🏛️ Introducing MVM Civics 101

How Your City Works

A plain-language guide to who has authority, who does not and how decisions move through Moreno Valley City government.

Local government affects many parts of life in Moreno Valley. But it is not always easy to know who is responsible for what.

What authority does the Mayor have? What decisions belong to the City Council? What does the City Manager do? What happens when a developer proposes a project? What roles do City staff, the Planning Commission and other appointed boards play?

MVM Civics 101 is an educational series that explains how Moreno Valley government works in plain language.

What we hope residents will learn

Who has the authority to make a decision
Who does not have that authority
How decisions move through City government
Where residents can find reliable information
How residents can take part in the process
Where to direct questions, criticism—and credit

This series will not promote or oppose any candidate, elected official, project or political position.

We will explain how local government works. Residents can use that information to evaluate issues and reach their own conclusions.

Read the series

What Does the Mayor Do?Citywide leadership, one Council vote and the limits of mayoral authority. What Does the City Council Do?Policy, budgets, voting and decisions made by the Council as a group. What Does the City Manager Do?Daily City operations, departments, staff and carrying out Council policy.

More installments are comingEconomic Development, Planning Commission, Community Development and more.

Graphics and full explanations

Each installment includes a quick, shareable graphic. The website article provides the details and links to official sources.

Not every government process can be explained in a few bullet points. The graphics provide the basics. The website articles explain important details and exceptions.

About MVM Civics 101

MVM Civics 101 explains how Moreno Valley local government works in plain language. It is intended to explain governmental roles and processes—not to support or oppose any candidate, official, project or political position.

This series provides general educational information based on official records and authoritative sources. It is not legal advice. Moreno Valley Matters® is not affiliated with or endorsed by the City of Moreno Valley.

If you identify a possible factual error, please send us the specific statement and an authoritative source supporting the correction. Documented errors will be corrected transparently.

Last reviewed: August 31, 2026