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District 5 Council Member· 2024-2028

Ruben Gutierrez, Jr.

Laredo

About

Ruben Gutierrez Jr.'s platform focuses on enhancing the quality of life for Laredo residents through the expansion of local entertainment and recreational opportunities. As a representative for District V, his priorities center on community development and leveraging his background as an outdoorsman to improve city amenities.

Campaign promises (1)

  • development
    The candidate aims to bring more entertainment options to the city of Laredo.
    Related votes

At a glance

News mentions
1

Term ending Dec 31, 2028.

Voice

Meetings spoken in
4
Total speaking time
3:30
Avg per meeting
0:53
Segments
80

Want every word Gutierrez has said?

The OpenCity MCP for Claude.ai answers questions like “what has Gutierrez said about housing this year” with one prompt — full speaking history, with YouTube timestamps.

Top issues during term (20)

medium↑Jan 2026[80]

emergency preparedness

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

high↑Sep 2026[80]

Animal Welfare and Cruelty Enforcement

Potential future resource allocation for shared databases or training programs.

medium↑Sep 2026[76]

mayoral election

City spending will likely shift toward massive infrastructure and water system overhauls if his platform gains traction.

critical→Jan 2026[72]

Police Surveillance Technology

An $11.1 million federal grant with no local match requirement.

critical↓Apr 2026[60]

Water Service Reliability

Substantial capital and operating expenses associated with pipeline infrastructure and reverse osmosis water treatment.

high→Jan 2026[60]

Residential and Commercial Subdivisions & Master Plans

Not specified in the posted materials.

medium↑Oct 2026[60]

election turnout

None directly, though high voter turnout can sometimes lead to future adjustments in election administration budgets.

critical→Sep 2026[54]

Water Infrastructure and Public Communication

Requires funding allocations for infrastructure replacement and potential software or communication tools.

medium↑Oct 2026[50]

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.

critical↑Jun 2026[45]

Border Wall and Buoy Safety

Financial impact is currently unknown pending expert selection and contract authorization.

critical↓Jan 2026[38]

Health Insurance Sustainability

Involves a projected $12.4 million healthcare cost increase and adjustments to employee premium contributions.

critical↑Apr 2026[37]

Hamilton Hotel Infrastructure

Generates approximately $4 million annually in federal grant funding for local housing and infrastructure projects.

medium↑Sep 2025[32]

water main break

Repairs will likely cost taxpayers some money, but it's a necessary fix for our water system.

critical→Aug 2026[32]

Water Quality and Infrastructure

Involves multi-million dollar water infrastructure and potential future pipeline and treatment costs.

critical↓Jul 2026[31]

Data Center Development

Potential long-term impacts on industrial tax base versus municipal resource consumption.

medium↑Oct 2026[30]

facility assessment and repairs

Taxpayers could be on the hook for unexpected repair bills depending on what the inspectors find.

medium↑Aug 2026[29]

City Facility Climate Control

Property-specific improvement costs borne by the applicant.

medium↑Sep 2026[28]

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.

critical→Jan 2026[27]

Border Infrastructure and Flood Safety

Potential costs associated with independent flood studies and mitigation measures.

high↑Oct 2026[25]

Pediatric Hospital Advocacy and Healthcare Access

Potential future healthcare facility investments or regional partnership funding requirements.

Moved or seconded (40)

Motions Jr. 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.

  • movedpassed 0-02026-07-27

    Motion to deny.

  • movedpassed 0-02026-07-27

    Motion to deny.

  • movedpassed 9-02026-07-27

    Motion to table and bring back on the following City Council meeting.

  • secondedpassed 0-02026-07-27

    Motion to approve.

  • movedpassed 8-02026-07-27

    Motion to close and introduce and bring back on the following City Council meeting.

  • secondedpassed 0-02026-07-27

    Motion to close and introduce and bring back on the following City Council meeting.

  • secondedpassed 6-02026-06-15

    Motion to close and introduce and bring back on the following City Council meeting.

  • secondedpassed2026-06-15

    Motion to approve.

  • secondedpassed 8-02026-06-15

    Motion to table and bring back on the following City Council meeting.

