CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Residents made their voices heard after learning the Dr. Clotilde P. Garcia Public Library and the Oso Wetlands Learning Center were targeted to close to help the City regain balance from a recent budget shortfall.
The news of the proposed closures even caught council members off guard.
Overnight Wednesday, a petition on Change.org was signed by 1,500 residents to fight the planned closure on the Oso Wetlands Learning center.
"We were all shocked and so I'm glad the community is raising their voices because that is where the power is," Councilmember Sylvia Campos said.
Zanoni said efforts are being made to compromise with residents while still being mindful of the budget.
"We're developing alternative proposals that may make the center operate in fewer hours but still keep it open," he said. "It might not be the full schedule we have today, but something less than that."
Councilman Mike Pusley said the City is also looking to see if one of the college's in town or CCISD is interested in running the learning program at the wetlands.
Meanwhile, officials say the Garcia Library proposed closure is being worked out between the City and CCISD. The library sits next to Kaffie Middle School and has been opened since 2009.
Councilman Mike Pusley said a deal is in the works that would keep the library up and running.
"So, CCISD has agreed to take that building over in a property swap," he said. "They have some excess property they don't need and we're going to work with them to swapping that piece of property; so I think the Garcia library will remain open."
The City does still plan on eventually building a new library on the City's southside to replace the original.
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