Okay. Oops. [Music] [Music] [Music] Good morning everyone. Welcome to city hall to council chambers. I'd like to call this meeting to order. This morning our invocation will be given by pastor Don Lavel with Corpus Christi Christian Fellowship. Pastor, >> thank you mayor. I so appreciate you and this cabinet is council of people. So let us pray. Jesus tells us that men ought to always pray and never lose heart. So I would like to pray and let us pray even together. Our father in heaven, we come to you uh this morning to offer prayer in the name of Jesus Christ your son. I ask that you uh in your name be hallowed in this hall as the city's businesses conducted. I ask that your kingdom would come in the midst of this chamber among those of different views and understandings and that your will would be done on earth that is in Corpus Christi, Texas as it is done in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. Give the mayor, each council person, the city manager and his staff bread from heaven. Bread from heaven. Christ himself is our spiritual bread in all wisdom, knowledge, and spiritual understanding. I ask that you would forgive us of our debts, our trespasses, our attitudes toward others as we forgive our debt towards those who intentionally or unintentionally rub us the wrong way or hurt us. I ask you, do not lead us into temptation. Deliver us from the evil one and deliver us from our own ideas that are contrary to yours. For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Thank you. Bless this chamber. In Jesus name I have prayed. Amen. >> Amen. >> Thank you, pastor. And our pledge allegiance to the United States flag and to the Texas flag will be led by uh Josiah Pon. He's a 12th grader at Collegiate High School, state president for the Texas Association of Future Educators, and student council president. >> Please join me in the pledge of allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Please join me in honoring the Texas flag. Honor the Texas flag. I pledge allegiance to thee, Texas, one state under God, one and indivisible. >> Thank you, Josiah, and good luck with your studies. Miss Warttha, would you please call the role? >> Mayor Plet Wardo, >> present. >> Council members Roland Bara >> here. >> Sylvia Campos >> here. >> Eric Anthu >> here. >> Giler Nandez >> here. >> Kayn Paxton >> here. >> Ever Roy >> here. >> Mark Scott >> here. Carolyn Bon >> here. >> City manager Peter Zenoni >> present. >> City attorney Miles Rizley here. >> Mayor and council, a quorum of the council and the required charter officers are present to conduct the meeting. >> Great. Thank you, Miss Wa. So before we begin today's meeting, I want to take a moment to address um important issues. This council member uh I'm sorry, council chambers is a place of public business, a forum of civic discussion, decision-making, and service to the people of Corpus Christi. It is not a stage for personal attacks, disruptions, or or vulgarity. and it uh we will not tolerate uh violations of decorum. There have been repeated instances of individuals using profanity, shouting over others, and shouting blatant disregard for the rules that govern our proceedings, and we've been more than patient. I've allowed space for differing viewpoints, and I will continue to welcome respectful disagreement. But I will not allow this council or the public we serve to be disrespected. Today, we're here to do the people's work. So, let's proceed in that spirit. If you would like to speak on a specific agenda item during its discussion, there is no need to sign up beforehand. I will ask for public comment when the council considers the item. And at this time, you may at that time, I'm sorry, you may come up to the podium and speak. Uh I'll ask city attorney Miles Rley at this time to review the council meeting rules of decorum, which will be displayed on the television screen uh above. Mr. Rristley. Also, all citizens must be courteous, polite, and respectful of one another, including the city council and city staff. The mayor and council members shall be referred to by title and/or title surname. All remarks must be addressed to the mayor and city council and not to the council members as individuals. Citizens are only permitted to speak on city related subject matter. Speaking on any non city related matter is prohibited. Loud, boisterous, 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. >> Thank you, Mr. Risley. Um, so please state your name and the city in which you live before beginning your comments. Citizen comments are limited to three minutes while non-resident comments are limited to one minute. a visible timer positioned near the city secretary's desk. We'll help manage that aotted time. And if you have a petition or any relevant information, please present it to the city city secretary before speaking. So that said, we do not have any board uh or committee appointments. Uh we'll move on to consent agenda. Council members, are there any items you'd like to pull from the consent agendum agenda which consists of items 1 through 13? Item seven. >> Item number seven. >> Number three. >> Item number three. >> Item number 10. >> Item number 10. >> Okay. There being no more, I will entertain a motion to approve the consent agenda with the exception of items Oh, item number eight. I'm sorry. Thank you. Uh, with the exceptions of items 3, 7, 8, and 10. >> Did you ask for p the public as well, mayor, to pull if they wanted to pull items? >> Right. If 1 through 13 or >> Yeah. consent. Consent agenda 1 through 13. >> Item 13. >> Yes. >> Okay. And does anyone in the public would anyone in the public like to pull any items 1 through 13? >> Okay. >> 13. >> 13. >> Yeah. So, I will entertain a motion uh to approve consent agenda with the exceptions of item uh 3 uh 7, 8, 10, and 13. >> We have a motion. Do we have a second? We have a second. All in Are you putting >> Yes, I have it up there. Mary, >> please submit your vote. >> Okay, the motion carries. So the first item pulled was item number seven and that is a resolution amending financial budgetary policies. Councilwoman Paxton or no >> I had three. >> Councilman Hernandez. Sorry. >> Okay. Which one is she doing? Seven or three? She's doing >> All right. There's a a few things in here that I was kind of surprised of. The one that uh caught my attention the most was increasing the fund balance in the general fund from 17% to 20%. So when you do the calculation, that's about an additional $10 million you want us to keep on in balance. Can you give me the reasoning behind what the why such a huge increase and why we're pulling that money out of the out of the budget? >> Sure. >> What number we have? >> Seven. >> Seven. >> Yeah, I've got to go back to three. >> Yes, sir. Um the the current policy has a range from 17 to 20%. Um 20% of fund balance is going to give you about 73 days of operation. So that gives you two months of operation without revenue. Um so we're recommending that that that is a good number. Most cities will go up to 90 days of operation and so 73 20% gives you about two months of of operation. >> Okay. But I mean this this wasn't something that I mean we we've always had the 17 to 20. I mean why just >> 20% having a stronger fund balance does help with your credit rating as well writing with the rating agencies. Um you know if it is it's an it's a good savings amount to have. Um we do recommend that change. >> Well yeah I mean well why not 25%. >> Well you can do 25%. >> Well I mean I mean but it's but we're talking about a number here. We we specifically said, you know, in the past it's two months of operating expenses kind of with the thought that we would need that funding in case we had a hurricane that we'd be we would be getting revenue for a few months. Um, but why I mean I mean like in the enterprise funds we have 25%. >> Correct. >> Right. In the uh >> Okay, go ahead. >> Um, good morning Heather Hbert, assistant city manager. So over the past several years, we've actually budgeted to 20%. This is not really a change. We are formalizing it in the project in the pro in the policy, but over the last several years, the the budget has actually contained a a 20% fund balance. Um the wording in the policy was somewhat it was not clear on whether it should be whether it was an upper or a lower limit of a 17 to 20. Um and so this clarifies it. This also puts it in line with what the practice has been, which has been a 20% fund balance >> actually. That's incorrect. We actually would were carrying more balance in the past than than the 20% and we actually uh corrected that last year and brought that balance back down below 20%. So we have I mean so in lies the question when you have money that you have set aside in reserve that let that means there's less funding for you to utilize. So that's why I'm saying when you have a range of 17 to 20 that gives you some flexibility. Exactly. >> Here if you have 20% that kind of eliminates that flexibility. So why do you want to eliminate that flexibility? >> So it's it is a minimum of 20%. Um and and so that is within the practice. Like I said, we have not gone down to a 17% I believe since I've been here. Um it has been 20 or higher. And so this sets the the the minimum amount of 20%. >> Okay. Well, I disagree with this. So I I'll be >> interested >> not not approving it if it keeps it at 20%. >> Sure. Um, in here we have a reference to the debt management policy. The debt management policy has not been updated or reviewed since 2011. And Peter, I know we had this ID made some recommendations last year when we went through this, but yet I've yet to see a debt management policy. So, where are we with that? >> Right. So, we are uh monitoring the state legislation, a state legislature, I should say, uh who in this last session uh would have had some um mandates for cities to follow. And so, we're seeing if in this special session they prescribe any of that. And we plan to bring it back this fall then um based on these special sessions that are happening up in Austin. >> Okay. Are we talking about the bill that limits the amount that you use for debt? >> Right. Yeah. Yeah. >> As a percentage of your of your tax, your property taxes. >> Correct. Yeah. >> And there could be other things that the legislature introduces. So, we we're mindful of that. We're working with our intergovernmental relations director and uh we'll let this these special sessions pass and then we'll bring something back this fall for the city council. >> Uh I saw Ryan here earlier. Uh okay. So, >> we're aware of it, Councilman, and you've brought it up several times and so, uh, we'll bring that back for robust policy discussion of the council. >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> Yes, sir. >> Councilwoman Paxton, >> thank you, Mayor. Um, I was curious. Um, I've seen, um, or I've heard that some coastal cities are actually supposed to keep their fund balance at around 40% or close to that. I think that is really high certainly. Um, especially when uh, we we're facing some budgetary challenges with these tax differences. Um, but kind of to Council Member Hernandez's question, my curiosity is, um, I recognize the target that's been declared here is about 60 days worth of operations to have on hand. What is the citation or where do we get that as in in our specific case as being the driving point for the 20% the 60 days 20%. um that that was what was in the range and as uh Heather mentioned that's what we've been our practice has been but to add a little more to that we um having a a stable fund balance where let's say at 20% does also give us uh some guaranteed dollars that we can invest and so even though those dollars are sitting there they are earning interest and if our practice is to have 17 or 20% or 25% we can then lock in our investments for longer terms knowing that that is our fund balance that we should maintain and So even though those funds are sitting there, they are definitely earning interest and if we can lock them in for longer periods of time, they will uh generate income for us. >> I'm a believer in the fund balance. I am. But that's why I'm trying to get at um the citation behind it. Is is there a a best practice or I know that we were citing pre like government uh financing co codes or best practices or that's what I'm trying to get at to see if the 20 if we feel confident that 20 is a comfortable range because you know we are coastal we we need to think about issues of natural disaster we need to think about issues of resiliency in our water supply we need that's where my thoughts are more so going. Yeah. Um I'm not sure there's a magic number, but uh the the approach that um GFO recommends now is taking a risk based approach. So for example, for coastal based, uh there may be a need to go maybe higher than 20% u within the budget constraints. Um but that is a a a management decision as far as how much to reserve for contingency. Yeah, Councilwoman Paxton. Um, in my prior career in San Antonio, um, we worked for several years with the city council to get to 15% and then the goal over time was to get it to a little bit higher. I'm not sure where they're at today, but it's really a policy choice. Uh, our financial advisor uh that works with us uh does recommend that we stick with this 20% and hasn't advised us that we should go higher necessarily. So, it's really a policy. Uh, it's there's really, as um, Sergio said, there's no magic recipe for it. But, um, certainly the more in financial reserves, the better from a credit rating standpoint. >> It's a balance of where you don't want to save too much and then not have money then not have money put into production, but things like streets and animal care and that type of thing. >> So, the city since I've been here for six years has had this 17 to 20% and we've been able to maintain it, which is a good thing. To Councilman Hernandez's point, we drew down some fund balance in excess of the 20% and put it into production. Uh the last couple of budgets we had 70 million in fact in all funds fund balance that we put into production. So um so we I think what we can do is get you some comparative analysis across the state. The seven cities above us is is a good barometer and then we can get you an opinion from our financial adviser as well. >> Yeah, I think that would be helpful. I again just kind of my thought process is that we are so coastal in nature >> and um we're unique as a regional water supplier. Um, I think that while we have a lot to compare to some other larger cities, we have a lot of very unique aspects. And so my curiosity and our financial adviserss would be able to tell us better, but I don't know if we set ourselves a goal for 25% or something like that because certainly I don't want to, you know, limit our funds for production, that type of thing, but I want to be cognizant of >> of the situation that we are in. >> And to that um, >> good point. And we did when we did look at this a few years ago, we did look at some of the coastal cities. Councilwoman, knowing that we're at greater for tropical storm, hurricane >> weather phenomenon. So we'll get you not only the seven above but some of the major coastal cities >> uh because u they they they probably have a higher percentage >> with that um train along that train of thought under section three that um there is a suggestion here saying that we would like to potentially remove or less any one-time appropriations. my thoughts on a on a perhaps a good compromise to making sure that we keep a pretty robust um contingency there or rather a fund balance is to leave that in possibly. I think right now if I'm not mistaken that may be about $10 million on in our budget page. >> Is it 10? I don't have my budget book here but >> me I didn't bring my budget book we have it broken out in the schedules but um that would put more money into financial reserves. Correct. So we I mean we're we're big fans of having more financial reserves than not. >> That may be my caveat. And you know if we're if if all indicators are saying 20 is healthy, maybe we leave that in there. >> Yeah. >> 20% of total operating, not less one-time appropriations. >> Yeah. Do we know what the financial impact of that would be? We'd have to find out if we can. Maybe somebody can grab a budget book because uh say it was just as an example, say it's two more million dollars and we're going to have to cut the budget by 2 million to save it. And uh so the council should know what that what that financial implication would be. >> I agree. >> Unless we make it effective with the FY27 budget. But >> if we could know what that looks like. >> Yeah, we can get that information. Maybe send a memo out as far what the cost per day of operation is. And so u it'll tell you how much you would add be pulling from operating budget to put into reserve. >> Is this a two reading? >> What's that? >> Is this a two reading? >> It looks like just a one reading resolution. >> Yeah. Well, then um what I would do then is motion to postpone until we get that information because I I would like to know that before I feel confident with being >> all the council should know it because it would have a financial impact. >> Uh Councilman Scott. >> Yeah, I'm good with everything except it would seem to me this is a conversation better had for February, you know, right? because that that's what you would have liked to have known is >> right >> you know if we wanted exclusive I mean inclusive of is that the right word of one time you need to know that as you develop the budget my recollection is we used this the first thing the council did was talk about policies when it came to budgeting so my ask would be in next year's process we have this conversation first >> because then everything else kind of flows in behind it you got your end point so y thank you that's that's my comments. Maybe next year. Let's do this first. >> Thank you, Councilman. Councilwoman Vaughn. >> Well, I support a fund balance. I know we have to have it. But here's my question. I am so tired of sitting up here and hearing something different from staff and hearing something different up here. I like truth and transparency. Was it 17 and was it 20 before? So, I would like y'all to go back and look at that answer so that we know. I'm not criticizing anybody, but we can't do this. I mean, we should know what the answer is. Was it 20? Was it 17? Did we increase it to 20? Was it 20 all the time? >> Yeah. Well, I'm not going to speculate here, so we'll have to get to that. We can look back at the past five budgets and I do believe though it was at least 20%. But in a few years, that was the kind of the rainy day reserve and then after that was taken off there was some remaining fund balance and so that's why last year as an example, we put it into one time expenditures. >> Yeah. Okay. I just I just want to know the >> Yeah. Right. We agree. I agree. We'll get you that. >> Councilman Vanetta >> here. Is there any So, if if there's a not we're not table, we're postponing it. So, is there any consequence associated with that? >> There's no consequence. We'll bring it back next week. It just wouldn't be it's not on the agenda that was published yesterday. So, for the watchers, you know, we'll put it on for the final agenda that goes out this Friday. >> Okay. Uh the >> next Tuesday. >> Um Okay. The other thing is that uh when you talked to a financial adviser, did he say what kind of impact it would have on the bond rating? >> Not I don't think he gave us like a specific uh >> he just indicated >> specific answer, but we'll get that as well. And I guess was there a time during Hurricane Harvey, Hurricane Hannah, during the winter storm, and during the pandemic that we had I mean we dipped into reserves simply to balance, but did we do it specifically as a result of a natural disaster? >> No, we never had to. In the six years I've been here, we've never had to dip into the financial reserves. Uh in the case of CO, excuse me, in the case of CO, the federal government provided the $70 million. >> Yeah. um Harvey uh we didn't have a substantial loss in revenue or any need to uh to uh dip into our fund balance. And then the the one tropical storm that we had or hurricane I guess uh Hannah is that the one that was a few years ago. Uh that one didn't cause any interruption in revenue. >> Um okay. I I guess that's the thing and I I really actually like the language that says removing 17 unrestricted and using 20% as a goal. as I've indicated in the industry of which I am is that it's it's a goal that you basically work towards and it gives you flexibility, right? >> And the and I think that's that's really something that we especially if we have a consistent practice. >> Uh now I remember I've worked with another public agency in the past where they were much more bold and they wanted same thing. they want to utilize resources to put into capital of which um I I wouldn't I'm sure that we don't suggest that here. Um the other thing is that I think right now I just want to reiterate is what you had indicated you know um in the special session it was passed the 2 and a half% cap >> right >> so and the legislature now is limiting our ability to have flexibility >> to be able and then in addition now um as we had indicated the legisl as you indicated the legislation regarding debt >> right >> and that the only time that we would be able to increase the cap is if if we had some natural disaster where we'd have to fill that in. So I I just want to I I I just want to make that clear that I think it's good that even though we're moving from 17 to 20% part of my thinking is that moving from 17% of unrestricted to 20% of the goal. So that means we're we're we're making it harder for ourselves because we're lessening the requirement of having access to the funds. Am I correct in assuming so? If I does that make sense. >> You say that last sentence again. >> So in other words, we're we're increasing the goal. >> What? You're right. We're increasing the written goal in the past. That's what we have to confirm for Von, Councilwoman Vaughn. But I believe in the past five budgets that we've done here that I've done, it's been at 20% the >> regardless of whether it is not increasing the goal. >> Uh >> I guess that the consternation I'm hearing is why are we ch adding 3%. >> Well, the reason we're adding 3% in my opinion is because I'm sorry to interrupt you. >> Yeah. validate is that because we're changing from unrestricted now to a goal, >> it's going to give us more flexibility. So, it would only be prudent to add 3%. That's my thinking. I didn't >> Yeah, I think there I think the way we're looking at it is that there was a range and the range was not clear, >> right? >> And so, this is a way to make make the policy more clear for readers, including the policy setters up here, the council and the city staff to say that because we could come in here and say, "Okay, we're going to put 18% financial reserves." And the council could say, "Well, I thought we said 20%." And the answer is, "Well, the r there's a range from 17 to 20." >> Gotcha. >> So, we're trying to just give clarity to say we want to we've been reaching 20%, so we're not putting in any more based on this conversation we're having. We don't have to take out any more funds out of production and put them into reserves because they're currently at 20%. It's just making the policy clearer, that's all. >> Okay. Thank you, sir. >> Yes, sir. Councilman Hernandez. >> Okay. I have to agree with Councilman Scott on this. Normally, we have this discussion on policy in March and in the past we had that discussion on policy before creating the the However, I wasn't expecting any kind of changes in the budget policy other than just updating some dates. Um, so for future reference, if you're going to make changes to, you know, budget policy, it needs to be March, April time frame before you start constructing the actual budget instead of right before we, you know, couple weeks before we approve the budget. Now, the the the reason for the range and and correct me if I'm wrong, we do often take funds uh to pre uh do work on some uh bond projects before we actually sell the bonds and then we reimburse ourselves and we use that from this fund. Correct. for >> it's all funds councilman. So all all pulled cash of accounts. >> I'm referring to general obligation >> even that it's come it comes from all of our available funds not just the general fund. >> Okay. So but I mean we do have options to for funds to that because we maintain balances uh in our enterprise funds of 25% as per this policy. >> So the the since we use our pulled cash councilman that won't affect our fund balance. Um we'll have a draw from cash but an offset of a receivable. So the transaction happen >> so from our operating budget. >> Yeah. So it happened on the balance sheet. Um so it won't impact your fund balance calculation. >> Okay. Well I mean it's you know money's money right wherever you get it from. Um okay so the the range I want to say it gives you some flexibility. You know you have a cap of 17 but you can move operate within that 20%. So you know between 17 and 20% you know and that's been fine uh in the capital fund. As a matter of fact, that might be something you look at in the enterprise funds as well. But I mean, because I think there was which enterprise fund last year that we were we were below our our fund balance? Was it the water fund? >> I'm not too sure on that one, Councilman. Um for for balancing the budget? >> No, there was one budget that we uh that we were below our balance for the enterprise funds. I can't remember which one it was last year. I'll have to go through it this year to make sure the the percentages make sense or are correct. But what I mean I just don't understand why you want to eliminate your flexibility. >> It was just for clarity. We can if the council wants to keep it at that that range given that it's late in the you know the schedule. You're right. This should have been brought earlier in the year. Uh we can revisit it next year. We're already at 20%. So it's a moot point with this budget unless you want to cut it back down to 17. Well, just I mean if you have it at 20%, it doesn't matter if you're at between 17 and 20% anyway. I just don't understand the the reason for all >> Well, we said it was just to be it's to have more certainty. If you have a range, then that means there's a variable range from 17 18 19 20. So that's that's not certain. 20% certain is one number 20%. >> Okay. But what he said is on the on the financial adviser Yeah. >> was that he's looking at what your fund balance is, not is it looking at what your policy is or what your fund balance is? both probably >> part of the calculation of the rating agencies look at they do factor in how much fund balance are you carrying >> okay so it's the actual fund balance >> yeah so it does car it does impact your score uh with the rating agency >> so not the policy but the fund balance >> correct but I would say they look at both the city the city council has done a great job in having these financial policies some cities a lot of cities don't have them we didn't have them in San Antonio as an example you know big city so >> well well Peter I know you and I have have had many discussions >> yes we have on policy. It was one of the things that, you know, when we first started, it was, you know, we were going back and forth. We added the the CIP portion to that as well. So, uh, you know, I guess >> it's a good docu. It's good to have. So, >> it's a great document. >> Yeah. People look at it. You know, the financial advising groups look at these. I would I would I would submit. >> So, it's good to have. >> All right. Is there is there is there a second to >> I do have u So, I the I do have some information uh fun. So this in the budget right now, the 26 budget, there's uh 3.3 million approximately in onetime expenditures. So if we add those in the calculation, that would uh we would have to save about $650,000 and that would Yeah. So if we wanted to Yeah. Right now the the for the past five budgets, we have excluded one-time expenditures in this rainy day fund or this financial reserve. And uh we're we're recommending to continue to do that. If we don't do that for the 26 budget, we would need to cut 650,000 to be able to put that into the reserves. If you include the onetime expenditures >> if you keep it at 20%. >> Right. Yeah. If you keep it at 20%. And include the onetime expenditures in >> keep the range. You wouldn't have to do that. >> Um let's see. Well, it would be inex uh you would still because it would be if you said let's include the one-time expenditures in the calculation, it would be um we would have to save at 20% another 656,000. >> So onetime expenditures are are typically excluded. Uh capital outlay is excluded uh because if you are dipping into fund balance typically you're just using it to run operations. you freeze your spending on those capital items and so there would be no need to include those in those calculation. You end up having abundant um funding your fund balance a little too much. Um you can but it really puts it really eliminates the flexibility you have. So uh most uh the best practice out there is you look at operating funds only operating expenses and that's what you're going to fund out of fund balance if revenues stop for some reason. >> Okay. So, was there a second to the postponement till next week? >> Not yet. >> Okay. >> But we still have some comments. >> I'll second it for for just for to get it through. >> Okay. Uh, Councilman Roy. >> So, I definitely agree with Council Member Scott that this type of a conversation probably should have been happened in February, March. The other thing is, if I understand, Council Member Hernandez, you you still want the flexibility. Is that correct? So, you want the flexibility to go from 17 to 20. The only thing I can think and and in terms of looking at right now, setting it at the 20% is that right now, wait just a moment. Let me just let them go ahead and talk. So, >> thank you. Um anyway, right now when you take a look at where we're at and some of the uncertainties that we're dealing with, you know, right now we're if you take a look at the a lot of the things that we're trying to pass high expenditures on our budget and that um one of the hard things that we've worked on as a city is our is our credit rating. And so I would hate to see that suffer and I do believe that if we actually are specific and stated at 20%. That in terms of our and you said bond council that that was a good thing. Is that a >> correct? >> The more precise that we can be the the better it's going to impact our overall rating. Is that correct? >> The healthier the fund balance the better the rate. >> Right. So I don't have a I mean I really don't have a problem either way. I think maybe next year we should look at this a little bit closer. I don't know if it's enough that we need to hold it up today, but in lie of everything that we're dealing with and I think next year we're going to have a better perspective in terms of where we're at certainly in terms of on water and some of the other projects that we're working on. So that's kind of my mindset on that is I I don't mind us uh this year if we're going to take away that flexibility, but I think we should definitely go back and make it a topic early on next year. Thank you, sir, >> Councilman Scott. >> First, I just want to point out was Council Member Paxton that was talking. I was just listening. Council member, I just I was trying to be a good boy. Uh, man, it didn't take me long to throw you under the bus, did it? And you said nice things about me. I just want to just um I think it's a great conversation to have in February. I don't really want to talk about eliminating $650,000 in August. Uh I'm just disappointed we didn't have it in February or March. I I I I'm also nervous about sending the message to the I guess I I like sending the message to the credit rating agencies that we want to do a hard 20% subject to these one-time expenses. I think that's a good message to send. I have a feeling somewhere in the past, Caroline, we might have even had a higher number than 20%. Uh but so I'm okay with where it is. Again, if we were in February and we wanted to eliminate, you know, we wanted to do exclusive whatever, you know, eliminate the the one time, then then you would march with that. But now here we are in August and I'm I'm nervous. I'm nervous about about doing that. So, I'm okay with the way the policy states hard 20 and then I'd like to do it earlier next year. >> Yeah. Uh, Councilman Paxton. >> Um, thank you, Mayor. No. Um, and I apologize. I was trying to confer on the math. That's what I was um asking. Um I I I can't say too much more to add to that other than my same thoughts was um I think that it puts us in a good spot. I think it sends as far as messaging for our credit and and just the internal strength of the organization. I think excluding those one time to me follows that thought process without having to increase a percentage type thing. Um that you know I certainly thought we're hearing now 650 was easier than trying to get to a 22 or 25% type thing. Um but I agree it's it's very late in the game to try to do that today. And so I think that's where we need to come back to the timing on evaluating a document such as this one. >> Okay. So we do have a motion in a second to postpone and that would be to next week. I think that shouldn't be a problem. Peter, next week. >> Yeah. What would be the What are we So Councilwoman Paxton, are you saying do the um the one times next review it next year or you did you still want >> 1720? >> 1720. I think it's just on the additional information, isn't it? >> Question. >> Yeah. Okay. Do you still want to postpone? Are you still wanting to do this? >> Okay. Let's postpone it and then we'll bring we're going to bring back these answers to the questions and then um Okay. Yeah, that's >> that's fine. We have a motion in a second just to postpone till next week just for additional information. >> Doesn't impact us any, you know, in our budget process. >> Right. That's fine. Please submit your vote. Oh, council, I'm sorry, council. Uh, does the public have any um public comment on this particular item? Okay, Councilman Roy, >> with that postponement, I just want to make sure that you remember the part that uh I think that Councilwoman Von was asking that we can do the comparison also where we're at with the other cities. I think that would be good too as part of that. >> Thank you. I think >> they were going to, right? You were going to do that. Okay. Please submit your vote. And to clarify, yeah, that's to postpone. The screen says something a little different. I couldn't change it. >> Okay, >> Mr. Nandis. >> No, I can't in the middle. It got kind of stuck, but for the record is it is to postpone sir. >> Okay, the motion carries. Thank you, Rebecca. Uh, let's see. Item number three was pulled. That is a motion authorizing the purchase of 25 additional Panasonic Panasonic mobile data computers with dash camera systems. Uh, and this is for our Corpus Christie Police Department. Councilwoman Paxton. >> Thank you, Mayor. Uh, good morning. I was just maybe I missed it, but going through the packet I noticed um gosh I didn't keep the right note. I'm so sorry. The So could you give clarification? So it's 25 times the setup. So this is outfitting those vehicles and this is going back to when we approved a whole fleet of new vehicles. >> Yes. Uh good morning, Christopher White, of course, Christopher Police Department. So, yes, so last or this