Ricardo "Rick" Garza
About
Ricardo 'Rick' Garza's platform centers on essential infrastructure improvements, specifically focusing on water utility upgrades and road maintenance within District 4. His priorities reflect a commitment to addressing the immediate physical needs of his constituents through active project oversight and community engagement.
Campaign promises (2)
- infrastructureGarza is committed to overseeing the completion of the Jefferson water line project to improve local utility infrastructure.Related votes
- infrastructureGarza supports the ongoing road improvement efforts on Kearney Street to enhance neighborhood connectivity and safety.
Voice
- Meetings spoken in
- 24
- Total speaking time
- 3:26:32
- Avg per meeting
- 8:36
- Segments
- 4886
Want every word Garza has said?
The OpenCity MCP for Claude.ai answers questions like “what has Garza said about housing this year” with one prompt — full speaking history, with YouTube timestamps.
Top issues during term (20)
emergency preparedness
The city's spending on emergency services will go up to keep these shelters running.
Water Service Reliability
Substantial capital and operating expenses associated with pipeline infrastructure and reverse osmosis water treatment.
Police Surveillance Technology
$11.1 million federal grant with no local matching requirement.
Water Infrastructure and Public Communication
Part of nearly $1 billion in identified long-term water system capital improvement investments.
mayoral election
City spending will likely shift toward massive infrastructure and water system overhauls if his platform gains traction.
Animal Welfare and Cruelty Enforcement
Potential future resource allocation for shared databases or training programs.
Border Infrastructure and Flood Safety
Potential costs associated with independent flood studies and mitigation measures.
Health Insurance Sustainability
Involves a projected $12.4 million healthcare cost increase and adjustments to employee premium contributions.
Data Center Development
Potential long-term impacts on industrial tax base versus municipal resource consumption.
Water Quality and Infrastructure
Potential long-term savings on water acquisition costs through increased market competition.
City Facility Climate Control
Property-specific improvement costs borne by the applicant.
Residential and Commercial Subdivisions & Master Plans
Expands the city's tax base and increases future municipal service obligations.
Border Wall and Buoy Safety
The potential cost of infrastructure damage and emergency response could be significant.
bulky item clean-up
It's a free city service, meaning your tax dollars are already covering the cost to haul away your heavy junk.
Tax Year 2026 Proposed Tax Rate
Generates an estimated tax levy of $140,577,516, with median homestead taxes rising from $985.49 to $1,062.26 due to increased property valuations.
TxDOT Highway Construction and 2027 UTP Project Rollout
Hundreds of millions in state and federal funds are actively being invested in Laredo regional highway infrastructure.
Public Safety Labor Negotiations
The proposed budget totals $1.02 billion across all city funds.
Hiring and Workforce Retention
Improving retention and internal promotion could reduce costs associated with recruitment and training.
public facility opening
Taxpayer dollars funded this massive project, so expect to see that investment in action with new amenities.
Data Center Development
Unknown at this stage of code review.
Moved or seconded (27)
Motions Garza personally put forward or seconded. Attribution comes from the minutes; where the minutes name somebody we cannot match to the roster we leave it out rather than guess, so this is a floor, not a total.
- secondedpassed 7-02026-07-27
Motion to approve Final Reading of Ordinances 45-52.
- secondedpassed 0-02026-07-27
Motion to deny.
- movedpassed 7-02026-06-26
Motion to approve.
- movedpassed 7-02026-06-26
26-C-106 Discussion with possible action to allocate $150,000 from District 4 Priority Funds to the Lupita Cortez Memorial Community Wellness & Recreation & Complex at the Lyon Water Tanks; and any matter incident thereto
Title matched to the agenda, not quoted from the motion
- secondedpassed 9-02026-06-15
Motion to table and bring back on the following City Council meeting.
- secondedpassed 5-02026-06-15
Motion to approve Appointments 9-16, while amending number 12 to read " Municipal Hospital Authority Ad-Hoc Committee.
- secondedpassed 9-02026-06-01
Utilities Compliance Measures
Title matched to the agenda, not quoted from the motion
- secondedpassed 6-02026-06-01
Motion to adjourn at 9:48 p.m.
- secondedpassed 6-02026-06-01
Motion to send this letter with these points to Commissioner.
- movedpassed 6-02026-06-01
Motion to table and bring back on the following City Council meeting.
- secondedpassed 6-02026-06-01
Motion to approve.
- secondedpassed 6-02026-06-01
Motion to table items 62-63 and bring back on the following City Council meeting.
- secondedpassed 7-02026-05-04
Motion to close and introduce and bring back on the following City Council meeting.
