How to Approach OC City Council Meetings

How to Approach OC City Council Meetings
Photo by Wonderlane / Unsplash

Make your voice heard by speaking directly to the people in power. City councils make decisions that affect our communities. Public comment is one way to directly hold them accountable.

How to Make a Public Comment

Most cities offer two ways to comment during meetings:

  • In Person: Fill out a speaker request card when you arrive. You'll usually speak during the non-agendized public comment period, a designated time during the meeting.
  • On Zoom: Raise your virtual hand during public comment, and ensure your display name matches the one you registered with (if required).

Tips for Structuring Your Comment

  1. Intro- State your name, city, and that you're a resident or concerned community member.
  2. Why It Matters- Share your personal connection or values.
  3. Details- Be clear, concise, and specific in your concerns or demands.
  4. Closing- Reinforce what you want to see from council.

Most cities allow 2-3 minutes. You don't need to be perfect. Sometimes just showing up matters.

Check out this guide by Protect Democracy to prepare and deliver an effective public comment.

City Council Meetings by City

Please note that city council meeting schedules may change, especially in months with national holidays. Check the city’s website for the most up-to-date information.

City:

Schedule:

Address:

Link:

Aliso Viejo

1st and 3rd Wednesdays @7pm

12 Journey Suite 100, Aliso Viejo, CA 92656

https://avcity.org/222/City-Council 

Anaheim

1st and 3rd Tuesdays @5pm

200 S. Anaheim Blvd., Anaheim, CA 92805

https://www.anaheim.net/2142/View-City-Council-Meetings 

Brea

1st and 3rd Tuesdays @7pm

1 Civic Center Circle, Brea, CA 92821

https://www.cityofbrea.gov/511/City-Council 

Buena Park

2nd and 4th Tuesdays @5pm

6650 Beach Blvd., First Floor Buena Park, CA 90621

https://www.buenapark.com/city_departments/city_council/index.php 

Costa Mesa

1st and 3rd Tuesdays @6pm

77 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa, CA 92626

https://www.costamesaca.gov/government/mayor-city-council 

Cypress

2nd and 4th Mondays @5:30pm

5275 Orange Ave., Cypress, CA 90630

https://www.cypressca.org/government/city-council-meetings 

Dana Point

1st and 3rd Tuesdays @6pm

33282 Golden Lantern, Dana Point, CA 92629

https://www.danapoint.org/City-Government/City-Council 

Fountain Valley

1st and 3rd Tuesdays @6pm

10200 Slater Ave., Fountain Valley, CA 92507

https://www.fountainvalley.gov/156/City-Council 

Fullerton

1st and 3rd Tuesdays @5:30pm

303 W. Commonwealth Ave., Fullerton, CA 92832

https://www.cityoffullerton.com/government/city-council/city-council-meetings 

Garden Grove

2nd and 4th Tuesdays @6:30pm

11300 Stanford Ave., Garden Grove, CA 92480

https://ggcity.org/city-council/meetings-participation 

Huntington Beach

1st and 3rd Tuesdays @6pm

2000 Main Street, Huntington Beach, CA 92648

https://www.huntingtonbeachca.gov/government/city_council/contact_city_council.php 

Irvine

2nd and 4th Tuesdays @4pm

1 Civic Center Plaza, Irvine, CA 92606

https://cityofirvine.org/city-council/city-council-meetings 

La Habra

1st and 3rd Mondays @6:30pm

100 E. La Habra Blvd., La Habra, CA 90631

https://www.lahabraca.gov/149/Council-Meetings 

La Palma

1st Tuesdays @6:30pm

7822 Walker St., La Palma, CA 90623

https://www.lapalmaca.gov/72/Agendas-and-Minutes 

Laguna Beach

2nd and 4th Tuesdays @5pm

505 Forest Ave., Laguna Beach, CA 92651

https://www.lagunabeachcity.net/government/departments/city-council 

Laguna Hills

2nd and 4th Tuesdays @6pm

24035 El Toro Rd., Laguna Hills, CA 92653

https://www.lagunahillsca.gov/129/City-Council 

Laguna Niguel

1st and 3rd Tuesdays @7pm

30111 Crown Valley Pkwy., Laguna Niguel, CA 92677

https://www.cityoflagunaniguel.org/903/Public-Meetings 

Laguna Woods

3rd Wednesday @2pm

24264 El Toro Rd.,

Laguna Woods, CA 92637

https://www.cityoflagunawoods.org/city-council/ 

Lake Forest

1st and 3rd Tuesdays @5:30pm

100 Civic Center Dr., Lake Forest, CA 92630

https://www.lakeforestca.gov/en/government/city-council 

Los Alamitos

3rd Monday @6pm

3191 Katella Ave., Los Alamitos, CA 90720

https://cityoflosalamitos.org/165/City-Council 

Mission Viejo

2nd and 4th Tuesdays @6pm

200 Civic Center, Mission Viejo, CA 92691

https://dms.cityofmissionviejo.org/OnBaseAgendaOnline 

Newport Beach

2nd and 4th Tuesdays @4pm

100 Civic Center Dr., Newport Beach, CA 92660

https://www.newportbeachca.gov/government/departments/city-clerk/city-council-meetings 

Orange

2nd and 4th Tuesdays @6pm

300 E. Chapman Ave., Orange, CA 92866

https://www.cityoforange.org/our-city/local-government/city-council 

Placentia

1st and 3rd Tuesdays @7pm

401 E. Chapman Ave., Placentia, CA 92870

https://www.placentia.org/268/Mayor-City-Council 

Rancho Santa Margarita

2nd and 4th Wednesdays @7pm

22112 El Paseo, RSM, CA 92688

https://www.cityofrsm.org/160/Mayor-City-Council 

San Clemente

1st and 3rd Tuesdays @5:30pm

100 Avenida Presidio, San Clemente, CA 92672

https://www.san-clemente.org/government/city-council 

San Juan Capistrano

1st and 3rd Tuesdays @5pm

32400 Paseo Adelanto, SJC, CA 92675

https://www.sanjuancapistrano.org/318/City-Council 

Santa Ana

1st and 3rd Tuesdays 

@5:30pm

22 Civic Center, Santa Ana, CA 92701

https://www.santa-ana.org/agendas-and-minutes/ 

Seal Beach

2nd and 4th Mondays @7pm

211 Eighth Street, Seal Beach, CA 90740

https://www.sealbeachca.gov/Government/City-Council 

Stanton

2nd and 4th Tuesdays @6:30pm

7800 Katella Ave., Stanton, CA 90680

https://www.stantonca.gov/government/city_council.php 

Tustin

1st and 3rd Tuesdays @6pm

300 Centennial Way, Tustin, CA 92780

https://www.tustinca.org/482/City-Council 

Villa Park

4th Tuesday @6:30pm

17855 Santiago Blvd., Villa Park, CA 92861

https://villapark.org/council-and-committees/city-council 

Westminster

2nd and 4th Wednesdays @6pm

8200 Westminster Blvd., Westminster, CA 92683

https://www.westminster-ca.gov/departments/advanced-components/list-detail-pages/calendar-meeting-list 

Yorba Linda

1st and 3rd Tuesdays @6:30pm

4845 Casa Loma Ave., Yorba Linda, CA 92886

https://www.yorbalindaca.gov/196/City-Council-Meetings