Committee approves flood insurance renewal for River Market; staff previews multiple upcoming policy renewals and aviation timeline

The insurance and litigation committee approved a resolution to pay this year’s flood insurance premium covering the Corpus Christi River Market building and contents.

Staff told the committee the National Flood Insurance Program quote rose to $11,423 from $9,653 last year — an increase of $1,770, roughly 15–16%. “This is our flood insurance renewal for both building and contents of Corpus Christi River Market. The premium in last year was, $9,653. The quote this year is $11,423,” the staff member said.

The committee’s decision carried after a motion and a second; the meeting record states the motion was carried but does not record a numerical roll‑call tally.

Why it matters: the River Market policy is part of limited flood coverage available at that location through the National Flood Insurance Program, and the committee used the meeting to preview several other insurance items that will affect city budgets and operations in the coming months.

Discussion and upcoming items Staff briefed committee members on several policies due for renewal this fiscal year and the committee’s intended handling of each: - EMT/home‑health professional liability insurance: last year’s premium was $8,496; staff said they expect a 10–15% increase when the quote is available in about three months and will bring the quote to the finance committee when it arrives. - Animal mortality insurance for police K‑9s: the 2024 premium was $4,585, below the committee’s $5,000 threshold for formal consideration; staff said that premium may rise above $5,000 and return to the committee. The staff member noted an approximate replacement cost of about $30,000 per dog and listed the K‑9s currently covered under the policy as Thomas, Mary, Nails and Leo. - Other upcoming renewals previewed include stop‑loss health insurance (expires Sept. 30), engineer professional liability (expires Oct. 1), police officer/firefighter supplemental retirement plan insurance, and helicopter liability and physical damage insurance.

Aviation assets and drone program Committee members asked about the timeline for downsizing aviation assets. Staff tied that schedule to activation of “pods” and the recent termination of a drone contract. The staff member said the pods are projected to go online this fall, that the city would complete the football season, and then target closing the aviation division by Dec. 31. On the question of whether the city could obtain a refund if helicopters are removed mid‑policy, staff said they would pursue shorter‑term renewal options or other arrangements with insurers in advance of the policy renewal.

Process and next steps Staff said they will present the EMT professional liability quote to the finance committee once it is received and will bring any insurance whose renewals exceed committee thresholds back for formal action. The committee’s recorded action at this meeting was approval of the River Market flood insurance payment; other items were previews and will return to committee as quotes and renewals mature.

The meeting included praise for administrative tracking of policies. “She’s the one that keeps all the policy renewal dates in line so we know what’s coming up,” the staff member said of Christina Houghton in OCA.