- secondedpassed 7-02026-05-04
Motion to table and bring back on the following City Council meeting.
- secondedpassed2026-05-04
Motion to approve.
- secondedpassed 7-02026-05-04
Motion to approve final reading of ordinances #19-33 with the exception of #32.
- movedpassed2026-05-04
Motion to approve.
- secondedpassed2026-05-04
Motion to approve the Consent agenda items 35-56, with the exception of items 48, 49.
- secondedpassed 7-32026-05-04
Motion to deny.
- secondedpassed 8-02026-04-20
Motion to approve 60-61.
Decisions during term (495)
Recorded while Garza was in office — not necessarily decisions they moved, spoke to, or voted on.
Approval of Consent Agenda Items
State Legislative Agenda Adoption
Model Cities Initiative Grant Application Ratification
REC26-86 Recognizing the Laredo Buzz Basketball Team for their outstanding achievement in becoming the 2026 City of Laredo A-Division Summer League Champions. The Laredo Buzz demonstrated teamwork, dedication, and athletic excellence…
REC26-88 The City of Laredo Mayor and Council recognize Adrian Cazares for his entrepreneurship.
26-1706 Public Hearing and Introductory Ordinance amending the Zoning Ordinance (Map) of the City of Laredo by authorizing the issuance of a conditional use permit for an auto body shop (collision center) on Lot 5, Block 1787, Eastern…
26-1741 Public Hearing and Introductory Ordinance altering the boundary limits of the City of Laredo by disannexing a tract of land approximately 288.1 acres, more or less, located at 6902 US Highway 83 South (within Porcion 43, Abstract…
26-1771 An Ordinance amending the City of Laredo’s Code of Ordinance Chapter 20, Municipal Court, Article I, Establishment of the Court, Article II, Presiding Municipal Court Judge, Article III, Court Personnel, providing for updates, and…
26-1892 An Ordinance amending the City of Laredo Code of Ordinances, Chapter 7, Article II, Section 7-20, “Administration”, creating a section to establish the registration, approval, and authorization of third-party inspectors to perform…
2026-O-196 An Ordinance of the City of Laredo, Texas, amending division 3. - cost, fees, and enforcement, section 28-215, of the code of ordinances land development code to establish and codify fees charged to the public for overtime…
2026-O-194 An Ordinance of the City of Laredo, authorizing the City Manager to amend Community Development Department’s FY2026-2027 annual budget by increasing revenues and expenditures in the amount of $250,000 for the Texas Veterans…
2026-O-195 An Ordinance, as amended, Of The City Of Laredo, Texas, Amending Chapter 28, Article IX, “Public Right-Of-Way Management,” Of The Laredo Code Of Ordinances By Amending Sections 28-165, 28-167, 28-176, 28-178, 28-181, 28-205,…
2026-O-197 An Ordinance of the City of Laredo, Texas, amending the Zoning Ordinance (Map) of the City of Laredo by authorizing the issuance of a conditional use permit for a heavy machinery retail sales and services and wholesales of…
2026-O-199 An Ordinance of the City Laredo, Texas, renaming the Municipal Hospital Authority Ad-Hoc Committee as the Community Healthcare Advisory Committee; providing for continuity of the Committee, its current membership, appointments,…
2026-O-202 An Ordinance of the City of Laredo, Texas, Amending the Zoning Ordinance (Map) of the City of Laredo by rezoning approximately 5.2 acres, as further described by metes and bounds in attached Exhibit A, located south of Lomas Del…
26-1655 Consideration to approve the selection of Hachar Media, Laredo, TX for contract FY26-071 Advertising Services Concession at the Laredo International Airport, and authorization to enter into negotiations with Hachar Media for a…
2026-R-230 A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Laredo, Texas authorizing and approving a fee waiver and a tax abatement agreement between the City of Laredo and PAVE Investments, LLC for a proposed multi-family project located…
2026-R-231 A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Laredo, Texas rescinding Resolution No. 2025-R-69, which authorized the execution of a Chapter 380 Economic Development Agreement between the City of Laredo and ARMS, LTD. and its…
2026-R-235 A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Laredo, Texas authorizing and approving a fee waiver and tax abatement agreement between the City of Laredo and Virginia Garcia for the rehabilitation of an existing residential…
26-1786 Consideration to award a professional services contract to Brown Reynolds Watford Architects, College Station, Texas, in the amount not to exceed $1,400,000.00 to provide schematic design, design development, construction…
Voting record (240)
Oldest to newest — hover a bar for the item.