEEL LIKE I'M GOING OFF THE RAILS OF A CRAZY TRAIN. IT'S THE ONLY OZZY QUOTE I KNOW. >> Mayor Guajardo: THANK YOU, MS. COX. ARMON ALEX. THEN WE'LL HAVE JIM KLEIN, MARIAH BOON, AND CONNOR RICE. >> GOOD EVENING, COUNCIL. ARMON ALEX, LIFELONG RESIDENT. MY PUBLIC COMMENT RELATES TO CITY BUSINESS AND MAY INCLUDE RHETORICAL QUESTIONS. TIME AND TIME AGAIN THIS BODY, BOTH PRESENT AND PAST COUNCILS HAVE STOOD AT A CROSSROADS AND CHOSEN TO SIDE WITH POLLUTERS OVER PEOPLE. AND TODAY IS NO DIFFERENT. AND FOR YEARS HILLCREST RESIDENTS HAVE SHOWN UP, THEY'VE SUBMITTED COMMENTS. THEY'VE TESTIFIED AT HEARINGS. THEY'VE PLEADED FOR REVITALIZATION, NOT FOR THE DESTRUCTION. YET HERE WE ARE AGAIN WATCHING THIS CITY COUNCIL RAILROAD A REQUEST TO REZONE PART OF THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD TO INDUSTRIAL USE AND CLOSE DOWN STREETS. DECISIONS THAT BENEFITS THE PORT OF CORPUS CHRISTI AND CORPORATE POLLUTERS, NOT THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE THERE. LET'S BE CLEAR. YOU'VE HAD AMPLE OPPORTUNITIES TO SAY NO. TO SAY ENOUGH. TO PUSH BACK AGAINST THE SLOW ERASURE OF A HISTORIC BLACK NEIGHBORHOOD. BUT INSTEAD THIS COUNCIL HAS PERMITTED, HAS ENDORSED, HAS COLLUDED AND IGNORED. YOU HAVE NODDED ALONG TO THE VOICES OF OIL AND GAS LOBBYISTS, LARGE CAMPAIGN DONORS, AND MOUTHPIECES FUNDED BY INDUSTRY AND THOSE VOICES HAVE DROWNED OUT THE REAL RESIDENTS OF CORPUS CHRISTI. THE ONES YOU GO TO CHURCH WITH. THE ONES WHOSE KIDS GO TO SCHOOL WITH YOURS. THE ONES WHO ELECTED YOU. THEY WILL KEEP USING FEAR TO GET WHAT THEY WANT UNTIL YOU FINALLY STOP LETTING THEM. REZONING THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD TO INDUSTRIAL USE IS NOT JUST A POLICY DECISION, IT'S A BETRAYAL TO GOOD-FAITH PEOPLE. LET'S NOT PRETEND IT'S ABOUT PROGRESS. THIS IS ABOUT POWER AND MONEY, ABOUT SIDING WITH THE GREEDY PORT OF CORPUS CHRISTI AND THE FOSSIL FUEL EXECUTIVES WHO SEE THIS COMMUNITY AS EXPENDABLE AND THIS COUNCIL AS A RUBBER STAMP. YOU SAY YOU CARE ABOUT EQUITY AND FAIRNESS, WELL THEN PROVE IT. REJECT THE LIE THAT CORPORATE GROWTH MUST COME AT THE EXPENSE OF BLACK COMMUNITIES. STOP ENTERTAINING FEAR TACTICS FROM OIL LOBBYISTS, MEDIA PERSONALITIES, AND WEALTHY DONORS WHO SEND THREATENINGS TEXTS AND DO NOT LIVE IN HILLCREST. SAY NO TO ANY ACTIONS THAT TAKE LIFE, PROPERTY, OR JOY OUT OF HILLCREST AND WASHINGTON COLES. THEY HAVE HAD ENOUGH. I'M NOT AFRAID TO STAND UP FOR WHAT I BELIEVE IN. THAT'S WHAT MAKES LIFE WORTH LIVING, SAYS MR. OSBOURNE. I BELIEVE THAT YOUNG LADY WHO WAS SPEAKING ABOUT ICE AND IMMIGRATION IS OWED AN APOLOGY. IT IS A CITY-RELATED ISSUE. SHE HAD THE GALL TO DEFEND VULNERABLE PEOPLE IN THIS COMMUNITY. THE CITY DOES HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> Mayor Guajardo: THANK YOU, MR. ALEX. JIM KLEIN. >> MY NAME IS JIM KLEIN. I LIVE IN DISTRICT 2 HERE IN CORPUS CHRISTI. I HAVE JUST A COUPLE OF SHORT POINTS. ONE OF THEM INVOLVES THE PFOS REPORT. IT WAS COMMISSIONED BY DR. MINCE. I THINK WHAT'S MORE IMPORTANT THAT'S MAYBE BEEN LOST THOUGH IS THAT THE CITY STAFF WAS MADE AWARE OF THIS LAST NOVEMBER AND CITY STAFF DECIDED NOT TO SHARE THAT WITH THE PUBLIC OR WITH AT LEAST ONE OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. THAT'S VERY DISTURBING TO ME. THIS PORT OF CORPUS CHRISTI KNEW ABOUT IT AS WELL AND SO I JUST THINK THAT WE NEED TO DO BETTER IN THAT AREA. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK CITY STAFF AND CITY MANAGER FOR FOLLOWING UP ON THE BUTANE LEAK ON JULY 12 IN THE INNER HARBOR. I'M STILL UNCERTAIN ABOUT THE EXACT AMOUNT THAT WAS LEAKED THERE BUT I'M HAPPY THAT COUNCILWOMAN CAMPOS, MY DISTRICT COUNCILWOMAN, REACHED OUT TO ME ABOUT THAT. AND THEN LASTLY IT WAS STATED EARLIER TONIGHT THAT THE CITY HAS OBTAINED ALL OF ITS PERMITS FOR THE INNER HARBOR DESAL PLANT, THE HILLCREST DESAL PLANT. THAT TECHNICALLY IS TRUE, ALTHOUGH THE DISCHARGE PERMIT IS I THINK STILL IN LIMBO YET BECAUSE THERE'S A LAWSUIT PENDING AGAINST THE TCEQ IN CIVIL COURT ARGUING THAT THAT PERMIT WAS ISSUED IMPROPERLY. SO IF THE PLAINTIFFS WIN THAT CASE, IT WILL BE REMANDED BACK TO THE TCEQ ONCE AGAIN AS WELL. I WOULD ASK YOU TO KEEP THAT IN MIND AS WELL. >> Mayor Guajardo: THANK YOU, MR. KLEIN. MARIAH BOONE. >> HELLO. I'M MARIAH BOONE, DISTRICT 2. I ACTUALLY WANTED TO SAY SOME POSITIVE THINGS ABOUT PUBLIC COMMENT PROCEDURES, BUT JUST THE LAST KIND OF FEW MINUTES I'VE BEEN THINKING SOME MORE ALSO ABOUT SOME THINGS THAT ARE DISTURBING ME. COUNCIL TALKS A LOT ABOUT DECORUM AT THESE MEETINGS. Y'ALL SEEM REALLY OFFENDED WHEN SOMEBODY SAYS A CUSS WORD. YOU TALK A LOT ABOUT HOW YOUR PROPER TITLE SHOULD BE MADE. I THINK I COULD FILL A BINGO CARD WITH THE NUMBER OF TIMES THAT THE MAYOR HAS SAID MS. ARAIZA, WHEN I'M QUITE SURE THAT THE MAYOR KNOWS THAT DR. ARAIZA IS A DECORATED SOCIOLOGIST IN OUR COMMUNITY. I THINK IT'S HYPOCRISY. I THINK IT HAS TO GO BOTH WAYS. I THINK THAT THE COUNCIL WANTS MORE RESPECT THAN THEY'RE SHOWING THE CITIZENS IN GENERAL. AND I THINK Y'ALL WILL THINK ABOUT THAT. AS A CITIZEN, I DON'T REALLY CARE A LOT ABOUT HIERARCHY. I ACTUALLY BELONG TO A RELIGIOUS DENOMINATION, THE QUAKERS THAT USED TO GET THROWN INTO JAIL A LOT FOR REFUSING TO DOFF OUR HATS AND STUFF LIKE THAT. I DON'T CARE ABOUT TITLES. I DON'T CARE ABOUT ANY OF THAT. I CARE ABOUT THE SUBSTANCE OF WHAT'S GOING ON HERE AND I WISH THAT I COULD SEE, YOU KNOW, THE COUNCIL SHOWING AS MUCH RESPECT TO CITIZENS AS THEY WOULD LIKE TO RECEIVE IN RETURN. BUT WHAT I ORIGINALLY WANTED TO TALK ABOUT WAS THAT I'M REALLY, REALLY APPRECIATIVE OF THE WAY THAT Y'ALL ARE WORKING ON THE PUBLIC COMMENT PROCEDURES. I KNOW IT'S BEEN ROCKY AND IT'S NOT PERFECT AND THERE'S PROBABLY NOT EVEN A WAY FOR IT TO BE PERFECT. BUT I DO THINK IT'S SO IMPORTANT THAT Y'ALL ARE TRYING TO FIND WAYS TO ALLOW PEOPLE TO HAVE MORE PARTICIPATION IN THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS. I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT. I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT YOU HAVE A 5:30 TIME NOW. I THINK THERE'S SO MANY PEOPLE WHO CAN'T GET HERE DURING THE DAY. I DO AGREE WITH MARI THAT WE NEED SOME KIND OF BALANCE WITH THE FACT THAT THERE'S THINGS BEING VOTED ON BEFORE THAT AND PEOPLE CAN'T STAY ALL DAY. I DON'T KNOW THAT THERE'S JUST ONE ANSWER TO THAT. I WOULD LOVE TO SEE A 5:30 THE NIGHT BEFORE THE MEETING BUT I'M NOT SURE THAT THAT, LIKE MARI MENTIONED, SAN ANTONIO DOES. BUT I'M NOT SURE THAT'S THE ONLY WAY TO DO IT. I'M GLAD YOU'RE WORKING ON IT. I THINK THERE'S PROBABLY MORE WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE BUT I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT Y'ALL ARE TAKING IT SERIOUSLY. THANK YOU. >> Mayor Guajardo: THANK YOU, MS. BOONE. CONNOR RICE. >> CONNOR RICE, DISTRICT 2. I WASN'T PLANNING ON SPEAKING TODAY BUT I WAS AT HOME DURING THE INVOCATION OF PASTOR HOOD THIS MORNING WHERE HE REMINDED US NOT TO JUST BE HEARERS OF THE WORD BUT DOERS OF THE WORD. I WATCHED FROM HOME AS MY FRIENDS FROM HILLCREST STOOD BEFORE YOU THIS MORNING PLEADING FOR SURVIVAL OF THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD. A COMMUNITY CARVED BY HIGHWAYS BOXED IN BY INDUSTRY AND YET THEY STILL SHOWED UP. ASKING AND PLEADING FOR THIS COMMUNITY JUST TO BE TREATED AS NEIGHBORS. I WITNESSED YOUR CITY STAFF AND THE PORT TRY TO RATIONALIZE DOING THE BARE MINIMUM OF FOLLOWING A STATE LAW THAT REQUIRED A 200-FEET NOTIFICATION. I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU BUT BEING A GOOD NEIGHBOR IS MORE THAN JUST DOING THE BARE MINIMUM. THE ACTIONS OF THIS CITY IS ABANDONMENT TO A COMMUNITY DRESSED AS GOVERNANCE. IN MY FAITH, GOD EXPRESSED HIMSELF AS A BAREFOOT RABBI WHO GAVE US TWO COMMANDMENTS. LOVE GOD AND LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR. THERE IS NO LOVE OF GOD WITHOUT THE LOVE OF NEIGHBOR. SO I ASK YOU WHEN A RESIDENT SHOWS UP TO THE STEPS OF THIS PODIUM, DO YOU SEE THEM AS AN INCONVENIENCE OR DO YOU SEE GOD? BECAUSE WE CANNOT BEGIN OUR MEETINGS IN THE NAME OF JESUS AND IGNORE HIM WHEN HE SHOWS UP WEARING THE FACE OF A RESIDENT FROM HILLCREST. CHRIST SAID FEED THE HUNGRY. CLOTHE THE NAKED. YET OUR BUDGET STARVES THE HOMELESSNESS OF SUPPORT AND OUR CITY MANAGER CUT HOMELESSNESS SERVICES TO ZERO AND WENT ON THE NEWS TO COMPLAIN THE PRICE OF EMERGENCY SHELTERS. THE LAST MAJOR FREEZE THE CITY OPENED THE SHELTER ON A SUNDAY. I SHOWED UP TO VOLUNTEER. THE FIRST GENTLEMAN I RAN INTO, WHO WAS SEEKING SHELTER THAT DAY WAS JASON. WHO I SAT WITH IN THE PEW THAT MORNING. A BROTHER IN CHRIST WHO SLEEPS UNDER THE STARS AT NIGHT. WE CANNOT OPEN A MEETING IN THE NAME OF JESUS AND THEN GOVERN IN WAYS THAT BETRAYS EVERYTHING HE STOOD FOR. I CAME TODAY BECAUSE WE NEED TO GET BACK TO LOVING OUR NEIGHBORS FROM HILLCREST TO EVERY CORNER OF THIS COMMUNITY. AND I STAND BEFORE YOU TO HUMBLY ASK JUST THAT. >> Mayor Guajardo: THANK YOU, MR. RICE. OKAY. REBECCA, DO WE HAVE WEBEX? >> City Secretary: YES, MA'AM, WE DO. BRITNEY YOUNG IS ONLINE. MS. YOUNG. >> HELLO, MAYOR AND FELLOW COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS BRITNEY YOUNG. I LIVE IN CORPUS CHRISTI AND I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT 3. SO RIDDLE ME THIS. WHAT CAME FIRST THE NEIGHBORHOODS OR HEAVY INDUSTRY? HOW ABOUT ANOTHER ONE? SINCE THE CIVIL WAR, HOW OFTEN HAVE BLACK TOWNS AND NEIGHBORHOODS BEEN CARVED UP BY HIGHWAYS OR CHOKED OUT BY HEAVY INDUSTRY? NOW THE FINAL RIDDLE. WHY DO CANCER AND LUNG DISEASE RATES RISE IN COMMUNITIES SURROUNDED BY SMOKESTACKS? CORPUS CHRISTI HAS MADE ITS ANSWER CLEAR FOR DECADES. CITY COUNCILS HAVE SOLD OUT THE NORTH SIDE DISMANTLING NEIGHBORHOODS LIKE HILLCREST AND WASHINGTON COLES PIECE BY PIECE AND NOW WITH REZONING FOR LIGHT INDUSTRIAL ACTIVITIES, YOU ARE HAMMERING IN THE LAST NAIL. I'M ASKING THE CITY COUNCIL AND I'M GUESSING FROM PREVIOUS PUBLIC COMMENTS -- BECAUSE I WAS AT WORK -- TO SET DOWN THE HAMMER AND VOTE NO ON REZONING THIS AREA AND THINK ABOUT THE PEOPLE WHO ARE LIVING IN THIS AREA. THINK ABOUT REHABILITATING THIS AREA FOR THE CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI. OR AS SOMEONE SAID EARLIER, THERE'S NOT A LOT OF LAND -- OR THERE'S A LOT OF LAND OUT IN THE LONDON AREA IF YOU NEED A PLACE FOR LIGHT INDUSTRIAL ACTIVITIES. NOW IN THE SAME BREATH, I'M ASKING YOU TO ALSO VOTE NO IN PURSUING BUILDING THE ENERGY-INTENSIVE, EXPENSIVE TO MAINTAIN DESALINATION PLANT, SPECIFICALLY THE HILLCREST INNER HARBOR PLANT. AT EVERY CITY COUNCIL MEETING, IT IS ABSOLUTELY CLEAR THAT THE MAJORITY OF RESIDENTS AND VOTERS OPPOSE BUILDING THE DESAL PLANT. YOU'VE BEEN PRESENTED A MULTITUDE OF EVIDENCE OF WHY WE SHOULD NOT CONTINUE WITH THIS FOOLISH BEHAVIOR PUSHING THROUGH WITH THIS DESAL PLANT. WE HAVE BETTER OPTIONS THAN DESAL. OTHER CITIES OUR SIZE ARE ALREADY DOING MORE WITH LESS BY INVESTING IN WATER REUSE AND RECYCLING, AQUIFER STORAGE, RAINWATER HARVESTING, AND BASIC LEAK REPAIR. THESE ALTERNATIVES ARE SAFER AND CHEAPER AND THEY DON'T REQUIRE FILTERING OUT TOXIC FOREVER CHEMICALS. IF THIS WATER IS TRULY FOR THE RESIDENTS, THEN THERE ARE PROVEN LOWER COST AND LESS RISKY ALTERNATIVES. WE DESERVE CLEAN WATER, HEALTHY NEIGHBORHOODS, AND LEADERS WILLING TO FIGHT FOR BOTH. PLEASE, HALT ANY PLANS FOR DESAL, INVEST IN SUSTAINABLE PROVEN WATER SOLUTIONS THAT PRIORITIZE SAFETY AND AFFORDABILITY. AND, FINALLY, PLEASE PROTECT THE PEOPLE OF HILLCREST AND REJECT REZONING THAT BRINGS MORE INDUSTRY INTO THE COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. >> City Secretary: THANK YOU, MS. YOUNG. NEXT IS ALBERTO SALTUCHE. >> HI, I'M HERE. >> City Secretary: GO AHEAD, SIR. >> MY NAME IS ALBERT AND I'M A DISTRICT 3. GOOD AFTERNOON CITY COUNCIL OFFICIALS AND MEMBERS. I AM A LOCAL VETERAN-OWNED BUSINESS OWNER, FISHERMAN OF THESE WATERS FOR 40 YEARS. I HAVE A CHANNEL CALLED TEAM HARD LIFE ON YOUTUBE WHOM I TOLD ABOUT THIS MEETING AND TOLD THEM TO SIGN UP AND TALK IF THEY ARE ABLE TO, BECAUSE A LOT OF THEM WORK THE NIGHT SHIFT. SOME OF THEM WORK DURING THE DAY SHIFT, AS Y'ALL SAW THE LAST TIME. BUT Y'ALL ARE STILL CALLING THEIR NAMES AND THEY ARE STILL BEING HEARD BECAUSE THEY ARE AGAINST THE DESAL PLANT. WE DEMAND OUR CITY COUNCIL TO COME FORWARD AND TELL THE TRUTH ABOUT DESTROYING THE HILLCREST NEIGHBORHOOD. LIKE THE WATER ISN'T GOING TO BENEFIT OUR CITY FOR THESE DROUGHT CONDITIONS, IT'S GOING TO BENEFIT THE INDUSTRIES THAT Y'ALL HAVE PRE-SOLD IT TO. BUT THE CITY'S TAXPAYER THAT DON'T KNOW WHAT WE ARE BEING FORCED TO PAY FOR, THIS ISN'T SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO HELP US. WE ARE GOING TO BE FORCED TO MAINTAIN A MULTIBILLION DOLLAR INDUSTRY OPERATION FOR THEM TO GET WATER WHILE WE ARE COMING OUT OF POCKET WHERE WE CAN BARELY AFFORD WHAT WE'RE GETTING CURRENTLY. WITH ALL THE WATER BOILS AND WATER MAIN BREAKS AND EVERYTHING ELSE, HOW ABOUT Y'ALL CURRENTLY FIX OUR WATER STRUCTURE INSTEAD OF TRYING TO INCREASE OTHER MULTIMILLION DOLLAR OPERATIONS TO BENEFIT THEMSELVES? MY BIGGEST QUESTION IS, HYPOTHETICALLY, WHO IS GOING TO PAY WHEN THESE DESAL PLANTS GO DOWN SUCH AS AN EXAMPLE. THE CHEMICALS THAT WERE RELEASED INTO THE INNER HARBOR, THAT MEANS THAT DESAL PLANT WILL HAVE TO SHUT DOWN. HOW MUCH ARE WE GOING TO BE SUED FOR BECAUSE THOSE INDUSTRIES ARE NO LONGER GETTING THE WATER THAT THEY ARE DEMANDED OR OWED THAT DAY? I MEAN, LOOK AT WHAT Y'ALL ARE GOING TO DO AT THE BOB HALL PIER DEAL. THEY'RE GOING TO BE SUED FOR EVERY DAY THAT PIER IS NOT UP AND RUNNING. HOW MANY TENS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS A DAY, AND THAT'S A FISHING PIER. THESE ARE MULTIBILLION DOLLAR OPERATIONS. HOW MUCH DO YOU THINK THEY'RE GOING TO SUE US FOR FOR THE WATER THEY ARE NOT GETTING WHEN IT'S CLOSED BECAUSE THERE'S A SPILL IN THE INNER HARBOR? THESE FOREVER CHEMICALS ARE GOING TO DESTROY THAT DESAL PLANT AND THEN WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN THERE? Y'ALL ARE GOING TO HAVE TO RIP EVERYTHING OUT AND START FROM SCRATCH AGAIN? THERE'S SO MANY LEVELS OF STUPIDITY ON THIS DEAL OF PEOPLE NOT REALLY LOOKING AT THE BIGGER PICTURE, AND IT'S ALL BECAUSE OF THE FALSE NARRATIVE. WE'RE IN DROUGHT CONDITIONS, WE'RE IN THIS. NO. DROUGHT CONDITIONS HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURED. WE AS A CITY DO NOT USE ENOUGH WATER TO, AS REGULAR RESIDENTS, TO PUT US IN DROUGHT CONDITIONS. THERE'S SOME SERIOUS ISSUES HERE. A LOT OF HUGE QUESTIONS NEED TO BE ANSWERED. THOSE ECOLOGICAL DISASTERS OF ALL THOSE PERMANENT CHEMICALS IN OUR WATER IS NOT GOING TO HELP. IT'S GOING TO ONLY HURT EVERYTHING. THAT'S A HUGE, HUGE DEAL AND TO DESTROY THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF HILLCREST -- >> City Secretary: THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENT. NEXT WE HAVE ELI McKAY. >> HI. CAN YOU HEAR ME? >> City Secretary: YES, WE CAN. >> AWESOME. MY NAME IS ELI Mc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ity Secretary: THANK YOU, MS. McKAY. MAYOR, THOSE ARE THE ONLY INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE SIGNED UP ONLINE. BUT WE DO HAVE I THINK AT LEAST ONE PERSON WHO IS IN PERSON WHO IS NOT A RESIDENT WHO WANTS TO SPEAK. MIKE CULBERTSON. SO WE'VE COMPLETED THE VIRTUAL PUBLIC COMMENT AND I WAS JUST POINTING OUT THERE'S AT LEAST ONE INDIVIDUAL WHO'S IN PERSON WHO IS NOT A RESIDENT WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK. >> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. MIKE CULBERTSON, REGIONAL EDC, HOW ARE YOU? I KNOW THIS IS HARD, I KNOW THIS IS DIFFICULT. THE STAFF IS WORKING LARD. HARD. YOU HAVE THE SCIENCE. THIS IS A TIME FOR LEADERSHIP AND I KNOW IT'S GOING TO BE TOUGH. I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THAT YOU'RE DOING, I REALLY DO. WE REPRESENT A LOT OF PEOPLE AND A LOT OF BUSINESSES AND WE NEED WATER. EVEN IF WE DO NOT BRING ONE MORE BUSINESS TO CORPUS CHRISTI, WE NEED WATER. IMAGINE IF WE RUN OUT OF WATER. IMAGINE INDUSTRY WITH 100,000 JOBS GOING AWAY. NOW IMAGINE WHAT THE WATER RATE'S GOING TO BE WHEN THEY LEAVE BECAUSE THERE WILL BE FEWER TAXPAYERS. IMAGINE THAT YOU STILL HAVE TO COVER ALL OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE WITH FEWER TAXPAYERS. IT IS GOING TO DOUBLE AND TRIPLE. THIS IS A DIFFICULT TIME. I APPRECIATE WHAT YOU'RE DOING. I KNOW IT'S NOT EASY. YOU KNOW, AND THIS IS JUST A MOMENT IN TIME WHERE WE CANNOT MISS THIS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> Mayor Guajardo: THANK YOU, MR. CULBERTSON. COUNCILWOMAN CAMPOS. >> Campos: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I JUST WANTED TO HAVE A POINT OF PRIVILEGE. IT'S 7:20 AND I REALLY WANT TO JUST THANK EVERYONE THAT'S HERE. BUT I DO HAVE A MEDICAL ISSUE THAT I'M GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE TOMORROW, A PROCEDURE. SO I APOLOGIZE THAT I'LL HAVE TO LEAVE EARLY. BUT I JUST WANTED TO JUST ACKNOWLEDGE TO Y'ALL THAT THIS IS -- YES, IT'S NOT PERFECT, THE PUBLIC COMMENTS, BUT I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR MAYOR AND THE REST OF THE COUNCIL IS A LITTLE BIT MORE OPEN MINDED AND A LITTLE BIT MORE TOLERANT WITH THE LANGUAGE. JUST BE MINDFUL. THANK YOU. SORRY. I HAVE TO LEAVE. >> Mayor Guajardo: MS. HUERTA, WHERE ARE WE? >> City Secretary: NATHAN BROWN IS ALSO ON THE LIST. SO THAT CONCLUDES PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD MAYOR. >> Mayor Guajardo: THANK YOU. WE ARE GOING TO GO BACK TO INDIVIDUAL -- SECTION K. INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION ITEMS. ITEM NO. 28. DO WE HAVE OUR STAFF HERE, PETER? >> Zanoni: YEAH. DREW, LET ME SEE IF DREW MOLLY IS HERE. HERE THEY COME. THEY'RE HERE. DREW MOLLY IS GOING TO PRESENT ON THIS ONE. >> Molly: GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR COUNCIL. DREW MOLLY, CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER. ON JUNE 10, 2025, CITY COUNCIL APPROVED A MOTION TO ENTER INTO A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH SOUTH TEXAS WATER AUTHORITY WITHIN TEN DAYS AND THEN DIRECTED THE CITY MANAGER TO BRING BACK A CONTRACT WITH SOUTH TEXAS WATER AUTHORITY WITHIN 45 DAYS. THE MOU IS EXECUTED EFFECTIVE JUNE 23, 2025 AND PROVIDED A DATE OF AUGUST 24, 2025 FOR A POSSIBLE CONTRACT. THE MOU IDENTIFIED TECHNICAL INFORMATION NEEDED BY THE CITY TO COMPLETE ITS DUE DILIGENCE. DUE DILIGENCE IS NECESSARY TO ENSURE WE HAVE THE RELIABILITY AND QUALITY TO DELIVER AND PERFORM OVER THE LIFE OF THE POTENTIAL PROJECT. CITY STAFF MET WITH STWA ON THURSDAY, JULY 17. THE MEETING INCLUDED THE GENERAL MANAGER OF STWA, THE LEADERSHIP TEAM FROM STWA INCLUDING THEIR OUTSIDE COUNSEL AND ENGINEERING TEAM ICE. THE CITY TEAM INCLUDED STAFF AS WELL AS OUR LEGAL TEAM. THE CONCLUSION WAS THAT BOTH PARTIES BELIEVE THERE IS INSUFFICIENT TIME FOR US TO ENTER INTO A CONTRACT FOR THE DEADLINE OF THE MOU. STWA AND THEIR LEGAL REPRESENTATION CONFIRMED THAT A CONTRACT WOULD NOT BE ACHIEVED BY AUGUST 24. THE ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND PERMITTING HAS NOT BEEN CONFIRMED, WHICH MEANS TIMELINES AND METHOD OF DISCHARGE HAVE NOT BEEN ESTABLISHED. WITHOUT THESE FACTS CAN PARTIES CANNOT ESTABLISH COST AND WITHOUT COST WE HAVE NO WAY OF NEGOTIATING A CONTRACT. OUR RECOMMENDATION IS TO PROVIDE STWA ADDITIONAL TIME TO EVALUATE THEIR ENVIRONMENTAL PERMITTING OPTIONS AND DEVELOP THEIR COST MODEL. WITH THAT, I STAND FOR ANY QUESTIONS. >> Mayor Guajardo: COUNCILWOMAN VAUGHN. >> Vaughn: MR. MOLLY, CAN WE GET THEM TO COME UP HERE FOR A SECOND? >> Molly: YOU BET. >> Mayor Guajardo: WHO'S THAT? >> Vaughn: SOUTH TEXAS WATER. OH, DON'T SIT THERE, MR. ZAHN. >> GOOD EVENING, JOHN MARES REPRESENTING STWA, ALONG WITH OUR LEGAL COUNSEL, CHARLIE ZAHN. >> Vaughn: LAST WEEK DURING THE MEETING I WENT TO MR. ZANONI AND ASKED HIM IF HE PUT IT BACK ON THE AGENDA BECAUSE I WAS CONCERNED ABOUT BAFFIN BAY. THOSE WERE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WERE NOT WORKED OUT. I'M STILL INTERESTED -- AND I THINK THE COUNCIL IS STILL INTERESTED IN THE PROJECT. I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU GUYS ARE FINE, BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT READY. I DON'T THINK. >> Vaughn: DO Y'ALL HAVE ANYTHING TO SAY? DO YOU FEEL LIKE THAT, WHAT MR. MOLLY SAID? >> I THINK THERE'S A LOT THAT THIS COUNCIL DIRECTED TO THE STWA TO PUT IN THE MOU, AND IT'S VERY DETAILED. AND, YOU KNOW, IF YOU LOOK AT EVERYTHING, THERE MAY BE ITEMS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO BE DELIVERED IN THE TIME FRAME THAT YOU SET. >> Vaughn: OKAY. >> I THINK WE'LL HAVE STILL A LOT OF DETAIL TO PROVIDE TO YOU BY AUGUST 25TH, SO I WAS CAUGHT A LITTLE OFFGUARD WHEN I SAW THIS ON THE AGENDA. >> Vaughn: YEAH. >> BECAUSE WE DID MEET ON THURSDAY AND WE WERE NOT GIVEN A HEAD'S UP, WHICH I THINK IS UNFORTUNATE THAT THAT COURTESY COULD HAVE BEEN GIVEN TO US BY MANAGEMENT. WE HAD TO FIND IT ON OUR OWN. IN REGARDS TO BAFFIN BAY, THAT IS ONE OF SEVERAL DISCHARGE OPTIONS THAT ARE AVAILABLE AND IT'S NOT THE ONLY. IT'S NOT THE ONLY EXCLUSIVE. >> Vaughn: OKAY. >> IN FACT, WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT SEVERAL OPTIONS FOR MONTHS NOW. THAT IS JUST THE CLOSEST, THAT'S PERHAPS THE MOST COST EFFECTIVE FOR THE RESIDENTS, BECAUSE THIS WATER SERVES MAINLY RURAL COMMUNITIES. AND SO THAT'S PART OF WHY THAT WAS MAYBE THE FIRST SUGGESTION, BUT THERE ARE OTHER OPTIONS. >> Vaughn: OKAY. >> -- THAT ARE AVAILABLE. WE APPRECIATE. WE SAT THROUGH MOST OF YOUR MEETING LAST WEEK WE WERE HERE, AND WE WEREN'T ASKED TO COME UP, BUT WE WERE HERE JUST TO BE READY TO BE ABLE TO SHARE ANY UPDATES AND INFORMATION. SO WE HEARD ALL THE PUBLIC COMMENT, WE SAT ALONG WITH YOU FOR THE THREE HOURS OF PUBLIC COMMENT. WE'RE HERE TODAY TO HEAR THROUGH THIS PUBLIC COMMENT, SO THESE ISSUES ARE NOT GOING UNNOTICED AND THESE HAVE BEEN DISCUSSIONS THAT WE'VE BEEN HAVING WITH OUR ENGINEERS, LEGAL COUNCIL AND SEVEN SEAS. BUT, YOU KNOW, WE UNDERSTAND HOW IMPORTANT THIS ISSUE IS. AND IN THE END, WE'RE GOING TO, YOU KNOW, PRESENT TO OUR BOARD, OUR BOARD IS ALREADY COMMITTED TO AN AGREEMENT WITH SEVEN SEAS TO FURTHER EXPLORE, TO DO ALL THE FINANCING, TO LOOK AT ALL THE DESIGN WORK. AND SO I FEEL CONFIDENT THAT THE BOARD WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THAT. WE CAME BEFORE YOUR COUNCIL BECAUSE THIS ITEM WAS PUT ON THE AGENDA. YOU KNOW, WE WANT PUT OURSELVES ON YOUR AGENDA, WE CAN'T ASK TO BE PUT ON. THAT COMES FROM YOUR MANAGEMENT OR FROM ONE OF YOU OR FROM MULTIPLE MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, SO WE -- I THINK THIS IS OUR FOURTH TIME BEING HERE WITHIN THE LAST TWO MONTHS OR SO, TWO AND A HALF MONTHS, AND SO WE'RE HERE JUST TO BE A PARTNER WITH YOU, RIGHT? THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY THAT THIS PROJECT CAN BE SCALED UP AND PROVIDE WATER. WE FEEL AT A REASONABLE RATE. THE RATE THAT'S BEEN QUOTED THE LAST TIME THAT WE WERE HERE, ANY TIME THAT WAS QUOTED, WE FEEL CONFIDENT THAT THAT NUMBER CAN BE CLOSE TO THE $5.50 PER THOUSAND. THAT STILL HAS TO BE RUN THROUGH A LOT OF DIFFERENT SCENARIOS, YOU KNOW, IF THIS COUNCIL PURSUES SOME SORT OF WATER AGREEMENT. IT WOULD HAVE TO BE AT WHAT CAPACITY. THERE'S STILL A LOT MORE THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE, SO I WANT TO STRESS IS THAT. THERE'S A LOT OF ENVIRONMENTAL WORK, THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT STUDIES THAT WE ARE INITIATING OR WILL BE INITIATING AND THIS IS ALREADY IN THE WORKS. THIS IS NOT IN RESPONSE TO ANYONE. WE HAVE THOSE SAME QUESTIONS, AND ARE TRYING TO VET IT OURSELVES, BUT WE FEEL CONFIDENT THAT THIS PROJECT, IF YOU AGREE, COULD BE DELIVERED TO YOU. NOW, THE AMOUNT OF TIME, THAT TIME THAT THIS COUNCIL GAVE US ON A 9-0 VOTE WAS VERY AMBITIOUS, IT WAS. AND SO IT SOUNDS GREAT, AND ONCE YOU GET DOWN TO IT, MR. MOLLY'S RIGHT, IT TOOK A COUPLE WEEKS TO SET SOMETHING AND THEN THE THIRD WEEK WE MET AFTER COUNCIL HAD TAKEN ACTION. IN THAT TIME, THE BOARD HAD BEEN UPDATED AS WELL, BECAUSE THEY WERE ON A SUMMER BREAK, SO THERE IS A LOT TO WORK THROUGH THIS, BUT WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO GIVE YOU ALL THE INFORMATION YOU CAN, AS MUCH AS IS AVAILABLE. BUT THERE ARE SOME STUDIES THAT WILL TAKE SOME TIME. BUT WE'RE NOT GOING TO RUSH THAT, RIGHT, TO DO THE RIGHT WORK, BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT THIS IS SO SENSITIVE OF AN ISSUE. >> Vaughn: UH-HUH. >> BUT ONCE AGAIN, WE -- WE'RE HERE AS AN OPPORTUNITY, RIGHT? WE'RE GOING ON THIS RIDE AND IF WE CAN HELP SERVE THE CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI, THEN WE WANT TO DO THAT. WE WANT TO MAKE THAT OFFER, WE WANT TO MAKE THAT OPPORTUNITY HAPPEN. BUT IF NOT, LIKE I SAID, WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO PUSH FORWARD TO GIVE, YOU KNOW, THREE MAIN THINGS THAT THE STWA BOARD IS ASKING FOR, IS FOR A SECONDARY WATER SOURCE, BECAUSE THEIR ONLY WATER SOURCE IS FROM SURFACE WATER FROM THE CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI, A WATER RATE THAT THEY CAN HELP CONTROL BETTER LOCALLY AT A LOWER COST IN THEIR OPINION, AND THIRD IS DROUGHT RESIS 10SY. AND WE KNOW THAT THE CITY IS DOING THE SAME THING. SO THAT'S WHEN WE LOOK AT A PROJECT , IT CAN ENCOMPASS MORE GROUPS THAN JUST THE STWA. BUT THAT'S OUR COMMITMENT TO THOSE RESIDENTS AND TO THOSE COMMUNITIES, AND SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GOING CONTINUE TO PUSH FORWARD TO. SO IF YOU WANT US TO COME BACK IN A MONTH, WE WILL DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO GET AS MUCH DATA AS WE CAN HAVE WITHIN A MONTH. IT'S GOING TO BE A LOT -- THERE ARE GOING TO BE A LOT OF CHALLENGES, A LOT OF STRUGGLES TO GET EVERY SINGLE ITEM THAT'S BEEN ASKED FOR. SO I DON'T WANT TO OVERPROMISE RIGHT? Y'ALL, ALONG WITH YOUR STAFF, GAVE US A LIST. >> Vaughn: WELL, LET ME CORRECT THAT. >> LET ME MAKE ONE COMMENT. >> Vaughn: GO AHEAD. >> YOU ASKED ON YOUR DIRECTIVE TO US TO HAVE AN AGREEMENT BY THE 24TH. >> Vaughn: YES. >> I MET WITH YOUR LEGAL COUNCIL, AND I AGREE WITH WHAT MR. MARES HAS SAID. THERE'S A LOT OF TESTING AND ITEMS THAT NEED TO BE DETERMINED, BUT FOR MR. RISLEY AND TO PUT TOGETHER AN AGREEMENT, WE HAVE TO HAVE THAT BEFORE WE CAN EVEN START PUTTING THE AGREEMENT TOGETHER. >> Vaughn: SURE. >> AND SO IN A MEETING THAT WE HAD WITH MR. RISLEY AND MR. MOLLY LAST WEEK, WE VERY STRONGLY INDICATED WE CAN'T MEET THE GUIDELINE -- OR THE DIRECTIVE THAT WE HAVE FROM THE CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI. >> Vaughn: AND THAT'S FAIR. AND I WOULD JUST SAY, WHEN WE ASKED FOR THE MOU, A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING, SO WE COULD START VETTING IT AND START TALKING. COUNCIL HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH WHAT WAS ON THE MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING, I GUESS THE STAFF DID THAT AND THE LEGAL, MILES, SO I CAN ONLY IMAGINE WHAT LEGAL STUFF'S ON THERE. SO WE DID NOT DO THAT, JUST TO LET YOU KNOW. SO WHAT I'M SAYING TO YOU IS WE'RE STILL INTERESTED IN THE PROJECT VERY MUCH SO, BUT I WANT TO GIVE Y'ALL TIME TO BE ABLE TO VET, DO WHAT YOU NEED TO DO AND BRING IT BACK. SO THAT'S WHAT I'M ASKING TODAY, HOW LONG DO YOU THINK YOU NEED -- AND YOU DON'T NEED TO PUT A DATE ON IT. YOU CAN JUST COME TO US AND SAY, HEY, I'M READY. I WAS GOING TO MAKE A MOTION TO STOP THAT DATE THAT WE HAD AND LET YOU GUYS COME BACK AND TELL US WHEN YOU WANT TO DO IT BECAUSE WE ARE STILL INTERESTED. >> I THINK IT WOULD BE FAIR, COUNCILWOMAN, IF YOU LET US CONTINUE ON THE PATH THAT WE'RE ON. >> Vaughn: OKAY. >> WE UNDERSTAND WHAT THE CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI NEEDS TO DO THEIR DUE DILIGENCE IN ORDER TO MAKE A RECOMMENDATION TO THIS COUNCIL. AND WHEN WE GET OUR INFORMATION TOGETHER, I'VE TOLD MR. MOLLY, I'LL PROVIDE IT TO HIM AND MR. RISLEY, THAT I'LL PROVIDE IT TO HIM, AND THEN LET US DETERMINE THEN -- OR YOU DETERMINE THEN WHEN WE COME BACK BEFORE YOU AND MAKE A PRESENTATION ON WHAT WE THINK MR. RISLEY AND I THINK AN AGREEMENT MIGHT BE. >> Vaughn: AND THEY ARE TRYING TO PROTECT THE CITY, AND THAT'S WHY YOU HAVE SO MANY THINGS, AND I KNOW YOU KNOW THAT, BEING A LAWYER. >> THAT'S MY JOB. >> Vaughn: ABSOLUTELY. AND THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE TRYING TO DO. I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO RESCIND THE ONE THAT WE REQUESTED FOR AUGUST THE 24TH, AND Y'ALL TELL US WHEN YOU'RE READY, YOU COME BACK AND WE'LL PUT IT BACK ON THE AGENDA. >> Barrera: SECOND. >> Vaughn: I GUESS I JUST MADE THAT MOTION. >> Mayor Guajardo: YOU DID. BUT WE'VE GOT OTHER COMMENTS. >> Vaughn: THANK Y'ALL SO MUCH. DON'T BE LONG. COUNCILMA N HERNANDEZ? >> Hernandez: SO CHARLIE, I KNOW WE HAD TALKED YESTERDAY, BECAUSE YOU WERE AT A MEETING WHERE YOU WERE KIND OF TALKING IN PLACE FOR -- [DROPPED AUDIO] >> TOOK HIS PLACE. >> Hernandez: YOU TOOK HIS PLACE IN THE COMMENTS, RIGHT? AND YOU HAD MENTIONED THAT YOU THINK YOU COULD HAVE IT ALL RELATIVELY DONE BY THE END OF SEPTEMBER. >> I BELIEVE SO. >> Hernandez: SNARYCT? THAT'S CORRECT? >> I BELIEVE SO. I MET WITH OUR ENGINEERS TODAY AT LUNCH AGAIN, AND I BELIEVE THAT WE CAN HAVE MOST OF THE TECHNICAL DATA THAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR FOR YOUR LEGAL STAFF AND I TO PUT AN AGREEMENT TOGETHER. WE MAY NOT HAVE THE AGREEMENT BY SEPTEMBER THE FIRST, BUT I THINK THE INFORMATION THAT THE CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI IS LOOKING FOR TO MAKE A LEARNED DECISION ON THIS, THAT WE CAN PROBABLY HAVE CLOSE TO THAT TIME. >> Hernandez: OKAY. IS THERE ANY REQUIREMENTS FOR DESIGN THAT YOU MAY HAVE FOR -- YOU KNOW, TO BE PART OF THAT? IS IT -- ARE YOU GOING TO NEED ANY PARTICULAR VOLUME FROM US OR -- AS TO WHAT THE SIZE OF THAT'S GOING TO BE FOR THE DESIGN? >> WELL, AS I UNDERSTAND IT, WE HAVE A 42-INCH TRANSMISSION LINE AND WE WERE GOING TO USE 4 MILLION-GALLONS. AND I UNDERSTAND FROM OUR ENGINEER, AND I'M NOT AN ENGINEER, THAT THAT LINE WOULD HOLD 30 MILLION-GALLONS, WOULD TRANSMIT 30 MILLION-GALLONS, AND SO THAT'S WHERE THAT NUMBER CAME FROM. BUT WE STILL HAVE DO TEST ON THAT LINE TO SEE IF IT CAN ACCOMMODATE THAT TYPE OF A USE. YOU KNOW, THAT'S PART OF THE DUE DILIGENCE WE'RE DOING. >> Hernandez: RIGHT. SO WOULD IT BE APPROPRIATE FOR US TO SCHEDULE A MEETING AT THE LAST MEETING IN SEPTEMBER, JUST TO GET AN UPDATE. >> WE CAN DO THAT. >> Hernandez: SO WE'LL SCHEDULE SOUTH TEXAS WATER AUTHORITY, SEPTEMBER, WHAT IS IT, THE 24TH? >> Zanoni: YES, COUNCILMAN, IT WILL BE THE 23RD OF SEPTEMBER. >> Hernandez: THE 23RD OF SEPTEMBER. SO WHY DON'T WE -- IF WE CAN ADD THEM AS PART OF THE MOTION, MAYBE AMENDMENT TO SCHEDULE THEM, NOT NECESSARILY FOR THE CONTRACT DEADLINE, BUT SCHEDULE FOR AN UPDATE FROM SOUTH TEXAS WATER AUTHORITY. >> Mayor Guajardo: I DON'T THINK YOU NEED A MOTION. >> Hernandez: I'M ASKING. >> Vaughn: I AGREE TO ADD IT. THAT'S FINE. >> Hernandez: SO WE CAN ADD THAT -- WE CAN MAKE SURE IT STAYS FRONT OF MIND. >> Zanoni: YEAH, WE'LL PUT IT ON THE SCHEDULE. >> Hernandez: I DON'T WANT TO SAY I DON'T TRUST YOU, BUT I DON'T TRUST YOU. AND SO I DON'T WANT THIS TO BE BURIED AND JUST NEVER BROUGHT BACK TO COUNCIL. >> Vaughn: YOU JUST RUINED THE MOTION. >> Hernandez: SORRY. SORRY ABOUT THAT, BUT I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE KEEP IT FRONT OF MIND BECAUSE I DON'T WANT JUST ONE SOLUTION. WE NEED MULTIPLE SOLUTIONS. WE'VE HAD PEOPLE COME TO US AND TALK TO US ABOUT NEEDING WATER, WE HAD THE HEAD OF THE EDC OR THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE EDC SAYING WE NEED WATER, SO I DON'T WANT TO, YOU KNOW, SHUT OFF ANY OPPORTUNITY, SO IF WE COULD JUST MAKE SURE THAT WE GET THEM BACK AT LEAST BY SEPTEMBER 23RD. THANK YOU. AND I'LL SECOND YOUR AMENDMENT. COUNCILWO MAN PAXSON. >> Paxson: THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU BOTH FOR BEING HERE, AND I AM SORRY IF THAT DIDN'T GET TRANSLATED. I KNOW THAT WAS SOMETHING I HAD TALKED TO SOME STAFF MEMBERS ABOUT WHEN IT WAS FIRST BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION THAT THERE WAS SO MANY COMMUNITY MEMBERS CONCERNED ABOUT THE BAFFIN BAY, I AGREE LIKE COUNCILWOMAN VAUGHN SAID, WHEN WE HEARD ABOUT THIS OPPORTUNITY, OF COURSE WE'RE INTERESTED, OF COURSE WHICH WANT TO BE PARTNERS, YOU KNOW, THAT'S OUR EFFORT RIGHT NOW IS WE'VE GOT TO SECURE WATER. AND I THINK ALL OF US DO WANT TO BE GOOD PARTNERS THERE, BUT IN THE SAME HAND WHERE, YOU KNOW, I'M WILLING TO HAVE FOLKS SAY, YOU KNOW, FOR MY INTEREST IN PROTECTING OUR WATERS AND PROTECTING OUR RATEPAYERS, THAT THAT MAY BE A BAD THING, AND THE OTHER HAND, THAT'S A GOOD THING. SO FOR ME, I REALLY WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DO THE PROJECT, BUT BE MINDFUL OF THAT CONCERN. I THINK YOU BOTH DO. >> WE HAVE BEEN. AND ONCE AGAIN, BAFFIN BAY WAS ONE OPTION. THERE ARE WASTEWATER DISCHARGE FROM CITIES, MUNICIPALITIES NEAR BAFFIN BAY INBA THAT ALREADY DUMP CLEAN DISCHARGE INTO THE BAY, SO THIS WOULDN'T BE THE FIRST. ONCE AGAIN, THAT WAS ONE OF SEVERAL OPTIONS WE'RE LOOKING AT, SO WE HAD OUR BOARD ROOM FULL OF PEOPLE AND THEN THE FOLLOWING WEEK, WE CAME HERE AND THERE WAS TRIPLE THE SIZE. >> Paxson: YEAH. >> SO WE HEAR IT LOUD AND CLEAR. WE ALL LIVE HERE, WE ALL ENJOY BEING OUTDOORS AND ENJOYING THAT PART OF IT. AND SO WE WOULD NEVER JEOPARDIZE ANY PART OF IT. OUR BOARD PRESIDENT HAS GONE ON RECORD, LAST WEEK DURING, I BELIEVE, THE KLEBERG COUNTY COMMISSION COURT, THEY HAD AN AGENDA ITEM ON THIS VERY ISSUE AS WELL. THEY SAID, LOOK, THIS IS IN MY BACKYARD. I WOULD NEVER WANT TO JEOPARDIZE IN LITERALLY, MY OWN BACKYARD. SO THAT IS A CONCERN FOR US. BUT WE FEEL THAT THE PLANTS THAT HAVE BEEN DESIGNED AND THE OPTIONS THAT ARE AVAILABLE ARE GOING TO TAKE ALL THAT INTO CONSIDERATION. SO ONCE AGAIN, IT'S GOT TO GO THROUGH A VETTING PROCESS. IT'S NOT LIKE IT'S A DONE DEAL. I KNOW THAT THE MEDIA AND THOSE ON SOCIAL MEDIA HAVE TRIED TO MISCHARACTERIZE HOW THIS HAS BEEN DONE. IT'S -- IT'S AN AGREEMENT THAT, REMEMBER, SEVEN SEAS HAS PUT UP A LOT OF THEIR OWN MONEY, NOT A SINGLE DIME HAS BEEN ASKED FROM OUR TINY WATER SYSTEM TO PUT UP FRONT. AND THAT WORKS FOR US, BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THE BUDGET AND THE RESOURCES THAT, SAY, THE CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI DOES, SO THAT PUBLIC/PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP HAS BEEN HELPFUL. AND SO BY SEVEN SEAS DOING THAT, THEY'RE LOOKING AT THE ENTIRE DESIGN, DISCHARGE, HOW THE PLANT IS GOING TO LOOK AND BE DEVELOPED OUT IN THE DRISCOLL SITE. SO THEY'RE DOING THAT ALL UP FRONT WITHOUT ASKING FOR ANYTHING FROM US, SO THIS IS STILL EARLY ON, COMPARED TO SOM SOME OF THE STEPS Y'ALL HAVE ALREADY TAKEN WITH YOUR SEAWATER DESAL PLANTS. SO THOSE ARE SOME OF THE STUDIES AND DATA WE WANT TO COME BRING BACK, WE'LL BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO SHARE WITH THE COUNCIL AND WE'LL DEFINITELY SHARE WITH THE STWA BOARD BECAUSE ULTIMATELY THEY HAVE FINAL DECISION WHETHER THIS GETS SCALED UP OR THIS STAYS TO THE TWO TO 4MGD PLANT THIS IS CURRENTLY BEING DESIGNED FOR. WE SHARE THOSE CONCERNS, WE'LL CONTINUE TO EXPLORE THEM TO THE END. WE'LL HAVE SCIENCE TO BACK IT, SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS TO BACK IT, AND, OF COURSE, WE'LL GET A LOT OF STAKEHOLDER SUPPORT IN THE MEANTIME. >> Paxson: I APPRECIATE THOSE SENTIMENTS. THEY REALLY DO MEAN A LOT TO US. I KNOW RIGHT NOW WE'RE IN THIS POSITION WHERE, YOU KNOW, FOR US, WE HEAR -- WELL, YOU SAW IT LAST YEAR, JUST HOURS, SO MANY COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO ARE VERY CONCERNED TO DO ANY KIND OF CHANGE TO BAFFIN BAY AND WE CARRY THAT. >> COUNCILWOMAN, WHAT I'VE TOLD PEOPLE WHEN THEY ASK ME, SCIENCE WILL MAKE THIS DETERMINATION. MY BOARD HAS BEEN ABSOLUTELY ADAMANT IN THE FACT THAT IF SCIENCE DOESN'T SHOW THAT THERE'S NO ADVERSE IMPACT ON BAFFIN BAY, WE WILL NOT DISCHARGE IN BAFFIN BAY. >> Paxson: I APPRECIATE THAT SINCERELY. AND I'D REALLY BE INTERESTED IN SEEING, LIKE YOU SAID, THERE ARE OTHER OPTIONS FOR THE DISCHARGE. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THOSE LOOK LIKE EXACTLY, I'VE HEARD SEVERAL OPTIONS AMONG THE COMMUNITY. WHERE I'M AT IS I WANT TO SUPPORT THIS, I WANT TO BE A GOOD PARTNER, BUT I -- LIKE YOU SAID, I CAN'T SUPPORT IF IT'S GOING TO DAMAGE THAT, SO BRING THAT INFORMATION BACK TO US AND WE APPRECIATE THAT. >> YES, MA'AM. >> Mayor Guajardo: YEAH. THANK YOU, GENTLEMEN. I'M JUST GOING TO SNEAK IN A QUICK REMARK BEFORE WE GO TO COUNCILMAN SCOTT AND THEN COUNCILMAN BARRERA, BUT WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE. AND HOPEFULLY, YOU KNOW, I THINK THIS WAS A LITTLE BIT -- NOT A LITTLE BIT, I THINK IT HAD A LOT TO DO WITH INFORMATION THAT WASN'T MAYBE BROUGHT FORTH AT THE BEGINNING OF THE CONVERSATION. AND SO WE -- FIRST AND FOREMOST, CARE ABOUT, YOU KNOW, BAFFIN BAY, AS YOU DO. YOU KNOW, SO WE -- IN ORDER FOR US TO MAKE A DECISION OR EVEN TO REALLY CONSIDER SOMETHING, WE HAVE TO HAVE THAT SOME THING. RIGHT NOW WE DON'T. I MEAN, WE HAVE -- AND WE'VE HAD THIS CONVERSATION, COMMISSIONER, AND I THINK YOU -- YOU'VE SAID IT HERE AND YOU RECOGNIZE, THERE'S A LONG ROAD AHEAD OF WHAT, YOU KNOW, THIS PROJECT CAN BE. AND SO WE HAVE TO HAVE THAT BEFORE US BECAUSE, YES, OF COURSE, WE WANT TO DIVERSIFY OUR WATER RESOURCES, BUT WE'VE GOT TO HAVE THE DATA AND THE SCIENCE. >> THE ONE GOOD THING I SAID THERE, MAYOR, TO MR. MOLLY JUST A LITTLE WHILE AGO. >> Mayor Guajardo: YES. >> THE ONE THING ABOUT WHAT WE'RE DEALING WITH WITH BRACKISH WATER OR SALT WATER DESALINATION IS IT'S SCALABLE. SO IF WE BUILD 4 MILLION-GALLONS AND A YEAR OR TWO FROM NOW OR THREE YEARS FROM NOW THE CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI WANTS TO EXPAND THAT PLANT, IT CAN BE DONE. >> Mayor Guajardo: IT'S POSSIBLE. SURE. GREAT. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN SCOTT? >> Scott: HEY, CHARLIE SH I WAS JUST WONDERING IF -- IF YOU BILL BY THE HOUR, BECAUSE IF YOU DO, AND WE KEPT YOU HERE FOR SIX HOURS, YOU OUGHT TO BUY BEER LATER TONIGHT, BECAUSE -- THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE SIR. AND JOHN, ALWAYS GOOD TO BE WITH YOU. TWO THOUGHTS: I FORGOT THE FIRST ONE ALREADY. YOU MADE THE COMMENT THAT THE SCIENCE -- YOU KNOW, SCIENCE WILL DRIVE THE DECISIONS. WHAT'S THE TIMELINE ON THAT SCIENCE FOR WHETHER YOU GO BAFFIN BAY OR, YOU KNOW, DEEP WELL INJECTION OR ANOTHER -- WHAT'S -- GENERALLY, I DON'T -- >> MR. MARES HAS ALREADY STARTED THE PROCESS OF ENGAGING THE SCIENTIFIC TEAM TO LOOK AT IT, SO IT'S ALREADY STARTED. >> Scott: I JUST DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THE -- I DON'T -- I WANT REASONABLE EXPECTATIONS. I'M GLAD YOU'RE COMING BACK. YOU KNOW, I REMEMBER MR. [INDISCERNIBLE] HELPING START THE SOUTH TEXAS WATER AUTHORITY. I'M A BIG FAN, MOTHER LIVES THERE, I JUST -- I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE REASONABLE EXPECTATIONS. IF WE REALLY ARE WAITING ON THE SCIENCE TO DRIVE THE DECISION, I JUST WANT TO HAVE A SENSE, YOU KNOW, DO I TELL PEOPLE WE'RE GOING TO GET THAT SCIENCE RESULTS IN THE NEXT COUPLE MONTHS OR IS THAT A SIX MONTH, IS THAT A 12 MONTH, YOU KNOW, OR DO YOU NOT EVEN KNOW? AND THAT'S OKAY, TOO, HEY, WE'LL BRIEF YOU ON THAT SCIENCE TIMELINE WHEN WE GET TOGETHER. >> YOU KNOW, THE INTERESTING THING ABOUT WHAT YOU ASKED THERE, MR. SCOTT, IS THE JUDGE LAST WEEK IN KINGSVILLE APPOINTED A COMMITTEE THAT'S GOING TO STUDY THE SCIENCE THAT MR. MARES GETS THAT INCLUDES THE HARTE RESEARCH CENTER, CCA, A&M KINGSVILLE, THE KLEBERG INSTITUTE, THE J KLEBERG INSTITUTE AS A GROUP ARE GOING TO BE ANALYZING THIS SCIENCE, AND THAT'S A PRETTY GOOD GROUP. >> Scott: YEAH, THAT WAS MY SECOND QUESTION, BY THE WAY. I NOTICED THERE'S AN ARTICLE IN THE KINGSVILLE RECORD ABOUT THAT COMMITTEE, BUT I'M TOO CHEAP TO BUY THE SUBSCRIPTION, SO I CAN ONLY GET THE FIRST PARAGRAPH. I DON'T WANT TO DRIVE TO KINGSVILLE AND GET IT FROM MOM. SO WHAT'S -- TELL ME ABOUT THAT COMMITTEE THAT THE COUNTY COMMISSIONER -- THE COMMISSIONERS COURT CREATED THIS WEEK AND THE TIMELINE ON ITS WORK. DO WE HAVE THAT FLUSHED OUT? >> IT WAS CREATED LAST MONDAY, AND THE -- THE COUNTY JUDGE THERE CALLS IT A PROFESSIONAL OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE. IT'S NONBINDING, BECAUSE -- >> Scott: THAT'S STILL GOOD. THAT'S GOOD. >> THE COMMISSION COMMISSIONER'S COURT APPOINTS, THEY APPOINT THE BOARD MEMBERS. IT IS TAKING NOTICE. ONCE AGAIN, AS THE MESSAGE THAT WE ALL STRUGGLE AND FIND ADDITIONAL WATER RESOURCES IS THAT NO ONE LIVES UNDER A ROCK. >> Scott: TOTALLY GET IT. >> -- NO ONE LIVES OUTSIDE THIS COMUN TIE. WE'RE ALL IMPACTED. WE LIVE WITH PEOPLE WHO COULD POTENTIALLY BE IMPACTED BY THIS, SO I THINK THE JUDGE CREATED THIS TO SHOW GOOD FAITH THAT WE'RE ALL PAYING ATTENTION, WE ALL HEAR OUR COMMUNITY LOUD AND CLEAR. THIS ISSUE, EVERYTHING'S GOING TO BE -- IT COULD BE STUDIED TO DEATH. >> Scott: I AGREE. >> BUT IT'S GOING TO BE STUDIED. THERE'S A CERTAIN LIMIT. WE'RE GOING TO GET ALL THAT DATA. WE FEEL WITHIN A FEW MONTHS, IF IT'S EARLIER, WE'LL NOTIFY YOU. WE'LL LET YOU KNOW IT'S READY EARLY OR, AND THEN WE CAN COME BACK AND GIVE YOU ALL THE DATA WE NEED. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO US, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE THAT. LAST WEEK SET A VERY GOOD EXAMPLE OF THE DATA THAT Y'ALL WERE PRESENTED. WE'RE GOING TO GO THROUGH SOMETHING SIMILAR. >> Scott: THANK YOU. >> SO WE THINK THAT'S A GOOD MODEL WE'RE FOLLOWING. >> Scott: SO IF THAT COMMITTEE CREATES A TIMELINE, WILL Y'ALL SHARE THAT WITH US. >> WE HAVEN'T MET -- >> Scott: I'M IMPRESSED THAT THE COMMISSIONERS COURT DID THAT. THAT'S A GREAT GROUP OF PEOPLE. I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING MAYBE WE SHOULD HAVE DONE YEARS AGO, YOU KNOW, I'M JUST CURIOUS WHAT THAT TIMELINE IS. I WILL CLOSE BY TELLING YOU THAT MY COLLEGE ROOMMATE HAS A HOUSE ON BAFFIN BAY AND HE REMINDED ME LAST WEEK THAT HE KNOWS WHERE I LIVE. AND SO I WANT TO BE VERY SENSITIVE TO WHATEVER WE DO TO BAFFIN BAY. THANK YOU, GENTLEMEN. THANKS FOR BEING HERE. MAYOR. COUNCILMA N BARRERA. >> Barrera: YES. THANK YOU, MAYOR. COMMISSIONER I HEARD THIS THE OTHER DAY, WHAT'S HAD TO BE SAID HAS BEEN SAID BUT NOT EVERYBODY SAID IT, SO I WON'T BELABOR THAT, BUT, YOU KNOW... FIRST OFF, YOU KNOW, THANK YOU. I G ESTI GUESS THAT'S ONE THING I WANT TO REITERATE AND OVERSTATE THE OBVIOUS. WE'RE ALL PARTNERS. I CAN TELL YOU OVER THE LAST SEVEN YEARS -- AND I'M NOT SAYING THIS IS THE SITUATION HERE, BUT A LOT OF TIMES WE GET ACCUSED OF GREED AND AMBITION. OBVIOUSLY I'M SURE MANY OF MY FRIENDS ENJOYED THE JABS AT ME TODAY WITH REGARD TO, YOU KNOW, MY VOTING RECORD AND SOME OF THE STATEMENTS THAT I'VE MADE, BUT, YOU KNOW, WE ALL GET ACCUSED OF GREED AND AMBITION, AND SOMETIMES THERE IS GREED AND AMBITION AND IT'S HARD FOR US TO DIFFERENTIATE THAT. I JUST ASK THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE ALL ANXIOUS AND SO WHAT HAPPENS IS THAT WE HAVE A TENDENCY TO CREATE DEADLINES THAT ARE NOT NECESSARILY IMPOSSIBLE, BUT JUST MAKE IT VERY DIFFICULT FOR US TO DO OUR JOB. AND ALL I ASK IS THAT, YOU KNOW, WE JUST NEED TO GET THE INFORMATION. IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE BY A CERTAIN DATE. IF IT'S NOT THE 23RD, YOU KNOW FINE. I KNOW -- I KNOW THE CHALLENGES THAT WE THINK GOVERNMENT MOVES SLOW, STAFF'S GOING TO DRAG THEIR FEET, AND I'VE ALWAYS SAID, I DON'T LIKE TO GOVERN FROM A POINT OF CYNICISM, YOU KNOW? AND -- YOU KNOW -- BECAUSE WHAT HAPPENS IS, YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST LIKE THIS EVANGELINE THING, WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON IT LITERALLY SINCE I GOT ON THE COUNCIL. AND SOME OF THE CHALLENGES THAT WE FACE IS HAVING TO DEAL WITH ALL THE PROPERTY OWNERS AND, YOU KNOW, THERE'S DIFFERENT THINGS THAT WE FIND OUT AND THE PUBLIC THINKS WE'RE DRAGGING OUR FEET OR WE DON'T WANT TO DO IT. AND I JUST ASK, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, JOHN AND I HAVE BEEN FRIENDS, I GUESS 29 YEARS NOW, YOU KNOW, SO I GUESS YOU WERE EIGHT YEARS OLD, RIGHT? SO -- AND I -- THAT'S JUST WHAT I WANT TO REITERATE. WE'RE ALL PARTNERS AND WE ALL WANT TO SOLVE A PROBLEM AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S OBVIOUSLY GOT TO MAKE ECONOMIC SENSE. I DON'T WANT TO OVERSTATE THAT. I JUST ASK, YOU KNOW, JUST LET US KNOW, WE WANT TO BE A GOOD PARTNER, WE WANT TO COME UP WITH A PROBLEM -- I MEAN, SOLVE A PROBLEM AND I JUST ASK THAT IF IT'S AMBITIOUS OR WHATEVER, I THINK IT SHOWS A LOT OF PROFESSIONALISM ON YOUR PART TO BE ABLE TO SAY, HEY, WE'RE NOT GOING TO MEET THAT DEADLINE. I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THAT. SO I APPRECIATE IT. BUT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE YOUR PARTNER AND WE'LL GOALITY LONG THE WAY, WE'VE JUST GOT TO MAKE SURE IT MAKES SENSE OBVIOUSLY. AND YOU GUYS KNOW THAT. THANKS FOR BEING A PARTNER AND TRYING TO HELP US SOLVE THIS PROBLEM. COUNCILMA N ROY. >> Roy: I JUST WANT TO SAY THANKS. THANKS AGAIN FOR SHOWING UP, THANKS AGAIN FOR GETTING THROUGH OUR COUNCIL MEETING. YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT A LOT OF LEADERS IN THIS ROOM, AND ONE OF THE THINGS -- YOU KNOW, WHETHER YOU'RE A FORMAL LEADER OR INFORMAL LEADER, WHATEVER THE CASE IS, EVERYBODY RIGHT NOW IS LOOKING AT WATER. IT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT -- WE'RE LOOKING AT IT AT A LOCAL LEVEL, AT A STATE