[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"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","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":44,"_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",6790074,"mediaKeyId","5566847-360c979898c950938777039ca5a6b276","parentId",5566847,"title","Council directs staff to pursue San Patricio water rights as regional desalination debate continues","audioSeconds",0,"startMs",18288060,"endMs","viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5566847-360c979898c950938777039ca5a6b276&start=18288&end=18288","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5566847-360c979898c950938777039ca5a6b276/thumbnail_18288060.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6790074/Texas/Council-directs-staff-to-pursue-San-Patricio-water-rights-as-regional-desalination-debate-continues","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6790074-d9091c73238c99bca210359ee57cde70/orig.mp4?Expires=1771136317&Signature=FOFGQsLzJ4NK3RVWU8UuSFiCb1KwHEe74UZIrHyymmZpbVUdoYPa1jAg1mwllZE-vep6wc-Y0GaHOFui2TIezMgCg7Iy10KLj9BenqxyWc0tYAYiPcReX8m5Idvzj2i4Mwl7SeOgo7~KScV2oz2iVDP~c5nT51canlx3P4mJoY2dngbN6qqi5A78aU9W3H0J9RNx7EL-gbIP7NU05ukDN0HiJXThm5v~JVMGtFkIBGugVOH54Ut-aYKDYoNFBqgs1p3OyW4S8J1FzAghCsU0njdR5lODGCrb1eyVzqgOAdQ62VrbtN8iMV4d3ViXrM5Po~SwaGaQENu~~2OOUqY9MA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council","date","2025-08-13T00:23:05Z","article","The Corpus Christi City Council voted to direct staff to prepare a term sheet to purchase water rights covering roughly 22,788 acres in San Patricio County, a step council members said is intended to add near‑term capacity while the city evaluates longer projects.

Councilmember Roland Hernandez moved the direction after staff described an initial upper limit of $7,437 per acre — a package that would total roughly $169.5 million before appraisal and appropriation. City staff told the council the acquisition would likely be funded with revenue bonds and that officials will seek state and federal grants and SWIFT loan assistance to reduce rate impacts on water customers.

That vote came amid a lengthy briefing from John Byram, executive director of the Nueces River Authority, who detailed the authority’s “New Water for South Texas” plan to build a large seawater reverse‑osmosis desalination plant on Harbor Island. Byram described a phased program that would permit 100 million gallons per day (MGD) in phase 1 with the ability to expand later. “Phase 1 of that is for the development of a 100,000,000‑gallon seawater desalination facility, which would be the largest in the United States,” Byram said, and he outlined offshore intake/discharge infrastructure, a conveyance pipeline and potential customers along a regional route.

Byram said permitting is underway — including a lease for port land, offshore water‑use applications to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and a U.S. Army Corps 404 application — and that provisional deliveries could begin as early as 2029 for nearby users, with full conveyance to farther customers completed by the early 2030s depending on pipeline routing and financing.

Council discussion and public comment underscored the tradeoffs the city faces. Supporters, including several council members, said the water rights purchase and exploration of desalination diversify supply and help reduce reliance on surface water. Opponents and many public commenters warned the city not to rush into expensive, risky projects: they asked for independent technical review of modeling, more detailed operating‑cost estimates, guarantees around rate impacts, and stronger environmental safeguards for brine and chemical discharges.

Staff said the water‑rights direction is only to prepare a contract for council review and that any final purchase, appraisal results, and proposed bond financing would return to the council for approval. The motion passed with the council directing staff to return with a term sheet, financing scenarios, and timelines for construction and delivery.

