I want to start by acknowledging that June 16 was a difficult meeting, and I regret that the evening escalated. I have already apologized for my part in that escalation. I also take seriously the responsibility I have as one councilor to help preserve order, decorum, and public trust.
At the same time, I need to respond to both the process and the record. The notice I received does not identify any Council Rule that expressly prohibits a councilor from recording with a cell phone. Instead, it relies on broad decorum and group-agreement language and then attributes motives to me, including that I was antagonizing, taunting, or instigating members of the public. I disagree with those characterizations.
If Council is going to impose a formal public reprimand or additional remedial actions, I believe the findings should be based on specific facts, specific rules, and an accurate record of what occurred, not assumptions about my intentions.
I am also concerned that the notice and proposed resolution appear to rely on a sequence in which a recess was called, I came off the dais, and the meeting later had to be adjourned because of my conduct. I dispute that characterization and request that Council review the official video and transcript before adopting findings. At approximately 0:40 to 0:50 of the official June 16 meeting video, the presiding officer appears to adjourn the meeting. If the meeting was adjourned, not recessed, then Council should identify the procedural authority used to restart or continue the meeting, and whether the proper process was followed.
I am not asking Council to ignore the concerns raised. I am asking Council to make sure the record is accurate before adopting final findings. If the presiding officer adjourned the meeting, that is materially different from a recess, and it affects the factual basis for the proposed resolution.
For those reasons, I respectfully ask Council not to adopt the resolution tonight. At minimum, I ask Council to continue the item, direct a neutral review of the meeting record, and provide me with specific written findings and a meaningful opportunity to respond before any final discipline or remedial action is imposed.
Respectfully,
Councilor Cristian Salgado