[00:00:09] >> MAYOR JONES: GOOD AFTERNOON. THE TIME IS NOW 1:00 P.M. ON SEPTEMBER 11, 2025, AND THE MEETING OF THE SAN ANTONIO CITY COUNCIL IS NOW CALLED TO ORDER. MADAME CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. [ ITEM] >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU, MADAME CLERK. I HAVE CALLED THIS SPECIAL MEETING TO CONSIDER A RESOLUTION CENSURING COUNCILWOMAN MEZA GONZALEZ. THE COUNCILWOMAN IS RECOGNIZED TO MAKE A STATEMENT. >> GONZALEZ: THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS I HAVE BEEN FULL IN MY RESPECTFULLY LISTENING TO ME. I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING WORKING WITH YOU AND MOVING OUR CITY FORWARD. TO THE RESIDENTS IN DISTRICT 8, I AM DEEPLY SORRY FOR ANY DISAPPOINTMENT THIS MAY HAVE CAUSED. MY PRIORITY AS YOUR COUNCIL MEMBER REMAINS UNWAVERING, TO SERVE YOU WITH A STRONG VOICE, MAKING SURE OUR COMMUNITY'S BEST INTEREST IS REPRESENTED, AND I WILL NOT STEP BACK FROM THAT DUTY OR TRUST THAT YOU HAVE PLACED IN ME. THANK YOU SO MUCH . >> MAYOR JONES: WE HAVE SEVERAL MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC SIGNED UP TO SPEAK. I WILL CALL INDIVIDUALS IN ORDER OF SIGN-UP AND ALL INDIVIDUALS HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK WITH GROUPS OF THREE OR MORE HAVING A TOTAL OF NINE MINUTES. WRITTEN COMMENT MAY BE SUBMITTED TO THE CITY CLERK FOR DISTRIBUTION TO THE COUNCIL. THE PLAYING OF RECORDINGS IS NOT PERMITTED. THE FIRST PERSON IS GREGORY QUIROS. >> HI THERE. I'M GREG. >> AND I'M JOHN. I WOULD LIKE TO YIELD MY TIME. >> MAYOR JONES: YOUR FIRST NAME IS JOHN AND YOU GO BY JACK? WE HAVE JOHN QUIROS ON HERE. IS THAT YOU? >> GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS GREG. I'M A NEWLY-LICENSED NURSE AND I HAVE BEEN AN EMT AND I WORK AT ONE OF SAN ANTONIO'S BUSIEST EMERGENCY DEPARTMENTS. PATIENTS OFTEN WAIT HOURS TO DATE IN THE WAITING ROOM JUST TO BE SEEN IN THE E.R. DUE TO THE HIGH VOLUME OF EMS THAT REQUIRES ROOM AND TIME FROM STAFF. MANY OF THE EMSS THAT OCCUPY ROOMS PREVENTING CRITICAL PATIENTS FROM BEING SEEN INVOLVE IMPAIRED DRIVERS. IN FACT, SAN ANTONIO HAD THE HIGHEST RATE OF DRUNK DRIVING CRASHES IN TEXAS CITIES. WHILE DOING MY EMT CERTIFICATION WITH THE SAN ANTONIO FIRE DEPARTMENT, I SAW FIRSTHAND THE IMPACT. THE INJURIES SUSTAINED IN MOST DRUNK DRIVING CASES ARE OFTEN ON THE UNSUSPECTING PARTIES. I HAVE SEEN STUDENTS AND EVERYDAY PEOPLE TRYING TO GET TO SCHOOL AND WORK KILLED DUE TO THE BEHAVIOR OF THE DRIVERS. SOME OF WHOM MIGHT LIVE IN THE DISTRICT WHICH YOU WERE ELECTED AND ENTRUSTED TO SERVE. THESE ACTIONS CANNOT BE CONDONED AND REPRESENTATIVES OF THE PUBLIC SHOULD BE HELD TO A HIGHER STANDARD AND BE OUTSTANDING CITIZENS LIKE WE'RE EXPECTED TO BE. DON'T FORGET WHO YOU REPRESENT. YOU AND I AREN'T ALL THAT DIFFERENT . WE ARE TRUSTED TO SERVE PEOPLE AND ADVOCATE FOR THEM WHEN THEY NEED US. HOWEVER ACTIONS LIKE THIS HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO MAKE THE ALREADY