When the Eden Area Municipal Advisory Council held its inaugural meeting this month, it signified the first time that all unincorporated areas of Alameda County finally had the community representation they deserve.

Creation of the new advisory council was approved last year by the Alameda County Board of Supervisors after years of community engagement.

Alameda County Supervisor Wilma Chan (D. Ross Cameron/Bay Area News Group)

It’s been almost 50 years since California first allowed for the formation of municipal advisory councils to enhance local representation, and since that time most of Alameda County’s unincorporated communities have elected to create appointed MACs that advise the Board of Supervisors.

The county is home to one of the state’s oldest MACs, in Castro Valley, and in the decades that followed has also welcomed the Sunol Citizens Advisory Council and Fairview MAC. But throughout that span, the over 69,000 residents of Ashland, Cherryland, Hayward Acres and San Lorenzo have remained without community-based representation — until now.

Although the possibility of a MAC has been discussed for some time, its creation was the result of an inclusive community process over the past three years. This included a resident survey mailed to all Eden Area households, formation of an ad hoc committee to advise us on the MAC’s framework, comprehensive communication with area advocacy groups, and public meetings aimed at providing information and obtaining community feedback. Given that incorporation of these communities is unlikely due to the lack of a sufficient tax base, I wanted to ensure that the MAC was created in a manner that would ensure the highest level of sustainable representation.

The MAC’s first meeting has come at an opportune time given each area’s unique challenges and burgeoning opportunities for civic prosperity. The unincorporated status of the Eden Area’s four communities has never prevented them from establishing distinct identities, valuable economic resources and rich cultural diversity. These residents are proud to call their communities home, and the MAC will only enhance each area’s efforts to improve its quality of life now and in the future.

It’s also been gratifying to see such passionate public engagement in the years leading up to the MAC’s formation. I have been fortunate to have had an experienced, dedicated pool of applicants seeking to represent their communities. Following an open application process this past October, I was proud to nominate four highly-qualified individuals to serve on the MAC — all of whom were approved by the full Board of Supervisors on Dec. 17.

I have the utmost confidence that all seven of the residents appointed to this new council will serve the Eden Area with the utmost honor and integrity. Each one brings a unique background and perspective that together will foster a newfound spirit of collaboration and cooperation for the benefit of these unincorporated areas.

Going forward, the Eden Area MAC will meet on the second Tuesday of each month at 6 p.m. at the San Lorenzo Library, with the possibility for additional special meetings at the council’s discretion. The MAC and its members will address a wide range of community-focused topics, including land use, public works, economic development and public safety.

I invite and encourage all Eden Area residents to attend these meetings, engage in the area’s civic process and have your voice heard. As the MAC’s primary purpose is to advise the Board of Supervisors, their recommendations will play a significant role in crafting the future of your communities.

On Jan. 14, at the inaugural meeting, I was honored to take part in kicking off a historic new era in the Eden Area. Thanks to the hard work of countless residents and community leaders, all of Alameda County’s unincorporated areas now have a strong and united voice that will help bring greater activism and prosperity to all residents for generations to come.

Alameda County Supervisor Wilma Chan represents District 3, which includes Alameda, San Leandro, San Lorenzo, Hayward Acres, part of Ashland and part of Oakland. Follow the Eden Area Municipal Advisory Council at https://ift.tt/3aXcvG7 and find the agendas at https://bit.ly/2GyzhX4.