fiscal year we're in, we purchased 75 units. Uh 42 of them were uh from uh the general fund. We were granted, eight of them from crime control, 25 of them from our uh fleet replacement fund. This equipment will go into those 25 and it's needed to finalize the upfitting for the MDT part of it. There's 25 sets. Those sets include the MDT, the uh controller arm, the cradle point incar camera systems, the Panasonic system that runs that, everything that makes the electronic portion or the IT portion of the car function. >> Okay. So, and forgive me when I see I saw I think I see later on in the agenda where there's and it may be on next week where we're approving a vehicle and it's a certain price to purchase the vehicle and then a price to upfit the vehicle. >> So, that's that's going to be a grant vehicle that has nothing to do with these. That's a grant vehicle we're purchasing through uh for the stone garden and that's a one-time purchase off for that and then there's funding for that through the grant for upfritting but that's that's not has nothing to do with this 25 >> there different types of upfitting. >> Yes, because that's going to be a Tahoe and we're talking about the F-150s on this one. >> Okay. Okay. So, thank you. So, thank you. >> Okay. I'll entertain a motion or would there >> councilwoman? Yes, ma'am. >> Okay. Thank you, mayor. Okay. Um I I just wanted to just uh mention I did reach out uh to actually Peter Collins about the equipment. Um and he he reassured me that this is uh you know a really um I think he used the word dynamic uh to make the officers just more dynamic in a in a sense. It just makes it more transparent you know for for for the community. And um I was cuz I was watching the where the money was being funded from. So yes, this is something definitely that the crime prevention uh fund is for which is to you know protect and prevent crime. And I think this is a good item and I just wanted to you know when there's something that I don't agree with or or something that I do agree with I do like to point it out. So I just wanted to say uh yes I do approve that with this. Uh, you make a motion to approve. >> Second. >> Okay, we have a motion in a second. Is there anyone in the audience that would like to make public comment on item number three? >> Okay, there being no one, please submit your vote. Okay, the motion carries. Next item is item number eight and that is resolution for the negotiation of terms with uh Newasis County for a proposed London area tur. >> Councilman Betta. >> Okay. Just just a Okay. Just a couple things I guess. Number one, I I fully support. All we're doing is this. This is to enter into neg negotiations with the county and this is our side. Correct. >> So um yes, Heather Herson is the city manager. So what this is is that um we um Noasis County um had provided some terms that they would like to be considered within their interlocal agreement. So a reminder that the city creates the TUR the TUR zone and then the other taxing entities participate through the TUR zone through an interlocal agreement. So historically the interlocal agreements have just talked about just kind of the terms the contribution percentage things along those lines. So this is a little different in the fact that there are very specific asks that the county has for to be included in the interlocal agreement. So that is the terms that they proposed. Um the city has come or we we've gone through and staff has worked through and there are basically counter proposals on how we feel like we can accomplish what they're asking for. And so what this is is basically um they had asked that city council consider these um responses from coming from city staff and make them I guess official take action on them >> and and so um can any amendments be made after the TUR has been put put together? I mean it's the would be the action of the TUR board. >> So this is the interlocal agreement. So no the TUR board. So the interlocal agreement is actually approved by both the taxing entity or the person entering the interlocal agreement along with city council. The interlocal agreements are not approved by the TUR board. They're approved by city council. >> Well actually I meant for the TUS itself for example the boundaries. >> Yes. >> Okay. So the boundaries could be amended uh the boundaries could be amended by the TUR board itself. >> Exactly. So the TUR board would have control over um recommendations for amending for boundary amendments for amendments to the project and financing plan within this one. Um we are working off of subzones and so they can recommend additional subzones um to be considered additional projects. So the TUR board has that power. That's what they're charged with. >> Okay. And then I saw in here, let me see if I can find it as far as the makeup of the board, which I agree with. like this. Uh I'm trying to find the page >> page. Yeah, slide number 12 has the tur the boards. >> So I you know we've had some very spirited competitiveness against developers lately. So I I guess the thing is is that how how is the developer and I know in this particular case there's we've got a very specific project which I very much support but what happens if we have another project that comes up that falls into that. >> Sure. So just like any other so for example TUR number four has a community member that is on the board. So that board is made up of not only city, county, Delmare, but also there's a representative from the Lexington, from the aquarium, and also from the community. So just like on the other boards, the developer representative would apply, go through the application process, and have to apply for the board and then be um appointed by city council. >> Okay. Um, and I'm sorry I just I I spent last night obviously as I called you this morning to look at this >> is just I I just want to I I I I don't want to get into this position where we have competing developers all of a sudden and I mean I I I appreciate the developer this year and I support him 100%. I brought this to us and I think it's a great deal. I I just I don't want to get where we're all of a sudden now we're we're putting ourselves together to just have one developer and then I I don't because that that it gets you thrown back at us. >> Yeah. So the the intention behind this is while we have one developer that has brought forward several projects that are going to be for consideration. Um this is not just this is not a developer initiated. So just for clarification this is not a developer initiated TURS. This is a city initiated TUR. So, city staff brought this forward for consideration. Um, while right now we have one developer that has engaged on some potential projects within the zone, um, this is open to any developer group that wants to come in and propose projects within the zone. The intention behind having this developer um representative on the board is not necessarily it doesn't have to be it could be any anybody from the development community preferably somebody who is in operating within the local within the London area to be able to represent the development community but it would go through the same process we would for any of our board members in the fact that they would have to apply they would have to be qualified and then they would have to be appointed. >> So this isn't a specific developer. No, this is not a specific. This is developer representative >> that gets appointed just like anything. >> Exactly. Exactly. Just like I said, just it would be the same type of thing as we have on tur number four where we have a community representative. The community representative has to meet certain criteria living on the island. >> Gotcha. Gotcha. Thank you for clarifying. I didn't get you the first time. Okay. Thank you very much. >> Sure. >> And on that Heather, so if if it is a why wouldn't we just call it a community stakeholder? >> We we can call it a community stakeholder. We had focused on the development since this is primarily we are not going since this one is not going to have business incentives. It's not going to have this is going to be primarily for infrastructure. So we had geared it towards a someone who's involved in the development community. Um since they would be involved and have more knowledge on that. Um we can title this a community one you know community representative. Um it is definitely up to um it could be up to the you the up to the city council. It could be up to the tur board. The >> concern was as somewhat mentioned was so what happens when the development is done, a new developer comes in, >> but you have the developer from the prior development. >> We can set a we can set a one-year term. I mean, there's there's a lot of things we can do on there. >> Does that need to be done today or is that something that can be considered later? >> It can be considered later. So this is something that would lay out a whole reserver position for either a community representative or a developer representative. It can be changed um and modified. We can put different clarification, you know, qualifications on it. So the primary intention was to have somebody from the community from that is developing in there and hopefully we're going to have you know multiple more developments over and above the three that have been proposed to date. >> Right. Okay. Councilman Hernandez. >> Thank you mayor. Now this this TUR is somewhat unique in the sense that you create subzones within the TUR area. >> That is correct. >> And that sub zone is exclusive to that one area and the funding goes to that particular project. >> Exactly. So each sub zone would have their own development agreement would have and only the increment created by that sub zone would go back to that development. So it's not like it is where we in our other ones where we we grab increment from all of the area within the >> right. So if you have a certain area that's actually currently excluded but wants to be added to it, they kind of create their own sub zone within the turers once it's added >> and then ask and then ask for Yeah. They can request modifications >> of their own developer agreements. So it wouldn't exclude somebody, you know, since this is kind of different in the sense it's not the entire zone, you have these subzones. >> Yes. >> So I I don't think there's any issues. >> Yeah. >> Thank you. >> Okay, we have a um we have a motion. Did we have a second? We have a second. >> Please sub. Uh, anybody from the U audience, would you like to make public comment on item number seven or I'm sorry, what, number eight? >> Hi, my name is Jim Klein. I live in District 2 here in Corpus Christi. I would speak in opposition to this. I just don't see a need for a TUR out in London. Um, I think that that the TUS has done done good work at at North Beach. I think it's largely completed its work already out on the island. Uh I think there's a huge need much much greater need for a turds in some other parts of the city. I think with look at the near west side in particular and for that reason I just don't think this is a wise decision. Thank you. >> Thank you Mr. Klein. Anyone else on item number eight? Okay. There being none we'll close public comment and please >> Yes. Councilman uh Scott. >> The motion is um to approve our responses. That that is correct. That is what that it is is to app prove our responses. And I will note that um on the um administrative cost. So the county did clarify in their wording they sent over to us that it would said that the newis county can be reimbursed up to 50,000 over the life of the agreement. What they're actually requested is $50,000 per year over the life of the agreement. >> That's that's not that's what that's different. What I heard it was um 2,000 a year for 10 years or whatever that is. >> No. So what they did clarify actually we received clarification yesterday was that what they had intend what was there was that they are requesting 50 up to $50,000 a year um annually um for reimbursement of administrative expenses. Now what we are proposing is similar to how we fund um how we how we allocate the administrative expenses for the city is that you know ours is done off of an indirect cost allocation where we look at the actual hours and staff time spent and that is what's allocated as cost. um within we would propose that that wording still remains the same in the fact that we would ask for basically um documentation on the time spent um for the administration >> and that is included in the city response. >> Yes. >> So our motion the motion to approve the city response includes a reimburseable for actual time and up to 50,000 a year >> a year. Yes. Yes. I'm sorry. I should have pointed that ear out earlier, but yes, we'll need to include that in our response. >> It's 50,000 a year. >> Yes. >> Instead of over the life of the agreement. >> Yes, exactly. They clear they did clarify that yesterday. >> Okay. I don't know about that, but this and that came in yesterday. God dog it, man. Nothing like that. But but >> yeah, but that but what you're saying is we're going to this our counter proposal is to pay up to 50 based on actual >> similar to how we do for city expenses. So our city expenses are up to $100,000 a year based off of actual time spent in administration of the TUR. We would ask the same from the county. So, you're not we're not amending the or the resolution, right? The city's response is the same. Is that correct? What are we going to add per year? >> I think we need to add per year. >> Okay. So, yeah, we'll need an amendment when y'all are ready to add that. >> We need to add per year and we need need to also add based on staff time and resources spent. Yeah. So, we would we would replace the phrase over the life of the agreement to we would replace it with the phrase 50,000 a year based on staff time and resources spent. >> Yeah. Up to Yeah. Up to $50,000 a year. Yeah. >> Right. Up to 50,000. This appears under the reimbursement for administrative expenses section of the document. [Applause] >> Okay. Uh Councilwoman Gumples. >> Uh thank you, Mayor. Okay. So we have annexed the pro the um the property already. >> Yeah. >> No. Okay. And so once we which is this is what this is. >> No. >> Okay. Well then explain again to me. >> Okay. So we're creating the zone. >> Yeah. >> Which a zone can be within the city limits or outside of the city limits. Everything within this zone is nonannexed undeveloped land. Mhm. >> And then to participate for any development that wants to participate or or be considered for TUR's um incentives, they would need to agree to annex. >> We would have development agreement with them. Then they would need to agree. So the basically the qualifications where you would need to annex, you would need to connect to city sewer. And then you would also need to agree that your development would have aspects over and above what is required within our UDC. So a higher level of development would need to be required to be eligible to receive um these incentives. They would be primarily for reimbursement of water, wastewater, storm water um water, waste water, storm water. Basically the utilities type infrastructure, roads um and things like that and that's what they would be used for. So go ahead. >> Yeah. So again it would be spreading our resources, our um you know police department, our fire, our sto you know all that. So >> it it would, but this is one where it is not 100% of the increment. Only 50% of the increment would go back in as incentives. The other 50% of any increment that is created goes directly to the city to help offset the cost of any of that of that development coming on. >> But if we didn't pass it, I mean because I'm reading u the fiscal impact says there is no fiscal impact if we don't pass it. >> So as in this we're not today, you're not creating the TUR. um this is just for the negotiation point. So there is no fiscal impact to this and actually even the creation of the ter there's not a fiscal impact in the fact of we don't know what development is going to be there. So, you're not writing a check of anything at this time, >> right? But you're laying down the Yeah. >> It would be 50% of any future um future development that is um granted a TUR incentive reimbursement >> and and like if I've said it uh a couple of times, I'll keep repeating it. Um district 2 does not have a TUR. We have, you know, we're already developed. And so, you know, my stance has been until we get our sidewalks, I will not be supporting any turds. So, I just, >> you know, and and I know you and I have talked about this. Unfortunately, in areas that are developed, it does make it more challenging unless it is something where you're coming in and redeveloping. Um, and I think there are some other great options to help with the um sidewalk. >> Yeah. Well, that's just one of them. But again, I think it should be um I think we should do a better job now that we have such a large economic development department. I think we've got like I don't know how many people do we have in the economic development. >> I don't know. We're cutting three in the budget. So, >> wait. No, but how many do we have now? >> So, there'll be three. Three or four left. That's it. >> I'll check. Councilwoman >> Yeah, I want to say that's like seven or >> That includes parking. We also have parking enforcement involved in that, too. >> Okay. So there's seven people in economic development and there y'all have not figured out a way how to help the people that have already had you know um you know developed like district 2, district three that have you know um we don't have any growth uh you know left right so I think you know there should be a process to help like um you know uh former council member Klein said you know about helping some of these areas is that really really need them because what happens with these turds is that we keep leaving a hole. You know, it keeps going on the outside and the inside is crumbling. So again, that's why I will not support it. But if you'll give me the number of the economic development department, I I'd like that. And and councilwoman, if I may jump in here, um, you know, I made some comments in the past about how there is no process. And so I will here soon be putting something on an agenda that says we need to have a moratorum on on tours because right now there is not a process and and the tourist is not always the tool either. it's not always the tool, but I specifically brought up uh districts two and three um because there's a lot of need there and and so there needs to be a process and I think that um the county even put on a a moratorum because they had no process and it was just coming up and and it was a great idea and it is and I do support this tur but I understand what you're talking about and I think it is incumbent on us to say we have to establish a process before we just keep continue to create tur right and left and you know here and there. Um, >> it's not that they don't make sense, it's just that there is no process. So, that's what I'd like to see moving forward is creating a process and then moving forward. And I think we actually are are going to have, you'll be included in that and so will Councilman Kentu um a meeting to sit down and look at these areas to say what is the right tool? What is the right tool for your area and for Councilman Kento's area and they cross um because we need to do something there. So, I just want you to know that. But that'll I >> appreciate that here soon. Absolutely. Well, uh, again, and it's not against, you know, uh, the developer or any of the develop because I know that they're just, you know, doing what what they, you know, um, what they do, which is create, you know, uh, homes and and businesses to attract, you know, uh, more people to live in. But at the same time, it's also taking away from us. You know, again, the people that have been living here the longest and paying their taxes, you know, day in day out and then seeing their small dollars go out, you know, again, out into the suburbs or what have you. What is the amount of people that we have? >> Yes, ma'am. Right. So, there's eight in our economic development. >> Okay. I knew it was quite a bit. So, eight people in economic development. And I know you mentioned that there's also, you know, parking attendance, but again, I think we do, and thank you, mayor, for mentioning that that we need to develop some kind of program that helps uh inner city. But, you know, I'll leave it at that. Thank you. >> Thank you, Councilwoman. Councilman uh Hernandez. >> Yes. Thank you, Mayor. And I want to go back to the reason for this turf. the state has taken away our ability to unilaterally annex areas outside the city limits within our um ETJ. Okay. So, in in order not to have, you know, these acre lots with septic tanks, we want to make sure that we have the ability and the tools to be able to to control development and have good density uh in these areas for this type of project. This is just one of the tools to do it. We also have a public improvement district tool. We have several other tools that are available to us, but this is this is one that we could utilize for to have good development >> in the area, right? So, I want to make sure we understand that and I agree with former council member Klene that we do need some tur probably in the leopard corridor or the Agnes corridor that you know for redevelopment >> or heirs. Okay, you have some areas that you can do improvements on. Okay. But that's something that we'll have to put together as policy within the city with within the city to identify those areas. No different from the economic development zones that were created during the previous Trump administration that identified areas that could be utilized for economic redevelopment. Right? So, but aside from that, we don't have that authority anymore to just kind of do that. This benefits us us to make sure that we have wastewater in those areas, make sure we have good development, we have good infrastructure. This is an important tool that we need to utilize for this undeveloped area. And I, you know, I understand there's some sprawl considerations, you know, thoughts there, but it's better to have a good policy and development utilizing this tool. So I I want say I'm supportive of this particular process and this is unique type of tours I'm not familiar with but you know it's always I'm not get out of my comfort zone and go ahead and go forward. So thank you >> and I would like to clarify so council member compost you said that the new the turses take money basically away from other areas of town. So clarification on that though is that this one is a 50% TUR. Um there is no dollars coming from any other part of town that is being used for any type of incentive. The turses only utilize the new revenue. So if there's revenue coming from this actually there's not because it's all out of the city limits but it is nothing that is existing is going to be taken away. And um unlike a lot of our other tours, we are looking very forward to this and not wanting to jeopardize to have other parts of the town having to pay for expanded water, I mean expanded fire, police, that type of stuff. So this is only a 50% contribution. So 50% of dollar one that is created by development within this zone. um 50 cents of that will go back to help offset those increased services and then 50 cents will go in to help offset the cost of the um infrastructure that is being provided >> and and that's why I remained kind of quiet you know at the beginning because I was still trying to you know um rationalize it because I see that at least this ter is way better than the previous ones that we have had right and So, uh, so yeah, I I was still, you know, on the fence trying to figure out, you know, how we could make this work. So, I do appreciate you, um, you know, the further explanation and, um, you know, we'll we'll see how this works. >> Councilman Ryan, >> uh, thank you. I I do think that in the future that we need um when we're talking about a moratorum or something like that, but we need some kind of education. You know, the the term TUR, it's almost used like we use filing our taxes. There's many types of taxes that you file. Uh, and this particular vehicle, and I'm just kind of expounding on what council member Hernandez said. The the reason this TUR is put in place is a lot different than you, North Beach, for example. >> Exactly. >> It's not the same type of TUR. We call it a TUR, but it's not the same. And you take a look at what is the option that we have if we don't go forward with this TUR in in the London area. So you can do a mud, you can do other things like that and it's not going to benefit the city. So in terms of if you're looking out for the city and the growth and the success of that area, then you would understand that this particular type of tur is a necessity. So I I just want to make sure that when we go back and we talk about those things and that because I I really do believe that what's happening is we're just throwing the word tur out there and we're trying to apply that to different areas. I mean, I live I shouldn't say I live, but Cal Allen's an important area to me and I don't have a tourist out there. We don't have sidewalks, but that might not be the right vehicle for that either. So, anyway, I just want to remind everybody that. Thank you. >> And I'll build off of that a little bit. So, you know, talking about the benefit of this. So, you know, while this benefits the city in the fact that we're bringing more hopefully denser development within to the city limits, this also benefits Delmare. If Delmare chooses to participate, anything that is annexed into the city limits is now within the Delmare district. Um, in addition to the county is wanting less of the larger lot on septic type um type of development. And so by bringing this in and have requiring that these developments hook into city sewer and also helping control um through the tur incentives on what type of development um helping plan more appropriately to ensure we have proper areas for school expansion for regional parks for things along those lines. Um this really helps. So it is not just a benefit to the city but it is actually a benefit to all of the taxing entities that would be participating or considering participating in the TUR. >> Thank you. >> Okay, everyone please submit. >> Oh, you need amend. >> Go ahead. >> Thank you, mayor. Um Rebecca to accommodate this new information. Um do I need to articulate those amendments? So I made the motion to approve, but I can change my motion to um amend. >> You can make a motion to amend now. And um the amendment would be under the reimbursement for administrative expenses. That section of the resolution, it would read uh Noises County can be reimbursed for up to $50,000 per year based on staff's time and resources spent. >> Make a motion to amend for that. >> Second. >> Okay, we have a motion to second. Please submit your vote. >> Can we do that one? Uh voice and then the final one. Yes, ma'am. >> All in favor say I. >> I. >> Any oppose? Say no. >> Okay, Miss >> and then we'll pass it as amended. The motion carries. Okay. >> I make a motion to approve. >> No, we have it. So, all we need to do is vote at >> as amended >> because it's already >> ready. >> Yeah. Please submit your vote. Okay. The motion carries. Next item pulled was item number 10. That is a resolution authorizing an advanced funding agreement with TexOT for the Encantara uh Avenue Pedestrian Safety Improvement Project for infrastructure improvements. And who pulled this item? >> I did. >> You did. Councilwoman Paxton. >> Thank you, mayor. Um, thank you, Ernie. I just had a quick question. I know I I believe I was speaking with Renee and I was hoping to get kind of a timeline and she explained that the nature of this project since we're authorizing the agreement or this relationship with text dot to move forward on this specific project that we weren't at this time really able to provide a timeline. Um I did note on on slide three of the presentation that the applicant responsible for pre-construction or is responsible for pre-construction activities that's the use of the local funds like design environmental clearance rideway utility and um a payment direct state cost. So, since there's a few action items on that end, I had my curiosity was maybe that gives us a little bit of a timeline just just for public communication and involvement, that type of thing. >> Okay. Um, mayor, council Ernie Dearza, interim assistant city manager, director of public works. Uh, so the to answer your question, you're wanting to know when we go to construction, how soon or >> design construction just any kind of timeline? >> Okay. So, right now all designs are completed. Okay. uh with Frieza Nichols doing the design. So those those that process is complete. All that is left is for us to go through the administrative process if council chooses to approve this uh AFA. Uh then the next thought the next step is to go through an administrative process uh for executing the advanced funding agreement and then after that uh Jeff Edmonds and his department will go through the procurement process to go to construction. Okay. So, construction is is fairly near on the horizon >> and Jeff could elaborate on how long his procurement process takes to give you specifics, but uh you you're looking at uh execute or approval here. Uh administrative process could take anywhere from one month, two months. Uh and then Jeff comes in with his procurement process which is uh going through the low bid process and then getting a contractor and then executing the documents to initiate construction. But really the ball is in textiles court uh to uh go through the administrative process of getting the federal approvals and then the state approvals before we can start our process. >> I understand. Is there any kind of um estimation even though I know that we are you know waiting on our partner with text dot uh just for looking at events previously. >> All right. We're 3 to four months from being uh bringing a construction contract award to council after we get uh the green ball from text dot. >> 3 to four months after we get >> text approval. What's how long is text going to take? >> So alto together you're looking about a six-month time frame. >> Okay. So 6 months before we start the work right? >> Yes, sir. >> Understanding it's hypothetical. Just was looking for something. >> Yes, ma'am. About 6 month time frame. >> So 6 months that would place us towards the end of the year. >> Yes, sir. >> Towards the end of the year. >> Okay. Is the council woman's asking so the community can know, right? >> It's it's a very important project. I think it's well placed. It's it's going to be really helpful. It for safety purposes just like stated, but it's it's a high impact location, the high density residential. So, I just want to stay ahead of the process so we can communicate that, evaluate the timeline, um, and how that correlates with the school there for access to it. Like I said, it's a lot of residential that drains right there. >> Yeah. >> Yes, ma'am. What I can do for for all these projects is uh after or hypothetically after approval uh I can get with text dot to get a a a schedule for us and then I could put together a schedule with Jeff's uh process and then submit to you all for your summary and review. >> Okay. On this type of uh project, do we know a ballpark for construction timeline? >> Oh, start to finish. >> Yes. So, it's really just sidewalks and uh ADA ramps. Uh, so it could be six months. Um, pretty quick project. It's not like a street project where you have to go and tear out a lot. We're we're just tying sidewalk to the back of curb on Incantada >> and then doing some ramps and then some signage. So >> maybe we can be with how we start from either front or back of project to to correlate with the school year. >> Absolutely. Yes, ma'am. We can get you that information. >> Excellent. Thank you so much. And then with that, I move to approve. >> Second. >> Second. Uh, Councilwoman, I'm sorry. Councilman Hernandez, >> you have other projects in here. You also have uh some of um the applications for other. So, like for example, Brook Road >> uh in district 5. That one we have on for design only in the bond project. There's no funding to do the improvements to that basically county road. So, how what is exactly we I mean, how are you going to incorporate this funding if we don't have the the rest of it uh set up yet to do any improvements? >> How are we going to incorporate the funding for Brook Road? >> So, Brook Road was not included in in this packet because of the overlap uh for the bond project as you mentioned. Right. >> We did check with the no and ask if we could reallocate the funds in the >> uh so we could only go with the bond project for for uh Brook Road which goes from Amitrin to Rodville. >> Okay. All right. Thank you. >> Yes. >> Okay. Please submit your vote. >> Public comment. Mayor, >> I didn't have public. >> Anyone would like to make public comment on item number 10? >> Thank you, Mayor uh council. My name is Jim Klein again. I live in District 2. Just very quickly, I would just give kudos to the public works department uh to moving forward on this and this is a school safety issue. It really should have been fixed a long time ago. I think it's it's paramount that we get this fixed. Thank you. >> Thank you, Mr. Klein. Anyone else? Item number 10. Okay, there being no one else, we'll close public comment and please submit your vote. Okay, the motion carries. And our last item pulled was item number 13. That is a resolution nominating Flint Hills Resources uh to the Office of the Governor, Economic Development, and Tourism. Councilwoman Compos, I think you pulled that one. >> I did pull it. Thank you, mayor. Um it's a good and a bad thing. Uh, do you want to go ahead and enlighten the community about this resolution and what this entails and what Flint Hills is? >> Yeah, definitely. Definitely. Councilwoman, um, for the record, uh, Randy Almagar with the Corpus Christie Regional Economic Development Corporation. I do, uh, compliance and incentives. Um, so what this is is Flint Hills Resources has an opportunity to apply for a state level uh, refund. It's called the Texas Enterprise Zone program which is uh hap having to do with uh capex and jobs. What they're doing is uh purchasing machinery and equipment at the state level gets submitted and it goes to the comprollers's office with anything that's getting purchased there that's uh that qualifies for reimbursement. So that they're buying they're doing $150 million capital investment and they're retaining 500 jobs. So what they do is their team puts together their package and it's all paid for up front. Then they submit it to the comprollers's office and on their end they go down you know line items see what's qualified and then get reimbursement on the sales and use tax. So that's what they're doing and this is just part of a process and actually this is uh a resolution is needed at the local level. That's part of the requirement. Um also we're required to get the city manager signature or designate as well. It's a pretty extensive application. and they're required to get a consultant as well. So, um I appreciate everyone for taking the time uh to look at the information I did pass over. Um I know y'all did do one back in May as well as it goes, so this was still kind of fresh topic kind of thing. And I know last time I didn't get pulled, but I appreciate you pulling that, Councilwoman. Well, the reason that I asked you to go