GRUELING JOB THAT I HAVE SO THE STATEMENT I JUST READ MIGHT SOUND A LITTLE FAMILIAR WAS I READ IT JUST LAST YEAR AND IT'S OBVIOUSLY NOT IMPACTFUL SO PERHAPS I NEED TO SHOW SOME IMAGES TO GET MY POINT ACROSS. SO I HAVE AN IMAGE RIGHT HERE -- I DON'T KNOW IF Y'ALL CAN SEE IT. IT'S FROM A CAMPAIGN. OH, OVER HERE? NEVER HURT ANYBODY. IF WE ANALYZE THIS PICTURE WE HAVE A YOUNG LADY WITH A HEAD INJURY. SHE LOOKS LIKE SHE'S GETTING DEFIBLATED BUT SHE'S GOING TO GETTING RESUSCITATED. THESE ARE THE IMPACTS OF IMPAIRED DRIVING. I ALSO HAVE ANOTHER ONE. SO THIS IS A YOUNG LADY -- YOU MIGHT HAVE SEEN HER. SHE DOES A LOT OF ADVOCACY WORK FOR IMPAIRED DRIVING. SHE WAS ON OPRAH. [00:05:03] SHE WAS A 20-YEAR-OLD WHO GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT WITH AN IMPAIRED DRIVER IN AUSTIN IN 1999. SHE WAS A STUDENT. THE CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE AND SHE SUFFERED SEVERE BURNS TO OVER 60% OF HER BODY INCLUDING HER FACE AND HANDS. HER INJURIES WERE CATASTROPHIC AND SHE ENDURED YEARS OF PAINFUL SURGERIES AND RECOVERY. SHE'S ALSO NO LONGER WITH US. SO I WANT YOU TO TAKE A SECOND TO ANALYZE THAT PICTURE OF ALL HER BURNS. HONESTLY THAT MIGHT BE A LITTLE GRAPHIC. I REALLY WANTED TO BE MORE GRAPHIC BECAUSE AS A NURSE, AS AN EMT, AS A HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONAL, IT GETS WORSE. IF YOU CAN IMAGINE. MOVING ON. NOW THAT I KNOW NOBODY WAS INJURED IN THE MANY IMPAIRED DRIVING CASES INVOLVING SAN ANTONIO ELECTED OFFICIALS BY ACTIONS HAVE CONSEQUENCES AND THE CONSEQUENCES FOR THESE ACTIONS SEEM TO HAPPEN AGAIN AND AGAIN AND THEY CAN BE SEVERE. I HONESTLY JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND IT BECAUSE MANY OF YOU ARE PARENTS. IF YOU OR YOUR CHILD'S LIFE WERE IMPACTED BY AN IMPAIRED DRIVER I'M SURE YOU WOULD WANT THEM TO FACE CONSEQUENCES. WHEN AN EVERYDAY CITIZEN LIKE MYSELF AND THOSE WHO YOU REPRESENT MAKE POOR DECISIONS SUCH AS THESE, THERE ARE CONSEQUENCES. DOES ANYBODY KNOW WHAT HAPPENS TO A CDL DRIVER IF THEY'RE DRIVING IMPAIRED? THEIR LICENSE GETS TAKEN AWAY. THEIR LIVELIHOOD IS IN JEOPARDY. WHAT ABOUT A NURSE AT A LOCAL HOSPITAL? THE TEXAS BOARD OF NURSING WOULD INVESTIGATE MY LICENSE IN A HEARTBEAT. WHAT ABOUT YOUR PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIAN? YOUR CHILD'S KINDERGARTEN TEACHER? LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS AT THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT OR SAPD? THEIR ACTIONS HAVE CONSEQUENCES, PEOPLE. IT'S ASTOUNDING TO ME THAT PEOPLE ENTRUSTED YOU TO REPRESENT THEM AND THEY ELECTED YOU TO DO JUST THAT BUT THEY CAN'T TRUST YOU TO GET BEHIND THE WHEEL OF A CAR SOBER. CENSURE OBVIOUSLY DOESN'T WORK AND THE PEOPLE OF SAN ANTONIO DESERVE BETTER. PLEASE TAKE ACCOUNTABILITY LIKE YOU SAID YOU WOULD AND EITHER RESIGN OR NOT RUN FOR RE-ELECTION. I THINK THAT'S TAKING ACCOUNTABILITY AND THAT'S A CONSEQUENCE. THIS LAST -- I HAVE A LAST IMAGE THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SHOW. SO