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<\/p>\nCORPUS CHRISTI, TX \u2014 A Corpus Christi City Council meeting that stretched past 2:00 a.m. ended without a decision on the future of the Inner Harbor desalination project.<\/p>\n
What was intended to either award or deny a $78.6 million contract to advance Inner Harbor desal to 60% of design was tabled until September 1st in a 7-2 vote.<\/p>\n
Corpus Christi city council tables Inner Harbor desalination vote until September after 15-hour meeting<\/p>\n
“I would make a motion to table this until September 1st,” City Councilmember Gil Hernandez of District 5 said.<\/p>\n
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Drew Bishop<\/p>\n
Results of the Inner Harbor desal vote<\/p>\n
Hernandez cited concerns about the project’s financial scope and the uncertainty surrounding contracts with large-volume water users.<\/p>\n
“We don’t have secured contracts with large volume water users. This is going to be a billion dollars on top of the other billion dollars we’re spending on all three of those projects: The groundwater project, the brackish water desal project, and the wastewater reuse project,” Hernandez said.<\/p>\n
Mayor Paulette Guajardo was one of the two no votes. She pleaded with the council to reconsider tabling the vote but did not have the numbers.<\/p>\n
“It’s over 10 years. People before me worked on it. It’s frustrating to continue to not take the vote, and continue to move forward,” Guajardo said.<\/p>\n
Doubt surrounding the Inner Harbor project grew throughout the night. District 3 Councilmember Eric Cantu also raised concerns about the lack of secured contracts with large-volume users.<\/p>\n
“You want us to approve this project with no contracts!” Cantu said.<\/p>\n
Skepticism also emerged over the far field model after a group of scientists, some from the Harte Research Institute, said the environmental study did not properly evaluate Inner Harbor’s effects on marine life<\/a>. At-Large Councilmember Mark Scott weighed in on the need for further study.<\/p>\n “If there’s this conversation to go forward but also have a conversation about finishing these studies,” Scott said.<\/p>\n Public comment, which lasted five hours, reflected the deep divisions over the project.<\/p>\n “This clown show of this inner harbor desal is ridiculous,” one commenter said.<\/p>\n Others urged the council to act.<\/p>\n “Move forward with the only fully permitted long-term solution in inner harbor desalination,” another commenter said.<\/p>\n The meeting ended without the council reaching a decision on the project that could shape the future of Corpus Christi’s water supply, for better or for worse.<\/p>\n City leaders say they still want to vote on Inner Harbor desal, but want more clarity on the environmental impacts and the future water demands the city will face. <\/p>\n They’re set to have their next chance to vote on September 1st.<\/p>\n For the latest local news updates, click here<\/a>, or download the KRIS 6 News App. <\/a><\/p>\n