First District Supervisor Robert Lovingood has renewed the charters of four municipal advisory councils within his jurisdiction.
The El Mirage Municipal Advisory Council, the Oak Hills Municipal Advisory Council, the Searles Valley-Trona Municipal Advisory Council and the Wrightwood Municipal Advisory Council have previously existed, composed of residents and business operators from those districts in the far-flung First Supervisorial District who are tasked to provide input to the supervisor with regard to local issues.
“The municipal advisory councils hold public meetings, pursuant to the Ralph M. Brown Act, in their individual communities for the purpose of receiving information from residents, businesses, and community groups, and to disseminate information to the community about services and resources relative to the county of San Bernardino,” Lovingood said. “Each municipal advisory council will also facilitate the identification of issues within the community and work with the First District supervisor’s office to establish priorities and recommend community-based solutions.”
Pursuant to San Bernardino County Code 12.4501 et seq., all municipal advisory councils and advisory committees dissolve at the end of each term of the county supervisor who represents the supervisorial district in which the respective municipal advisory council or committee is located. Approval of the entire board of supervisors  is required to re-establish the municipal advisory councils.
Lovingood was elected in November, and in December replaced former First District Supervisor Brad Mitzelfelt. This week Lovingood asked his board colleagues to reauthorize the establishment of the El Mirage, Oak Hills, Searles Valley-Trona and Wrightwood municipal advisory councils. The board complied with that request.
The board’s vote authorized the clerk of the board of supervisors, Laura Welch, to post a notice of vacancy to alert members of the various communities they may file an application to serve on the councils. Each of the councils will have five members.
The Wrightwood Municipal Advisory Council will have five voting members who are San Bernardino County residents and two non-voting members who need not be San Bernardino County residents. Lovingood proposed the two non-voting member seats of the Wrightwood council to offer interested residents who live in a portion of Wrightwood that lies within Los Angeles County and Wrightwood business persons who live outside the area to participate.
Lovingood’s field representative, Don Holland, told the Sentinel that Lovingood will consider reappointing the council members who were serving at the time Mitzelfelt’s term elapsed if they reapply along with any others who file an application.