The Brownsville City Commission has approved disannexing 444.45 acres from city limits and jurisdiction and enter into a memorandum of understanding with SpaceX to expand water infrastructure.

The city held a special commissioners' meeting on Saturday at 4 p.m. that lasted six hours.

A representative for SpaceX, Sheila McCorkle, said the company would not accept the MOU without the approval of the disannexation. Both agenda items had to be approved simultaneously.

Officials said the property SpaceX is looking to get disannexed is not owned by the city. The land is owned by 48 different families or trust members.

The acres are also zoned as either heavy industrial or agricultural and the total value of the property is $3,968.

The meeting began with public comment in which 30 people were allowed to speak either for or against the disannexation.

"We shouldn't have to be here on a Saturday because of SpaceX. It's absolutely ridiculous. It's clear that this agenda item is being rushed through on such short notice for the benefit of SpaceX and at the expense of our low-income people here in Brownsville," South Texas Environmental Justice Network member Becca Hinojosa said.

Hinojosa also said that not enough information on the disannexation was provided to the public.

McCorkle also spoke during public comment and said the land SpaceX is seeking to get disannexed is tucked between the Port of Brownsville and other industrial areas. She said the reason they are seeking to expand in that area is so they could take advantage of the shipping channel and port operations.

"The reason we're asking to deannex it is because right now there are no services provided by the city in this area. There are no utilities or other critical services, and so in partnership with the city of Starbase, we can bring these services online quicker and more economically," McCorkle said. "Which is why, in part, we would like to commit to spending up to $220 million to help expand the water infrastructure for Brownsville and the greater area."

McCorkle said the partnership with the Brownsville Public Utilities Board would greatly expand water resources for decades to come and investing in the infrastructure that will allow Brownsville to grow alongside Starbase.

More people spoke during public comment, with some claiming this project was being rushed and not enough information was being provided while others noted the economic impact from SpaceX has benefitted the Brownsville community.

A presentation on the MOU, or Project Quantum, was given during the meeting. The project would invest in the city's regional water sources and double the city's capacity to produce water for the region.

Two projects were proposed under Project Quantum, the Potable Reuse Wastewater Reclamation Project and the SRWA Plant expansion.

The Potable Reuse Wastewater Reclamation Project would increase the city's water supply by eight million gallons per day. It is designed to secure the wastewater treatment plant to be able to produce those eight million gallons.

The estimated cost of the project is $40 million, but only $12.7 million has been secured in grants from the Texas Water Development Board. The estimated completion of the project would be 2030.

The MOU would allow the project to be funded and move forward.

The SRWA plant expansion project is estimated to cost $202 million and would increase the city's water capacity from 10 million gallons per day to 20 million gallons of water per day.

The project would consist of reconstructing 20 wells and the construction of two new wells and would upgrade and increase the capacity of the microfiltration system.

The project is pending design due to lack of funding, but with the agreement with SpaceX, BPUB would be able to move things forward to expedite design and engineering.

SpaceX has proposed to invest $220 million in the qualifying projects. Officials said within 30 days of signing the agreement if the MOU and disannexation are approved, SpaceX will deposit into an escrow agreement $40 million that will be used for the Potable Reuse Wastewater Reclamation Project.

The remaining $180 million will be paid in six quarterly installments once the SRWA Plant expansion project is able to move forward.

The money would be controlled by an escrow agreement and be put into a reserve fund so it cannot be used for other projects.

Once the presentations were finished, the commissioners expressed how they do not want to be in a place where the community is suffering because they do not have water.

"It is our top priority to make sure that we have enough water for the citizens of Brownsville," Commissioner Gustavo De Leon said. "I think we need to find the money where we can get it to be able to provide and make sure our citizens, our families, our kids are not having to worry about taking a bath, washing dishes, washing clothes or anything."

Brownsville Mayor John Cowen said the disannexation could still happen through the court system if the commissioners do not approve it.

"About a week and half ago, this opportunity came to the city. Basically, SpaceX wants to move quickly and they're willing to provide water sustainability for our community. That's the deal that we have in front of us. This is a very unique thing that the city does. We don't hold special meetings like this. This is not how we operate normally, I want to make that very clear. But I think it's incumbent upon this commission to entertain this because it has a tremendous impact to the city of Brownsville, to our future, future generations," Cowen said. "It's a very heavy decision on this commission to entertain. It is rushed. I wish we had another month or two to work it out, but this is a take-it-or-leave-it-deal."

The commissioners went into executive session twice during the meeting to discuss the agenda items. In the end, they approved the disannexation and the MOU with SpaceX.