LEVEL. I MEAN -- AND PROBABLY ON A NATIONAL LEVEL ALSO. IT'S SO IMPORTANT. AND I THINK ALL OF US COLLECTIVELY ARE JUST TRYING TO GET THERE AND MAKE SURE WE CAN PUT THIS BEHIND US SO THAT ONE DAY WE DON'T HAVE TO WORRY AND PANIC. I MEAN, THERE IS A LITTLE BIT OF PANIC. AND I APPRECIATE THE FACT, JUST LIKE US, I MEAN, WE -- THERE'S NOT ONE PERSON HERE, I FEEL COMFORTABLE, THAT WANTS -- THAT IS TRYING TO DESTROY OR HURT OUR BAYS AND ESTUARIES, AND WE'RE TRYING TO DO THE RIGHT THING AND MAKE SURE THAT WE PROTECT IT. AND WE DO HAVE A LOT OF ORGANIZATIONS OUT THERE THAT ARE MONITORING US AND ARE GOING TO DOUBLE-CHECK AND TRIPLE-CHECK THOSE THINGS. SO FOR ME, I JUST AT THE END OF THE DAY, WANT TO GET IT DONE. WHETHER YOU GET BACK WITH US IN THREE WEEKS, FOUR WEEKS, WHATEVER THE CASE IS, I'M JUST, YOU KNOW, GLAD THAT WE'RE TRYING TO WORK TOGETHER AS LEADERS AND RESOLVE THIS ISSUE, SO THANK YOU. I WANT TO THANK ALL THE OTHER LEADERS IN HERE THAT HAVE TALKED ABOUT THIS ISSUE, BECAUSE I REALLY DO BELIEVE THAT WE'RE GOING TO GET IT RIGHT. SO THANK YOU. >> Mayor Guajardo: THANK YOU, GENTLEMEN. >> THANK YOU. >> Mayor Guajardo: SO AT THIS TIME, WE'RE GOING TO OPEN PUBLIC HEARING. IS THERE ANYONE IN THE AUDIENCE THAT WOULD LIKE TO MAKE COMMENT ON ITEM NUMBER 28? >> >> SUZIE LUNA SALDAÑA, DISTRICT 2. LISTEN, I REALLY WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ACTUALLY PUTTING SOMETHING FORWARD THAT'S GOING TO COME THROUGH. I'VE NEVER HEARD A COMPANY COME UP AND SAY WE'RE GOING TO MOVE FORWARD WITH IT AND DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. IF YOU MAYBE ON BOARD AND YOU MAY NOT BE ON BOARD, THEY'RE GOING TO MOVE FORWARD WITH WATER, AND WE NEED WATER. I KEEP TELLING YOU ALL THAT WE NEED WATER, WHICHEVER WAY WE CAN GET IT. AND I KNOW WE LOVE OUR ESTUARIES, WE LOVE TO HAVE OUR FISHING AND SOME PEOPLE ARE AFRAID OF NOT BEING ABLE TO POLICE THEIR FRIEND, BUT THIS IS NOT ABOUT FRIENDS. THIS IS ABOUT WATER. AND I THANK YOU FOR SETTING A DEADLINE AND FOR MOVING IT FORWARD TO WHERE THEY CAN COME BACK BECAUSE WE NEED TO MOVE FORWARD, NOT BACKWARDS. AND I THANK YOU FOR DOING THIS AND I LOOK FORWARD TO YOU ACTUALLY DOING SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO GET US WATER NOW IN THE SHORT TERM. THANK YOU. >> Mayor Guajardo: THANK YOU, MRS. LUNA. >> MICHAEL MILLER, DISTRICT 2. A FEW WEEKS AGO MR. MARES CAME AND TALKED TO THURSDAY MORNING GROUP ABOUT THIS PROPOSAL AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE DISCUSSED AND WAS HIS WILLINGNESS TO ENGAGE THE HARTE RESEARCH INSTITUTE, UTMSI, TMUK, WE TALKED ABOUT A COUPLE DIFFERENT LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN STUDYING THESE BAYS FOR MANY, MANY YEARS. I GOT THE OPPORTUNITY TO READ THE STATEMENT THAT WAS ISSUED BY HRI WITH REGARDS TO THIS BRACKISH DESAL PROJECT, AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THEY SAID THAT THIS COULD BE EITHER BENEFICIAL, DETRIMENTAL OR NEUTRAL TO BAFFIN BAY, SO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE MAKE GOOD ON OUR PROMISES TO ENGAGE THESE LOCAL SCIENTISTS AND THE FOLKS THAT HAVE BEEN STUDYING THESE BAYS FOR MANY, MANY DECADES. AND IF THEY'RE GOOD WITH IT, I'M GOOD WITH IT. SO THAT'S ALL I HAD TO SAY. >> Mayor Guajardo: THANK YOU, MR. MILLER. ANYONE ELSE? OKAY. WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND CLOSE PUBLIC HEARING. WE HAVE A MOTION AND -- A MOTION AND A SECOND. >> City Secretary: RIGHT. I HEAR AN AMENDMENT, RIGHT? IT'S TO ADD A NEW DATE, SEPTEMBER 23RD. YOU WERE GOOD WITH THAT, MRS. VAUGHN, RIGHT? >> Vaughn: RIGHT. >> City Secretary: SO AMENDING THAT LAST SENTENCE WHERE IT SAYS AND BE REPORTED BACK TO CITY COUNCIL ON SEPTEMBER 23RD ASORE PROGRESS IS MADE. >> Mayor Guajardo: OKAY. >> City Secretary: SO IF WE CAN VOTE ON THAT WITH A VOICE VOTE, AND THEN WE CAN VOTE AS AMENDED ELECTRONICALLY. >> Mayor Guajardo: OKAY. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. (AYES.) >> Mayor Guajardo: ANY OPPOSED, SAY NO. THE MOTION CARRIES. >> City Secretary: OKAY. THEN WE'LL VOTE ON IT AS AMENDED. >> Zanoni: AND REBECCA, CAN I JUST REMIND THE COUNCIL AND ANYBODY LOOKING AT THE CALENDARS, RIGHT NOW THERE'S NO COUNCIL MEETING SCHEDULED FOR THE 23RD, BUT WE'RE GOING TO RESCHEDULE THE MEETING. >> City Secretary: OF THE 16TH. >> Zanoni: OF THE 16TH TO THE 23RD. THE 16TH IS THE SAME WEEK WHEN THE COASTAL BEND GOES TO D.V. FOR THE ADVOCACY CRIP FOR THE CHAMBER, SO WE'RE GOING TO MOVE A MEETING. >> Mayor Guajardo: BUT WE WERE GOING TO DO THAT ANYWAY SAN. >> Zanoni: I JUST DON'T WANT PEOPLE TO LOOK AT THE CALENDAR. >> Mayor Guajardo: TODAY THERE'S NO MEETING SCHEDULED BUT THERE WILL BE. >> Zanoni: YES, WE OR GOING TO MOVE THE 16TH MEETING TO THE 23RD. >> Mayor Guajardo: ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. (AYES.) OH, THAT'S FOR THE AMENDMENT. OKAY. OKAY. THE MOTION CARRIES. ON. SO NEXT ITEM -- WELL, WE'VE ALREADY DONE -- NO, ITEM NUMBER 29, MOTION AWARDING A CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT TO JE CONSTRUCTION SERVICES OF CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE SOLID WASTE COMPOST YARD LOCATED AT CEFE VALENZUELA LANDFILL. >> Barrera: I MOVE FOR APPROVAL. >> Scott: SECOND. >> Mayor Guajardo: OKAY. BUT FOR THE PUBLIC, THIS IS SUCH A GOOD NEWS ITEM, IT'S SUCH A GREAT ITEM AND YOU ALL HAVE WORKED ON IT FOR SO LONG, PLEASE GIVE US THE -- A LITTLE BRIEFING ON THE PROJECT. >> SURE. MAYOR COUNCIL PHILLIP ALDRIDGE, DIRECTOR OF SOLID WASTE. WE HAVE A PRESENTATION PREPARE, BUT I'LL JUST SPEAK ABOUT THE PROJECT. COMPOST IS THE BEST WAY -- BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICE FOR WASTE ALL ACROSS THE STATE, CITY OF AUSTIN, DENTON, DALLAS PLANO McALLEN EVERYBODY USES IT. WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING TO DO IS WE'LL TAKE THE BIOSOLIDS FROM THE WASTEWATER PLANT AND COMBINE THEM WITH THE BRUSH THAT WE COLLECT CURBSIDE AND THAT'S DELIVERED TO THE JC ELLIOT TRANSFER STATION, WE'LL COMBINE THEM AND TURN THEM INTO A USABLE, VALUABLE SOIL PRODUCT THAT WE'LL BE ABLE TO USE IN OUR PARKS, YARDS, ATHLETIC FIELDS, GOLF COURSES, THAT SORT OF THING. >> Mayor Guajardo: YOU'RE WELCOME TO GO THROUGH THE PRESENTATION. >> GO THROUGH THE PRESENTATION SURE. >> Mayor Guajardo: YEAH, FOR THE PUBLIC TO SEE. IF YOU WANT TO DO IT QUICKLY, BECAUSE WE'RE ALL SUPPORTIVE. >> STARTED BACK IN T 2021 WITH OUR -- WE ADDED IT TO THE CIP PROCESS, WE GOT THE PERMIT AND DESIGN KICKED OFF. IT TOOK US A COUPLE YEARS TO GET THE PERMIT APPROVED, THEN WE MOVED OVER TO THE DESIGN PORTION OF IT AND THAT'S WHERE WE'RE AT NOW. WE WENT OUT FOR BID FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE YARD, THAT'S WHERE WE ARE NOW TODAY BEFORE YOU TO GET APPROVAL FOR THE BID. PROJECT BACKGROUND, WE TALKED ABOUT THAT, IT'S GOING TO BE CAPABLE OF PROCESSING 120,000 TONS PER YEAR OF MIXED ORGANICS. IT'S A REGISTRATION LEVEL FACILITY, SO WHAT THAT ALLOWS US TO DO IS PROCESS THOSE BIOSOLIDS FROM THE WASTEWATER PLANT AND ALSO SORT SEPARATE ORGANICS, THAT'S THINGS LIKE CAFETERIA WAIST, INDIVIDUAL WAISTWASTE STREAMS OUT THERE, RESTAURANTS THAT SORT OF THING. I WOULD MAKE A NOTE THIS IS NOT A CURBSIDE PROGRAM, THERE'S NOT GOING TO BE ANY CARTS THAT ANYBODY'S GOING TO HAVE, WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE YOU TO CHANGE YOUR BEHAVIORS. EVERYBODY WILL BE DOING THE SAME THING THEY'VE ALREADY BEEN DOING WITH THAISH BRUSH AND BULKY, EVERYTHING THAT'S GOING TO TAKE PLACE IS BEHIND THE SCENES HANDLED BY THE SOLID WASTE STAFF AND THERE'S NO IMPACT TO RATEPAYERS. NO ADJUSTMENT TO THE SOLID RATE AT ALL. COMPOST IS GOOD, IT REDUCES OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE COST VERSUS LANDFILLING AND WE ARE DEFERRING A LOT OF CAPITAL EXPENDITURES BY SAVING VALUABLE LANDFILL SPACE. IF YOU'RE NOT FAMILIAR WITH COMPOSTING U THIS IS WHAT OUR FACILITY WILL LOOK LIKE. THAT'S COMPOSTING, WE MIX EVERYTHING INTO WIND ROWS LIKE THAT, THEY'RE ABOUT 100 YARDS LONG. YOU HAVE 15 DAYS THAT YOU HAVE TO KEEP THE TEMPERATURE ABOVE 131° AND YOU MIX IT FIVE TIMES, THAT'S WHAT KILLS ALL THE PATHOGENS. THE FINISHED PRODUCT, ONCE IT'S DONE, THE FINISH PROJECT IS STORED FOR ANOTHER 180 DAYS OR SO JUST SO IT CAN AGE AND DECOMPOSE AND IT WILL LOOK LIKE THE EARL THINK MATERIAL IN THOSE SMALL HANDS IN THAT PHOTO. POST TREATMENT, THERE IS A BUNCH OF TESTING THAT WE DO FOR FECAL COLIFORM, METALS, DIFFERENT THINGS LIKE THAT, CARBON NITROGEN RATIO, SO IT'S WELL TESTED AND BATCH PROCESSED. THESE ARE JUST EXAMPLES OF LOCAL FEED STOCKS THAT'S GOING TO BE THE BIOSOLIDS, WAIST, CONVERT MULCH, BEVERAGES, ANIMAL MANURE, SOURCE SEPARATOR ORGANICS. BENEFITS, I ALLUDED TO THIS EARLIER WITH THE COST OF THIS PROCESS, 80,000 TONS OF COMPOST IS QUITE A BIT LESS THAN LANDFILLING. WE'RE ONLY GOING TO BUILD A COMPOST FACILITY ONCE BUT A LANDFILL BUILDS UP SO WE HAVE A RECURRING COST. THIS WILL JUST BUILD IT ONCE AND THAT'S IT. THERE'S ALSO SOME REBATES THAT WE'LL RECEIVE FROM THE STATE. ANY TIME YOU OWN A LANDFILL, WE PAY 1 DOLLAR A TON INTO THE STATE. SO WE DON'T HAVE TO PAY THAT ON THE MATERIAL THAT WE COMPOST. AND THEN WE ALSO GET A REBATE ON THE LEFTOVER MATERIAL THAT WE DO PAY THE STATE. SO THERE'S QUITE A BIT OF SAVINGS THERE. IT DEVERTS WASTE FROM THE LANDFILL, IT HELPS US GET TO OUR STATE'S 40% DIVERSION GOAL. WE RECYCLE, THERE'S SOME OTHER THINGS WE DO. SO FROM THE LANDFILL WE DIVERT ABOUT 13% OF OUR WASTE, IF WE DO THE COMPOST FACILITY, IT WILL MOVE UP TO ABOUT 36% DIVERSION, SO THAT'S REALLY GOOD. IT WILL GET US RIGHT TO THE STATE'S GOAL. EXTENDS THE LIFE OF THE LANDFILL, AS WE SAID EARLIER. THERE'S POTENTIAL REVENUE, WILL DEVELOP PARTNERSHIPS WITH LOCAL VENDORS, WE DON'T WANT TO COMPETE AGAINST LOCAL VENDORS, WE'RE GOING TO HELP THEM, BE THEIR SUPPLIERS, NOW ALL THE MATERIALS THEY BUY, THEY HAVE TO BUY IT FROM SAN ANTONIO IS THE CLOSEST PLACE. THIS IS THE BID TAB, YOU CAN SEE WE HAD A ROBUST TURNOUT. WE HAD ABOUT SEVEN COMPANIES BID. ALL OF THEM IN STATE EXCEPT ONE. A LOCAL COMPANY, JE CONSTRUCTION GOT THE BID, 5.4 MILLION. YOU CAN SEE THERE. AND THIS IS OUR BASIC TIMELINE, DESIGN, BID AWARD, BECOMES APPROVED TONIGHT, THEN IT'S ABOUT A SEVEN-MONTH BUILD AND WE'LL HAVE THE PROJECT COMPLETED. >> Mayor Guajardo: IT'S WONDERFUL. THIS IS GREAT, THIS IS A VERY, VERY GOOD NEWS ITEM. THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION. >> THANK YOU. >> Mayor Guajardo: AT THIS TIME, I'M GOING TO ASK IF THE COMPANY HAS ANY COMMENT OR WOULD LIKE TO COME UP AND COMMENT ON ITEM NUMBER 29? WE'VE GOT ONE BEHIND YOU. >> GOOD EVENING, MY NAME IS JIM KLEIN. LIVE IN DISTRICT 2, SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE COASTAL BEND SIERRA CLUB GROUP WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THIS AND FULLY SUPPORT IT. THANK YOU. >> Mayor Guajardo: ANYONE ELSE? YES SIR. RUN. RUN. >> MICHAEL MILLER, DISTRICT 2. JUST WANTED TO SAY HOW PROUD I AM OF PETER FOR GIVING JE CONSTRUCTION A CHANCE WHENEVER THEY FIRST STARTED BIDDING CITY WORK AND HOW INCREDIBLY PROUD I AM JAMES EDWARD, ISAAC CLUB AND GRANT DIETZ, THREE OF MY BEST FRIENDS THAT THEY'RE GETTING THIS WORK AND THEY'RE DOING A GREAT JOB FOR THE CITY AND THE STATE AND BEYOND. SO THAT'S IT. >> Barrera: DON'T RUIN IT FOR THEM. >> Mayor Guajardo: I WAS THINKING THE SAME THING. THANK YOU, MR. MILLER. ANYONE ELSE? OKAY. GREAT. WE WILL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT. WE HAVE A MOTION AND WE HAVE A SECOND. OH. COUNCILWOMAN VAUGHN, DID YOU HAVE A COMMENT? >> Vaughn: I JUST WANTED TO TELL YOU THANK YOU. THAT WAS A REALLY GOOD PRESENTATION AND I -- IT'S A GREAT PROJECT. >> Mayor Guajardo: YEAH. >> Vaughn: WE ARE HELPING THE ENVIRONMENT. >> CORRECT. >> Vaughn: YES, WE ARE. AND IT'S GOING TO BE SAVINGS, TOO, FOR THE LANDFILL, CORRECT. >> DEFINITELY. >> Mayor Guajardo: REVENUE STREAM. >> Vaughn: THANK YOU. >> Mayor Guajardo: PLEASE SUBMIT YOUR VOTE. THE MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND THANK YOU, AGAIN. CONGRATULATIONS TO THE TEAM. THANK Y'ALL FOR BEING HERE. GREAT PRESENTATION. THAT TAKES US TO SECTION L, BRIEFINGS, ITEM NUMBER 32 IS A BRIEFING ON THE INNER HARBOR WATER TREATMENT CAMPUS SPECIFICALLY FOCUSING ON THE KIEWIT COST MODEL FOR CONSTRUCTION. >> >> WE'RE DOWN SOME BODIES. I'LL WAIT. WE UPDATED THE PRESENTATION, SO THEY'RE HANDING OUT NEW HARD COPIES NOW. OKAY. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. WE'LL GET STARTED ON THE PRESENTATION. SO WE'RE GOING TO DO AN UPDATE ON THE INNER HARBOR WATER TREATMENT CAMPUS PROJECT. SO, AGAIN, I'M BRETT VAN HAZEL, I'M THE PROGRAM MANAGEMENT OFFICE DIRECTOR FOR THIS PROJECT. WE'RE GOING TO DO A QUICK UPDATE ON THE PROJECT, WE'RE GOING TO GO THROUGH THE PROJECT TIMELINE, GIVE YOU AN UPDATE ON THE DEMONSTRATION PLANT, WHICH IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION. AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO TOUCH ON THE COST MODEL AND THEN WE'LL TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE FUTURE PROJECT UPDATES. SO JUST AS A REMINDER, THIS IS A THREE-PHASE PROJECT WITH PHASE 1 BEING BROKEN UP INTO TWO PARTS, AN A AND A B. PHASE 1A IS SUBSTANTIALLY COMPLETE. WE ARE CURRENTLY IN THE PHASE 1B PORTION OF THE PROJECT, WHICH IS PRIMARILY DESIGN DEVELOPMENT. SO, AGAIN, WE ARE IN PHASE 1B. WE STARTED THAT IN APRIL OF THIS YEAR. AND WE'VE DONE FOUR AMENDMENTS TO DATE WITH THE MOST RECENT BEING THE DEMONSTRATION PLANT. AND WE'RE CURRENTLY UNDER CONSTRUCTION. AT THE BOTTOM OF THE SLIDE, YOU CAN SEE THE CURRENT TIMELINE, AND WE'LL TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT WHERE WE ARE IN SOME LATER SLIDES. SO HERE'S AN OVERALL PROJECT TIMELINE. AND YOU CAN SEE WHERE WE FIT IN THE TIMELINE, IF YOU JUST LOOK AT THE YELLOW STAR. SO THE DEMONSTRATION PLANT, AGAIN, IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION. WE'RE APPROXIMATELY 15% COMPLETE. AND NEXT WEEK TUESDAY I'M GOING TO BE BRINGING A NEW AGENDA ITEM FOR US TO -- FOR YOU GUYS FOR CONSIDERATION TO TAKE THE PROJECT FROM A 10% TO A 60% DESIGN, AS WELL AS DEVELOPING THE GUARANTEE MAXIMUM PRICE. SO THAT WILL BE, AGAIN, AGENDA ITEM ON NEXT WEEK'S COUNCIL MEETING. SO DEMONSTRATION PLANT, AS I MENTIONED, WE'RE 15% COMPLETE. WE'RE UNDER CONSTRUCTION. WE FINISHED ALL OF THE EROSION CONTROL, WE'VE BEEN ACTIVELY INSTALLING ALL THE WATERLINE THAT'S GOING TO GO FROM THE PORT PROPERTY OVER TO BROADWAY WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT. WE'RE ABOUT 70% COMPLETE. WE ARE WORKING ON THE SITE PREP, GETTING READY TO RECEIVE ALL OF THE PROCESS TREATMENT EQUIPMENT GENERATORS TRAILERS, ET CETERA. % AND YOU CAN SEE SOME OF THAT INSTALLATION, I PUT SOME PHOTOS ON HERE, SO YOU CAN SEE SOME OF THAT FOUR-INCH WATERLINE BEING INSTALLED, AS WELL AS SOME OF THE SITE PREP. WE'RE LOOKING TO HAVE THE -- ALL THE WORK COMPLETED IN THE LATE AUGUST, EARLY SEPTEMBER TIME FRAME, AND THEN IN SEPTEMBER IS WHEN WE'LL START THE OPERATIONS, GETTING IT SET UP AND READY TO ACTUALLY START THE TCEQ30-DAY RUN PERIOD, IN LATE SEPTEMBER, EARLY OCTOBER. OKAY. SO I THINK THIS IS WHAT WE'VE ALL BEEN WAITING FOR, RIGHT, THE COST MODEL CONVERSATION. SO JUST WANT TO KIND OF TOUCH ON WHAT WE'RE GETTING HERE WITH THE CONTRACT. SO TAKING IT BACK, SO IN DECEMBER OF LAST YEAR, WE AWARDED A CONTRACT WITH KIEWIT. AND THAT INITIATED THE START OF PHASE 1. AND, AGAIN, AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, WE HAVE TWO PARTEDS IN PHASE 1, WE HAVE AN A AND A B. WELL, AS PART OF PHASE 1A WHICH STARTED IN DECEMBER AND RAN THROUGH THE BEGINNING OF JUNE, WE HAD TWO MAJOR DELIVERABLES COMING OUT OF THAT EFFORT. FIRST OF WHICH BEING DEVELOPMENT OF A BASIS OF DESIGN, AND THEN THE SECOND BEING A COST MODEL. AND THE BASIS OF DESIGN IS A COMPREHENSIVE DESIGN DOCUMENT THAT REFLECTS A 10% DESIGN DEVELOPMENT. AND THEN THE COST MODEL IS DEVELOPED FROM THE FOUNDATION OF THAT 10% DESIGN. SO WE USE THAT BASIS OF DESIGN TO DEVELOP THE COST MODEL. SO WE -- WE'RE GOING TO DEMONSTRATE AND SHOW YOU THE 10% COST MODEL TODAY. WE'RE GOING TO WALK THROUGH THAT. AND, AGAIN, I WANT TO REITERATE THE COST MODEL TODAY IS ONLY BASED ON 10% DESIGN. OKAY? AND IT REPRESENTS THE CONTRACTOR'S ALL-INCLUSIVE COST, AND IT ASSUMES ALL RISKS AND ASSUMPTIONS BASED ON THIS CURRENT DESIGN DEVELOPMENT STAGE. OKAY? SO TRADITIONALLY, WE DO -- IN THE CITY, WE DO DESIGN [DROPPED AUDIO BRAC] SO AT THE BEGINNING OF A PROJECT, A DESIGN IS DEVELOPED BY EITHER CITY STAFF OR A CONSULTANT. IF YOU LOOK AT THE TOP CHART THE DESIGN-BUILD, THAT IS REPRESENTED BY THE YELLOW STAR WITH A DOLLAR SIGN. WE WORK OUR WAY THROUGH 0 TO 100% DESIGN, AND THEN WHEN THE DESIGN'S COMPLETE, WE PUT THAT OUT FOR BID AND THEN WE GET PRICING FROM VARIOUS CONTRACTORS AND THEN WE BRING THAT TO CITY COUNCIL FOR APPROVAL. THAT NUMBER IS REPRESENTED BY THE YELLOW STAR WITH THE DOLLAR SIGN ON THE RIGHT SIDE. THAT IS THE FIRST TIME THAT THIS COUNCIL SEES THE CONSTRUCTION COST FOR A PROJECT. AND THAT -- AND THAT PRICE IS TYPICALLY LOW BID. AND WHY IS THAT IMPORTANT? THAT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE THAT'S NOT NECESSARILY AN ALL-IN NUMBER. THAT CONTRACTOR HAS NOT SEEN THE DESIGN BEFORE THE DATE IN WHICH THEY STARTED THE BID SOLICITATION. SO THEY HAVEN'T DONE CONSTRUCTABILITY REVIEWS, THEY HAVEN'T VALIDATED THAT IT'S ALL-IN INCLUSIVE. SO THERE'S POSSIBLE SCOPE GAPS, THERE'S POSSIBLE ERRORS IN THE DESIGN OR JUST GENERAL THINGS THAT WEREN'T CAPTURED, AND THOSE THINGS WON'T BE CAPTURED UNTIL CONSTRUCTION STARTS. AND THOSE WILL SHOW UP IN THE FORM OF CHANGE ORDERS. NOW, ALTERNATIVELY AS WE WORK THROUGH A PROGRESSIVE DESIGN-BUILD PROCESS, IT'S MORE COLLABORATIVE, BECAUSE YOUR COMPANY THAT IS BROUGHT ON BOARD IS THE DESIGNER AND THE BUILDER. SO IN OUR INSTANCE, SIMILAR TO THE DESIGN-BID-BUILD PROCESS, WE HAVE A BUDGET NUMBER ON THE FRONT END. IN OUR CASE, WE HIRED FREESE & NICHOLS WHO DEVELOPED A BUDGET, WHICH IS THE 757 MILLION. SO THAT'S THE NUMBER YOU SEE ON THE LEFT-HAND SIDE -- OR REPRESENTATIVE OF THAT STAR ON THE LEFT-HAND SIDE. ONCE WE BROUGHT KIEWIT ON BOARD IN DECEMBER, FREESE & NICHOLS, THEIR SUBCONSULTANTS, AS WELL AS KIEWIT AND THE CITY, HAVE BEEN WORKING TOGETHER TO DEVELOP THE BASIS OF DESIGN AND GATHER ALL THE INFORMATION WE NEED TO DEVELOP A COST MODEL, WHICH IS BEING PRESENTED TODAY, AS A 10% DESIGN DEVELOPMENT. AND WE'RE GOING TO SEE ANOTHER ONE AT THE 30%, AND WE'RE GOING TO SEE ANOTHER ONE AT THE 60%. AND THE ONE AT 60% IS GOING TO BE PRESENTED IN THE FORM OF GUARANTEED MAXIMUM PRICE. NOW, ONE THING TO KNOW, AND WE HAVE IT WRITTEN ON THE SLIDE, IS IN OUR TRADITIONAL SENSE FOR DESIGN-BID-BUILD, YOU'VE COMMITTED AND PAID 10 TO 12% OF THE TOTAL PROJECT COST FOR THE DESIGN EFFORT WITHOUT EVER SEEING THE PROJECT COST; WHEREAS IN THIS PROJECT, PROGRESSIVE DESIGN-BUILD, YOU'RE SPENDING BETWEEN 8 TO 10% AND WE'RE GOING TO DELIVER YOU COST CERTAINTY WITH A GUARANTEED MAXIMUM PRICE. SO THIS SLIDE ILLUSTRATES THE COST ITERATION PROCESS. YOU GUYS HAVE SEEN THIS BEFORE. WE PRESENTED THIS MULTIPLE TIMES. LEOFWIN CLARK HAS COME AND HE SHOWED THIS. AND IF YOU THINK ABOUT THE LAST SLIDE WHERE WE TALK ABOUT THAT EARLY BUDGET NUMBER, ON THIS SLIDE IF YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT FREESE & NICHOLS NUMBER, THE 757 MILLION, YOU WOULD -- YOU WOULD SEE THAT ON THE LEFT SIDE OF WHERE YOU SEE THE CLASS 5 ESTIMATE. THAT NUMBER IS GOING TO BE OVER THERE. AND YOU CAN TELL BY THE OPENING OF THAT CONE, THERE'S A LOT OF UNCERTAINTY IN THAT AREA. AND IT'S MAINLY BECAUSE WE JUST HAVEN'T GOTTEN TO THE POINT WHERE WE'RE SMART ENOUGH ON THE PROJECT TO BE ABLE TO GET THAT LEVEL OF CERTAINTY. SO IF YOU KIND OF MOVE OVER TO THE RIGHT WHERE WE HAVE THAT GREEN STAR, THAT REPRESENTS WHERE WE CURRENTLY ARE, WE'RE AT 10% DESIGN, AND WE ARE AT A CLASS 4 ESTIMATE. THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GOING TO SEE TODAY. AND AS WE PROGRESS THROUGH THIS ITERATIVE PROCESS, THE LEVEL OF CERTAINTY AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE PROJECT IMPROVES AND THE COST CERTAINTY IMPROVES. SO AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, WE HAVE MULTIPLE MILESTONES COMING UP, WE HAVE A 30% DESIGN, WHICH YOU CAN SEE ON THIS CONE WOULD REPRESENT A CLASS 3, SO OUR WINDOW OF CERTAINTY IMPROVES. AND THEN, AGAIN, WHEN WE MOVE TO THE 60% DESIGN, WHICH WILL BE THE GUARANTEED MAXIMUM PRICE, IT IMPROVES EVEN MORE. THIS IS THE BENEFIT OF A PROGRESSIVE DESIGN-BUILD-PROCESS, IS WE'RE ABLE TO COLLABORATE WITH THE DESIGN-BUILDER AS WELL AS COUNCIL AND THE PUBLIC AND SHOW THEM THE COST AS WE MOVE THROUGH THE PROJECT AND WE GIVE EVERYBODY AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE DECISIONS, TO DRIVE COSTS DOWN, TO IMPROVE OPERATIONS, ET CETERA. SOMETHING THAT OUR TRADITIONAL DESIGN-BID-BUILD PROCESS DOESN'T AFFORD US. SO I'M GOING TO TURN THIS OVER TO DREW MOLLY. HE'S GOING TO WALK US THROUGH THE IMPACTS TO THE CCW RATEPAYER. >> Molly: THANKS, BRETT. DREW MOLLY, CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER FOR CORPUS CHRISTI WATER. SO I'M GOING TO START BY TALKING ABOUT THE IMPACT TO THE RATEPAYER, BECAUSE THE IMPACT TO THE RATEPAYER IS SOMETHING IS OF UTMOST IMPORTANCE AS WE'VE ALWAYS TALKED ABOUT THE PROJECT THROUGH THE CRITICAL LENS, THE ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP, THE AFFORDABILITY AND MAKING SURE WE HAVE WATER DIVERSIFICATION IN OUR WATER SUPPLY. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A VERY IMPORTANT PART OF THE DISCUSSION. AS YOU CAN SEE ON THIS SLIDE HERE, WE -- WE HAVE THE RESIDENTIAL AVERAGE MONTHLY INCREASE. AND SO WE PRESENTED THIS BACK LAST YEAR WHEN WE GOT THE INITIAL ESTIMATE OF $757 MILLION. THE INITIAL ESTIMATE WAS A $9.96 PER MONTH FOR A TYPICAL 6,000-GALLON PER MONTH RESIDENTIAL USER, AND WITH THE 10% COST MODEL OR 10% OF THE DESIGN BEING COMPLETE AT THE ESTIMATE OF THE $1.189 BILLION, THAT IMPACT IS AN ADDITIONAL DOLLAR -- I THINK IT'S $1.42, BUT ULTIMATELY IT'S $11.38 IS THE IMPACT. SO I'M GOING TO TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT HOW WE GET TO THE NUMBERS BELOW. BUT THE NUMBER I JUST PUT UP BELOW IS THE RESIDENTIAL AVERAGE MONTHLY WATER BILL, AND THAT'S INCLUSIVE OF NOT JUST THIS WATER SUPPLY PROJECT, BUT ALSO THE OTHER PROJECTS THAT WE HAVE IN OUR CIP PROGRAM. SO -- AND WE'RE GOING TO BE TALKING MORE ABOUT THAT OBVIOUSLY IN THE WEEKS TO COME, BUT WE HAVE A NUMBER OF CIP PROJECTS THAT ARE NECESSARY TO JUST -- TO MAINTAIN AND REHABILITATE THE EXISTING INFRASTRUCTURE THAT BEHAVE. WE HAVE. SO YOU CAN SEE THE INITIAL ESTIMATE OF $74.06. THAT 72.64. THE NEW NUMBER NOW IS $74.06. THIS GIVES YOU A SNAPSHOT AT YEAR 10 IN THE FAR RIGHT COLUMN. THIS IS THE PROJECTED WATER RATES WITHOUT ANY NEW WATER SUPPLY PROJECTS, INCLUDING THE INNER HARBOR WATER TREATMENT CAMPUS, SO THIS WOULD JUST BE WHAT THE RATES WOULD LOOK LIKE OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS WITH A SNAPSHOT AT THE 10-YEAR MARK WITHOUT ANY NEW WATER SUPPLY PROJECTS. AND YOU CAN SEE THE CURRENT WATER RATE IN 2025 ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE SCREEN AT $37.29 IN FY '25, AGAIN, THIS REPRESENTS A RESIDENTIAL USER WHO CONSUMES 6,000-GALLONS OF WATER PER MONTH, AND I WANT TO BE CLEAR, THAT WE WILL BE SHOWING PROJECTIONS FOR OTHER CUSTOMER CLASSES BESIDES JUST THE RESIDENTIAL USER ON LATER SLIDES. WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT? IT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE A MAJORITY OF THE COSTS FOR THIS PROJECT, WHICH IS WHAT I'M GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT IN A SECOND WITH THE OTHER CUSTOMER CLASSES, BUT WE HAVE OTHER CUSTOMER CLASSES LIKE LARGE VOLUME USERS, WHO FRANKLY, ARE GOING TO BE PAYING A LARGE PART OF THIS PROJECT, MORE THAN 50%. YOU CAN SEE -- YOU CAN SEE AS YOU GO ACROSS THE SCREEN FROM FY '25 TO FY '30 THAT THE COST INCREASES FROM $37.29 PER MONTH IN FY '25 TO $65.78 IN 2030. THE NEXT ROW WE ADD IS THE PROJECTED INCREASE FOR A 6,000-GALLON PER MONTH RESIDENTIAL USER WITH A FUTURE WATER SUPPLY, WHICH INCLUDES THE INNER HARBOR WATER TREATMENT CAMPUS. AS YOU CAN SEE, THE RATES REMAIN STEADY UNTIL FY '28 AT WHICH CASE RATES INCREASE BY 4.78 CENTS PER MONTH AND THEN THE $11.38 PER MONTH IN FY '29. THE RATES ARE NOT CUMULATIVE, WHAT I MEAN BY THAT IN THE FY '29 RATES OF $11.38, IT DOESN'T ADD THE $4.75 FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR. WHY DO THE RATES NOT INCREASE FOR THE INNER HARBOR WATER TREATMENT CAMPUS UNTIL FY '28 AND '29, THE ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION IS THE RATES DO NOT INCREASE BECAUSE WE'RE USING THE RESERVED AND DEDICATED INDUSTRIAL FUNDS OVER THE NEXT THREE YEARS TO PAY FOR THE UP FRONT COST OF THE DESAL PROJECT. SO WE CURRENTLY HAVE ABOUT $25 MILLION IN RESERVES AS WE SPEAK, AND THOSE RESERVES ARE GOING TO BE USED TO PAY FOR THE COST IN THE NEXT THREE YEARS UNTIL FY '28, AND THEN AT THAT POINT, WE HAVE A SMALL INCREASE, FOLLOWED BY THE INCREASE THAT I JUST MENTIONED IN FY '29. OKAY. OKAY. SO THIS SLIDE IS JUST A LITTLE BIT OF A DIFFERENT VERSION OF THE SLIDE THAT WE DISPLAYED PREVIOUSLY, AND THIS BASICALLY JUST PUTS THAT SLIDE THAT WE DISPLAYED PREVIOUSLY IN A BAR GRAPH. AND YOU CAN SEE ON THIS SLIDE THAT OUR BASE COSTS, WHICH ARE REPRESENTED IN BLUE, REMAIN RELATIVELY FLAT, AND THE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE NEW WATER SUPPLY PROJECT REPRESENTED IN GREEN STARTING IN '28, AND THEN REMAINING CONSISTENT OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL YEARS. THE ORANGE COLOR INDICATES THE PROJECT'S PLAN FOR AND INCLUDED IN OUR LONG-TERM CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN. WE HAVE A NUMBER OF PROJECTS THAT ARE IN DESIGN PHASE AND IN CONSTRUCTION PHASE. AGAIN, I JUST WANT TO REITERATE THAT THESE PROJECTS THAT ARE IN OUR CIP PROGRAM, THEY INCLUDE PROJECTS THAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT, WE'VE BEEN PLANNING FOR FOR MANY YEARS, THEY'RE IMPORTANT PROJECTS, THEY ARE PROJECTS LIKE MAINTAINING AND REHABILITATING EXISTING INFRASTRUCTURE LIKE OUR WESLEY SEALS DAM AND OUR CH CHOKE CANYON AND MAKING IMPROVEMENTS TO OUR WATER MAIN REPLACEMENT PROGRAM WHERE WE'RE REPLACING LARGE AMOUNTS OF WATER MAINS THAT NEED TO BE REPLACED BEYOND THEIR USEFUL LICE. THE MIP IS ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF INFRASTRUCTURE THAT IS AGING AND WE NEED TO MAINTAIN IT. THESE ARE ALL CAPITAL INVESTMENTS THAT WE ARE MAKING EVERY 82ER TO MAINTAIN AND IMPROVE OUR SYSTEM. AND I WILL SAY AT THE END OF THE DAY, THERE IS AN UPWARD PRESSURE ON OUR RATES TO MAINTAIN AND IMPROVE THE EXISTING INFRASTRUCTURE WE HAVE. AND, IN FACT, THIS SLIDE SHOWS A MAJORITY OF OUR PROJECTED RATE INCREASES ARE TO MAINTAIN AND REPLACE EXISTING INFRASTRUCTURE, NOT BUILD NEW INFRASTRUCTURE, ALTHOUGH IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THE GREEN REPRESENTS THE NEW INFRASTRUCTURE, THE NEW WATER SUPPLY THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE BRINGING ONLINE. SO AS BRETT SHOWED EARLIER, OUR INITIAL CAPITAL BUDGET INCREASED FROM 757 MILLION TO THE $1.189 BILLION FOR THE INNER HARBOR PROJECT BASED ON A 10% DESIGN. AS BRETT MENTIONED EARLIER, THIS IS NOT A FINAL COST TO CONSTRUCT THE PLANT. WE WILL BE WORKING TO BRING THESE COSTS DOWN OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL MONTHS. THAT'S THE BENEFIT OF USING A PROGRESSIVE DESIGN DELIVERY METHOD. YOU HAVE THE ABILITY TO COLLABORATE AS THE PROGRESS -- AS THE PROJECT PROGRESSES. THE CAPITAL COST THAT YOU SEE HERE TRANSLATE TO A DEBT SERVICE -- LET'S SEE HERE -- TO A DEBT SERVICE COST OVER A 30-YEAR FINANCE PERIOD. THE INTEREST WE PAY FOR THIS DEBT IS FRANKLY LOWER THAN ANY OTHER INTEREST THAT YOU WOULD FIND IN THE MARKET. IT'S THE LOWEST INTEREST BECAUSE THE STATE OF TEXAS HAS SOLD BONDS FOR THIS PROJECT AT A LOWER INTEREST SUBSIDIZING OUR RATES. WE SOLD $222 MILLION OF BONDS LAST NOVEMBER TO BEGIN PAYING FOR THIS PROJECT. THE INTEREST RATE OF APPROXIMATELY 3.75% IS A VERY GOOD INTEREST RATE AND, IN FACT, WHEN YOU COMPARE THIS FINANCING TO OTHER PROJECTS THAT WOULD INVOLVE PRIVATE FINANCING, FOR EXAMPLE, IT'S FAR LESS EXPENSIVE. I'LL SAY PRIVATE FINANCING TENDS TO BE IN THE 8 TO 10% INTEREST RANGE AND PRIVATE FINANCING TRANSLATES OVER 30 YEARS INTO LARGE FINANCIAL COMMITMENTS THAT OUR RATEPAYERS WILL BE SUBJECT TO. AND WHILE WE DON'T HAVE TO ISSUE OUR OWN DEBT TO IMPLEMENT A TAKE OR PAY CONTRACT WITH A THIRD PARTY, WE WOULD BE PAYING THEIR DEBT SERVICE AS A PASSTHROUGH COST WITHOUT OWNERSHIP OF THE ASSET. SO THE NEXT LINE HERE SHOWS OUR PROJECTED OPERATING COST. AND AS YOU CAN SEE OUR PROJECTED OPERATING COSTS HAVE DECREASED SIGNIFICANTLY AS A RESULT OF IMPROVED EQUIPMENT AND SOME OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCIES. AND FRANKLY, THE SAVINGS ALONE OVER 30 YEARS WITHOUT ADJUSTMENTS FOR ESCALATION WOULD BE $360 MILLION. SO IN TOTAL, THE INITIAL PROJECTED ANNUAL OPERATING COST PER YEAR IN FISCAL YEAR '29 WAS $87 MILLION PER YEAR, AND IT'S NOW PROJECTED TO BE AT $100.1 MILLION PER YEAR OR A 15% INCREASE OVER THE INITIAL ESTIMATE. AND THEN FINALLY, YOU CAN SEE HERE THE ESTIMATED COST PER GALLON OF THE INNER HARBOR WATER TREATMENT CAMPUS BASED ON THE INITIAL ESTIMATE OF $7.95 TO THE ESTIMATE AT THE 10% DESIGN OF $9.14 PER THOUSAND GALLONS, AND I JUST WANT TO BE CLEAR, THIS IS NOT WHAT THE RATEPAYER IS PAYING. NO ONE WOULD BE PAYING $9.14, 1,000-GALLONS DIRECTLY. THIS IS BECAUSE WE HAVE OTHER SOURCES OF WATER, INCLUDING WATER FROM THE NUECES RIVER, LAKE TEXANA, COLORADO RIVER, AND SO WE DO WHAT IS OFTEN REFERRED TO AS HAVING A BLENDED RATE. SO WE'RE BASICALLY USING THOSE OTHER WATER SUPPLIES THAT ARE LESS EXPENSIVE WITH A SOURCE OF WATER THAT IS MORE EXPENSIVE. AND AS PROMISED, THIS SLIDE SHOWS THE NET IMPACT ON ALL, AND I'LL SAY ON ALL OUR RATEPAYERS, NOT JUST OUR RESIDENCE SLAL RATEPAYER. I WILL SAY THERE HAS BEEN A BIT OF A FALSE ANYWHERETIVE NARRATIVE WHICH IS THAT THE RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY WILL PAY THE ENTIRE COST OF THIS NEW WATER SUPPLY AND NOT SEE A DROP OF IT. I WILL SAY FOR THE RECORD, THAT IS NOT CORRECT. THE LARGE VOLUME INDUSTRY WILL PAY MORE THAN THEIR SHARE BECAUSE THEY'RE PAYING ALL THE PROPORTIONAL SHARE OF THE WATER THAT THEY USE AND THE VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTION TO THE FUNDS THAT ARE PUT INTO THE DROUGHT SURCHARGE FUND WHICH WILL PROVIDE AN ADDITIONAL ABOUT $180 MILLION OVER THE 30-YEAR LIFE OF THIS PROJECT. SO AS YOU CAN SEE ON THIS SLIDE, THE AVERAGE MONTHLY RESIDENTIAL USER WHO CONSUMES 6,000-GALLONS OF WATER PER MONTH WILL SEE $11.38 INCREASE IN THEIR MONTHLY WATER BILL. IF THE CITY IS SUCCESSFUL IN LOCKING IN GRANT FUNDING TO THE TUNE OF $180 MILLION, WE WOULD SEE A MONTHLY WATER BILL INCREASE OF 9.92 WHICH IS A SLIGHT REDUCTION OF WHAT WE SHOWED LAST YEAR. THE NEXT SIDELINE DOWN IS A PROJECTED MONTHLY INCREASE FOR TYPICAL COMMERCIAL WATER USER'S BILL. THIS COULD BE AN EXAMPLE OF, LIKE, SAY A WALMART OR ANOTHER COMMERCIAL BUSINESS. YOU CAN SEE THE INCREASE IS PROJECTED TO BE $206.83 PER MONTH. AND THEN LASTLY -- LASTLY, YOU CAN SEE THE PROJECTED INCREASE FOR A LARGE VOLUME INDUSTRY USER OF $462,986 AND THAT WOULD BE AN EXAMPLE OF A LARGE VOLUME USER, AND WE HAVE A NUMBER OF THOSE. SO, AGAIN, THE LARGE VOLUME USER CLASS WILL PAY A LARGE PART OF THE COST ASSOCIATED WITH THIS PROJECT. AND WITH THAT SAID, I'LL TURN IT BACK TO BRETT. >> ALL RIGHT. SO WE'RE GOING BACK TO THE IT ERATIVE DESIGN MODEL AGAIN. WHAT THIS IS ILLUSTRATING AS WE PROGRESS THROUGH THIS PROCESS, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO CONTINUE DRIVING COST DOWN, SO WHEN THE COST MODEL WAS FIRST DEVELOPED, WHEN KIEWIT HAD TO SAY, WE'VE GOT TO DRAW A LINE IN THE SAND AND START PUTTING A COST TOGETHER, THEY DID SO IN APRIL OF THIS YEAR, BECAUSE AT SOME POINT, THEY HAD TO STOP, BUILD THE INITIAL MODEL, AND THEN UPDATE IT WITH INFORMATION THAT CAME OUT OF THE BASIS OF DESIGN. SO WHEN THEY FIRST PUT THE NUMBER TOGETHER, IT ONES ACTUALLY 1.2 BILLION, AND THAT WAS IN APRIL. SO FROM APRIL UNTIL WE GOT THE FINAL COST MODEL, THE NUMBER HAS DROPPED DOWN TO .99, WHICH 997 MILLION AND THE REASON IT'S DROPPED IS BECAUSE WE'VE CONTINUED TO DO DESIGN WORK, GET SMARTER ON THE NEEDS FOR THE PROJECT, IDENTIFY RISKS, IDENTIFY ASSUMPTIONS, ET CETERA, WORK WITH VENDORS, WORK WITH CONTRACTORS TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE PROJECT. AND, AGAIN, JUST TO REITERATE, WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO MOVE THROUGH THAT LITTLE WAVY LINE AND WORK OUR WAY TOWARDS THE 60% DESIGN. SO IT'S AN ITERATIVE PROCESS. WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO WORK AND HOPEFULLY NEXT WEEK AT COUNCIL WE GET THE APPROVAL TO MOVE FORWARD TO THE 60% DESIGN AND WE CONTINUE WORKING THROUGH THIS PROCESS AND REFINING THE DESIGN. SO THIS IS A HIGH LIFE LEVEL BREAKDOWN OF THE 1.81 BILLION STARTING FROM TOP TO BOTTOM. WE HAVE AN OWNER ADVISER, WHICH IS FREESE & NICHOLS, WHO IS SUPPORTING US BOTH THROUGH PHASE 1 AND PHASE 2, SO IN THE PHASE 1 PORTION, THEY'RE HELPING OUT WITH TECHNICAL SUPPORT ADVISING ADMINISTRATION, REVIEW OF OUR DESIGNS, PAY ESTIMATES, THEY'RE DOING A LOT. AND WE ALREADY AWARDED THAT TO THEM LAST YEAR. WE AWARDED A CONTRACT TO FREESE & NICHOLS TO SUPPORT US THROUGH PHASE 1. WE'RE GOING TO ALSO GET ANOTHER TASK ORDER AWARD TO THEM FOR THE SERVICES DURING THE CONSTRUCTION, AND THAT WILL INCLUDE CONSTRUCTION ADMINISTRATION, IT WILL INCLUDE ON SITE CONSTRUCTION TECHNICAL REVIEWS, ET CETERA. THEY'RE GOING TO CONTINUE THE ADMINISTRATION THEY'VE ALREADY BEEN DOING AND CONTINUE THAT THROUGH CONSTRUCTION. AND THAT'S REPRESENTED BY THE $35 MILLION. THE PHASE 1A PLANNING PILOT PROTOCOL AND DESIGN, BASICS OF DESIGN IS COMPLETE. THAT'S PHASE 1A. WE ARE CURRENTLY IN PHASE 1B. THAT'S AN ONGOING EXERCISE. AND THAT'S REPRESENTED BY $95 MILLION. NOW THAT'S INCLUSIVE OF DESIGN, DOLLARS TOO. AND SOME OF THOSE DESIGN DOLLARS WE STILL NEED TO BRING TO COUNCIL FOR APPROVAL. OKAY. SO THAT $95 MILLION HASN'T BEEN COMMITTED. THAT'S AN ESTIMATE OF WHAT ALL OF PHASE 1B IS GOING TO BE. WE STILL NEED TO WORK WITH YOUR TEAM ON AMENDMENTS. I DON'T WANT ANYBODY TO THINK THAT WE'VE ALREADY APPROVED $95 MILLION FOR THAT EFFORT. WE'RE STILL GOING TO COME BACK TO EXECUTE FUTURE AMENDMENTS. THAT'S JUST AN ESTIMATE. PHASE 2, THE $52 MILLION FOR FINAL DESIGN AND ENGINEERING SERVICES, THAT IS THE ESTIMATE TO TAKE THE DESIGN FROM 60% TO 100% AS WELL AS DOING OTHER CONSTRUCTION PROCUREMENT AND OTHER ACTIVITIES ASSOCIATED WITH GETTING THE PROJECT MOVING. LASTLY, PHASE 2 CONSTRUCTION, WHICH IS 997. I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THOSE FOUR ITEMS. THAT'S ALL PLANNING, DESIGN, ADMIN SERVICES. WHEN WE GET TO THE NEXT SLIDE, THAT'S HOW THAT'S BUILT UP. THOSE FIRST FOUR ITEMS ON SLIDE 16 IS WHAT MAKES UP THE $192 MILLION. AND THIS IS JUST A HIGH-LEVEL BREAKDOWN OF WHAT IS INCLUDED IN THOSE COSTS. I WON'T GO THROUGH ALL OF THAT. LASTLY, THIS IS A CONSTRUCTION SUMMARY OF THE COST THAT MAKE UP THE $997 MILLION. NOW NEXT STEPS WE DO HAVE A 30% DESIGN SUBMITTAL. THAT IS PLANNED IN SEPTEMBER OF THIS YEAR. AT THAT TIME KIEWIT WILL PRODUCE A COST MODEL AND THEY'LL PRODUCE ANOTHER DESIGN SUBMITTAL, 60% LATER THIS YEAR, OCTOBER/NOVEMBER TIME-FRAME. WHICH, AGAIN, THEY'LL PRODUCE AN UPDATED COST BUT AT THAT TIME IT WILL BE THE GUARANTEED MAXIMUM PRICE, WHICH WILL BE BROUGHT IN FRONT OF COUNCIL FOR APPROVAL. WE DO HAVE SOME UPCOMING AMENDMENTS PLANNED. THE FIRST OF WHICH BEING NEXT TUESDAY, WHICH WILL TAKE US FROM A 10% DESIGN TO A 60% DESIGN. AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE SOME ADDITIONAL AMENDMENTS FOR EARLY WORK PACKAGES THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE PUTTING TOGETHER LATER THIS YEAR AND BRINGING TO COUNCIL FOR REVIEW AND CONSIDERATION. THE NEXT BRIEFING IS PLANNED FOR AUGUST 12 AND THEN WE'LL CONTINUE PROVIDING DEMONSTRATION PLANT CONSTRUCTION UPDATES. AND THEN AGAIN NEXT WEEK, TUESDAY, WE'LL HAVE AN AGENDA ITEM FOR THE DESIGN AMENDMENT TAKING US FROM 10% TO 60%. WE STAND BY FOR ANY QUESTIONS. >> Mayor Guajardo: WELL, THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION. COUNCILWOMAN VAUGHN. >> Vaughn: I GOT SEVERAL. I PROBABLY WON'T GET TO ASK ALL OF THEM, BUT LET'S START FROM THE BEGINNING. IT'S GOING TO BE $1.2 BILLION ROUGHLY, WE'RE THINKING. SO THE SWIFT LOANS, HOW MUCH DID YOU GET FOR THE SWIFT LOANS? >> $757 MILLION. >> Vaughn: YOU GOT FROM THE SWIFT LOANS? >> YES, MA'AM. >> Vaughn: AND YOU'RE THINKING YOU'RE GOING TO GET HOW MUCH FOR THE GRANT THAT YOU'RE GOING TO APPLY FOR A GRANT. I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE'RE PAYING FOR THIS. >> Molly: WE'RE STILL PURSUING GRANT FUNDING AND THE BUREAU OF RECLAMATION HAS A GRANT PROGRAMMING FUND THAT WE WOULD BE ELIGIBLE FOR. AND SO WE'RE WORKING ON THAT BUT WE ALSO WANT TO BE VERY CLEAR AND TRANSPARENT THAT IF WE DON'T GET THE GRANT FUNDING THE RATE IS GOING TO BE AS SHOWN. WE WANTED TO SHOW A RATE WITH IT, IF WE WERE SUCCESSFUL, AND A RATE WITHOUT IT. >> Vaughn: SO WHERE ARE WE GOING TO GET THE MONEY? 757, WE HAVE TO BORROW THE MONEY. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DO CERTIFICATE OF OBLIGATIONS, IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE PLANNING. WE DON'T KNOW IF WE'RE GOING TO GET THOSE GRANTS. >> Molly: RIGHT. WHAT I WOULD TELL YOU IS IT MAY BE THAT, CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION. >> Zanoni: EXCUSE ME, DREW. IT'S NOT GOING TO BE CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION. YEAH. >> Vaughn: YOU SAID YOU WEREN'T GOING TO BE DOING THOSE. >> Zanoni: IT WOULD BE MOST LIKELY REVENUE BONDS PAID FOR BY THE WATER RATES. HOWEVER, WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO BACK TO SWIFT FUNDING TO GET THE FULL AMOUNT OF LOW-INTEREST LOANS. THAT'S SOMETHING WE NEED TO PURSUE, GOING TO THE TEXAS WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD. THEY TOLD US WHEN WE WANTED -- WHEN WE APPLIED FOR THE THIRD LOAN THAT IF YOU NEED MORE, WE'LL BE HERE. THEY TOLD US THAT. AT ONE OF OUR MEETINGS WITH THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR. SO THEY KNOW, TEXAS WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD HAS A LOT AT STAKE FOR THIS PROJECT, AS YOU HEARD TODAY FROM ONE OF THE PRESENTERS, I THINK DAVID LOBE. THIS IS THE SINGLE BIGGEST LOAN EVER MADE IN THEIR PROGRAM. THEY KNOW IT COULD HAVE BEEN MORE. THEY KNEW WE DIDN'T HAVE THE DESIGN. THEY PERSONALLY TOLD US IF YOU THINK YOU NEED MORE, COME TO US FIRST. SO THAT'S PROBABLY WHERE WE'RE GOING TO GO FIRST. >> Vaughn: THAT'S AN IMPORTANT STATEMENT BECAUSE WE NEED TO KNOW WHERE THE MONEY IS COMING FROM. I DON'T THINK WE HAVE EVER DISCUSSED THAT BEFORE. >> Zanoni: WE DIDN'T BECAUSE WE DIDN'T HAVE THE PRICE BEFORE. >> Vaughn: SO, THANK YOU. ON PAGE -- WHERE YOU SAID PHASE 1. I THINK WE TALKED ABOUT THIS. I'M JUST CLARIFYING MYSELF HERE. SO YOU COMPLETE -- HOW MUCH DID YOU PAY TO DATE, $10 MILLION ON PHASE 1? >> SO PHASE ONE CAN KIEWIT, PHASE 1A WAS $9.2 MILLION. WE HAVEN'T PAID ALL OF IT BUT WE'RE 90% BILLED ON THAT. >> Vaughn: BUT WE HAVEN'T BILLED FOR JUNE AND JULY, I THINK YOU SAID. >> THAT'S CORRECT. >> Vaughn: SO PHASE 2 -- I'M TRYING TO GET MY NOTES HERE. WAIT A MINUTE. DON'T LET THAT CLOCK TICK, GUYS. LET'S SEE. I'M ON 3. HOW MUCH HAVE WE SPENT ON PHASE 1B AND ARE -- YOU SAID YOU HAD FOUR TOTAL AMENDMENTS IN THERE AND ONE OF THEM WAS A DEMONSTRATION PLANT. HOW MUCH HAVE WE SPENT THERE? >> SO FOR PHASE 1B TO DATE, WE'VE SPENT $8.8 MILLION. $8.3 MILLION. >> Vaughn: ARE THOSE FOUR AMENDMENTS IN THAT? >> FOR THE BILLING FOR MAY WE DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING FOR AMENDMENTS 2, 3, AND 4. >> Vaughn: 2, 3, AND 4 AREN'T INCLUDED. >> THEY'RE GOING TO BE ON THE JUNE BILLING BUT I HAVEN'T PAID ANYTHING ON THEM TO DATE. >> Vaughn: THAT'S WHAT I WANTED TO KNOW. THEY AREN'T INCLUDED. LET ME ASK YOU IN THE INNER HARBOR, ISN'T IT THE MOST DIFFICULT WATER TO TREAT? THIS IS WHAT I'M BEING TOLD BECAUSE IT'S THE SHIP CHANNEL. THE TUG BOATS ARE COMING IN THERE. IT'S DIRTY. IS IT MORE DIFFICULT TO TREAT THAN THE OTHER WATER BECAUSE OF THE WATER QUALITY? >> JASON CAN JUMP IN TOO BECAUSE JASON KNOWS THIS WELL. I WOULD SAY IT'S DIFFERENT. I MEAN, THIS IS A NEW WATER SUPPLY. THIS IS A -- IT'S A DIFFERENT SOURCE AND I WILL TELL YOU THAT WATER IS -- CAN BE DIFFICULT TO TREAT IF YOU DON'T HAVE THE TOOLS TO BE ABLE TO TREAT IT. WHAT I MEAN BY THAT IS THE CURRENT TREATMENT THAT WE HAVE TODAY CAN BE REAL CHALLENGING. I MEAN, OUR CURRENT WATER THAT WE TREAT TODAY COMES FROM THREE DIFFERENT RIVER SOURCES. IN FACT, A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO WHEN WE HAD THE HORRIBLE FLOODING UP IN THE GUADALUPE AREA, THERE WAS A DELUGE OF WATER THAT CAME DOWN THE COLORADO RIVER AND WE COULDN'T TREAT THE WATER. WE HAD TO TAKE A COUPLE OF DAYS OFF. FORTUNATELY WE HAD ENOUGH WATER IN LAKE TEXANA. AND THAT'S OKAY. THAT IS SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS BECAUSE SOMETIMES WHEN THERE'S THAT MUCH SEDIMENT -- WE'RE TALKING ABOUT 400 MTU OF MUDDY CHOCOLATE MILK COMING DOWN FROM COLORADO, IT'S A DIFFICULT WATER TO TREAT. BUT THE FOLKS AT THE PLANT CAN DO THAT. THEY HAVE THE SKILLS, RESOURCES, AND THE ABILITY TO TREAT DIFFICULT WATER. THIS WATER FROM THE INNER HARBOR, IT'S DIFFERENT. BUT THE TOOLS THAT WE HAVE WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR US TO BE ABLE TO TREAT IT VERY WELL, TREAT IT EFFECTIVELY AND EXCEED ALL THE REQUIREMENTS OF TCEQ AND EPA. I HEAR, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE HAD PUBLIC COMMENTS, WE'VE HAD PEOPLE TALK ABOUT PFOS. PFOS IS A FAIRLY STUBBORN CHEMICAL. YOU CAN'T REMOVE IT THROUGH CONVENTIONAL MEANS OF TREATMENT, WHICH HAS A LOT OF UTILITIES ACROSS THE UNITED STATES SCRAMBLING. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IS VERY BENEFICIAL ABOUT THE INNER HARBOR WATER TREATMENT CAMPUS IS THE TECHNOLOGY WE HAVE IS THE MOST EFFECTIVE TREATMENT FOR THOSE KINDS OF CHEMICALS. IT'S VERY EFFECTIVE AT OTHER CONSTITUENTS OF CONCERN. SO I WOULD SAY, TO YOUR POINT, YES. THERE'S GOING TO BE SOME TIMES WHEN THERE'S GOING TO BE CHALLENGES BUT IN MY PROFESSIONAL OPINION, I DON'T THINK IT'S GOING TO BE ANY MORE CHALLENGING THAN SOME OF THE WATER WE TREAT TODAY. >> Vaughn: SO IT COULD COST MORE TO TREAT IT, THAT'S WHAT I'M HEARING. >> ABSOLUTELY. THE OPERATIONAL COST TO TREAT THIS WATER IS GOING TO BE MORE EXPENSIVE. IT'S MORE ELECTRICALLY-INTENSIVE. FROM A CHEMICAL STANDPOINT, THERE'S CHEMICALS THAT WE USE AT OUR CURRENT TREATMENT PLANT TODAY AND CHEMICALS AND ELECTRICAL COST AND LABOR ALL GO INTO THE MIX FOR OVERALL OP-EX COST. >> Zanoni: IT HAS MORE FRESHWATER THAN SALT WATER. THERE'S 30 MILLION GALLONS OF FRESHWATER DISCHARGE INTO THE SHIP CHANNEL. JASON WILL TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT. IF WE COMPARE THIS JUST TO THE GULF OF AMERICA OR MEXICO, THIS WOULD BE LESS SALINITY. IT HAS 30 MILLION GALLONS OF FRESHWATER. >> AND IT'S MORE COMPLEX THAN JUST SALINITY. MY QUESTION WOULD BE, YOU KNOW, MORE EXPENSIVE RELATIVE TO WHAT? THE DEPTH OF THE INTAKE IS KEY AND THERE ARE VERY, VERY FEW AREAS IN THE COASTAL BEND YOU CAN GET AN INTAKE AT 20 TO 30 FEET, BECAUSE OUR BAYS AND ESTUARIES ARE SO SHALLOW. IF YOU LOOK AT THE BAY ON A REALLY WINDY DAY, IT LOOKS LIKE CHOCOLATE MILK. IF YOU GO UP INTO THE INNER HARBOR, BECAUSE IT'S RELATIVELY PROTECTED FROM PREVAILING WINDS, IT'S CLEAR WATER. SO THERE ARE CIRCUMSTANCES. HE MENTIONED TUGBOATS AND OTHER THINGS THAT YOU CAN GET SILT OR SEDIMENT SUSPENDED BY SHIP TRAFFIC. THAT'S A LESSON LEARNED FROM BROWNSVILLE. A LOT OF PEOPLE LIKE TO TALK ABOUT THAT PILOT. THAT PILOT HAD NO PRETREATMENT. THEY WERE TAKING THAT CHOCOLATE MILK AND PUTTING IT STRAIGHT ON THEIR MEMBRANES. TAMPA BAY HAD SOME PROCESS CHALLENGES. THEY DON'T HAVE NEAR THE PROTECTED PRETREATMENT YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE. CARLSBAD DOESN'T HAVE NEAR THE PROTECTIVE PRETREATMENT YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE. SO WE TALK ABOUT IT IN TERMS OF AN ENVELOPE. WE CALL IT A WATER QUALITY ENVELOPE. WHAT IS THE RANGE OF CONDITIONS YOU'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO TREAT FOR. YOUR PRETREATMENT AND THE TECHNOLOGY THE PROVIDER HAS TO TREAT A RANGE OF SALINITIES, MEANS YOUR ENVELOPE IS REALLY WIDE. EXPENSIVE RELATIVE TO WHAT, IN DIFFERENT AREAS OF THE WORLD, MAYBE. COASTAL BEND, WE THINK WE'VE GOT THE RIGHT SPOT AND YOU'VE GOT AN ENVELOPE THAT GIVES YOU THE RELIABILITY BECAUSE RELIABILITY AND AFFORDABILITY ARE TWO LEGS OF THE STOOL. >> Vaughn: I'M CONCERNED ABOUT OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE. THE OTHER QUESTION I ASK IS WHEN I WAS FIRST TOLD FOR OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE, IT WAS $43 MILLION AND THEN IT WENT DOWN TO 30 SOMETHING. THAT'S A LOT THAT CAME DOWN. WHAT CAME DOWN? WE KNOW ELECTRICITY IS GOING TO BE VERY EXPENSIVE. WHAT CAME DOWN? >> ELECTRICITY IS LESS THAN YOU MIGHT THINK. WE ACTUALLY RECOVER ABOUT 90-PLUS PERCENT OF THE PRESSURE IN THE SYSTEM. SO THE ELECTRICITY, IT'S BECAUSE YOU'RE A HIGH PRESSURE SYSTEM. BUT THE PRESSURE EXCHANGERS ARE ISOBARIC. YOU GET 90% OF THAT ENERGY BACK. THE 43 TO 32 IS A BIG NUMBER AND THAT'S EVERY YEAR. THAT'S WHY THE O&M MAKES SUCH A HUGE IMPACT. THE EFFICIENCIES COME FROM THE TECHNOLOGY PROVIDER, THE PARTNER THAT