Participating in Meetings
The California Fish and Game Commission (Commission) and its committees generally conduct meetings in person with public options to participate by webinar and phone. At least one Commission meeting each year is conducted via teleconference.
The public may provide public comment on individual agenda items and during the general public comment periods, and otherwise observe in person or remotely consistent with the Bagley-Keene Open Meeting Act. Instructions for how to join Commission and committee meetings are provided for each meeting as a separate link on the meetings calendar.
Commission meetings are also live-streamed; visit the Commission Homepage on the day of the meeting to watch or listen.
The public is encouraged to comment on any item on an agenda, either in advance or on the day of the meeting. Instructions for how to provide public comment during or in advance of a specific meeting are provided at the end of every meeting agenda under the heading “Important Commission Meeting Procedures and Deadlines Information.”
Submitting Written Comments in Advance
You may submit your written comments in one of three ways (only one is necessary):
- Email to fgc@fgc.ca.gov
- Mail to California Fish and Game Commission, P.O. Box 944209, Sacramento, CA 94244-2090
- Deliver to California Fish and Game Commission, 715 P Street, 16th floor, Sacramento, CA 95814 (due to security measures at the building entrance, it is best to call and confirm staff availability before traveling to the office)
Written comments received at the Commission office at least thirteen days prior to a meeting will be made available to the Commission prior to the meeting. Written comments received five to twelve days prior to a meeting will be made available to the Commission the day before the meeting. Written comments received in the Commission office four or fewer days prior to a meeting will be made available to the Commission after the meeting.
The Commission does not accept comments via facsimile. If your comment is to request a change to regulations, requests for regulation changes must be submitted in writing using FGC Form 1, which can be found on the Submitting a Petition for Regulation Change webpage.
Speaking During a Meeting
A “General Public Comment” item is included on the agenda for each Commission and committee meeting for any member of the public to speak about items related to Commission policies, regulations, or any other matter within the jurisdiction of the Commission that is not on the meeting agenda. Separate public comment is also taken for each agenda item. As a general rule, action cannot be taken on issues not listed on the agenda. Submitting written comments in advance is encouraged to ensure that all comments will be included in the record before the Commission when it takes action.
If you decide to speak at a Commission or committee meeting, please begin by giving your name and affiliation (if any) and the number of people represented by your organization (if applicable). Then tell the Commission your concerns in the time allotted by the presiding officer – between one and three minutes. Time allotted for each agenda item depends upon the number of speakers and length of the agenda. The Commission is interested in your views; don't worry about how to say them. If several people have spoken, try not to be repetitious; if there are several speakers with the same concerns, please appoint a spokesperson. The Commission is particularly interested in the specific reasons you support or oppose a proposal.
All electronic presentations must be approved by the Commission executive director and submitted in advance by the "supplemental comment" deadline listed on the agenda.
Useful Resources