THIS IS ANOTHER CAMPAIGN FROM THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION. IT SAYS A DWI CHANGES HOW YOUR EMPLOYERS WILL SEE YOU. PRETTY MUCH GEARED TOWARDS TEENS AND CHILDREN TRYING TO SAY THAT YOUR ACTIONS MIGHT AFFECT JOB OUTCOMES. BUT HONESTLY I'M SERIOUSLY CONSIDERING WRITING TO THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND AMENDING THAT TO A DWI CHANGES HOW YOUR EMPLOYERS SEE YOU UNLESS YOU WORK FOR THE SAN ANTONIO CITY COUNCIL. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING. >> MAYOR JONES: TERRY FOLLOWED BY PAULA MCGEE. >> I'M USING THE FLASHLIGHT SO I CAN READ MY SMALL PRINT. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: THAT'S FINE, MA'AM. >> IS THAT OKAY? I APPRECIATE THAT. THANK YOU. SEPTEMBER 11 OF 2023 MY SCHOOL BOARD HELD A SPECIALLY-CALLED MEETING TO ADDRESS A NEWLY-ELECTED TRUSTEE ARRESTED FOR DWI OVER LABOR DAY WEEKEND. TWO YEARS LATER I STAND HERE ON SEPTEMBER 11TH. SEPTEMBER 11, 2001 I WAS A TEACHER AND A STUDENT CAME INTO MY CLASSROOM TO INFORM ME WHAT HAD GONE ON ON SEPTEMBER 11TH. AND I STARTED. THIS TIME TODAY I'M HERE BECAUSE A CITY COUNCIL PERSON WAS ARRESTED FOR DWI. IN THE TRUSTEE CASE THAT IS STILL ONGOING, THE D.A. RECUSED HIMSELF. THE CASE WAS SHIFTED TO ATASCOSA COUNTY AND THE RECORDS WERE SEALED. A CITIZEN FILED A PETITION TO REMOVE THE TRUSTEE AND HAVE A TEMPORARY TRUSTEE REPLACED. AT THE FIRST HEARING, THE JUDGE COULDN'T APPOINT A TEMPORARY TRUSTEE BECAUSE THE BLOOD ALCOHOL CONTENT WAS REMOVED FROM THE OFFICIAL RECORD AS A RESULT OF WHAT HAPPENED IN ATASCOSA COUNTY. ONCE AGAIN, BY CONTRAST IN CITY COUNCIL CASES, BLOOD ALCOHOL CONTENT, VIDEO, AND HEARING RESULTS FROM THE AUTOMATIC LICENSE REVOCATION HEARING ARE PUBLIC. THE TRUSTEE CASE CONTINUES AGAIN AND HERE IN EVERY CASE EVERY ELECTED OFFICIAL, TRANSPARENCY AND CONSISTENCY ARE NECESSARY. THIS MORNING, THE SAN ANTONIO 1-10 MEMORIAL CLIMB TOOK PLACE IN A FACILITY PASSED BY THE VOTERS AT THE ALAMODOME BECAUSE THE TOWER OF THE AMERICAS, THE FUNCTIONS, THE INFRASTRUCTURE, IT'S UNDERGOING REPAIR. I COME HERE TODAY AND THINK OF TWO MAYORS, TWO FORMER MAYORS. I DON'T KNOW WHAT PARTY THEY WERE FROM BUT I WANT YOU TO [00:10:02] THINK OF PHIL HARDBERGER'S LAND BRIDGE, HOW IT CONNECTS. AND I WANT YOU TO THINK OF HOWARD PEAKS TRAIL SYSTEM. THESE ARE CONNECTIONS, NOT DIVISION. THE MAYORAL LED, I ASSUME, AND I ASSUME THE CITY COUNCIL SUPPORTED. IT HAPPENED. IT CAN HAPPEN. THERE ARE 54 DAYS UNTIL THIS ELECTION IN THIS CITY. THERE ARE 11 OF YOU ON THIS COUNCIL. IF EACH OF YOU TAKES TEN STEPS, REAL STEPS, TOWARD LISTENING, SEEKING OUT OPPOSITE OPINIONS AND LISTENING, NOT INSTALLING WHAT YOU BELIEVE, AND BUILDING CONNECTION ON COMMON GROUND, THAT WILL EQUAL 110 STEPS. SO OVER THE NEXT 54 DAYS I ASK YOU TO USE AND KNOW THAT THIS COUNCIL THAT YOU REFLECT THE STRENGTH OF SAN ANTONIO. THAT WE LOOK UP TO THE TOWER OF AMERICAS AND IT DOES NOT HOLD STILL IF YOU DON'T COME TOGETHER AND REPRESENT. TRULY, FOLLOWED BY JACK FINGER. