City Council Actions

Ordinance authorizing a professional services contract with Freese and Nichols, Corpus Christi, to perform engineering services for the United States Bureau of Reclamation Title XVI Desalination Construction Grant Program in an amount not to exceed $220,517.00, appropriating $220,517.00 from the unreserved fund balance in the Drought Surcharge Exemption Fund; and amending the FY 2024 Operating Budget.

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Sponsors: Engineering Services, Corpus Christi Water and Contracts and Procurement

Discussion with possible action regarding a Memorandum of Understanding with Port of Corpus Christi Authority on Desalination as proposed by Councilman Mike Pusley, Councilman Dan Suckley, and Councilman Gil Hernandez.

City Council discussion on whether the City of Corpus Christi should collaborate with the Port of Corpus Christi on seawater desalination, with possible action.
 

Sponsors: Legal Department

Motion authorizing a professional service agreement with HDR in the amount of $94,090.00 to evaluate an additional water supply strategy (Evangeline Groundwater Evaluation) to be integrated into the City’s current water system to address impacts of growth, drought and regional water demands with funding from the FY 2023 Water Fund.
 

Sponsors: Engineering Services, Corpus Christi Water and Contracts and Procurement

Briefing by CCW (Corpus Christi Water) on recommended changes to the current Drought Contingency Plan and reviewing the new Water Conservation 365 Plan including conservation initiatives for 2023 and beyond.

Sponsors: Corpus Christi Water

One-Reading Ordinance authorizing execution of all documents necessary to acquire an underground utility easement from Union Pacific Railroad near Broadway Street and Palm Drive; declaring a public use and necessity; and authorizing the City Manager to institute condemnation by eminent domain proceedings to acquire an underground utility easement for water supply projects across railroad right-of-way near Broadway Street and Palm Drive in a manner that does not interfere with transportation by rail carriers or operation of railroad tracks or railroad facilities. (Requires 2/3 Vote)

Sponsors: Corpus Christi Water

One-Reading Ordinance authorizing execution of all documents necessary to acquire approximately 12.4 acres of real property and 11.3 acres of easements from Flint Hills Resources Corpus Christi, LLC, and related entities across property owned by said company and related entities at or near Nueces Bay Boulevard and Broadway Street, extending into the Corpus Christi Industrial Canal, for public use as water supply projects, including approval of development agreements in a total amount of up to $5,455,000 previously approved by City Council; declaring a public necessity; providing for the City of Corpus Christi to authorize the use of the power of eminent domain to acquire the aforementioned areas for water supply projects; the consideration of the use of eminent domain to condemn property by a single record vote for all units of property to be acquired herein; and delegating authority to initiate condemnation proceedings and execute related documents to the City Manager. (Requires 2/3 Vote)

Sponsors: Corpus Christi Water

Statement from City Manager on initiating Stage 1 Drought Restrictions and a staff update on water & weather forecast

Sponsors: Corpus Christi Water

Motion authorizing a professional services contract with American Electric Power, Texas, to provide preliminary engineering and regulatory work associated with interconnection of the City's Inner Harbor Seawater desalination plant to the Electric Reliability Council of Texas electric transmission grid in an amount not to exceed $100,000.00, located in Council District 1, with FY 2022 funding available from State Water Implementation Fund Texas Loan-2020.

Sponsors: Engineering Services, Water Utilities Department and Finance & Procurement

Motion to authorize preparation of final contract documents for the purchase of approximately 12.5 acres of property and 11 acres of easements from Flint Hills Resources Corpus Christi, LLC and related entities in the vicinity of Nueces Bay Boulevard, Broadway Street, and the Inner Harbor for a seawater desalination plant in an amount of $5,455,000, which will include an option period of 3 years and potential additional option time to allow for permitting and prerequisites related to a development agreement pursuant to Texas Local Government Code Chapter 212, a right to repurchase in the event of termination of the project, requirements related to insurance, soil management, environmental sampling, and limits on use of the property.