  • secondedpassed 6-02026-06-15

    Motion to close and introduce and bring back on the following City Council meeting.

  • movedpassed 6-02026-06-15

    Motion to close and introduce and bring back on the following City Council meeting.

  • movedpassed 5-02026-06-11

    26-C-108 Discussion with possible action to review, consider, and approve Page 1 of 2

    Title matched to the agenda, not quoted from the motion

  • movedpassed 7-02026-06-01

    Motion to open Public Hearings.

  • movedpassed 7-02026-06-01

    Motion to approve.

  • movedpassed 6-02026-06-01

    Motion to close and introduce and bring back on the following City Council meeting.

  • movedpassed 7-02026-05-04

    Motion to close and introduce and bring back on the following City Council meeting.

  • movedpassed 7-02026-05-04

    Motion to table and bring back on the following City Council meeting.

  • movedpassed2026-05-04

    Motion to approve.

  • movedpassed 7-02026-05-04

    Motion to approve Appointments to Commissions, Boards, and Committees 14-45.

  • movedpassed 7-02026-05-04

    Motion to approve final reading of ordinances #19-33 with the exception of #32.

Decisions during term (433)

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

approvedOct 21, 2026

Approval of September 16, 2026 Minutes

approvedOct 21, 2026

Adoption of Resolution MPO 2026-09 (UPWP Amendment for CMP)

approvedOct 21, 2026

Approval of Minutes

approvedOct 19, 2026

Approval of Minutes and Excused Absences

approvedOct 19, 2026

Appointment to Arts and Culture Commission

approvedOct 19, 2026

Update of Veterans Affairs Committee Roster

approvedOct 19, 2026

Approval of Zoning Conditional Use Permit for McPherson Road Bar

approvedOct 19, 2026

Approval of Zoning Amendment for San Dario Avenue Auto Body Shop

approvedOct 19, 2026

Approval of Consent Agenda Items

approvedOct 19, 2026

Ratification of TSA Grant for Airport Law Enforcement

approvedOct 19, 2026

Ratification of Texas Anti-Gang (TAG) Program Grant

approvedOct 19, 2026

Authorization of Cellebrite Software Purchase for TAG Centers

approvedOct 19, 2026

Direction on Regional Park Connectivity and Trail Integration

approvedOct 19, 2026

Authorization to Explore Economic Development Corporation Tools

approvedOct 19, 2026

Direction on City Debt Write-Off Policy and Payment Fees

approvedOct 19, 2026

26-1925 Public Hearing and Introductory Ordinance amending the Zoning Ordinance (Map) of the City of Laredo by rezoning Lot 4, Block 1343, Eastern Division, located at 2319 Market Street, from R-3 (Mixed Residential District) to B-1…

approvedOct 19, 2026

26-1842 Authorizing the City Manager to ratify the execution of legal documents conveying to AEP Texas Inc., a 10-foot-wide easement. Said easements lie wholly within a portion of 18.0357 acres or land, more or less, being out of Abstract…

approvedOct 19, 2026

26-1843 Authorizing the City Manager to execute legal documents conveying to AEP Texas, Inc., two, 10-foot-wide easements for electric distribution lines at properties located in the Cheyenne Subdivision. These easements will facilitate a…

approvedOct 19, 2026

2026-O-205 An Ordinance amending the City of Laredo’s Code of Ordinance Chapter 20, Municipal Court, Article I, Establishment of the Court, Page 8 of 19 City Council October 19, 2026 A-2026-R-17 Article II, Presiding Municipal Court Judge,…

approvedOct 19, 2026

26-1686 Consideration to approve the renewal of contract FY24-097 RFP MX Tourism Agency of Record to Ariel Agustin Rodriguez, d.b.a. ADS Comunicación in an annual amount not to exceed $164,598.80 for Mexico marketing services including…

Voting record (280)

264 yes4 no12 abstained

Oldest to newest — hover a bar for the item.

Voted yesOct 5, 2026

Motion to approve final reading of Ordinances 8-15.

Voted yesOct 5, 2026

Motion to table and bring back on the following City Council meeting.

Voted yesOct 5, 2026

Motion to close and introduce and bring back on the following City Council meeting.