Next steps: staff will prepare the draft agreement and a timeline for council review; the Nueces River Authority said it will continue P3 outreach for plant design, permitting and financing.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City of Corpus Christi | City Council Meeting August 12, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Corpus Christi City Council directed staff to prepare terms to buy San Patricio County water rights and heard competing presentations on desalination and other alternatives, while residents urged caution on cost and environmental risk.","taxTitle","City Council, Corpus Christi, Nueces County, Texas","taxId",77669,"location","Texas","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":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},6790066,"Oak View Group tells council American Bank Center revenues and event counts are rising; council requests quarterly updates",318,6486910,6805245,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5566847-360c979898c950938777039ca5a6b276&start=6486&end=6805","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5566847-360c979898c950938777039ca5a6b276/thumbnail_6486910.jpg","/articles/6790066/Texas/Oak-View-Group-tells-council-American-Bank-Center-revenues-and-event-counts-are-rising-council-requests-quarterly-updates","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6790066-6002f8a6b78ec060563f9e5160d40d48/orig.mp4?Expires=1771136317&Signature=R3AlePDe98UqSLZYkTmrreAs-vC01Ce7TbHNg0ZHreHn5pPXpsDB0LnA6UkuvWTwoh3Xj6I3NuHOgeBw-CWUfl3hJR~OBAhPltX04ZUwLEViOmNqzufXPmms~EbUI1nVoDOf097DAf9O06D6r8OJbwVj5tkAxvux8MMorBZMHY2XmnIP~LBJOA5FR7ovAFqcdHCz9bswGoP30ir1dYZpDm2MS9oS4N4kmVYGE5s9lwxhnMWg8j4W7tMogrZk9WP2IgBd6wsLKmUhcE9axPJDVWRdmjLx72DqLAE9xQw4Gd9ZMu5DHnvrRIlD4rSiHH~OjcZcMaZpriXjwwVl2im3DA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Oak View Group (OVG) representatives briefed the council on a two‑year performance summary for the American Bank Center. OVG said the number of events and attendance have grown since their contract began, partnership revenue has increased substantially, and operating expenses have declined due to efficiency initiatives and capital repairs.

Key points from the briefing: OVG reported an increase in partnership revenue from roughly $330,000 to about $1.3 million annually, room nights tied to events up more than 10,000 year‑over‑year, and new revenue from an 'arena marketplace' that generated about $200,000 this fiscal year. Hospitality staff outlined a planned 'Coastal Culinary Launchpad' incubator to give local food vendors equipment, training and access to the facility’s concession stands. OVG representatives said their operating net appears better than when they arrived and that they will continue to expand local vendor participation.

Councilors pressed for additional detail on operating expense line items, Ticketmaster fee sharing and contract terms, and capital projects including HVAC, stage reconstruction and ice‑making equipment. City staff and OVG agreed to provide quarterly financial summaries and a capital improvements timeline to ensure council visibility on maintenance and long‑term repairs.

The council thanked OVG for the briefing and asked staff to schedule regular updates and to provide requested backup documents (detailed financials, vendor participation, and contract terms) to council members.

","OVG reported higher event counts, increased partnership revenue and reduced operating expenses at the American Bank Center and proposed a local vendor incubator; council asked for regular financial and capital‑project updates.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":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},6790070,"Council approves project & financing plan for Burissi Village TIRZ No. 6",526,2874090,3400375,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5566847-360c979898c950938777039ca5a6b276&start=2874&end=3400","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5566847-360c979898c950938777039ca5a6b276/thumbnail_2874090.jpg","/articles/6790070/Texas/Council-approves-project-financing-plan-for-Burissi-Village-TIRZ-No-6","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6790070-1e1b9d5e5130ca29704e74bed8a30845/orig.mp4?Expires=1771136317&Signature=c24Ve2Wqur~E705SbR~VzydQV6h72eeTxmWhAhc4zHSTu-4vTdx8mBdvPgV9iQk2u0Xx8a9jIzb8rolnrZ950u9t~jzX0FNW2ZI3-6YllVGiPO44aYMxw8VA2LeZBB0EM69oLXSBXgn4dLfrhFuGT0iD2GDxcAailgYtvG1QkBhE5CqqmgUXjp3wFgvs9-d-~k3zcbDkXjjs~hIKuClbb0YZmrEDoOiWjiEubsfoVc7ZFuU1tVSEzSTVMnJjEhnHtp65J6A-eplMBhoXRdNSGnEHAcaKS8JKym3TK3BG9AsEp8OCElDtBWrT1giAqNbfz2uTpVygvztJp-c7~a6zYw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The City Council approved the project and financing plan for Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone (TIRZ) No. 6 — the Burissi (Bureesi/Barrissi) Village project — clearing a key step for a multi‑phase, mixed‑use redevelopment on about 127 acres.

