Corpus Christi Mayor Paulette Guajardo returns to City Hall after 30-day suspension

Guajardo returned Tuesday as City Council prepares to tackle the budget, taxes, flood protection and other major issues.

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Corpus Christi Mayor Paulette Guajardo returned to City Hall Tuesday morning following a 30-day suspension, saying she is ready to move forward as the City Council prepares for a busy day of major decisions.

Guajardo walked into City Hall ahead of Tuesday’s 11 a.m. council meeting and briefly spoke about being back.

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“It’s awesome. I’m super happy to be back. It’s exciting,” Guajardo said. “We start a new day, we move forward, and we don’t look back.”

Guajardo also addressed her return in a Facebook post Tuesday morning, saying the past several weeks gave her time to “recharge, refocus and spend valuable time with my family.”

“This is a time to move forward with purpose, optimism and a renewed commitment to our city,” Guajardo wrote. “While others may choose division and distraction, I choose progress and purpose.”

She also addressed the city’s voters in the post.

“Now more than ever, I believe in the power of our democracy,” Guajardo wrote. “The people of Corpus Christi, and the people alone, will choose their Mayor.”

Guajardo ended the post by saying she was “back at City Hall, where you elected me to be,” and that her focus remains on the people of Corpus Christi.

Guajardo was formally reprimanded and suspended Aug. 7 following a four-day hearing over a petition seeking her removal from office.

Her return comes on a busy day at City Hall, with council members expected to take up the city budget, property taxes, flood protection and several other major issues. Among them, the council is scheduled to take final votes on the city’s 2026-27 operating and capital budgets and a property tax rate of $0.599774 per $100 of property value.

Council will also consider spending up to $13.85 million on floodwall upgrades near the Corpus Christi Museum of Science and History. The project would include flood protection and pedestrian improvements. Two other issues are expected to be discussed behind closed doors. One involves the city’s pursuit of groundwater in San Patricio County, including possible agreements involving property or groundwater rights.

Council is also expected to privately discuss the Next Sports Company recreational sports complex, including the status of its city incentive agreement and allegations involving unauthorized water use and other potential violations.

Another item involves senior rental housing at 5501 Huntwick Avenue and potentially putting $1 million from the city’s Type B Affordable Housing Fund toward the project.

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