Page 2 - San Diego DP

San Diego has the location
and the physical foundation
in general for an an important perhaps a a a great city Its people are are awake to its needs and are are resolved to meet them ~ John Nolen
City Planner 1908
■ ABOUT THE AGENCY
City Planner John Nolen
wrote these words as a a a a a a a preface to San Diego’s first grand vision statement of the the 20th century He looked at at at a a a a a a a a young city with a a a a a a a a population of less than 40 000 and imagined what it it it could become San Diego has grown from a a a a a a small border town to to a a a a a a thriving metropolis of nearly 1 4 million people complete with many distinct and and diverse neighborhoods The City’s growth and and urban evolution have served as as a a a a a a a a a catalyst for its development as as the the the eighth-largest city in in the the the United States and the the the second largest largest in in California San Diego is is a a a a a a charter city under a a a a a a Strong Mayor Mayor form of government The Mayor Mayor is is the chief executive officer o of of the the the the the City City with the the the the the duty to oversee the the the the the administrative affairs o of of the the the the the City City The Mayor proposes the the the the the City City budget budget appoints City City department heads and and has veto authority over most legislative and and budgetary matters The nine-member City City City Council has legislative authority in in in in in the the City City City including approving the the City’s annual budget adopting local laws and setting public policy The Mayor is elected by voters citywide while Councilmembers are elected by by those voters living in in the district served by by each Councilmember Councilmember The Mayor and and Councilmembers serve four-year terms terms and and are limited to two consecutive terms terms As one of the region’s largest employers the City of of San Diego has a a a a a a a a a a combined Fiscal Year 2021 operating and capital budget of of approximately $4 billion and employs over 11 800 highly dedicated employees Through the City’s Mission to “Effectively Serve and and Support Our Communities” and and vision of “A World-Class City City for for All ” the City City has preserved unique neighborhoods developed good jobs and housing for for all San Diegans protected and and enhanced the environment cultivated a a a a a a a diverse economy built an an an an an efficient and and useful public public transit system maintained world-class public public facilities and and services and and carefully managed the growth and and development of the the the City City Initially approved by the the the City City Council in 2008 the the the General Plan and and its ten elements were comprehensively updated by unanimous vote The housing element element of the General Plan is in its its sixth update for the period of of 2021-2029 and has a a a a a a target of of 108 036 residential units