ahead and read the resolution and to uh mention the 150 million uh the investment that is going to be made here in in your plant, uh the reason that I bring it up is because I want to tie it to the IDAS, the industrial district agreements that even though you're going to make that investment here, which we appreciate, but the city in in turn will not see those uh 100% investments for the first four and a half years if I'm correct. So again, I just want to say there's a good and the bad. I do uh thank Flint Hills. Uh you know, uh you've been here with us for I don't know how many years, 40, 50 years, I don't know, long time. So, um, you're one of those companies that, you know, does some good for for the community, but in the in the opposite end, I'm just pointing out that, you know, if there's ever an opportunity that, you know, that you I think Sitco does not do this, but I would challenge uh, Flint Hills to uh, allow or to pay their, you know, because 150 million investment is would be a lot on on our end, you you know, for tax purposes. So, I'm just, you know, saying if there's any way that, you know, Sitco could also be a better community partner by allowing this to happen as these things occur, that'd be great. But I know I'm, you know, you can't answer that, but I'm just um putting it out there. Uh, but with that, I go ahead and and move for approval. >> We have a motion in a second. Would anyone in the audience like to make public comment on item number 13? Okay, there being no one, we'll close public comment and please submit your vote. Okay, the motion carries. Uh, item number 14 is a zoning case number ZN8634, Saratoga 400 Partners LLC, located in District 3. clicker. We don't have a clicker today. Waiting for the presentation. There we go. Uh Michael Dice, uh director of development services. Uh today before you is, uh zoning case ZN8634, Saratoga 400 Partners LLC is the applicant. Uh the property is in uh Mr. Cantto's district D3. uh with a request to reszone from the RS4.5 single family 4.5 district to the RS4.5 PUD single family with a planned unit development overlay. Subject property is 32.8 acres of a 256 acre property. The preliminary plat was approved uh November 1st of 2023. Next slide. Purpose of the request is to allow for a denser residential development accommodating a total of 256 dwelling units. Property is part of the westside development plan adopted in January of 23. The subject parcel is zoned RS4.5 currently. And then uh basically all around it is 4.5. There is some RE to the north and RS6 to the east. Next slide. Public notification. There were no other property owners within the 200T boundary. So no public notification was mailed. Signage was posted on Saratoga for the subject property. Next slide. So this is the site plan provided by the applicant. Um and it also has the deviation table to the right. Uh the minimum lot area proposed to reduce to 4,000 square foot lots from the 4500 standard. And then the minimum lot width would also reduce from 45 to 40. Next slide. Proposed resoning is consistent with the city's comprehensive plan and future land use of medium density residential. The putt overlays to be applied will maintain the compatibility of present zoning and the conforming uses to be soon established. The parcel is to be reszoned. I'm sorry. The parcel to be reszoned is suitable for uses permitted in the zoning district. Planning Commission and staff recommend approval. >> Second. >> Okay, we have a motion in a second. Uh, Councilman Hernandez. >> Didn't let you get away. >> 50 foot right of way. >> Just real quick question. You know, since the width of the lots are reducing, there's obviously a parking concern, >> correct? >> Uh, this is still required to have four parking spots on the property. Well, the UDC only requires one parking space for residential, but this does still require the 50- foot rideway and the 28ft street backtoback. So, we're only limiting 5 foot for the width of the property and that that reduces it down to that 4,000 square foot. >> So, what's the requirement for the parking that's on on site? Just one parking. >> Correct. >> And the setback is still the same 20 >> 20 foot. Correct. >> Okay. Thank you. Okay, thank you, Mike. I'm going to go ahead and open public hearing. Is there any public comment on item number 14 or does the developer uh would like I don't know if they're here or not, but no. Okay. There being no, we'll close public comment. Please submit your vote. Okay. Um the motion carries. Item number 15 is a briefing on City of Corpus Christi logo update and this is under section L briefings. >> Good afternoon. Thank you so much for having me. Alisa Olsen, director of communications. Um sorry. Thank you. Thank you very much. Sorry about that. Um I have a briefing today for you on some um updates that we've made to the new to the city logo. Um but before I jump into that, I thought I would differentiate a little bit uh for a moment between the city seal and the city logo. So the seal is up here on the wall behind me. Um it's also in the rotunda area in the mosaic tile on the floor. um and it has been in use since 1952. It is a a very formal context. Um oftentimes um a city government or even a state agency will have a seal for use um by very official documents. Um so we reserve it for use by the mayor, the city council, the city manager, things like that. The seal was designed um to honor the city's 100year anniversary in 1952. Um and at that time they did a contest um across junior and senior high schools in the area and a young lady named Miss Maryanne Humble um a student of Ray High School won the contest and I think it's um interesting and important to note that there were no computers that did graphic design back then. So this is a hand illustration by a student that has been used uh since that time. So not to be confused but with the city logo um the city logo is up in the top of that photograph. You can see it in the top left hand side of the building. And this is our primary branding mark. Um, a vital branding tool that we use in everything that's public facing. You guys have all seen it. It was created for the city's 150 year anniversary in 2002. Um, and it was outsourced to a third party um, and has been used sort of widely and publicly for over 20 years. And in marketing, we call that brand equity. There's a lot of brand equity in this market. They'll recognize it. They see it. They know it. They know it's City of Corpus Christie when they see that. So, I'm about to go through just the brief list of things that we've updated. But before I do that, I did want to mention that this is in no way a redesign of the logo. So, we weren't trying to radically change. It is not a rebranding initiative. Um, simply a simple update that was necessitated by the new Harbor Bridge. So, the new uh updated logo does include the new bridge, and we've taken out the old one and put in the new one. It looks really nice. While we were in there, um, similar to the seal, this was designed a long time ago. Um, and graphic design technology has really evolved since 2002. So, we got in there to look at it and we realized there were some little crooked lines and things in there that we cleaned up. Um, so we did tweak the design of the mirror door. the drawing perspective on it was off and we fixed that. We straightened a few lines. Um there were a couple of lines that were very very very faint and light and when you reduce the logo down to a small size such as for embroidery on a shirt, those lines just disappeared. So, you know, we we just kind of polished it up um a little bit in that regard. And this is it. And um actually I have kind of a backup slide here I'm just going to go to so you can see it. side by side. So, those are the updates and I'm happy to take any questions you may have. >> Thank you. Uh, Councilman Kentu, >> quick question. Are we I'm sure we're going to approve it, but um, are we going to change everything throughout the city? >> Yeah. So, what we'll do is what we call a soft launch. Um, so with respect to the cost that that would involve, we'll just ask city departments to use up their supplies of any printed materials that they already have and when they naturally would have placed a new order, for example, for business cards or something like that, then they'll do so. So, we do not anticipate any extra cost to the city to roll this out. Should be pretty simple. >> What about signs on buildings, stuff like that? We're going to keep the same for now till we have to >> Yes, I would recommend we keep them the same for now. those signs, building signage, monument signage, things like that. It's very expensive. So, I would just kind of let it go until it needs to be naturally replaced and then do it that way. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Yes, sir. >> Alisa, you and your your team did a great job. Beautiful. >> Thank you. >> Okay. I think that's all we have. Thank you very much for the for the update. We appreciate it. >> So, moving on, we'll go to uh section M, city manager comment, update on city operations. Mr. Zenone, >> I'm looking for Drew. So, uh, we're going to use this time to, uh, do an update on our on our water, uh, sources, but we're going to focus today on the Merry Roads pipeline. >> Okay? >> And, uh, Drew is here who will present. We also have our engineer of record that's helped us on the Merry Roads pipeline, HDR. And, um, Drew sent a memo out late last night. It was a little later than we had hoped, uh, to the mayor and council, um, that, uh, summarized, uh, summarizes a lot of what he's going to go over today. Uh that memo uh was four pages long, so it's a pretty uh in-depth analysis and overview and background of the Mary Roads pipeline. Uh so we know that the Mary Rose pipeline today is supplying more than 70% of our water and uh we just want to make sure the council and the community understands it. There's been some information last week or the week before uh that um may not have been as clear and so we want to make sure the community and especially the mayor and council uh knows the facts about the Mary Roads pipeline. So, Drew, I'm going to turn it over to you. >> Great. Thank you, Peter. Good afternoon, uh, mayor and council. It's a pleasure to be here today. So, as Peter just mentioned, we'll go through a couple slides here. We'll focus on, uh, the alternative water supply projects that we've been working on. We won't necessarily go into great detail on all these projects, but what we will do is we'll go into some detail on on on one of these projects in particular. Uh and then we'll um transition over to discussing the Merry Roads pipeline and certainly open it up for questions. Um so the Noasis uh groundwater program um we we continue to work on this project. Um the Noasis water well project is really uh is really kind of geared into two different phases. So phase one of this project is uh developing groundwater supplies from and along the Noasis River uh in groundwater wells and directing that groundwater into the Noasis River. It's the quickest way to get raw water into into our our raw water system. Uh on the eastern wellfield, all properties that the city of Corpus Christi owns, uh we have eight wells that have been identified. Five of those wells are fully operational today. Uh, and we are pushing about 5 to 7 million gallons a day of water into the river. And that's that's not insignificant. 5 to 7 million gallons a day. We have three remaining wells that will be operational by August 31st. One of the things I think is really important to note is is that um we certainly want to be good stewards uh to our neighbors. And so it's imperative that we have good hydrogeeologic modeling that's done and we have really sound uh technical experts that are beyond the capacity of the city staff to be able to look at the hydrogeeologic formations that we're pulling water out of. And so we have a a company called Intera and we just met with them. We continue to meet with them, but recently we met with them and what they've looked at is is that the short-term sustainable uh supply, so when I say short-term, I'm talking about three years. It's about 13 million gallons a day. So, what does that mean? That means we can pump about 13 million gallons a day. We can put it in the river. We have a TCQ bed and bank permit that was just recently approved and we can supplement the river with 13 million gallons a day. It's essentially upstream of the Owen Stevens water treatment plant. So Owen Stevens Water Treatment Plant has the benefit of receiving that raw water. We have been in very close concert uh with our partners that uh are also taking water from the river. So I'll just mention a couple of them. You've got the district number three, water control improvement district number three. Uh we've been in close concert with uh Flint Hills, San Patricia Municipal Water District, and Selines. So all of them are very aware of what we're doing and the plan that we've initiated. Um what's also interesting is as I mentioned phase one so just think of phase one is putting water in the river to buy us more time phase two and this is an alternative that's potentially available potentially available and that is basically taking the raw water that we are putting in the river and transitioning it to a long-term sustainable approach would treat that water at a future brackish plant and then provide that water into the drinking water system. It is the lowest cost option. Why is it the lowest cost option? It's the lowest cost option because we own the water rights. We own the water rights on those locations. Uh it's in Noasis County. So we we have uh the ability to uh control how we how we extract that water so we do it responsibly. Um the modeler uh that we have as I mentioned in Tara has looked at this eastern wellfield. Again, they looked at it from a 13 million gallon per day short-term water supply into the river. They also looked at it from a long-term standpoint. So, if we were to use this water supply in the long term, how much water could we pull safely out of that aquifer? And the answer is 11. And that's shown on the screen. So, 11 million gallons a day is water that we could ultimately deliver to a future brackish plant, treat it, and put it into our drinking water system. the western wellfield that that is one that we are currently uh developing as we speak. Uh we purchased some additional property uh back in June of 2025. We have one well that's drilled on the property today. We're test pumping it today. We will have water quality uh within the next week or so. Uh initial results show that the water quality is is pretty good. Uh it's not surprising that the water quality is better in that location because Intera who is our hydrogeeologist actually did a study about 10 years ago and when they looked at viable locations for groundwater this site that we're drilling on happens to be one of the top locations. So that that is fairly fortuitous. Uh so modeling and testing that has been done on this aquifer on this wellfield site our modeler our hydrogeeologist is saying long-term 17 million gallons a day is is the long-term sustainable supply from this wellfield. So again I just I just want to highlight a couple things as well on this project. Um it I'll just say it again. It is the lowest cost option. One of the things that is attractive on this project and again whether it becomes a long-term project or just a short-term project, we have that flexibility, it's all grant-f funded at least up to $30 million. So that that is absolutely a good thing for the rateayer. That's something that we all know is important is the rateayer. So the rateayer is protected to the extent that we can keep rates low. And this this will continue to be a good project uh in terms of augmenting groundwater into the river. And then like I said, a decision has to be made as to whether or not we want to continue to develop this raw water as a source of future brackish water for a treatment plant down the road. Um this I I will just reiterate this is a 2025 2026 project. So one question that we do get a lot is you know and we get it. We we believe strongly that we need water now. We need water now. This is a water now project. So this is a 2025 2026 project. Uh just as a reminder, we started this project about 6 months ago. So 6 months ago we started it. I will say even going back a little bit further than that, this was a project that um initially had some old wells that we looked at. So we didn't we didn't create a new playbook on this one. This was a playbook back from the ' 60s, '7s, 80s. Uh there were old wells that were along the Noasis River that the city had essentially worked with land owners. Uh and these land owners agreed to let the city drill wells on their property. And those wells served as a source of groundwater into the river. And so as part of this project, we went back and we looked at all of those wells. There were about eight of them. And we actually tried to rehabilitate all eight of those wells. And unfortunately, we weren't successful in rehabilitating those eight wells. So, that's why we've uh pursued uh our own wells on our own property that the city of Corpus Christi owns. Okay. So, I'm going to transition now uh to the Mary Roads pipeline. As the city manager just mentioned, uh we did send out a memo uh yesterday. It was it was fairly substantive and and I think the objective today is to try to break that down into some bite-sized pieces. uh you know basically give an overview on not just that memo but a reminder to all of us here in the community as we all know how important the Mary Rhodess pipeline is to the city especially now uh when our western supply resources are under a lot of uh constraints >> and Drew before you do that can I just uh can we go back to that prior slide yes sir >> the s one more >> let's just quickly update the council on all these projects so the Drew just went over the noasis river one the evangel line groundwater project. Uh we have a two-hour meeting on Wednesday with Bruce Hill uh to begin to organize ourselves with Bruce Hill and deliverables. Uh we sent him the term sheet uh yesterday uh that city council approved so they have it in writing now. I signed the letter. So Wednesday is a very important meeting because for two hours and if it takes more it'll take more. We'll lay out the steps to produce the water. So that thing that includes things like when are they going to get the transfer permits, drilling permits, when are we going to get on site to lay out the the um the well field, that type of thing. So important meeting on Wednesday. Uh South Texas Water Authority, Drew met with them a week ago or so. There's some updates there. Um the EV Ranch, they sent a new proposal late last week. Uh it's a new written proposal. I think Dr. mints is not not in it anymore or something like that. But uh so we have a new proposal still to go through on that one. CC Polymer's uh uh desalinization plant project. We're we're pre organizing this week. We being myself, Drew, and H and um um CDM Smith. Next Wednesday, we'll be meeting with them. Uh Councilman Hernandez is uh has asked to be a sponsor on the project from the council. So he'll be there with us next Wednesday. It will be Councilman Hernandez, myself, Drew, our consultant to meet directly with CC Polymers on that project. Uh specifically to go over the H uh to go over the CDM Smith analysis that they put together. So there's some good news there. And then the reclaim water project. Uh we're going to be bringing information to council on August 25th on um actually there's a meeting on August No, that's right. On there's a meeting next week, but on August 25th, we're going to bring this project to city council. a con a concept that uh a proposer has brought to our attention. And so that'll be Tuesday, August 25th. We'll bring to the full council uh details on this project. >> 26th. Yeah. >> 20 >> 25th, right? >> Is it September 2nd? >> Let me double check. Well, okay. >> Yeah, September 2nd with council, right? Okay. August 25th is the internal meeting. >> September 2nd is the is the council briefing. So, >> yes, sir. >> Just a quick update. I didn't want to derail your presentation through, but every one of these projects is progre are progressing forward >> and especially the uh evangeline uh this Wednesday will be very important on moving that project forward. >> Councilwoman, thanks. >> Thank you, Peter. I know you and I spoke very briefly this morning, but is there something to be said about Harbor Island? I noticed it wasn't in here. >> Yes. Right. And then Harbor Island's not on here, but the next step for Harbor Island is uh we did get the briefing last week from executive director Byum. And what we want to do is he's briefed me and Drew uh late last year on a reservation fee program that they have. We need to bring that back to council to see is the council interested in in being a potential uh partner or or customer, if you will. And so I have to work with John Byum to see if we can uh get an updated reservation fee amount and uh and how many gallons and then we'll bring that to city council within the next two weeks depending on his schedule. I know Councilwoman Paxton and I talked this morning. Uh I'm not sure if we'll be ready for next Tuesday. If not, then the very next council meeting. >> Okay. >> I would recommend bringing something to the city council at a minimum for more conversation. >> Maybe like a considerate act potentially. Okay. Thank you, Peter. >> Yes. the re that would be a reservation fee for Harbor Island wa water. >> Councilman Bedetta. >> Yeah. Um is there any way that in the future um we could basically attach um the amount of water like let's say for example there's a graphic that says the amount of water each project can provide and the cost associated with it. Um, and I think that's important that so that way because once this becomes a public document that the public can look at that and then they can understand what we're evaluating. Um, and then perhaps um not a timeline necessary, but the the the expectation for when the water will be available, >> right? >> And then I'm I'm kind of curious. You indicated something. You said council member Hernandez was a sponsor. Well, that's just the word I use, but he's going to Councilman Hernandez has helped to uh to communicate with the Polymers group. You know, there's three different board of directors, and so we'll bring that knowledge that he has with us when we meet with them next week. >> Okay. I I just I've said this before, I just feel very uncomfortable when council members are doing the job of staff. And I I I agree. uh uh council member Hernandez has a high level of expertise in many issues of uh which uh so but I think once again I I think uh it's a slippery slope when we're basically we're doing something that's initiated by a council member staff should vet it and then move from there but okay all right but yeah and if in the future you could basically if that's not too much to ask I know we've done the work we can do that >> but I just whenever we do that proposal that way that information is there for the for the public. Thank you. >> Yeah. Thank you, Councilman. >> Okay. I think >> Okay, back back to the back to the slide deck. I guess we'll we'll have them put Okay, there we go. All right, so um got a nice summary of all the projects that we're working on. I don't really think there's anything to add to the city manager's comments. Good summary. Uh we've got the Noasis groundwater program. I think we went through that pretty well. Um back to the Merry Roads pipeline. So, this will be a real high level. We're not going to get into a lot of the details that most people know about the Merry Roads pipeline. Um we just a couple things that I think is really imperative to know. So Lake Texana uh Lake Texana is 31,440 acre feet. It's a contract water source. Um we have the ability uh to get more water from that source uh which is referred to as an interruptible A and an interruptible B. That is not always afforded to us. It depends on the conditions of Lake Texana. uh if we're fortunate enough, we can get that. But, you know, this year this year, we weren't so fortunate. This year, we we went pretty far into the year before they were able to even offer us the first interruptible. And as a result, uh we took it upon ourselves to to lock in uh Formosa water. So, we do have Formosa water available. And then we have the Colorado River. The Colorado River, as most of us would know, is is a run of the river. It's a junior water, right? But it's an important supply at 35,000 acre feet. Um I think this slide has been shown before but I think it's an important one to to to focus on. Um we we have on the top line you can see contract water from Lake Texana 31,440 acre feet. Uh you can look across the timetable starting in 2021 and you can see you know generally speaking we really need to take all of that water and generally speaking we do take all of that water. Um because why? because Lake Tech Santa water is water we're going to pay for whether or not we use it or not. So, it's imperative that we take it all. Uh, as you can see, is July 31st, 2025. We're on track to take it all. Uh, interruptible diversions. So, the first interruptible diversion, again, not something that's guaranteed we're going to get. You can see in 2021 we got it. 22 we got it. 23, 24, 25, we just got it. All good. The 20 uh interruptible B, which is 7,500 acre feet. You can see in 21 we got it. not offered in 22, not offered its entirety in 23, 24, we got it a little bit more. And then so far this year, we haven't been offered it. So, not something you can totally rely on. Uh, and then the water rights that we have from the Colorado River, and you can see there that we we have been able to take uh about a third of that water over the last three years. this year as a result of some of the infrastructure improvements that we're going to talk more about. You know, I will say this, um, anything that we do to the Mary Roads pipeline has to be very much calculated and it has to be thought through a lot of different ways because any mistake that's made on the Merry Roads pipeline, uh, I don't think we all we well recognize the the huge implications it will have if any mistakes are made. So, as you can imagine, careful consideration is done. That's why we've got consultants that come in and help us look at this. Um, and so with some good good work that's been done in the last uh 16 months, uh, we've been able to make some some improvements to that pipeline and we're taking uh what what is tracking to be uh all of the water on the Mary roads pipeline along from the Colorado River. So here we are sitting at about 20,297 acre feet. Um, and so with that said, what I'm going to do is is I'm going to turn this over to uh Nick Wkelman. Nick's going to talk a little bit to you about the uh condition assessment that we've done and then he's going to turn it over to Jerry Sneed. >> Good afternoon. Nick Wkelman, director of water systems. Uh, wanted to go over more specifically about the Mary Roads pipeline. It's more than just a pipeline. It's a pumping system. It includes many different components. Those components we've listed here on this slide. I won't go through them all, but as you can see, there's a lot going on. It's a complex, not just a pipeline, but a complex pumping system. The pumping system has various pump stations. Of course, we've got the intake at the LNR facility that's in Edna, Texas, right next to adjacent to Lake Texana. We have our Colorado River pumping station that's located in Bay City, Texas. And then we've got uh pump stations along the pipeline at both Bloomington and Woodsboro. The Mary Roads pipeline pumping system was originally designed to operate at what we call four different pumping schedules. As you can see, schedule one actually has has two different variations. Schedule D two also has two different variations. The maximum pumping schedule which we're pumping at right now is schedule 4. That is originally designed to operate between 72 and 79 MGD. We are currently operating at schedule 4. That total is currently between 70 and 72 MGD. The reason for that has to do with uh increased friction losses and some obstructions identified in the pipeline. I'll let Jerry Sneed with HDR get into that a little further into the presentation. The MRP uh this shows the MRP from Lake Texana to the Owen Stevens water treatment plant. The different colors of the pipeline identify v what we call the different pressure classes of the pipeline. When I mention pressure classes, I'm really referring to its pressure rating of the pipe. In engineering practice and in a cost practicality measure, it's typical and it can be standard where you use different pressure ratings of the pipeline throughout the extent of a long pipeline. In this case, it's 101 miles from Lake Texana to Owen Stevens. The different numbers along the pipeline uh show the different breaks and the locations of those breaks that we've had over the years of the pipeline since 1998. As you can see, there are different clusters along the pipeline which have had more breaks or more issues. But I would also like to point out that there are there have been breaks and failures basically throughout the extent of the 101 miles. December 2023, we had a uh pipeline failure. It was located at a joint. This is 64in bar wrap pipe. You can see at the bottom of the picture, there's still a little bit of water uh coming out of the pipeline flowing into the excavation. What I like to point out about the excavation is that was not man excavated. Uh that depression and all the earth that was moved is because of the water from the brake. So that we didn't have to do any digging. We just had to do some cleanup to get around the brake and then make the repair. The figure on the right is the pressure profile of the pipe. HDR put this together for us along with um the condition assessment program and then additionally CCWs installed eight pressure transmitters along the pipeline so that we could better understand how the pipeline is operating. This break in December 2023 was near the Garcus Creek location. And the red circle on the uh pressure profile is just showing that the operating pressure at schedule 2B or it's about 46 MGD. The the pumping system was operating above the pressure rating of the pipe. And again, that has to do with an increased C factor or friction factor. and Jerry will get into that a little bit later in the presentation. July 2022, we had a break. This is uh it was another significant break. Uh again, we were looking at a a failure along a joint of the 64in diameter pipeline. And I same scenario applies. I've shown uh the pressure profile on the left. And again, this is what we call segment two of the pipeline. So this is from Bloomington, between Bloomington and Woodsboro. And with that, I'd like to turn over to Jerry Sneed. Jerry Sneed is with HDR. He is the project manager and professional engineer that manage and continues to manage our condition assessment project. >> All right. Can you hear me? We're good. All right, thanks Nick. Yeah, just going to spend a few slides kind of giving a maybe a recap of some of the things we've been working on over the last uh couple of years. Um starting from the top, uh we started with a very high level desktop condition assessment. Um that was done under a letter agreement uh very short schedule and uh what we were able to identify just from a very high level was those pressure exceeded uh clusters if you will that that Nick shared. Uh the next step was uh CCW advertised the a more detailed condition assessment to the engineering community. Uh HDR was selected and then started uh there in July of 2023. Uh after that we gave a project status memo just kind of an update on all the things we were working on. Um then moved into an evaluation of hydraulics. Um, as the drought worsened, uh, hydraulics became more and more of a concern. And as we learned more about the the historical breaks, um, that became a a big focus. Uh, another thing I'd point out to you, maybe the fourth, uh, bullet there is an emergency, uh, support for a 72-in Merry Roads failure. U, emergency because it wasn't expected. It was a very big deal. It shut down the entire Merry Roads pipeline here close to town. Um HDR was able to mobilize not only our staff but our specialty uh subconsultant who is actually able to get into the Mary roads for the very first time since it was constructed uh to analyze and help the city better understand if this was something that they should expect to continue to have happen. Uh fortunately that was not the case. It was just a very isolated uh break and the the Merry Roads was overall in in good condition. Uh continuing on, after we uh addressed that emergency failure, uh we drafted and submitted our condition assessment report draft to city staff. Uh uh staff took some time to review. Uh it was a very big document. It was a lot of uh analysis. Uh and then provided comments. Um during that time, the the pressure exceeded areas that uh Nick mentioned were um becoming more of a of an interesting topic. they were they were not expected. Um it's not normal for a pipe to uh to have that that scenario. And so one of the things we did was a emergency scope and feed development in the event um that parallel pipes were uh going to be considered to get around those pressure exceedence areas. Uh that was not executed. Um the next step for our team was we were fortunate to um be well within and underneath our budget to the tune of about a million dollars. Um that was because we advertised the project uh to tool providers to run a tool through the pipe. Um the number that came in was for a custom tool. Uh there was a new company that was very uh interested in in kind of showing off what they could do. So that freed up some dollars to do uh amendment one which was additional hydraulic analysis. Uh look at the balancing tanks at both Bloomington and Woodsboro and then also look at the pump stations themselves. There were some questions about well are the pump stations operating the way they should be operating. Um work through that. A second amendment was uh utilized for additional combination air release vacuum valves. That was uh a recommendation that was made several years ago that staff then asked us to implement. Uh that wrapped up in March of this year. Uh the the next and and kind of final task that was added to our uh scope was an analysis of whether we could get a a specialized tool into those high pressure exceedence areas to better understand um really the the extents. And I've got a figure coming up. Um, unfortunately that's not really possible because it requires Mary Roads to be shut down. So maybe down the road there'll be a point where where that can be considered and I think it would be very helpful to the city and and staff to understand exactly where those where the debris and pressure exceeded are located. Right now it's pretty broad brush. So brief recap of of uh some of the specific things we did. This has been shown before a year or so ago, but there's some new uh folks in the room that that maybe haven't seen this. So, uh starting from the top, we did an internal condition assessment, and specifically that was an acoustic leak detection. Uh we ran uh a tool, it's shown in the bottom right of the photo, the the the little yellow thing is what we got to calling it. Uh that listened for leaks, and the good news was it found leaks uh that were not known to staff. Uh it found three leaks. It was a record distance for a tool. It