San Diego Union-Tribune (Sunday)
Guide to city lawmaking is available
Want to get involved in making and changing San Diego municipal laws but you’re not sure how? There’s a brochure for that.
The City of San Diego created “Making a Difference: A Beginners Guide to Affecting Municipal Laws in the City of San Diego” to help residents participate in local government.
The pamphlet is available on the city clerk’s website.
“There are many ways for the people of San Diego to have an impact on the laws which govern our city, not the least of which is the voting booth,” it states. “This brochure will provide you with an overview of the methods available for you to be involved in the legislative process.”
Included in the guide is information about lobbying rules, making public comments at council and committee meetings and suggesting ballot proposals. It also features information about contacting lawmakers and using the initiative, charter amendment and referendum processes, among other actions.
The brochure opens with specific instructions for making public comments before the City Council.
“Members of the public who wish to speak on a docketed item must fill out a speaker slip,” it says. “Both `in favor’ and `in opposition’ slips are available in the rear of Council Chambers (on the 12th floor of the City Administration Building, 202 C Street, San Diego, CA 92101) and in the lobby just outside chambers before each meeting, or can be obtained at the City Clerk’s Office (202 C Street, 2nd Floor).”
The section on lobbying provides resources for people seeking greater detail about city ethics rules, how to register, and the ways in which affecting the law may make someone subject to lobbying registration and disclosure rules.
Another part of the guide explains how raising or spending money for efforts to influence legislation may qualify them as a political committee — and therefore subjecting people to campaign finance reporting rules. It provides links to resources for further information.
There are also links to various city policies where readers can find more detailed information.
For example, the brochure offers links to a city policy that describes how members of the public can submit ballot proposals to the City Council through the Rules Committee.
Letter-writing is another way to make one’s voice heard in the city’s legislative process, according to the guide.
To demonstrate community support for an idea, the guide suggests developing and submitting an informal petition or getting others to call or send letters to council members.
Most ordinances and resolutions require a simple majority vote — 5 of the 9 council members — to pass.
To read the guide, visit https:// www.sandiego.gov/city-clerk/elections/ process/difference#local.