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Supervisor Mary N. Piepho announced today that she has nominated seven individuals to become founding members of the newly formed Alamo Municipal Advisory Council (MAC). The nominations will go before the full Board of Supervisors for consideration Tuesday, Oct. 20.
“I am very impressed with the caliber of individuals that applied to serve and readily admit it was difficult to choose seven from a group of people that have collectively accomplished so much and served their community in so many ways,” said Piepho.
The seven individuals being nominated are:
* David Barclay
* Ed Best
* David Bowlby
* Nancy Dommes
* Janet Evans
* Michael McDonald
* Steve Mick
“I am satisfied that the group nominated brings together a variety of skill sets, perspectives, and knowledge of the community,” Piepho said. “I believe each of them is willing to put differences aside and work constructively for the betterment of Alamo.”
Piepho, who is supervisor for Contra Costa County Distric 3, which includes Alamo, proposed the creation of an Alamo MAC on July 30 to the Board of Supervisors, which approved it. The MAC is intended to provide a focused voice to advise the supervisor on issues and concerns related to services provided by the county, since Alamo is unincorporated.
The MAC responsibilities will include parks and recreation, lighting and landscaping, land-use and code enforcement, public safety, transportation and other county services.
There has been discussion in the community for the many years about the need for either incorporation or other enhanced form of representation such as a MAC. On March 3, the voters of Alamo considered incorporating Alamo into a town, but approximately 66 percent of the voters opposed it.
Alamo has a population of about 16,700. There are currently 11 MACs in Contra Costa County.
Piepho proved background information on the nominees as follows:
David Barclay has served as president of numerous homeowners associations including Alamo Crest where he currently lives. He has been active in school fundraising and served as the chairman of the San Ramon Valley Unified School District oversight committee responsible for implementation of a school bond. He brings great experience in land and fiscal management to the MAC.
Ed Best has been an Alamo resident since 1973 and been involved in a variety of community activities. Most notably, as committee member and chairman of the Alamo Parks and Recreation Committee R-7A, San Ramon Valley Unified School District, Board of Trustees, Museum of the San Ramon Valley, Board of Directors, and has served as a past board member for the Mt. Diablo Silverado Council Boy Scouts of America.
David Bowlby serves on the Board of Directors and Executive Committee of the Contra Costa Council. He is a former Planning Commissioner for both Danville and the San Ramon Valley. He brings significant Land Use Planning experience and broad knowledge of the county.
Nancy Dommes is currently an R7A member. She has also served on the Alamo Beautification Committee Zone 36. Nancy is currently treasurer for the Alamo Community Foundation as well as having been involved in a variety of school activities.
Janet Evans is currently the principal of Growth Strategies Unlimited and a former IBM employee. She served on the Alamo Roads Advisory Committee and graduated from the Leadership San Ramon Valley Program. She has received an honorary service award for her work with the PTSA. She is also a Board Member of the Jack and Jill of America Foundation Inc.
Michael McDonald is a former City Manager and Chief Executive of a wholesale electricity services agency. He makes Roundhill Country Club his home and is a Contra Costa County Court Appointed Child Advocate. He loves golf and dogs.
Steve Mick is active and involved in many organizations within Alamo. He has served on Alamo Community council, the Alamo Parks and Recreation Committee R-7A, the Alamo Beautification Committee Zone 36, Board of Directors for the Alamo Improvement Association, and is a current member of the Vietnam Veterans of Diablo Valley as well as being an active member on the Veteran’s Memorial Development Committee. Steve is the Webmaster for www.Alamore.org.
Dear Dolores,
There are no surprises in the choices. Let us wish them success in outreach to a community that awaits their commitment to community engagement.
Success will be defined by outreach,
Hal
How about a little proactivity on the part of Alamo residents, too. There should be a lot of outreach and, just as important, the MAC should also get a lot of “inreach” which is defined as Alamo folks staying informed and taking time to contact the MAC on issues.
Success will be defined by communication in both directions.
Dear Dolores,
As you will note in Alamo Ron’s comment, the expectation is that Alamo’s majority must beat a path to authority’s door by creating all outreach to the MAC. With no recognition of such authority and no desire for a relationship with Mary N. Piepho, that path will not be pursued. Neighborhoods, in representing more than 8000 voters in 94507, will not support the MAC and have once again voted NO for the same reasons as incorporation:
• Lack of inclusion in the definition of the council and its government.
• Lack of definition of a rational purpose for such government.
• Lack of purpose in its planning.
Hal
So Hal,
How has that approach been working out for you?
Not so good? Someday you may learn that opening a door is far easier than running head-on straight into a wall.
In the meantime you continue to define yourself and entertain the rest of us. At least there is that.
I’m sorry to hear that the “neighborhoods” won’t lift a finger to interact with the MAC. Guess their views won’t be represented…
Good luck to the MAC. It definitly needs a lot of support from the community to do the work of all the pre-MAC volunteers with only seven people, talented as they are. The concern is that we may loose the depth and the quality of work. Hope the volunteers will not abandon the good work they have been doing and supplement the lack of resources of the MAC. The limitations placed on MAC’s ability to use external resources and have sub-committees make one wonder if it is part of the intent to minimize the interference by the residents in the affairs of their government! ( The County and the Supervisors). Of course as a wise person said : people have the government they desrve. With the exception of a small minority the rest of Alamo is on auto-pilot and does not want to be bothered by pesky little community issues; UNTILL IT HAPPENS TO THEM!