When San Diego County Supervisors discuss major policy behind closed doors, even informally, even with good intentions, the public loses something it can’t easily get back: the chance to weigh in before the decision is already made.
That is the quiet problem with how some ad hoc subcommittees currently operate in our county government. Throughout the years, the Board of Supervisors has established ad hoc subcommittees to address limited, single-purpose, or time-sensitive tasks that fall outside the scope of our permanent standing committees. These groups, made up of two supervisors, are temporary and are dissolved once their specific assignment is complete. However, these subcommittees are increasingly shaping the direction of significant policy decisions. Yet, there are no consistent rules requiring that their meetings be publicly noticed, their agendas posted in advance, or their discussions recorded for constituents to review. The result is a gap between where ideas are formed and where the public is allowed to show up.
I have seen how this gap can close and what becomes possible when it does.
When I co-chaired an ad hoc subcommittee on artificial intelligence with my former Board colleague, we ran the process fully in the open. Agendas were posted publicly. Meetings were noticed in advance. Every discussion was recorded and made available for anyone to watch and review. Community members could track the evolution of ideas in real time. That transparency didn’t slow the work down, it strengthened the policy and built public confidence in the outcome.
That should be the rule, not the exception.
Last April, the Board took a meaningful step when we reformed how agendas for regular meetings are posted, giving residents more than a week to review upcoming items and prepare to participate. People noticed. We heard from constituents who appreciated the extra time to consult neighbors, review materials, and show up prepared. Participation became more meaningful because the process was more accessible.
The same principle applies here. If subcommittees are playing a growing role in shaping policy, residents deserve a clear window into that work and not just on the final vote.
That is why I am bringing forward new guidelines to establish consistent standards for the ad hoc subcommittee process: requirements for public notice before meetings, advance agenda posting, and recorded discussions available for public review. The goal is straightforward – every stage of policymaking should meet the same standard of openness we expect from our regular Board of Supervisors meetings.
This is not about slowing down government. It is about making sure our work holds up to scrutiny at every step, not just at the end.
San Diego County residents are engaged. They attend meetings, track issues, and submit public comments. They deserve a government that meets that engagement with equal seriousness. When we operate in the sunshine fully, consistently, at every level, trust follows. And with trust, we can tackle even the hardest challenges together.
That is the standard this proposal would set. It is the standard the people of San Diego County deserve.
Joel Anderson serves on the County Board of Supervisors, representing District 2.