Mayor, the time is 5 30.

Sorry, no video tonight.

No video tonight, okay.

All right.

I'd like to call to order the special city council meeting of March 25th, 2025.

Would you all please stand and join me in the Pledge of Allegiance and a moment of silent reflection?

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America.

And to the Republic for which it stands by a nation under God and invisible with liberty and justice for all.

Thank you.

Marcella, can you do roll call, please?

Councilmember Condi.

Here.

Councilmember Garcia.

Here.

Councilmember Silario.

Here.

Councilmember Weiss.

Here.

Councilmember White.

Present.

Vice Mayor Nielsen.

Here.

Mayor Pineda.

Here.

Can I get, oh, there we go.

Got a motion to adjourn into executive session.

A motion made by Councilmember White, seconded by Councilmember Solorio.

Item, oh, can we please vote?

Okay, item passes.

We are adjourned.

And for those who are listening online and in the audience, City Council will now be going into the executive session.

Um, after their discussion in executive session, they will be coming back out for agenda um item three.

Thank you.

Okay, so thank you everybody who is here tonight.

Um I would like to uh the council had discussion and I would like to read a statement on behalf of the council.

This evening, the Avondale City Council met in executive session for the purpose of discussion regarding discipline of one of our council members under the City of Council Code of Conduct.

The Council Code of Conduct serves as a guideline for our conduct as elected officials.

In addition to the council code of conduct, we are also bound by our city charter, which does not provide an avenue for the council to remove another council member from their seat.

The Avondale City Charter makes it clear that the voters of Avondale are the ones who elect us into office, and that is the voters of Avondale who would determine whether or not we should represent them.

Please understand that under state law we are not permitted to disclose what was discussed in executive session.

The council is also not permitted to take any action in executive session.

There is also no action item on the agenda this evening, and therefore council will not be voting to take action tonight.

I do want to take the opportunity to say a few words though about the matter.

One of the things that the Avondale City Council prides itself on is the ability to put our personal political or ideological differences aside and to work together to make lives better for the residents of Avondale.

That has been the case during the past eight years that I was on the city council, and as mayor, that is my hope for this council moving forward.

I have no doubt in my mind that each member of the city council loves their community and is passionate about the role that they were elected to.

Some of us have been on the council for much longer than others.

Having already served two terms as a council member, what I have learned is that it's difficult to separate our roles as private citizens and elected officials.

In the eyes of the community, we are always mayor or council member, just like anyone else.

I have the right to free speech as a private citizen, yet what I may say in public or on personal social media as private citizen Pineta can very well be seen as the words of the City of Avondale.

The Avondale Council Code of Conduct states that the professional and personal conduct of members must be above reproach and avoid even the appearance of impropriety.

Members shall refrain from abusive conduct, harassment, personal charges, or verbal attacks upon the character or motives of other members, councils, boards, commissions, the staff, and the public.

Members shall demonstrate civility and respect at all times.

This remains true in both public and private encounters as members should be aware that the public nature of the office they hold means they are always on display.

The council had a full and frank discussion regarding the code of conduct with councilmember Garcia.

This matter will be scheduled for a further discussion and an action at a future council meeting.

In closing, I would like to thank my fellow council members for their service and for honoring the privilege of serving the residents of Avondale.

And at this time, is that do we schedule for adjournment?

I move we adjourn.

We have a second.

I second.

We have a motion from Councilmember White, a second from Councilmember Condi.

Please vote.

Sorry, let me update the screen really quick.

I'll do the motions on here.

So it was a motion by Councilmember White.

And a second by Councilmember Condi.

Perfect.

Thank you.

Okay.

We are adjourned now at this time.

For those who are listening online and in the audience, the city council meeting is adjourned.

Thank you.