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR, MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL. I'M HERE TODAY TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE CITIZENS WHO ELECTED EACH OF YOU. TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE OF LEADERSHIP, ACCOUNTABILITY, AND GOOD JUDGMENT THAT WE EXPECT FROM THOSE WHO REPRESENT US. EVERY PERSON WHO TAKES THE OATH OF OFFICE AS A MEMBER OF THIS COUNCIL ASSUMES AN OBLIGATION. TO SERVE WITH INTEGRITY. TO UPHOLD THE LAW. TO PROTECT PUBLIC TRUST. THAT IS NOT A PRIVILEGE. IT IS A RESPONSIBILITY AND IT DEMANDS THE HIGHEST ETHICAL STANDARDS, NOT JUST IN PUBLIC DECISIONS BUT ALSO IN PERSONAL CONDUCT. THESE ARE NOT ABSTRACT IDEALS, THEY'RE THE FOUNDATION OF THE TRUST RESIDENTS PLACE ON THEIR LEADERS, A TRUST THAT ACTUALLY MAKES DEMOCRACY POSSIBLE. WHEN THAT TRUST IS VIOLATED, ESPECIALLY THROUGH UNLAWFUL OR MORALLY-COMPROMISING ACTIONS, IT CAN'T BE RESTORED BY A SIMPLE APOLOGY OR PROCEDURAL REMEDIES. DRIVING WHILE INTOXICATED AT NEARLY TWICE THE LEGAL LIMIT IS NOT A PRIVATE MISTAKE. IT'S A PUBLIC BREACH OF TRUST AND A THREAT TO COMMUNITY SAFETY. IT'S EVEN MORE SERIOUS WHEN THERE'S A PATTERN OF THIS BEHAVIOR AND WHEN A COUNCIL MEMBER CLAIMS PUBLIC SAFETY IS THEIR HIGHEST PRIORITY, THE HYPOCRISY OF THIS ISN'T MISSED BY CONSTITUENTS WHO BELIEVED THEIR WORDS BUT NOW SEE THEIR ACTIONS. CENSURE MAY BE THE MOST SEVERE ACTION THIS COUNCIL CAN TAKE AGAINST ONE OF YOUR OWN, BUT TRUE LEADERSHIP IS MEASURED NOT BY OUR ACHIEVEMENTS BUT BY WHAT WE ARE WILLING TO SURRENDER FOR THE GREATER GOOD. FOR THE ONE WHOSE RECKLESS CONDUCT AND POOR JUDGMENT PUTS THEM BEHIND THE WHEEL OF A CAR WHILE EXCESSIVELY INTOXICATED, THE QUESTION NOW IS INTEGRITY. WILL THEY ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY AND DO THE RIGHT THING? WHAT IS HONORABLE. AND SURRENDER THEIR OFFICE AND RESIGN SO THAT WE'LL HAVE COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVES WE CAN RELY UPON WITHOUT HESITATION, WITHOUT DOUBT, AND WITHOUT A CLOUD OF MISCONDUCT. AS A FORMER MEMBER OF THE ETHICS REVIEW BOARD, I URGE YOU TO LET YOUR CONSTITUENTS KNOW TODAY THAT THIS CITY WILL NO LONGER COMPROMISE ON THE STANDARDS OF CONDUCT WE DEMAND FROM OUR LEADERS. THE PEOPLE OF SAN ANTONIO ARE WATCHING. THEY DESERVE TO SEE THIS COUNCIL UNITED IN THE CONVICTION THAT INTEGRITY STILL MATTERS IN PUBLIC OFFICE. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: JACK FINGER FOLLOWED BY NIKOLAI ZABOWSKI. >> MADAME MAYOR AND OTHER MEMBERS OF OUR ILLUSTRIOUS SAN ANTONIO CITY COUNCIL. FOR THE RECORD, MY NAME IS JACK M. FINGER AND I DID NOTICE THIS HEADLINE IN THE NEWSPAPER NOT LONG AGO. WHAT DOES THE HEADLINE SAY? IT SAYS THAT COUNCIL MEMBER FACES CENSURE VOTE AFTER DWI ARREST. MR. AUDIO-VISUAL MAN, CAN YOU HIGHLIGHT THAT OFF TO THE RIGHT THERE? WHAT DOES IT SAY? NO REAL PENALTIES. IT SAYS CENSURES AND VOTES OF NO CONFIDENCE CARRY NO REAL PENALTIES. BUT ARE