[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_25":26},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_27":28,"_29":30},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[31,75,87,99],{"_32":33,"_34":35,"_36":37,"_38":39,"_40":41,"_42":43,"_44":45,"_46":47,"_48":49,"_50":51,"_52":53,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":59,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":65,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6245192,"mediaKeyId","3227005-26e0553454f64fec30d827d1924c1d8d","parentId",3227005,"title","Animal-welfare advocate challenges city animal-care statements, urges review","audioSeconds",126,"startMs",2412000,"endMs",2538000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3227005-26e0553454f64fec30d827d1924c1d8d&start=2412&end=2538","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3227005-26e0553454f64fec30d827d1924c1d8d/thumbnail_2412000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6245192/Texas/Animal-welfare-advocate-challenges-city-animal-care-statements-urges-review","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6245192-134b08f444cd155ea866f1d9994ff3b6/orig.mp4?Expires=1769875755&Signature=hOS6o6qDxj1zb~fWYOeVvEzC0uW5lFiyaWeEeUAttvxS9wRaTfUsOjbDd~HJ8Ga~st7mlk18ZOvZkWUw6OaKz2L1cLwCPYsd5oPEjJXLI-DrPIi1EFwjTl-YGN1DEVv2h7P9BWX4mFn~CnG8hAFBeHJvrl0SRwGtMN5oFkCHn8f4zVhoRxSohyKHCwNA6PrNuOuiin3KXrl947aP~nReGlMjNQfpI-mmcLhBpM3yGZt9eCL7zCZVBMS0bqwIU8PQdK1kl~m55lOrHfWWLZkJGf6wsMzm90qbqb~WdkRo8n3J97~fLc5a~VieNP0zJrIq39rRiQXY7tMYdLZXu66njg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Corpus Christi TX","date","2025-05-06T21:53:44Z","article","During public comment at the City Council meeting, Cheryl Martinez of Corpus Christi addressed the council about recent statements by city Animal Care Services (ACS) leadership and raised concerns about shelter transfers, euthanasia and disposal practices.

Martinez said her organization, PAC (a high-volume clinic and outreach provider), was incorrectly described by an ACS assistant director as having refused cooperation. Martinez said PAC had provided training offers, had worked with surrounding shelters and had pulled animals from ACS where possible. “I want to be very clear that is false,” Martinez said, describing outreach, surgery and education programs her organization runs and urging the council to reconsider ACS leadership as the director departs.

Martinez also said the city has for months been sending euthanized animals to a landfill rather than other disposal methods, and she urged council members to review Texas law referenced as “chapter 821” and to consider the environmental and transparency implications of the practice. Martinez called for a reevaluation of ACS leadership and greater cooperation between the city and local rescue organizations.

The council did not take action during public comment; Martinez’s remarks were entered into the public record, and councilmembers asked staff to note the concerns and to follow up through staff briefings and correspondence.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City of Corpus Christi | City Council Meeting May 6, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","A local animal-welfare group spokesperson challenged recent City Animal Care Service statements about partner shelters and euthanasia practices and urged policy review and transparency on disposal of euthanized animals; the speaker asked the council to review state statute chapter references and leadership at the department.","taxTitle","City Council, Corpus Christi, Nueces County, Texas","taxId",77669,"location","Texas","headline","","shortSummary",{"_32":76,"_34":35,"_36":37,"_38":77,"_40":78,"_42":79,"_44":80,"_46":81,"_48":82,"_50":83,"_52":84,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":85,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":86,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6245197,"Council hears update on alternative water supplies: wells, ranch projects and reuse studies",423,9653000,10076000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3227005-26e0553454f64fec30d827d1924c1d8d&start=9653&end=10076","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3227005-26e0553454f64fec30d827d1924c1d8d/thumbnail_9653000.jpg","/articles/6245197/Texas/Council-hears-update-on-alternative-water-supplies-wells-ranch-projects-and-reuse-studies","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6245197-b6106d493df9e902f6c02424ba6a4718/orig.mp4?Expires=1769875755&Signature=gvIyeXcgIIlE65yCXN9UpVcWCiPe~aMRtniT9BtGlPt~L9OuE2yRWd~89rX8cLS1SuUsKALD9Phhb1k-UivClb0RZ3B9ieVt~6~-4xdnm3Z2HxcqzVdtpOTSVejwjgTxftzHY3SM8mry7D-M~6rf6bC4IZB~Jd-GC9EwfhKHHaIH5R9ZrobbbP2bTMkevuHvkJxZ8QoiosBs70kuHbuKzoPv34xP51P1zrVBrZChpV8SwlsMUg0vVS7aSRyJbALn4Kv0YB5F~euStTJJaofEcjO2ZsjO3PwbJklWeuyp4SPiqeVzgam7NDfu3Zdy5StZCLTI~mDsRaU-sLId95JAnA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City staff provided the City Council a status report on several alternative water-supply projects intended to supplement the city’s water portfolio amid an ongoing drought.

