Citizen Participation Guide

As a citizen...
you can take an active role in shaping Mesa government policies, programs and decisions.

Participating in government can be as simple as voting at each election. But you can go a step further by participating in the day-to-day process of local government.

• You can volunteer for one of the many advisory boards or committees that make recommendations to the City Council and City departments.
• You can influence decisions when it comes to adopting laws, the biennial budget, or where to site a new park.
• You can be an active member of a neighborhood association or help form one in your neighborhood.
• You can seek elective office.

One of the greatest challenges of governance is finding a balance between the interests of the community as a whole and those who have a special stake in a particular issue. Citizens can help strike that balance by looking for solutions that work for the entire community, not just a small group.

Although participating does not always mean prevailing, it does make government a partnership effort. That’s something positive, because when citizens are actively involved in their government, decisions can better reflect the will of the people.