Inner Harbor Seawater Desalination Design-Build Contract (26-0840)
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One-Reading ordinance awarding a Design-Build contract to Corpus Christi Desalination Partners, LLC for 60% design services, design and construction of the demonstration plant, and development and verification of the GMP in an amount up to $78,610,000.00 for the Inner Harbor Seawater Desalination Treatment Plant Project; appropriating funds and amending the FY 2026 Budget, with funding available from the State Water Implementation Fund for Texas (SWIFT), and Corpus Christi Desalination Partners, LLC briefing on unsolicited discharge and expansion options.
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Obtain state loan documents tied to the failed desalination contract
Applies if: You advise a party affected by the design-build award or the state loan.
Why now: The June 2 presentation covered the SWIFT loan timeline, loan cancellation and financial effect, and a sample defeasance transaction, and the September 1 ordinance failed 3-5 with funding listed as SWIFT.
What to do: Request the state water loan (SWIFT) paperwork and the draft contract with Corpus Christi Desalination Partners, LLC. Ask whether the failed vote changes any loan timeline, cancellation, or contract obligation, since the funding was tied to this ordinance.
Act before: After the next material record update
Compare desalination contract presentations before and after the failed vote
Why now: The item was tabled on June 2 on a motion by Council Member Hernandez, then failed 3-5 on September 1 with Vaughn, Hernandez, Campos, Paxson and Cantu voting against, and the official item wording changed between the two appearances.
What to do: Request the staff slide decks from the June 2 and September 1 council presentations and compare the project cost and rate impact slides. Also ask why the September 1 item added a briefing on unsolicited discharge and expansion options that the June 2 item did not include.
Act before: After the requested records are produced
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One-Reading ordinance awarding a Design-Build contract to Corpus Christi Desalination Partners, LLC for 60% design services, design and construction of the demonstration plant, and development and verification of the GMP in an amount up to $78,610,000.00 for the Inner Harbor Seawater Desalination Treatment Plant Project; appropriating funds and amending the FY 2026 Budget, with funding available from the State Water Implementation Fund for Texas (SWIFT), and Corpus Christi Desalination Partners, LLC briefing on unsolicited discharge and expansion options.
Vote: 3 for, 5 against, 1 absent
approve one-reading ordinance awarding design-build contract to Corpus Christi Desalination Partners (Inner Harbor desalination)
Public comment speakers (positions not stated in minutes): Henry Williams, Deanna King, Daniel Pena, Lamarcus Knox, Mark Muenster, Carolyn Koivula, Lamont Taylor, Dolly Trolley, Jeff Price, Bob Paulison, Rachel Caballero, Christina McKay, Eli McKay, Laramie Fain, Julian Hernandez, Chloe Torres, Andrea Puyol, Amanda Breland, James Perkins
Chief Operating Officer of Corpus Christi Water (CCW) Nick Winkelmann presented information on the following topics: discussion topics; current timeline; Corpus Christi Desal Partners; project timeline; project cost breakdown; current rate comparison; projected costs and rate impact; cost allocation; new water supply projects; SWIFT loan current timeline and next steps; SWIFT loan interest savings; SWIFT loan cancellation and financial effect; sample defeasance transaction; next steps; and recommendation. City Manager Peter Zanoni, COO Winkelmann, Director of Finance Sergio Villasana, Assistant Director of CCW – Finance & Administration Utilities Treatment Kamil Taras, Attorney Janet Whitehead, Managing Director of Specialized Public Finance, Inc. Victor Quiroga, Vice President of Business Development at Acciona Efrain Rodriguez, and Director at Ardurra Dan Leyendecker responded to Council questions. Mayor Guajardo opened pubic comment. Michael Miller, Corpus Christi, TX, Rachel Caballero, Corpus Christi, TX, Dolly Gonzales Trolley, Corpus Christi, TX, Rene, Corpus Christi, TX, Carina Labretto, Corpus Christi, TX, Deanna King, Corpus Christi, TX, Matthew Rankin, Corpus Christi, TX, Bradley Bartilson, Corpus Christi, TX, Julian Hernandez, Corpus Christi, TX, Nicholi Steen, Corpus Christi, TX, Paul Fritch, Portland, TX, Aline Trejo Chavez, Corpus Christi, TX, Laramie Fain, Corpus Christi, TX, James Perkins, Corpus Christi, TX, Maggie Peacock, Corpus Christi, TX, Alejandro Benavides, Corpus Christi, TX, Bob Paulison, Corpus Christi, TX, Gilbert Aguirre, Corpus Christi, TX, Christina McKay, Corpus Christi, TX, Amanda Breland, Corpus Christi, TX, Armon Alex, Corpus Christi, TX, Eli McKay, Corpus Christi, TX, Tina Butler, Corpus Christi, TX, and Beatriz Alvarado, Corpus Christi, TX, spoke. Mayor Guajardo closed pubic comment. Council Member Hernandez moved to table this Item until September 1, 2026, seconded by Council Member Cantu. This Item was tabled with the following vote:
Vote: 0 for, 0 against
Item continues beyond page 7; vote not visible in provided pages