Chief Operating Officer Drew Molly said staff are pursuing multiple approaches in parallel: (1) drilling and rehabilitating groundwater wells on city property along the Nueces River to provide near-term augmentation; (2) negotiations and technical review of private groundwater projects such as the Evangeline offer (a 23,000‑acre property near Sinton) and the Eshelman/Voigt (Catahoula) ranch proposal; (3) testing and potential treatment options for brackish sources farther from the city; and (4) feasibility work on wastewater reuse.

Molly said the city has completed three Nueces River wells and was drilling a fourth; those wells have produced volumes staff described as encouraging for near-term use, but the water quality varied and will affect treatment choices. “This is an opportunity to just quickly go through the latest, on a number of projects that, we're working on right now,” Molly said when introducing the briefing.

On Evangeline, staff said the landowner’s offer had changed since staff last negotiated and that the owner is now willing to sell some water rather than only lease it; staff have asked an external firm to help compare costs and risks and planned to return with analyses within a three‑week window. The Eshelman/Voigt (Catahoula) project remains under review; staff said it could offer tens of millions of gallons per day but will require longer lead times and more technical study.

On reuse, the council approved a contract with Garver at a recent meeting and staff said they would issue the firm a notice to proceed. Molly noted reuse is a multi-step technical and regulatory exercise but could be a strategically important, lower-cost source compared with some large surface- or brackish-water projects.

Staff said they plan to assemble a short-term cost/comparison model that brings these options into one framework so council can weigh near-term needs (for drought response) against long-term choices and rate impacts. Council members asked for regular public updates and asked staff for more detail on water quality (TDS and other constituents), permitting timelines and how proposed projects might be staged to minimize immediate rate impacts.","City staff briefed the council on a package of alternative water-supply options — new groundwater wells on city property along the Nueces River, private groundwater projects (Evangeline, Eshelman/Voigt/Catahoula) and wastewater reuse feasibility — and said they will produce short-term cost comparisons for council review.",{"_32":88,"_34":35,"_36":37,"_38":89,"_40":90,"_42":91,"_44":92,"_46":93,"_48":94,"_50":95,"_52":96,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":97,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":98,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6245202,"Council briefed on Inner Harbor desalination project; staff outlines phases, costs and schedule",453,2522000,2975000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3227005-26e0553454f64fec30d827d1924c1d8d&start=2522&end=2975","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3227005-26e0553454f64fec30d827d1924c1d8d/thumbnail_2522000.jpg","/articles/6245202/Texas/Council-briefed-on-Inner-Harbor-desalination-project-staff-outlines-phases-costs-and-schedule","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6245202-32a59e26b48c4ae01c3d3ec5f836fd73/orig.mp4?Expires=1769875755&Signature=ZYIJpH8xHNtqxym9IFyltTsjAnRNVjMfQr0JWrpYHNNwcYVnCZMeUEi9hnyKzL~3HEPEcxD8M4u~GU4FWWUKRNutCpyBKD5hU46H2BhVVoYtMteyiPkQ~kE0t4Hi4X0bS4ML5dm7PpPKdosCwbFIxOxFmHCLoqyDk-C2Q0PFul4g4QXAIYwZMC5QsqWfCyquN3n7jjQXrMv69iXS6K79dkc34XJVFiNNczzRcU96r9-VD6du1JD304o11AjkwWWHQzZVrKn1cMDwKLnX97OeS4g-zbNfgjTmB09l0bO7~jXES-Oi08X7CuxTYPENwxoAQlPI3us6ryJQmPPnwJGIKg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City staff told the City Council that work on the Inner Harbor Water Treatment Campus — the city’s seawater desalination project for the Inner Harbor — is progressing through design and early procurement phases, and that staff expect higher cost certainty over the next several months.

Brett Van Hazel, director of the city program management office for the project, presented a status update. He reviewed recent council authorizations that started the current procurement track (amendments to engineering contracts and bond issuance authorization) and summarized the procurement outcome: a progressive design-build contract with Kiwi Infrastructure South (referred to in the presentation as the design-builder that will move the project from planning into guaranteed maximum price stages). Van Hazel said the project team has delivered a draft basis-of-design report and is reviewing a draft cost model. “We’re transitioning out of phase 1 a, which is June 1 is the actual completion date for phase 1 a, and then we’re transitioning into phase 1 b,” he said.

Staff listed key permits already secured: an Army Corps authorization and a TCEQ discharge permit. Van Hazel said the city and the design-builder have begun targeting long-lead procurement items and have engaged technology suppliers early; he also said the design-builder is scheduled to operate the plant for one year after construction completion to train city staff.

Schedule and cost process: Van Hazel told council staff expect to receive a draft cost model at the end of the month and to undertake an internal and independent review before sharing final numbers, and he warned that a reliable project cost will take several months to vet. He described the timeline presented to council: completion of the current planning phase, guaranteed maximum price (GMP) development by late 2024 (staff indicated the GMP is planned later this calendar year), construction starting in 2026 and plant completion targeted in 2028; the design-builder would operate the facility for 12 months after completion alongside city staff.