KIEWIT HAS. THEY HAVE A COOL TECHNOLOGY CALLED LOW WATT. IT TAKES A LITTLE BIT MORE EQUIPMENT BUT THEY OPERATE AT A LOWER FLUX, WHICH MEANS LOWER ELECTRICITY, FEWER CHEMICALS, AND YOU ULTIMATELY GET CHEAPER WATER, EVEN THOUGH YOU HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE EQUIPMENT. IT ALSO GIVES YOU A LONGER LIFE. I WOULD COMPARE IT TO DRIVING YOUR CAR AT THE RED LINE ALL THE TIME. YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GET VERY GOOD GAS MILEAGE, PROBABLY NOT GOING TO LAST AS LONG. THE LOW-WATT SYSTEM YOU KIND OF TAKE YOUR FOOT OFF THE GAS A LITTLE BIT BUT YOU STILL PRODUCE THE WATER YOU NEED. LOWER ENERGY, LOWER CHEMICAL. PART OF THAT BROUGHT THE CAPITAL COST UP BECAUSE IT'S MORE EQUIPMENT. BUT THE CHEMICAL AND ELECTRICAL SAVINGS -- AND WE ACTUALLY BENCHMARKED -- WE USED TO CALL IT A SINKING FUND. PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE. WE BENCHMARKED THAT AGAINST TAMPA BAY AND CARLSBAD AND OTHER PLANTS AND WE WERE ABLE TO BRING THAT DOWN RELATIVE TO THE INITIAL IMPACT. THE IMPACT YOU SEE DUE TO THAT O&M IS SIGNIFICANT. SOME OF IT IS DUE TO THE TECHNOLOGY PROVIDER. WE GOT A LOT SMARTER. WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO BENCHMARK MEMBRANE REPLACEMENTS AND OTHER THINGS AGAINST OTHER PLANTS. >> Vaughn: SO ON THE PARTS THAT YOU'RE PURCHASING, THESE ARE GOOD -- I MEAN, YOU CAN PURCHASE CHEAP PARTS. YOU CAN PURCHASE EXPENSIVE PARTS. AND THE CHEAPER PARTS YOU GET THE HIGHER YOUR OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE GO UP. I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN FOR $1.2 BILLION. MAKE SURE THAT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN. I'M ASSUMING THAT YOU ARE PURCHASING THE BETTER PARTS FOR THE PLANT. AM I CORRECT? >> YEAH. I CAN LOOK AT KIEWIT FOR THAT. IT DEPENDS WHICH PARTS YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT. >> Vaughn: WELL, I WANT TO TALK ABOUT ALL THE PARTS. >> THE DAF SYSTEM IS THE BEST STAINLESS STEEL YOU CAN GET. THE MEMBRANES HAVE TO BE HIGH QUALITY BECAUSE THEY ARE VETTED THROUGH TCEQ AND APPROVED AND NSF AND ALL OF THAT. THE PARTS ARE GIVEN A LIFE. PART OF THAT IS THE KIEWIT PROCESS OF DESIGN AND SPECIFYING THE RIGHT COMPONENTS. PART OF THE REASON WHY YOU HAVE OUR TEAM IS TO REVIEW ALL THE SUBMITTALS AND THE TECHNOLOGY THAT'S ACTUALLY GOING TO BE INCORPORATED AND VET THAT FOR YOU. WE ADVOCATE FOR YOU ON THE PROJECT. IT DEPENDS ON WHICH PARTS YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT BUT WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT BUDGET PARTS. >> Vaughn: I WANT TO MAKE SURE WHEN YOU'RE BUILDING THIS DESAL PLANT THAT WE HAVE THE BEST PARTS. IF YOU DON'T, IT'S LIKE A TRUCK. >> Zanoni: COUNCILWOMAN, CAN WE HAVE SOMEBODY FROM KIEWIT ADDRESS THAT BECAUSE COUNCILWOMAN VAUGHN HAS TALKED TO ME A LOT ABOUT QUALITY SOMETIMES PAYS OFF IN THE LONG RUN. IT'S NOT SOMETHING SHE'S JUST TALKING ABOUT TONIGHT. YOU'VE TALKED TO ME -- >> Vaughn: THE WHOLE TIME, YES. >> Zanoni: YOU ALL HAVE GIVEN US A PRICE. CAN SOMEBODY ANSWER THE QUESTION. ARE WE USING GOOD, HIGH-QUALITY PARTS IN THIS 10% DESIGN? >> YEAH. ONE OF THE THINGS WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON IS FOR THE -- >> Zanoni: CAN YOU INTRODUCE YOURSELF? >> JOE MILLER WITH KIEWIT. COUNCILWOMAN, WE'VE BEEN LOOKING AT LIFE COST. THAT'S A COMBINATION OF LOOKING AT THE INITIAL CAPITAL COST PLUS THE PROJECTED LIFE AND MAINTENANCE OF IT. WHEN WE MADE THE DECISION TO GO WITH AQUA TECH, AS AN EXAMPLE, WE LOOKED AT NOT JUST THEIR COST OF THEIR INITIAL COST TO BUY THE EQUIPMENT, BUT ALSO HOW LONG WILL IT LAST AND HOW LONG WILL IT COST TO OPERATE. AND WE BRING THAT BACK TO A LIFE CYCLE AND WE COMPARE THAT TO OTHER TECHNOLOGIES AND THAT'S GOING TO GIVE YOU THAT BEST VALUE. THAT'S JUST ONE EXAMPLE. WHEN WE LOOK AT A PIPE SOLUTION THAT'S GOING TO BE EXPOSED TO SALTWATER, WE WANT TO LOOK AT SOMETHING THAT CAN HANDLE IT FOR 30 YEARS PLUS. WHETHER IT BE FRP, AS AN EXAMPLE, THOSE ARE GOING TO STAND UP OVER TIME, VERSUS SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO FALL APART IN TEN YEARS AND CREATE HOLES. SIMPLE EXAMPLES, YOU KNOW, ANOTHER AREA WE SEE IS SOMETHING LIKE AS SIMPLE AS AN ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT ENCLOSURE. WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THE CITY STAFF AT SOME OF THEIR EXISTING PLANTS AND FINDING OUT THAT THEY HAVE EQUIPMENT ENCLOSURES THAT DON'T STAND UP. THEY END UP WITH LEAKS AND TO YOUR POINT, USING SUBSTANDARD FOR THE ENVIRONMENT. WE'RE LOOKING AT IN THAT 10% DESIGN BASE SAYING, NO, WE'RE GOING TO USE A CONCRETE ENCLOSURE, NOT SOMETHING CHEAP THAT'S GOING TO FALL APART. >> Vaughn: WE DON'T WANT TO GO IN AND HAVE TO CONTINUALLY REPAIR. >> YES. >> Vaughn: YOU ANSWERED MY QUESTION. I'M GOING TO SAY ONE THING. I'M TRYING TO FIND SOMETHING REALLY GOOD I LIKE ABOUT THIS PROJECT. I DON'T LIKE THE PRICE. I DON'T LIKE THAT. SOMETHING THAT I SPOKE TO YOU ABOUT THAT YOU BROUGHT UP WAS A GOOD POINT. O.N. STEVENS, OUR WATER TREATMENT PLANT, YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT THAT? >> Zanoni: WE CAN. I'LL HAVE DREW TALK MORE. RIGHT NOW, NOT JUST BEING THE WATER PROVIDER FOR CORPUS CHRISTI AND NUECES COUNTY, SIX OTHER COUNTIES. WE'RE A REGIONAL WATER PROVIDER AND WE ONLY HAVE ONE WATER TREATMENT PLANT. THAT'S IT. O.N. STEVENS WATER TREATMENT PLANT. SO 500,000 PEOPLE ACROSS SEVEN COUNTIES RELY ON US AND OUR ONE TREATMENT PLANT. MOST MAJOR TEXAS CITIES HAVE TWO TO THREE TREATMENT PLANTS. WE JUST HAVE ONE AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WE SERVE SEVEN COUNTIES. IT'S EXTREME RISK, WHAT WE HAVE IN OUR WATER DELIVERY SYSTEM. SO HAVING A SECOND TREATMENT PLANT LIKE THE INNER HARBOR, ALBEIT, IT'S 30 MILLION GALLONS, IT STILL GIVES US A REDUNDANT TREATMENT PLANT THAT WE DON'T HAVE TODAY. AND IT MINIMIZES RISK. RIGHT NOW, TO USE HERNANDEZ'S CONCEPT, ALL OUR EGGS ARE IN ONE BASKET. O.N. STEVENS. AND ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN. IN FACT, SOMETHING DID HAPPEN YESTERDAY WITH OUR POWER AND IT DIDN'T CAUSE AN ISSUE. WE HAD BACK UP SYSTEMS, BUT ANYTHING COULD HAPPEN TO TAKE THAT PLANT OUT AND THERE'S NO WATER FOR PLACES LIKE EMERGENCY ROOMS AND THE HOSPITALS OR MOST CRITICAL NEEDS. SO WE'VE KNOWN ABOUT THIS AND WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO ADDRESS IT. SO THIS IS ONE WAY TO ADD A SECOND PLANT. WHERE DREW CAME FROM -- DREW, TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE. THEY HAVE THREE TREATMENT PLANTS. AUSTIN, I THINK TWO OR THREE. >> WELL, I'LL JUST SAY THIS. I'VE BEEN FORTUNATE IN MY CAREER, I SERVE AS A BOARD OF DIRECTOR FOR THE AMERICAN WATERWORKS ASSOCIATION. IT'S THE LARGEST NONPROFIT PROFESSIONAL WATER ORGANIZATION IN THE WORLD AND THERE'S TWO DIRECTORS IN TEXAS. I HAPPEN TO BE ONE OF THEM AND I'M PROUD OF THE FACT THAT I REPRESENT THIS ORGANIZATION. LIKE YOU SAID, WE HAVE 50,000 MEMBERS. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT ALLOWS ME TO DO IS IT ALLOWS ME TO TALK AND NETWORK AND GET TO KNOW MY PEERS IN THE INDUSTRY. AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IS, AS THE CITY MANAGER SAID, IS THAT WE ARE THE EIGHTH LARGEST CITY IN TEXAS AND THE SEVEN CITIES LARGER THAN US ALL HAVE AT LEAST THREE WATER TREATMENT PLANTS. I'LL JUST GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE. THE CITY I SPENT MANY, MANY YEARS WORKING, HOUSTON, FOR EXAMPLE, HAS THREE WATER TREATMENT PLANTS. I REMEMBER LIKE IT WAS YESTERDAY. IN 2011 WE HAD A SITUATION IN HOUSTON WHERE WE ACTUALLY LOST ONE OF OUR WATER TREATMENT PLANTS. IT WAS AN 80 MILLION-GALLON A DAY PLANT AND WE LOST IT. AND IT WAS BECAUSE OF FLOODING. IT WAS BECAUSE WE COULD NOT TREAT THE WATER. WE WERE VERY FORTUNATE BECAUSE WE WERE ABLE TO INCREASE THE PRESSURE OF THE OTHER TWO EXISTING WATER TREATMENT PLANTS AND WE DIDN'T HAVE A MAJOR CRISIS. IN FACT, WE NEVER EVEN HAD TO BOIL WATER. YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES IT'S ACTUALLY NOT A BAD THING IF YOU HAVE WATER TO BOIL. WHEN YOU HAVE NO WATER, THAT'S A REALLY BAD DAY. AND SO I THINK WHAT'S IMPORTANT, AS THE CITY MANAGER SAID, IS THIS PROJECT IS A PROJECT THAT PROVIDES THAT RESILIENCY THAT THE CITY AND REGION NEEDS BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF FOLKS OUTSIDE OF THE CITY THAT DEPEND ON US FOR THEIR WATER. >> Vaughn: AND IT PROBABLY WOULDN'T RUN BUT MAYBE 30% OF THE CITY, BUT IT'S SOMETHING. >> Molly: IF WE HAVE SOMETHING THAT'S CATASTROPHIC THAT HAPPENS TO O.N. STEVENS, IT'S GOING TO BE A TOUGH DAY IN CORPUS CHRISTI AND THE REGION. EVEN A 30 MILLION-GALLON A DAY PLANT IS NOT GOING TO KEEP US OUT OF TROUBLE. BUT, TO THE POINT, WE CAN KEEP SOME WATER IN THE PIPELINE. THERE WOULD BE -- EVERY EFFORT WOULD BE MADE TO BASICALLY PROTECT LIFE AND HEALTH. SO HOSPITALS AND THOSE TYPES OF CRITICAL CARE FACILITIES, WE WOULD TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAD SOME WATER. YES, IT WOULD BE HORRIBLY INCONVENIENT FOR A LOT OF OUR CITIZENS. INDUSTRY WOULD PROBABLY BE HURTING AS WELL BECAUSE THERE WOULD PROBABLY BE MASSIVE RESTRICTIONS BUT THERE WOULD STILL BE WATER, ALBEIT NOT AT THE PRESSURE WE WOULD LIKE. >> Vaughn: I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING WE NEED TO ADDRESS AS A COUNCIL. THAT'S SO IMPORTANT. I BROUGHT THAT UP WHEN I WAS ON THE COUNCIL WAY BACK THEN AND WE HAVE NEVER DONE ANYTHING. >> Zanoni: IT'S EXTREME RISK. THESE OTHER WATER PROJECTS THAT WE'RE SUPPORTING, A LOT OF THEM ADD MORE WATER TO THE TREATMENT PLAN. EVANGELINE, IT COULD BE 24 MILLION GALLONS OF WATER BUT IT ADDS IT TO THE TREATMENT PLANT, THE ONLY ONE. THIS MINIMIZES RISK. IT GIVES US A SECOND TREATMENT PLANT. >> Vaughn: SOMETHING. >> Zanoni: AND WE CAN TAKE CARE OF CRITICAL NEEDS, BIDE TIME, WE CAN PROVIDE WATER STILL IF SOMETHING HAPPENS AT O.N. STEVENS. >> Vaughn: DAVID LOBE, I GAVE YOU SOMETHING I REALLY, REALLY LIKE ABOUT IT. >> Mayor Guajardo: COUNCILWOMAN PAXSON. >> Paxson: THANK YOU, MAYOR. QUESTION. AND I'M NOT SURE BUT PROBABLY A KIEWIT QUESTION BECAUSE IT'S ON THE TECHNICAL SIDE. INCREASED SALINITY. IS IT TRUE THAT THAT CAUSES ALGAE BLOOMS IN WATER BODIES? >> I THINK THAT'S A JASON QUESTION. >> IT MAY BE A DAVE QUESTION. THERE'S ACTUALLY DIFFERENT THEORIES. THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT SCIENCE WITH ALGAE AND OBVIOUSLY DIFFERENT ALGAES. >> Paxson: WHEN I GET THESE QUESTIONS -- >> SOME ARE BASED ON SALINITY. SOME ARE BASED ON NUTRIENT LOADS AT LOW SALINITY. SOME ARE BASED ON TEMPERATURES. IT IS SOMETHING THAT WE'RE MONITORING AND ACTUALLY TALKING TO PEOPLE ABOUT. THERE'S GREAT RECORDS, FORTUNATELY. THE GOOD NEWS IS THE PRETREATMENT PROCESS THAT'S BEING PROPOSED IS THE BEST ONE FOR ALGAE BLOOMS, NOT THAT UNDER THE WORST ALGAE CONDITIONS YOU COULD STILL GET 30 MGD, BUT UNDER CONDITIONS WHERE YOU'VE GOT A LOT OF ALGAL CELLS, THE DAF IS GOING TO BE ABLE TO HANDLE IT. >> Paxson: THAT WAS MY NEXT QUESTION IN RED OR BROWN TIDE SCENARIOS, DOES THAT EQUATE TO THE PLANT NEEDING TO STOP PRODUCTION? >> LIKELY NOT STOP. IT DEPENDS ON THE SEVERITY. MAYBE DERATE A LITTLE BIT ON THE PRODUCTION. SO INSTEAD OF 30, MAYBE YOU DROP DOWN TO 24 FOR A PERIOD OF TIME. BUT IT DEPENDS ON THE SEVERITY. >> Paxson: SURE. IF THERE'S A MORE SEVERE ISSUE, THERE'S LESS WATER. IF IT WAS MAXIMUM, IT COULD BE POTENTIALLY THE LEAST OR NONE. >> THIS GOES TO THE ENVELOPE I WAS TALKING ABOUT. SO IF YOU TALK ABOUT THE ENVELOPE OF WATER QUALITY, ALGAE IS IN THAT ENVELOPE, TO SOME DEGREE. SALINITY IS IN THAT ENVELOPE TO SOME DEGREE. TURBIDITY TSS. BUT YOUR ENVELOPE THAT KIEWIT IS DESIGNING FOR IS REALLY WIDE BECAUSE RELIABILITY IS ABSOLUTELY A PRIORITY. >> Paxson: I GET THAT. MY POSITION HAS ALWAYS BEEN I GOT TO MAKE SURE ENVIRONMENTALLY AND RATEPAYER, THIS IS NOT GOING TO CAUSE ANYTHING THAT'S GOING TO HARM EITHER OF THOSE. SO THAT'S WHERE MY QUESTIONS ARE USUALLY CENTERED. AS SOMEONE WHO LIVES HERE, WHO HAS ALWAYS LIVED HERE, IT'S A SMALL WATER AREA AND WE HAD RECENTLY AN INCIDENT WHERE WE WERE LUCKY ENOUGH THAT IT WASN'T A TERRIBLE INCIDENT, BUT THERE WAS A CHEMICAL SPILL IN THAT WATER. AND SO IT CONCERNS ME. AND I HADN'T REALLY GAVE TOO MUCH THOUGHT ABOUT THAT UNTIL THAT WAS BROUGHT TO OUR ATTENTION JUST AS RECENT AS THIS LAST WEEKEND THAT WE'RE PUTTING THIS IN A SPOT, LIKE COUNCILWOMAN VAUGHN SAID, YOU'VE GOT SHIPS COMING THROUGH AND THOSE HAVE CONTAMINANTS AND THOSE ARE STIRRING UP WATER AND THOSE ARE BRINGING THINGS IN. AND IT'S IN AN AREA THAT HAS A LOT OF INDUSTRY, A LOT OF PROCESSING, A LOT OF TO ME, WHAT YOU WOULD CLASSIFY IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR, AS HIGH-RISK SCENARIOS. THAT'S SOMETHING THAT, YOU KNOW, I'VE GOT TO ASK ALL THESE QUESTIONS. BECAUSE THAT'S A BIG CONCERN TO ME. WE'RE TRYING TO INVEST IN THIS THAT PROVIDES ANOTHER TREATMENT FACILITY, WHICH I AGREE NEEDS TO BE A HUGE PRIORITY FOR US. BUT THERE'S A LOT OF RISK IN THIS WATER RIGHT HERE, IN MY MIND. I KNOW YOU GUYS ARE DOING YOUR DUE DILIGENCE TO FIND ALL THAT OUT BUT I GOT TO ASK THOSE QUESTIONS. DREW AND PETER, INNER HARBOR ASIDE, LOOKING AT THIS PRESENTATION, THAT'S MY OTHER PART OF THIS CONCERN FOR ME IS THESE RATES. I MEAN, WE'RE LOOKING IN FIVE YEARS DOUBLING OUR WATER RATES. THAT'S A PROBLEM. >> Zanoni: RIGHT. THE REASON IS FROM DEFERRED MAINTENANCE. AND THE MORE WE DEFER, THE MORE THAT'S GOING TO GO UP. SIX YEARS AGO WHEN I GOT HERE AS THE CITY MANAGER, WHEN I WAS APPOINTED, NOT ONLY WERE STREETS IN A SIMILAR STRAIT BUT THE WATER AND WASTEWATER SYSTEM WAS AS WELL. IT'S BECAUSE THIS TYPE OF INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS REINVESTMENT CONSTANTLY. AND IT'S VERY EASY TO KEEP KICKING THE COST DOWN THE ROAD. THEY DID IT WHERE I CAME FROM IN SAN ANTONIO. SAN ANTONIO WATER SYSTEM. A LOT OF SYSTEMS ACROSS THE COUNTRY -- WE'RE NOT UNIQUE, CORPUS CHRISTI, IN TERMS OF DEFERRING NEEDED REPLACEMENT. SO THAT IS THE RESULT OF DECADES OF NEGLECT AND NOT MAKING THE RIGHT BUSINESS DECISION TO KEEP THE SYSTEM IN GOOD SHAPE. AND WE DIDN'T ALWAYS HAVE THE BEST STAFF RUNNING THE SYSTEM. AND SO RECORDS WEREN'T WELL KEPT. USE OF SOFTWARE TO REPLACE THINGS ON SCHEDULE WASN'T ALWAYS BEING DONE. THOSE TYPES OF THINGS. THIS IS THE RESULT OF NOT JUST ONE YEAR, NOT JUST ONE EVENT, REALLY DECADES OF WHERE WE GOT OURSELVES IN TROUBLE. FIVE YEARS AGO WE PUT TOGETHER A PLAN TO GET THE SYSTEM BACK UP AND RUNNING. AND BE ABLE TO PROVIDE SAFE, CLEAN DRINKING WATER RELIABLY. SAME THING IN THE WASTEWATER. WE GOT SUED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT BECAUSE OUR WASTE WAS LEAKING INTO THE FEDERAL WATERS. SO THAT'S THE PRICE THAT WE'RE AT. THE GOAL IS TO, ONCE WE GET CAUGHT UP, IS TO JUST INCREMENTALLY CONTINUE TO INVEST INTO IT. WE HAVE HAD TO ALMOST REBUILD THE O.N. STEVENS WATER TREATMENT PLANT BECAUSE IT WENT SO LONG BEFORE THINGS WERE INVESTED IN THE PLANT. WE HAVE THE SAME EYE-OPENING IMPACT. IT'S NOT BECAUSE OF THE DESAL. I THINK THAT SLIDE DREW SHOWED IS A GOOD ONE THAT DEMONSTRATES JUST BASE RATES. YOU'RE GOING TO SEE IT SOON WITH THIS BUDGET PROCESS. TO KEEP THE SYSTEM RUNNING AND MINIMIZE FUTURE INCREASES, BECAUSE WE LET IT GO SO BAD. THAT'S THE RESULT OF IT. >> Paxson: THAT'S KIND OF THE BASELINE OF MY COMMENT IS DOUBLING IN FIVE YEARS. I MEAN, WE'VE GOT PEOPLE THAT ARE GOING TO ENTER COLLEGE AND COME OUT AND NOW, BOOM, THEY'RE HIT WITH THIS DOUBLED -- WE'VE GOT FAMILIES. WE'VE GOT -- THAT'S A BIG ISSUE. AND SO FOR ME, YOU USED A GOOD TERM. EYE-OPENING. THIS IS A HUGE CONCERN AND WE'VE GOT TO TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT -- AND I SEE PEOPLE POST THINGS LIKE IT'S $9. IT'S $11 INCREASE, IT'S WHATEVER WHATEVER. BUT THAT'S COMING RIGHT BEHIND WHAT'S GOING TO BE A DOUBLE OF RATE PAYING. THAT'S A PROBLEM, WHETHER YOU LOVE IT OR HATE THE PROJECT, THAT'S OUR REALITY. AND I'M LETTING YOU KNOW THAT'S GOING TO BE WEIGHING ON MY MIND A LOT HERE. >> Zanoni: I BELIEVE THE TEAM HERE IS FOR THE BUDGET PROCESS, ARE GIVING YOU RATES FOR OTHER CITIES. HOUSTON HAS AN AUTOMATIC 10% -- WHAT IS IT, DREW? >> Molly: HOUSTON HAS AN AUTOMATIC CPI ADJUSTMENT PLUS GROWTH. EVERY YEAR IT'S NOT EVEN A COUNCIL DECISION, IT'S JUST AN AUTOMATIC CPI ADJUSTMENT PLUS GROWTH. IF YOU HAVE A 3% CPI AND YOU HAVE A 1% GROWTH FACTOR, IT'S AN AUTOMATIC 4% TO THE RATES. >> Paxson: I UNDERSTAND THAT. WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, I'M NOT REPRESENTING THE PEOPLE OF HOUSTON. I'M REPRESENTING THE PEOPLE OF CORPUS AND I CAN'T EVEN GUARANTEE THAT THEY'RE GOING TO GET COLAS OF 1% EVERY YEAR. THAT'S THE REALITY OF OUR MARKET RIGHT NOW. >> Molly: TOTALLY UNDERSTOOD. I'M NOT TRYING TO USE OTHER CITIES AS AN EXAMPLE. I OFTEN LIKE TO SAY WE LOOK AT OTHER CITIES, WE DON'T WANT TO EMULATE ALL OF THEM. SOME HAVE SOME THAT ARE PRETTY GOOD, OTHERS, I DON'T WANT TO EMULATE. I WON'T TALK ABOUT HOUSTON BUT MOST OTHER CITIES IN TEXAS, BIG AND SMALL, ARE FACING THE SAME THING THAT WE'RE FACING, WHICH IS AGING INFRASTRUCTURE. AWWA, THE ORGANIZATION THAT I WORK FOR, WE TALK ABOUT IT ALL THE TIME. AGING INFRASTRUCTURE HAS HUGE IMPACTS TO THE RATEPAYER AND SO THERE'S A LOT OF RATEPAYERS THAT ARE FACING THE SAME ISSUES THAT WE ARE FACING. AND I CAN TELL YOU THAT EVERYTHING THAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS WE'RE TRYING TO KEEP THOSE RATES HAS AFFORDABLE AS POSSIBLE. >> Zanoni: COUNCILWOMAN, JUST FOR THE RECORD, YOU DON'T WORK FOR AWWA, YOU'RE A VOLUNTEER MEMBER. >> Molly: IT'S A VOLUNTEER ORGANIZATION. >> Zanoni: YOU SAID Y YOU WORK FOR IT. >> Molly: NO, IT'S A TOTALLY VOLUNTEER. >> Zanoni: WE HEAR YOUR CONCERN COUNCILWOMAN. THANK YOU. >> Mayor Guajardo: COUNCILMAN ROY. >> Roy: YOU KNOW, YOU THINK ABOUT ALL THE POTENTIAL AREAS RELATED TO WATER THAT ARE ISSUES. I MEAN, THE MARY RHODES PIPELINE THAT WE HAVE DEPENDED ON THAT FOR QUITE SOMETIME. YOU KNOW, WE'VE DONE SOME EXTENSIVE STUDIES. WE'VE TALKED ABOUT WHAT WE CAN DO IN TERMS OF MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE A BACKUP PLAN IN SOME OF THE CRUCIAL AREAS OF THE PIPELINE TO MAKE SURE THAT IF IT WENT DOWN THAT WE COULD GET IT BACK ONLINE. BUT YOU'RE RIGHT. I MEAN, WE'RE FACING -- IT'S ALMOST LIKE THAT GAME. I THINK IT'S CALLED WHAC-A-MOLE. YOU POUND ONE DOWN AND THE LITTLE SQUIRREL OR WHATEVER POPS UP IN ANOTHER AREA. AND THAT'S AN ISSUE. I MEAN, THAT'S AN ISSUE BECAUSE WHAT I HAVE TO THINK ABOUT AND WHAT KEEPS ME UP AND WHAT WORRIES ME IS THAT WHAT IF WE DON'T DO SOME OF THESE THINGS? IT'S A TOUGH DECISION. WE GET PAID -- I SAY PAID. WE HAVE TO MAKE THOSE DECISIONS AND THEY'RE NOT POPULAR. THEY'RE NOT POPULAR AT ALL BECAUSE THERE'S A GROUP OUT THERE, THERE'S PEOPLE OUT THERE THAT THINK ONE WAY IN TERMS OF, OKAY, NO MATTER WHAT, THIS IS THE STANCE THAT THEY'RE TAKING. BUT IF WE DON'T HAVE WATER, IF WE HAVE A SITUATION WHERE, YOU KNOW, I CAME RIGHT ON COUNCIL RIGHT AT THE TAIL END OF WATER BOILS. AND ON TOP OF THAT, MY FIRST COUPLE OF WEEKS IN COUNCIL WAS WHEN WE HAD THE BILLING ISSUES, WHICH WAS COMPLETELY CRAZY. AND WE HAD TO DEDICATE AN ENTIRE COMMITTEE OF COUNCIL MEMBERS TO SIT THERE AND TRY TO TACKLE TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHY THEIR UTILITY BILLS WERE TRIPLE, QUADRUPLE WHAT THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO BE. FOR US NOT TO ACT, WHATEVER THAT IS, TO FIX THE THINGS THAT WE SHOULD FIX, I MEAN, WE HAVE LEARNED THAT LESSON NOT ONLY WITH WATER, WE HAVE LEARNED IT WITH OTHER AREAS. WE LEARNED WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE DON'T STAFF THE POLICE AND FIRE, WHICH IS INFRASTRUCTURE. AND WE LET THAT GO AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN WE'RE TRYING TO CATCH UP. IT IS TOUGH. WE'VE GOT TO MAKE SOME TOUGH DECISIONS HERE BUT I WANT EVERYBODY TO REALLY THINK ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS IF WE FAIL TO DO THAT. IF WE RUN OUT OF WATER, THEN AT THE END OF THE DAY THAT'S PROBABLY -- THERE IS NO OTHER ALTERNATIVE. AND SO THAT'S WHAT I THINK ABOUT. WE'VE GOT SOME TOUGH DECISIONS TO MAKE. WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE COST, I DO LIKE YOUR ANALYSIS BECAUSE I THINK THE FACT -- LET'S NOT DO ANYTHING. IF WE DON'T DO ANYTHING WITH DESAL, THE COST IS GOING TO DOUBLE ANYWAY. THAT'S UNFORTUNATE. WHEN YOU TAKE A LOOK AT YOUR HOUSE. I KNOW WHEN I FIRST MOVED HERE, WHAT I PAID FOR MY HOUSE AND I LOOK AT WHAT IT'S WORTH NOW. BUT I ALSO LOOK AT THE COST. I COULDN'T BELIEVE THAT AN AC UNIT WOULD RUN YOU $25,000 FOR A MID-SIZED HOUSE. BUT THAT'S THE COST RIGHT NOW, YOU KNOW? I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT A ROOF RUNS YOU $20,000 WHEN I CAN REMEMBER WHEN IT WAS $5,000. IT IS THE PROBLEM. AND I CAN'T REMEMBER GOING INTO A -- TO MY MECHANIC WITHOUT DROPPING $500, YOU KNOW? >> Mayor Guajardo: WHAT KIND OF CAR DO YOU DRIVE? JUST KIDDING. JUST JOKING. >> Roy: BUT YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT I'M SAYING? IT IS WHAT IT IS. AND THAT'S THE KIND OF ECONOMY THAT WE'RE IN. BUT ON THE FLIP SIDE, THERE IS SOME TRUTH TO THAT. WE'RE NOT GETTING, YOU KNOW, THE JOBS MAYBE OR THE INCREASES THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT. BUT THE COSTS ARE GOING UP. AND WE'VE GOT TO BE ABLE TO BE RESPONSIBLE AND ACT. AND I THINK THAT'S THE WORST THING THAT I CAN THINK ABOUT IS THAT FOR MY CHILDREN'S CHILDREN'S CHILDREN THAT IF I FAIL AS BEING PART OF THIS COUNCIL TO DO SOMETHING AND ACT APPROPRIATELY NOW THAT I'M GOING TO PUT THAT BURDEN ON -- IT'S JUST GOING TO BE GENERATIONAL AND IT'S NOT GOING TO GET BETTER. IT'S LATE AND I'M WORRIED. I MAY SLEEP. I MAY NOT. >> Mayor Guajardo: YEAH. THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN. I THINK A LOT HAS BEEN SAID. AND I REALLY APPRECIATE, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE ASKING A LOT OF QUESTIONS AND GETTING THEM OUT THERE IN THE PUBLIC. BECAUSE THIS HAS BEEN A VERY TRANSPARENT PROCESS. I WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU FOR THIS PRESENTATION. IT WAS EXCELLENT. I ESPECIALLY LIKE PAGE 11 BECAUSE PAGE 11 SHOWS US OUR REALITY. AND PAGE 11 SHOWS US WITHOUT INNER HARBOR WHAT IS HAPPENING TO OUR BILLS, RIGHT, OUR WATER RATE BILLS. AND WITH DESAL, INNER HARBOR. AND THAT IS VERY TELLING. SO TO PETER, YOUR POINT, THESE RATES ARE NOT NECESSARILY -- THEY'RE ABOUT DESAL BUT THAT MUCH. THIS IS ABOUT INFRASTRUCTURE, MAINTENANCE, CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT INVESTMENT. AND I THINK THAT IT WOULDN'T BE A BAD THING TO POINT OUT TO ALL OF US -- I MEAN, YOU MENTIONED A COUPLE OF THEM. BUT YOU'VE GOT THEM IN THE CIP. WELL, IT'S COMING IN THE BUDGET. THERE NEEDS TO BE A DOLLAR AMOUNT ASSOCIATED WITH WHAT THAT MEANS. AND I WOULD ALSO ADD THAT ON THE NEXT PAGE, 12, I WOULD LOVE TO