The Elusive Castro Valley MAC By-laws

Governance
11

Here at Castro Valley Matters, we are curious about the workings of our local government.  To that end, we naturally wanted to read over and understand the by-laws of the Castro Valley Municipal Advisory Council (MAC).  We had a tough time finding them.

The MAC’s by-laws are not posted on the MAC website, nor can they be found on any Alameda County website. In our previous research on MACs and “MAC Equivalents”, we found that most of them with an Internet presence had easily accessible copies of their bylaws available to the public.

We looked for a paper copy of the MAC by-laws in the Castro Valley Library’s extensive MAC and Castro Valley governance document collection, and we found nothing.

Our hunt then took us to the Alameda County Planning Department, which manages the MAC’s Land Use meetings.  After some initial confusion (they were fairly certain that they were already posted online somewhere), the Planning Department searched its files and found a physcial copy of the MAC by-laws and sent us a copy via the US Mail.

As a public service, Castro Valley Matters has posted them electronically here on our website for the reference of all.

You can read the entire bylaws (last updated in 1990) by clicking here.

MAC

Not surprised at all that the governing documents were not posted (or available). In 2013 I discovered the minutes for the 2010-2013 MAC meetings were not posted on MAC’s website, as Steve (I’m too young to be a curmudgeon) Ontiveros will attest. After multiple e-mails to a member of Nate Miley’s staff (who blamed county programmers) they were finally posted. Interesting that no one on the MAC board realized they were not posted. Guess they don’t periodically check their own website.

I appreciate CV Matters providing the public with access to this document. The Library should get a copy as well. And it seems like the MAC should make a new year’s resolution to overhaul its portion of the Alameda County web site to include their bylaws, post photos of members and possibly update the roster (one member, John Ryzanych, is listed with a term that apparently expired in August of 2014). In fact they should probably review the bylaws and make sure they comply with them and update them for life in 2015!

Ryzanych has not yet been reappointed, but continues on the Council. That appears to go against the bylaws.

Suspect you either meant this, or are being polite, Michael Baldwin, but technically wouldn’t this be “in violation of the bylaws”?

Well, technically no because the bylaws state that an appointee will serve “until the appointment of a successor,” but I would say it violates the spirit of MAC bylaws in general.

In addition to updating the bylaws and make accessible on the CVMAC website, there is no mention of “Code of Conduct” available. Does the MAC follow a “Code of Conduct”? Is this available anywhere? One could not be found in a recent research a few months back and even brought up to the CVMAC members during the public comments portion at a MAC meeting.
If no such “Code of Conduct” exist maybe creating one or even adapting from another advisory council from another unincorporated community? http://avac-avila.org/ Avila Valley Advisory Council (AVAC). AVAC is an advisory council for the unincorporated area of San Luis Obispo – similar to our CVMAC for Alameda County. I invite you to take a look at the above link about AVAC and the ease of accessible information this site has to offer. We need this kind and ease of information available.
I challenge Alameda County Supervisors to assist in this area and make this available.

Thank you for your hard work covering things like this in Castro Valley. Much appreciated.

I’m looking for bylaws of new construction in Castro Valley. Where would I find these? Shouldn’t they be available to their residents? Please advise.

Governance
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Community
6
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Governance
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