Texas Record
Laredo
R"G

Ricardo "Rick" Garza

District 4 Council Member2024-2028

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)

  • infrastructure
    Garza is committed to overseeing the completion of the Jefferson water line project to improve local utility infrastructure.
    Related votes
  • infrastructure
    Garza supports the ongoing road improvement efforts on Kearney Street to enhance neighborhood connectivity and safety.

At a glance

News mentions
3

Term ending Dec 31, 2028.

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.

Filtered to Public Safety

Top issues during term (20)(Public Safety)

medium↑Jan 2026[99]

emergency preparedness

The city's spending on emergency services will go up to keep these shelters running.

critical→Jan 2026[71]

Police Surveillance Technology

$11.1 million federal grant with no local matching requirement.

medium↑Aug 2026[29]

City Facility Climate Control

Property-specific improvement costs borne by the applicant.

critical↑Mar 2026[25]

Border Wall and Buoy Safety

The potential cost of infrastructure damage and emergency response could be significant.

critical↑Feb 2026[19]

Medical Under-service and Hospital District

Protects regional healthcare systems from significant daily funding losses.

high↑Sep 2026[15]

City Council Governance Manual Updates

Null

medium↑Oct 2026[15]

emergency declaration

City resources will take a hit responding to the emergency, and local businesses near the downtown closures could see a dip in customers today.

high↑Sep 2026[15]

City Charter Enforcement and Legal Oversight

Requires allocation for outside legal counsel.

high↑Jan 2026[12]

Police Department Expansion and Mines Road Substation

Capital investment for facility design and construction.

high↑Oct 2026[10]

Dangerous Building Demolition at 3820 Sanders Avenue

Property owners may incur demolition or securing costs.

critical↑Feb 2026[7]

Youth Gun Violence

The cost of the campaign is to be determined by city management.

high↓May 2026[7]

Summer Youth Substance Abuse Prevention Campaign

None reported.

medium↓Oct 2025[6]

public safety ranking

This safety win could mean more people and businesses want to move here, boosting our local economy.

medium↑Oct 2026[5]

drone safety enforcement

Keeping drones out of the way prevents costly mid-air crashes with emergency helicopters and protects private property from getting blasted by cops.

high↑Sep 2026[5]

police escort policy

Local taxpayers are currently on the hook for the overtime and staffing costs of pulling active-duty officers away from standard patrols to guard the mayor.

critical↓Aug 2025[4]

Youth Gun Violence

The cost of the campaign is to be determined by city management.

medium↓Jan 2026[2]

crime statistics

While overall crime is down, the rise in homicides might mean more resources are needed for public safety.

high↓May 2026[2]

Noise Ordinance Enforcement

The city will likely spend more on new decibel meters and administrative enforcement.

critical↓Feb 2026[1]

Youth Gun Violence

The cost of the campaign is to be determined by city management.

high↓Apr 2026[1]

Mayor's Healthy Neighborhood Challenge

The initiative leverages existing mobile health units to improve service delivery efficiency.

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 (2)

Recorded while Garza was in office — not necessarily decisions they moved, spoke to, or voted on.