This report is intended to complement a related publication that examines citizen participation from the perspective of federal policy and the managers of that policy. In contrast to that approach, this report examines citizen participation from the local perspective in order to provide a feel for what citizen involvement in decision making is really like at the local level. Seven federally sponsored city or county-based public agencies were selected for observation, including 1) a Neighborhood Health Services Center, 2) a Community Action Agency, 3) a Legal Services Center, 4) a Model City Agency, 5) a Tenant's Council in a public housing project, 6) an Urban Renewal Project Area Committee, and 7) a community Mental Health Center. These local agencies represent programs sponsored by the same four major federal agencies examined in the related report. Rather than presenting separate case histories of each local agency, the report analyzes the seven agencies according to common categories of interest, including representation, aspects of participation, decision making, relationships with other agencies, aspects of minority community development, and federal relationships. (Author/JG)