WAYS FOR THE COUNCIL TO [00:15:01] EXPRESS THEIR -- YOUR BEING UPSET WITH THE PERSON IN CONTENTION HERE. WELL, I, AS YOUR EQUAL OPPORTUNITY CRITIC HERE, I SEE YOU HAVE A FEW PROBLEMS HERE. YES, HER BLOOD ALCOHOL CONTENT HAS BEEN PUBLICIZED IN THE MEDIA BUT IT STILL HAS YET TO BE PRESENTED IN COURT. SO MS. GONZALEZ IS YET TO BE CONVICTED OF SUCH. YOU CAN SAY YOU'RE UPSET WITH HER AND SHE CAN JUST SAY FINE. YOU'RE UPSET WITH ME. MY VOTERS WERE UPSET WITH ME. WHOOPIE. YOU CAN SAY WE'RE GOING TO TAKE YOU OFF SOME COMMITTEES AND SHE CAN SAY WHOOPIE. I'M JUST ONE VOTE AND I'LL BE OBSERVING YOU IN THE AUDIENCE. YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO SOMEWHERE ALONG THE WAY PASS AN ORDINANCE THAT REALLY PUTS TEETH INTO THIS STUFF. I DON'T KNOW WHETHER IT BE ACCUSATIONS OF DRUNKEN DRIVING, LARCENY, PROSTITUTION. PICK ONE. TAKE ANYTHING YOU WANT. BUT IT'S GOING TO HAVE TO BE SOMETHING A LITTLE BIT MORE SERIOUS THAN THIS. IF YOU REALLY WANTED TO GET TO THEM, PASS AN ORDINANCE THAT SHACKLES A PERSON SOMEWHERE AND FORCES THEM TO WATCH A THOUSAND-PLUS VIDEOS OF THAT GADFLY JACK FINGER AT THE CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS. I GUARANTEE YOU AFTER A FEW THEY WILL BE CRYING CRUEL AND UNUSUAL PUNISHMENT AND PLEADING FOR THE DEATH PENALTY. ON A LITTLE MORE SERIOUS NOTE, ANY PERSON COULD ALSO PLAY THE VICTIM CARD. THEY COULD PLAY THE RACE CARD. I'M JUST ALERTING YOU TO WHAT IS POSSIBLE HERE. I'M SORRY THAT IT ALL TURNED OUT THIS WAY FOR MS. GONZALEZ BUT THESE ARE THE REALITIES HERE. IT DOESN'T WORK THAT WAY. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: NIKOLAI ZABOWSKI. >> GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS NIKOLAI AND I AM A CITIZEN OF TEXAS AND A CITIZEN OF THE UNITED STATES. TODAY I COME TO YOU TO PRESENT FACTS AND EVIDENCE BASED ON GOVERNMENTAL RECORDS I HAVE IN MY POSSESSION THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC, MEANING ANYONE IN AUDIO] CAN LOOK IT UP FOR THEMSELVES. I WOULD LIKE TO BRING TO THE ATTENTION OF THE COUNCIL THAT COUNCILMEMBER GONZALEZ WAS ARRESTED BY THE SAN ANTONIO POLICE DEPARTMENT WITHOUT A WARRANT . AND WAS THEN LATER BOOKED IN BEXAR COUNTY JAIL OR BEXAR COUNTY ADULT DETENTION CENTER WITHOUT A WARRANT. THE PERSON ACCUSING COUNCILMEMBER GONZALEZ OF HAVING A BLOOD ALCOHOL CONCENTRATION OF 0.15 OR GREATER IS SOMEONE NAMED CHRISTINA RODRIGUEZ. HOWEVER, THE PERSON STATING THAT THERE IS A BLOOD CONTENT LEVEL OR ALCOHOL CONCENTRATION OF 0.15 OR MORE IS ASSISTANT CRIMINAL DISTRICT ATTORNEY ANDREA SOMETHING. THERE YOU ARE. AS MENTIONED EARLIER, SAN ANTONIO POLICE DEPARTMENT ARRESTED COUNCILMEMBER GONZALEZ AND IT APPEARS THE OFFICER WHO ARRESTED HER IS MATTHEW QUIROGA AND THE REPORTING OFFICER WHO SIGNED OFF ON THIS DOCUMENT IS SOMEONE NAMED CARLIE MONITA . I HAVE A COPY OF COUNCILMEMBER GONZALEZ'S SAN ANTONIO DWI TRAFFIC CASE REPORT. THE MAIN THING I WANT TO DRAW YOUR ATTENTION TO IS THAT THERE'S A PORTION THAT IS CONSIDERABLY