The vote comes after scientists withdrew from analyzing the Inner Harbor Desalination project’s impact on marine life.
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Corpus Christi City Council voted 5-4 Tuesday against accepting a private donation that would have paid for the city’s application for a federal grant that would support the proposed Inner Harbor desalination project.
The donation, offered by Voices for Coastal Bend Energy, would have covered an estimated $50,000 to $55,000 cost to hire a contractor to prepare an application for the Bureau of Reclamation’s WaterSMART Desalination Grant, which could provide millions of dollars in federal funding for the project.
The vote came after the council had previously declined to pursue the grant, with some members citing the staff time and financial expense required to complete the application.
Tuesday’s discussion also included an update from City Manager Peter Zanoni, who said three scientists who had previously agreed to conduct an independent review of the project’s far-field study have suddenly withdrawn from the effort.
RELATED: Scientists back out of review for Inner Harbor desalination project study
The scientists, representing the Harte Research Institute, the Coastal Bend Bays & Estuaries Program and The University of Texas Marine Science Institute, had planned to evaluate the far-field study, which analyzed the desalination project’s potential impacts on salinity, and translate that data into how it would impact marine life.
Mayor Paulette Guajardo said accepting the donation would have allowed the city to seek outside funding without placing additional costs on residents.
“It’s important because this affects the ratepayer. Doing our due diligence as a council and as the mayor, means going out and looking for money, for grant money that you don’t have to pay back,” Guajardo said. “The cost to apply is $50 to $55,000 dollars, and I mean, I think that’s a pretty good bet.”
Councilwoman Carolyn Vaughn questioned why the three scientists decided not to continue their review.
“I think there’s a reason they stopped it, and so you’ve got to wonder where the pressure came from that they backed out,” Vaughn said. “So they got pressure from someone, and the question is why would you pressure them not to do the study to protect the bay?”
Zanoni said city staff sought direction from the council during Tuesday’s meeting on how to move forward following the scientists’ withdrawal and the vote on the proposed donation.
With a City Council vote on the proposed Inner Harbor desalination project expected in September, Zanoni said city staff and council members will need to determine the next steps before that vote.
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