In 2022, concerned with proposed legislative changes that could have significantly impacted the ability of California's resource conservation districts (RCDs) to provide constituent and stakeholders services as they have since the 1940's, several RCD directors and staff began meeting to discuss how to ensure transparency, accountability, and inclusion in matters affecting California's resource conservation districts (RCDs).   In Feburary 2024, the Board Presidents for five of those RCDs petitioned CARCD to schedule a special general membership meeting to consider a resolution requiring that CARCD restore compliance with its bylaws.  At the same time, they submitted a members' records request for records required to be provided by members under the terms of the bylaws and/or the California Corporations Code.

CARCD has scheduled the requested meeting for July 30, 2024 from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. Representatives from the five RCDs - Loma Prieta, North Santa Clara, Riverside-Corona, San Jacinto Basin, and San Joaquin County - plan to present information at the meeting regarding the alleged violations. The following information is being provided here facilitate members' access to supporting documents prior to the requested vote on the Resolution. 

Supporting Documents:

• Letter signed by the 5 RCDs petitioning CARCD to schedule a general membership meeting to consider adoption of a resolution requiring CARCD to restore compliance with its bylaws: 
  • Petition  
• Letter signed by the 5 RCDs requesting CARCD provide association records pursuant to the bylaws and the California Corporations Code: 
  • Letter  
• Special membership meeting agenda distributed by CARCD:  
  • CARCD Agenda
• Special membership meeting agenda changes the 5 RCDs will propose at the beginning of the meeting:  
  • Proposed Amended CARCD Agenda
• CARCD Bylaws (adopted in 2018):  
  • Bylaws  
• California Corporations Code Sections:
  • Section 6321: Annual reports
  • Section 6322: Statement of transaction or indemnification
  • Section 5511: Meeting notices
  • Section 5513: Meetings conducted by ballot
  • Section 5617: Voting memberships
  • Section 6325: Voting results
  • Section 6812: Director/Officer Crimes and Penalties
• IRS tax documents in which CARCD failed to report that it conducts lobbying activities until 2023 (see page 3 of the individual annual 990s):
  •  Link to Propublica site housing CARCD's 990s back to 2009
• Lobbying Activity:
  • Fair Political Practices Site:
  • Secretary of State, The Lobbying Directory 2023-2024
• Applicability of Brown Act to Nonprofit Organizations: 
  •  Attorney General Opinion 22-402
  • For transparency and accountability purposes, it is recommended that CARCD engage with its members in the same manner that RCDs have an obligation to engage with their constituents and other members of the public pursuant to the Brown Act.