City Council authorizes negotiations with CCDP for Inner Harbor desalination despite wide public opposition

The Corpus Christi City Council on Feb. 25 voted to authorize staff to negotiate with Corpus Christi Desal Partners (a joint proposal led by Acciona Agua and MasTec) to advance a proposed Inner Harbor seawater desalination facility through a demonstration plant, 60% design and a guaranteed‑maximum‑price (GMP) process.

The action, approved 5–3–1, directs staff to draft a contract and return to council in the April–May time frame for formal consideration. City Manager Peter Zanoni and Corpus Christi Water Chief Operating Officer Nick Winkelman told the council that the vote carries no immediate fiscal commitment; it authorizes negotiations only.

The meeting’s public comment period ran more than four hours, with roughly 67 people signed up. Speakers opposing the Inner Harbor site focused on environmental risk to the bay, the effect of concentrated brine discharge on fisheries and wetlands, and equity concerns for Hillcrest residents. Arman Alex, a lifelong Corpus Christi resident, told the council: “Do not contract a group of people to design a new noose and then call it a ribbon cutting,” urging a ‘no’ vote on any contract. Marine scientists and members of environmental groups called repeatedly for the council to wait for results from…