Castro Valley Municipal Advisory Council General Purpose Meeting – July 22, 2026

The Castro Valley Municipal Advisory Council (MAC) held its regular meeting on July 22, 2026, at 2:15 PM (Pacific). The meeting included routine approvals, public comments on non-agenda items, staff reports from law enforcement and fire services, council member introductions, a presentation on the upcoming Castro Valley Car Show, and a detailed update from AC Transit on its budget crisis and contingency service plan. The council also addressed concerns about the previous meeting’s minutes.

Consent Calendar

• No consent calendar items were listed or acted upon.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Jim Silva (general contractor) expressed strong opposition to Alameda County’s business licensing process, calling it the most difficult he has encountered. He specifically objected to the requirement to submit tax returns, citing data security risks and noting that no other city he works in demands tax returns. He urged the MAC to use its influence to streamline the process and eliminate the tax return requirement.
• Ken Carboni raised two issues: (1) the long‑delayed replacement of public trash enclosures on Castro Boulevard, and (2) repeated frustration with the business license process, calling it an “embarrassment” for the community and stating that the county’s approach undermines efforts to attract businesses. He noted that the tax return requirement is unsecure and that the county has been unresponsive despite multiple prior discussions.
• Officer Jennifer Pabst (CHP) reported traffic enforcement statistics for June 2026 in the Castro Valley area: 285 traffic citations, 5 DUI arrests, 3 misdemeanor arrests, 9 injury crashes, 35 non‑injury crashes, and 26 vehicles towed. She noted that numbers are down from previous months and that no fatal crashes occurred during the 4th of July enforcement period. She also mentioned ongoing enforcement on Parsons Avenue and stop‑sign enforcement on Seven Hills, and reminded the public about National Night Out and other upcoming events.
• Aaron Penfilio (Alameda County Fire) reported May 2026 call totals for Castro Valley: 606 total calls of service, including 28 fire‑related, 356 EMS/medical, 4 non‑fire (gas leak), 15 service calls, 108 good‑intent calls, 16 false alarms, and 79 other calls. He also provided an update on a fire that occurred that day, contained at 6.2 acres at the intersection of Norris and Crow Canyon. Councilmember Mulgrew praised the multi‑agency response as “phenomenal.”

Discussion Items

• Approval of Minutes (May 18, 2026): Councilmember DeVinny expressed concern that the minutes did not fully capture the discussion, particularly regarding the Office of Unincorporated Communities. Councilmember Davis agreed, requesting that names of public speakers and a more detailed summary be included. A motion to continue the minutes to a future meeting was made, seconded, and passed unanimously (Councilmember Davis and Mota excused).
• Council Member Introductions: Each member gave a brief personal background to help the community become familiar with them. Introductions were made by: Dan DeVinny (longest resident, CPA, coach), Tim Feebig (real estate broker, community volunteer), Tojo Thomas (24‑year deputy probation officer, safety background), Chuck Moore (grocery industry executive, equestrian center owner, 50‑year resident), Ray Davis (traffic engineer, presented by Chair Mulgrew), and Bill Mulgrew (marketing, stockbroker, chamber of commerce, rental housing executive).
• Castro Valley Car Show Update: Craig Semmelmeyer (Castro Valley Rotary Club) reported that the 19th annual car show will be held on the Saturday before Father’s Day. The event uses 120 volunteers, has a $45,000 budget, and generates a net profit of about $20,000 annually for the Castro Valley Endowment Fund, which supports scholarships. Approximately 20,000 people attended this year, and there was a waiting list of 400 cars. Semmelmeyer noted challenges with unlicensed street vendors and asked for stronger enforcement from Code Enforcement and the Sheriff’s Office. Councilmember DeVinny suggested coordinating with those agencies prior to the event, as was done successfully for the Row Ranch Rodeo Parade. Councilmember Thomas asked about vendor permits. Vice Chair Moore inquired about economic impact on local businesses; Semmelmeyer said some businesses report their best day of the year while others see disruption, and the club is working to drive foot traffic into stores.
• AC Transit Budget and Services Update: Director Murphy McCauley (Ward 4 representative), Diane Castleberry (finance), and Owen Christofferson (transportation planner) presented. AC Transit is the largest public bus‑only system in California, with a $606 million annual operating budget, 2,200 employees, and about 3 million monthly riders. Ridership is at 85% of pre‑COVID levels (141,000 weekday passengers). The agency faces a projected $200 million deficit over four years, with a $50 million annual funding gap starting July 2027. A state bridge loan of $55 million will close this year’s gap but must be repaid. A regional transit measure (Senate Bill 830) on the November 2026 ballot would impose a half‑cent sales tax (one cent in San Francisco) to generate $980 million annually; AC Transit would receive about $52 million per year. If the measure fails, a contingency plan would cut service by up to 16%, reducing frequencies on Castro Valley routes (28, 35, 93) from 40 to 60 minutes and trimming hours of operation (e.g., Route 35 and 93 would run 7 AM–7 PM instead of 6 AM–11 PM). McCauley emphasized that student transportation would not be cut. Councilmembers questioned cost per ride ($15, with fares covering only 7%), labor costs (70% of operating budget), potential alternatives such as microtransit or consolidation, and the need for innovative solutions. The MAC expressed concern about the financial cliff but appreciated the detailed presentation. No action was taken.

Key Outcomes

• Minutes: The May 18, 2026 minutes were continued to a future meeting pending revisions to better reflect the discussion and include speaker names.
• Car Show: The MAC received the car show update and offered support for stronger enforcement against unlicensed vendors. No formal vote was taken.
• AC Transit: The presentation was received and discussed. The MAC encouraged AC Transit to explore outside‑the‑box solutions and to communicate a positive vision for the future. The council urged community members to support the regional transit measure on the November 2026 ballot.
• Public Comments: The MAC will follow up on the business license process and trash container replacement issues with Alameda County staff.
• Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at 8:31 PM.