City Responds to Employee Outburst during City Council Meeting
Shortly after the incident, the employee admitted fault and personally apologized for their actions to the City Manager.
Press Release
Corpus Christi – During Tuesday’s regularly scheduled City Council meeting, there was an incident involving a City employee who used an expletive aimed at the City Manager while the employee was participating online in the council meeting.
Shortly after the incident, the employee admitted fault and personally apologized for their actions to the City Manager. The City has accepted the employee’s resignation and wishes them the best in their future endeavors.
“The City of Corpus Christi expects professionalism in its employees at all times whether interacting in person or on online. The City will continue to keep and hold staff accountable for any action that is detrimental to the organization,” said City Manager Peter Zanoni.
Ocean Drive Restoration Project Nearing Final Approval
Corpus Christi’s most scenic route will soon undergo a much-needed restoration improving mobility and connectivity for the 14 mile stretch from IH 37 to Ennis Joslin Road.
Press Release
Credit: Gabriela Morrow
CORPUS CHRISTI – Ocean Drive, Corpus Christi’s most scenic route will soon undergo a much-needed restoration improving mobility and connectivity for the 14 mile stretch from IH 37 to Ennis Joslin Road.
At the Council meeting on August 25, Mayor Joe McComb and City Council Members approved, on first reading, a construction contract with Haas-Anderson Construction, LTD., of Corpus Christi for the mill and overlay of Ocean Drive from Louisiana Avenue to Ennis Joslin Road. The $10.4 million contract includes the milling of all road surfaces, base repair as needed, and new asphalt pavement including all bike lanes, traffic signs, pavement markings, minor curb and gutter improvements.
Additional work is planned at Ocean Drive and Shoreline Drive from IH 37 to Lomax Street. This area has been approved for repair and has been awarded to Bay Limited.
City Council’s final approval for the Hass-Anderson contract is scheduled for September 2020. Both the Bay Limited and Haas-Anderson Construction projects will be performed concurrently beginning in October of 2020 and completed in the Summer of 2021.
A groundbreaking ceremony for the project is scheduled for a date in October with construction starting shortly thereafter.
Corpus Christi - Filing for City Council Approaches
The last day Corpus Christi residents can file an application for a place on the ballot is Monday, August 17, 2020, at 5:00 p.m.
Press Release
CORPUS CHRISTI - City Secretary Rebecca L. Huerta reminds everyone that the City election for mayor and three at-large and five district council member positions will be held on November 3, 2020.
The last day Corpus Christi residents can file an application for a place on the ballot is Monday, August 17, 2020, at 5:00 p.m. Candidate information, including an application form and the requirements for filing are available on the City Secretary’s webpage, under 2020 Election Central, at www.cctexas.com or in the City Secretary’s Office, 1st Floor, City Hall, 1201 Leopard Street.
Note: The City Secretary’s Office is closed to the general public and is operating at minimum staffing due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Individuals are strongly encouraged to make an appointment, or, at a minimum, should call the City Secretary’s Office at 361-826-3105 before coming to City Hall. To reduce the chance of COVID-19 transmission, individuals:
• are subject to a temperature check upon entering City Hall;
• are required to wear a face-covering while in City Hall; and
• must observe social distancing.
For more information, contact the City Secretary’s Office at (361) 826-3105.
Preliminary Charter Recommendations
The Corpus Christi City Council appointed ad hoc committee who met over 10 months resulting in recommendations for six proposed charter propositions and four additional items suited for Council policy or budget action.
Press Release
CORPUS CHRISTI, TX - The Charter Review Ad Hoc Committee has released their preliminary report to gather feedback from the public. The City Council appointed ad hoc committee who met over 10 months resulting in recommendations for six proposed charter propositions and four additional items suited for Council policy or budget action. Citizens are encouraged to provide feedback at www.cctexas.com/charter. Once feedback is gathered and evaluated, the committee will present a final report to City Council.
The preliminary report defines the committee objectives, guiding values, methodology, proposed propositions, recommendations, and proposed ballot language. The committee followed a discover – discussion – decision making process which involved rigorous debates that occurred on each item. The Committee members included: Toby Hammett Futrell, Philip Ramirez, Chad Magill, Oscar Martinez, Rick Milby, Aaron Munoz, Shirley Thornton, Bob White, and John Wilson.
The ad hoc committee preliminary recommendations include:
Proposition #1: Single Member Districts with Longer, Staggered Council Terms
Change the current election mixed system of five single member districts, three at-large positions by plurality, and mayor at-large, all with to two-year non-staggered terms to a new system of eight single member districts and mayor at-large, all with 4-year staggered terms.
Alternative Option / Recommendation #1 include exploring a State Constitutional Amendment through the City’s future legislative agendas to eliminate the constitution requirements that trigger when any Texas city adopts council terms longer than two years.
Proposition #2 Mayor and Council Compensation
Change the Mayor’s annual salary from $9,000 to $18,000 and City Council Members’ salary from $6,000 to $12,000. Include an escalator to adjust salaries every two years by that year’s unadjusted U.S. All Items Consumer Price Index (CPI).
Proposition #3: Definition of a Term and Term Limits
No person shall serve more than four terms as a council member, more than four terms as a mayor or more than six terms in a combination of said offices. Term limits are lifetime term limits. If a person serves one or more days of any term, that service shall be considered service for the entirely of the term. Any term served at any time, including a term served prior to the approval of this subsection, shall apply to this subsection. The provision shall not prohibit any council member or mayor from completing any term that begins in 2020 or 2021.
Proposition #4: Initiative/Referendum Signature Requirement
Clarify that signatures are required on statements of intent to commence either initiative or referendum proceedings.
Proposition #5: Consistent Zoning Approval
Delete the requirement that zoning ordinances presented to Council for approval require a two-third affirmative vote during the 30 days before the regular election and extending until the newly elected council members take office. These same zoning ordinances require a simple majority vote any other time of the year.
Proposition #6: Removing a Council Member from Office
Delete the charter provision that allows as few as five registered voters to initiate a Council action to remove a council member from office. Currently a council member can be removed by simple majority vote of other council members. Change to require six affirmative votes for other council members to overturn an election by removing an elected council member from office.
Recommendation #2: Financial Transparency
Amend the City Financial Policy to require intradepartmental budget transfers within the same fund to be included in the City’s Quarterly Budget Report which is presented to Council every three months and maintain on the City’s website for public review.
Recommendation #3: Financial Transparency
Expand the reporting of contracts under $50,000 for greater scrutiny through a City Financial Policy Amendment. Lower the threshold of $50,000 to include more city contracts reported and maintained in searchable format on the City website.
Recommendation #4: Council Staff Support
The provision of dedicated, paid staff resources to support council members is better handled as a policy issue through the annual budget process rather than through a charter requirement.