San Diego was first incorporated as a city government with a common council on March 27, 1850.

A new charter was adopted in 1889 reestablishing a common council under the strong mayor form of government.

[1] In 2005 two city council members, Ralph Inzunza and Deputy Mayor Michael Zucchet – who briefly took over as acting mayor when Murphy resigned – were convicted of extortion, wire fraud, and conspiracy to commit wire fraud for taking campaign contributions from a strip club owner and his associates, allegedly in exchange for trying to repeal the city's "no touch" laws at strip clubs.

[6] In 2006 the city's form of government changed back to a strong mayor system.

[7] The mayor of San Diego is, in effect, the chief executive officer of the city, while the council is the legislative body.

[8] Since December 2012 there have been nine members of the council, expanded from eight under the terms of a city ballot measure passed in June 2010.

[11] In November 2018, voters passed Measure L which ties future City Council salaries to those of Superior Court judges.

[13] City council seats are all officially non-partisan by state law, although most members identify a party preference.

Members of the City Council are elected from 9 single-member districts and include Councilmembers Joe LaCava, Jennifer Campbell, Stephen Whitburn, Henry Foster III, Marni von Wilpert, Kent Lee, Raul Campillo, Vivian Moreno, and Sean Elo-Rivera.

City council members also serve on various regional committees with the mayor.