I’m not currently considering applying for the MAC, but I was certainly under the impression that there was a five-year residency requirement, and I found that to be a deterrent. Thanks for clearing it up!
Is a comma keeping you from applying for the MAC?
- By : Michael Baldwin
- Category : Governance, Local Control, MAC
Governance
9
Bad grammar on the FAQ page of the Castro Valley Municipal Advisory Council (MAC) page may inadvertently keep new Castro Valley residents from applying to serve on the council.
People interested in filling the impending vacancies on the Castro Valley MAC could easily misinterpret the FAQ, incorrectly thinking there is a five year residency requirement for eligibility. In fact, any resident of Castro Valley can apply to the MAC, with no requirement for time lived in Castro Valley. The five-year requirement only applies if your eligibility is based on having a business in the area.
Here are the requirements, according to Alameda County Resolution #190307A regarding the MAC:
“Each member shall be a resident of Castro Valley, or shall have owned or actively operated a business is Castro Valley for a period of at least five years prior to their appointment. Any member appointed by virtue of owning or operating a business in Castro Valley shall do so for the entire period of their appointment. Should such member cease to own or operate a business during their term, their appointment shall be void and the Board shall appoint a replacement member as indicated above.”
This makes it clear that a MAC appointee must be either:
- A resident of Castro Valley or,
- A person who has owned or operated a Castro Valley business for at least five years.
The confusion arises when looking at the “FAQ” page on the Castro Valley MAC website. From the paragraph titled “How are the MAC’s members determined,” we see:
“The MAC consists of seven (7) members. Upon the nomination of the District 4 Supervisor, each member is appointed for a four year term by the County Board of Supervisors. Each member must be a resident of the Plan Area or have owned or actively operated a business in the Plan Area for at least five years prior to appointment.”
When creating this FAQ, the County seems to have inadvertently omitted a crucial comma which makes it seem that a MAC appointee must be either:
- A resident of Castro Valley for five years or,
- A person who has owned or operated a Castro Valley business for at least five years.
Rest assured, that Alameda County only wants you to be a Castro Valley resident, and they do not require you to have lived here for five years.
To avoid further confusion, we hope that the County corrects the FAQ as soon as possible. Remember, you can apply for the Castro Valley MAC (or any other County Board or Commission) by filling out this application and sending it to Supervisor Miley’s office.