Resolution requesting the Port of Corpus Christi withdraw its application for SWIFT funding from the Texas Water Development Board and End any and all Attempts to become a Water Producer or Distributor

Whereas, the City of Corpus Christi (City) is the supplier of water for the surrounding region, which includes communities in Kleberg County, Jim Wells County, Live Oak County, Aransas County, Nueces County, Bee County, and San Patricio County;

Whereas, it is the mission of the City of Corpus Christi to effectively manage the region’s water supply, production, and distribution through the operation and maintenance of the water system to meet water supply needs; to provide safe drinking water; to review the design and construction of water facilities that will ensure water system reliability to meet projected growth; and to identify and meet consumer needs and expectations.

Whereas, the City has submitted applications for a drought resistant and affordable water source to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) for permits for desalination plants at the Inner Harbor Ship Channel Site and the La Quinta Channel Seawater Desalination Site;

Whereas, the Port of Corpus Christi Authority (Port) has applied for a permit to discharge desalinated wastewater from a proposed desalination facility to be located on Harbor Island;

Whereas, Harbor Island is an area of recognized environmental sensitivity, and permits requested by the Port for desalination on this site has led to an intensified environmentalist response to the City’s permit applications;

Whereas, the City sent a letter to the Port on September 14, 2018 stating that the City is opposed to the Harbor Island location and is not interested in obtaining the permits for that location;

Whereas, the TCEQ Office of Public Interest Counsel (OPIC) has recommended denial of the Port’s requested discharge permit;

Whereas, the Port has requested funds via the State Water Implementation Fund for Texas (SWIFT) from the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB)

Whereas, the Port of Corpus Christi does not treat water and has no certificate of convenience and necessity (CCN) to distribute potable water in the Coastal Bend region and is acting beyond its standard capacity and its scope of service as a Navigation District;

Whereas, the City treats and distributes potable water in the Coastal Bend region and holds a CCN to distribute potable water in selected areas of Nueces County and the City serves as the regional water supplier in the Coastal Bend;  

Be it resolved by the City Council of the City of Corpus Christi, Texas:

Section 1. The City of Corpus Christi is the regional water supplier for seven counties in the Coastal Bend, including Nueces and San Patricio Counties and currently serves nearly 500,000 residents in the Coastal Bend region through a superior-rated public water system.

Section 2. The City requests the Port withdraw any and all applications for SWIFT funding from the TWDB and end any and all attempts to become a water producer or distributor.

Motion authorizing the City Manager or designee to execute all documents necessary to request an extension of the funding commitment for the receipt of State Water Implementation Fund for Texas (SWIFT) loan
in the amount of $211,050,000 for one additional year, until 2023, for the design and construction of a desalination plant. This extension would provide additional time for state and federal agencies to issue permits related to a desalination plant and related facilities. 

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Sponsors: Utilities Department

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Resolution authorizing the City Manager to negotiate a final real estate term sheet necessary to acquire real property interests at or near the Inner Harbor Nueces Bay Boulevard and the La Quinta Channel for seawater
desalination and treatment plant(s) from Flint Hills Resources Corpus Christi, LLC and Occidental Chemical Corporation, respectively.

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Sponsors: Utilities Department

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Ordinance authorizing the issuance of Utility System Junior Lien Revenue Improvement Bonds, New Series 2020C in an amount not to exceed $11,425,000; providing for payment and security, by a junior and inferior lien on and pledge of the net revenues of the City’s utility system; stipulating terms and conditions for additional revenue bonds; and complying with Texas Water Development Board regulations; for a potential future seawater desalination plant. (Requires 2/3 vote)

Sponsors: Finance & Business Analysis

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Resolution authorizing the execution and approval of a Financing Agreement between the City of Corpus Christi and the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) related to the City’s issuance, sale, and delivery of City Utility System Junior Lien Revenue Improvement Bonds in an amount not to exceed $11,425,000 to the TWDB with proceeds of said bonds to be used for a city desalination project and other matters in connection therewith.

Sponsors: Finance & Business Analysis

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Resolution authorizing the submission of applications to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality for La Quinta Channel and Inner Harbor water rights diversion and discharge permits necessary for development of two seawater desalination plants and authorizing payment of permit fees in total amount not to exceed $450,000.

Water supply trigger point factors and recommendations

Seawater desalination project siting and permitting

Seawater desalination project siting and permitting master service agreement