Municue

Case File 26-1129

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Ordinance amending Corpus Christi Code Section 55-100 regarding wastewater rates for all customer classes effective January 1, 2027.

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site_specificCity Council
This ordinance would amend Corpus Christi Code Section 55-100 to set new wastewater rates for all customer classes, taking effect January 1, 2027. The change would apply to every category of wastewater customer served by the city.
2 eventsFirst seen Jul 21, 2026Last activity Jul 28, 2026File #: 26-1129
Topics
utilities
policy
tax

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Actions

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Attorney

Obtain adopted wastewater rate ordinance and second reading tally

Why now: The first reading on July 21, 2026 records a specific 8-1 tally with Guajardo against, while the July 28, 2026 second-reading entry states the ordinance passed but does not show the member-by-member vote.

What to do: Request the certified adopted ordinance text plus the recorded second-reading vote from the July 28 meeting, and compare the adopted rate schedule against the rates presented at first reading on July 21. If the two differ, you need to know now whether the change was made between readings, and the minutes as written do not answer that.

Act before: After the certified ordinance and second-reading vote record are produced

Source: City Council — Jul 28, 2026 →
Developer

Reprice projects against new 2027 commercial wastewater rates

Why now: Staff presented separate residential and commercial proposed rates on July 21, 2026, and the ordinance applies to all customer classes effective January 1, 2027.

What to do: Get the adopted commercial wastewater rate schedule and rerun operating cost assumptions for any project delivering or stabilizing after January 1, 2027, including escalator language in ground leases and net leases that passes utility costs through. Underwriting built on current rates will understate expenses from that date forward.

Act before: January 1, 2027

Source: City Council — Jul 28, 2026 →
Journalist

Ask why council member reversed on wastewater rate ordinance

Why now: Cantu seconded the motion at the July 21 first reading and then pulled the item to vote no at the July 28 second reading, and the 8-1 first-reading tally lists Guajardo as the sole no.

What to do: Ask Council Member Cantu why he seconded the rate ordinance on July 21 and then pulled the same item to vote no on July 28, and ask Mayor Guajardo to explain his no vote on first reading. Also request Nick Winkelmann's presentation slides covering the sample utility bill impact and the FY 2020 to FY 2027 rate comparison, which were shown but not summarized in the minutes.

Act before: After the requested records are produced

Source: City Council — Jul 28, 2026 →
Resident

Check how your wastewater bill changes in January 2027

Why now: The ordinance sets wastewater rates for all customer classes effective January 1, 2027, and the minutes for both July 21 and July 28, 2026 record no public comment.

What to do: The new wastewater rates apply to all customer classes starting January 1, 2027, so pull the sample utility bill impact figures from the July 21 staff presentation and compare them to your current bill before the first affected statement arrives. No resident spoke at either the first or second reading, so this passed without any public input on the record.

Act before: January 1, 2027

Source: City Council — Jul 28, 2026 →

Trust Proof

What we said then vs what happened next

We said (Jul 23, 2026):

Lobby Corpus Christi Council before wastewater rate vote

What happened (Jul 28, 2026):

Pass

We said (Jul 23, 2026):

Check your Corpus Christi wastewater bill increase

What happened (Jul 28, 2026):

Pass

We said (Jul 23, 2026):

Investigate silent public comment on Corpus Christi rate hike

What happened (Jul 28, 2026):

Pass

We said (Jul 23, 2026):

Object now to Corpus Christi wastewater rate hike

What happened (Jul 28, 2026):

Pass

Timeline

Hearing
Pass

Council Member Cantu pulled this Item to vote no. Mayor Guajardo opened public comment. There were no comments from the Council or the public. Mayor Guajardo closed public comment. Council Member Barrera moved to approve the ordinance, seconded by Council Member Scott. This Ordinance was passed on second reading and approved with the following vote:

Vote
Passed on first reading and approved: 8 to 1

Ordinance amending Corpus Christi Code Section 55-100 regarding wastewater rates for all customer classes effective January 1, 2027.

Vote: 8 for, 1 against

approve the ordinance amending wastewater rates