Council postpones Inner Harbor desalination vote after hours of debate; asks state for written clarifications

Corpus Christi City Council on Tuesday postponed a final decision on a staff‑proposed amendment to continue design and procurement work on the Inner Harbor desalination project, giving staff until Aug. 26 to return with additional written material requested from state officials.

The postponement came after more than 11 hours of public testimony and several hours of council discussion on alternative water‑supply options and the project’s cost. Councilman Eric Cantu moved to postpone any action on the proposed amendment; the motion passed. In discussion, several council members urged staff to obtain written clarification from the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) about whether SWIFT funds already allocated to the project could be repurposed for another desalination or groundwater project without triggering penalties, and what costs the city would face if plans were delayed or canceled.

The…