• Mayor
  • Residents and organizations can submit inquiries to the Mayor’s Office that his staff address, and the Mayor’s community engagement team participates in local community meetings and maintains communication with resident leaders and organizations.
• City Council
  • Nine councilmembers each represent the City’s nine districts, and their major responsibilities involve enacting laws, budgetary approvals and responses to constituent concerns. Community members engage with the council by attending public meetings, offering comments on agenda items and participating in general discussions on city governance. Councilmembers each have community representatives on their staff to work directly with each neighborhood on community priorities.

Community members can submit public comment for City consideration at public hearings, such as Planning Commission and City Council meetings. They can also submit public comment at workshops, web-based meetings and other public meetings.

The City of San Diego has 44 boards and commissions made up of volunteer community members appointed by the Mayor and City Council. These official advisory bodies serve the City by providing recommendations on various fiduciary, regulatory and policy issues. City boards and commissions typically hold public meetings and allow for public comment. The boards and commissions meet and post agendas online as well as ways to participate in meetings and sign up to receive notices. For examples, see the Historical Resources Board or Planning Commission.

The City’s 49 Community Recreation Groups provide recommendations to the City Council, Parks and Recreation Department and Parks and Recreation Board about proposed park infrastructure, community recreation programs and the distribution of funds for public parks and open space within the city. Council Policy 700-42, adopted in 1981 and amended in 2005, guides City cooperation with the volunteer members of the public who create and operate Community Recreation Groups.

Community planning groups are independent groups that are recognized by the City under Council Policy 600-24. These provide a way for community members to advise the City Council, Planning Commission and other decision-makers on community-specific topics, including land use, development projects and infrastructure. Per Council Policy 600-09, the Community Planners Committee is an advisory body composed of the chair of each planning group and is intended to provide a forum for recommendations on citywide topics.