BLANK. IF YOU COULD SCOOT THAT UP A LITTLE SO YOU COULD SEE THE BLANK PART. WHY DO I BRING THIS TO YOUR ATTENTION? I HAVE YET ANOTHER SAN ANTONIO DWI TRAFFIC CASE REPORT IN WHICH A BLOOD WARRANT OR A BLOOD SAMPLE WAS OBTAINED THAT CONTAINS BAR CODES -- SCOOT THAT UP A LITTLE BIT. BAR CODES OF THE EVIDENCE THAT WAS COLLECTED OF THE BLOOD SAMPLE THAT WAS DRAWN OF THAT PERSON. TO MY UNDERSTANDING, BASED ON THE PREVIOUS DOCUMENT, IT LOOKS LIKE THERE WAS NO BLOOD SAMPLE DRAWN ON COUNCILMEMBER GONZALEZ. THE ONLY OTHER TIME I HAVE SEEN A DOCUMENT LIKE THIS IS FROM ANOTHER COUNCIL MEMBER THAT'S CURRENTLY SITTING HERE, COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE. ON HIS DWI TRAFFIC CASE REPORT, THERE IS ALSO A BLANK SPACE SIMILAR TO COUNCILMEMBER GONZALEZ. CAN YOU SCOOT IT UP SO THEY CAN SEE THE BLANK PART? IT WOULD APPEAR TO ME THAT COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE ALSO DID NOT HAVE A BLOOD SAMPLE DRAWN WHEN HE PURPORTEDLY HAD A DWI CHARGE. I ONLY BRING HIM UP AS WELL BECAUSE IT WOULD APPEAR THAT COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE WAS ALSO ARRESTED BY SAN ANTONIO POLICE DEPARTMENT WITHOUT A WARRANT. AND THEN PLACED IN JAIL WITHOUT A WARRANT IN THE BEXAR COUNTY JAIL. I BRING THIS ALL TO YOUR ATTENTION TO HELP YOU MAKE YOUR DECISION TODAY. [00:20:01] I GIVE NO OPINION AS TO WHETHER OR NOT YOU SHOULD PUBLICLY CENSURE COUNCILMEMBER GONZALEZ BUT I DO BELIEVE THAT EVERY CITIZEN OF TEXAS IN THE UNITED STATES HAS A RIGHT TO HAVE THEIR RIGHTS PROTECTED. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO CAME TO SPEAK TODAY. MAY I GET A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE THIS ITEM SO THE COUNCIL MAY BEGIN DISCUSSION? THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION. WE WILL MOVE ON TO CITY COUNCIL DISCUSSION. CHAIR GALVAN. >> GALVAN: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I'LL KEEP MY COMMENTS SHORT. I JUST WANT TO SAY I'LL BE SUPPORTING THIS VOTE. I THINK, YOU KNOW, OUR RESIDENTS ARE ASKING FOR ACCOUNTABILITY AND IT'S PART OF WHAT COUNCILMEMBER MEZA GONZALEZ IS GOING TO DO . BUT I WANT TO LEAVE IT WHERE THAT IS AND JUST SAY I KNOW COUNCILMEMBER GONZALEZ [INDISCERNIBLE] AND THIS CENSURE VOTE OF COURSE MAKES IT CLEAR WHERE MEMBERS OF THIS BODY FEEL ON THIS ISSUE. BUT I KNOW HER TO CONTINUE THE HARD WORK FOR HER CONSTITUENTS. HASN'T STOPPED FOR HER, WON'T STOP FOR HER AND I AM EAGER TO CONTINUE WORKING WITH HER AS MY COLLEAGUE. SHE WORKS DIRECTLY ACROSS FROM ME AT CITY HALL. SHE IS SOMEONE I TALK TO FREQUENTLY ABOUT POLICY, ABOUT THE BUDGET, ABOUT THE PIECES THAT GO ON WITHIN HER DISTRICT. I JUST WANT TO MAKE CLEAR TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC, TO MY CONSTITUENTS THAT ABSOLUTELY WE CAN HAVE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT ACCOUNTABILITY BUT UNDERSTAND THAT COUNCILMEMBER MEZA GONZALEZ IS GOING TO CONTINUE DOING HARD WORK. SHE'S GOING TO CONTINUE BEING A GOOD COUNCILPERSON AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO WORK TOGETHER FOR ALL OF OUR COMMUNITIES. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: HAVE ALL MEMBERS WHO WISH TO SPEAK SPOKEN? >> THANK YOU, MAYOR. I JUST WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY WHO TOOK THE TIME TO SHOW UP AND SPEAK ON THIS ITEM. AS A COLLEAGUE, I JUST WANT TO SAY I'M THANKFUL FOR YOUR SAFETY, COUNCILWOMAN, AND THAT OF YOUR FAMILY AND ALSO THANKFUL FOR YOUR LOVE FOR YOUR COMMUNITY. I'VE GOTTEN TO KNOW YOU THROUGH OUR COUNCIL DIALOGUE AND YOUR ACTIONS ON THE DAIS ONLY FOR ONE AND A HALF MONTHS. HOWEVER, WE KNOW THAT AS COUNCIL MEMBERS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS OUR ACTIONS AND OUR PERSONAL LIVES ARE UNDER A SPOTLIGHT AND THIS COMES AT A COST TO PRIVACY. BUT IT IS ALSO A BARGAIN THAT WE UNDERSTOOD WHEN STEPPING INTO THIS FORM OF LEADERSHIP. WE ARE CALLED TO ELEVATE THE BEST OF OUR COMMUNITIES AND FIGHT HARD FOR THEIR SUCCESS. UNFORTUNATELY DISTRACTIONS LIKE THIS ONE MAKE IT HARD FOR US TO DO OUR JOB BECAUSE IT TAKES AWAY FROM THE OTHER IMPORTANT ISSUES OUR RESIDENTS EXPECT US TO ADDRESS. AS A COUNCIL, WE NEED TO SHOW CONSISTENCY AND RESPECT FOR THE LEADERSHIP ROLE WE PLAY OUT IN OUR CITY. AND UNFORTUNATELY THIS INCIDENT DID NOT REFLECT OUR COUNCIL AT ITS BEST. AND AS A BODY WE CANNOT NORMALIZE ALLEGATIONS OF DRINKING AND DRIVING JUST AS WE CANNOT IGNORE IT WHEN IT HAPPENS. WE ARE CALLED TO TAKE DECISIVE AND THOUGHTFUL ACTION AND WE UNDERSTAND THAT WITH OUR ACTIONS WE SEND A MESSAGE TO OUR COMMUNITY. AND I THINK THAT OUR MESSAGE SHOULD BE ONE THAT EQUALS TRUST IN OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT. TRUST THAT WE AS CITY LEADERS ARE RESPONSIBLE WITH THE POWER AND LEADERSHIP ROLE THAT WE HOLD. AND OUR MESSAGE SHOULD DEMONSTRATE PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL ACCOUNTABILITY. AND SO WITH MY VOTE I SUPPORT A MESSAGE TO OUR COMMUNITY THAT ALTHOUGH EACH OF US AS COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE HUMAN, WE ARE ALSO HELD TO A HIGHER STANDARD AND WHEN WE BREAK THAT TRUST, WE ARE HELD ACCOUNTABLE THROUGH A PUBLIC CENSURE AND OTHER PENALTIES. TWO MONTHS AGO I WAS A REGULAR MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC AND AS A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC I NEED TO KNOW THAT COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE NOT ABOVE THE LAW AND THAT IF ANY ONE OF OUR CITY EMPLOYEES OR CONSTITUENTS WERE TO BE IN THIS SITUATION, WE WOULD EXPECT NO SPECIAL TREATMENT BASED ON OUR STATUS. FOR THESE REASONS I'LL SUPPORT THE RESOLUTION. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR JONES: CONFIRMING ALL MEMBERS WHO WISH TO SPEAK HAVE SPOKEN? THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION TO CENSURE COUNCILMEMBER MEZA GONZALEZ. PLEASE VOTE. THE MOTION CARRIES. THERE BEING NO FURTHER DISCUSSION, THE TIME IS NOW 1:25 P.M. AND THE MEETING IS * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.