was customuilt for this project. Again, under budget. So, pretty pretty exciting for for the the team. Um, we were also able to do that second bullet, an electromagnetic evaluation. That's a very um that's a different process that looks at wall thickness, wire brakes. You can't do that with the pipe in service. So, we only did that on about 1,500 feet or so uh in the 72 in when it was shut down. So, that's the big photo on the right. Um, we did some additional uh drone surveys. We wanted to look to see if there was areas of leakage or erosion. Uh, we did find some eroded areas that were reported to staff. Uh, the hydraulic analysis that I mentioned, soil corrosivity, uh, a pipe this long and in such remote areas, uh, corrosion of metal pipes is a big deal. Uh, we did find some very corrosive soils along the the pipe alignment. Uh, the good news is the pipe was designed with uh, two bags. So very conservative uh design. So it's protected Mary roads really well and that was completed uh again in May of last year. So kind of findings and observations. Uh overall the Mary roads is performing satisfactoryy uh at the current pumping rate which is schedule 4. Um pipeline overall is in in in good shape. Some might ask okay but it broke 35 times. Is it is it in good shape? um we've got the the benefit of of working on projects around the country and so we can compare this to breakage rates around the country and it's actually lower um on a on an annual uh rate than than some of the other pipes. So that's that's good news. Uh I mentioned the three small leaks that were found and repaired. Um the past failures again Nick pointed to to some of those clustered areas. Uh some of the past failures I think were associated with um pumping at schedule two and three which really uh is related to those uh schedule ex uh pressure exceeded and I'll show you that here on the next slide. Uh there was a few areas of erosion where where local creeks and tributaries had uh eroded over Mary roads and started to threaten Mary roads. So we pointed those out to staff and those have been addressed. I mentioned corrosivity. Uh pump station upgrades. uh were also noted and have been uh in the works for about the last 18 months. So those are uh nearing completion, but some of those uh final steps require Mary Roads to be shut down. So the pump road uh the pump upgrades will not be 100% complete until Merry Roads can be taken down. Um and finally, just that pipe pressure exceedence areas, I I can't emphasize that enough. Um, and this is this is uh the red represents the the approximate areas where those are. Now, that that's not intended for somebody to go put a scale and say, "Okay, yeah, that's 7.65 miles." It's really not that precise. We know there's some areas. Uh, we know that because we've had pressure monitors out in the field. Uh, both HDR and, uh, CCW now has purchased to monitor those areas. um kind of starting from the the four bullets here. Um the pressure exceedance areas increased the risk of Mary Road's failure. Um it was first predicted um in some hydraulic analysis done in 2010 by another consultant. HDR's modeling analysis also found the same issue where there's something going on in that bigger red stretch and to a limited uh less extent in a couple of other areas where the pipe is experiencing pressures that exceed its pressure rating. Um why that's happening typical causes are debris uh sediment or other obstructions. Uh but the takeaway is kind of that that bullet in red and that all pumping scenarios are affected by this no matter whether you're pumping schedule two, three, four, those are those still exist. Um how the pipeline reacts is a little bit differently, right? If you get the booster pump station engaged, they kind of pull, if you will, and they kind of help moderate what would be that high pressure at the the far end. If you think of the Merry Road starting there at uh LNR, if if just one pump station is pushing all the way 100 miles, you can imagine, okay, well, the highest pressure on the pipe's probably going to be in that first section, right? It's one pump station pushing 100 miles. When you get Bloomington and Woodsboro involved, then it kind of helps to spread the the pressure distribution, if you will. So, here's an example of what we think is in the pipe. Uh we don't know because we haven't been able to dewater the pipe, but these photos were provided by CCW Ops and this is stuff that they've taken out of the Merry Roads in the past. Uh they've got some dates here. One was in 2015, the other I think that's 2016. Um so we think this is this is what's causing that. And so then what do we what do we do about it? Um some of the options we've discussed with staff uh for dealing with these pressure exceeded is one do nothing. Um you can't dewater the pipe to go in there and and and get the stuff out right now. Um which means you continue to operate with those capacity limitations uh and you fix roads when failures occur. And that's been discussed uh here a year or so ago as well that's what we can do now. So that's that's what's happening now. An alternative idea uh is to run that a specialty tool. Run that uh number two run a pressure tool uh that has sonar to kind of detect, okay, is this some of the stuff that I just showed you in those photos. Is it something else? Is it debris accumulation in the bottom? Um the benefit of doing that is that you can narrow down those red lines. It might just be one or two blips here and there once you're able to to define where they are. The downside is you got to take Mary roads down to get the tool in and and out of the pipe. So, uh not not possible. Now, um one solution to uh one thing that might come out of that is you might parallel or bypass some of those smaller sections. Uh the third option is don't run a tool and just bypass some of the larger areas. You get new pipe, you don't have to dewater and figure out what's going on. Um, and that's also been discussed and that was one of the the scope items that was uh it was last um Memorial Day. I spent Memorial Day weekend on that. That was that was awesome. Um, >> and I think that's back to Nick. Thank you. >> Thank you, Jerry. I I'd like to just give a brief overview of some of the projects that are been completed and are ongoing. As you can see, there's there's a lot going on. Um, I also want to pause and take a moment to express uh the gratitude that we have to the folks who live and breathe the MRP and take care of it. Uh, like it's uh it is their own. They take care of it every single day. They get dispatched uh to the pump stations in the middle of the night. Uh this Easter, you know, we had crews out there at midnight. Uh the the list goes on and on. So um we are all very appreciative of their um concern and their dedication. So to give you an update on our current projects. So the Mary road system improvement project that's a capital project. Uh it's ongoing right now. Uh the engineering department is working with us to to help manage that project. In terms of scope and what's been completed, there were a upgrades that were needed at both Bloomington and Woodsboro. those have been completed. Uh a large part of that project was also HVAC improvements. Uh that's important because these are large pumps, large uh uh motors and large variable frequency drives. The pump station has to be cooled for those to continue to operate. Other portions of the um of the project included master flow meter installation for each of those two pump stations. Uh that part of the project is currently on hold because it would require the shutdown of the Merry Roads pipeline. Uh additionally with with the council support uh we have uh spare pumping equipment for both Bloomington and Woodsboro. That spare pumping equipment is set to arrive next month. September. And along with that are the corresponding variable frequency drives. And again, those cannot be installed and put into operation without a shutdown or partial shutdown of the Merry Roads pipeline as that will involve piping work, header piping work, and then uh just the installation of a variable frequency drive and motor. You've got to shut the power off to the station to make those those connections. So, we're watching that closely and working with both the engineering department and our contractor on the next steps there and when we can effectively do it. Um, the Mary roads uh air vacuum valve installation. So, there was a conscious effort to go to schedule 4 and with the analysis that we did with HDR, the recommendation was to install seven additional air vacuum valves along the pipeline. that was completed in uh March of this year and that was done ahead of going to schedule 4 which was on March 24th of this year. Uh, additionally, we continue to work with our partners at LNR. We've looked at their uh pumping systems and their reliability and we continue to work with them. They have spare pumping equipment for their pump station at Edna that's ordered and it's supposed to arrive early um 2026. And then additionally, we've uh we've asked them to look into permanent installation of the pumping equipment. This requires building modification, electrical modifications, and piping modifications. Um we've uh they are starting the process of preliminary engineering and we hope to kick off that engineering project soon. Um council approved a cathotic protection upgrade project. It's actually an Idiq project that was approved this year. That project addresses those needed cathotic protection upgrades along the Mary roads pipeline, but it also uh allows us to address cathotic protection on some of the key uh transmission mains within the city. So, it's it's really it's a citywide project and an MRP project. Uh we are working with the US Army Corps of Engineers on a bank erosion project uh that is near Bay City near our intake and that project is being designed and it'll be implemented uh by the Army Corps of Engineers. We had a meeting with them. It's about a month ago at at Bay City to get an update. And then the last step uh on the on the list is our final condition assessment report. So, as I told um Councilman Hernandez had the question two meetings ago. Uh it it's draft and the reason why it's in draft is a number of things. We wanted to get data at schedule 4 that would reveal um different pressures, different things about the pipeline. And additionally, we we've tked HDR with additional scope included extra hydraulic modeling uh included review of additional water supplies uh to be pumped into the Mary roads pipeline. It uh involved additional balancing tank review and uh review of pumping stations and uh the hydraulics of the entire system. We are hoping the plan is to have all of that complete, including a preliminary hydraulic analysis of a new water supply added to the pipeline first week of September. So, I we're really shooting for the end of August, but I'm going to say first week of September for sure. And with that, we are standing by for questions. >> Thank you, Nick. Um, Drew, you know, I I appreciate all this information. and I think it's wonderful and we we absolutely needed the the briefing. Um but I think one of the reasons we're talking about the Mary Roads pipeline is because of some of the things we've heard here recently in regards to it and it's no secret Councilman, you know, prior Councilman uh Greg Smith um had made some statements and I I would just like again I appreciate all of this but I'd like for you to clarify the exact points um that some of the points that he made that you would like to clarify. Yeah, you know, I I think good good, you know, there were some interesting comments that have been made and we know that we're very much in the spotlight right now. We know that there's a lot of scrutiny with everything we do. We understand that and so we certainly welcome the dialogue and the questions and so we're we're happy to meet with anybody. I mean, at the end of the day, if somebody's got questions, just let's let's talk. So, I I think one of the things that we've been sort of uh has been suggested is is that we haven't used uh that pipeline to the extent that it that it should be used. And you know, I think one of the things that's important and I'll go back to the point that I'm making earlier, which is, you know, um this infrastructure is is is is really critical. And if anything is done that is not done correctly, we're we're we're in a world of hurt. And so one of the things that we also, you know, is really important, we had some pictures that showed what happens when the pipeline breaks. And these were we were seeing some breaks in 22 and 23. And making datadriven decisions is an important thing to do. So hiring somebody like an HDR who can look at this through a third party independent review and look at this pipeline, give us some more intel, give us some more pressure data, help us understand how is this pipeline performing today. We have that information now. And we actually had some really good information that was provided from HDR to help protect the pipeline. We talked about these air relief vacuum valves. What are those? Most people have no idea what they are. It's almost like having a shock absorber absorber on your car to take out the bumps when you hit a road. So, this pressure on this pipeline is extremely high. And when you when you go up in in flow, you you have more water, but you have greater risk for big problems to happen. And so they did some extensive modeling to help us understand where we could put some of these quote unquote shock absorbers to limit some of the impacts that happen when you're operating a 140 mile pipeline because any little change in that pipeline, a pump kicks off, there's huge transient pressures that go down that pipeline and you can have a catastrophic failure. So we were not about to put that pipeline at risk. What we were about to do was have look at this and help us give us better intel to operate it safely. And what was interesting about it is is when we got the data back, it suggested that actually running this pipeline at schedule 4 actually reduces the pressure along the pipeline. It's a little bit counterintuitive. Today, if you run the pipeline at schedule 2 or three, you have pressure exceedences of that pipeline that are not good. Um, and so that's the kind of intel that we get from having those types of analyses. And as Nick just said, we have got a dedicated team. They're out there on Easter. They're out there any day of the week, any time of the day to make sure that we've got this pipeline operationally uh working the way it needs to run. So, I would say back to the to the to the comments that we've heard, I would say that we we are pulling the water from those sources of of supplies uh in in a in an efficient manner. And you know, one of the other things I'll point out is is in 2022, believe it or not, the reservoirs were over 50%. And when the reservoirs are over 50%, believe it or not, in 2022, uh now now granted they started dropping in 2022 and we've not recovered, but it makes a lot of sense to pull water from the Noasis River. That's that's the most inexpensive water. That water is right next to Owen Stevens. You're not having to pump it 140 miles away to to Colorado. So it it's there there's a lot that goes in this equation to make sure that we're not leaving any water on the table. We're taking the most cost-effective water at the right time. It's complicated and and I think that it's important to state that, you know, we've got a team that's working hard to make sure that we're we're doing this cost-effectively, but we're doing it in a way that's responsible so that we don't put our pipeline at risk. >> Thank you, Drew. Councilwoman Gumbles, >> thank you, Mayor. I guess that's uh the main reason that I um uh wanted to uh speak is because of the you know u information that's being shared uh uh thanks to former Councilman uh Greg Smith and uh and um Councilman Vaughn. So um what is the truth? The truth it was or is that we did leave water on the table. Just simple words. We were paying for this water but we were not receiving it. Correct. >> Well, what I would tell you is is that >> Yeah. I mean I mean ultimately the data you want to start? >> Yeah. because I I you know this is my third year in council and I remember bringing this issue up because it had been brought up to me back then you know when I first got elected uh I was being told that we were paying for x amount you know of of water being um sent to corpus but we were not receiving it so every time that I would bring it up it it just be you know just dust you know and and so it I we really did not get to the bottom of it until just this year, I guess, or started uh late last year. So, go ahead. >> Sure, Councilwoman. So, just just to back up a little bit. So, we have a we have contractual water with LNR, that is water we pay for, take or pay. >> Yeah. >> If you go back to the chart that Drew showed, >> we're pulling 90 we pull 97 to 102%. >> Right. So, so we are within 2 or 3% taking all the water that we've contractually paid for. Remember, Colorado is a river right. So, the costs associated with that are the pumping, right? The maintenance and the pumping. And if if you go back to the start of the condition assessment project, I think it was the city manager coined the the phrase we need to go after our stranded water. that strand of water was the Colorado River and even though we're not it's a water right so we're not contractually paying for it the goal was to take as much of that as possible and as you can see from this year we've taken more water from the Colorado River than ever >> okay so um the information uh K I think all of us uh probably received the email um just the latest one uh from Councilman, former Councilman Smith, and he um I don't know if y'all have had a chance, but uh he still states uh let me see um the memo states that the Tana water was pumped at 197 and 98% rates for three years of total of 1,915 acre feet left unped for the Guardwood pumping. Uh it states that 10,900 7,866 and 9,813 acre feet were pumped for the three years. The guardwood rights are 35,000 acre feet per year or leaving 76,426 acre feet unpumped totaling 78,341 acre feet unpumped for the 3-year time period or requiring 78,341 acre feet to be taken out of the uh lake system rather than pumping Mary roads. So, what do you have to say about that? Well, I think like I said, um I've answered it once. Nick just uh gave you another answer. >> So, you know, I I I think it's important to note that we we have we have a complex water system. We have a complex water supply system. And and I think that what we're doing today is we're maximizing it. I think we were not necessarily in a position uh in the recent past to be able to do that. And I think with the right uh the right people, the right staff, the right dedication, we're we're in a place now where we're essentially leveraging all the water supply assets that we have. You know, it it is it is complicated because again, there's there's a cost component. And Colorado River is water that we certainly want to leverage and and use all of it. But I also want to make sure it's really clear that when we have plentiful water in our Noasis River supply, we want to use all that. And so, like I said, 2022 there was there was above 50% water supply in the Noasis River combined reservoir system and and we were using that and you know, as the graphic showed, we were still taking some Colorado River. So, it's a balance. I think the the the takeaway that I that I take is that in the in the recent 24 months, you know, in the recent 12 months, we we've been able to put together a plan that leverages it all. So from this point going forward, we've got a system that is uh that is uh in great shape. >> Well, one of the things that I know um that has also been discussed is is putting, you know, the parallel line, you know, uh to Mary roads so that it it can have some relief um on on the original Mary, you know, on the pipeline. So, I mean, I I think, you know, we need to make sure that we, you know, try to look into that. I mean, I know I every time that we say something or I say something, it's always, oh, it's too much. It's too much. But yet, we're willing to sacrifice $1.2 billion on this dalination when we could have, you know, additional water coming in. uh I I feel and to make to safeguard what we're what we are have already invested. So again, you know, I I I I do I don't feel completely satisfied with your answer, but I'm going to leave it up to some of the other council members to maybe ask some other additional questions, but again, um I would encourage you uh to speak to former Councilman Smith if you haven't already. >> Just spoke to him about 15 minutes ago. Okay. Right before. >> All right. Well, I would encourage you um and and you know, just because you know, I've heard um >> Councilman Baretta say, you know, how does one council member get, you know, appointed to a certain um uh project, but it is because you know there are certain uh just like we have bankers and title you know title people you know they have some value to you know to um contribute. So again, I guess uh um I'll let the other council members speak, but I this is still not satisfactory. >> Yeah, Councilwoman, can I add to Drew's? So >> I just read Councilman Smith's memo while you earlier while you were speaking, but he's right this and the city did leave. We did leave water. >> That's right. >> In the east, but it's not because we wanted to, it's because we couldn't get it through the pipeline. So let's use two numbers, 3 million and 16 million. That's what we spent to make sure one the 3 million was to do a condition assessment to make sure the 25-year-old Mir Roads pipeline could handle going to schedule 4. Once that step was confirmed, it took about eight 8 months to a year to confirm that. Then we put a $16 million city council approved infrastructure investment project to put the right equipment along the Merry Roads pipeline in the two pumping stations that was not there that we could not just ratchet it, you know, ratchet the pressure up. So that has been done since that time. You remember the I brought the employees in from u uh CCW who helped the on that historic moment. >> We couldn't do that until we spent the until we invested that money did the engineering. >> When I got here six years ago, we knew that all that equipment was not in for some reason. People prior to me didn't finish the job. >> Okay. >> The job was not done. That's the that's the simple answer. The job was not done. >> It was not done. >> It wasn't done. So there was no switch that we could push to say let's go to schedule 4. >> Mhm. >> There was no switch that one could push or lever that says we're going to go to schedule 4. It took $19 million to do work that should have been done a decade ago. >> Right. Okay. >> Okay. So that's the answer. So yes, the memo's here too that Drew sent out last night. Councilman Smith has the exact same numbers. 35,000 acre feet is what we can get from the Colorado if it's running. You know, it is now. Earlier this year was it was pretty dry but in the prior three years we were taking 10,000 you know more or less 10 seven and >> and nine but it's not until earlier this year that we got everything organized and the mirror roads pipeline did work that should have been done a decade ago >> it should have yeah right >> okay so the answer you know what but okay so back to what we should have but what are we what's the lesson here I mean >> the lesson we know is invest in your infrastructure that's why We recommend a robust capital improvement program, >> not just investing in it, but maintaining it. >> Right. I agree. I agree. And I congratulate, you know, Councilman Ernnandez for, you know, I harp on on uh sidewalks, he harps on infrastructure, you know, we >> and and and there is, I mean, a lot that we have left on the table. and prior to you, prior to, you know, to a lot of the staff here. I mean, uh that's why it's important to have some career um you know, uh employees, >> but we seem to have a high turn turnaround now. >> No, we don't. And CC >> Well, in some in some of the departments in some of the departments, but it it's important to have that. That's not a I >> Well, I it's important to have >> turnover. Yeah. >> Well, >> yeah. and the audit department. Let me just say that. >> Well, he doesn't report city manager. Yeah, that's he reports directly to council. >> And then counciloman, one more thing though to end on a positive note. The parallel pipeline is something we support. We already we briefed the council a year ago on that project with the new uh with the new u term sheet with uh Evangeline uh and Councilman Hernandez. And we talked about this last week. separately. We have we're going to cost out a a uh a parallel pipeline from the Evangeline wellfield to here if we can afford it and do it. We could put that in. That would be about 20% of the of the length of the whole pipeline. That's not necessary to get the water here, but it could be something that we could recommend as part of the project since we're going to be in the area anyway, you know, and the contractors will be so that would give us a redundancy for at least 20% of the lower uh pipeline from Cinton to here. So, we're going to look at that and present that along the way. But, as Hernandez says, it's not necessary. It's not part of the rate. It's not part of the project cost, but we're going to show it because contractors will be on site, and it may be a better time to do it now with them being mobilized and on site. Thank you, Mayor. Thank you. >> Thank you, Peter. Uh, Councilman Kentu. >> Thank you, mayor. Thank you, guys, for this um report. Um 1 through 10, one being the lowest, 10 being excellent. What's the condition of the Mary Mary Rose pipeline from 1 through 10? >> Do you want to take a stab at that? >> I want the public to hear that number because that's pretty much easier for the public to understand. >> I'll let the condition expert uh Jerry take a stab at that one. >> Yeah, I think I drew the short straw, but that that's okay. Um so it's it's a tough job. Uh, so Mary Roads phase one, right? The 101 miles, that's the part that I've touched. There's another part that's newer and I I have not touched so I can't speak to that, but the the merry roads phase one, 101 miles, the the pipeline itself, I think seven right around there. Um, we know u from from our analysis and discussions with staff, um, there's there's a lot of uh the air valves, right? That's at every single high point there's an air valve. Well, those connections are not reliable. So they they break on a regular basis. It's not catastrophic, but it's something ongoing. Um we know that there's corrosive soil. So it's and it's a 27y old pipeline with debris in it. So 7 six, you know, uh if we could get those obstructions out, I'd probably bump it up and and feel better about it. But with those obstructions and the pressure exceeded >> and that's from Corpus 101 is 100, you said 101 miles. >> 101 miles from LNR Lake Texina. Okay. all the way to to here essentially. >> Gotcha. So, we haven't done from here to back over there. >> Correct. That's a little bit younger pipe. I think the staff is planning to do that here in the in the near future. >> Got it. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Second question. Um Drew, we have spur parts for the MRP. >> We we do we we have >> So, if anything breaks today, we have the parts to fix it >> w >> within reason. I mean, we have uh we have sticks of pipe. So joint uh sticks of pipe that are strategically placed in certain locations >> and so we we are fairly well prepared to address you know a potential issue that were to happen and and you know sometimes you you you don't really know what's going to happen. I mean you can have things break and not have any forewarning >> like all these bowels and pumps and stuff we have extra stuff laying around. >> No not not pumps. I mean, you know, pumps and VFDs, uh, the the these are things that we are in the process of of, uh, bringing in, okay, >> as part of this $16 million project that the city manager just mentioned, um, there is some additional spare equipment that we're bringing in. You know, these pumps have long lead times. I mean, we're talking 9 months, you know, to to a year uh, to order these pumps. So, it's important that we have that. >> Yeah. But we'll have So, uh, we're going to have a backup pump at the two uh, transfer stations or pumping stations. Okay. And then the the the lower Colorado River Authority ordered one for the main pumping station. Okay. >> Uh they didn't there was no backup, no spare. So we told them, "Let's get one because that was one of the failures a few months ago, >> right? >> We had to fix that pump." So uh so the two the Woodsboro Bloomington uh soon was I guess we have to wait till we turn off the pipeline that they can be installed and then there's one on order for the main pump station at the lake. Yes. My other question is um because this is I think I could talk about this because we're talking about water. Um Drew, for the public's eyes ears, are we going to run out of water next December in 2026 and we have zero rain >> w with with no rain? >> With no rain, >> we're unless we unless we have um we're I I'll just >> The answer is no. We're not going to run out of water by next December. >> Yeah. What it is is that I got to look at the graph, but the trigger point that's when we would have 6 months until um >> it's raining. It's raining right now. >> We got two more days. >> Well, and and and to to Peter's point, >> the six month trigger point. >> Yeah. And and let me just say that because you you you got me. You got >> finish finish. The reason I'm asking this is because there's so many people out on radio, Facebook land, and just causing scare tactics to people thinking we're going to run out of water. And I want you and Peter to say, "We're not going to run out of water. If we approve the Inner Harbor project tomorrow, this is not going to help us in December of next year." And I want you guys to say that because I'm sick and tired of people being on social media. your cheerleaders. I'm gonna say it. You're cheerleaders. >> I have cheerleaders. >> Yeah, you're cheerleaders. You know, saying that we're going to run out of water. And I just want to ver I want I want you to guys to verify it to the public because the public thinks we're going to run out of water because they they're believing these people. >> Well, let me let me just say let me tell you this and I I appreciate the city manager's comments because because one of the things that's important is is December of 2026 is when we're within 180 days of not being able to meet demand. And let's just be very clear, we're not running out of water. We we we may and we sure hope we don't have have a point in time where we can't meet the entire demand. But what I will tell you is is that providing raw water and these groundwater wells that we're pumping today and as we can get more of these groundwater wells online, we have run some models out that if we can continue to add groundwater into the river, conceivably if we were able to get enough of that, we would be able to buy ourselves enough time until we get a water supply project online, whether it's Inner Harbor, you know, whatever you want. >> Yeah. Th that is the name. That's the that's that's the key. That's that's really fixing the riddle, if you will, because to your point, nobody has any plans of running out of water. We're not going to run out of water. What we what could happen to your point is we might not be able to meet the demand. And at that point, then we would have to have some curtailment that could potentially happen. >> But right now, if we have no other businesses come to Corpus right now, this moment, we won't run out of water for the demand we have right now. Correct. >> We That's correct. >> Okay. >> No, it's not. No, it's that's not accurate statement. >> Can you repeat that? >> When I get there, when I get there, I'll I'll >> Okay. >> Okay. >> Okay. >> Um question. So, the memo you sent out yesterday. Uh I think you was it that that memo right there. What was it? Um >> it was the mayor roads roads pipeline utilization. >> When you email the me memos, do you just email it to the council members or do you email it to the news stations? What do you do with that memo? >> Right. So, the protocol in that is it goes it goes to Peter, uh, city manager, and then it goes to all of the elected officials here, all nine all nine of y'all, and then it goes to our executive staff. So, so we have our governmental affairs, our communications director, uh, staff that that I work with. Um, that that's the list of people that it goes to. >> I have a little problem with it. The problem I'm having with it is it's getting into the hands of the people you guys want to be your champion for inner harbor project. And I'm okay with that. That's public documentation. They could get all they could get it whatever we get on our emails. They should be able to get a get get a title um get a copy of it. I have no problem with it. The problem that I do have is that y'all guys need to be fair and give it to everybody. Rachel um what's his name? Um um Michael Miller. different people. You know, I think you guys need to make a list of people who are um who wants who wants some information about about any kind of water stuff that's going on because the water is a big top topic right now and and I feel that you know you guys just doing it to a couple people just to get the word out. I think you guys need to do it to everybody, you know, and and I just I just this just fairness, you know, and um that that's that's, you know, that's that's just um I don't I don't think it's right. I think you guys should send it out to everybody. Send it out to Chris 6 News Channel 3, you know. Um my opinion, you know, because I do know that there's some news reporters do say they have a hard time getting a hold of you guys, you know, and I I I see it because they're like, "Hey, what's going on? I've been trying to call the water department and no one's answers." Hm. Call Peter. I mean, I don't know what else to tell them, you know. Um, so just just wanted to throw that out there. Um, tell me one more time. I'm a freshman. Uh, stage four, we could do 70 million gallons a day. >> You're talking about schedule four. >> Schedule four. Yeah. Seed 4 is 70 to 72 million gallons a day. >> Got it. Okay. Okay. I come back from my other questions. Thank you. Okay, Councilwoman Vaughn, >> Mr. Cone, thank you for telling the truth. That's what the public needed to hear because it has been a panic with the community thinking we were running out of water. >> Yeah. Right. >> And when you tell them the truth, they trust you, right? >> It's when we kind of circle around it trying to scare them because I think it had to do with diesel. Like I said before, you don't have to do either or. You don't have to. But when you scare them like that, they don't believe anything we say. So, I appreciate that. Also appreciate you reading Greg Smith's because he did not lie. He told the truth. We were taking water out. But he was is a very nice man. He's worked very hard as a counselor. Probably knows more about water than anyone sitting up here. >> And for him to be maligned like that because he said something and it was truth. It was truth. And then I think about these ladies that came up here and said, "We're draining the lakes. We're draining the lakes." And we didn't. We were draining the lakes. Not. I'm not saying it's your