Councilmember (District 4)· 2022-12-12 to 2028-12 (continuous since appointment 2022-12-12, oath per special-meeting minutes; elected District 4 November 2024, ceremonial oath 2024-12-17; month-level end: December 2028 per city Meet the Mayor and Council page Term expires December 2028)
Gino Garcia
Monterey
No biography on file yet.
Voice
- Meetings spoken in
- 12
- Total speaking time
- 1:41:03
- Avg per meeting
- 8:25
- Segments
- 1062
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Top issues during term (20)
Budget deficit and Roadmap to Resilience workshops
Freezes 30 positions, saves ~$3.7M, uses $3.5M one-time money, and cuts rental assistance from $250K to $125K.
North Fremont sidewalk gap closure project added to CIP
$2.86 million in new grant funds, with NCIP and Measure X matching money toward a roughly $4 million gap-closure project.
Madison/Herrmann/Larkin Intersection Safety Project Halted
$140,306.50 contract plus $130,000 grant funds; about $29,000 in design costs already spent.
Inclusionary housing purchase at Glenwood Circle
$1.5 million city loan, now from the housing asset fund instead of the cash-strapped general fund.
Welcoming City resolution for transgender and gender-diverse people
None — the mayor confirmed no city funding is requested.
2026 Sanitary Sewer System Spot Repairs
About $214,000 combined for sewer maintenance.
Encroachment permit fee reductions
Encroachment fees jump from $491 to $1,613 and traffic control from $147 to $404 starting July 1.
717 Woodcrest Lane landing/deck dispute and neighborhood privacy
The owner loses the value of the proposed landing and must instead replace the door with a window or seek another compliant solution.
Olmsted Road right-of-way vacation
Relieving the city of maintenance responsibility on the vacated stretch saves taxpayer money.
El Estero paddle boat business and lake weed harvesting
The business lost $123,000 last year and expects larger losses this year; the city loses its 12% gross sales share and is paying an outside firm for permits.
Del Monte Beach driveway encroachments
Figueroa Street alleyway flooding
The owner reports flood damages of roughly $7,000-$8,000 and multiple prior flooding incidents.
Area-wide parking solutions on North Fremont
$273,979.69 for meters and services.
Fisherman Flats two-story additions and private deed restrictions
Continuing the projects saves applicants from paying amendment fees equal to two-thirds of the original application cost if plans change later.
Decorative Crosswalk Policy and Patriotic Crosswalk Request
$2,100 to paint and $1,700 to remove, all covered by private donations.
San Bernabe Drive road widening and Don Dahvee Park trail crossing
$1,128,425 from NCIP funds.
Ad-Hoc Community Cost-of-Living Reduction Task Force
Minimal direct cost — staff-light with no dedicated budget — though councilmembers warned about staff time burdens.
Sollecito Field sports lights cost increase
A $47,200 increase, from $464,200 to a $511,400 not-to-exceed amount.
Olivier Street stormwater-to-sewer diversion
surveillance cameras approval
The source doesn’t give a price tag, so taxpayers should watch for the Flock contract cost and who pays for it.
Decisions during term (179)
Recorded while Garcia was in office — not necessarily decisions they moved, spoke to, or voted on.
Approval of October 13, 2026 minutes
CIP consistency recommendation to City Council (Item 3)
UP-26-0007 — T-Mobile wireless facility renewal, 23625 Holman Highway
SI-26-0165 — sign alteration, 2101 North Fremont Street
ARP-26-0166 — Marriott hotel exterior alterations, 350 Calle Principal
SI-26-0034 — multi-tenant sign program, 245 Washington Street — continued
October 13, 2026
Approval of October 6, 2026 Regular Meeting Minutes
Contract awards to Duke's Root Control ($122,325 and $91,776.61)
Guerra Construction contract, $1,128,425 (San Bernabe Drive widening & Don Dahvee Park trail crossing)
Silicon Valley Mechanical plumbing job order contracts ($1,000,000 each)
MacKay Meters smart parking meter contract, $273,979.69
Acceptance of Rotary Club 'Peace Pole' donation for Sister City Park
Set December 1, 2026 public hearing — Olmsted Road right-of-way vacation (item pulled from consent)
Amend Resolution 26-092 — North Fremont Street Sidewalk Gap Project, $2,862,000 TAMC grant
Appoint councilmember to Ad-Hoc Community Cost-of-Living Reduction Task Force
Agendize 'welcoming city for transgender and gender-diverse people' resolution
Approval of September 22, 2026 Meeting Minutes
CIP Project List consistency recommendation (Item 3, pulled from consent)
Variance V-26-0011 and Architectural Review ARP-26-0032 — solar carports at 23 Upper Ragsdale Drive
Voting record (103)
Oldest to newest — hover a bar for the item.