Budget and commitments: Van Hazel traced prior council actions on the project and the bond authorization that could be used to fund construction, and in response to council questions he said the city has issued approximately $25 million in commitments so far for planning and preconstruction services (amounts cited included a Friese Nichols amendment, an initial Kiwi award and a phase 1b amendment). He warned that the demonstration/pilot facility and some early work packages were coming in higher than early estimates — council members referenced a reported gap between an earlier $5 million estimate for a demonstration pilot and a new figure in the teens of millions — and staff said that a complete, vetted cost model is required before the council would decide on any major construction approval.

Grants and financing: staff confirmed work to pursue large federal grants, including application planning for a Bureau of Reclamation program that staff said can provide substantial non‑reimbursable funding for large water projects; staff said the usual application window would be in the fall with award notices in the following spring.

Council members asked detailed operational questions — about likely energy use, day-to-day operating costs and whether a publicly visible education/operations building shown in renderings could be scaled back — and staff said cost tradeoffs would be part of further design decisions. Multiple council members asked for ongoing, frequent briefings; staff said they would present project updates at least twice monthly through the year.","City staff updated the council on the Inner Harbor Water Treatment Campus (desalination) project, including procurement, permitting, schedule and preliminary cost-model timing; staff said Kiwi Infrastructure South is the progressive design-builder and that a draft cost model is due at month-end with a GMP targeted later this year.",{"_32":100,"_34":35,"_36":37,"_38":101,"_40":102,"_42":103,"_44":104,"_46":105,"_48":106,"_50":107,"_52":108,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":109,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":110,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6245207,"City honors new 911 dispatch graduates; officer named a national 'Top Cop'",218,1507000,1725000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3227005-26e0553454f64fec30d827d1924c1d8d&start=1507&end=1725","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3227005-26e0553454f64fec30d827d1924c1d8d/thumbnail_1507000.jpg","/articles/6245207/Texas/City-honors-new-911-dispatch-graduates-officer-named-a-national-Top-Cop","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6245207-598da8f3dccc8255ea6a9a03a48b51ba/orig.mp4?Expires=1769875755&Signature=e15V9XIP214MDydZNtWWvnhfgEblqK73wFj2HSQ453xmK46vWFYk9b~ouWeT4nWJQvu1hxNTMhdPtqhyiDehRJ1Xuu69Ggxg0RypJ0bpdiiRt6kvaZNaIkuqeLUe9sMqc6d8XbDbYuNR808yx5UpLKc8VnYt-O1lbz0fa2NPOXwOztRaHlhXm9xaGGepew1jz5eCYiaHH0NWbi0K4B-fbsSPK7vrd4KNhWBE4m~vyM9OfUdp1TV1Zi2lSdYZgqD22I61epxbMmhtoOM~VaHIJaX9PW60nOwBzRdSxI~PEYgYCLKVboPRPRRzjvlWWxwLxkvoaeU~owRX4ZnlibxDaw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Corpus Christi officials recognized seven recent graduates of the city’s Metrocom 911 academy during the City Council meeting, and the council observed National Police Officers Memorial Week as families and colleagues prepared to travel to Washington, D.C., for national ceremonies.

The recognition included four graduates who attended the meeting — Jessica Ortegaon, Marco Rangel, Achilleo Estrada and Isabella Gomez — and remarks from Assistant Chief Christopher White of the Corpus Christi Police Department, who outlined the academy’s training and screening. “It’s an honor to be here this morning to share a good story with you. That’s what we’re doing today,” White said.

Council members praised the graduates’ public-safety work and stressed retention efforts. City Manager Peter Zanoni noted the city has increased pay and improved working conditions to keep trained telecommunicators. White described the training as roughly 240 hours covering emergency communications, medical dispatch certification and state licensing. He said on-the-job training typically takes six to 12 weeks after the academy.

The council also observed National Police Officers Memorial Week (the week that includes May 15) and previewed events in Washington, D.C., and locally, including a vigil at the Nueces County Courthouse. City officials said two Corpus Christi officers who died last year will be named at the national candlelight vigil and engraved on the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial wall: Officer Vicente Ortiz and Officer Kyle Hicks.

In addition, the council and Police Department recognized Officer Marco Ramirez, who the City Manager said will be among 10 national recipients of the National Association of Police Organizations’ Top Cops awards for actions during a fatal disturbance. Ramirez, introduced at the meeting, said, “I thank the department for believing that I deserved the award. And, I wanna say I love and miss Kyle every day along with our other fellow officer that passed away.”

The council’s remarks and the department presentation emphasized the neighborhood-level role of Metrocom staff and the city’s continuing efforts to recruit and retain telecommunicators, who the assistant chief said were formally recognized as first responders by the state in 2019. The council scheduled no formal votes related to public-safety staffing at the meeting; the presentations were informational and ceremonial.","Corpus Christi recognized seven recent Metrocom 911 academy graduates and marked National Police Officers Memorial Week; Officer Marco Ramirez was named among NAPO's Top Cops and two fallen officers from the department will be added to the national memorial wall.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Animal-welfare advocate challenges city animal-care statements, urges review

Council hears update on alternative water supplies: wells, ranch projects and reuse studies

Council briefed on Inner Harbor desalination project; staff outlines phases, costs and schedule

City honors new 911 dispatch graduates; officer named a national 'Top Cop'