fault, Jerry. Here's what I'm saying is because we were taking that water out, the perception was we were draining the lakes. And if we weren't So, the truth of the matter is we were taking water from the lakes instead of Mary Road's pipeline. Correct. Did you take any with Mary Road's pipeline or only the 42 or 45 that it was capable of of doing at the time? >> Right. So on the graph that we had in the presentation, it it showed that we >> took we're taking water from the Colorado River uh um you know in about the range of you know 20%. Um and we were taking water from Lake Texana and we were taking water from the combined reservoir system Lake Corpus Christi. >> So it did contribute to the lakes going down. There's no doubt about that. And plus the drought made it made it worse. Made it worse. So during the time that you were taking that out, well I just asked that. Never mind. I've got so many questions here. Okay. I want to go to HDR. So when did HDR do start their report? When did y'all put them on? I think the report was like $3 million y'all were contracted for something like that. >> Three three and a half three dollars is what the >> We were half of that. That the sub was about half. >> And it needed to be done. I agree it needed to be done. My concern is this. You said that the um February 2024 you shut down the entire pipeline because there was a problem. What happens when you shut down the entire pipeline? >> What happened in 20 February when that happened? That when he was doing the slide that's what he said. What happened >> because that's where we get all our water. >> Well, I mean we get most of our majority from that. So essentially at that point in time we're taking all of our water exclusively is coming from the noise. >> So it was coming from the lake at that time. Correct. Okay. >> All right. Um, I've said this, Mr. Sony, we've had the conversations. We have to have a backup plan. And Sylvia alluded to that. We have to, and I can't believe that we haven't done that yet. So, there's going to have to be a time when we have to say, "Okay, we're going to have to do another line, something where e either you put the Mary roads, water goes into the lake." I don't know what the answer is, but it doesn't. If it were to shut down, >> we got to have water. We can't not have that. >> We need redundancy in that pipeline. >> Yes. So to me, we should be working to try and find a source to help us fund that. And I've talked to Representative Villan Ovos and it's too late now for this year, but there are other things that we could go to, Drew. I know you know with grants, whatever, but we we probably need to go ahead and start working on that. I for me anyway. >> Okay. >> Um Okay. The HDR report, is that been completed? It's my understanding that there is a draft form of that report. >> Yes, ma'am. There there is a draft. The final is is pending. I think Nick said the first week of September. They had asked for some additional tasks. >> Yeah, >> some of those are complete. Some will not be completed. And >> okay. >> Um there's no way you can release that draft form so that we can see it. >> Uh that's I'll defer to staff. I >> I would just like to see it. I I don't care what it says. >> I you know I I think what we're happy to do is is we're happy to sit down with anybody here. I've offered that to former Councilman Smith. In fact, we we've sat down with Councilman Smith uh a year ago and we talked about things that were being worked on in this report. So, there's nothing in this report that is, you know, is not uh something that we can't show. Uh and we're certainly happy to have those conversations. I mean, there's anything in that report that you want to sit down and talk. You know, I think generally what we want to do is we want to get this report finalized in the next couple weeks and then have it out there so the public can consume it and everybody can read it. >> Yeah. they need to see it because whatever shape it's in, it's in that shape and we need to fix it, repair it. But my concern is you can't shut it down to fix it and all those thing that list that you went through. I'm thinking, wow, we've got to figure out a way to do that to get that done. >> Yeah, Councilwoman, if I could uh comment on that. So, the the report and the findings were presented to council. We went through that in in detail and we haven't stopped working on all those improvements like the the combination air vacuum valves completed done. Uh one of the minor things in the project was some high erosion areas. We have staff working on that cathotic protection. So I just want to reiterate we haven't stopped on the improvements just because the report's not stamped fine. >> Oh, I know that. I know I know you've been working. I just know there's things you can't do because you can't shut it down. Right. >> So, that has to be addressed sooner than later. >> Okay. For now, that's all I got. Thanks, >> Peter. Um, or Drew. >> Haven't we done work? Haven't y'all worked on the whole redundancy plan to the Mary roads pipeline? >> We did >> in the past. >> We did when we were negotiating with Evangeline um the last time for about a year. >> Prior to that? >> No, I don't think so. Yeah, I think at least I did. We c I didn't. But when we had Pape Dawson, when Pap Dawson was working for Evangeline, uh they uh costed out uh what it would be for a redundant pipeline. >> I thought we did. HDR >> HDR did as well. Okay. I'm not familiar with that one. >> And and tell us when this was. >> Yeah, sure. That was uh last Memorial Day that that I did the parallel I I did a scope and fee for parallel pipe. It was just for the pressure exceedence areas. So >> Oh, yeah. Okay. >> Yeah. So not not through the entire pipe when um recall was a recommendation from HDR to to put a bypass if you will at two or three locations. That's different than a parallel pipeline. >> P Dawson gave us some pricing and and and engineering consideration to do a complete parallel pipeline right next to the Merry Rose from beginning to end. >> And so we have pricing for that. And they talk strategy in terms of uh easements. Do we have enough right ofway or do we have to buy more easement? That type of thing. Okay. >> So, the HDR one was just um bypasses in these pressure exceedence areas that we did not do. >> Okay. >> Based on further conversation with the uh original engineers of the pipeline who's who gave us a pumping plan and that worked. >> Okay. I just wanted to clarify that. Thank you, Councilman. Or is it Are you done, Caroline? Yeah. Okay. Councilman Hernandez. Thank you. >> Okay. Thank you, Mayor. Um a few things on the Wells. uh along the Nois River. I do have the report from um Intera which you gave it to us a while back and the and the based on this report the TDS in the areas where you drilled should be between 3,000 and 3,500 but the first well you had mentioned was above 5,000 TDS. Is that still the case? >> Yeah, sure councilman. Um, so yeah, the intera report had the eastern wellfield about that 3500 range. Well one when it was originally drilled had a TDS of about 5,000. Wells 2 to 8 are all at about 3,300 parts per million. >> So they're within the report levels. >> So they they absolutely are. So well one uh we were getting a better handle on the hydrogeeology of the area. It's actually drilled deeper than the other wells and we have a plan. Basically, what we'll do is we will uh seal back the lower portion of the well and attempt to get that TDS level closer to the other seven wells because they're all very consistent the other seven. >> Okay. And you and you are you do have the monitoring of the se of the TDS levels as per TCQ requirements. >> Correct. So per the bed and banks permit we have established protocol which we we were doing and we're following. >> Okay. And you I guess we we don't know the results of that but you guess I guess you can give us information on that. >> Right. And and and in addition to the monitoring that we're doing as part of the bed and banks permit we also have five five shallow monitoring wells. So, five additional monitoring wells that we routinely check to make sure that there's no impact to the local community that lives in the area. Pardon me. >> For subsidance of draw down, >> right? Right. So, there's no draw down impact. >> I know I know Councilwoman Vaughn, I've gotten few phone calls on it, but you probably got more on on the concerns from the area, the people in the area. >> Uh, and it is a temporary permit for three years. Correct. >> That is correct. >> Okay. Um to address some of the concerns my uh favorite council member over here has about my participation in this in the item of CC polymers. I took kind of a page for what Councilwoman Bond did with Evangeline and just be present not necessarily participate. And I did bring them I didn't negotiate anything with them. I brought them back to the table. Okay, I'll leave it at that since he had to u insert himself into that discussion. uh on Mary Road's pipeline. I want to you know there's some you know some concerns here because obviously the the the pipeline was designed to do deliver 112,000 acre feet per year which roughly equates to just under 100 million gallons a day. Okay. So we're operating at 70 million gallons a day schedule 4. So that does leave some capacity to include more water with the thought of groundwater being included. Considering where Evangelene is, it's below it's near Cinton. I believe all that pipeline is 64 in and greater. Right. >> There's no 48 in pipe at that point. >> Right. >> Okay. So we're not concerned about the the pressures exceedences over at the 48 inch pipeline that's further north. >> That's correct. There's a the San Antonio River has a pressure exceedence, but that's not 48. >> Okay. But it's not near Sentin, >> right? >> Okay. The uh looking at at where the direction cut off is, you uh extract 12 million gallons a day, 12 a.5 million gallons a day there. So you have some more capacity going forward. And the pipe gets wider as you get closer to to U Owen Stevens. Correct. To 72 in. >> Yeah, it's like the last mile. >> Okay. the um some of the issues we had were operating at schedule 2B and schedule 3 that we weren't utilizing all the pump stations at Bloomington and or and Woodsboro. Correct. So, we're using the pumps further north and trying to get that pressure all the way through down the pipeline. So, understanding that the pressure exceeded were due to the operations of the pipeline at the time. Is that correct? I would describe the pressure exceeded as a function of debris in the pipe being pumped against. Right? If you don't have those obstructions, if you don't have the debris, you don't have pressure exceeded. Uh it's a it's believed to be attributed to the debris in the pipe. >> Okay. But you also have some aspect of that within when it drops to 48 in. >> Yes. Higher pressure at lower spots. >> Okay. So looking at since we have we're now at schedule 4, do you have the standard operating procedures in place so you don't so to prevent exceedences in the future? >> Yeah, go ahead. >> Yeah, councilman. So um in in ter So it's schedule 4 all the pump stations are running. So when we're not running schedule 4, Woodsboro is not operational. Bloomington and Lake Texana are operational. So at at any of those pressure schedules or at the pumping schedules two or three we see the pressure exceedances because like Jerry said because of the friction losses right what what can happen anything can cause Woodsboro pump station to go down. It may be an AA issue maybe a pump issue that would result us to revert back to schedule three. So you can't pump schedule 4 without Woodsboro. If a certain pump goes down at Lake Texana, that would pre like it happened just a couple months ago earlier this year, that would prevent us from pumping schedule four and we'd have to revert back to schedule three or two. >> Okay. And we have backup generators at every pump station. >> No, we don't. No, we don't. And I'll I'll tell you the reason why. So, there's not natural gas supply available for natural gas generators. >> Is there a diesel supply? So the diesel is very problematic, right? Because diesel, you can't leave the fuel in these large tanks for extended periods of time. You've got to use them. Anytime we go from permanent power to generator power, we have to shut the entire Mary Road's pipeline down and then start at the generator power. So it gets very complex. Remember each of those pump stations, the motors are 1,250 horsepower. So the diesel generation is huge and it's also important to note we have three we have three different grids that feed those pump stations. Uh LNR latex Santa is JCE Jackson County Electric. We have a one grid with A at Bloomington, one grid with AP at Woodsboro. So like I I talked about Easter earlier this year, but that was an AA issue. Shut Woodsboro down. So what happened is the entire MRP went down. Then we had to bring MRP back up to schedule three cuz Woodsboro was offline. Once A resolved their issue, we were able to get all the pump stations back online and go to schedule 4. >> Okay. So with that, we do have the standard operating procedures in place to prevent the pressure exceedences. Right. >> So I'll echo what Jerry said. The only way to pres prevent pressure exceeded is to address those issues in the pipeline, which is cleaning out the debris, assessing uh what's going on, trying to figure out what's truly going on and and then we would reduce basically the friction or the C factor back to what the original design was. So one way to do that is a parallel pipe, right? So we could go to the parallel pipe and and then address those pressure exceedances you know deal with those areas. >> Okay. So just in in consideration of of the new water source of a groundwater source that would be close to sitting and how uh is there did you observe any uh blockage or anything that would impede the flow of water between sitting and here >> between sitting and here? I'll let you answer that Jerry. No, we we didn't observe or detect anything with with the analysis that we did in in that area. So, short answer, that's your short answer. >> Okay. So, if you added the additional 24 million gallons a day that we're looking at with the the Evangeline groundwater source, uh would you need to add some sort of pumping station or some sort of aspect to accommodate that? Yes, I think you need to analyze the pumping uh ability of uh Bloomington and Woodsboro and potentially LNR. >> Is it is that in your report? >> Um I don't know if it's in the draft report. >> It's in the >> It's in the onm manual for the adder report to evaluate additional supplies. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Now I understand that you know we have limited resources. So building a parallel pipeline may be something down the future but right now the important part is getting more water sources and so what we can do in the meantime until we're able to do something along those lines. Uh it's more important for us right now to get water in the short term. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Thank you. And councilman, can I just have the engineers talk a little bit because we we talked about from Centon here, but uh they need to explain it, but when you add 12 or 24 million, excuse me, it pushes it back up to the east. So it's not just from Cinton down, you have to worry about pressure going the other way. And so can you guys talk about that? They tell me about it often. So I make sure you guys the council understands it. >> Sure. Sure. And it's it's a good thing to to to bring up um regularly because it it's easily overlooked or or not looked at at all. Um the fact that those pressure exceeded, if you go back to the the figure that's got the three red spots, th those are present uh meaning they're they're in the pipe no matter what pumping schedule you're at, right? Um when you go to schedule four, you've got all three pump stations pulling. It kind of pulls down pressure across Mary roads. Um but when you add water say 12 MGD downstream over uh say centin or or a little bit downstream um that is still felt up at those pressure exanceed areas. So it's just like a little peak on top of a of an existing pressure exceeded. It's not you know massive MGD but it's still there. But when you go and look at something like 24 MGD, then that bump is more significant and I'm not a pump station operator. I don't have to operate the system. But that becomes more of a concern, right? When you look at historical failures, you know, you got pressure exceedences. Um, and again, going back to the O andM manual from the very beginning of Mary roads, the the system was built to get up to schedule 4. You got a pipeline that if it was only the pipeline that could handle 100 MGD. The pump stations are not currently built out for 100 MGD. So you start talking about 24 on top of schedule 4, which is about 70, you're at about 100 MGD and you can't can't do it with the existing infrastructure. Is that >> right? Yeah, that's correct. That's why Nick has said at the prior council meeting, Councilman Hernandez, that a redesign of the pumping stations would have to uh would have to work. These aren't excuses not to do it. If we can put 24 million at Sinton, we'll do it all day. We just want to make sure the council's aware there's some engineering challenges with that scenario that we're going to we're beginning to look into and how much can we put in um uh without without issue is is what we're working on. We're all for that, Councilman. Just so you know, we're not we're not trying to say no, you can't do this. We're just advising you that the engineers have advised me this some engineering uh issues to be concerned about or that we have to deal with. And so and that could mean additional uh engineering and then uh rework at the pumping at the pump stations is all. Yeah. >> Right. >> Yeah. That'll be part of it. In fact, that'll be on our list of things that we have to work that we're working on. Not have to that we'll be working on is how do we get the water into the pipeline? How much goes to S Pat Water District Water Authority. Uh but the whatever is the easiest and the most affordable is what we're about. That's what our that's what our goal is with redundancy and risk mitigation. So we'll be looking at we don't have to do the entire 130 mile pipeline in one day but if we did little segments at a time that you know over time we can afford to do it like if we did 20% with this Evangeline project that's 20% redundancy that we have and then we'll do the next 20 and so on. >> Thank you Peter. Okay Councilwoman Paxton. Thank you, mayor. Um, I think the discussion here is is is really helpful and important because what what bothers me is when information that's passed amongst these these levels of conversation um is almost used to incite. It causes so much fear. It causes so much division. The reason that's so important is because we rely on the community. We're here to serve the community and if they're not given correct information or they're given inaccurate information that impacts how they message to us and then how we react to this information also. And so it's important that we stay away from that. And I think that we we need to be mindful subjective versus objective. I'm glad we had this item come up, especially if it was, you know, in in correlation with recent interest in Mary roads because which leads me to my next questions. It's allowed us to really open this idea up. So like we heard the capacity of this line is close to 100 million gallons a day. You've also said that this line actually is in a healthy condition. There's some areas where we have to be realistic and say just like any other pipe pipeline system, there's risks. We're only running 74 on schedule 4. That means there is room to increase what we could utilize out of that line. We recognize we'd have to we'd have to probably upgrade or adjust our pumping because that's a lot of different pressure we'd have to to change, but it's doable. We're not looking at a scenario where if we evaluate that option, we're shutting down a vital pipeline and therefore running out of water. So these are all assumptions based on the information from tonight and this morning and this discussion that that I've arrived at. Could would you confirm that that's pretty accurate? >> Yeah. Yeah. Nick, you want to? >> Yeah. I I'm concerned there's a little confusion. Jerry Jerry brought up the the inspection of the 72 in and where we actually that picture of the gentleman inside the pipeline that was shut down because of a failure. >> So because of the failure we were able to do that inner inspection. It certainly wasn't planned. We know we can't shut down the pipeline. You know >> what I'm saying is to kind of what was said earlier. A lot of the reason we need to re-evaluate this is because what's being said is that adding to these lines, looking at our options with the Evangelene water supply is going to be a huge risk that we're going to shut down the Merry Roads pipeline. One, it's not in terrible condition. Two, we have options. It's running fine at schedule 4. It's running better at schedule 4. And if we choose to explore evangeline, we have options that are completely doable. >> Yeah, I think the the smaller evangeline quantity that's been discussed, 12 is uh has a very minimal impact upstream, but 24 is a different discussion that that creates a lot more problems. >> And that's where we would look at changing how we convey that second portion. But it's not it's it's we're basically saying that that it's not accurate that that the merry roads and adding the 12 million gallons that we've all had discussion in the last couple of weeks is a hazard. That is that's what we're debunking right here in my mind hearing all these conversations. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. Councilwoman, if I think it what the goal is to we want to inform council of risks and the risks are at schedule two and three, right? We all feel very good about schedule 4. So the key here is we want to make sure all of you are aware of those risks and what what can happen with 101 mile pipeline coming and and that's the key here. So it's it's >> but Mary roads is not in a bad position. >> No, it's not. But that but this last point Nick said is an important one and it hasn't been said yet in the meeting which is that at schedule four when all when all the pump systems are running you can put all that water through >> but if we have to drop down a schedule three for you know a small issue or schedule four I mean schedule two then the 12 million into the pipeline could be an issue engineers I'm glad he clarified because I wasn't picking up >> so there's points in time when if if an unforeseen situation happens this is what we have to engineer out we have to figure out Then what do we do? >> If we're pumping 12 million to 24 million, do we hold it in storage tanks? Do we divert more to SM Pat? >> We have to hire an engineer of record that's going to help us. That's another thing that's on our work uh product for Wednesday is who's the engineer of record that we're going to recommend to be hired for the Mary roads pipeline. I mean for the Evangeline and Mary roads pipeline and we don't have anybody yet. So, but go ahead Jerry. >> Yeah. I I think just a the way I was thinking of the way you were saying that is that you can get an additional 12 MGD into the Mary roads under specific pumping scenarios but not under all pumping scenarios. So if someone was to say, "Well, I heard you could put 12 MGD additional into Mary Roads." >> That's too generic and broad to be an acceptable true statement, right? It's schedule four as as Peter was saying and Nick was saying, schedule two and three, you have different hydraulics and and there's problems with those pressure exceeded per the red lines. >> And we're going to but we're going to get the solution for it. We don't have it right now because we don't have an engineer of record yet. So we have to say, okay, what happens if we drop down to schedule three and and we've been steadily pumping in 12 from Evangeline? We don't have the answer, but we're going to figure it out. That's why we hire engineers. They'll they're going to figure it out. >> But that's right. That's the point is that we have these options. That's that's what we're pursuing. That's my whole that's what I'm confirming. We're pursuing these options. We know that there's risks. However, this is a this is a a healthy pipeline. If we choose to increase that, we we look at our options, we do that responsibly, and we move forward. This is not a panic scenario. >> That's not at all. In fact, they when when I was debriefing with the uh we met with the board of the Low Colorado River Authority, and uh the the gentleman that presented to the board said, "This pipeline probably has a good 27 years left in it. It's probably at its half its midpoint in life, if you will. So, there's plenty of good life in this pipe. It is very strong. The pumping equipment, as you can see in the pictures, has been wellmaintained or barely used. The Woodsboro was never even used. We just turned it on for the first time in 25 years. So, uh, because it wasn't built out. That's part of my expla explanation I was giving at Councilwoman Compost. It was it's only turned on when you go to schedule 4. And we never went to schedule 4 for 30 25 years because of the folks prior to us didn't finish it out. Didn't finish out the project. But so the point is to repeat what you're saying. The pipeline is in very good shape. This the pumping system is in great shape and the employees who manage it as you heard Nick say care about it. So those are three great ingredients for reliability on it. Yeah, I know that they work tirelessly around the clock and they're that we're very blessed to have them. Um, to this same note, we don't have that memo that was sent out last night in our packet or I know that came out kind of late. I know you guys are working late hours, but we received that at like 7:20 last night. That's when it hit my inbox. I don't know when it hit anybody else's inbox. To me, that's a question. I don't care who gets it. It's a public information document. But to me, if I'm not getting it till 7:20, which is after I'm being told that that it's out and being discussed, the challenge is I have to backpedal. Where did where is this document? What are we talking about? and then to arrive today. I would have liked, you know, if it's a late edition for it to be included in in this updated presentation that was also not in there because going through discussion, I would like to have been able to reference that sitting here. >> Sure, go through my email, look it up, that kind of thing. But I I would like to have that included where we can grab it in order with this being revealed. I think that would clear a lot of a lot of different, you know, discussions cuz there there was things in there that I'd like to address in this in this piece. A couple of couple of comments in there, but I don't want to belabor that point. I think we've hit most of that stuff, but I would I just it's important to me if we could get late packet items all included together before the meeting or at the time of >> Councilwoman GMO. Uh thank you, mayor. I just wanted to make a uh correction on my statement. Uh when I said about the uh turnover, high turnover, I I think I said audit, but I really actually meant the finance department. So that was the correction that I wanted to make that it was the finance because the audit department has hardly gotten on its uh feet just uh so anyway. Uh but I did also want to just ask HDR something. Um, have do we have cameras all along Mary Road's pipeline to check for these uh leaks and and such? >> No, ma'am. >> We do not. And why is that again? >> Uh, >> well, I don't know. I guess I need to ask Nick. >> I'll defer. >> Yeah, I can. >> Yeah. >> Uh, one answer is uh the remote locations, right? I mean, signal cell phone reception is is very bad. Uh, but I will tell you this, the MRP staff, uh, they maintain the easements. They review the easements every day. There are they are out on the pipeline, right? They're they're they're inspecting it. They're reviewing it. Of course, it all doesn't happen quickly, right? So, we we've got certain sections we check throughout the year >> because this is a 100mile pipeline, I think. >> 101 miles. >> Yeah, I know. So it's hard to imagine that you've got someone physically looking at at 101 miles looking for the any is that >> right so yeah I want to clarify I mean that that's not happening every day right but our team because uh we also do mowing of the easements right and there's maintenance procedures and additionally uh we talked about the air relief valves Jerry mentioned how many those are along the pipeline so this fiscal year we will have replaced 25 to 30 of them and that's done by that same crew. So when they're out on the pipeline and they're replacing air release valves as our standard maintenance, >> they're also reviewing the area of the easements that they're working in. >> Well, I mean, we're in 2025. I can't believe that we can't have um you know, electronic u service on those. Is that's what >> said the cell phone or cell phone reception. >> We don't control the cell phone. So the cell >> it's hard to believe that you that there's no cell phone service. >> It's bad service. This is in remote Texas. Some of these areas you can you can barely get to >> the the failure on I can speak specifically to the failure at Garcus Creek where the failure was. There was no cell phone reception. >> Okay. >> So I walked up, you know, probably a quarter mile so I could give Peter and Drew updates on our progress. >> Okay. Well, thank you, Nick. All right. >> That's all I had. >> Councilman Scott. Hey, can um can you guys work on bringing up the dashboard at some point? Can you get somebody back there somewhere to bring up the dashboard while I kind of move on? Hey, can somebody send me or us the pressure exceedence report that was done I guess you said a year ago. I guess you presented to the council. I've never seen it. Be interesting to me. So, you know, Yeah. Yeah. That's just if you can get that. Um All right. So tell Drew, walk me through the interruptible bee conditions. When what has to happen for us to get that second trunch of the interruptible water? >> Yeah, I of course Steve just walked out. So >> we can move on. I got a lot of questions. By the way, >> great report. Thank you. >> Yeah, so um it's it's really dependent upon certain levels in Lake Texana. So, um, if we're not above 90% of water, uh, levels in Lake Texana, we we don't get the the first the first trunch of interruptible water, >> which we got, >> which we got because remember, we got that bunch of rain in June, filled up basically Texana to 100%. And they came back and they said, "Hey, here here's your first trunch of interruptible water." So, the second trunch, Steve can get you some information. >> We'll ask him when he gets back. I'm just My question is, are we going to see the sec? Is there a chance we could see the second trunch? Yeah, later this year. Hey, can somebody uh explain to me today or in a report all of us the CC polymers discharge permit? What requirements it has? Can it just can it run with can we discharge water uh with the plant without the plant? >> Right. We're Good question. That's that's one that we're working on as we speak. So when um if we get 35,000 acre feet from the Colorado but we only use 15 of it, can we use more the next year? >> No. >> No. >> It's important to know because I think I've read that somewhere. There's this there's a sense speaking of misinformation that if if we we bought 10 gallons but we only used five, we can use five next five additional next year. Can you explain? >> Correct. So, I I think that's was even in the uh former Councilman Smith's email where I think there was a suggestion that if you didn't use the water of prior years, you could use that water in future years. And and once the year is over, that acre feet is gone. Whatever you didn't use, it's gone. >> Got it. I think we've talked long enough. Uh we can ask the question about >> Hey, Steve, can you talk about the interruptible B water? >> It take to get interruptable B between now and the end of the year. uh what it takes to get the interruptable B is LNR uh has to determine whether they have met all their environmental flows and there's excess water for them to then uh give >> offer to the city of Corpus Christi >> we have a sense where we're at do we have a sense where we're at with that >> we're running out of time so depending upon what is the level and the concern for Lvaka Navad River Authority to offer that water you know tend to be at the end of the summer is the higher uh September is a really wet uh time of the year. So if we get rainfall then the offer chances go up but they drop very quickly as we move into the fall. >> So we might our best opportunity will be some point time in September if they get good rainfall and they environmental flows. >> That's right. Six weeks. >> Okay. So because we're hoping that's another 4,500 acre feet. Is that the number? Uh it's a total of 12,000 acre feet of interruptible water and we've already taken some from this year and um I think we only have a few thousand acre feet left. >> Is is All right. You got the dashboard up. So is the dashboard does the This is the dashboard. This is what we share with people or so you misinformation information. This is our Bible, right? This and this is based on the same rainfall as last year. What? What? Well, tell us about the the rainfall associated with the U dashboard. >> Yes. So, this takes in the worst uh conditions that we've seen in the last 3 years. So, we're taking the worst case the 2024 and 2023 time frame. So, we're using the highest evaporative rates, the highest lowest rainfall uh rates to uh make this uh this chart possible. So, we're giving the worst case conditions as you can say. It does include some rainfall then but a low lesser amount, >> right? The worst case scenario on rainfall. But point my point is it doesn't we're not This is not based on no rain. No one's looking at no rain because I I think that's probably I think we're going to get some rain, right? In fact, by golly, it's raining now. Or may is it raining now? There you go. >> Is it raining in the waterershed? >> Well, is is it raining on my grass? So, um Okay. So, and show us where tell talk me through stage one um water emergency. When is that based on this map? >> Based upon our latest information u and projections, level one water emergencies would occur in December of 2026 as you see there on the on the graph. So, that would be when we're 180 days out of meeting our uh demand. So, at this point in time, this is extremely uh this is I'm gonna be Chicken Little and say the world is falling and we need to do something dramatically. It's all lined out in our DCP or drought contingency plan. We would go into uh uh Pratta allocations. I would come to council. Council, we would be telling you, okay, we have 180 days. We have no other supply, large water supplies that could meet our needs at this moment in time. And so, we need to cut back dramatic. And I'm talking dramatically so that we can extend the time. So right now, what I like to explain is we're buying time. We're no longer buying supply. We're just buying time for the hope of additional rainfall. And our lakes are our largest largest rain capturing supply. There's nothing, no evangeline, no del plants, no nothing can can make up our reservoir systems. But