City leaders detailed the long-term plan to consolidate public works at the Civitan site — but questions on its timing and cost remain.

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Corpus Christi leaders are considering a long-term plan to consolidate several city departments at the Civitan Service Center, located off Holly Road and Ayers Street.

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The city’s new 10-to-15-year master plan would eventually move eight departments — including streets, stormwater and traffic operations — into one centralized location. Public Works Director Ernie De La Garza says the move could improve efficiency and emergency response.

“So public works we have three groups: our stormwater group, our streets team and also our traffic team,” De La Garza said. “What this building will do for us is put all of those teams in one building. So you’re looking at 75 to 100 people. Currently we’re spaced out at City Hall, a portable building, sharing the solid waste building and the parks department. We’d like to get ourselves co-located so we can function more efficiently.”

City officials say the new complex would be designed to withstand a Category 4 hurricane — allowing critical staff to shelter in place and respond immediately after a storm.

“When Hurricane Beryl came, we were preparing for that weather event,” De La Garza said. “What this building will do for us is help us all shelter in place and as soon as the storm comes through, we are able to mobilize to start putting the city back together.”

The plan also includes moving Public Works’ stockpile yard — currently located behind Animal Care Services — to a new site across from the landfill transfer station. The relocation would free up land for Animal Care’s future expansion.

But not everyone on City Council is convinced the project should be a priority. District 5 Councilman Gil Hernandez questioned the need for new facilities, saying remote work and technology have already improved communication across departments.

“With all of the remote working and connectivity with phones and laptops, it seems like that’s going backwards,” Hernandez said. “I don’t know if that’s the best way to describe it other than someone wanting a new building.”

Hernandez also noted that funding the project will require tough choices about what to prioritize.

“The building kind of stuff for us, or even City Hall — it’s nice to have, right? But you need to make sure you’re taking care of what’s important for the city,” he said. “We still have lots of roads we need to fix. It’s a balancing act.”

City Manager Peter Zanoni told Council during its Tuesday meeting that the project would likely be funded through future bond programs, done in phases over the next decade or more.

Each department that could relocate to the Civitan site will still need to submit individual plans before any bond money is appropriated for construction.