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County consultant proposes two‑person pilot to coordinate unincorporated services
Summary
A consultant recommended a two‑year, two‑staff Unincorporated Communities Coordination pilot within the County Administrator's Office, funded from an existing $300,000 Measure W carve‑out, to improve cross‑departmental coordination, Baker Tilly recommendation implementation and Environmental Justice actions.
A consultant who studied Alameda County's governance gaps recommended a scaled, two‑year pilot to improve coordination, accountability and budgeting for unincorporated communities.
Brianne Gala, a consultant contracted to the Board and supported by District 4, told the Transportation/Planning Committee that interviews with more than 40 staff, community workshops and comparative analysis of peer counties pointed to fragmented governance, weak interdepartmental coordination and inconsistent communications as primary problems. Gala proposed a two‑person pilot based in the County Administrator's Office that would serve as an internal liaison for unincorporated communities, pursue state/federal/philanthropic funding, help implement Baker Tilly permitting‑reform recommendations and support actions in the county's Environmental Justice element. "We're calling this the Unincorporated Communities Coordination pilot," Gala said, recommending the pilot be funded from a $300,000 Measure W carve‑out and to focus on internal coordination rather than taking over district constituent affairs. (Brianne Gala.)
Advisory councils' input was mixed: Fairview MAC supported the proposal with amendments requesting independence and local hires; Eden supported it; Sonol (Sunol) suggested a focus on urban unincorporated areas; Castro Valley voted not to support. Several residents and MAC members urged keeping advisory‑council management at district offices and ensuring the pilot addresses both urban and rural needs. Supervisors noted budget pressures and suggested a work‑study session and broader board consideration before formal adoption.
Why it matters: Roughly 8% of Alameda County residents live in unincorporated areas; county staff and community groups say those residents lack a unified representation and that policies adopted for unincorporated areas sometimes lack clear implementation plans or dedicated funding. A small pilot could centralize liaison functions and accelerate implementation of existing county priorities.
Next steps: The consultant's recommendations are expected to be packaged for a future board meeting for formal action and a potential staffing plan; supervisors asked for further study and for the CAO and advisory councils to be consulted.
