New Factors Cloud Coliseum Deal with Brass

Additional facts have surfaced relating to the Brass deal that may complicate the City's efforts to move forward with a contract.

In addition to the park, recreation and open space master plan, the bayfront master plan (see related article below) the City's future land use map indicates the area is park or public-semi-public open space. The Future Use Plan is part of the Comprehensive Master Plan and would require a Council ordinance to change it.

The plan also faces financing problems if the status of the land as park continues to come into question. A title company, that chooses to remain anonymous, after being sent information on the plan and the historical documents, states that it would probably take a public vote to claify the status of the land, before they could establish a clear enough title for Brass to be cable to get financing for the project.

Further the Brass plan for a restaraunt at the end of a new pier would require dealing with a City Charter provision; "Sec. 2 (a) (3) No lease covering any property of the city which lies under the waters of Corpus Christi Bay and was patented to the city by the State of Texas shall be granted for a term of more than five years unless approved by a majority of the qualified voters of the city, voting at an election duly called for such purpose, provided that leases for the construction on use of boat slips or docking facilities maybe granted for not more than fifteen years without the necessity of an election required by this section." Such a pier or restaraunt would also require a Corps of Engineers permit, no small feat.