HomeMy WebLinkAbout023176 RES - 12/23/1997A RESOLUTION
DIRECTING THE CITY MANAGER TO PREPARE AND
FILE WITH THE U.S. BUREAU OF RECLAMATION
COMMENTS ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF CORPUS
CHRISTI SUPPORTING THE PROPOSED TRANSFER OF
TITLE TO THE PALMETTO BEND PROJECT (LAKE
TEXANA) FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO THE
LAVACA-NAVIDAD RIVER AUTHORITY; AND
DIRECTING DISTRIBUTION OF THIS RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, although the Palmetto Bend Project (Lake Texana) was constructed
by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (BuRec), which still holds title to the lands and facilities
associated with the project, the right to impound and divert State waters from the project is held
by the Lavaca-Navidad River Authority (LNRA) and the Texas Water Development Board
(TWDB), who, together, are the local co-sponsors of the project; and
WHEREAS, LNRA, an agency of the State of Texas, created by the Texas
Legislature, operates and maintains the lands and facilities associated with the project and, by
virtue of their ownership of the water rights, contracts with other entities, corporations and
individuals for the sale of water from the project for municipal and industrial water use; and
WHEREAS, the City of Corpus Christi has contracted with LNRA for the annual
purchase of 41,840 acre-feet per year of water from Lake Texana and, in exchange, is obligated
to pay LNRA a proportional share of the annual debt service and operating and maintenance
(O&M) expenses associated with Lake Texana; and
WHEREAS, LNRA is making annual debt service payments to the the BuRec to
repay the local share of the project costs; and
WHEREAS, there exists a duplication of management activities between LNRA
and BuRec, resulting in additional expense to both the water customers of LNRA and the federal
taxpayers; and
WHEREAS, a proposal has been made by LNRA to acquire title to lands and
facilities associated with Lake Texana that are now in federal ownership in order to more cost
effectively operate the project and reduce the cost of water provided by the project; and
WHEREAS, LNRA has committed to operating the project facilities associated
with Lake Texana, after title transfer, so as to continue to provide all of the originally authorized
project benefits and purposes; and
WHEREAS, the transfer of title to Lake Texana project facilities to LNRA would
have no negative impact on the water purchase contract between the City and LNRA, but, rather,
would significantly lower the cost of the water acquired by the City under this contract;
,WJU(UFILMED 123176
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS:
SECTION 1. That the City Manager be directed to prepare and submit comments
on behalf of the City of Corpus Christi to the U. S. Bureau of Reclamation supporting the
proposed transfer of title to project lands and facilities associated with the Lake Texana project
from the federal government to the Lavaca-Navidad River Authority; and
SECTION 2. That the Bureau of Reclamation is urged to favorably consider the
request by LNRA for title transfer; and
SECTION 3. That copies of this resolution be sent to the Honorable Senator Phil
Gramm; the Honorable Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison; the Honorable Representative Solomon
Ortiz; the Honorable Representative Dr. Ron Paul; the Regional Director of the U.S. Bureau of
Reclamation; the General Manager of the Lavaca-Navidad River Authority; the Executive
Administrator of the Texas Water Development Board; and the Honorable Harrison Stafford, II,
County Judge in Jackson County.
ATTEST:
pay viu4,�
, City SecretafJy Samuel L. Neal, Jr.
wry V TIQ✓P1 , Asst • Mayor, City of Corpus Christi
APPROVED: 1 & DAY OF 1 , 1997
JAMES R. BRAY, JR., CITY ATTORNEY
By:
Corpus Christi, Texas
a3id day of 0,(fr1 ,/t , 19 97
The above resolution was passed by the following vote:
Loyd Neal
Melody Cooper
Alex L. Garcia, Jr.
Arnold Gonzales
Betty Jean Longoria
John Longoria
Edward A. Martin
Dr. David McNichols