The “Town Council” Movement of LA County
- By : Michael Baldwin
- Category : Featured Story, Governance, Local Control
While researching the different ways unincorporated areas around California work with their Counties, I learned about the unique Town Councils of Los Angeles County. They act in an advisory role and are much like a Municipal Advisory Council (MAC,) but are not connected to the county government in any way. 
Town Councils have been in Los Angeles County since the 1960s, but they had a resurgence in the 1990s, particularly in the sparsely populated northern Fifth Supervisorial District, represented by Michael Antonovich since 1980.
In 1990, a developer proposed a large new development in the rural Fifth District community of Leona Valley. The development was opposed by a local homeowners association, but another group of property owners favored the development and claimed to represent the actual voice of the community.
Antonovich suggested that these property owners form a Town Council, and encouraged people from all viewpoints to run for election. He felt that letting the community decide through a democratic election was the best way to find truly who represented the voice of the area.
The Town Council “movement” spread from Leona Valley throughout the area with 11 unincorporated councils established by 1992. There are now 17 town councils in Los Angeles County.
These councils advise the Supervisor on all issues affecting the area and consist of community members who are elected through informal election processes (much like a homeowners association is,) which reflect the “spirit and intent of the California Election Code. They are subject to their own by-laws, govern themselves and many are established as 501(c)3 non-profit groups.
Town Councils were set up specifically to imitate a form of local government that hearkened back to early American history where communities gathered together and discussed local issues and solutions as a group. According to the Rural Town Council Handbook, they:
…serve the community by mirroring and promoting the community’s values, lifestyles, goals and concerns, through Town Hall meetings and other means of gathering community input and in turn presenting those viewpoints to appropriate agencies. Town Councils function effectively as community advocates and representational links in local situations where rapport exists between the community and the County, Board of Supervisors, district boards and neighboring municipalities.
I reached out to the office of Supervisor Antonovich to ask about the differences between Town Councils and MACs in the eyes of the County. He in turn reached out to the Los Angeles County Counsel Mark Saladino on my behalf who gave me a reply with some points:
The function of the County’s town councils is similar to that of municipal advisory councils, where both bodies serve to provide community input to the involved county. Moreover, both bodies have a purely advisory role, with no legislative or enforcement powers, and neither body has the authority to override the decisions of any county board of supervisors or any of its departments.
The key distinction is that the County’s town councils are not part of the County’s formalized governance structure. They are not formed pursuant to any county authority and do not fall within the jurisdiction of the County…
Municipal advisory councils, on the other hand, are formed persuant to California Government Code section 31010 at the discretion of a county’s board of supervisors. Boards of supervisors have the authority to establish the powers and duties of any municipal advisory council they form. Similarly, boards of supervisors have the authority to establish other rules, regulations, and procedures deemed necessary in connection with the formation and operation of a municipal advisory council.
Town councils have worked well for the County and provide important community insight to our Board of Supervisors. By contrast, the County currently has no functioning municipal advisory councils.
Supervisor Antonovich’s office confirmed that they greatly value the opinions and advice given by the Town Councils. It is an important part of the decision making process. The entire Board of Supervisors apparently agrees with that point of view. Early in 2014, the Antelope Acres Town Council (representing a Fifth District community), petitioned the Board to start a MAC to replace them. The Board voted down the motion, as they failed to see a justification for a MAC instead of the existing Town Council.
You can read the entire history and organization of Town Councils in Los Angeles County, by reading this book, “Rural Town Councils – A Guide and Handbook” by Mary Ann Floyd, who was instrumental in the movement.
Excellent research and work Michael (do you sleep occasionally?), with one minor exception: “..informal election processes (much like a homeowners association is,)”. HOA elections are rigidly dictated by the California Civil Code and the governing documents of the specific Association.
True, but the functional election process itself is similar…
Here’s a question ; Suppose a chartered town council that had formed in 1992 one day just dissolved. Then after an unknown number of years passes someone comes across the original town council and assumes authority as if they were elected. (In other words identity theft) for the purpose of collecting money from an organization that was to go into the community.
As time continues and people start to ask questions about the money those individuals well they become band or threatened. excluded from voting.
New bylaws are formed making the nonprofit organization that collects the money for the community a separate entity that is operated by the town council board members.
As time goes by starts to inherit or incorporate the actual town’s name.
Without mentioning any real names let’s say:
The Town is called Main.
The original town council is call Sketch town council.
The nonprofit organization is called Sketch town council foundation
The original Sketch town council was created for the sole purpose of a development project unknown to the actual cause to stop it or permit it.
Sketch town council funds come from Sketch town council foundation and those officers work as an advisory committee to the board of supervisors.
Sketch bylaws state that a member from the board of supervisors actually holds a seat on their board. Sketch town council when speaking for the behalf of the community is known as Sketch/Main Town Council.
Confused yet?
Well in 2013 Sketch town council submitted a resolution in the attempt to become a MAC
Recently in order to be fully recognized by the board of supervisors they were to have a legitimate election. Instead they sent out a few flyers describing the area of township. Started excluding residents who were eligible from running. Had disqualified one individual for being a non citizen kept changing the number of seats available on the council. A large number of registered voters who were eligible to vote Received a sample ballot and saw that there was the same amount of candidates as their were number of seats available for the council so decided not to vote.
On the day of the election the non-US citizen was on the ballot and still no information about one of the candidates.
Direct things that the end of that election a lawyer wrote the council a letter stating that the bylaws for the council are Noll in void that only the charter bylaws exist and thereby disqualifying one of the residence because of where they lived in accordance with the boundaries of the charter (whereas that would actually disqualify every candidate for the original boundaries were only a two block strip.
The town council’s are governed by bylaws but those bylaws hold no meaning to the council and since the county has no say who is accountable?
If you call the police which is actually the sheriff it takes him about an hour to get out here so if you are in danger oh well and if you don’t comply to them settle hints like G hope your dog doesn’t get poisoned.
How can I as a veteran who fought for this country based on the Constitution help liberate this community???