Wasting no time: Corpus Christi kickstarts $75M bond program that voters approved Nov. 3
Kathryn CargoThe city of Corpus Christi is already moving to implement the Bond 2020 Program, which was approved by voters less than a month ago.
Residents supported the $75 million bond package, which bond calls for 42 infrastructure projects. Voters passed it in the Nov. 3 municipal election with more than 70 percent approval.
Projects include $61 million in street improvements, $12 million in park improvements and $2 million for public safety projects.
"Within one month of the voters approving the bond program, the city is moving forward with this implementation, which is unprecedented, really," City Manager Peter Zanoni said. "A lot of (our bond) programs were implemented with such expediency."
"We want the community to realize that we're operating under different principles here at City Hall than we have in the past."
Monday, the city released a request for qualifications for a mass selection of engineering consultants for the design of all 22 street projects in the bond program. The nearly two dozen contracts are expected to be considered by the City Council in February. Design is slated to start in March 2021.
"It's a new technique," Zanoni said.
In past bond programs, the city would execute a different contract for each project.
"If we did it that way, we'd be going to council 22 times. And that means 22 meetings, 22 agenda Items," he said. "So, we're going to take all 22 in one meeting agenda."
"There's huge efficiencies that are achieved by doing it that way. And so being smart with our time is something we're trying to do as well. Because in the end, it's saving money for the taxpayer and getting more done for them quicker."
The request for the bond parks facilities projects is anticipated to be released in December. This request also will include other projects in the city's capital improvements plan. The contracts are expected to be mulled by council in March next year. Design would start in April.
The city's current property tax rate is just under 65 cents per $100 of valuation and remained unchanged when the bond was passed.
The life of the general obligation bond is 20 years.
Here are the projects:
Streets
- Comanche (Carancahua to Alameda) - $2.5 million
- Frontier (McKinzie to Rockwood) - $2.5 million
- Hearn (Callicoatte to Dead End) - $2.1 million
- Wildcat (Farm-to-market 624 to Teague) - $2.5 million
- Trinity River (FM 624 to Wood River) - $2.4 million
- Brownlee (Staples to Morgan) - $2.7 million
- Alameda (Texan Trail to Chamberlain) - $6.3 million
- Everhart (Staples to McArdle) - $4.5 million
- Airport (Morgan to Horne) - $5.7 million
- Carroll (Holly to Dead End) - $2.8 million
- Flato (Bates to Bear) - $4.2 million
- Everhart (Alameda to Staples) - $4.3 million
- Waldron (SPID to Purdue) - $3.95 million
- Jackfish (End of Aquarius to Park Road 22) - $900,000
- Park Rd 22 (Compass to Park Road 22) - $300,000
- Park Rd 22 – South Access Road (Commodore to Jackfish) - $1.6 million
- Encantada (Encantada to Nueces County Park) - $650,000
- Beach Access Rd No. 3 (SH361 to Beach) - $400,000
- Lipes (Sunwood to Staples) - $3.1 million
- Rodd Field (Yorktown to Adler) - $4.8 million
- Strasbourg (Grenoble to Marseille) - $2 million
- Yorktown - design only (Rodd Field to Oso Creek Bridge) - $1.9 million
Parks
- McNorton Park - $250,000
- Brookhill Park - $250,000
- Academy Park - $250,000
- Cupier Park - $250,000
- Sherwood Park - $250,000
- Sam Houston Park - $250,000
- Temple Park - $250,000
- Community Development Block Grant for Salinas Park - $1 million
- Windsor Park - $250,000
- Golden Oaks - $250,000
- Douden Park - $250,000
- Crossgate Park - $250,000
- Brighton Park - $250,000
- Brandywine Park - $250,000
- Capt. Falcon Park - $250,000
- Texas State Aquarium - Rescue Center - $3 million
- North Beach restrooms and facilities - $2.5 million
- Bill Witt City Park – pool and facilities - $1 million
- West Guth Park enhancements - $2 million
Public safety
- Fire Station #3 – Morgan Street (design only) - $750,000
- Police training academy (design only) - $1.25 million
Kathryn Cargo follows business openings and developments while reporting on impacts of the city government’s decisions.See our subscription options and special offers at Caller.com/subscribe.
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