It’s easy to point to something in your community you want to see changed. It’s not so easy to know what to do about it. Who do you call? What do you say? We chatted with Robert Austin, the communications specialist for the Office of City Council, to get his tips for tapping into the conversation.
Understanding What City Council Does — and Doesn’t — Do
First, it’s important to know what City Council actually does and who is involved. In short, City Council is the legislative arm of the city — the members of council propose, pass, and amend local laws. They also help guide the city budget, lead internal investigations, and shape decisions on housing, transit, business, and public safety policies.
What City Council doesn’t do: Offer immediate assistance for inquiries and complaints related to city services like trash collection or potholes. It’s better to contact 311 for that type of stuff.
Know Your Representative
The city is divided into 11 geographical districts with a specific City Council representative assigned to each one, plus two at-large members who represent the whole city. You can check out this interactive map to find your representative. Then, consider signing up for your councilmember’s newsletter to stay up to date on what’s happening in your neck of the woods. Each member also has public office hours.
Sign Up for Weekly Updates
By signing up for City Council’s weekly emails, you can keep up with exactly what topics council is focusing on and when. It goes out every Thursday and lays out what’s on the discussion agenda for the following week, including public input opportunities and links for tuning in virtually.
Virtual Options Are Available
Civic engagement doesn’t mean you have to schlepp all the way down to the City and County Building — all City Council meetings are available via livestream, and you can participate in public comment sessions via Zoom, phone, or written testimony.
Getting Involved Early
By the time Council makes its final vote on a matter, the chance to weigh in has long passed. Following along with City Council’s weekly agendas will offer ample opportunities to make your voice heard and engage in dialogue with fellow community members.
Tell us what topics facing council you want to hear more about so we can bring you the news that matters most to your community!