SEE THIS, IF YOU'LL GIVE PERCENTAGES. THE BLUE REPRESENTS WHAT PERCENTAGE THERE UP TO THE $40 MARK. THE ORANGE REPRESENTS WHAT PERCENTAGE OF THAT BAR. AND THEN THE GREEN REPRESENTING WHAT PERCENTAGE. BECAUSE THIS IS REALITY. THIS IS REALITY. WE DON'T KNOW. YOU'RE AT $1.2 BILLION. SOMEONE SAID IT EARLIER. IT MAY HAVE BEEN IN PUBLIC COMMENT. PEOPLE ARE NOT GOING TO REMEMBER, OH, THEY PAID THIS MUCH. WHAT DID THEY PAY FOR THE MARY RHODES PIPELINE 25 YEARS AGO? ALL WE SAY IS THANK GOD SHE MOVED FORWARD WITH THE MARY RHODES PIPELINE, AGAINST EVERYONE SAYING NO. SO I THINK THAT WAS A GREAT STATEMENT FOR WHOEVER MADE THAT STATEMENT EARLIER. BUT IT STUCK WITH ME. BUT I REALLY THINK THIS HERE SAYS IT TELLS THE STORY THAT, YES, FOR MANY DECADES THINGS WERE NOT TAKEN CARE OF. COUNCILMAN HERNANDEZ WAS A BIG STICKLER ABOUT THAT. MAINTENANCE, MAKING SURE THAT MAINTENANCE IS INCLUDED IF WE'RE BUILDING A STREET, A POOL, IF WE'RE GOING TO GO FIX CONCRETE STREETS, WHICH WE NEVER DID. ANOTHER GOOD POINT. I'M SURE, LIKE YOU SAID, IT EXISTS IN MANY CITIES, BECAUSE IT'S VERY EASY AS A CITY MANAGER OR AS A BUDGET PERSON TO KIND OF KICK THAT CAN DOWN AND USE THE MONEY FOR WHAT YOU KNOW WE NEED NOW. SO I THINK COUNCILS HAVE BEEN EXTREMELY RESPONSIBLE. YOUR LEADERSHIP HAS BEEN RESPONSIBLE IN SEEING WE HAVE TO ADDRESS -- LET ALONE A LAWSUIT. THAT MADE US DO SOME THINGS. BUT IT'S MADE US RESPONSIBLE AND THIS HERE IS BEING RESPONSIBLE. NOW, I DON'T EXPECT ANYBODY TO RUBBER STAMP ANYTHING. I MEAN -- YEAH, IT'S NOT FUNNY BUT I DON'T EXPECT THAT. BUT I DO BELIEVE THAT THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS TO ASK. THIS IS NOT -- THIS ISN'T WHAT WE DO. THIS IS A ONCE IN A LIFETIME PROJECT FOR THIS COUNCIL, THE COUNCIL BEFORE, YOU KNOW, HAD A PIECE IN IT AND BEFORE THAT. BUT, YOU KNOW, IT'S THE RUBBER MEETS THE ROAD HERE AND SO I GUESS I REALLY JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE WAY THIS WAS ALL PRESENTED. BECAUSE IT WAS VERY WELL PRESENTED AND I APPRECIATE IT. COUNCILMAN BARRERA. >> Barrera: I ALSO WANT TO THANK YOU -- THANK YOU, MAYOR. YOU KNOW, JUST THE CALCULATION WITHOUT DESAL, WITHOUT THE INNER HARBOR, BECAUSE OF THE CIP, THE WATER RATES GO UP 76%. SO WE JUST NEED TO BE COGNIZANT OF THAT. YOU KNOW, ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO REBECCA STRONG ARMED ME INTO JOINING THE HISPANIC ASSOCIATION OF MUNICIPAL OFFICIALS. I HAVE BEEN ASKED A COUPLE OF TIMES TO TALK ABOUT WATER AND MOST OF THOSE COMMUNITIES ARE SMALLER. AND I TELL THEM -- ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I SAY IS THE CHALLENGE THAT YOU FACE IS WE'RE ALL SUBJECT TO INFLATION. HOWEVER, WHEN IT COMES TO US AS POLICYMAKERS AND WE LOOK AT OUR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS AND TAXES, THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN WE DON'T WANT TO PRESENT THE SAME INFLATIONARY COST. WHAT HAPPENS IS WE NEGLECT OUR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN SOMETHING HAPPENS. I MEAN, MY GOOD FRIENDS IN BEEVILLE, THEY HAVE BEEN FRIENDS FOR OVER A DECADE, YOU KNOW, THEY SUFFER FROM WATER BOILS BECAUSE THEY FEEL THAT PRESSURE. AND I THINK THAT'S THE CHALLENGE THAT -- I KNOW SOME PEOPLE WERE VERY CRITICAL OF ALL THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS THAT WE MADE BECAUSE OUR BUDGET, SINCE YOU HAVE BEEN HERE PETER, HAS DOUBLED AND THE MAJORITY OF THAT IS BECAUSE ALL THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS THAT YOU MADE. I THINK STREETS IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE. YOU KNOW, IN THE FIVE YEARS, OVER $700 MILLION IN STREET IMPROVEMENTS AND THAT'S BEEN BECAUSE OF THE COMMITMENT TO IMPROVE OUR INFRASTRUCTURE. AND IT'S IMPROVED OUR BOND RATING. AND THAT'S BECAUSE THERE'S A COMMITMENT. AND, YOU KNOW, I'VE DEVELOPED AN EVEN CLOSER RELATIONSHIP WITH VICTOR QUIROGA AND IF WE SHOW A COMMITMENT TO INVEST IN OUR INFRASTRUCTURE, JUST LIKE ANY GOOD BUSINESS DOES THAT'S BEEN AROUND. YES, IT'S VERY HARD, AS A BOARD OF DIRECTORS, TO MAKE THOSE DECISIONS AS A CAPITAL INVESTMENT. I KNOW IT'S AMUSING TO SOME, I THINK THOSE INDIVIDUALS THAT COME -- AND I WANT TO GIVE KUDOS TO JIM KLEIN BECAUSE HE'S STILL HERE AND HE'S COMMITTED TO WHAT HE'S PASSIONATE ABOUT. BUT, YOU KNOW, THE OTHERS OBVIOUSLY HAVE ALL LEFT. I KNOW JIM'S NOT PAID BUT, YOU KNOW, THE THING IS THAT WE ALL GET PASSIONATE ABOUT PROVING A POINT. AND THEN WE FORGET THE FACTS. OR THE PUBLIC FORGETS THE FACTS. I FEEL GOOD, IF THOSE GUYS ARE CRITICIZING ME, THEY'RE NOT BEING ACTIVISTS OUT THERE WITH THE GROUP THEY NEED TO CONVERT. I HAVE SEEN THREE POLLS THAT PUT US ANYWHERE BETWEEN 65 TO 75% OF THE PUBLIC WANTS US TO PURSUE DESAL. AND THEY PUT US HERE FOR A REASON TO MAKE TOUGH DECISIONS. AND, YOU KNOW, I THINK THE THING IS THAT WE'RE LISTENING TO THAT OTHER 30%. AND I'LL SAY IT AGAIN AND I'M SURE WITH MY ANECDOTAL STUFF. WHEN I GO TO MY CHURCH, THE ELDERLY PEOPLE SAY WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO GET THAT DESAL DONE? AND THEN THEY COME TO ME WHEN THEY SEE SOMETHING IN THE NEWS. GOING TO THE TAQUERIA TWICE A MONTH AFTER MASS. GOING TO SEE ALL THOSE PEOPLE. MY KIWANIS CLUB IS OVERWHELMINGLY SUPPORTIVE OF DESALINATION. HALF OF THEM ARE INDUSTRY. BY THE WAY, THOSE ARE SECRET MEETINGS AS WELL. NO RECALLS CALLED ON THAT STUFF. BUT THEY'RE SUPPORTIVE OF IT. I HAVE SAID BEFORE, MARK AND I TALKED TO A BUNCH OF BOY SCOUTS. THOSE KIDS WERE REALLY SHARP. WE NEEDED DREW THERE. AND, YOU KNOW, THOSE INDIVIDUALS REALLY WERE CONCERNED ABOUT THEIR FUTURE AND, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE LOOKING AT IT VERY PRAGMATICALLY. I KNOW YOU GUYS HAVE LOOKED AT EV RANCH, WHO I FOUND OUT JUST A WHILE AGO, THEY ARE A DISINTERESTED PARTY BECAUSE THEY COMMISSIONED A STUDY ON PFOS. WHAT IS IT? YOU'RE OBVIOUSLY LOOKING AT EVANGELINE EXTENSIVELY. AND ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, AND WE APPRECIATE THAT. SOUTH TEXAS WATER AUTHORITY, YOU GUYS HAVE SPENT A LOT OF TIME ON THAT, YOU KNOW, LOOKING AT EVERY OPTION THAT WE HAVE. AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR WORK WITH THE LEGISLATURE. YOU AND RYAN IN PROCURING THOSE DOLLARS SO THAT WAY WE CAN GET THE NUECES RIVER. YOU GUYS ARE PUTTING THIS ALL TOGETHER AND I THINK THIS IS ANOTHER PERFECT EXAMPLE OF OUR COUNCIL, AND RIGHTFULLY SO, IS LOOKING AT TRANSPARENCY AND THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF THAT TRANSPARENCY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> Mayor Guajardo: COUNCILMAN SCOTT. >> Scott: I'LL TRY TO BE FAST. TWO THINGS TONIGHT THAT REMINDED ME OF SOMETHING. IF YOU GUYS GET A CHANCE TO TALK TO THE TEXAS STATE AQUARIUM, I HAD A PRESENTATION WITH THEM FRIDAY AND THEY'VE USED DRONE TECHNOLOGY TO LOCATE ALGAE BLOOMS AND THEY BELIEVE THEY HAVE PERFECTED -- AND THERE MIGHT EVEN BE A PATENT ON THIS -- THE ABILITY TO BLOW SOME SORT OF WATER OR MAYBE EVEN IT'S A CHEMICAL IN THE WATER. THEY CAN PINPOINT ALGAE AS IT STARTS TO BLOOM, THEY CLAIM, AND CAN PREVENT IT FROM BECOMING A BIG BLOOM. I REMEMBER SITTING THERE GOING, WAIT A MINUTE. WE'RE KIND OF INTERESTED IN THIS. I DON'T KNOW THAT YOU CAN SEE ALGAE 30 FEET BELOW THE SURFACE, BUT I THINK IT'S DESIGNED FOR THREE-FOOT DEPTHS AROUND THE UNIVERSITY, WHICH IS WHERE MOST OF THAT TAKES PLACE. INTERESTING CONVERSATION BECAUSE ALGAE -- YOU TALKED ABOUT THE ALGAE. IT REMINDED ME I WANTED TO PASS THAT ON. I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S RELEVANT HERE BUT JASON, YOU MENTIONED IT. JASON, I WANT TO ASK YOU ONE QUICK QUESTION. I WAS THINKING ABOUT COMMENTS THAT WERE MADE THIS EVENING, A PUBLIC COMMENT ABOUT PFOS AND WE TALKED ABOUT THIS ISSUE ON THE INNER HARBOR AND THEN IT MADE ME THINK ABOUT ALGAE. TELL ME KIND OF, FROM AN ENGINEERING PERSPECTIVE, WHAT IS THE TEAM'S PERSPECTIVE ON ALL THESE POTENTIAL ISSUES? I MEAN, HAVE YOU THOUGHT THEM THROUGH AND DO YOU HAVE AN ANSWER AND IS IT AN ENGINEERING SOLUTION OR IS THERE SOME POINT YOU JUST CAN'T DO IT? >> SO THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS THAT WE DON'T EVEN PARTICULARLY TALK ABOUT BECAUSE THERE'S BEEN A CONSIDERATION FOR THEM AND THERE'S AN EASY ENGINEERING SOLUTION. SO LIKE PFOS, THERE WAS SOME CRITICISM BOTH IN PUBLIC COMMENT AND IN THE MEDIA THAT MAYBE THE CITY DIDN'T LOOK AT IT AS CLOSELY AS THEY SHOULD HAVE, BECAUSE THE CITY WASN'T OUT SAMPLING FOR IT. BUT I CAN TELL YOU WE FULLY EXPECTED THERE TO BE PFOS IN THE INNER HARBOR. BUT THE REASON THAT WE DIDN'T GO FORWARD WITH SAMPLING IS SAMPLING IS SUPER EXPENSIVE FOR PFOS AND THERE'S A LEVEL OF INHERENT ERROR. YOU CAN'T EVEN WASH YOUR HAIR A FEW DAYS BEFORE YOU SAMPLE FOR IT BECAUSE YOU'RE MEASURING AT PARTS PER TRILLION. BUT THE REASON WE DIDN'T GO DO IT BECAUSE EVEN IF IT'S THERE, WE KNOW WE'RE USING THE BEST TECHNOLOGY TO TAKE IT OUT AND NO MATTER HOW MUCH IS THERE, THE DRINKING WATER IS GOING TO BE SAFE. I USE THAT AS AN EXAMPLE BUT WE'VE GOT ONE OF OUR TECHNOLOGISTS ON THE TEAM SAID I HAVEN'T SEEN A RISK ON THE PROJECT THAT WE CAN'T USE ENGINEERING TO ADDRESS REALLY EFFICIENTLY. THAT GOES BACK TO THE WATER QUALITY IN THE INNER HARBOR. WITH GOOD ENGINEERING ON THE PROJECT, IT'S COVERED. WITH PFOS, SAME THING. DRINKING WATER STANDARDS FOR SURE, PFOS, BUT THEN THE LONG-TERM OPERATIONS OF THE PLANT, THE WATER QUALITY, THAT ENVELOPE, WE'VE TURNED OVER A LOT OF STONES THAT WE HAVEN'T PRESENTED BECAUSE WHAT WE'VE UNCOVERED UNDER THE STONES WE CAN ADDRESS WITH ENGINEERING. AND SO, YOU KNOW, I WOULD SAY THAT WE'VE DONE A GOOD JOB. WE'RE GOING TO COME ACROSS THINGS THAT WE MAYBE DIDN'T ASSESS IN THE RIGHT MAGNITUDE, BUT WE HAVEN'T SEEN ANYTHING. YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR -- I THINK I'VE BEEN ON THE PROJECT 12 YEARS NOW. WE HAVEN'T RUN INTO ANYTHING THAT WE CAN'T SOLVE THROUGH ENGINEERING. >> Scott: YOU'RE GOING TO BUY DINNER TONIGHT. >> AND NOW THAT YOU'VE GOT KIEWIT, GHD, YOU'RE GATHERING ALL THOSE LESSONS LEARNED AND ALL THAT ENGINEERING POWER TO FOCUS ON THIS PROJECT. >> Scott: THE COMMENT WAS MADE ABOUT TAMPA PAID SOMEBODY ELSE AND THEY BUILT IT AND THEY RAN IT AND THEN THEY TURNED IT OVER TO TAMPA AFTER SOME NUMBER OF YEARS AND TAMPA REALIZED ALL THAT EQUIPMENT HAD A 20-YEAR LIFE. SO ONCE THAT PRIVATE ENTITY WAS DONE, THEY HAD TO SHUT DOWN THE SYSTEM AND SPEND A BUNCH OF MONEY. I WAS LISTENING TO YOU, COUNCILWOMAN, ABOUT MAKING SURE YOU'RE GETTING THE EQUIPMENT THAT'S GOING TO LAST. WHAT'S INTERESTING ABOUT THIS PROJECT IS WE HAVE THAT ABILITY. WE'RE NOT HIRING, YOU KNOW, SOMEBODY OVER IN THE CORNER TO BUILD IT AND RUN IT FOR 20 YEARS. WE GET TO PICK AND CHOOSE AND THAT ALLOWS US TO CONTROL THOSE COSTS. LAST COMMENT -- THANK YOU, JASON. I FOR ONE WAS AT A SOCIAL CONVERSATION WITH DR. MINCE. HE SAID YOU GOT A PFOS PROBLEM AND THAT'S THE BIG JOKE THAT I CAN'T SPELL PFOS. I SAID I DON'T KNOW. I CAME TO STAFF, I THINK IT WAS EARLY JUNE. I WENT, HEY, THERE'S THIS THING CALLED PFOS AND I HEAR IT'S A BAD THING. YOU WENT, MARK, THAT'S WHY WE USE HIGH-PRESSURE REVERSE OSMOSIS. WHEN I HEAR IN PUBLIC COMMENT, I JUST WANT TO SAY I HEARD, I WENT AND I SAW IT. BECAUSE I'M LISTENING. I'M LISTENING AND I THINK IT'S INCUMBENT UPON US TO LISTEN, ASK THE QUESTIONS. BUT IF YOU GET THE ANSWER, YOU KIND OF MOVE ON. THANKS MAYOR. >> Mayor Guajardo: COUNCILWOMAN PAXSON. >> Paxson: THANK YOU, MAYOR. LAST I CHECKED IT WASN'T PROHIBITED IN OUR CHARTER FOR ME TO RELEASE A CHUCKLE ON THE DAIS. SO I WOULD APPRECIATE -- I WOULD REALLY APPRECIATE -- YOU KNOW, IF YOU UTILIZE SOMETHING THAT I DID, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO CALL ME INTO YOUR STATEMENT, PUT MY MIC BACK ON SO I CAN DEFEND MYSELF. WE'LL BE GOOD. FOR YOUR STATEMENT, AS FAR AS WE'RE HERE WITH THESE ELEVATED COSTS LOOMING IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS BECAUSE OF COUNCIL AND ADMINISTRATION'S PREVIOUS WHO KICKED THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD, BE THAT FACTUAL OR NOT, WHEN I GO AND I BUY A LOAF OF BREAD, I DON'T CARE HOW MUCH OF THAT $5 GOES INTO EGGS, FLOUR, WATER. I WANT TO KNOW HOW MUCH DOES THE BREAD COST. WE'RE SITTING HERE AND THERE MAY BE SOME COUNCIL MEMBERS -- I'M NOT SAYING NAMES -- BUT THERE MAY BE SOME COUNCIL MEMBERS TO MAKE THE DECISION TO CONTINUE WITH EYES BEHIND TO DWELL ON, WELL, THEY DIDN'T DO THE RIGHT THING THEN SO IT'S NOT MY FAULT WHAT THE COST OF BREAD IS TOMORROW, BUT THE REALITY IS WE'RE THE ONES SITTING HERE THAT HAVE TO MAKE DECISIONS THAT GO INTO THAT COST. AND SO IT'S NOT REALLY, IN MY OPINION, RELEVANT TO SAY, WELL, THEY KEPT KICKING THE CAN DOWN SO NOW WE HAVE TO DOUBLE THE COST. IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW WE GOT HERE AS WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO AS LEADERS TO SEE WHAT'S AHEAD FOR THE PEOPLE WE REPRESENT AND TRY TO BE RESPONSIBLE TO CURTAIL SOMETHING WE KNOW IS GOING TO PUT A BURDEN ON THEM. THAT'S OUR RESPONSIBILITY. DOESN'T MATTER HOW. DOESN'T MATTER WHO. DOESN'T MATTER WHY. WHAT ARE WE DOING TO THINK AHEAD. THAT'S THE WHOLE POINT OF ALL OF THESE DISCUSSIONS. WE NEED WATER. WE NEED IT NOW. WE NEED A LOT OF IT BUT WE ALSO NEED TO NOT CRUSH OUR RATEPAYERS. >> Mayor Guajardo: COUNCILMAN HERNANDEZ. >> Hernandez: THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND BRENT, DREW, YOU GUYS HAD THE DISTINCT PLEASURE OF PUTTING LIPSTICK, MAKEUP, AND NAIL POLISH ON THIS PIG OF AN EXPENDITURE. THIS IS TWICE AS MUCH -- IF YOU LOOK AT THE ORIGINAL COST ESTIMATE OF $605 MILLION WITH A 20% CONTINGENCY TO $757 MILLION. THE 97 IS ALMOST DOUBLE FOR THE CONSTRUCTION, PLUS ALL THE -- IF YOU ADD IN THE $192 MILLION FOR DESIGN, IT'S ALMOST 100% INCREASE. I WANT TO KNOW THE AVERAGE RESIDENTIAL BILL OF 76%, WHICH COUNCILMAN BARRERA IN SIX YEARS, DOES THAT INCLUDE THE UPDATED CIP WHERE WE REDUCED THE AMOUNT OF PROJECTS OR IS IT THE OLD ONE? >> FOR THE RECORD, CCW. THIS IS BASED ON THE NEW RATE. SO IT INCLUDES THE UPDATED CIP. >> Hernandez: THE UPDATED WHERE WE REDUCED THE AMOUNT OF PROJECTS WE WERE PLANNING TO DO IN ORDER TO GET A 60 OR 76% INCREASE. >> UH-HUH. >> Hernandez: SO JUST FOR REFERENCE, THIS YEAR WE HAVE $169 MILLION REVENUE IN THE WATER DEPARTMENT AND WE HAVE $511 MILLION IN DEBT AT THE END OF 2024. AND HOW MUCH HAVE WE ADDED TO THAT? >> WHAT WAS THE ISSUANCE, $100 MILLION THAT WE JUST APPROVED? >> Hernandez: AND THIS GOES BACK TO MY THING. AND I'M GLAD YOU PRESENTED IT THIS WAY THAT IT'S NOT JUST DESAL THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE. IT'S THE ENTIRE BUDGET OF THE WATER DEPARTMENT. SO WITH THE INNER HARBOR DESAL, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE, IN SIX YEARS, 106% INCREASE ON YOUR WATER BILL. ON THE WATER UTILITY RATE. AND ON PAGE 13, YOU HAVE AN ANNUAL COST OF $100 MILLION IN DEBT SERVICE. IS THAT JUST FOR DESAL? >> YES. >> Hernandez: SO WHAT'S THE ADDITIONAL DEBT SERVICE PAYMENT WITH DESAL -- >> WELL, NO. THE DESAL IS 68 -- YOU HAVE 32 OPERATING FOR A TOTAL COST OF $100 MILLION FOR YEAR. 68.1. >> Hernandez: SO YOUR DEBT SERVICE IS $68 MILLION. WHAT IS THE REST OF THE OTHER DEBT SERVICE, NOT COUNTING DESAL? >> PROBABLY AROUND THAT SAME AMOUNT. WE'RE AT 57 RIGHT NOW FOR '26. >> Hernandez: SO HALF OF THE DEBT -- >> UP TO THREE YEARS. >> Hernandez: SO HALF OF THE DEBT IS GOING TO BE FROM DESAL? >> YES. HALF OF THE ANNUAL DEBT PAYMENT, YES. >> Hernandez: SO THAT'S WHY WE HAVE TO DOUBLE OUR RATES, MORE THAN DOUBLE OUR RATES. >> NO, NO. >> Hernandez: ARE WE NOT DOUBLING OUR RATES? >> WE ARE DOUBLING OUR RATES BUT IT'S NOT BECAUSE OF DESAL. YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT $68 MILLION FOR DEBT ON THE OPERATING SIDE -- ON ALL THE OTHER OPERATING. BUT YOU'RE NOT MENTIONING THAT THERE'S OVER $140 MILLION IN DAY-TO-DAY COSTS. >> Hernandez: OKAY. RIGHT NOW WE HAVE $169 MILLION IN REVENUES. $57MILLION OF THAT GOES TO DEBT SERVICE. THE REMAINDER GOES TO OPERATIONS. YOU'RE GOING TO ADD $32 MILLION TO OPERATIONS ON THAT SIDE. RIGHT? SO THAT'S $32 MILLION IN OPERATIONAL COSTS. >> YES. >> Hernandez: YOU'RE GOING TO INCREASE YOUR OPERATIONAL COSTS ON TOP OF WHAT YOU ALREADY HAVE. PLUS YOU'RE GOING TO ADD $68 MILLION IN DEBT SERVICE. SO THIS MONEY HAS TO COME FROM SOMEWHERE. RIGHT? WHERE DOES IT COME FROM? IT COMES FROM ALL OF US. >> ALL THE RATEPAYERS. >> Hernandez: AND THEN ON TOP OF THAT WE STILL HAVE THE WASTEWATER CONSENT DEGREE ON TOP OF THAT THAT'S GOING TO INCREASE -- WE JUST DID A $100 MILLION PROJECT FOR GREENWOOD RIGHT? >> YES. >> Hernandez: OKAY. SO WE CANNOT LOOK AT THIS IN ISOLATION. AND THIS IS WHAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT WHEN I TALKED ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR -- AND I HAVE TO SAY FREESE AND NICHOLS DID US A REAL DISSERVICE. BECAUSE ORIGINALLY THIS WAS $220 MILLION. THEN IT WAS $757 MILLION. WELL, 605 WITH A 20% CONTINGENCY. AND NOW IT'S $1.2 BILLION. YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW ABOUT COST ESTIMATORS, BUT THAT REALLY SUCKS. REALLY POOR JOB THERE. AND I DON'T WANT TO PUT -- I DON'T WANT TO SUGARCOAT THIS BUT THAT'S REALLY POOR. YOU'RE PUTTING US IN A POSITION WHERE THIS IS THE ONLY CHOICE WE HAVE -- PETER, YOU PUT US IN THIS POSITION. >> Zanoni: I DIDN'T, COUNCILMAN. THE COUNCIL SETS POLICY. >> Hernandez: THIS WAS AT YOUR RECOMMENDATION. >> Zanoni: THE COUNCIL HAS VOTED ON NUMEROUS -- >> Hernandez: I UNDERSTAND THAT. >> Zanoni: I'M NOT RUNNING THIS EXCLUSIVELY. >> Hernandez: WE HAVE HAD MANY CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THIS. ABOUT NOT PUTTING ALL OUR EGGS IN A BASKET. YOU REFERENCED IT EARLIER AND I SAID WE SHOULD NOT PUT ALL OUR EGGS IN A BASKET. NOW THIS IS A BASKET OF ROTTEN EGGS AT $1.2 BILLION. >> Zanoni: I DON'T SEE IT THAT WAY COUNCILMAN. >> Hernandez: I KNOW YOU DON'T. >> Zanoni: AS AN EXAMPLE, WE HAVE BROUGHT 84% MORE WATER THROUGH THE MARY RHODES PIPELINE THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE SIX YEARS AGO. THAT'S IN THE NUMBER. WE SPENT $16 MILLION WE BUILDING THE PIPELINE THAT FOR A DECADE WASN'T EVEN OPERABLE AT 100%. THAT'S JUST ONE EXAMPLE. I'LL TURN IT BACK OVER TO YOU. >> Hernandez: OKAY. YOU KNOW, WE COULD HAVE MADE THOSE CHOICES A LOT SOONER. AND, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY TIMES I'VE GOTTEN ON TOP OF THIS ABOUT, YOU KNOW, FINDING ALTERNATIVE CHOICES. AND NOW WE'RE AT THE 11th HOUR TRYING TO FIND OTHER OPTIONS BECAUSE WE DIDN'T DO THAT PREVIOUSLY. AND I KNOW NOT EVERYBODY HERE WAS ON COUNCIL BUT WE COULD HAVE MADE ALL THE CHOICES DIFFERENTLY BUT NOW WE'RE HERE. SO JUST FOR SOME OTHER QUESTIONS. HOW MUCH HAVE WE SPENT SO FAR AND HOW MUCH IS ENCUMBERED THAT WE OWE ON THIS PROJECT SO FAR? >> SO OUR TOTAL SPENT TO DATE IS 28.7. NOW, THAT DOES INCLUDE -- 28.7. I HAVE INCLUDED THE JUNE BILLING I TALKED ABOUT EARLIER. I HAVEN'T PAID THAT YET BUT IT'S BEEN INVOICED. >> Hernandez: THAT INCLUDES THE DEMONSTRATION PLANT? >> THAT WILL INCLUDE -- YES. PART OF THAT IS DEMONSTRATION. AND THEN TOTAL COMMITMENT TO DATE IS APPROXIMATELY $47 MILLION. THAT'S PHASE 1A PLUS THE FOUR AMENDMENTS. >> Hernandez: MY TIME'S UP. THANK YOU. >> Mayor >> Vaughn: MINE'S REALLY QUICK. I HAVE A REAL PROBLEM BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE WE'RE BLAMING THESE BIG NUMBERS HERE ON THE WATER RATES ON THE CIP AND THE DESAL IS JUST A LITTLE BIT. I DON'T BUY THAT CRAP. I DON'T BELIEVE THAT FOR ONE SECOND. WHAT I'M ASKING OF Y'ALL, YOU HAVE TO HAVE SOMETHING TO COME UP WITH THESE NUMBERS. I'D LIKE TO KNOW HOW MUCH THE CIPS ARE TO GET THESE NUM NUMBERS. AND THANK YOU, I'M NOT TRYING TO BE UGLY, BUT IT'S FRUSTRATING. I DO NOT LIKE -- I JUST DON'T STAND IT, IT MAKES ME SICK TO THINK ABOUT IT, BECAUSE WHEN I GO TO CHURCH, I HAVE ABOUT 1,000 PEOPLE AT MY CHURCH, WHEN I GO TO CHURCH, I'M NOT HEARING HEY CAROLYN, WILL YOU VOTE FOR THE DESAL. THE MOST IMPORTANT THING I'M HEARING IS WHEN ARE WE GOING TO GET WATER SO WE CAN START WATERING OUR LAWNS. THAT'S WHAT THIS IS BT A. IT'S NOT ABOUT DESAL. IT'S ABOUT GETTING WATER. THE OTHER THING, ROLAND, YOU SAID SOMETHING ABOUT POLLS. THERE'S THREE POLLS, I WOULD LOVE TO SEE THOSE POLLS OR WAS THAT IN THE SECRET MEETING. >> Barrera: [OFF MIC] >> Vaughn: I'D LOVE TO SEE THE POLLS. IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE THAT ALL THE POLLS SAID. WE HANG AROUND A DIFFERENT GROUP. I DON'T HANG AROUND THE GROUPS THAT Y'ALL HANG AROUND. >> Barrera: YOU'RE WELCOME TO COME TO MY CHURCH. >> Vaughn: NO, MINE'S GOOD. THEY REALLY SUPPORT ME. IF Y'ALL CAN GET ME THESE NUMBERS. THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE OUT IN THE COMMUNITY THAT DO NOT WANT US TO SPEND THIS MUCH MONEY FOR DESAL, AND THEN THERE ARE GROUPS THAT DO, BUT DO WE KNOW THE BALANCE, NO? I WISH THE CITIZENS HAD A CHANCE TO VOTE FOR IT, BUT THANK YOU. >> Mayor Guajardo: YEAH, THAT WOULD ZER COME WITH THE REQUEST FOR THE PERCENTAGES AS WELL, BECAUSE I ASKED THEM ABOUT THAT. COUNCILMAN ROY? >> Roy: I JUST WANT TO -- ARE WE DONE? >> Barrera: MY APOLOGIES. >> Roy: I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY ONE POINT. AND SOMEBODY CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, BECAUSE I'M JUST TRYING TO REMEMBER, COUNCILMAN HERNANDEZ, YOU THREW A NUMBER OUT THERE WHICH WAS THE STARTING NUMBER WHEN DESAL WAS FIRST, AS A COUNCIL CAME FORWARD AND WE SAID WE WERE GOING TO ENTER IN THE LOOKING INTO THIS, INTO DESAL. IF I REMEMBER RIGHT, THAT INITIAL RIGHT, WHAT DID YOU SAY IT WAS. >> Hernandez: 220. >> Roy: 220 MILLION, IT INCLUDED JUST THE FACILITY ITSELF. IT DIDN'T INCLUDE THE TREATMENT FACILITY AND IT DIDN'T INCLUDE THE PIPELINE. IS THAT CORRECT? WAS THAT -- WHEN YOU -- IT WAS JUST THE PHYSICAL FACILITY ITSELF. >> Mayor Guajardo: FOR 10 MGD. >> FOR 20 MGD. >> Roy: BUT IT DIDN'T INCLUDE THE PIPELINE AND IT DIDN'T INCLUDE THE COST OF THE TREATMENT FACILITY. AND THEN THAT NUMBER -- SO THEN WE CAME BACK AS A GROUP AND WE ADDED THAT, AND THE NUMBER WENT UP. SO, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GIVING THIS DRAMATIC BULL CRAP TO SIT HERE AND SHOW -- AND I DON'T THINK THAT'S CURSING, THOUGH. >> Mayor Guajardo: BULL CRAP. I'M GOING TO GO WITH NO. >> Roy: THAT IS SITTING HERE BASICALLY TAKING A NUMBER AND TRY TO SHOW -- BUT WE'RE NOT COMPARING APPLES TO APPLES. AND FOR THE RECORD, I JUST WANT EVERYONE TO COMPARE APPLES TO APPLES. WHEN THAT ORIGINAL 227 MILLION WAS PUT OUT THERE, THAT'S WHAT IT WAS PUT OUT THERE FOR, IT DIDN'T INCLUDE THE PIPELINE, IT DIDN'T INCLUDE THE WATER TREATMENT FACILITY, AND IF YOU ADD THOSE NUMBERS UP IN TERMS OF WHAT THE COSTS WOULD BE, THEN YOU'RE CLOSER TO THAT 727 MILLION. SO WE CAN SIT HERE AND WE CAN SLANT THINGS, WE CAN TALK LOUD, WE CAN DO ALL THOSE THINGS, BUT IF YOU'RE GOING TO SIT THERE AND