Castro Valley Municipal Advisory Council (MAC) Meeting – November 18, 2025

The Castro Valley MAC held its regular meeting on November 18, 2025. Key items included an update from the California Highway Patrol (CHP), a detailed discussion on sidewalk vending enforcement, and a presentation on the Higher Avenue Sidewalk Improvement Project. The council also approved minutes from October 20, 2025, and the 2026 meeting schedule.

Consent Calendar

• Approval of Minutes (October 20, 2025): The council unanimously approved the minutes from the previous meeting.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Non-Agenda Public Comment: A resident on James Avenue expressed concerns about recent road work at the Redwood Road intersection, stating lane narrowing has made the area congested and dangerous for both cars and pedestrians. The speaker questioned investing in curb bump-outs instead of sidewalks on busy walking routes like James Avenue.

Discussion Items

CHP Update (Officer Jim Pabst)

• Officer Pabst presented statistics comparing October 2025 to October 2024: traffic citations issued 286 (down from 460, partly due to a special enforcement unit officer transfer); DUI arrests remained steady; injury crashes improved slightly; non-injury crashes remained similar; abandoned stolen vehicles increased from 0 to 3.
• A Halloween maximum enforcement period resulted in 24 DUI arrests in 12 hours (CHP Hayward led the state in arrests). A pedestrian enforcement operation on Lake Chabot Road issued 27 citations in 2 hours and 15 minutes, with the decoy officer nearly hit several times.
• Officer Pabst noted ongoing efforts to address trespassing on state property related to unhoused individuals, collaboration with the Alameda County Sheriff's Office, and upcoming holiday enforcement periods (Nov 26-30, December impaired driving prevention).
• Council members and public speakers raised concerns about school pickup/drop-off safety on Crow Canyon Road, pedestrian visibility at night, school bus stop sign violations, e-bike dangers, tailgating, and the need for crosswalk beacons. Officer Pabst provided contact information for traffic complaints.

Sidewalk Vending Update

• Parade Organizer (Mel Speed): Reported that the Light Parade (Nov 1, 2025) had 72 entries, 53 street vendors, and 13 authorized food vendors, but was overrun by roughly five times as many unauthorized vendors selling food and balloons. Authorized vendors paid $189-$211 to participate; unauthorized vendors faced no enforcement. Mel urged action.
• Chamber of Commerce (Gary Slate): Expressed support for the proposed sidewalk vending ordinance but raised concerns about enforcement, identification of vendors, and safety issues (open flames under canopies). He noted that unauthorized vendors often use aggressive language and that a warning given at an event should not reset the violation count if the vendor returns the same night.
• Code Enforcement (Holly Felix): Provided an ordinance status update: adopted Sept 11, 2025; amendments passed first and second readings in October/November; public hearing set for Nov 18, 2025; full enforcement expected January 2026 with outreach, permitting, and administrative fines. Fines: warning, $100, $200, $500 for subsequent violations; without a permit: warning, $250, $500, $1,000. Enforcement team includes Environmental Health, Code Enforcement, and Sheriff's Office. Since January 2025, 29 inspections have been conducted. At the Light Parade, one unauthorized taco vendor was shut down; other vendors were asked to leave. A repeat taco vendor on Castro Valley Blvd. and Redwood Road has had food confiscated multiple times (dates listed) but continues to operate. The presenter noted that the vendor is part of an organized operation with ties to Sacramento. Environmental Health (Valerie Strother) added that staff resources are strained and that confiscation of food alone is not deterring violators; larger equipment confiscation is needed but requires collaboration with Public Works and secure storage.
• Council and Public Comments: Resident Ken Carboni expressed frustration that similar complaints have been made for over three years with little action. Matt Turner noted that vendors are part of organized groups, not individual entrepreneurs. Council members voiced strong dissatisfaction with the lack of effective enforcement, calling for a coordinated task force, confiscation of equipment, and adequate staffing/funding. A motion was made and passed unanimously (7-0) requesting the Board of Supervisors to make sidewalk vending ordinance enforcement a priority in Castro Valley, levying maximum fines and other allowable measures.

Higher Avenue Sidewalk Improvement Project

• Public Works Presentation (Carl): Presented four design alternatives for Higher Avenue between Redwood Road and Center Street. Goals: improve walkability, add bike facilities, enhance traffic safety. Alternatives: 1) Class II bike lanes on both sides; 2) Buffered bike lane with parking removed on one side; 3) Class IV separated bike lane (non-standard, higher cost $2M+); 4) Uphill bike lane with downhill shareow. Recommended Alternative 1 due to lower cost, standard compliance, retention of existing accessible sidewalks, and fewer driveway conflicts.
• Public Comments: Several residents spoke in favor of Alternative 3 (separated bike lane) for safety, citing high vehicle speeds and school traffic. Others supported Alternative 1 but criticized proposed bulb-outs at Forest and Alana, calling them dangerous and traffic-impeding. A resident on Higher expressed concern about driveway grades and stormwater. Council members debated alternatives: some supported Alternative 1 with modifications (remove bulb-outs, widen travel lanes to 11 feet throughout), while others preferred Alternative 3 but acknowledged cost implications. Councilmember Davini (traffic engineer) argued Alternative 1 is safe and standard. Director Daniel indicated willingness to remove bulb-outs and consider widening lanes.
• Motion: A motion to endorse Alternative 1 with removal of bulb-outs and 11-foot travel lanes throughout was made and passed unanimously (7-0).

Key Outcomes

• Motion on Sidewalk Vending: Unanimously approved (7-0) a request to the Board of Supervisors to prioritize enforcement in Castro Valley and impose maximum fines and penalties.
• Motion on Higher Avenue Project: Unanimously approved (7-0) to recommend Alternative 1 with modifications: no bulb-outs and 11-foot lanes throughout the corridor.
• Approval of 2026 Meeting Schedule: Unanimously approved.
• Next Steps: The sidewalk vending ordinance public hearing is scheduled for November 18, 2025. The Higher Avenue project is expected to be advertised in January 2026, with construction beginning June 2026.