The City Council is composed of five members elected at large by the citizens of Atascadero. Council members serve four-year overlapping terms. The Mayor is selected by the Council members to preside over the meetings and perform other ceremonial duties. As the policy-making legislative body, the City Council is responsible for the enactment of all programs, policies and services of the City.

The City Council acts upon all legislative matters concerning the City, approving and adopting all ordinances, resolutions, contracts and other matters requiring overall policy decisions and leadership. The Council appoints the City Manager, City Attorney and various other commissions, boards and citizen advisory committees, all of which ensure broad-based input into the affairs of the City.

In 1998, the City Council initiated a unique strategic planning effort to annually determine important issues and set overall goals for the City. Each City department also prepares a strategic plan to interface with the priorities established by Council. The City's annual operating budget becomes the guide and the means for implementing those strategies.

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