Community Planning Group Reform

On Sept. 13, 2022, the City Council approved changes to Council Policy 600-24 which defines the roles, responsibilities and standard operating procedures of Planning Groups. These changes focused on improving transparency, records retention, broadening community representation and reflecting Planning Groups' legal status as independent organizations, consistent with the City Charter and require all Planning Groups to apply for City Council recognition.

The City Planning Department is currently providing outreach and support to existing Planning Groups and potential new, interested groups seeking recognition to respresent their community. Resources and information regarding the recognition process are available on the Planning Group Recognition and Operations webpage that includes access to the online application, required application documents, information on workshops, and requesting individualized assistance.

Starting in 2024, the Department will present the applications to the Land Use & Housing Committee and City Council. As part of the approval process, the Department will evaluate the applications received for each community planning area for City Council consideration. Existing Community Planning Groups should continue to rely on their bylaws up until the City Council recognizes them or a new group for a community plan area under the revised Council Policy 600-24.

• City Council Staff Report
• City Council Resolution Approving Revisions to the Council Policy 600-24
• Council Policy 600-24 (Amended)
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Guidelines for Ethical Standards
  • Community Participation and Representation Plan (Revised with appendices)
    • Community Participation, Representation and Planning Group Composition (Excerpt)

Annual Report

Every year planning groups are required to submit an annual report in compliance with Council Policy 600-24.  The annual report includes details about the planning group's members, subcommittees, and summarizes accomplishments, major actions on projects and policy matters covering a calendar year from April through the following month of March. Annual reports shall be submitted to the City within 14 days of the approval of a planning group's March minutes. After planning group recognition, the Annual Report will be updated to allow planning groups to gather certain demographic data on existing and new voting members and the community at-large at the time of elections or other regular periods, to measure inclusion and diversity on the planning group.  The planning group shall compare this data with the demographics of the community at-large as may be available from the City or other agencies and submit it to the City as part of its annual report.

• Annual Report Online Portal
• Community Planning Area Demographic Data (2022 Estimates)

Applicability of the California Open Meeting Law (Brown Act)

On Oct. 27, 2006, the City Attorney issued a memorandum of law advising that Community Planning Groups (CPGs) and the Community Planners Committee (CPC) must comply with California's Open Meeting Law, the Ralph M. Brown Act. The purpose of the act is to ensure the actions and deliberations of public bodies occur openly with public access and input. A summary of Brown Act references within Council Policy 600-24 is provided. For more information, view the presentation on the Brown Act presented at previous Community Planning Group Orientation Workshop or the video below.  The League of California Cities Open and Public Handbook is also mentioned at the end of the training video as a helpful resource related to the Brown Act.

Resources

• Memorandum of Law
• Summary of Brown Act References Within Council Policy 600-24
• Presentation on the Ralph M. Brown Act
• League of California Cities: Open and Public - A Guide to the Ralph M. Brown Act

Workshops and Training

Attendance by all community planning group members at a Community Planning Group Orientation Workshop is required by City Council Policy 600-24. In order to meet the criteria for indemnification, this training must be completed within 60 days of being elected, or as soon as it is scheduled.

The workshop is typically offered once a year in the spring following annual elections in March and typically includes review of Council Policy 600-24 and the development project review process.

If a planning group member did not attend the virtual training on June 12, 2023, an alternative to the training can be taken by completing the following (linked below):

1) Watch the June 2023 Annual Planning Group Training recording.

2) Complete the Questionnaire.

3) After reviewing your results, forward a completed copy of your questionnaire that you will receive in your email to SDPlanningGroups@sandiego.gov to receive credit for training this year.

Resources

• Agenda for the 2023 Annual Planning Group Training
• Invitation Letter for 2023 Annual Planning Group Training
• June 12, 2023 Annual Planning Group Training Recording and Questionnaire

Community Planning Group Budget Allocations

Since 2015, the City Planning Department’s General Fund budget has included funding for the purpose of supporting Community Planning Group (CPG) operating expenses, such as those related to maintaining CPG websites, printing, and furthering public outreach.

Each CPG is responsible for exercising a strict fiduciary responsibility, ensuring adequate internal controls exist within each group, and requesting reimbursement of eligible expenses prior to the end of each fiscal year.

Resources

• City Planning Department Administrative Guidelines - CPG Budgets
• Reimbursement Request Invoice Template

For more information please email SDPlanningGroups@sandiego.gov.