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 (8)(Budget)
Water Infrastructure and Public Communication
Part of nearly $1 billion in identified long-term water system capital improvement investments.
Public Safety Labor Negotiations
The proposed budget totals $1.02 billion across all city funds.
Budget Transparency and Process
Determines the entire annual spending plan for the City of Laredo.
Hamilton Hotel Infrastructure
Generates approximately $4 million annually in federal grant funding for local housing and infrastructure projects.
Bridge Toll Increases
Trucking costs could rise by nearly 60% by 2031 under the current proposal.
Arts and Cultural Funding
The proposed budget reduces funding for the Laredo Cultural District to $500 and eliminates funding for the Laredo Center for the Arts.
business funding
This could mean a big boost for your business or charity's bottom line!
nonprofit funding applications
This is a chance for nonprofits to get some much-needed city money to keep their great work going.
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 (23)
Recorded while Garza was in office — not necessarily decisions they moved, spoke to, or voted on.
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…
26-1819 Consideration to reject all bids received for FY24-ENG-89 Animal Care Services - New Veterinary Hospital and Master Planning Project, and authorization to rebid the project, as the bids received exceed the estimated budgeted…
Adoption of FY 2026-2027 Annual Budget
Public Hearing and Introductory Ordinance authorizing the City Manager to amend Community Development Department’s FY2026-2027 budget by $250,000 for TVC fund...
An Ordinance... amending FY 2025-2026 budget by increasing revenues and expenditures by $81,290 in 2019 CO Bond in Transit for El Metro...
Untable and Approve Budget Item 16 for FY 2027
FY 2026-2027 Annual Budget Adoption
Resolution 2026-R-224 (Property Tax Rate Budget Planning Policy)
Approval of IT Department Budget
Approval of Library Department Budget
Water Infrastructure Budget Increase
26-1331 Consideration to reject all bids received for FY24-ENG-07 Recreational Trails Grant Program 2022 Shiloh Bike Trails Project, as the bids received exceed the estimated budgeted amount. There is no financial impact at this time. 1.…
Final Reading of Budget and Ordinance Amendments (Items 9-15, 18-26)
26-1447 Public Hearing and Introductory Ordinance of the City of Laredo, Texas, amending the City of Laredo’s FY 2026 annual budget by appropriating revenues and expenditures in the estimated amount of $202,507.00 in the Downtown TIRZ #1…
2026-O-150 An Ordinance of the City of Laredo authorizing the City Manager to amend the City of Laredo FY26 Airport Operations Budget to appropriate revenues and expenses by the amount of $2,213,456.00 for Federal Aviation Administration…
FY 2025-2026 Budget Amendment for Tax Notes
FY 2025-2026 Budget Amendment for El Metro Transit Center
Airport Operations Budget Amendment for FAA Grant
26-1159 Public Hearing and Introductory Ordinance authorizing the City Manager to amend the City of Laredo's FY 2025-2026 budget by appropriating expenditures from a drawdown of $11,250,000 from fund balance from the Sports and Community…
2026-O-119 Introductory Ordinance authorizing the City Manager to accept and enter into a contract from the Ardmore Institute of Health for the Lifestyle Medicine Consortium Program Grant, amending the FY2025-2026 budget by appropriating…
Voting record (3)(Budget)
Oldest to newest — hover a bar for the item.