Speaker Series Considers Castro Valley 2030 and Beyond
The group hoping to convert Castro Valley into a bona fide city is sponsoring a series of one-per-month discussions with experts on city planning and governance starting in August 2024 and continuing through next year.
CastroValleyCity.com spokesperson Gary Howard said each free lecture will be held at 2:00 p.m. at the Castro Valley Library. The first is scheduled for August 18.
He says the goal is for the speakers to share their experience in transforming cities for success in the future. They will provide information for the community to consider for the Castro Valley-specific plan and potential incorporation.
“These are all outside experts rather than our local talent,” Howard told the Forum.
CastroValleyCity.com is a group of like-minded residents who hope to encourage others to support transforming Castro Valley from an unincorporated town in Alameda County into a full-fledged city.
The cohort gained momentum last year following a Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) report suggesting that Castro Valley becoming a city is feasible but would initially be financially challenged. While voters twice rejected incorporating Castro Valley in 1956 and 2002, there may be an appetite for cityhood this time. The community of Mountain House recently voted overwhelmingly to become the first California city since 2011.
Either way, CastroValleyCity.com says it wants residents to hear from outside voices.
Among the scheduled speakers, August's guest will be Denise Pinkston, a Managing Director of Land Use and Policy at TMG Partners, whose topic, “Re-envisioning Castro Valley,” is expected to cover real estate needs, planning, and entitlements.
Alex Greenwood, a Principal at the Alex Greenwood Group, will discuss “Economic Development for a New City” in September. Greenwood has a successful 25-year track record of managing or facilitating projects that have brought $5.7 billion in new construction and 13,700 new jobs to diverse urban areas. His previous positions include director of economic and Community Development for South San Francisco, Pleasant Hill Planning Commission, and economic development manager of Brentwood.
Greenwood will be followed in October by Eden Medical Center CEO Shannon Thomas, who will discuss the “Future of Medicine in Castro Valley.” November’s speaker, Alan Chamorro, an Executive Vice President of Lowe’s Enterprises, will discuss “Attracting the Right Developers.”
After a December break, former Lafayette city manager Stephen Falk will lecture on "Transforming Main Street." Falk was the city manager for several cities, including Lafayette and Richmond. In 2020, he was appointed as the interim city administrator for Oakland.
“We’re very excited to have these speakers lined up,” CastroValleyCity.com’s Howard said. “Many of these speakers have helped transform other cities in California and know what it takes for a community to grow and prosper.”
For more information, visit CastroValleyCity.com.