PRESENT SOMETHING, PRESENT THE FACTS. THANK YOU. >> Mayor Guajardo: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN. >> [OFF MIC] >> Mayor Guajardo: HAVE YOU SPOKEN TWICE? >> Hernandez: CAN I -- >> Mayor Guajardo: HOLD ON, COUNCILMAN HERNANDEZ. ARE YOU GOING TO SAY SOMETHING. >> IT'S UP TO COUNCILMAN ROY IF I CAN TALK TO THAT, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S CONCERNED ME HONESTLY. THE 220 NUMBER IN 2019, WE HAD A LOT OF PEOPLE TAKE A LOOK AT IT AND WE WERE TOLD THAT'S IN THE RIGHT BALLPARK FOR 20 MGD. SO I'VE BEEN WRESTLING WITH THAT NUMBER FOR A WHILE. I THINK I KNOW MOST OF YOU WELL ENOUGH TO SAY THAT A HARD BID IS A PRETTY GOOD TEST OF WHAT THE MARKET CAN BEAR. AND SO I LOOKED AT A PROJECT THAT YOU BID FOR A WATER PLANT IMPROVEMENT IN 2021. AND IT BID AT 58 MILLION. TWO YEARS LATER, YOU REBID THE SAME PROJECT AT 88 MILLION. SO IN TWO YEARS, '21 TO '23, THAT SAME PROJECT WENT UP 60%. BY THE TIME WE UPDATED THE 222 MILLION, INCREASED THE CAPACITY BY 50% AND ADDED THE PIPELINE, YOU GET RIGHT TO THAT 750 MILLION NUMBER. >> Mayor Guajardo: THANK YOU. >> AND ACTUALLY A LITTLE BIT PAST IT, SO IT'S DISINGENUOUS TO SAY YOU GO FROM 222 TO 757 WITHOUT THE CONTEXT. AND THE 757 TO THE 1.2 OR 1.1, WHATEVER IT WAS, THERE HAVE BEEN SOME CHANGES IN THE SCOPE WHERE IF YOU BUILD UP THE 757 NUMBER, YOU ACTUALLY GET PRETTY CLOSE. AND THAT'S PART OF THAT OSCILLATION WHERE IF YOU LOOK AT HOW WIDE THE CONE IS ON THE LEFT, WE'RE ACTUALLY INSIDE THE CONE AT 757. YOU'RE INSIDE THE CONE AT 1.2, YOU'RE INSIDE THE CONE AT A BILLION, AND WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO WORK. AT 10%, WE'VE GOT A LOT OF RUNWAY LEFT TO GO TO ARRIVE AT THAT GMP. SO THE COST, YOU'VE GOT TO SEE IT IN THE CONTEXT OF WHAT THE ASSOCIATION FOR COST ENGINEERING SAYS. AND I THINK WHAT WE DID REALLY POORLY WAS SETTING A TARGET. WE SHOULD HAVE ALWAYS JUST SET THE RANGE, BECAUSE THAT SETS THE EXPECTATIONS. WE NEVER SHOULD HAVE SET THE TARGETED. SO I WILL ADMIT WE DID THAT REALLY POORLY IN MESSAGING AT THIS LEVEL OF DEVELOPMENT, IT'S A RANGE. BUT THAT'S THE BUILDUP ON THE 222. >> Roy: THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARIFICATION. >> Hernandez: OKAY. SO I WANT TO CLARIFY SOME THINGS. THE PIPELINE AND THE MIXING LOCATION ON NAVIGATION WAS ALWAYS A SEPARATE ITEM. IT WAS ALWAYS A SEPARATE CIP PAGE. SO I'M NOT SURE WHERE THIS THING CAME UP TO WHERE IT'S NOW INCLUDED INTO THIS, BECAUSE WE ALWAYS KEPT IT -- WE ALWAYS HAD IT SEPARATE. SO I DON'T THINK THAT'S EXACTLY TRUE. SECONDLY, THE 220 AMOUNT PREVENTED US -- AND AT PETER'S RECOMMENDATION, AND AT THE TIME IT WAS MARK VAN BLACK, TO NOT PURSUE ANYTHING ELSE. AS A MATTER OF FACT, WHEN I MADE THE MOTION BACK ON SEPTEMBER 29TH OF 2022, TO DO IT, IT WAS OUT -- WE WERE OUT -- BY PETER'S RECOMMENDATION, AND YOU CAN GO LOOK AT IT, IT WAS AFTER ALL THE RFI PRESENTATIONS, YOU HAD RECOMMENDED GOING ONLY WITH DESAL IN THE INNER HARBOR. AND I HAD MADE THE MOTION TO LOOK AT OTHER THINGS BECAUSE I DIDN'T WANT TO PUT ALL OUR EGGS IN THAT SAME BASKET. AND TO HER CREDIT, THE MAYOR VOTED WITH ME ON THAT, ALONG WITH RUDY GARZA. % EVERYBODY ELSE VOTED AGAINST IT. SO -- INCLUDING COUNCILMAN BARRERA VOTED AGAINST PURSUING ANYTHING ELSE ON SEPTEMBER 29TH OF 2020. SO I DON'T WANT -- I'M NOT TRYING TO REINVENT HISTORY. THIS IS THE REALITY OF IT. THE REASON WHY WE'RE IN THIS SITUATION IS OUR FAULT AS A CITY. WE MADE THE MISTAKE OF PUTTING ALL OUR EGGS IN THIS BASKET AND ALL OF A SUDDEN IT'S NOW A $1.2 MILLION BASKET. OKAY. SO I DON'T -- YOU KNOW, DON'T SUGAR COAT THIS. IT IS WHAT IT IS. IT'S -- YOU KNOW, THIS IS PUTTING LIPSTICK ON A PIG. AND, YOU KNOW, I -- THAT 220 NUMBER REALLY DID A DISSERVICE TO US. YOU'RE PROBABLY RIGHT, YOU PROBABLY SHOULD HAVE GIVEN US A RANGE. BUT THEN YOU DIDN'T UPDATE US ONTO THE $757 MILLION UNTIL 2024. WE DIDN'T GET THAT. YOU MAY HAVE GOTTEN IT IN 2023, BUT THE COUNCIL DIDN'T GET IT UNTIL EARLY 2024. SO WE WENT FROM 2020 TO 2024, FIVE-YEAR RANGE, WITHOUT GETTING AN UPDATE ON A PRICE. SO WHEN I SAY YOU GUYS DID US A DISSERVICE, YOU DID US A DISSERVICE ON THE PRICING, AND IT PUT US IN A SITUATION WHERE WE -- THIS IS THE ONLY THING WE'RE DOING. OKAY. NOW, WE'RE IN THIS SITUATION, WE HAVE A FEW OPTIONS, I WANT TO SEE THOSE OPTIONS IN TERMS OF COST VERSUS WHAT THE THREE THINGS THAT WE HAVE CURRENTLY. ON HOW MUCH PER THOUSAND GALLON BASIS, WHAT THAT DOES FOR US, AND WE CAN MAKE A CHOICE. >> Zanoni: COUNCILMAN, WE'LL BE SHOWING YOU THAT IN TWO WEEKS. >> Hernandez: OKAY. >> Zanoni: I JUST LOOKED AT IT LAST NIGHT, SO IT'S LOOKING GOOD. REAL GOOD STUFF. >> Hernandez: THANK YOU. COUNCILMA N BARRERA? >> Barrera: YOU KNOW, I'M GOING TO CONTRADICT THAT. I THINK STAFF'S DONE AN AMAZING JOB, AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, WHETHER YOU CALL IT LIPSTICK ON A BIG OR A MAYBOCK MERCEDES OR WHATEVER IT IS, DONE DUE DILIGENCE AD NAUSEAM. I'M KIND OF FRUSTRATED YOU'D THROW SOMETHING IN THE MAYOR'S FACE BECAUSE SHE HAD A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE, AND AT THAT TIME SHE JUST CHANGED HER MIND AND SHE PURSUED SEVERAL OTHER DIFFERENT OPTIONS. WE'VE BEEN THROUGH BARNIE DAIFERS WHICH STILL COULD BE AN OPTION SOME DAY. I MEAN, WE'VE BEEN THROUGH SEVERAL ITERATIONS OF DIFFERENT PROJECTS THAT YOU GUYS HAVE REVIEWED, AND I THINK THAT'S PART OF WHAT SLOWED US DOWN. HERE, IS IT -- CAN I CALL UP BOB TO THE -- POLISON. >> Mayor Guajardo: ARE YOU AWAKE. >> Barrera: COME TO THE MICROPHONE PLEASE. MY TIMER'S NOT ON, RIGHT, WHILE I'M WAITING ON HIM WALK K. >> ALL RIGHT. WHAT DID I DO NOW. >> Barrera: HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN INVOLVED IN THIS PROJECT. >> HOW LONG? >> Barrera: ON THE PROJECT OF PURSUING WATER ALTERNATIVE. >> SINCE 2014. >> Barrera: HOW MANY DIFFERENT SITE LOCATIONS AND DIFFERENT OPTIONS DID THE ORGANIZATION LOOK AT? >> WELL, EARLY ON, I MEAN, THERE WERE SIX SPECIFIC CONFIGURATIONS, BUT WHEN -- I'LL LOOK AT JASON, YOU GUYS DID 21, 22 DIFFERENT LOCATIONS WERE EVALUATED FOR SITING. >> Barrera: AND OTHER DIFFERENT RESOURCES INCLUDING GROUNDWATER. >> OH, YEAH, WELL, DURING THAT TIME, IN 2018, THE CITY DID AN RFI, THAT WAS DELIVERED IN 2019 AND THEN IN SEPTEMBER OF 2020, THERE WAS AN UPDATE TO THAT RFI. AND IT WAS DESAL, GROUNDWATER REUSE. >> Barrera: AND, YOU KNOW, I'VE HEARD IT ON THE RADIO A NUMBER OF TIMES. AND OF THE WORK GROUP, HOW MANY DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS WERE PART OF THAT. >> IN THE BEGINNING. >> Barrera: YEAH. >> THE STAKEHOLDER GROUP? 15. >> Barrera: 15. SO WE'VE HAD STAKEHOLDERS LOOK AT IT, YOU KNOW, EXTENSIVELY. >> SURE. I MEAN -- WELL, I'LL GO THROUGH. IT WAS THE CITY, EDC, SAN PAT MUNICIPAL WATER DISTRICT, THE PORT AND 11 COMPANIES THAT WERE -- I THINK ALL PORT INDUSTRIES MEMBERS, 15 ENTITIES. >> Barrera: AND PART OF THE REASON I SAY THAT IS BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T PIGEONHOLED OURSELVES INTO ONE. THE CHALLENGES WITH THE EVANGELINE THAT WE HAD 10 YEARS AGO OR SEVEN YEARS AGO, WE STILL HAVE SOME OF THEM TODAY, BUT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO MOVE THAT IN TO MASSAGE THAT COST TO BE ABLE TO MAKE IT A MORE VIABLE PROJECT. THE OPPORTUNITY AT THAT TIME JUST DIDN'T MAKE IT VIABLE, YOU KNOW. I MEAN, WE'VE HAD A PANDEMIC THAT HAS HAD EXTENSIVE INFLATION, YOU KNOW. AND HERE -- AND -- OKAY, THANKS BOB. YOU CAN GO BACK TO SLEEP. CAMILLE, HERE, IF I MAY ASK, SO IF WE LOOK AT OTHER RESOURCES, LET'S SAY, FOR EXAMPLE, WE GO INTO A PUBLIC/PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP, OKAY, AND SO WE DON'T ACQUIRE THE DEBT, IS THE -- WE STILL ACQUIRE THE LIABILITY OF A TAKE OR PAY CONTRACT FOR 30 YEARS CORRECT? >> THAT IS CORRECT. IT'S BASICALLY -- YOU HAVE A COMMITMENT, A CONTRACTUAL COMMITMENT, SO YOUR RATE WILL GO UP EQUIVALENT TO THAT COMMITMENT. >> Barrera: AND THEN ON ALL THE ONES THAT WE'VE SEEN, THERE'S TYPICALLY A CPI INCLUDED WITH IT. >> YES, SIR. SO THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN, FOR EXAMPLE, TAKE OR PAY AGREEMENT IS THAT THE FULL TAKE OR PAY PRICE IS USUALLY PER CONTRACT, THE CPI AFFECTS IT, RIGHT, WHERE DEBT IS SET IN STONE. IT'S A FIXED RATE. SO OVER 30 YEARS, THAT -- THAT IS AN EQUAL PAYMENT OVER 30 YEARS. SO THERE IS NO CPI ADJUSTMENT. SO I'D SAY A BILLION DOLLARS EXPENSE ON A -- LIKE PROJECT THAT HAS A TAKE OR PAY, IT'S A BILLION DOLLARS AND 3.2% EVERY YEAR. SO THAT EXPO EXPONENTIALLY GROWS WHERE IT'S $500 MILLION IN DEBT AND $500 MILLION IN OPERATING, ONLY THE 500 MILLION IN OPERATING HAS AN ANNUAL INCREASE RELATABLE TO CPI. THE DEBT IS FLAT, JUST LIKE YOUR HOUSE. >> Barrera: SO THE LIABILITY STILL CONTINUES TO GO ON. AND PETER, THIS MAY BE A QUESTION FOR BOTH OF YOU THEN, SO HOW DOES THAT HAVE AN AFFECT ON OUR BOND RATING IN COMPARISON TO IF WE OWN THE FACILITY AND WE HELD THE DEBT OURSELVES? BECAUSE WE'D STILL HAVE THIS -- I GUESS IT WOULD BE M & O, MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS ALTOGETHER, BECAUSE THEN -- I THINK -- WOULD THAT AFFECT OUR ABILITY TO ACQUIRE REVENUE BONDS SIMPLY BECAUSE NOW WE'VE GOT THIS GREATER SENSE OF LIABILITY THAT FALLS INTO OUR MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS? >> Zanoni: YOU KNOW, WITHOUT -- I'M NOT CERTAIN IN THIS ANSWER, BUT I WOULD ASSUME IF WE HAD AN ASSET LIKE OUR FINANCIAL ADVISER HAS TOLD US BEFORE, THAT HELPS TO HAVE -- THAT GIVES YOU A BETTER RATING OR BETTER OPINION FROM THE RATERS THAT EVALUATE US. SO IF WE HAVE AN ASSET VERSUS NO ASSET, WE LOOK BETTER WITH THE ASSET FINANCIALLY, UH-HUH. >> Barrera: AND THEN PART OF THAT -- BECAUSE WE'VE STILL GOT TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM. WE STILL HAVE TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM. SO THE PROBLEM COULD BE ANOTHER RESOURCE OF WHICH WE PAY ANOTHER LANDOWNER ROYALTIES, YOU KNOW, TO BE ABLE TO -- AND WE HAVE TO FINANCE THE INFRASTRUCTURE, SO THEN THAT ADDS TO THE COST, AND THAT ONCE AGAIN ADDS TO THE MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS OF IT. WE STILL HAVE TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM. I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY, FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, I THINK THAT WE'VE LOOKED AT EVERY OPPORTUNITY FOR THE SEVEN YEARS THAT I'VE BEEN HERE. GO AHEAD, DREW, YOU WANT TO SAY SOMETHING? >> Molly: YEAH, I JUST WANT TO MAKE A COUPLE COMMENTS. I THINK SOME OF THE THINGS THAT ARE BEING SAID UP HERE ARE NOT CORRECT. BECAUSE I'VE BEEN HERE FOR TWO AND A HALF YEARS, AND LET ME JUST SAY A FEW THINGS THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON BESIDES THE INNER HARBOR PROBABILITY. PROJECT. WE'VE TAKEN THE MRP FROM 42 TO $70 MILLION GALLONS A DAY. WE'VE LOOKED AT THE EVANGELINE, WE'VE SPENT A GOOD PART OF LAST YEAR NEGOTIATING WITH THE EVANGELINE FOLKS. THEY WALKED AWAY. THEY WALKED AWAY FROM THAT DEAL. WE ADDED IT TO THE [INDISCERNIBLE] PLAN. SO WE PUT THAT PROJECT -- WE PAID FOR IT AND WE PUT IT IN THE REGION N PLAN. THE EV RANCH PROJECT, WE WERE TALKING TO THOSE GUYS MONTHS AGO. WE ADDED THAT TO THE REGION N PLAN. THE NUECES GROUNDWATER PROJECT, THAT'S PUTTING 5 MILLION-GALLONS A DAY TODAY IN THE RIVER. THAT'S 5 MILLION-GALLONS LESS OF WATER FROM LAKE CORPUS CHRISTI THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO PUT INTO THE RIVER BECAUSE WE'RE ADDING THAT BAT WATER IN TODAY AND WE'RE GOING TO ADD MORE. THAT'S ALSO IN THE REGION N PLAN. BARNIE DAVIS, WE ADDED THAT IN THE REGION N PLAN. WE PAID FOR THAT STUDY TO BE INCORPORATED INTO THE REGION N PLAN. SO WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT ALL THESE PROJECTS THAT WE'RE WORKING ON, IT'S NOT JUST THE INNER HARBOR PROJECT. >> Barrera: CC POLYMERS, WE'VE LOOKED AT THAT ONE, TOO. >> Molly: WE DID A LOT OF WORK ON CC POLYMERS, THANK YOU. >> Mayor Guajardo: YEAH. >> Barrera: SO I GUESS THAT'S MY THING. I JUST WANTED TO CHARACTERIZE IT AT LEAST FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, YOU KNOW, AND MAYBE I HANG AROUND WITH A DIFFERENT CROWD IN CHURCH, I'M WITH THE CHOIR. >> Vaughn: [OFF MIC] >> Barrera: SO I GUESS THAT'S THE THING. I JUST WANT TO CHARACTERIZE IT FROM MY PERSPECTIVE. I THINK YOU GUYS HAVE DONE A GOOD JOB. AND PETER, YOU KNOW, I THINK YOU'VE DONE AN AMAZING JOB OF ENSURING THAT WE'RE REPAIRING OUR INFRASTRUCTURE. NOW, YOU KNOW, I REMEMBER LLOYD NEIL SAID SOMETHING ONCE AND I'VE SAID IT BEFORE AND I DON'T THINK CAROLYN'S HEARD ME SAID IT. WHEN YOU WOULD SAY DECADES OF NEGLECT, I WOULD GET UPSET. I REMEMBER WHEN THEY WERE BEING ORIENTATED, YOU'RE LIKE HOLD ON PARTNER, THESE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN BACK HERE BEFORE. AND LLOYD SAID, HANG ON, SOME GOOD PEOPLE MADE SOME DECISIONS THAT THEY FELT WERE GOOD AT THE TIME. AND NOW WE'RE HAVING TO DEAL WITH THE CONSEQUENCES AND WE HAVE TO MAKE SOME TOUGH DECISIONS. AND WHO KNOWS, SOMEBODY MAY BE CRITICAL OF THE DECISIONS THAT WE MAKE, SO I LOOK AT IT FROM THAT PERSPECTIVE. YOU KNOW, PEOPLE MADE -- MARK SAID ABOUT TIMES WHEN THEY DIDN'T HAVE FUNDS, YOU KNOW. HEY, WE'RE NOT GOING TO MAKE PAYROLL, YOU KNOW, AND WHAT IS IT, HE'LL TELL YOU THOSE SAD STORIES. BUT THERE'S -- NOW YOU'VE COME TO US WITH A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE AND WE'RE REINVESTING AND THE PUBLIC IS VERY SATISFIED WITH IT. I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY TIMES I HEAR, HEY, MY STREET GOT FIXED OR I'LL HEAR, HEY, THEIR STREET GOT FIXED, WHEN IS MINE GOING TO GET FIXED? AND I THINK THE PROFESSIONALS THAT YOU'VE PUT TOGETHER. SO MY HAT'S OFF TO YOU. HANG IN THERE, YOU'RE DOING A GREAT JOB. IT MAY NOT BE THE EFFORT OF EVERYONE HERE, BUT ALL YOU GUYS, I'M REALLY PROUD OF THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING, BECAUSE WE'RE BEING LOOKED AT STATEWIDE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I HAD A MEETING WITH A TEXAS A&M GRADUATE TODAY FROM HOUSTON AND, ONE OF MY VENDORS, HEY, MAN, TELL ME ABOUT THE WATER, YOU KNOW. SO ANYWAY, THANK YOU. >> Mayor Guajardo: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN. OKAY. WELL, THAT WRAPS IT UP. AND, DREW, I'M REALLY SORRY THAT YOU ARE HAVING TO ALMOST -- YOU KNOW, I'M NOT GOING TO USE THE WORD "BEG" US, BUT YOU'RE HAVING TO SIT THERE AND JUSTIFY BECAUSE YOU HAVE A COMMENTER WHO IS VERY NEGATIVE AND MAKING IT SEEM LIKE SOMETHING IT'S NOT. SO THANK YOU FOR CLARIFYING THAT ISSUE ON THE PRICE. YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY'S ENTITLED, YOU GUYS GIVE US THE FACTS. IF PEOPLE CHOOSE NOT TO ACCEPT IT AS FACT OR THINK THEY BECOME AN ENGINEER THAT KNOWS BETTER SOMEHOW, SO BE IT. YOU DON'T NEED TO BE HAVING A HEART ATTACK OVER THIS, OR A STRESS STROKE OR SOMETHING. YOU CAN'T, DREW. YOU JUST CAN'T. YOU KNOW WHAT -- YOU KNOW WHO YOU'RE TALKING WITH DAILY ALMOST, AND YOU GUYS CAN ONLY DO -- YOU'RE GOING WAY BEYOND. AND WE APPRECIATE THAT, BECAUSE YOU'RE CONCERNED ABOUT THE FUTURE. >> Molly: UH-HUH. >> Mayor Guajardo: THE PAST, THE PAST, THE PAST, YES, I CHANGED MY VOTE. AND I'M PROUD OF IT BECAUSE I DID DUE DILIGENCE AND I SAID, YOU KNOW WHAT? THIS IS A GOOD THING. I DIDN'T HAVE THE INFORMATION I FELT I NEEDED WHEN I DID VOTE WITH HIM. BUT IT IS A DIFFERENT DAY NOW AND NOW IT'S BEEN YEARS SINCE THAT HAPPENED, BUT MY POINT HERE IS, Y'ALL ARE DOING A GREAT JOB AND EVERYBODY -- YOU KNOW, IF YOU REALLY -- WE REALLY WANTED, YOU KNOW, TO HEAR WHAT OUR CONSTITUENCY HAS TO SAY, AS MANY PEOPLE -- I CAN DOUBLE THE PEOPLE THAT COME HERE AND YELL IN THAT MICROPHONE EVERY TUESDAY WITH THE POSITIVE PEOPLE THAT REACH OUT TO US, THEY DON'T FEEL LIKE THEY JUST HAVE TO BE HERE. THEY'LL REACH OUT BY E-MAIL OR LIKE YOU SAID, YOU SEE THEM IN THE STORES OR YOU SEE THEM AT CHURCH. AND IT'S BOTH SIDES. IT'S BOTH SIDES. THAT'S WHY WE'RE UP HERE. WE HAVE TO TAKE THAT INFORMATION, AND THEN WE HAVE TO MAKE THOSE DECISIONS. BUT MY POINT TO YOU WAS THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU'RE DOING. DON'T RISK YOUR HEALTH OVER THIS. YOU PROBABLY ALREADY HAVE, BECAUSE YOU'RE DOING A GREAT JOB AND, YOU KNOW, THE FACTS ARE THE FACTS. YOU'VE GIVEN THEM TO US. IF PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO ACCEPT THEM, THAT'S A DIFFERENT STORY. I THINK Y'ALL ARE DOING A GREAT JOB PRESENTING. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE, GENTLEMEN. I KNOW Y'ALL ARE TRAVELING. THANK YOU AS WELL. AND I THINK WE'LL JUST -- WE'LL MOVE ON. AND WE APPRECIATE THE PRESENTATION AND QUESTION AND ANSWER. I'M SORRY WE'VE -- >> [OFF MIC] >> Mayor Guajardo: THANK YOU, GENTLEMEN. WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON, PETER, YOU HAVE TWO ITEMS? >> Zanoni: YEAH, WE'RE GOING TO WRAP UP HERE BY 10:00, SO JUST TWO QUICK BRIEFINGS AND DREW'S GOING TO STICK AROUND BECAUSE HE HAS ONE ON THE WATER UPDATE. WE'LL MOVE TO THE CITY MANAGER'S PORTION OF THE AGENDA. I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU A QUICK UPDATE ON THE BUDGET. I KNOW I'VE SPOKEN WITH SOME OF YOU THIS WEEK, THIS COMING MONDAY, I'M GOING TO DELIVER TO THE CITY COUNCIL THE '26 PROPOSED BUDGET AND THE 10-YEAR CIP PLAN THAT HAS ONE-YEAR BUDGET, A THREE-YEAR OUTLOOK AND SEVEN YEARS OF FUTURE, SO THOSE WILL BE TWO BOOKS THAT WE'LL BE DELIVERING TO YOU ON MONDAY THAT WILL SATISFY THE CHARTER REQUIREMENT THAT I PRESENT TO CITY COUNCIL A BUDGET, A A PROPOSED BUDGET, 60 DAYS BEFORE THE START OF THE FISCAL YEAR WHICH IS OCTOBER 1. SO ALL OF NEXT WEEK YOU'LL HAVE TO REVIEW THE BUDGET AND HALF OF THE NEXT WEEK. OUR FIRST WORKSHOP ON THE BUDGET WILL BE AUGUST 7TH. THAT'S WHEN WE'LL FOCUS ON THAT FIRST WORKSHOP ON THE GENERAL FUND AND AN OVERALL ASSESSMENT OF THE BUDGET, JUST THE OVERALL -- ALL FUNDS, BUT FOCUS MOSTLY ON THE GENERAL FUND. AND THEN OUR NEXT WORKSHOP WILL BE AUGUST 13TH, AND THAT'S WHERE WE'RE GOING TO SPEND A LOT OF TIME ON CORPUS CHRISTI WATER, ON THE OPERATIONS, THE COST OF THEIR OPERATIONS AND RATES. WE'RE GOING TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT RATES, NOT JUST THE ONE-YEAR RATE, BUT WE'RE GOING -- WE DO ONE YEAR AT A TIME RATE ADJUSTMENTS, SO WE'LL HAVE THE ONE-YEAR RATE, BUT THIS YEAR WE'RE GOING TO HAVE AN OUTLOOK AS FAR AS 10 YEARS KNOWING THAT EVERY YEAR OUT AFTER ONE, THE RATES ARE LESS CERTAIN. AND THEN THE THIRD WORKSHOP IS AUGUST 21, AND ALL THESE WORKSHOPS ARE HERE IN THE CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS, ALL FROM 9:00 TO 1:00, SO THAT NEXT WORKSHOP WILL WRAP UP THE CIP -- WELL, THE CIP AND THE RATES FOR CCW, AND THEN WE'LL BEGIN THE CAPITAL BUDGET DISCUSSION, THAT THIRD WORKSHOP. AND THAT WILL TAKE US TO THE FOURTH WORKSHOP, WHERE WE'LL WRAP UP THE CIP AND THAT'S ON AUGUST 28TH. AND THEN ALSO TALK ABOUT ANY POTENTIAL AMENDMENTS OR THINGS THAT WE'RE HEARING FROM THE COUNCIL FROM THE WORKSHOPS OR FROM THE COMMUNITY. SO THERE'S A FIVE-WEEK PERIOD BETWEEN NEXT WEEK AND WHEN THE BUDGET'S CONSIDERED FOR ADOPTION BY THE CITY COUNCIL. AND IN THAT TIME, WE'LL DO THOSE WORKSHOPS WITH THE CITY COUNCIL. AND, OF COURSE, WE'LL BE HERE, STAFF WILL BE HERE IF WE WANT SEPARATE MEETINGS, AND THEN WE'LL BE OUT IN THE COMMUNITY. AND SO THERE'S SEVEN DIFFERENT COMMUNITY MEETINGS TO GET INPUT FROM THE COMMUNITY. THAT'S IN FIVE SINGLE DISTRICTS, FIVE SINGLE DISTRICTS, AND THEN WE DO A SPECIAL MEETING WE STARTED THIS LAST YEAR IN THE TWO EXTREMITIES OF THE CITY. ONE IS ON THE ISLAND, MAKING SURE WE GET TO THOSE RESIDENTS THAT SOMETIMES HAVE A HARD TIME GETTING UP TO THE MAIN LABD, AND SIMILARLY IN CALALLEN, WHERE IT'S A LITTLE BIT REMOVED FROM DOWNTOWN, AND SO IN DISTRICT ONE, WE'LL DO TWO MEETINGS THERE, ONE FOCUSED MORE TOWARDS CALALLEN AND ONE MORE TOWARDS THE CENTER OF DISTRICT ONE. ALL THOSE MEETINGS BEGIN AT 6:00 AND THEY LAST FOR AN HOUR, 6:00 TO 7:00, AND THE LOCATIONS ARE ALL CITY LOCATIONS, AND SO THAT'S ANOTHER STEP IN THE BUDGET. THE BUDGET WILL CONCLUDE WITH A TWO-READING ORDINANCE. ONE IS ON SEPTEMBER 2ND, AND THEN THE SECOND ONE IS SEPTEMBER 9TH, AND THAT SEPTEMBER -- LET ME SEE, I THINK THE SEPTEMBER 9 ONE IS RIGHT AFTER THE MEMORIAL DAY HOLIDAY, BUT WE -- AT KEVIN'S REQUEST, WE HAVE TO GET OUR TAX RATE IN SO HE CAN SEND OUT THE NOTICES ON THE TAX BILLS IN A TIMELY MATTER. WE'VE BEEN ACCOMMODATING THAT SCHEDULE FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS NOW. THAT'S A QUICK OVERVIEW OF THE BUDGET. THE KEY IS NEXT WEEK WE'LL BEGIN WITH THE DELIVERY OF THE BUDGET, WE'LL HAVE WORKSHOPS WITH THE COUNCIL, WE'LL HAVE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND WE'LL BE HERE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS AS WELL. AND THAT CONCLUDES THAT ITEM. DREW IS GOING TO GIVE A QUICK UPDATE AT COUNCILWOMAN PAXSON AND OTHERS REQUEST FOR ALTERNATIVE WATER SOURCES. WE MISSED IT IN OUR LAST COUNCIL MEETING SO WE DID WANT TO SPEND THE REMAINDER UNTIL 10:00 WHERE DREW WILL GO OVER AN UPDATE. >> Molly: THIS WILL BE WATER SUPPLY ON THE LIGHT SIDE. DREW MOLLY, CORPUS CHRISTI WATER. THIS WAS A COUPLE WEEKS AGO, WE GOT 6 INCHES OF RAIN IN THE UPPER PART OF THE FRIO RIVER BASIN. IT WAS ACTUALLY MONDAY, JULY 14TH. I THINK IT EVEN SURPRISED SOME OF THE WEATHER FORECASTERS AND THAT 6 INCHES OF RAIN ENDED UP CAUSING SOME FLOODING. THIS WAS NOT THE HORRIFIC GUADALUPE FLOODING EVENT. THIS WAS DIFFERENT, BUT NONETHELESS, THERE WAS SOME REAL BENEFICIAL RAIN THAT FELL. THE FRIO WRIFER AT CONCAN, SO YOU CAN SEE THIS LITTLE MAP IF YOU LOOK AT THE FAR UPPER PART OF THIS MAP, YOU CAN SEE FRIO AT CONCAN, THAT SECTION OF THE RIVER HIT MODERATE FLOOD STAGE AND THEN THAT WATER, AS YOU MIGHT EXPECT, IT ACTUALLY FLOWED DOWN TO THE NEXT STAGE, WHICH IS THE DRY FRIO. AND ULTIMATELY, IT MADE IT TO THE FRIO AT DERBY, SO BY WEDNESDAY, JULY 16TH, SO WE GOT THIS RAIN ON MONDAY -- GOD BLESS YOU -- MONDAY, JULY 16TH, WEDNESDAY -- I'M SORRY, MONDAY, JULY 14TH, WEDNESDAY JULY 16TH WE ACTUALLY STARTED TO SEE FLOW AT THE FRIO RIVER AT DERBY. WHAT'S INTERESTING IS THESE TWO GAUGES, SO THE DRY FRIO AT UVALDE AND THE FRIO AT DERBY HADN'T SEEN ANY -- THERE HASN'T BEEN WATER THAT'S GONE BY THOSE GAUGES IN TWO YEARS, SO IT WAS PRETTY EXTRAORDINARY. AND SO OH, FLOW CONTINUED ALL THE WAY DOWN. BY SATURDAY, WE STARTED SEEING SOME WATER AT THE FRIO AT TILDEN, IF YOU LOOK FURTHER TO THE SOUTH, THAT P PEAKED AT 14 FEET. CHOKE CANYON IS PROBABLY NOW STARTING TO SEE SOME OF THAT WATER. WE'RE NOT EXACTLY SURE HOW MUCH IT'S GOING TO BE. BEEN IN TOUCH WITH SOME OF THE METEOROLOGISTS, ALLEN HOLT, KIII HAS BEEN TEXTING ME A LITTLE BIT. WE THINK IT MAY BE UP TO ABOUT 1%, 5,000-ACRE FEET ON THE CHOKE CANYON, SO, YOU KNOW, I THINK WHAT WOULD BE REALLY FANTASTIC IF WE COULD GET ANOTHER RAIN EVENT, BECAUSE THAT GROUND IS SOMEWHAT SATURATED, IF WE COULD GET SOME RAIN, IT WOULD BE -- IT WOULD BE HUGE. I'M GOING TO JUST FLY THROUGH THESE. THESE ARE JUST HYDROGRAPHS, SO YOU CAN JUST SEE THE FRIO RIVER AT CONCAN, YOU CAN SEE THE PEAK THAT WE SAW. AS YOU CAN TELL, THERE'S REALLY NOT MUCH COMING IN BEHIND IT, IT KIND OF FLATTENS OUT. SAME THING WITH THE DRY FRIO NEAR UVALDE, AND THEN HERE AT DERBY, YOU CAN SEE WHERE IT PEAKED. AND THEN LAST BUT NOT LEAST, THE FRIO AT TILDEN, YOU CAN SEE WHAT THOSE HYDROGRAPHS LOOK LIKE. SO, YOU KNOW, ULTIMATELY, YOU KNOW, THIS IS -- THIS IS GOOD TO BE ABLE TO GET THAT KIND OF RAIN. WE NEED MORE OF IT, AS WE ALL KNOW. ONE OF THE THINGS I THINK THAT IS REALLY INTERESTING, I PUT THIS GRAPHIC UP, SO WE ARE, YOU ■KNOW, OBVIOUSLY SITTING AT THE ALL-TIME LOW OF CHOKE CANYON, THE ONE ON THE TOP. YOU CAN SEE WHAT'S REALLY TREMENDOUS TO ME WHEN I LOOK AT THAT, IS YOU SEE JUST HOW CHOKE CANYON GETS FULL. I MEAN, IT TAKES MASSIVE, MASSIVE RAIN EVENTS. THE ONE THAT WE'RE GOING TO SEE, THE 1%, MAYBE THE HALF A% THAT WE'RE GOING TO GET AN UPTICK ON CHOKE CANYON, YOU'RE HARDLY GOING TO EVEN SEE IT ON THAT GRAPHIC. YOU MIGHT SEE A LITTLE BLIP, BUT IT'S GOING TO BE HARDLY ANYTHING. IT'S AMAZING HOW MUCH RAIN IT TAKES TO REALLY GET INTO CHOKE CANYON. LAKE CORPUS CHRISTI, OBVIOUSLY GETS FILLED UP A LITTLE BIT EASIER THAN CHOKE CANYON. YOU CAN SEE THE LEVELS THAT WE'RE AT AS OF TODAY AT 22.2%. WE MAY SEE A LITTLE BIT OF RAIN -- OR I'M SORRY, RUNOFF MAKE IT TO LAKE CORPUS CHRISTI. SO THERE WAS SOME RAIN THAT HIT THE NUECES RIVER, WE'RE TRACKING IT. IT'S IN COTULLA RIGHT NOW. COTULLA'S PROBABLY THREE OR FOUR DAYS, MAYBE FIVE DAYS A WAY FROM SEEING IT IN LAKE CORPUS CHRISTI. WE DID UPDATE THE DASHBOARD, SO WE, YOU KNOW, UPDATE THIS DASHBOARD EVERY TWO WEEKS. WE UPDATED IT. THERE'S REALLY NOT A WHOLE LOT TO SAY ABOUT THIS OTHER THAN THE LEVEL 1 WATER EMERGENCY THAT WE ABSOLUTELY DO NOT WANT TO HAVE HAPPEN IS FORECASTED IN DECEMBER OF 2026. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IS GOOD IS THAT WE ARE ADDING GROUNDWATER AS WE SPEAK TO THE RIVER, WE JUST INCREASED THAT FLOW A LITTLE BIT TO 5 MILLION-GALLONS A DAY. THE EVANGELINE GROUNDWATER PROJECT, WE'VE TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT. YOU KNOW, THIS IS A PROJECT THAT HAS SORT OF CHANGED ITS TUNE A LITTLE BIT. WE TALKED -- I MENTIONED BRIEFLY, WE WORKED WITH THEM LAST YEAR ON A KIND OF A DIFFERENT -- A DIFFERENT PROJECT TYPE IN TERMS OF BASICALLY DOING A LEASE ON THE WATER, AND NOW WE'RE LOOKING AT POTENTIALLY PURCHASING THE WATER RIGHTS ON EVANGELINE. WE'VE GOT SOME THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING THIS WEEK, SO WE'LL BE PROBABLY IN A GOOD PLACE TO KIND OF REPORT BACK ON HOW SOME MEETINGS UNFOLD TOMORROW ACTUALLY. AND THEN WE HAVE THE NUECES RIVER GROUNDWATER WELL PROJECT, SO THAT PROJECT CONTINUES TO GO REALLY WELL. I WOULD SAY IT'S -- IT'S PROBABLY THE QUICKEST PROJECT THAT WE HAVE IN GETTING REAL WATER INTO OUR WATER SYSTEM. YOU KNOW, WE'VE HAD A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT IS THE WATER QUALITY LOOK LIKE, HOW MUCH IS IT. I'LL BE THE FIRST TO TELL YOU, SEVEN SEAS ASKED ME THE OTHER DAY, CAN YOU SEE YOUR WATER QUALITY DATA? ABSOLUTELY. IT'S OUT THERE FOR THE PUBLIC TO SEE. WE SHARE THIS INFORMATION. SEVEN SEAS GOT A COPY. AND EVERYBODY HERE HAS SEEN IT. WE PUT THAT IN THE WEEKLY UPDATE, SO EVERYBODY CAN SEE WHAT THE WATER QUALITY DATA LOOKS LIKE AND THE STATUS OF THESE WELLS. SO, YOU KNOW, WE'RE CONTINUING TO WORK, WE'RE ON THE EIGHTH WELL THAT IS BEING DRILLED TODAY. WE SHOULD HAVE ALL EIGHT OF THOSE WELLS COMPLETED BY THE END OF AUGUST. WE'RE FORTUNATE TO HAVE $30 MILLION OF STATE GRANT FUNDING TO HELP PAY FOR THIS. WE WILL HAVE AS FAR AS PHASE 1, SO PHASE 1 OF THIS PROJECT IS TO BASICALLY TAKE THE 13 TO 15 MILLION-GALLONS A DAY OF GROUNDWATER AND DISCHARGE THAT INTO THE RIVER. AND THEN PHASE 2 OF THIS PROJECT -- AND WE'RE GOING TO TALK MORE ABOUT THIS NEXT WEEK, IS ULTIMATELY TO CONSTRUCT A FUTURE BRACKISH RO PLANT. WE'VE ALREADY HAD EIGHT WELLS AND MORE INSTALLED, AND SO WE WANT TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT INFRASTRUCTURE THAT'S GOING TO BE AVAILABLE TO US. SO WE WILL BE TALKING MORE ABOUT THAT. BUT PHASE 2 WOULD BE ULTIMATELY TO BUILD A BRACKISH RO PLANT AND THEN TAKE THAT GROUNDWATER AND TREAT IT AND PROVIDE IT INTO OUR DRINKING WATER SYSTEM. AND THEN LAST BUT NOT LEAST, I'M JUST GOING TO KIND OF FINISH ON THIS POINT TODAY. THE TEAM HERE, AT CCW, SAID THAT TODAY MARKED THE M MILLIONTH GALLON OF TYPE 1 WATER THAT WE HAVE GIVEN AWAY SINCE WE STARTED THIS PROJECT IN FEBRUARY. FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO MAY NOT REMEMBER THIS, THIS IS A PROCT PROJECT THAT WE BASICALLY DESIGNED, ENGINEERED AND CONSTRUCTED WITHIN CCW. WE STAFF IT. WE PROVIDE FREE TYPE 1 WATER TO THE COMMUNITY AND THERE'S SOME GOOD PICTURES HERE. WE'VE GOT FOLKS OUT THERE HELPING PEOPLE EVERY DAY, 20,000-GALLONS OF TYPE 1 WATER AVAILABLE, THEY PICK IT UP, TAKE IT, THEY USE IT TO WHATEVER THEY NEED TO USE IT FOR. IT'S BEEN A GREAT PROJECT. WE'RE PROUD THAT WE'RE ABLE TO HELP THE COMMUNITY IN TIMES LIKE WHAT WE'RE IN TODAY. SO THAT IS IT. THANK YOU. >> Mayor Guajardo: THANK YOU. THANK YOU, DREW. COUNCILWOMAN PAXSON, YOU HAVE A QUESTION ON THIS? >> Paxson: YES. DREW, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION. JUST A COUPLE OF REAL QUICK QUESTIONS. OUR EFFLUENT RECAPTURE, I KNOW A COUPLE OF WEEKS BACK WE HAD TALKED ABOUT MAYBE GETTING A STATUS OR SOMETHING ON THAT PROJECT. ANYTHING ALONG THOSE LINES COMING DOWN THE PIPELINE WOULD BE GREAT, NO PUN INTENDED. >> Molly: SURE. >> Paxson: NOT TOO LONG AGO, WE DID AN ITEM WHERE WE PURCHASED LAND ON FM 666, THE STATUS ON THAT OR ANY MOVEMENT ON THAT, THAT WOULD BE SUPER. AND DO WE HAVE ANY UPDATE ON THAT CURRENTLY. >> Zanoni: WE HAVE UPDATES ON BOTH. SO DO THE EFFLUENT REUSE FIRST. >> Molly: YEAH. SO, AS FAR AS THE EFFLUENT GOES, WE HAVE GARVER, AND THEY ARE BASICALLY CONTRACTED TO HELP US. THEY'RE STARTING THE SOURCE WATER CHARACTERIZATION STUDY TO BASICALLY LOOK AT THE WASTEWATER EFFLUENT AND THE QUALITY OF THAT EFFLUENT, BECAUSE ULTIMATELY, WHATEVER WE DO WITH THAT WASTEWATER, IT'S GOING TO HAVE TO GO THROUGH TCEQ TO HAVE -- YOU KNOW, TO BASICALLY HAVE APPROVAL FROM THEM. SO THERE'S THAT. WE THINK THAT THERE'S PROBABLY SOME MERIT AND WE'RE LOOKING AT IT, IN TERMS OF MAYBE RUNNING AN OPPORTUNITY TO RUN AN EFFLUENT LINE, OUR LARGEST WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT, MAYBE LOOKING AT PICKING UP SOME WASTEWATER FROM SOME OTHER. >> Zanoni: AND COUNCILWOMAN, ON AUGUST 12TH, THE FIRST COUNCIL MEETING IN AUGUST, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A CONTRACTOR THAT DOES WORK FOR THE CITY TALK ABOUT A PROJECT USING EFFLUENT REUSE SO THERE WILL BE ANOTHER BRIEFING ON WATER AT THE COUNCIL. IT WILL PARALLEL WHAT GARVER'S DOING. AND ADURA IS A COMPANY THAT WANTS TO TALK TO US ABOUT AN OPTION THAT THEY WANT TO TALK TO US. COUNCILWOMAN VAUGHN IS AWARE OF IT, THE GARVER -- I MEAN, THE ADURA PROJECT. AND THEN ON THE LAND, THE 250 ACRES, WE'VE BEEN CLEARING IT. AND ONCE THE EIGHTH WELL IS DRILLED, THE RIGS THAT WE HAVE ON THE CONTRACT ARE MOVING TO THE NEW PROPERTY AND WILL BEGIN DRILLING. >> Paxson: REMIND ME WHAT OUR -- WHAT TOTAL CAPACITY WE WERE TRYING TO GET OUT OF THAT, WAS THAT 15. >> Zanoni: THAT WAS GOING TO BE ABOUT 16 WELLS, SO ABOUT 40 MILLION-GALLONS AT BOTH LOCATIONS. THE FIRST. >> Paxson: COMBINED. >> Zanoni: R. >> Zanoni: YEAH, UH-HUH. >> Molly: WE'RE ON PROPERTY TO DAY. WE'VE ACTUALLY STARTED DRILLING THAT WELL. >> Zanoni: DID YOU? GREAT. >> Molly: SO IF YOU GO THERE TODAY, YOU'LL SEE A DRI DRILL RIG THERE. WE'RE STILL DRILLING ON THE FIRST PROPERTY. NOW WE'RE ON THE SECOND PROPERTY, SO WE'RE CONCURRENTLY DRILLING THERE, AND WE'VE GOT THE DRILL RIG, IT'S DRILLING. >> Paxson: ON. FABULOUS. >> Zanoni: THAT'S GOOD. >> Paxson: AND THAT REALLY DOES MEAN A LOT TO ME. THANK YOU FOR THAT INFORMATION. IN OUR LAST PRESENTATION, I KNOW YOU WERE ABLE TO KIND OF AT THE BEHEST OF ONE OF OUR COUNCILMEMBERS RATTLE OFF SOME OF THESE PROJECTS THAT WE ARE PURSUING AND VESTED IN, MOVING FORWARD IN, SO MUCH SO WE HAVE A WEEKLY UPDATE ON. I'VE SAID IT A LOT OF TIMES. I'D REALLY LIKE -- AND I KNOW WE'VE SEEN THIS FOUR-TIERED DOCUMENT. I'D REALLY LIKE TO SEE A LITTLE BIT OF COMMUNICATION TO THE PUBLIC, AND IT'S FINE TO PUT ON THERE "IN NEGOTIATIONS,," PERSPECTIVE PROJECTS, THOSE TYPE OF THINGS. THE FEEDBACK I HEARD WAS WE'RE RELUCTANT TO SHARE INFORMATION IF WE'RE NOT SURE HOW SOLID OF A COMMITMENT THIS IS, WHAT TYPE OF YIELD WE'RE GOING TO GET ON THAT. AND I SYMPATHIZE WITH THOSE CONCERNS, SURE, BUT WHAT I DON'T WANT TO DO IS COMPLETELY GO QUIET ON THESE. WE GET THE MEMOS, I SEE THEM HERE. THIS ARENA, SO IMPORTANT, I'M STILL VERY THANKFUL THAT WE'RE DOING THAT, BUT I THINK HAVING THESE OTHER MESSAGING IS EQUALLY IMPORTANT. >> Zanoni: WE AGREE. WE HAD A CAMPAIGN. I DON'T KNOW IF ELISE IS STILL DOING IT, BUT THIS WHOLE MEMO WE SHOULD PUT ONLINE. PUT THE WHOLE MEMO ONLINE. >> Molly: YEAH, WE CAN PUT THAT ONLINE. >> Paxson: I KNOW THE MEMO, BUT THE [INDISCERNIBLE] SOMETHING OUT THERE THAT'S A LITTLE BIT OF FIGURES, A LITTLE BIT JUST LIKE WE DO FOR INNER HARBOR, JUST LIKE WE DO FOR. >> Zanoni: WE CAN PUT TOGETHER A GRAPHIC. WE'LL PUT TOGETHER A GRAPHIC THAT -- YEAH. >> Paxson: OKAY. THAT. >> [OFF MIC] >> Molly: YEAH, THERE'S A COMMUNICATION EFFORT. IN FACT, I WAS JUST ON SUNDAY I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND UP ON THE BILLBOARD, THE FOUR-PRONGED A APPROACH THAT WE HAVE. IT'S SEAWATER, GROUNDWATER, LEVERAGING PIPE WATER, USING OUR SURFACE WATER SUPPLIES EFFECTIVELY. SO MAKING SURE THE PUBLIC UNDERSTANDS THAT WE NEED WATER, AND IT'S NOT JUST -- IT'S NOT JUST SEAWATER, IT'S NOT JUST DESAL. I MEAN, IT'S EVERYTHING. AND SO IT'S VERY IMPORTANT, AND, YOU KNOW WHEN YOU SEE IT ON A BILLBOARD, IT'S FANTASTIC. >> Paxson: I SUPER APPRECIATE THAT. I'M NOT NEGATING THAT, BUT TO SAY WE'RE PURSUING GROUNDWATER. LOOK, WE'VE PURCHASED THE LAND TO THIS. WE HOPE TO YIELD 40 MILLION-GALLONS BETWEEN THESE TWO PROACTIVE PROJECTS. OOP, THAT'S A BLURB. WE'RE ENGAGED, WE'RE LOOKING AT THE SOURCE MATERIAL FOR OUR EFFLUENT. BLOOP, THAT'S A BLURB. THOSE KIND OF THINGS WHERE IT CONNECTS TO THE COMMUNITY MEMBER. >> Molly: UH-HUH. >> Paxson: IF THAT MAKES SENSE, JUST SOMETHING A LITTLE TANGIBLE. >> Molly: UH-HUH. >> Paxson: OKAY. THANK YOU, GUYS. >> Mayor Guajardo: DID THE CAMPAIGN LAUNCH THAT WE TALKED ABOUT WITH THE FOUR-PRONG -- >> Molly: YOU WANT TO TALK. >> Mayor Guajardo: BECAUSE THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT SHE'S REFERRING TO. AND WE HAD ALL TALKED ABOUT THIS IN A COUNCIL MEETING, MANY. >> THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT. IT'S IN THE PROCESS OF LAUNCHING, WE'VE APPROVED, WE'VE TALKED TO THE TV COMPANIES TO GET THE CONTRACTS IN PLACE, SO IT IS ROLLING OUT. >> Mayor Guajardo: OKAY. >> THERE WILL BE -- DREW JUST APPROVED THE VIDEO THAT WOULD GO ALONG -- OR THE CAMPAIGN DOING THE EXACT -- WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT. >> Mayor Guajardo: RIGHT. >> AND SO WE'RE IN THAT PROCESS, WE'RE GETTING IT OUT. WE COULD DO BETTER AND WE CAN ALWAYS IMPROVE, AND SOME OF THAT WE CAN MAYBE INITIATE SOME -- THOSE TALKING POINTS IN OUR SOCIAL MEDIA, SO I'LL TAKE THAT BACK AND WE'LL TAKE THOSE COMMENTS AND WE'LL WORK WITH OUR COMMUNICATIONS, GET SOME OF THOSE ADDITIONAL DETAILS AS YOU'RE DESCRIBING, COUNCILWOMAN PAXSON, SO WE'LL WORK THAT IN. BUT TO YOUR POINT, MAYOR, YES, WE ARE ENGAGED IN THAT, WE ARE IMPLEMENTING THAT AND IT WILL BE COMING OUT AND WE'LL SEE IT IN THE RADIO. >> Mayor Guajardo: WASN'T IT CALLED WE NEED WATER NOW, OR IT WAS VERY BLUNT. >> WHAT FILLS YOUR CUP. >> Mayor Guajardo: OH, YEAH, BUT THERE WAS ANOTHER ONE. >> WHAT FILLS YOUR CUP CAMPAIGN. WE NEED WATER NOW. YES. COUNCILMA N HERNANDEZ? >> Hernandez: THANK YOU. OKAY. ON THE NUECES RIVER GROUNDWATER WELLS, IT SAYS THAT YOU RECEIVED A DRAFT PERMIT BED AND BANKS NOTICE PERMIT FOR REVIEW. BUT ON THE SAME DATE, JUNE YEEBT, 18TH, THERE WAS A LETTER SENT TO PETER AND I WON'T READ THE WHOLE THING, BUT IN THE MIDDLE PARAGRAPH IT SAYS TO BE CLEAR, TCEQ HAS AT NO TIME AUTHORIZED DIVERSIONS OR DISCHARGES IN VIOLATION OF STATE OR FEDERAL LAW. THE CITY REMAINS RESPONSIBLE FOR ENSURING THAT ITS ACTIONS DO NOT IMPACT THE STATE'S HEALTH OR NATURAL RESOURCES ACCORDING -- WHILE AUGMENTING STREAM FLOW DOES NOT REQUIRE A WATER RIGHT, ANY DIVERSIONS FROM THE NUECES RIVER MUST COMPLY WITH TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE CERTIFICATE OF ADJUDICATION NUMBER 21246 4-A. WHAT IS THAT CERTIFICATE OF ADJUDICATION? >> THAT CERTIFICATE OF ADJUDICATION IS OUR WATER RIGHT FOR LAKE CORPUS CHRISTI, SO THAT GIVES US THE DIVERSION POINT, THE POINT OF DIVERSION FROM THE NUECES RIVER TO UTILIZE WATER. SO WE CANNOT GO ABOVE THE AUTHORIZED RIGHTS THAT THAT WATER RIGHT GIVES US. WHAT WE'RE DOING RIGHT NOW, THROUGH THAT LETTER, TCEQ'S NOTIFYING US THAT WE'RE AUGMENTING THE STREAM FLOW RIGHT NOW, BUT WE DON'T HAVE A PHYSICAL RIGHT UNTIL WE COMPLETE THE BED AND BANKS AUTHORIZATION, WHICH WE'RE IN THE PROCESS RIGHT NOW. NOTICE HAS ALREADY GONE OUT, SO WITHIN A FEW DAYS THAT PROCESS WILL BE COMPLETED. AND SO THEN WE WILL HAVE A PAPER RIGHT TO UTILIZE THE BED AND BANKS TO CONVEY SAID GROUNDWATER AND HAVE FULL CONTROL OF THAT WATER. RIGHT NOW, WE'RE AUTHORIZED UNDER THE CERTIFICATE OF ADJUDICATION THAT YOU REFERENCED, WHICH IS LAKE CORPUS CHRISTI, TO POOL ALL OF OUR WATER, SO WE'RE AUGMENTING, BASICALLY ADDING WATER TO THE RIVER SO WE DON'T LOSE ANY ADDITIONAL WATER THROUGH EVAPORATIVE LOSSES, WE'RE ACTUALLY ADDING SOME SUPPLY SO WE CAN CARRY OUR SUPPLY THAT'S COMING DOWN THE RIVER FROM OUR ALREADY PERMITTED SOURCES. >> Hernandez: OKAY. AND AFTER A CONVERSATION WITH THE WATER DISTRICT, WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT NUMBER 3, THERE'S A LOT OF CONCERNS ABOUT TDS GOING INTO THEIR SYSTEM. AS I UNDERSTAND THE WELLS ARE NORTH OF WHERE THEY PULL WATER OUT OF THE NUECES RIVER. AND IS THERE -- FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND FROM HIM, THERE'S A REQUIREMENT FOR MONITORING OF TDS LEVELS AT HIS INTAKE, WHERE THE WELLS ARE, BEFORE THE WELLS AND BEYOND WHERE HIS INTAKE IS AT. HOW IS THAT MONITORING BEEN PUT IN PLACE? >> YES, THAT MONITORING IS BEING -- IS IN PLACE. WE'RE UTILIZING SOL MS TO MONITOR. WITH THE BED AND BANKS APPLICATION, WE ESTABLISHED A REGIME OR A SPECIAL CONDITION, SO WE'RE UTILIZING THOSE CRITERIA WITHIN THE BED AND BANKS SO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE MONITORING AND KEEPING AN EYE ON WHAT THE SALINITY CHANGES WOULD BE, SO WE'RE IN THAT PROCESS. OUR WATER QUALITY MANAGER IS WORKING DUE DILL JEPTLY ON THAT AND PUTTING EVERYTHING IN PLACE, AND SO WE'RE WORKING WITHIN THE ALREADY APPROVED TYPE OF SPECIAL CONDITION ESTABLISHED IN THE BED AND BANKS TEMPORARY APPLICATION THAT WE'RE APPLYING FOR TO UTILIZE RIGHT NOW. NOW, WHEN THAT IS FULLY VETTED, MEANING THE NOTICE IS DONE AND WE'RE MOVED ON, WE'VE BEEN ISSUED THE COMPLETE BED AND BANKS APPLICATION, WE'LL HAVE EVERYTHING IN PLACE. AND WE'RE IN GOOD CONVERSATIONS DAILY ALMOST WITH OUR PARTNERS WCID NUMBER 3, WE HAVE -- WE USE A TEXT STREAM SO THAT EVERYBODY KNOWS WHAT'S GOING ON, SO DREW HAS DIRECTED STAFF TO BE VERY COMMUNICATIVE -- COMMUNICATIVELY WITH OUR ENTIRE PARTNER, SO WE'RE DOING EXACTLY WHAT YOU'RE DESCRIBING SIR. >> Lerma. >> Hernandez: SO IS THAT MONITORING COMING TO US OR TO THEM AS WELL. [SIMULTANEOUS SPEAKING]. >> THE ANSWER IS BOTH TO YOUR QUESTION. WE COMMUNICATE VIA THAT TEXT INFORMATION ALL WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE RIVER TO ALL OF OUR PARTNERS AND THEN WE TURN IN ALL THE WATER QUALITY INFORMATION TO THE TCEQ AS WE RECEIVE THEM. >> Hernandez: SO WE'RE MONITORING AND PROVIDING THE INFORMATION TO THEM. >> YES. >> Hernandez: SO IS THAT MATCHING UP WITH WHAT THEY'RE PULLING OUT OF THE RIVER? >> WDIC NUMBER 3. >> Hernandez: DO THEY HAVE THEIR OWN MONITOR? >> I TALK TO THESE GUYS ALMOST EVERY DAY. IN FACT, I JUST GOT A TEXT PROBABLY TWO HOURS AGO FROM THE GUY THAT RUNS THAT DISTRICT, SO WE'RE TALKING. THEY -- THEY HAVE NOT SAID THAT THEY'VE SEEN ANYTHING THAT HAS BEEN UNUSUAL OR HIGHER THAN WHAT THEY NORMALLY SEE. AND SO WE HAVE A -- AS ESTEBAN JUST SAID, WE SPR A DAILY COMMUNICATION THREAD WITH THOSE GUYS. >> Hernandez: SO WHEN WE HAVE THIS BED AND BANKS PERMIT, WHAT -- WHAT KIND OF VOLUME DO YOU EXPECT THAT YOU CAN PUT INTO THE RIVER WITHOUT AFFECTING WATER DISTRICT NUMBER 3'S WATER QUALITY. >> Molly: WE'RE EXPECTING 13 MILLION-GALLONS A DAY. >> Hernandez: OKAY. THAT DOES NOT INCLUDE THE ADDITIONAL WELLS THAT YOU WOULD BE DRILLING ON THE NEW PROPERTY THAT WE PURCHASED, RIGHT. >> Molly: CORRECT. >> Hernandez: OKAY. SO YOU'RE EXPECTING TO PUT EVEN MORE HIGH TDS WATER INTO THE RIVER. I MEAN, WHAT'S THE MAX? >> Molly: WELL, I MEAN, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'RE WORKING ON RIGHT NOW. ONE THING I WILL TELL YOU IS, IS THAT THE WATER QUALITY IN THE AREA THAT WE'RE AT NOW, THERE WAS A STUDY THAT WAS DONE 10 YEARS AGO BY A HYDROGEOLOGIST AND THERE WERE THREE LOCATIONS THAT WERE PRIME FOR WATER QUALITY AND ONE OF THEM IS THIS LOCATION. SO THIS AREA THAT WE'RE AT HAS GOT VERY GOOD WATER QUALITY. IT'S -- YOU KNOW, WE'RE GOING TO GO THROUGH THAT ANALYSIS TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IS SAFE IN TERMS OF BEING ABLE TO PUT IN WITHOUT HAVING ANY IMPACT. >> Zanoni: YEAH, COUNCILMAN, ALSO JUST TO ADD TO THAT, SO WCID NUMBER 3 AS WE CALL THEM, THEY KNOW WHAT THEIR TDS LIMIT IS, AND WE HAVE A PLAN TO GIVE THEM WATER FROM OWENS STEVENS WITH AN INTERCONNECTS, AND I THINK WE TALKED TO THE COUNCIL ABOUT THAT. >> Hernandez: WE TALKED ABOUT THAT. IT'S AT 206, AND IT WAS BELOW COST. >> Zanoni: YEAH, SO WITHOUT GETTING INTO TOO MUCH DETAIL, ROBSTOWN WATER DISTRICT NUMBER 3 KNOWS THAT THEY'RE NOT GOING TOTO BE LEFT WITH HIGH TDS WATER. IF IT GETS TO THAT POINT, WE GIVE THEM WATER FROM OWENS STEVENS WHICH IS FRESH, TREATED WATER. THERE IS A BUSINESS PLAN THAT THEY WOULD PLAY ONCE CERTAIN THINGS TRIGGER, IT'S PROBABLY NOT APPROPRIATE TO TALK ABOUT IT HERE. WE'VE MET WITH THE MAYOR THERE, THE BOARD CHAIR AND THE OPERATOR OF THE WATER AGENCY. >> Hernandez: OKAY. LAST THING, DREW, I WILL NOT ACCUSE YOU OF TAKING ANY MONEY FROM KIEWIT, GARVER OR ANY OTHER ENTITY BECAUSE I RESPECT YOUR INTEGRITY AND I HAVE NO REASON TO DO THAT. BUT I DON'T APPRECIATE YOU SPREADING RUMORS OF -- ABOUT RUDY MADRID OR MYSELF IN THE SAME ASPECT. NOW, IF YOU'RE GOING TO QUESTION ANYTHING LIKE THAT, YOU NEED TO QUESTION ME DIRECTLY, AND I'LL GIVE YOU A DIRECT ANSWER. I DON'T APPRECIATE ANY KIND OF RUMORS THAT YOU OR YOUR TEAM ARE SPREADING ABOUT MYSELF OR ANY OTHER ELECTED OFFICIAL. ARE WE CLEAR ON THAT? MOLD YO >> Molly: ONE OF THE QUESTIONS I HAD, AND IT WASN'T DIRECTED TOWARDS YOU COUNCILMAN, ONE OF THE QUESTIONS I HAD, AND IT WAS A QUESTION THAT I'M CURIOUS, BECAUSE ONE OF THE QUESTIONS THAT I HAVE IS, HOW DOES -- HOW DOES A COMPANY -- HOW DOES A COMPANY GET A SOLE SOURCE PROJECT FOR DOING THE PERMITTING, THE PLANNING, THE ENGINEERING, THE CONSTRUCTION AND 30 YEARS OF OPERATIONS AS A SOLE SOURCE? THAT'S A QUESTION. IT WASN'T MEANT TO BE DIRECTED TOWARDS YOU OR ANYBODY ELSE. THAT WAS A QUESTION. >> Hernandez: AGAIN. >> Mayor Guajardo: GOOD QUESTION. >> Hernandez: THAT WAS NOT WHAT WAS RELAYED TO ME BY THE PERSON YOU ASKED. OKAY. SO I DON'T EXPECT, YOU KNOW, YOU TO QUESTION MY INTEGRITY THAT WAY, BECAUSE IT IS -- TO ME, I DIDN'T BRING IT UP RIGHT AWAY. I BROUGHT IT UP TO THE ATTENTION OF THE CITY MANAGER BECAUSE OF IT, I DON'T APPRECIATE THAT. >> Molly: I APOLOGIZE. >> Hernandez: I'VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR SIX YEARS HERE ON THIS DAIS, SIX AND A HALF YEARS. YOU KNOW, MY REPUTATION, TO ME, IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN ANY OF THIS CRAP. COUNCILMA N, I THINK THAT'S A CONVERSATION YOU NEED TO HAVE OFFLINE. >> Hernandez: HE'S DOING THIS IN PUBLIC AND I'M NOT GOING TO LET HIM DO THAT. COUNCILMA N, IT'S A CONVERSATION YOU SHOULD HAVE WITH HIM OFFLINE. >> Hernandez: WELL, I DON'T APPRECIATE IT. COUNCILWO MAN VAUGHN? >> Vaughn: REAL QUICK, I ASKED YOU ABOUT THE CIPS, SO CAN YOU TELL ME HOW MUCH IN PROJECTS -- YOU DON'T HAVE TO TELL ME RIGHT NOW -- THAT YOU'RE ACTUALLY GETTING DONE, BECAUSE IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO RAISE RATES FOR PROJECTS WE WON'T RAISE DONE, SO WE CAN GET THAT. AND I CAN JUST SPEAK FOR MYSELF UP HERE, WE MAY DISAGREE UP HERE, BUT I DO APPRECIATE WHAT YOU AND MR. ZANONI HAVE DONE. BECAUSE I KNOW HOW MUCH TIME I'VE SPENT IN MEETINGS ON WATER, SO I CAN'T IMAGINE THE TIME THAT Y'ALL HAVE SPENT. AND YOU'VE DONE A GREAT JOB ON THE ROADS, BY THE WAY, THE STRUCTURE. I THINK THAT'S WELL KNOWN IN THE CITY. >> Zanoni: THANK Y'ALL. >> Vaughn: AND I APPRECIATE IT. AND WE WON'T ALWAYS AGREE, IT'S JUST A BIG DEAL TO HAVE TO -- 1.2. NEVER MIND. THAT'S A BIG VOTE. >> Zanoni: WE UNDERSTAND COUNCILWOMAN. GOOD POINT. COUNCILMA N SCOTT. >> Scott: I WANT TO END ON A HAPPY NOTE. THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO. ESTEBAN, THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO. PETER, WHAT YOU JUST COMMUNICATED TO US, WHICH I'M NOT SURE WHAT EVERYBODY IN THE AUDIENCE HAS FIGURED OUT YET, IF YOU CAN GET 30 TO 40 MGD INTO THE RIVER, WE HAVE MADE IT TO DESAL. KEEP IN MIND THAT I THINK IF YOU CAN PUT 20 TO 30 MILLION-GALLONS A DAY INTO THE RIVER, THAT ADJUSTMENT ON OUR WHATEVER YOU CALL THAT THING, THAT BIWEEKLY REPORT, WHAT DO YOU CALL IT? IT'S A BIG WORD FOR ME. >> Molly: WATER SUPPLY DASHBOARD. >> Scott: WE CAN COMMUNICATE TO THE PUBLIC, I THINK. I THINK SOMETIME IN AUGUST, YOU CAN STAND THERE AND SAY, PUBLIC I WANT YOU TO HEAR ME. WE HAVE -- WE'VE FIGURED IT OUT. IF WE CAN PUT 30 TO 40 MGD INTO THE RIVER, WE DON'T WANT TO HURT THE ENVIRONMENT, TAKE CARE OF OUR FRIENDS IN ROBSTOWN, AND COUNCILMEMBERS, I SPOKE TO THE DIRECTOR LAST WEEK. I HAD A PERSONAL CONVERSATION WITH HIM, FACE-TO-FACE, HE FEELS LIKE HE'S WORKING WELL WITH THE CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI, HE WAS VERY APPRECIATIVE TO YOU, AND TO YOU, PETER, AND I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THAT. I THINK WE'RE GETTING CLOSE TO RESOLUTION TO GET US WHERE WE NEED TO GET, AND WE WOULDN'T BE HERE IF IT WEREN'T FOR YOU AND YOUR TEAM, DREW, THAT GOT US HERE, AND I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU. >> Mayor Guajardo: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN. DREW, THANK YOU. WE'RE GOING TO WRAP IT UP. IT'S 10:14 AND THERE IS NO FURTHER BUSINESS, SO THIS MEETING IS ADJOURNED.