Economic Development Director Arturo Marquez summarized the proposal as a phased, 10–12 year redevelopment that could include about 1,300 multifamily units across phases, more than 300 single‑family lots, a 100–120 room hotel, roughly 200,000 square feet of retail, plazas and a public golf/park component. Staff explained the statutory basis (Texas Local Government Code ch.311) and the financing model: the zone and project plan would allow reimbursement of public infrastructure outlays from the tax increment, subject to participation caps negotiated with partner jurisdictions. The staff presentation showed a combined participation cap of about $52 million across the city ($32M cap), the county ($13M cap) and Del Mar College (~$7M cap).

Council members asked about developer timelines and conditions that could trigger reconsideration; staff and the board report indicated the project board has already approved the plan and the next steps are finalizing interlocal agreements and negotiating a development agreement. Council approved the project and directed staff to continue negotiations with participating agencies.

","Council approved the project and financing plan for a 127‑acre Burissi Village Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone, setting participation caps and moving the development to the next step of interlocal and development agreement negotiations.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":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},6790073,"Council approves $16.5 million construction contract for Harbour Bridge parks mitigation",161,1879435,2040630,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5566847-360c979898c950938777039ca5a6b276&start=1879&end=2040","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5566847-360c979898c950938777039ca5a6b276/thumbnail_1879435.jpg","/articles/6790073/Texas/Council-approves-165-million-construction-contract-for-Harbour-Bridge-parks-mitigation","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6790073-ff2dd0bd9ddd7454ebc5277ddf855f19/orig.mp4?Expires=1771136317&Signature=RhxE5VMsJsKFV4m~q2oPLe6u5sv-8u8T5IBHNTS8hgrzCkIgpW9VsEzjcTqZ~4R-4O-FX5~pzWLqXVqaOuzjgZr07CxpO5sQbo2aahUwP4qKjLqpolCce1QAS8KL6lbfleVbtohicX9ul-dNnDuV59WWBVGXMyhvT8Q2LPeMgDrdmYcrUJwxmEbeuaN4WsBqitoJi-vWuOg~Spfz0Zx0axc5wN5xPq1Y8yNN3SdAW9IjYdKq2cc8NCx3KGAcRdDiTeYKxuBEiF6A~35O3z5Bq71wUzn1AvKXOTm6YuUJ-hOezlys-ScKCa-dRR~ozA-hUwmVkG3euEVComx7t~NpBQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The City Council approved an ordinance awarding a construction contract to JE Construction Services of Corpus Christi for the Harbour Bridge Parks Mitigation Improvement Project in an amount up to $16,497,423.

Engineering Director Jeff Edmonds and Parks Director Robert Dodd described the project as a multi‑site mitigation package tied to the Harbor Bridge project, funded in part by bond proceeds and MPO allocations. The contract covers park improvements across Hillcrest/Washington Coles and other sites including new restrooms, trailhead plazas, multimodal paths, playgrounds, parking and a stage/amphitheater at the Washington Coles trailhead. Staff said construction will proceed in phases and estimated a 12‑month construction period for this contract.

Council members and residents noted the work had long been planned and praised its benefits for the Hillcrest neighborhood and North Beach connectivity. Staff said a pool contract remains separate and expected to be brought back for council action soon. The motion to award the contract carried.

The council directed staff to provide routine construction updates and to coordinate with public works on adjacent street and lighting work tied to the 4‑party mitigation agreement with TxDOT, the Port and the housing authority.

","The City Council awarded a construction contract to JE Construction Services for Harbour Bridge parks mitigation and approved project scope across multiple neighborhood parks and trailheads.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council directs staff to pursue San Patricio water rights as regional desalination debate continues

Oak View Group tells council American Bank Center revenues and event counts are rising; council requests quarterly updates

Council approves project & financing plan for Burissi Village TIRZ No. 6

Council approves $16.5 million construction contract for Harbour Bridge parks mitigation