adopt Resolution No. 26-128 C.S.
passed the ordinance to a second reading and directed staff to bring the subject of the Master Fee Schedule, and the fee-related concerns and questions raised, back for a study session
approved the Consent Agenda, with Councilmember Garcia abstaining from voting on the Casanova Oak Knoll Park Improvements project portion of Item 4
adopt CSD Resolution No. 20
adopted Resolution No. 26-126 C.S. as amended to reflect fee effective dates as follows: subpoena fee effective immediately; fees for items at full cost recovery to become effective Nov 16, 2026; fees
approve staff recommendations #1-4 [Approving a Minor Sidewalk Repair Pilot Program, as further described in Exhibit A; Authorizing the Finance Director, or their designee, to appropriate $500,000 fro
adopt Resolution No. 26-129 C.S. as amended
On a motion by Councilmember Smith, seconded by Councilmember Rasch, and carried by the following vote, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 26-119 C.S.
Pilot sidewalk repair program direction (Item 9)
Climate Action Plan path (Item 10)
Believed the region looks to Monterey as a climate leader.
A motion was introduced by Mayor Williamson, and seconded by Councilmember Garcia, to direct staff to proceed with a CEQA-certified Climate Action Plan.
On a motion by Councilmember Barber, seconded by Councilmember Smith, and carried by the following vote, the City Council approved the Consent Agenda, except Item 4
On a motion by Mayor Williamson, seconded by Councilmember Rasch, and carried by the following vote, the City Council passed the ordinance to a second reading, as amended to replace "minimum of" with
On a subsequent substitute motion by Mayor Williamson, seconded by Councilmember Garcia, and carried by the following vote, the City Council directed staff to move forward with Alternative 1 (Minor Re
adopted Resolution No. 26-110 C.S.
approved the Consent Agenda except Item 3
adopted Resolution No. 26-116 C.S.
adopted Resolution No. 26-117 C.S.
direct staff to continue the Madison/Herrmann/Larkin Intersection Safety Improvement Project
adopted Resolution No. 26-109 C.S. amending the previous resolution, rejecting all bids, halting the project, and rejecting the funding; and directed the City Manager to meet with Monterey Peninsula U
passed the ordinance to a second reading
approved the Consent Agenda
appointed agency negotiators Cole, Aldrete, Renny, and Easterling
move forward with voting on Councilmember Garcia’s motion
Consent Agenda (Items 2, 3 and 5)
Appoint Agency Negotiators — Cal-Am Easement, 731 Dry Creek Road
Multifamily Overlay Minimum Density Ordinance (First Reading)
Motion to Continue the Madison/Herrmann/Larkin Intersection Project
Halt the Madison/Herrmann/Larkin Intersection Safety Improvement Project
Believes proactive safety measures are warranted; one collision is too many
approved the Consent Agenda except Item 5
adopted Resolution No. 26-098 C.S.
appoint Emily Adler to the Parks and Recreation Commission for a term ending June 30, 2030
adopted Resolution No. 26-103 C.S., as amended to add to Exhibit A (the ordinance), in Section 1(G) after the word "performed," the phrase "such as replacing the Lake El Estero Stormwater Pump Station
Appointed Emily Adler to the Parks and Recreation Commission
appoint Andrea Kingman to the Parks and Recreation Commission for a term to end June 30, 2030
authorized the City's participation in the SWRCB hearing
adopted Resolution No. 26-095 C.S.
reconsider awarding the contract
approved the Consent Agenda except Items 6 and 7
adopted Resolution No. 26-094 C.S.
appointed Nelson Graff and Marsha Moroh to the Board of Library Trustees; Jennifer Davidson to the NCIP Committee as an alternate representing the Oak Grove neighborhood; Joe Livernois to the NCIP Com
Approval of June 16, 2026 meeting minutes
Ordinance No. 3721 C.S. — reduced planning appeal fee
Ordinance No. 3720 C.S. — stormwater fee collection via county tax roll
Resolution No. 26-093 C.S. — Measure D election results
Resolution No. 26-094 C.S. — Citywide Curb Ramp Improvement Project
Resolution No. 26-095 C.S. — failed stormwater fee tabulation accepted
Board and commission appointments (Library Trustees, NCIP, etc.)
Parks and Recreation Commission appointment — no agreement, continued
Preferred Emily Adler based on her interview and portfolio alignment with the commission's work.