Dozens of residents used the meeting's public-comment period to push back on a proposed censure of Councilmember Andrew Sandoval and to demand clearer rules for public input. "He's been good for Salinas," said Eric Peterson, who told the council he had ridden along with local officers and praised the councilmember's community engagement. Multiple speakers said the council's limits on public comment have become a barrier to participation and asked that prayers and invocations be relocated to a ceremonial portion of the agenda.

Advocates for Sandoval described him as a transparency advocate who meets constituents in their neighborhoods. "Whether intentional or not, this action will make it appear that certain members of the council are trying to suppress his voice," said Joseph Valverado, who spoke in support of Sandoval. Other public speakers, including tenant advocates, used their time to press the council on housing, homelessness and perceived municipal priorities.

Councilmembers acknowledged the volume of comment and debated whether the council's conduct and the public-comment cadence need clearer definitions. Peter Zalai urged the council to separate brief ceremonial invocations from public-comment time so that the record and the forum for civic business remain focused.

The council did not take formal action on the censure during the meeting; the matter framed a broader public debate about free speech, decorum and the role of councilmember speech on and off the dais.