have to add additional supplies so that you can help. And we're buying time. >> And then and then zero the the little zero blue box is May of 27. >> Yes. >> Zero. >> That's for Lake Corpus Christi is May of 27 and for Choke Canyon it would be March of >> But we still have the Merry Roads pipeline. We still have our eastern supply. So we're granted still got to pump's got I mean everything's got to work but we don't ever get to zero zero water supply. We just get to a point where we can't supply more than 70 million gallons. >> And at that moment in time, you're putting all your eggs into the single, >> which I don't think >> basket that could have failure. >> Right. I get it. Okay. Now, and then you have the water wells. That water wells, those water wells are based on how much how much >> is that orange on the bottom there? >> 13 mgd. >> Okay. So, what if we add 17 to that number? What is that? Can somebody is it possible to run that for us? Because you you're standing here today and I think this is the important this is what I got out of today. You're standing here today and the smart guys in Terara are telling you that the western fields could generate 17 uh that's long-term I guess 17 million gallons a day. And then I've got some questions on >> So we we have we have somebody who's helping us do the modeling on this and the ma the magic number is 27. That's the magic number. So we have 13 from the current eastern wellfield right now. If we get 27 27 plus 13 that's 40. So 40 MGD is is the number. If you can get 40 MGD in the river you basically buy enough time as Steve just said to where you don't have a >> Yeah. >> water shortage. >> Yeah. And I Yeah, I'm all in. I get it. But oh, I thought so. But 40 doesn't buy us 30 doesn't buy us all the time all the way to summer of 28. >> We'd have to run the run the model. It certainly pushes it out further than December of 26. >> I think that's what I mean. I I think there's some sub questions. Let me ask the sub questions. Do we have to amend our permit to get the additional 17 in the river? >> We're going to have to get a new permit. >> Okay. That's a brand new permit. >> Correct. Yes, sir. >> Okay. And what is it? Oh, do we intend to seek a brand new permit on the western well field? >> Yes, sir. >> Okay. And when do we intend to make that application? Are we working on that? >> We're Well, so we're working on it. You you know, you can't go after a permit application until you get the first test well drilled and you get some water quality. I will tell you that we're going to find that out next week. Water quality data and we'll be talking to TCQ about we've already mentioned this to them so they're aware of the fact that we're looking at a second Ben & Banks permit. >> Okay. Thank you. because I I think that's what we want to articulate to the public because we like like Eric saying we're not sitting around doing nothing. You know, this western whalefield we think and Terra is telling us even 17 longterm which is probably higher short term just putting it in the river recognizing we have some TDS issues. Suspect we will but but we're not sitting around. So our hope is that we can generate enough water from the well field into the river to tie us over to the next big project. Right? because that that's a temporary solution. Um that's a temporary solution, right? >> It's I I I will preface it by saying it's it's a temporary solution that could have a long-term uh a long-term viability to to making it a long-term solution. >> Explain that for me, please. >> Yeah. So So phase one is we put it in the river. Phase two is if if council decides that they want to uh convey that water to a future brackish plant, we would already have all the well infrastructure drilled. uh we'd have to construct a pipeline to connect that raw water, that raw groundwater to a future brackish arro plant, which we think Owen Stevens would be a good place to put that and then we would have 17 plus 13 MGD of Brackish RO water that would be available to the drinking water supply. >> I I got 36 seconds. So you time for you to talk. Tell walk me through the history of the Merry Roads pipeline upgrade. When did we decide to do the study? You know, when did that all start? I want to know what month, what year when you guys decided to do that. >> Right. So fall of 22, we went to advertise and select a engineer of record. Uh HDR was selected in the fall of 22. They immediately went to work. Um let's see. I'm trying to Jerry, help me out with this. So fall of 22, we we selected you guys. You had that that table up. >> Yeah, we got the table. I don't honestly I don't have it memorized, but yeah, started with the desktop study, I think. Yeah, fall of 22. Um then sorry then we were awarded um the detail condition assessment I think July of 2023 >> mid year >> mid year 2023 um and then after that as we were analyzing running tools um some additional scope items were added because we had that u budget availability and so >> okay well nothing personal council members but I'm trying to figure out who was on the council you know before the fall of 22. >> I see. >> Who never pulled the trigger on, you know, moving trying to move to 20 to stage four. So, thank you. >> Councilman, can I add to that a little bit? I want to take But it's it's a six-year program to get to where we were today. >> And so, it's not just a study of the pipeline. We had to one build the department. There was not even a CCW department six years ago. It was way down in the bottom of the org chart with numerous reports to not even anybody reporting to anybody in the city manager's office. So we rebuilt the department, built it. We put together a capital improvement program to improve Owen Stevens treatment plant because even if we could bring more water over here, we couldn't treat it because the plant had decades of neglect. And so and then we got a chance to get to the pipeline. So the the the progression is without without setting years is is de develop a department with good leadership and expertise, improve the treatment system, the only one we have so we can treat more water and along that same continuum improve the Mary Rose pipeline and put in finally the equipment that was needed to produce that schedule 4. That's all happened in the past six years. We knew about this problem six years ago, but we had to build an apartment, fix a treatment plant, bring more water, and we we haven't stopped. It's not like we took a couple years off and said, "Ah, you know, so to the point now where things are optimal, except for now, we have the issue of you can put 100 million in the pipe, but we don't have the pumping equipment to do it." So, that's the next phase that we'll be working on. >> Six years ago. So, six years ago is when you when this all started. >> Six years ago. Yes, sir. >> Hey, last question. Is there leakage in the pipe? like we put 10 gallons in up up north and do we get 10 gallons out? >> I I would say the answer to that question is no. I mean there but I there there could be leaks that we're not aware of. I mean I think one of the things that was important to note is is that um you you don't always see leaks. I mean sometimes they're underneath the pipeline. So So there there could be a pinhole leak somewhere right now that we're not aware of, but we don't have any indication that we've got anything majorly problematic occurring. For the most part, you feel good 10 gallons in, 10 gallons out, unless we have some big issue that you guys are aware of. >> Correct. >> I I think this is great information. Thank you. Thank you so much for your time. >> Thanks, Mark. >> Councilman, Councilman Beneda, >> thank you, Mayor. Just uh also I want to give councilman Smith once councilman always councilman uh credit because he was part of the group that actually brought it to our attention that if we increase the uh pump capacity then we could get it to the pipeline capacity that we did and I think when we went so yeah he was part of that. I remember he called me his hair was on fire what little hairy head and uh what is it? So we have we owe thanks to him, you know, because he understood that and he said that was an easy fix. Now that was $16 million in pump upgrades, >> correct? >> Of which we got that as a grant from or we got reimbursed. >> All it's all grant fun >> because of your efforts and speaking to representative Denise Vobos. >> Well, it was team effort for sure. I mean, you know, we've got a great delegation team that's trying to help. So big shout out to all them. >> Okay. So, I just want to I just want to give Councilwoman Smith's uh credit for that. And and I don't think, you know, I say all the time, Greg Smith has forgotten more than I know. And I mean, the man is brilliant. I I don't know how he keeps all that information. Sometimes I have a hard time keeping up. Um you know, so the pump the pump capacity is like we said, now we changed that before 24 just that being said, it was only at what at at 40 MGD. Is that what the statement was? It's >> about 35 35 MGD was what the pipeline. >> So, and and I think from what I heard the consternation was, okay, you know what? Our reservoirs are full. We don't need it. We can live with that. We can do that because the reservoirs are cheaper water even though we're paying for this. So, that's that's the story I heard. Now, that now that I know, I just want to add that out there. Um, the other thing is what's what what did Pape Dawson say was the cost of the parallel relief line? I want to say it was it was it was $180 million for the entire cost of the of the parallel pipeline and and that was that was actually um oversizing the pipeline not just for the 24 MGD from the Evangeline potential Evangeline Wellfield but it was also sized a little bit larger to enable us to get the full 24 plus uh the additional um water down the Merry Roads pipeline from Texana and the Colorado River. So, so, so in essence, what you'd be able to do is you'd be able to take all your Evangeline water, plus you, you wouldn't miss a beat in your ability to get the full complement of water from Texana and Colorado. And what would that do? That would allow you to have true redundancy built into your to your pipeline, at least from the Evangeline Wellfield down to Owen Stevens. And then you could do condition assessment. You could have that redundancy built in. That um I think would be important. >> And how long would that take to get it implemented? you know, I mean that that's I it's it's going to take some time. >> Yeah. >> Um and and then the the the recommendation that HDR had suggested for some redundancy along that, how much would that was that going to cost? >> The the redundancy from HDR, so there was 12 miles of of redundant pipeline, it was about $120 million was was the estimate uh for that redundant. And again, just just to remind everybody that that there there are these specific locations that have these pressure exceeded and they tend to be at river crossings. And so those are the strategic locations where that 12 miles of pipeline would be built. >> Okay. Now, um capacity um you know, I want to address um running out of water. God, I got my time up. I'll have to come back with the other one. You know, we're we're just there's a difference between running out of water and meeting demand. What's our what's our demand today? You know, our demand today is is about 120 130 million gallons a day. Um, and it it it varies depending on what time of the year. Summertime is a little bit higher than in the winter time. But I think the point is a good one and that is, you know, we want to make sure the community is is not fearful about the fact that, you know, we're looking at a situation which we're going to do everything we need to do to avoid, but we we we we would potentially not be able to meet demand. It's not like we're running out of water. >> Well, I've never I've never shied away from saying this water's for industry. And in fact, I've I've said often that's a good thing because we have a unique economy. We have a unique economy that provides consistency to our rate that provides consistency to our rate payers. There's a that if if we decided, you know, we could easily tell Valero, hey, you know what, pack up, get out of town. That's 9 million gallons a day. Uh we could easily tell Flint Hills, pack up, get out of town, that's 6 million gallons a day. Because the demand, and I said this on the radio the other day, the demand for jet fuel does not stop at uh at in in at at DFW, at San Antonio, at uh Austin. And if that demand has to reced as a result of curtailment, then they're going to reinvest someplace else, and they're never going to come back here. Now, if you think that's sensationalism, fine. I don't I don't I I I don't. And I told some bankers the other day, well, what if we get industry to come back? I said, yeah, okay. I mean, they cut back a billion gallons last year. You provide us with a report, right? They cut back a billion gallons. And so if for and and if we get to that point where right now they know and there's no more investment because they understand that we're going to face curtailment in December of 26. So once we face curtailment, we can tell Exxon, hey, you're going to have to cut back. Then they're going to have to reinvest. and they're reinvesting someplace else in in Port Lvaka because we don't have the water for capacity. And if this council does not support industry and is fine with curtailment, then that's okay. I know I don't I and I've been consistent. I've said it when I first got on the council. I thought I heard 80% and I said 80% and I was proud to say it was 80%. It didn't matter to me. They pay for it. So I think that's the thing that we need to consider. If you if we have to tell uh our industry, you're going to have to cut back 20 million gallons a day. All right. Then there's going to be consequences. The there's going to be a reduction with regard to the amount of money we collect in pilot. There's going to be a reduction with the amount that we collect in water. So if the public wants to face that and the council wants to face that, that's what we're heading down as far as a slippery slope. And I don't see that as sensationalism. It's no different than saying that inner harbor is going to cost 1.2 2 billion. You don't know. I heard 1.9 billion yesterday. I said, I don't know where you're getting that number from. You know, but you know, I might as well say I said I said I started saying that Evangeline's going to cost 1.2 billion because it's $169 million for the water rights. In addition, we said if we built the redundant pipeline that it's going to be another 700 million in addition to the $200 million we're going to stick in the trash and burn because we're moving. So that's $1.2 billion. Thank you. Thank you, Councilman. Councilwoman Vaughn, >> such scare tactics. My goodness. Well, one thing that I would like to compliment you on, and I appreciate you saying, you said the pipeline can handle 100 MGD. That was one of the things that Greg Smith said that he was called a liar on. But what we didn't hear, and I was glad to hear today, was it was because of the pump stations. They can't. That's the reason you can't pump. Correct. >> Correct. >> Combination of the pump station, >> right? That's correct. The pumping system is not it's built for 70 to 75 MP. So we have to and >> Nick said at the last council meeting we have to re-engineer or upgrade probably the three pumping stations right all three >> which is doable. We just we don't have the engineering assessment for what it means and how much it costs and how do we do it but >> and that's good to know the public needs to know that. Yeah we have the capacity in the pipeline but we can't do it because of the pump station. So that was good information for me, >> right? >> I can use that for MOSA. When when is that contract? Y'all have already paid something. When does that come online? And that's 10 MGDs, correct? >> Well, we we it's 10 MGD. That is correct. We take or pay 2 and a half MGD, so we've already paid for that. >> Uh hopefully we don't have to take the 7 and 12 MGD because um you know, we we we paid for the two and a half. We haven't paid for the seven and a half, but we have it available if we need it. >> Okay. Okay. So, we we've started we've started using that water. That water has been made available to us and we are using it. >> And then Alice, they quit taking it out of the lake. Correct. Because they have the del. Is that correct? Are they still doing it? >> They're still taking water and they they always plan to take some water out of the lake. >> Do you know how much they're taking? >> Um I I got a text message from or an email I should say. 1.4 is what they're taking from the lake. >> 1.4 >> million gallons a day. You got to say that to me, you know that. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Um, and I do support industry and I think we need to take care of the industry that we have here, Roland. That's a good point. We don't want them to go anywhere else and we don't want them to not have enough water and I think they've done everything they can to cut back. I don't think we can expect much more out of them. Um, you know, you said something about inserting yourselves into different water sources. I just want to make it clear. I did not insert myself into evangeline. They inserted me in the project. I didn't do that. And I I just have this face that looks so honest, Roland. That must be what it is. But anyway, they inserted me and I'm more than happy to help and listen. The staff has handled that and and I just want to say you guys get beat up a lot. You really do. You have to stand up here and you have to take these questions. The water department does a really good job. Do I agree with everything you do? No. Do I agree with all your answers? No. and I'll always ask you, but you guys, I know how hard you work. I know it's a 24-hour thing, so I thank you. And that doesn't go unnoticed. Thank you. >> Thank you, Councilman. Uh Roy, >> uh Drew, thank you for the presentation. I um you know, we've had a lot of information that's went back and forth up here and um I I I think the biggest thing is is that it's taken a long time. I I remember six years ago when we first started talking about some of the things that were coming to fruition now. And um at the end of the day, you know, I personally I've said this all along that I support all water projects as long as they're they're viable or they make sense. Um you know, and they're doable or whatever. But I and I depend on city staff and I depend on some of the other experts in the community to come forward and uh share that. But um you know, one of the things that I that I want to make sure is that as we go through and and we're having this opportunity to talk a lot about uh some of the other sources is that um we need to come to conclusion on what we're going to do with the inner harbor as soon as possible. And that's just something that I I've talked to a lot of my constituents. They ask me everywhere I go what's going on. And I just think that we need to as soon as possible try to come to some type of resolution so that we can either move on or um do what we need to do to to get it back on track. So that's just the only thing I had. And I want to thank all the other input from the council members uh because um it's some of these questions that have come up have given me uh the opportunity to think about some other things and validate some of the thoughts that I had. So thank you. >> Thank you Councilman. Um I first of all I want to thank you Peter for being very direct because I um we we have to be direct. You have council members up here saying the same things on different sides of of of where they sit on del and and so this side thinks this side's being misinfor or putting out misinformation and that side thinks this side's putting out misinformation and at the end of the day and I just told a reporter this this morning. You've got to verify. You have to verify. So your direct answers answers no answers yes answers yes but here's why. And it took three times to get out of everybody. What did Greg Smith say? And and what are the responses to that that you'd like to correct and clarify? >> You know, or or you know, saying, "Yeah, Evangelene's going to cost 200 million." No, it's not. It's going to cost 2 million. 200 million plus the 169 and possibly and some depending on what happens with Del. So, we can I'm not going to say skin the cat cuz I'm pro animals, but we can slice the pie a thousand different ways and leave this out, leave that out. It is up to you all. So, again, thank you for being extremely direct. We're at a point where if if we have an we have questions, those questions must be answered directly and they I don't care what the qu the answer is. I I I think this council deserves a lot of credit for asking the right questions today and keeping the community's priorities front and center. It doesn't matter what side you're on. I hate to say it because there are sides, but it is what it is. And and I think that um everyone has had a very thoughtful approach to their concerns. That's what this DAS is about. And so um I I want to thank y'all for for your time. Thank you for everybody who's here today too, nodding their heads or not. Um, thank you'all for everybody for being here and for the presentation. This was a very good um it was very good and very educational for all of us and and we have um asked a whole lot of questions and so we're we're happy about that. Drew, thank you. I think we have um Councilman Cantou and then I I know that we have have the city manager of Sentin with us, a special guest and um I I would you know I'd like I know you'd like to make a few remarks and so we'll bring you right up. Councilman Canu if you want to go ahead and then we'll bring you up sir and that is uh Mr. John Hopson. >> Quick question on the inner harbor um vote. Is it still taking place next week? >> I I understand. >> Yes, it is. Yeah. So to your question and councilman Royy's next week on the agenda is two items. One is to continue or not to continue the design services with Kiwit. So it's a yes or no vote. Do we continue or not? And then the second item is dealing with the Swift loan. Do we take that second uh loan, the second uh portion of the loan out? Yes or no? We have to know by the 5th. So we figured next week will be good. >> I think the um letter we sent out with the questions will get >> Yeah. I asked Ryan this morning uh do we have any estimate of when we can expect them? He said they didn't give us any estimate but he thinks it's going to be it's going to be a while he said because they have to make sure the answers are right. They they haven't had to answer these questions before. They are issuing I think three billion or some big number in new issuances. So >> So do you think there'll be a delay on the vote if those questions are not answered? Um, I guess the council has to give us direction. If you want to wait to get those answers, we could not have that item on. But the issue is Kiwitz um gave us that they want to know do they continue or not and they and they've kind of said if we if we don't continue next week then we're done completely, but we'll have to double check that. That's kind of what they said because they have employees. They've already reassigned the 90 employees somewhere else. They need to know, you know, how how long and we won't like this week. we can try to get intelligence from the water development board to see when they might answer those questions. >> Okay. >> Yeah, those are about nine of them that they have to answer. >> I also want to thank um Councilman Smith for what he's has done for this community. I think he has um some good um facts and um good information. Um I'm sure the people that don't agree with them is because they're against they're for Inner Harbor. Um he was 100% for it. um you know and uh it's just a price tag and I think I think um you know you guys know where I stand at with the price tag. Um I also want to thank you Peter for being honest to the public that we're not running out of water. Um I think the public needed to hear that. Um the truth is we're not and and I agree with Roland for f for the first time. You know I I I want to support the refineries. I do support the refineries. We need to provide them water because when they came to Corpus Christi, they asked for water. We said yes, we have it and we got to continue to give them water. That's just the that's just the bottom line and I support it, you know, and I have always supported refineries. I from day, you know, so um we got to take care of them. There's no ifs buts about it. However, um you know, we we just got to figure out this water solution to get more water to bring more jobs to Corpus Christi. Um so anyhow, um that's it. Thank you guys. >> Thank you, Councilman. Uh, city manager, [Applause] >> John Hobson, city manager for city of Sentin. Y'all are exhausting. You talk about Peter talking plainly and direct and and I'll just say this is an exhausting meeting. I can't imagine having to do it every week. I I I wouldn't want to do it. >> This is an easy one. Just by the way. >> Yeah, this is a good one. >> C come to mine and and you'll find out easy. Just a little bit about evangeline. Um I sent each of you an email last week uh after your council meeting talking about uh my mayor and my city council's concern about your desire to pump 25 million gallons a day out of the Evangelene aquifer. I understand that that's a a quick solution for part of the water problem that you're you're facing. Uh but your quick solution is very likely to become my my long-term problem. Uh we have one water source. We don't have uh the millions of dollars that that y'all talk about in in what what you talk about is just small amounts or my entire budget. You know, we have one water source and that is the the groundwater source that we pump our water from. We pump anywhere between a million and a half to two million gallons a day. Um, Council Member Vaughn talked about the lake and not that it was mismanaged, but it was used in a way because Mary roads wasn't wasn't uh used properly or or used to its full efficiency. And when we look at you coming into San Patricio County and and the words that scare I I heard it from so many today. It's like we're going to take not not necessarily to Evangeline but just to all the different water processes you talked about when you say we're going to take it all. We're going to get all we can. That's scary for us, you know, and and it's not just the city of Sentin, but it's it's the farmers that surround us and everywhere else. And I will say u the the amount of water that has already been permitted uh through San Patricio Gwater district to pump is 25 million gallons. You don't have your well permits yet and you don't have a transport transport permit yet. And I just want to assure you that we will contest every single well permit and we will contest the right of you to export water outside of San Patricio County. We're pro. You're doing what's right for y'all. We're going to do what's right for us. Thank y'all. >> Thank you, sir. Thanks for being here. >> Okay, with that, we are going to It's 3:09. We're going to recess the council meeting until 5:30 p.m. at which time we will have or hold general public comment. Okay, good afternoon everyone. We're going to go ahead and reconvene our meeting at 5:30 528 and this is for our general public comment. So here we handle significant matters concerning taxpayer dollars making it imperative that we uphold the highest standards of decorum in adherence to our policies. Our core principles of openness, transparency, and inclusiveness uh 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, but it is not the sole method. Uh you can also reach out to members of this council by way of phone, email, or even an indiv uh inerson appointment. So with that, let's proceed with public comment keeping in mind the importance of decorum and adherence of uh to this policy. And before we begin, I just want to take a moment to address uh an important issue as we always do. Uh this council chambers is a place for uh public business, a forum for civic discussion, decisionmaking, and service to the people of Corpus Christi. It is not a stage for personal attacks, disruptions uh or vulgarity, and we won't tolerate violations of decorum. So, we're going to go ahead and move forward um in that spirit. And so, I'll ask Mr. if he could please review the council city council rules of decorum which will appear above on the screens and respectful >> yeah there you go >> mayor and council members shall be referred referred to by title and or title surname. All remarks must be addressed to the mayor and city council and not to the council members as individuals. Citizens are only permitted to speak on city related subject matter. Speaking on any non- city related matter is prohibited. Loud to boisterous 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. >> Thank you, Mr. Risley. So, when you come up, if you'll please state your name and the city in which you live before beginning your comments. Um, citizen comments are limited to three minutes, while non-resident comments are limited to 1 minute. A visible timer positioned near the city secretary's desk will help manage the allotted time. Residents of Corpus Christi will be given priority in speaking over non-res residents. And if you have a petition or any relevant information, please present it to the city secretary before speaking. And this afternoon, we have 31 people signed up. Some are uh WebEx or on the phone. Uh but we do have 31 people. Uh we will start with Patricia Anderson first, followed by Melissa Zamora, Julie Rogers, Pat Craig, and then David Sawyer. >> The mayor, for the record, uh Council Member Scott is um particip he's listening online. I know he's not here, but he he is um online. >> Okay, great. Oh, Councilman Kentu, >> got a I got a quick um question for you. Um, is there any way um, whenever Miles is reading out all the rules and stuff, is there any way that we can add because sometimes we have 100 people talking or whatever the case is for public comment. If one of our count one of the council members go in the back that we still we could still listen to the public comment like we have TV screens and the audio out there in the back just to just to advise them that, you know, we're not leaving talking. We we're going to the back but we could still hear you guys. So, >> yes, to let the to >> something to add add to the to the um the list >> the script. Yeah. >> Yeah, that's a good point. And so, you know, we our our days run very long. You know, the day starts at 11:00 a.m. pretty much for everybody. So, we do have these same screens um in in the back and sometimes we do go back as as was just mentioned for whatever reason. So, know that there is a way to listen and and to continue hearing whoever is at the podium. >> Correct. Better. >> Thank Thank you, Miss Anderson. >> Yes, I have slides. All right, Gail Anderson, Corpus Christi. Here is some food for thought on Inner Harbor. Currently, our city's debt principal plus interest is $2.5 billion. If we add Inner Harbor, that total increases 44% to $3.6 billion. Every single father, mother, child would owe 11,400 in city debt every single year for the next 30 years. And a family of four would owe 45,000 every year, which doesn't include their own personal debt or the national debt or the schoolboard debt. our our debt per capita with inner harbor is would be almost three times Plano which is the closest city in size to Corpus Christi. If we pass Inner Harbor, we may need a blood transfusion or maybe even a brain transplant. We know the dollar cost. Whoops. We know the dollar cost to build the plant, but what are the hidden costs? What are the uh oh's the mistakes we couldn't foresee or didn't want to see. Here are four uh oh the first one is our farfield model. We didn't model the adjacent Noasis or Corpus Christi bays. That's really nearsighted. The inner harbor discharge is 1,800 ft from the Noasis Bay power plant intake, which then discharges into Noasis Bay. Plus, the Inner Harbor discharge is only 1.3 miles from Corpus Christi Bay. The next uh oh is the Hillrest neighborhood has a pending lawsuit with TECQ in Austin. Do we really want to continue spending money when the city could lose their discharge permit? The next IO, it's a proven fact that high salinity contributes to red tides. Granted, evaporation may be the main culprit, but high salinity discharge from the inner harbor could definitely exasperate the problem. Red tides produce this toxic airborne chemical which are harmful to marine life and an and humans. If you've ever been around a red tide, it's experience you won't forget. It's like being around tear gas. Red tides will definitely hurt tourism along our bayfront as well as North Beach. Red tides will shut down Inner Harbor since reverse osmosis membranes cannot tolerate those blooms. The last one is there's 27 prochemical re related docks in the inner harbor. There have been spills containing crude oil, diesel fuel, isobutane, hydrochloric acid, and many other chemicals. So that could cause a potential shutdown and that doesn't even include addressing the puss. So please vote inner harbor because the exorbitant cost and all of the potential uh uh oh thank you. Thank you, Miss Anderson. Melissa Zamora. >> Hello, Melissa Samura, District 2, Corpus Christie. Um, usually I'm up here talking about deselination or the need to figure out a way to transition our city into a um, not only focus on oil and gas, but like diversifying that into other things that doesn't harm the planet or the people that work for them. Um, but today I am coming on behalf of our indigenous relatives and ancestors of this land. Um, as you know, America, the city of Corpus Christie, also the state of Texas, um, was founded and is still on native lands. Um, there are still native peoples here. Um, a lot of the people who roam this area, who are still living here, um, Kurangqua, Lipan Pache Guawan um, among others, Karisoko, Mrudo. Um, it was brought to my attention that the Berici Village Development um was approved by y'all uh with a tax increment reinvestment zone or TRIRZ last week um near a known Native American burial ground off of Nish Joselyn. So, I don't know if you know the extent of that, but um being a native person of this area, hearing how things are done here versus in other places where Native American remains have been found um off of Venice Joselyn and near Corpus&M Corpus Christi. Um there were several bones that were found um within like the ' 90s, early 2000s where that place was being developed. Um, those bones were then sent to like different museums. Um, how would you feel if someone dug up your family's remains and sent them off to a museum or a school to be studied or be put on display? Um, I just ask that you take into consideration um that you need to consult with local tribes and there's people out there that you can contact for this. Um, moving forward, please require that all developers conduct an archaeological survey as a precondition for the TR TRZ and contact uh the Kurangqua Tribe of Texas, Five River Council um by emailing Kurangqua K A K A W A Tribe of Texas. Tribe is spelled of and then TX@gmail.com or contact the indigenous peoples of the coastal ben. may have Facebook and a Instagram. Um, please keep this in mind as in the past things have been kind of shoved under the rug and not really taken um into consideration as far as developing over known Native American burial sites. Um, including like Nbridge, I don't know if yall know what's happening over there in Engleside on the Bay. They found several artifacts um and they're still constructing. So, it just seems like those kinds of things are are just kind of shoved aside. So, if we could pay more close attention and and give um more >> consider Thank you, Joel. >> Yes, >> I I did actually vote against that project, but that still makes a a statement here. I don't know if we uh is it a requirement. Do you know if >> I had just let's see spoken I guess Heather's probably not here. Okay. >> Um she had re she did some looking into it and she was going to share it with everybody. So, she will be looking into that. Okay. Thank you. >> Julie Rogers. >> Pat. >> Sure. Pat Craig. Good afternoon. I'm Pat Craig. I'm in District 5 today as the chair of the library board. I'm here representing the entire library board. And in front of you, I have a letter that we've all agreed to as well as a bunch of numbers on a spreadsheet. Would like to break it down just a little for you. In the interest of maintaining and even growing the quality of life of our community, we advocate for an increase of the library's budget. When comparing Corpus Christi with 14 other Texas cities, some bigger, some smaller. We are number eight in population. We're also number eight in the general fund. However, we do not rank appropriately when compared with these cities in multiple areas. Four of them are highlighted with the bullet statements you see. The first talks about that we are 1.8% of the general fund is allocated to the libraries. That places us 12th out of the 15 cities listed. The average dollar per library is 1.91 million where Corpus Christi has about just over 1 million per library. Ranks 13 out of 15. Despite the ranking of eighth out of 15 in our population size, we rank last when it comes to the average per library for staffing. 