The Type B board voted to amend the FY2027 budget to appropriate $100,000 from the economic development fund to hire special counsel after staff said the city attorneys office is conflicted; a response to the lawsuit is due Nov. 23 and the amendment goes to city council Nov. 10.

Economic development staff reported August sales tax up 18.5% year-over-year, highlighted incentives for downtown and home-improvement programs, and connected airport growth to industrial recruitment strategies.

Economic development staff reported August sales tax up 18.5% year-over-year, FY26-to-date collections at 125.3% of budget, highlighted progress at the Amazon and Terra CO2 projects and said the city will continue three incentive programs funded at $110,000 in FY2027.

The Economic Development Corporation reported roughly $2.8M in contributions toward acquiring and improving a conference center site at Compass by Margaritaville, performance agreements supporting mental‑wellness services and yacht club renovations, and a proposed Medjool palm median project with funding not to exceed $185,000.

Dr. Brian Gulley, who testified remotely as a rebuttal witness, said he opposed the Homewood Suites incentive at CCREDC, described the board's discussion as "spirited," and said the FEMA rule changes cited at council were not newly defined.

CCREDC staff told the tribunal their RIMS 2 analysis recommended about $1,043,000 for the Homewood Suites project; depositions and staff testimony show the applicant presented a FEMA screenshot with missing dates/reference that changed the FEMA-based rationale for a $2,000,000 ask.

In deposition, developer Philip Ramirez said the dates missing from a FEMA screenshot on his slide were the result of an accidental formatting error and not an effort to mislead the council. Counsel pressed whether the missing dates could have been concealed with deliberate edits; Ramirez denied intent.

Public petitioners and investigators accused a developer’s presentation slide of obscuring FEMA release dates used to justify a $2 million incentive. Developer Philip Ramirez said the missing dates were a formatting error; council withdrew the item while staff and investigators reviewed the record.

Council approved up to $2 million in Type B funds for an expanded Texas State Aquarium parking lot after hours of council questioning about whether the expense qualifies as "economic development." Supporters said the project will support tourism and regional businesses; critics urged using HOT or CIP funds or investing in sidewalks and small‑business aid instead.

EDC discusses performance agreements and funding strategies for potential projects and job creation.