Voted yesOct 5, 2026

Motion to move forward to bid /renew no more than $1 Million on CO's.

Voted yesOct 5, 2026

Motion to close and introduce and bring back on the following City Council meeting.

Voted yesOct 5, 2026

Motion to approve.

Voted yesOct 5, 2026

Motion to approve the minutes of: September 8th, 2026 September 21st,2026 September 28Th, 2026

Voted yesOct 5, 2026

Motion to table and bring back on the following City Council meeting.

Voted yesOct 5, 2026

Motion to close and introduce and bring back on the following City Council meeting.

Voted yesOct 5, 2026

Motion to poll Council to assist with support.

Voted yesOct 5, 2026

Motion to proceed as directed.

Voted yesOct 5, 2026

Motion to close and introduce and bring back on the following City Council meeting.

Voted yesOct 5, 2026

Motion to approve.

Voted yesOct 5, 2026

Motion to approve the Consent Agenda items 16-46, with the exception of 40, 19.

Voted yesOct 5, 2026

Motion to approve.

Voted yesOct 5, 2026

motion to amend the precious motion to have city manager request and bring the item to the board to discuss it, as amended.

Voted yesOct 5, 2026

Motion to direct the City Manager to work with Webb County to pursue a grand water conservation district, including Laredo, and once created to take the necessary steps to secure representation on GMA

Voted yesOct 5, 2026

Approval of Minutes

Voted yesOct 5, 2026

Table Recognition of Laredo Buzz Basketball Team

Voted yesOct 5, 2026

Zoning Conditional Use Permit - 2917 Market Street

Voted yesOct 5, 2026

Disannexation Ordinance - 6902 US Highway 83 South

Voted yesOct 5, 2026

Municipal Court Code Amendment

Voted yesOct 5, 2026

Third-Party Building Inspectors Ordinance

Voted yesOct 5, 2026

Final Reading of Ordinances 8 through 15

Voted yesOct 5, 2026

Consent Agenda (Items 16-18, 20-39, 41-46)

Voted yesOct 5, 2026

Model Cities Initiative Grant Application Ratification

Voted yesOct 5, 2026

Economic Development Agreement Amendment - Laredo Outlet Shoppes

Voted yesOct 5, 2026

Table Amendment to Legal Services Contract for El Metro

Voted yesOct 5, 2026

Accept TxDOT Grant for El Metro

Voted yesOct 5, 2026

Legacy Water Corporation Participation Directive

Voted yesOct 5, 2026

Groundwater Conservation District and GMA 13 Representation

Voted yesOct 5, 2026

Support Wreaths Across America

Voted yesOct 5, 2026

Continuation of Street Maintenance Program

Voted yesSep 28, 2026

Executive Session Motion

Voted yesSep 28, 2026

City Attorney Merit Increase

Voted yesSep 28, 2026

Consultation with Outside Legal Counsel

Voted noSep 8, 2026

Conditional Use Permit for McPherson Road Bar

Voted yesSep 8, 2026

COLA and Wage Schedule Adjustment Ordinance

Voted yesSep 8, 2026

Permit and Administrative Fee Increases Ordinance

Voted yesSep 8, 2026

Conditional Certificate of Occupancy Ordinance

Voted yesSep 8, 2026

Third-Party Inspector Registration Ordinance

Voted yesSep 8, 2026

Creation of Development Services Department Ordinance

Voted yesSep 8, 2026

FY 2026-2027 Annual Budget Adoption

Voted yesSep 8, 2026

Public Right-of-Way Management Ordinance Amendment

Voted yesSep 8, 2026

Final Reading of Ordinances 18-22

Voted yesSep 8, 2026

Consent Agenda (Excluding Items 23, 24, 28, 31, 32, 70)

Voted yesSep 8, 2026

Resolution 2026-R-224 (Property Tax Rate Budget Planning Policy)

Voted yesSep 8, 2026

Resolution 2026-R-225 (General Fund Employee Separation Reserve)

Voted noSep 8, 2026

Resolution 2026-R-223 (Organizational Efficiency Policy)

Voted yesSep 8, 2026

Plaza Theatre CMAR Shortlist Approval

In the news (1)