15 out of 15. When considering the dollars per capita were 12th out of 15. Those uh rankings are at the bottom. They're highlighted. So in summary, Corpus Christiey's below average for percentage of the general fund. We're below our average for money in our spent per library. We're at the bottom of the list for staff per library. and we're below average for library dollars per capita. So if the general fund average percentage for these cities is 2.64, as you'll see in the column at the bottom, we are advocating in favor of raising us from 1.8 to just 2% of the general fund. Still below the average, but we ask that these funds be available in the operating expense category for expenditures. and maybe we can fund some of these uh library assistance that we need uh full-time or part-time or a collective develop uh collective develop collection development manager or reference librarian. Thank you for your consideration on our libraries and the pivotal role they play in our city by the sea. Respectfully, your advisory board. >> Thank you, Miss Craig. Uh Julie, there you go. Okay. All right. The 10 to 12 copies have been distributed. Let's do it. Um, after hearing the budget proposal, I had dozens. >> Did you state your name in city? >> Oh, excuse me. I'm Julie Rogers. I live in Uptown Corpus Christi. Dozens of people, if not a hundred, contacted me after the proposal was was released. And I appreciate the library board crafting that letter and standing together. And I stand with them, too. So, do 304 people so far. And I've heard a lot of people speak so far at the budget town hall sessions. So we've circulating this petition which says say no to defunding Corpus Christi public libraries because essentially that's what you're doing. You are defunding libraries for the fiscal year 2026 budget. Corpus Christi public libraries was seeking to increase the materials budget and library staffing levels. But the fiscal year 26 proposed budget reduces the materials budget by $50,000 and eliminates the branch manager position at Hart Library. We are asking the Corpus Christi city council to make our libraries and literacy a priority so that the libraries can achieve their mission. Corpus Christi public libraries needs to have and deserves increased staffing levels levels, better operational hours and more library resources. not less. The mission of the library is to improve literacy, enhance knowledge, and create a sense of community by making useful information easily accessible to the Corpus Christi area. It's a mission impossible when CCPL is persistently and chronically underfunded. The libraries are the sixth least funded department in the city and only receive 1.8% 8% of the general fund expenditures which is $6,197 $791 of the $1.8 billion. It's also a mission impossible to create a sense of community and make information easily accessible with the accessible with the reduced operating hours at all the library branches but especially at Hart Library in Flower Bluff where weekly operational hours will be reduced from 44 to 28 effective Monday August 11th. So I think my time is almost up but it is a quality of life department and literacy correlates to all the other quality of life indicators. One in three of our population is illiterate. One in three have diabetes. One in three are sexually exploited. There's a way to fix this and it starts with funding the libraries correctly. Please. >> Thank you, Miss Rogers. Yeah, Councilwoman Paxton. >> Thank you, Mayor. Um, I just wanted to make a statement about um how we are recognizing the impact that um these library changes are having on the community. And we are um while unfortunately it has come upon us very quickly in order to stay in compliance with state safety policies, we're trying to be incredibly proactive to be accessible to the community so we can try to in the short term, immediate future, reallocate for some of those needs to get those covered while we can plan a long-term standalone location for for what we're what we're offsetting here. And that that the town hall I I hope we can share that with the library board Monday the 25th. >> Yeah. So um that so the this morning we did share that town hall with the library board and so they're aware and for the community uh we'll have Councilwoman Pax and myself will be hosting a town hall and I should say the Fluff Independent School District is hosting a town hall next Monday at 6 PM at the Hart Library in Flower Bluff. And as Councilwoman Paxton just said, the the changes at the heart library are changes mandated from the school district who we have a joint partnership with the library there and they come from the state. Uh the state pass legisl the legislature uh pass laws that make all libraries in Texas that are co- operated in a school uh to be in compliance this school year. And so we're at the we're following a state mandate and through the it's not on the city, it's on the school district. And uh that is that there has to be separation of students and general patrons. And so that's what we're doing. And you and we'll explain that more at the town hall. We've been explaining it at all our community budget meetings. Uh but the unfortunate uh truth is that this the state through the school district are mandating this change in operation. Uh but I think we're coming out pretty good. still will be open six days a week at the at the heart library. A little bit different hours from from 3ish 3:15ish all the way to 8 Monday through Friday, right? Because when that bell rings at 3:00, 3:05 or so, but 4, right? Yeah, we may 4:00 for sure, but we may even be may have somebody there even sooner once that bell rings, but at least 4 to 8 Monday through Friday will be open at the heart library. And then on Tuesday um 9 to 1 for morning hours and mean so during those hours I just said there will be no uh no uh school activities in the library. There could be students that are there as a patron but uh and then Saturday uh 9 to 9 to 6 on Saturday. So, this is a an issue, a legacy issue we have to deal with as a community, which is that we have two of these, one's in city council district 5. Uh, two of these being co co-operated libraries. Uh, one's in city council district 5, the other's in city council district 4. So, of our five branch libraries, um, only three are standalone city facilities. The rest are city facilities on school district uh, grounds. So, uh, we're mindful of it. We appreciate uh the library board chair being here and former board members and u and we're working through it. Councilwoman Paxton is well aware of the issue as are we. That's why we're overly communicating. That's why we're going to have a town hall meeting this coming Monday there at Flow of Love. >> Thank you. >> Yeah. Thank you, Mayor. >> Yes, Councilwoman Compos. >> Thank you. Um, and I just also want to remind uh the public that there is uh three more opportunities to uh make public statements or make uh an input about what you care about. And uh libraries is one of them. I know in my district it's going to be at the Greenwood Senior Center on the 27th, but also on that same day, mayor, there's going to be a proclamation read there uh for Linda Escobar, 60 years of uh uh musician, but the this is what I'm just I just want to make a statement that the libraries, especially the Greenwood is used so much. I mean, I I don't know if it's one of the busiest, but I know that they always have a lot of attendance. So, again, it's a it is a quality of life issue. >> Thank you, Councilwoman. Okay. Next, we'll have David Sawyer, followed by Ron Greyben, Melinda Deos Santos, Carrie Meyer, and then Gilbert Gonzalez. Lord, this is for you. Thank you, Madame Mayor. members of the council and staff for allowing me to speak to you. My name is David Sawyer and I'm a resident of Corpus Christi and today I'm introducing Big Daddy, our nation's largest desalination plant. The 100 milliongal per day facility will be located just south of the Flower Bluff Electric Power Plant. This site has been chosen for three simple reasons. First, the desalination process requires large amounts of electricity. The adjacent power plant will provide that need with little to no transmission line loss. Second, intake and discharge water operations will originate and terminate in an open, clean, and continuously flowing Gulf Stream. The underground pipelines will pose no boundary interference or environmental impact to the national seashore ecosystem. And third, large freshwater supply lines will travel westward, giving life to Corpus Christiey's growing southside and establishing a new and attractive water source for the King Ranch. These are very compelling reasons. Chief Water Operating Officer, Mr. Dr. Drew Molly has said the inner harbor water project will serve as a model for future water projects. Big Daddy is that next generation project. I believe the ship channel water will eventually go to the local industry and the clean Gulf water will go to the people. Corpus Christi has the biggest bridge in the state. So, let's have the biggest diesel plate, too. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Sawyer. Ron Graven, >> Ron Greyman, District 1. Long day for all of you. God bless you. Um, five things. First of all, those that voted for Ariana Jones, congratulations. U in the future, she may end up being one of our mayors. Uh, she has that kind of talent, and I want to congratulate all of you. Uh, number two, speaking of mayors, I want to go on record saying I fully support our mayor. Seven years ago, I made that commitment. Haven't changed my mind. And I know that re-elections come up every two years. It's too soon. I think that ought to be changed. But, um, you know, others will run and that's fine, but, uh, I'm already spoken for. So, I want everybody to understand that. Number number three, uh, I support our city manager, Peter Cenoni. Uh he gets lots of criticism. He goes left. They say he should go right, right should go left. Um he has done a great job from my assessment. Uh paid a lot of attention to North Beach as well as other areas of the city and I appreciate that and it's a thankless job and uh I just want to go on record of saying that. Uh number four, we need water and I think you all know that. I'm not going to add to anything that's already been said. Um, I listened to Councilman Barrera's uh comments earlier today. Um, made a lot of sense. Uh, the news on the street, if it gets out there that um there's a water issue and water crisis, uh, we're in trouble as a city and that is beginning to leak out and we want to try and, no pun intended, uh, we want to try and uh, avoid that if possible. Sometimes when you're in a tight situation, the way out is very expensive and um so we have to do what we have to do. Number five, um Michelle is here. She sent all of you a uh an email. Um she's from North Jersey, Italian. Uncle Charlie was a weekend vet at the at the horse track. So um probably better for me to to to explain to you what's happening there um with parks. Uh, and it's not just a North Beach situation. It is a larger issue issue. Um, I don't want to bring things publicly that should be brought privately. So, I would like to sit down and talk with the leadership and address the situation that we see because there's things that we know that Peter does not know. And it's hard to make decisions when you don't know all the facts or you get facts that are tainted. And um so I I'm just trying to be gracious and say there's a problem and we want to sit down and talk about the problem and it's not people sleeping in the park. That's not the problem. That's a symptom of the problem. So um as best I can be generous and say I'd like to sit down and talk with the right people and I appreciate that. Thank you. >> Thank you Mr. Greybin. U Melinda Delos Santos. I'm not until they get their things. I'm going to reiterate some things. Yes. Good afternoon. My name is Melinda Deisantes Corpus Christi. I will be speaking on the water projects and library budget. First and foremost, I would like to thank you for voting to proceed with Evangeline as part of the water projects. I've listened to a vast number of citizens providing insight on these water projects at city council meetings, radio, and groups around the city. My 30,000 foot view is the majority of the citizens prefer alternative water sources rather than the inner harbor. Many in favor of the Inner Harbor appear to have a financial interest and are allegedly threatening some of the council members. The city and financial interest groups are using scare tactics. The scare tactics aren't working. Instead, they have ignited citizens to investigate and find answers. The results, the cost of the inner harbor is astronomical for 30 MGD. There are better and cheaper alternatives that won't have an impact to the Hillrest community or fishing and tourism industry. There is a lack of transparency of information from the city leading to mistrust and our city has not been a good steward of our water resources such as water capture and evaporations. I pray you listen to their voices and make the right choices. As far as the library, I am on the library board, but I'm not representing them at this time. I have provided a handout of two charts. In the interest of comparing the benchmark cities that are more comparable to Corpus Christi for fiscal year 2025, I have taken the cities having four to seven libraries excluding Plano because frankly they are of the norm. Here are the results. CCPL serves a city which has the second highest population and largest in square miles. Corpus Christi ranks first with the highest general fund. Yet CCPL ranks third for the percentage of the general fund allocated to them. CCPL is below average receiving 1.8% of the general fund with the average being 2.15%. Arlington Garland have lower general funds allocated at and they gave 3.01% and 2.69% respectively. CCPL is below average for the dollar amount allocated per library, below average for total personnel per and per each library, below average for the library dollars per capita. In summary, analyzing these five comparable benchmark cities, you are asking our libraries to serve the largest city with the second highest population and with the most money in the general fund to be a resource center, a homeschooling center, an activity program, event center for all ages and a cooling center while providing them with a below average budget and insufficient staff. The second chart shows in the last 10 years, the highest CCPL has received from the general fund is 1.87%. And the amount of personnel provided has been below average. I urge you to amend your proposed budget and to take our libraries from below average status and place them, if not above average, at least average at 2.15% of the general fund. Thank you and God bless. >> Thank you, Miss Delos Santos. Carrie Meyer. Carrie Meyer. Okay. Gilbert Gonzalez. >> Gilbert Gonzalez, Corpus Christie, District 2. Madame Mayor, honorable city council members. I've lived in Corpus Christie since 1976. I went to high school here. I graduated college here. I spent my entire professional career in this city. In all that time, I've never felt compelled to address the city council until now. The most critical issue facing the citizens of this city is not street repair, infrastructure improvements, the naming of the American Bank Center. It's water. By most estimates, we will be out of water in 18 to 24 months. If we run out of water, the city dies. It's that simple. Our land will be worthless. Our homes will be worthless. Our businesses will be worthless. Industry will die. Tourism will die. This is not hyperbole. Towns and communities in other parts of the country are now ghost towns because they ran out of water. Deselination is the only viable option for a reliable long-term water source. Some of you believe that there are other alternatives such as securing water rights from other locations, drilling ground wells, tapping brackish water from aquifers. Unfortunately, all these alternatives require the cooperation of mother nature. They require rain. I think we can all agree that mother nature is no longer cooperating with us. And I don't blame her. We've treated her very shabily over the last 50 years and she's tired. So we have to use technology to save ourselves. This is not experimental technology. This is a proven technology that has been used for decades and will only get better over time as more of the world is forced to use it. Some of you are concerned with the cost. The numbers I've seen 1.2 1.5 2 billion. In a few years that those numbers are going to sound like a bargain, but at that point it will be too late. Do not let your legacy be that you let the city die. Let your legacy be that you secured the long-term future of Corpus Christi by pursuing a reliable water source for generations to come. I urge you to move forward with the desalination project. Thank you for your time and attention to this critical issue. >> Thank you, Mr. Gonzalez. Uh Jason Hail. And then we'll have Susie Sana, Peter Moore, Mark Minster, and Lola Gamboa. [Music] Jason Hill, Corpus Christi. Hi, council members. Uh, today I'm going to talk about this misman the mismanagement of phase two of Mary Roads pipeline. Um, the data I'm going to present today is from the Texas Water Development Board's website. um submitted to them from the city of Corpse Christie. And to find the data, you just go to municipal historical water use estimates for region N. So here are the results. Um the charts show how much water CCW took in from each reservoir from 2017 to 2024. The green and yellow bars are the western reservoirs. Blue is Lake Texana and red is the Colorado River, which is phase two of the Mary Roads pipeline and it's the subject of my comment today. Um, the reason is because those red bars should be as big as the blue bars, but they're not because phase 2 delivered 33% of its capacity over that 8-year period. It's kind of like building the inner harbor and running it at 33% for eight years. It's kind of crazy. Another way of looking at it is um pipelines versus reservoirs. And as you can see in the year 2022, we really needed the pipelines to be delivering full capacity, but they weren't. So we had to use more reservoir water. So, if you add up all of the deficits from phase 2, you get a cumulative total of 187,000 acre feet over the 8-year total, which is a lot of water. For reference, our reservoirs over the last year dropped 100,000 acre feet. So, we wouldn't even be in stage three right now. Um, another way of looking at it is that's six years of full output from the inner harbor. something that would cost us $600 million. So, uh, one way people could frame this is that for eight years, we left billions of gallons on the table. Yet, the city has the audacity to tell us that every drop counts and they find us for watering our lawns. Now, I know in 2022 there was an important study that needed to be done, but I want to make the argument that it should have happened in 2018. That way when GCGV went online in 2022, we'd be operating phase 2 at full capacity. I mean, that's the reason we were able to bring them here, you know. So, what I'd like to know is in 2018, who knew about this? Who allowed it to happen? And was this done intentionally in order to manufacture a water crisis to garner support for seawater desalination? And will anyone be held accountable? because if not it sends a message to residents that the mismanagement of our water resources is okay and given the price of water moving forward I think that's unacceptable. Thank you. >> Thank you Mr. Hail Susie Salana >> Mayor just one more council woman. Thank thank you mayor. Just just for um for the audience um we did discuss this a you know earlier today and um uh per our our city manager you know he did state that when he got here six years ago that there was the crisis but it took this long. Is that what you did state? Right. that it took at least four years to look and be able to address some of these issues, but the city, you did know that we were not operating the Merry Roads pipeline at full capac full capacity. >> That's correct, C. Yeah, Councilman Greg Smith, who used to sit right up there, would remind us, you know, whenever there was a an item dealing with water. Uh so what we said earlier today is and this is just this is highly condensed but it took a couple years to organize the department to create a chief operating officer to add staff that could um run the department uh better than prior. Uh then we had to be able to treat the water at the own Stevens water treatment plant which suffered from lack of investment. So even if more water was coming through, it's quite probable it wouldn't have been we wouldn't have had the capacity at the treatment plant to treat it. So we put together a fiveyear five-year reinvestment plan to upgrade the Owen Stevens. So that's been happening. There's still some work to be done. And then um in the last two years, we've spent in our spending $19 million to uh complete the work on the Merry Roads pipeline that could have been completed 25 years ago. So, we had to improve the pumping system. There's three pump stations. Uh there's the one at Lake Tana, uh Woodsboro, and Bloomington. And those didn't have the right electric components, uh redundancy, and so on. And so, that's all been completed to where earlier this year, for the first time in the pipeline's history, we increased production 84%. And it's been steady since that time. >> And so, actually, it's double. I believe we increased it by at least 30 more million 30 more mgd%. >> Right. So which is what we are now looking into for the harbor for the inner harbor plant. So again we we spent a fraction of the dollars and and were able to get the 30 MGD. That's that was what I wanted to get across. Thank you. >> That's good. Thank you. >> Councilman Von, >> can we get clarity on what we can and can't do up here? because I have been on council before. We were never allowed to interact with the with the public and I have never heard so many questions. So I we need clarity on what it is. >> Yeah. So, and and as you know, I've sent out more than one memo because you can make a statement of fact and a statement of fact should be just that, a statement of fact, which is typically someone said something and and you want to come back and say kind of correction or statement of fact xyz, but it should not be to ask questions or to make statements. And thank you for bringing it up because it it really it has to be a statement of fact. And I don't think I I don't want to sit here and correct y'all and say uh that's not a statement of fact. So before putting on your light and that's why I said in memos when someone makes excuse me um a statement or they come here with an issue or problem I will make certain to say Peter can we please address this and staff will do it and and and that way it is it is taken care of and we don't have three people saying well can we take care of that because we want to make sure that everybody's taken care of but we need to make sure that if you put your light on during public comment it is to correct a statement, not necessarily to make a statement. It is a statement of fact. So, you're correcting something that you feel needs to be corrected. >> Oh, and I guess the the point that I was trying to make or have been trying to make is to make sure that that the public comments that are being addressed or that that should be addressed since you're >> So, Miss Compos, that's what I just said. I'm going to make sure and that way you don't have to turn on the light unless you're going to make a statement of fact and you want to correct something that someone is saying. >> Yeah, >> understood. >> All right. Thank you, >> Miss Alana. Susan Salana, District 2, you know, I come before you because today's discussion and your briefing was very excellent. I thought that you all answered and asked a lot of questions. And you know what that tells me when you ask questions? It tells me what position you're coming from. And yes, mayor, our council is definitely divided. It is divided and it's very easy to see. Some people are here for the taxpayers. Some are for industry and they like to carry their water for them and make it very plain. in their statements. So when you look at what's going on, and I am glad you're looking at all the solutions, I ask you to look because I'm in favor of DSA as a long-term solution. short-term solution we need now, but we need to do it without any council people profiting from it. So that when you do your work, you're not getting political contributions for your statements or you're not getting political money for those statements that you are doing it for the benefit of the taxpayers. had some remarks for uh Councilman Scott, but he's not here and I prefer that he be present at the time. I prefer that each of you be present when there are comments, public comments, and right now we've got to counsel people out. Uh three, as a matter of fact, but what you need to understand that we take notice of who's listening to public comments. You may not like what we say, but you're here to listen to it because that's why you got elected. So, I want to make sure that you understand that I appreciate what you're doing for water. I appreciate the discussions. I appreciate the honesty from some of you and I appreciate what you're doing because any way you look at it, we need water and you need to get it from her. I especially appreciate our city manager with his transparency and the way he's been bringing up things. So, he's doing his job. Do yours. >> Thank you, Miss Sana. Peter Moore. Okay. My name is Peter Moore. I'm resident of Corpus Christi and I live in District 4. I want to talk about the Breezy Village development. Um, and what concerns me is the lack of a plan for or really even discussion of the discovery of indigenous burials during construction of this project. I've given you a copy of an article from the Corpus Christie Caller back in 1891, which gives a detailed description of the discovery of 52 burials, which is a pretty sizable cemetery in close proximity to the Breezy site. According to the article, this cemetery was found on the north bank of Oso Bay, about 1 and 1/4 miles from Corpus Christie Bay shoreline, which would put it somewhere south of Sudter Wildlife Refuge, probably in the Pelican Bay subdivision, just a few hundred feet at most from the proposed lake in the Breezy Plan. When I shared this article with archaeologist Robert Ricklas before he died, he was not surprised and he said uh that the whole North Oso shoreline might be what he called quote an extensive prehistoric mortuary precinct and cultural boundary zone that was marked and sanctified as an area for burial of the dead end quote. The council was made aware of the possibility of such a cemetery when Blackard Company pitched its plan to the city, but as far as I can tell, there was no mention of it during last week's discussion of the TRIZ. Now, some people would say there's already been tons of development on the Breezy site, golf course, subdivision. Wouldn't that have destroyed any burial sites? Possibly. But think about it. When Texto widened in its jaws in the early 2000s, they were in an area that had undergone decades of development, a road, homes, utilities, businesses. Yet, they still found the remains of seven people, some of which had been discovered, ignored, and then bulldozed by previous developers. So given the long history of desecration of indigenous burial grounds along road, the city owes it to local native people to work with an archaeologist to evaluate the possible impact of this project on native burials. At the very least, the city council should insist as a condition of the city's support that one, the developer consult with an independent professional archaeologist, two, come up with an inadvertent discovery plan, and three, determine if an archaeological survey and archaeological monitoring of construction are warranted. I also ask forth that the city council consult with local indigenous people or organizations including representatives from the Kronoa tribe of Texas, Leon tribe of Texas, indigenous peoples of the Coastal Bend and South Texas Alliance of Indigenous People to ensure that the graves of their ancestors are treated with respect. Thank you. >> Thank you, Mr. Mo. Mark Minster [Music] Mark Corbus Christie um I have slides today talking about IDAs and just explanation of how industry doesn't pay their fair share. So, the industrial industrial district agreements um they are agreements with corporations that provide they pay pilot payments instead of property taxes. And um in Texas, local government, not the state government, sets the tax rates and collects property taxes used for school, streets, police, fire, and more. And um so these allow corporations that have their business and commercial assets to be valued at reduced amounts resulting in less revenue from the city. Um, so this page is the actual IDA master agreement with the city and it shows how the rates um are valued for different classifications of assets. Um, I'm not going to spend a lot of time on this one so I can get to other stuff, but um, this is the actual form that shows the valuation percentages and um, it's like showing there's potential revenue out there um, I think hundreds of millions that the city could be collecting. And so this next slide has three the the revenue amounts that the city's collecting from the IDAS. Um, so around 20 million previous years, now up to 32 million. And I know the city has 70 to 80 current IDA agreements. And in 2031, they'll have three coming on from three just three corporations that'll be worth 50 million. Um, and that was brought up in the discussion of subsidizing the water rate increases if we move forward with the desalination plant. So that's why I bring this up because it's relevant um into um, let me go to the next slide here. um the same companies that get these favorable IDA agreements use a large majority of our water, pollute our air and water. These pictures are from Portland um around this area um across from North Beach and the Inner Harbor and then they wield their political influence because of their financial um state to impact decisions made by the city council. IDA holders are still able to protest and contest their asset evaluations and residents face increased rates as the city seeks solutions to increase their water supply again as ind industry does use the majority of the water that causes the demand for us to seek water solutions that are millions of gallons a day the deselination plants instead of other alternatives. Residents face drought restrictions while industrial users continue on with their usage. Residents pay valuations on any improvements to their home and personal dwelling. And yes, they can appeal it too, but they don't get the significant valuation reductions that industry does. So, the council should at least present um possible outcomes. Um I know you signed 15-year agreements, but you could collect this through water rates or other avenues. And the cost is beyond just financial health, environment, social influence on government decisions. And this last slide, it was December 28th, 2023. It was actually 600 days ago from today. It was the first desalination event that I went to. And so yeah, that's the basis beyond just the financial considerations of the costless desalination plant. Um the basis is the Hillish neighborhood. They don't deserve um they don't deserve this being in built in the buffer zone and there's people there that have been continuously showing up. So that's Yeah. Thank you. >> Thank you, Mr. Minster. Uh Lola Gamboa. Lola Gamboa. Okay. Adam Rios and then we'll have Miriam Geta Ratchety Fatima Geta Ratchety Robin Cox and Sandre Meyer. I didn't know I was going to see some of my friends here. Uh Adam Rio's uh district 5. Uh in honor of my friends being here and some of what you've heard earlier before I start I'll just say this uh something I learned a long time ago. to my brothers and sisters. Uh I am here uh to talk about something that I uh a little different. BMXing total pivot. I'm proud to announce that I'm on board of the directors of the Corpus Christie BMX. I'm serving on a public relations capacity. We are striving to bring our community together in hopes to establish a sanctioned track at Selena's Park. Uh for those of you who are listening that don't know where Selena's Park is, specifically the BMX track is right across the street from Martin Junior High off of Greenwood. And we think it would be uh an incredible addition to our city in an area that could definitely use something uh really to us as mainstream. Uh we recently had our community launch event. Uh it was a really good turnout. Uh we are inviting everyone to join us uh this November 7th and 8th for our 2025 induction ceremony of the BMX Hall of Fame. Uh and it's happening right here in Corpus Christi. The irony is is this is the first time that this event is being held in a city that doesn't even have a BMX track. But it speaks volumes because when I was talking to the organizers, they said, "But we just really love Corpus. We love the amenities that Corpus has to offer." At one point in time, uh there was a park. There's talks of uh the park coming back, which we're really excited about. There's meetings that are already going to be taking place very soon. Uh but basically what we just want uh is for everybody to love Corpus Christi the way we see it and what it has to offer. Uh it speaks volumes about the culture that exists for alternative sports here in the Coastal Bend. Uh we're trying to position Corpus Christi as a premier destination for