MAC Updated on Hybrid Meetings, Bus Service

The Castro Valley Municipal Advisory Council (MAC) will be meeting in person in the New Year. But some members of the MAC expressed their displeasure at how long the process to restore traditional meetings has taken.

Ever since the pandemic lockdown, the MAC has met via Zoom teleconference. Changes and turnover among MAC members over the past nearly three years mean some of the board members have never met face-to-face.

The MAC has repeatedly expressed its frustration with county staff as they seek to return to in-person meetings. Staff said that it’s not as simple as renting out a room and plugging in a laptop- several pieces of logistic administration needed to be worked out.

The MAC said that people without access to or knowledge of technology could not participate.  

Additionally, the MAC expressed concerns that not having a public space to attend meetings has alienated members of the community from what’s going on with their governing board. 

But all that is set to come to an end no later than March 2023, when state law states that all Brown Act governing bodies must meet physically. Ideally, in-person meetings will begin even sooner with the MAC’s scheduled January 17th meeting at the Castro Valley Library. 

It’s important to note that the public will continue to have the option of hearing and participating in meetings via teleconference.

There will still be social distancing and masking rules in effect, and the MAC themselves will be masked, according to the county.

The actual vote taken by the MAC at their Monday night meeting allowed the current teleconferencing model to continue until March when the state law kicks in but with a planned (but not guaranteed) January in-person meeting as a goal. The motion passed, but it was a split vote of the MAC, with member Chuck Moore and Chair Bill Mulgrew voting “no.” 

“I’m disappointed that we’ve gotten to this point without firm, clear, unassailable plans for what this board has been asking for since March of this year,” said Mulgrew. “Very disappointed.”

Mulgrew went on to acknowledge that he knows the county staff works hard, but he remains frustrated. 

Additionally, Ken Carbone and Al Padro voted “yes, but…”  

“I’m not happy,” said Carbone. 

“Yes, but reluctantly, unhappily,” said Padro.

Bus Service Discussed

The MAC also received a brief update from AC Transit at the Monday meeting.

Bus service levels are still well below pre-COVID numbers, according to AC Transit board member Murphy McCalley. 

Rider numbers are low, and “operator availability” is a challenge- meaning they are struggling to hire and retain drivers. 

The FLEX shuttle, which allowed riders to basically Uber a bus by requesting a ride at a designated time, has not come back since the pandemic, and no date to restart it is on the horizon. 

Carbone urged them to restore that service as a priority.

AC Transit says funding is their primary concern- rider numbers are low, and even if they weren’t, only about 15 to 20 percent of their revenue comes from fares. Most come from a county parcel tax and state and federal sources. They said they are regularly seeking additional funding sources. 

Additionally, Clear Channel, the company which owns and advertises on bus shelters, will end its contract with AC Transit, meaning that maintenance of the already beleaguered shelters will have to be dealt with. 

There are 11 covered bus shelters located in Castro Valley. The MAC posited that removing the actual shelter and just having a stop without a structure may better discourage vandalism and use as a shelter by unhoused people.

McCalley said that AC Transit is in the middle of a major transition period which will include a total redesign of the bus network. There will be additional public meetings, including a return presentation to the MAC before the new network launches, planned for the summer of 2024. 

The MAC then asked for more frequent updates every several months, particularly on the Clear Channel bus shelter issue.