A municipal advisory council in the United States

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

 is an organization composed of elected or appointed members whose purpose is to advise a city or county government about the activities and problems of the area represented.

In California state government

Government of California

The government of California operates in the context of a democratic republic with three branches of government: the executive branch consisting of the Governor of California and the other elected constitutional officers; the legislative branch consisting of the California State Legislature which...

, for example, the councils serve unincorporated communities as links to county boards of supervisors under authorization of a 1971 legislative statute.

Such a council is an advisory body of local citizens elected by the community or appointed by the board of supervisors with the purpose of representing the community to the board. Although a municipal advisory council is a governing body, it has no fiscal authority or administrative organization. Because it lacks authority to implement its position directly, it seeks to accomplish its goals through county government.

These councils face two ways: toward the county, offering the views of the community; and toward the community, supplying information about county proposals and a place where individuals can air opinions on community problems and perhaps receive help. The councils hold public meetings, survey community opinion and speak for the community to the board of supervisors. The most common subject of activity is land-use planning. The county often uses the group as a planning advisory council to draft or revise the community's portion of the county general plan.

California

• Foresthill Forum, Placer County, 2005 http://www.placer.ca.gov/bos/ComComNu/FH-AdvCouncil.aspx
• Granite Bay, Placer County, 2005 http://www.placer.ca.gov/bos/ComComNu/MAC_GranBay.aspx
• Inyokern, Kern County, 1983 http://www.co.kern.ca.us/clerk/boards/Inyokern.asp
• Pescadero, San Mateo County, 1992 http://www.pescaderocouncil.org/
• Rosamond, Kern County, 2005 http://www.rosamondmac.org/
• Temescal Canyon, Riverside County http://www.temescalmunicipaladvisorycouncil.org/
• Weimer–Applegate–Colfax, Placer County, 2005 http://www.placer.ca.gov/bos/MACs/WAC%20MAC.aspx