alternative sports enthusiasts. Uh which by the way uh we had the proclamation here last month. Uh the WB Ray High School skate club uh sanctioned by CCISD will be having their first uh skate club meeting this Thursday after school at 4:30. Uh they are looking for support and I'm pleading on their behalf. They had I believe almost 20 kids sign up at Ray High School uh new students for uh to join this the skate club. Unfortunately, some of them don't have skateboards or the equipment they have uh could definitely use some updates. So, if you'd like to get together with me, anybody listening, I'm doing what I can to get them quality skateboards equipment helmets pads everything that they're going to need. And finally, Texas Golf Surfing Surfing Association asked me to remind everybody that there is an open contest coming up here in Corpus Christi on the 6th and 7th. So, a lot of alternative sports happening. Uh a lot of attention coming to Corpus. And as always, let's bring X Games here. Thank you'all. >> Thank you, Mr. Rios. Miriam Geta. Hello. Good evening. Uh my name is Miriam Gar Rashidi and I'm from District 1. Um I want to first acknowledge um I understand the hard work that all of you do. I can come here and just speak for two to three minutes and then I'll go about my merry way. But I understand that that you do have very difficult decisions. Okay? And we I may not agree with you on everything, but I do respect everything that you do. I just wanted to say that first and foremost. Um, I was born and raised in Corpus Christi and I have always been proud of living in the sparkling city by the sea. But lately, I have noticed that it's not so sparkling anymore. Other people I know feel the same. One woman once told me that when she drives past the refineries, she feels like she's in a dystopian Mad Max movie. Another friend of mine who's not from here said that Corpus Christi has become known as the armpit of Texas. An elderly couple has recently told me that they moved to Corpus Christi back in the 80s because it was a paradise. Yet now, after seeing so much growth with industry, they lament sarcastically, "Now some paradise." One former co-orker from Maine bluntly said that Corpus Christie has poor streets and wonders why there's not enough focus on our natural beauty. I remember growing up swimming for hours with my family at North Beach. Now I'm afraid to enter it after my daughter contracted impetigo from swimming in the water. I lost my place. Um, and I remember as a child walking down shoreline and gazing at the endless water and the endless skies. Now my once beautiful view is obstructed by god knows what, but it certainly isn't beautiful. So, I hope that more funding goes to beautifying our city, our bays, our natural trails, our libraries, our parks, and not and say no to big industry and desalination plants. And God willing, hopefully, Corpus Christie will once again become the sparkling city by the sea. Thank you so much and God bless you and your families. >> Thank you Miss Gheta Rashidi Fatima Geta Rashid. My name is Fatim Mashidi and I reside in District 1. I'm starting off with a Lord of the Rings quote by JRR Tolken because in this situation I feel like Frodo. I wish it not need happened in my time, said Froto. So do I, said Gandalf. And so do all who live to see such times, but that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us. So, I'm using this time to use my voice to dissuade you from moving forward with Desol Nation. Whenever I read my science books, they always talk about preserving energy, finding solutions to our present problems, saving ecosystems, finding ways not to pollute, etc. But I find that compared to what is going on in Corpus Christi, studying such things as conservation and preserving ecosystems is an illusion. The decisions that adults have made and continue to make are affecting the future of my generations and others to come. When my generation grows up, we're going to have to clean up your mess. I've heard of many projects concerning water. Rerouting water and water displacement and desolination. All of these projects have ended uh have resulted in disaster to delicate to delicate ecosystems and we are all aware of the detrimental impacts that discharge from a desolation plant may have on our bays. So I say to you this may sound cringey but be like Frodo and take courage to use the time given to you to make things right. Say no to diesel and big industry. Say yes to our beautiful waters and to the people of Corpus Christi. Thank you for your time and God bless you and your families. >> Thank you, Miss Rashidi. Uh Robin Cox. [Applause] >> Hi, I'm Robin Cox from District 3 and I've kind of changed what I started what I was originally going to say today from a conversation I had with my neighbor. I live in district three and we are the heart of middle class. We are the workingclass people. We are the people that bag your groceries. We are the people that deliver your mail. And I stopped. I walk every day and I run. And I stopped. I talked to one of my neighbors and she let me know about how she loved seeing this council because we have Democrats and Republicans working together. And she referred to some of y'all as the Fab Five. I won't say what she said about the other ones because but she said I really love what they're doing and every one of them said we are so lucky to have Eric as our council member because he is listening to us and answering our calls as long with Carolyn Vaughn. She discussed how many of you probably don't even know what a gallon of milk costs. You probably never bought you haven't bought bought a gallon of milk. My dad had me do an experiment one time and I ask all of you to do it. go to the grocery one day with a $100, not a dime more, and see what that gets you. And think about that when we're asking people and telling them, "We're only going to raise your water bill a little bit." That $100 will mean somebody not buying bread, not buying water, not buying something. But also, these people don't take, we don't take vacations like some of the rest of you do, going to Cabo on a fishing trip. We go here for the weekend. This weekend, my boyfriend and I took a boat out and took our boat, his boat out and we rode around and it was so wonderful. And that's what most people come to Corpus for. And y'all, they say it's not going to disturb the fishing. Well, I have, it's simple Google. You can just Google this thing. Brine production and disposal. The process produces higher sailing brine, typically about twice the concentration of input in seawater. Disposing of the brine is especially complex and disrupt can disrupt marine biology. Now when I drive out to some property out on Flower Bluff, the sewer system is constantly backing up. We can't even keep the sewer system straight and we want these same people to handle a diesel plant. I wouldn't I don't think I don't think it's possible. So when we're thinking about doing this, we have to wonder there are so many people pushing hard for DESL. It's not too easy to wonder who follow the money. If Del goes through, let's see who buys new boats and new fishing. I'll I'll put something on Facebook and I see a past city council memobile coming right back right back commenting. I think why is he so concerned? He's part of the one that messed this up to begin with. So, you have to wonder why certain city council members are pushing so hard for Del. We need water right now, not in five years. And Del is not going to be built by December. And that scare tactic. This same neighbor that I talked to said something so cute. I was trying to say, "Don't worry." Cuz she said, "Are we not going to have water by December?" I let her know that's a scare tactic. And I thought it was so cute. She said, "Like the coui. They're trying to scare us." So, please don't scare us with the koule. We're smarter than that. >> Thank you, Miss Cox. Sandre Meyer. Sandre Meyer. Oh, nope. Okay. David Johnson. And then we'll have Rachel Cavayto, Henry Williams, Marilina Garza, and Joshua Frederick. >> Good afternoon, council, mayor, city staff. I'm David Johnson. Uh I live in District 4, Corpus Christie, Texas. Um, long ago, a boss of mine advised me uh when giving uh evaluations of people or organizations to have a mixture of both positive and negative comments in order to uh be balanced. So, I'm going to start out with some positives. Uh, your parks and recreation department does an outstanding job. I enjoy your fitness classes on the weekends, the safe fun fit, I believe is what it's called. Uh, I uh enjoy walking the seaw wall. Not as often as I should, but I still enjoy walking it. I enjoy enjoy your summer concerts at Cole Park. I enjoy our beautiful Gulf beaches year round, three to four times at least a month. Uh, and I believe these programs uh and these parks are operated and maintained in a fantastic manner. Um, so there's the positive. Um, the negative is what most people have been talking about here. Uh, our water resources and the del plant. I would like to uh compliment those council members who've had the heart, the soul, the courage, and the ethics to stand up to big industry and our rather shady chamber of commerce. Um I would like to ask what what is the most common method cities use to fund uh capital improvements? I believe the answer is issuance of mutual of municipal bonds. You can't do a revenue bond for the del plant because it's not going to make a dime. it would never pay itself back. You can't do a general obligation bond because that requires tax increase and voter approval. Um, so I believe that's why the city has chosen to do the end of round play and go to uh state funding sources. The claim is that uh uh it's better better terms uh better interest rates etc. Um debt is still debt. Um, I also believe that it was done, state funding sources were used to avoid voter approval. Um, I believe you could end a lot of this controversy if you would float a bond election uh and put it to the voters. Uh, let the voters decide. Uh, once that's decided, the controversyy's over. You say voters voted instead of city staff, instead of council members. Let the voters decide on this issue. Um would like to close. There've been a couple of talks about Besi Village uh and Blacker Development. The co comments earlier were related to Native Americans. Um I would like to comment on the trirz that's been offered to them. Um don't give this par this this person any of their money back until they actually do some development. All they've done is mow trim a few trees which is city code. They have done nothing. I've not turned over one shovel of dirt that would uh count as actual development. Uh thank you for your time and uh first time here. Hope to be back many off many other times. Thank you. >> Thank you, Mr. Johnson. Rachel Cabayto. Rachel Cavayto D1. Uh well, today we determined the price tag is nowhere near 227 million as initially proposed for the Inner Harbor Diesel Plant, experimental diesel plant. We determined the permit was just approved on 81 of 25 18 days ago. We determined per the permit that this water is only for industry. We determined that the water was being drained from our lakes. We determined that there are several water alternatives. We also determined today that we, the community, are not going to run out of water. And as you can hear, your fear tactics were working. Were working. But some of you knew that. In the handouts, you will see official statements from the Corpus Christie Taxpayers Association, the Noasis County Democratic Party, the Libertarian Party of Noasis County. I forgot to print that one, but it'll be on social media tomorrow and in your emails. um the Coastal Conservation Association, CCA, the Saltwater Fisheries Enhancement Association, SEA, all against the Inner Harbor Experimental Desalination Project. This is your community coming together from all sides to let you all know that we are against this Inner Harbor desalination plant. Um, we have got to get out of the mentality that this is our only option. Um, and some of you have got to get your heels undug from this project. Um and finally, we have got to get out of the mentality that customer con community services and public safety are always the first to get hit during a budget crisis. It is unfair to this community and I implore every single one of you to do what community members are asking. Let's beautify our city. Let's not allow for our community to be turned into an industrial wasteland. Some of you know that this is the long-term plan. Some of you are a part of it and we know that you are. So I am asking that you guys regroup, refocus and let's use the natural gifts that our community was given and fight to protect Corpus Christi, the body of Christ. Thank you. >> Thank you, Miss Camayto. Um Henry Williams Mayor, city council men and women, city manager, those who are in attendance, item two on the agenda, which has to do with the with the parks. >> Can you state your name and city, please? >> Excuse me. >> State your name and city, please. Henry Williams, District 1. And that g gave me a great deal of satisfaction when I read that. And I want to commend you all indeed for for the passage of the bill that has to do with the uh the improvement of the parks, uh Williams Parks, um TCS, Washington Coos, and Ben Garza. And the these parks will be raised to the standard that they uh that we as a community desire to see that they indeed attain to. And um and I I wanted to speak to that. But I want to I want to speak to the vision of our city which you have heard from you know practically most of the people who have come to speak this evening. I am a third generation Corpus Christie. Okay. And my family uh my grandfather had had a business on the north side. Okay. And you know the hurricane of 1919 that destroyed his business. Okay. And my father became a civil rights leader you know during the early days of the civil civil rights movement. Okay. And I think to some extent the ball has been passed to me. Okay. But we need to know who we are as a community. We are the body of Christ. Okay. We have a a vision to fulfill indeed of who we are as a people, who we are as a city. And we need to understand we need to have a vision of who we are. Okay. And to seek to fulfill that. Okay. Regarding number desalination. If we are having a drought, it may be and the Bible speaks a great deal of rain and it speaks a great deal of when rain is withheld. Okay. Rain is a blessing from God. If we are not getting it, what we should do is seek among ourselves to pray and to ask him, is there an area of our city life that is not speaking of you all but of ourselves as a city of that which we should be doing to fulfill his purposes in our lives and as a city that he is withholding the rain and he may be speaking to us that we should examine our lives and see who we are as a city and become the body of Christ. Thank you. >> Thank you, Mr. Williams. Maril Lin Garza. >> Martina Garza, District 1. I'm again here to talk about guess what? Public comment. House Bill 2840, Open Meetings Act, says the public must be allowed to speak before or during each agenda item. The current format that we have risks non-compliance, leaves the city open to attorney general complaints or lawsuits alleging open meeting acts violation. Even the appearance of non-compliance weakens public trust in our elected officials. Unfortunately, it is my opinion that the mayor appears to have a broad discretion to not call for public comment or to call items uh or to call items out of order. I saw that every every time I've come, I've seen a near infraction. Today, you called item seven before item three. Those things were not something that I wanted to nitpick. But because you've changed the formatting of public comment and you've taken away the general comment at noon, these are big glaring liabilities that you are you're leaving yourself open and it's all on you. Unfortunately, you're the presiding officer. Um the current format risks creates a risk of viewpoint discrimination or intimidation. I feel like it's intimidating when there's people that are waiting for public comment and you nearly go over it and it's like if I wasn't sitting in that audience, would you have caught it? Because I'm like looking over the diet. It's like, are you going to call it? You're going to call it. You're going to call it, right? That's intimidation. Um, and it's because participation depends on the mayor's choices rather than consistent rules. We're putting it all on you and it's in my opinion unfair. You know, other Texas cities have strengthened rules to avoid lawsuits. Um, this is just looks bad. This looks bad. You need to change your public comment formatting. You pull agenda items all this time. Things are going to get more difficult. Like this meeting was an easy meeting in comparison to some of the other bigger meetings you have. You had 15 agenda items. This time, there's times where I've seen your agenda items. I mean, your your total meeting agenda, it's like 30 items, 40 items. you're here till midnight. When we're spanning our meeting lengths that long, mistakes are going to happen and people are going to file lawsuits, especially as the political season gets closer. You're that's lowhanging fruit. Don't leave lowhanging fruit for us to be sued. Just make this change before things get even more crazy. I'm I'm here advocating that I don't want our city to get sued. I don't want people to think that you're intimidating people. But when I sit here and it consistently happens, I don't know what to think. So, please make these changes. Please have public comment before you start talking on the agenda and then this wouldn't be an issue. So, please think about it. >> Thank you, Miss Garza. So, I'm going to make a couple statements of facts. Um, I got my numbers confused, Miss Garza. The three and the seven. I didn't mean to do that. I'm also adjusting to public comment after every single item. It is absolutely not intimidation. Um I'm the only one who did not vote for the current process because I was for the the noon hour. So I'm with you. Um I'd like Miss Warta or somebody from her office to get with you regarding your concerns which we appreciate. Um but we have made absolute certain that you know what has passed this DAS is legal and and I'll I'll take accountability. Yes, sometimes I forget. Miss Worth has to say you know uh don't forget public comment but again I'm also trying to adjust to it. So forgive me but it is absolutely not purposeful. I I you know again I I love the public comment at the beginning and even even both there could have been accommodation but nonetheless it is what it is and and we're working to to move that forward but miss what I would like for you please to have somebody u just go over some of the things she mentioned um I don't believe that we're in violation but maybe you can go over that. >> Yes ma'am we'll reach out to her. >> Yeah thank you Garca. Thank you. Joshua Frederick. >> Hello, council. Joshua Frederick, city of Corpus Christie. Um, a couple weeks ago, I invited you guys to a rock concert at the House of Rock. I wanted to report back how they did with all the donations. It was eight bands. They got 350 backpacks, uh, thousands and thousands of pencils. They literally didn't bother to count. They did it by weight. um 1,000 notebooks, tons of toys, and apparently a fishing reel got donated. I'm not entirely sure why, but maybe it's an educational fishing reel. Um they ended up with around 400 lb of school supplies. So, if any of you bothered to go to that concert or donated to that, I genuinely want to say thank you uh on my behalf and also for the uh for the event. Um, I am going to do the really annoying thing and talk about another fundraiser because apparently once you agree to do one, you get asked by everybody to do one. Uh, there is a breast cancer awareness fundraiser going on until October 31st. Uh, it is direct donations for direct impact here in the coastal bend. Uh, they're partnering with three different groups. breast friend breast friends which is offering no cost prost prosteses and mastctomy bras for women in need uh first Friday which is providing free mammograms for women with uh without access to essential screening. That one's incredibly important to me. My mother um had some precancerous cells caught when we were all the way back in high school. So you can imagine a family of like seven of us who were like oh no mom's going to die. Thankfully she didn't. Um it got taken care of but you know early screening is always good. And then the last one is the La Espiranza Foundation partnering with local physicians to ensure women have access to health care and treatments that they deserve. These will all be on my social media. You don't have to say that I was the reason you donated if you choose to donate to something like this. And same thing goes for the public. Everybody is welcome to. Um and it runs through October 31st. I got a minute left. So let's talk about public comment though. Um like I wrote down, I'm going to complain about the same thing. Guys, we made it all the way through the entire agenda today and last week. That's um 15 items last week and 14 today if I'm doing my math right. That's uh 29 things the public unless they were physically here uh when the agenda item was called didn't get to talk about beforehand. So, I do agree that we do need to move it back to the noon time slot uh in order to have the opinions put out there. I know people can reach out to you, but I I've also reached out to you guys enough to know that sometimes you're getting a million texts and emails and it's impossible to respond to all of them or to even read all of them. I imagine your position. So, um either have two public comments or maybe even do the day before 5:30 on a Monday beforehand. Who doesn't want to be here more, right, guys? Yeah. Um thank you for those that did show up. Not throwing shade at anybody. And I'm sure Mark, you're still there hopefully. Uh, thank you very much. Have a nice day. >> Thank you, Mr. Frederick. Chris Torres. >> Mark is still here. >> Uh, good afternoon. Chris Doris, Corpus Christie, Texas. Um, I was here last week to present uh some slides for some IT changes uh I made to help the city. I'm just happy to say that uh yesterday the Corpus Christie IT team uh implemented the first change I presented which is a button on the Corpus Christie homepage to redirect to the public comment signup website. Um I'm just here today to uh thank any of y'all involved in uh sending this change to the IT team. Uh they did a great job of implementing and it was a really quick turnaround. So uh yeah, appreciate it. >> Thank you, Mr. Torres. >> Okay, Miss Berta, do we have >> Yes, we do have a few um individuals. I don't Brad Bartlesen. I don't believe he's on, but I'll just announce. >> Yes, I'm here. I'm here. >> Good. Okay, great. >> You ready to make your comments, sir? >> Yes, I am. Do you have my slides there? >> Yes, sir. They're up. >> Go ahead, sir. >> Okay. Well, first, good management of our CCW resources is reflected by command of both supply and demand and developing a plan that ensures best. >> Can you state your name and city? I'm sorry to interrupt you, sir. >> I'm sorry. Brad Bartles, District 5 Corpus, >> and preservation of our community. The data indicated that the new watershed inflow had greatly diminished as early as 2016 and was continuing. Contrarily, the eastern supplies in Mary roads pipeline was in place and abundant. The options to increase its capacity had been there were not advanced upon while depletion of the western reservoirs continued. Now on the other side, we sold another 12.5 million gallons a day to industry during that time. Communication to the public focused on drought and public watering and their responsibility, nothing on resource management and industrial sales. Next slide. Setting in place a strategic water plan that reflects community values is key and not ending up in this same state of stress. It includes a plan of water and energy resource use and capacity by year. With this in place, we avoid making decisions on a single project at a time without regard to the total. We avoid not having margin and not selling before we have assuredness of supply. And we can evaluate projects and contracts as to their synergy and how they fit with who we are and what we want to be. For example, do we want to pattern ourselves after after Austin and San Antonio with high growth, increasing traffic, and more pressure on increasing income to maintain our standard of life. Next slide. Under that strategic plan are water limits per year, percent industrial use of total water and energy intensity. These ensure adequacy, prevent strife, reflect our values, reduce dependency and protect our quality of life. Note that energy costs both capex and opex result from water projects and this tends to be minimized overlooked and that can result in understand underestimating their impact. Energy intensity affects our cost and quality of life. for for example assuming that using up another 10% of our resources um has a has a larger impact. Next slide. Use of figures of merit provides a quantitative means to assess opportunities for industry water applicants. These include jobs per million gallons per day where we are at our industry percent of our total water use. The guideline is 10% and we're over 50% now. power used per job, environmental risk, community degradation, and expected plant life. Grading applications and having these limits in place can ensure wise decisions. Next slide. Figures of merit for water resource investments are energy per million gallons per day, percent local use, environmental risk, capex, and opex community. >> Thank you, Mr. Parlson, very much. Your time is up. >> All right. Thank you. >> Thank you. Next is Ellie Dvasquez. Hello, my name is Ellie Dal Vasquez. I live in Corpus Christie, Texas. The City Council of Corpus Christi has tried at every interval possible to make it apparent to you, their constituents, that we are in a water crisis. What my fellow constituents have made apparent about this water crisis is the fact that it's due entirely to the mismanagement of potential water sources. Jason Hail has spoken in detail about the mismanagement of the Mary Roads pipeline. This water crisis was essentially manufactured by the city's ineptitude by their own admission. Your constituents has al have also made it apparent that an inner harbor seawater dalination plant is not the resolution for our water issues. The council wants to sell our seawater to a private company to inefficiently produce purified water that they will then sell back to us at astronomical rates. They say now that the price won't change, but they've stated several times that if they feel the need to raise the price, then they will. This council wants to price the hardworking citizens of Corpus Christi out of water that already belongs to us and is the basis for thousands in tourism. May the mayor Plet Wardo can recognize the kind of money a non-stop flight from Corpus Christie to Denver may bring in, but not the devastation that the Inner Harbor Delaw plant would have on small and larger businesses specifically depending on our bay. This council has made a disgusting effort to silence the people of Corpus Christi with the awful treatment of the Hillrest community. They don't even seem to know what is and isn't city business. On July 23rd, Mayor Plet Wardo and city attorney Mike Rizley, who is not an elected official, said that CCPD collaborating with ICE was not city business. How can that be true when the CCPD are the first people that citizens call an emergency? Is CCPD tending to these emergencies and then alerting ICE to any undocumented persons involved? Citizens need to know that their tax dollars are actively being used against them and their loved ones. Citizens need to know that their city government has absolutely no problem working with the fascist regime that is the Trump administration. I saw ICE on Delmare Heritage campus. That is city business because there are 10,000 plus citizens of Corpus Christi currently enrolled at that. >> Mayor, this is boisterous. Pardon? >> Citizens of Corpus Christi currently enrolled at that college. 71% of those people are Latino. I also mentioned gerrymandering on July 23rd. This is city business because our district is one that is going to be redrawn in favor of Republicans without our permission. The rest of you on the city council cannot and should not hide behind mayor Plech Guardo and city attorney Miles Rizley who is not an elected official and whose limitations are not reasonable or viewpoint neutral. When you don't speak up to let one of your constituents finish their speech, you're you're telling Corpus Christi residents that you're complicit in their systematic silencing. Don't act like there's nothing you can do. Simply stand up and say they should be allowed to speak. You are paid to do this job, to speak to your constituents, to hear their concerns. Because I live here in Corpus Christi, my thoughts and concerns. >> Thank you, Miss Lascus. Your time is up. Next, we have Christina English. Miss English, are you online? Okay. How about Eli McKay? [Music] Um I'm here but I think Christina English is online. She >> maybe there's someone on the phone who um we're not able to identify. I'll I'll try one more time. Miss McKay. Christina English. Okay. I'll try again. Miss McKay but Oh, is that you? >> Miss English. >> It's going back and forth. You're moving. >> Yes. >> Okay. Are you ready to make your comment? >> I am. >> Okay, please proceed. >> Christina English Corpus Christie. Um here I am again um wasting my time and yours making a comment that doesn't matter. After all, the meeting is over. For the second week in a row, we'll adjourn immediately after public comment. Congratulations on getting home on time. There were things on today's agenda that I would have liked to speak about, but those things have already been considered without my input, without the input of any of the 5:30 public speakers. Because I'm currently unable to attend meetings in person, myself along with every other community member who's unable to physically attend and wait through the meeting. Be it due to family, economics, or disability, our voices have been pushed aside to a time that doesn't even require a quorum. I suppose I could send emails. The emails directed at this council have a funny way of missing their destinations, and some members don't even use their government email addresses. Anyway, we all have the right to be publicly publicly heard when addressing our representatives. Not only has our opportunity for public comment been pushed too late to be meaningfully considered, but this council is not even required to be present for it. Now, I'm no fancy city attorney, but to me, this feels like a restriction of my right to petition my government for redress of grievances. Holding public comment after items have been considered tells us very clearly that public sentiment was never going to be considered anyway. If this body truly sought the public input needed to safely represent its constituents, public comment would be held at 5:30 on Monday, noon on Tuesday, and on each item. Failing that, holding comment at 5:30 on Monday and on each item would at least be an improvement. This body has an obligation to hear the public it serves. The current public uh comment policy does not fulfill that obligation. Allow the public to speak prior to council consideration and provide equal access for virtual speakers to comment on items and participate in government. >> Okay. Thank you, Miss English. Next is Eli McKay. >> Uh, yes. Can you hear me? >> Hello. Go ahead and proceed. >> Awesome. My name is Eli McKay and I live in beautiful Uptown Corpus Christie District 1. So, I also wanted to make comment on several items. Um, and since I'm in a situation that makes WebEx my only option for comment, I have three minutes to try to hit all of them. I'd also like to note that the items I'm discussing you have already voted on or discussed today. So, public comment 5:30 on a Monday would be a lot more appropriate for um those who have to use WebEx. So, let's talk about item two. Yes, thank you so much for getting moving on the north side parks. As I've said before, these parks will be utilized by many people who live in areas that have been neglected for way too long, including the north side, the west side, and uptown neighborhoods. Item eight. I have multiple times mentioned my disapproval for a tours in London. The point of a tur should be to stimulate growth in underdeveloped or blighted areas by attracting businesses and investment, not to further incentivize the good old boys who already have a sweetheart deal with our antiquated and broken developer trust fund. It's very frustrating. to see rich developers using council members as pawns and making decisions that will negatively impact the future of Corpus Christiey's development. I urge you not to pursue the tur in London and focus your attention on areas which need redevelopment like the north side, west side and uptown. Item number 16. If there's one thing that anyone who has been paying attention to council this year should know, it is that we have options for water. In fact, we have options for more water than residents and businesses should ever need. The decision that you have is to make the right choice on which water source to pursue. despite the manipulation and gaslighting you may receive from other council members, city staff, or the good old boys club. And last time I was able to make comment, I told you all that the time for a paradigm shift is here and that it was up to y'all to make the right decisions. I have high hopes that you will because we have several council council members who have shown courage and empathy within their questions and decision-making. you to those who are doing that. You know who you are. Keep asking the important questions and considering the needs of the people before the corporations. Thank you. Thank you, Miss McKay. Next is Isabelle Adrisa. Miss Arisa. Okay. All right, mayor. So then that would take us to uh one in-person comment from a a non-resident. The next uh next person. >> Yes, Caitlyn Franks. >> Thank you, mayor and council members for seeing me this evening. I'm not a Corpus Christi resident, but I'm deeply involved in the Corpus Christi community and the individuals of the community. I am from Kingsville, um but I do represent an organization out of Corpus Christi. I come before you tonight because this week um unfortunately some I guess less than happy news landed on my desk about the tax increment reinvestment zone or the Besi village or the combination of the two. Um there's a lot I was going to go over a lot of it has already been spoken. I think the probably the most important thing is um as individuals we are held up to a moral standard and we're also guided to follow our original instructions most of which many people would consider the Bible many other people some of sitting amongst us see as following the red road sorry I'm nervous but it's very obvious that the breezes village am I cuz I'm not >> What's that? >> Am I allowed? Because I'm not a corpus resident, but I do represent an organization in Corpus Christi. >> Um >> well, you have to have or be a a resident um three minutes. So, yeah. But we appreciate it. And you can always email us as well. >> Okay. Absolutely. >> Thank you. Thank you for being here. >> Okay. That concludes our public comments. So, there being no further business, this meeting is now adjourned at 7:05 p.m.