10/27/2023 Letter from the General Manager
Dear Cambrians,
The first two paragraphs are a personal life share; you can skip to the third paragraph to get straight to the District business.
Humble Dad brag time; my two sons have been stressed about basketball tryouts for their respective junior and high school teams for weeks. They have always been hard-working boys. Yet, sometimes, when boys grow, they do it at their own pace. As such, when my boys showed up to their first few days of tryouts, they stood next to other players in their grade who had beards and whose practice jerseys were splitting at the seams. Needless to say, it was intimidating.
But our family mantra is "Bend, don't break." Our family philosophy thrives on our adaptability & resiliency during tough times. With that said, each day, as I woke up for work at 5:30 in the morning, my boys were right behind me. They grabbed their gear and headed to the park at dawn to work on their game. Three weeks later, they played in their first basketball games alongside their new teammates, albeit without the need to shave ;). Their resiliency has inspired me as we dealt with our District challenges.
The District has had a crazy few weeks. We had a significant water main break, a wildland fire three miles from town, and some leadership changes within our fire department. Staff have worked relentlessly over the last few weeks to adapt and overcome some of these unforeseen circumstances. As such, kudos to our CCSD employees who have worked long hours, missed time with their families, and slept a bit less over the last month to keep our community's water, sewer, open space, and public safety departments running smoothly.
Administration & Finance Departments
The CCSD administration office will be closed on Friday, November 10, 2023, for CCSD staff's standard day off and Monday, November 13, 2023, in observance of Veterans Day. Please contact the CCSD's 24-hour main line at (805) 927-6223 for all Water and Wastewater emergency services. The office will reopen on Tuesday, November 14, 2023, at 9:00 a.m.
The Cambria Community Services District Administration Office is open Monday - Thursday and every other Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. or by appointment. The Administration Office is closed for lunch daily from 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. If you have questions or need to schedule an appointment, please get in touch with the Administration Office at 805-927-6223.
District staff created a page on the website for current contracts, agreements, and grants. The link is https://www.cambriacsd.org/district-project-updates.
The first quarter budget report will be going before the Board in November. Preparation for the 2022/2023 audit is underway, and updates will be forthcoming.
Facilities & Resources Department
To submit general inquiries, or to report any issues on the Fiscalini Ranch Preserve, public restrooms, Cambria Dog Park, or to schedule a meeting with Facilities and Resources Manager Aguirre, please submit your inquiries or concerns here: https://www.cambriacsd.org/contact-facilities-resources-c617054.
Fire Department
To submit general inquiries or to schedule a meeting with Interim Chief Burkey, please submit your inquiries or concerns here: https://www.cambriacsd.org/contact-fire-chief.
Update on Weed Abatement
We have less than 20 lots remaining, some in conservation easements. Most hazard lots have been abated, and we are now working on our forested areas.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding weed abatement for improved parcels, please get in touch with CAL FIRE at 805-927-4262. CAL FIRE is inspecting all improved parcels Monday through Thursday. For all other questions regarding weed abatement for vacant parcels, please get in touch with the Cambria Fire Department at 805-927-6240.
The San Luis Obispo County Fire Safe Council shared the link below about the 0–5-foot non-flammable clearance value for reducing structural ignitability. The video is 2 minutes long and illustrates the importance of no flammables with 5 feet.
Wildfire. Are you Prepared?
Use the CAL FIRE web-based app below to create a personalized wildfire readiness plan and learn active incident information.
https://www.readyforwildfire.org/more/ready-for-wildfire-app/
This information is also posted on our website at the link below.
https://www.cambriacsd.org/national-fire-protection-association
Zone Haven and Emergency Alert System
I have been working with County OES, our Board of Directors, and Fire Safe Council members to complete our brochures and our presentation for November 9.
Water & Wastewater Departments
SR4 Well at Coast Union High School
The District has continued its efforts to negotiate with the Coast Unified School District (CUSD) for long-term access/rights to the SR4 well and easements. We met with the CUSD superintendent on-site to discuss their most recent Board discussion of a ten-year or 99-year term at 26k annually, in addition to the creation of a new easement access road. Those discussions are ongoing.
Cambria Skatepark
Our CCSD consultant reviewed current permitting conditions with SLO County Public Works, who agrees that no additional sidewalks should extend beyond the utility vault. No amendment to plans or other engineering will be performed. We have scheduled a follow-up in January 2024 on our waiver request.
East Ranch Restroom
This project is currently in the planning stage of the construction permit process. Utilities staff are addressing submittal comments from the County of San Luis Obispo Planners and are in preparation for resubmittal.
Proposals are currently being received for the Cultural Resources Assessment. Cultural resources relate only to remains and sites associated with human activities and include the following:
- Prehistoric and ethnohistoric Native American archaeological sites.
- Historic archaeological sites.
- Historic buildings.
- Elements or areas of the natural landscape that have traditional cultural significance.
The timeline for delivering a Biological Monitoring plan is being established within the parameters specified by County Planning. The consultant has agreed to perform the monitoring plan and survey reports.
Staff is also clarifying with Legal Counsel the ability, with the Board of Directors authority, to amend the Community Park Master Plan, which would allow the restroom design to be designated as a water-use facility.
Staff anticipates resolving all planning issues and SLO County Planning response by January 2024 and anticipates ground-breaking by July 1, 2024. The vendor has a 240-day lead time (this is a prefabricated restroom that is yet to be constructed) to deliver the restroom facility.
EV Charging Station Relocation
On September 14, 2023, the Board of Directors approved a Public Works Agreement with Thoma Electric to relocate the electric vehicle charging station at the Veterans' Hall and adopted Resolution 51-2023 for a budget adjustment. On October 16, 2023, CCSD staff held a kickoff meeting with Thoma Electric, and Thoma Electric informed the district of the necessary explicit specifications and requirements for an ADA-compliant parking space. A handicapped parking space is required for this project as per grant compliance conditions. Two critical conditions of the specifications for compliant parking space are that the slope of the accessible parking space cannot have a slope greater than 2.08%, and the ADA space should be on the right-hand side. With these critical constraints accounted for, only one area of the Veterans Hall parking lot satisfied all specifications. We will bring this back to the Board of Directors to approve the new electric vehicle charging station location.
East-West Village Transmission Line Replacement
On Thursday, October 19, at 4:00 p.m., water service was restored to Mechanics Bank, and pressure testing and bacteriological testing were performed at that time for the new installation. Interconnection/tie-in occurred on Thursday evening, October 19, with the considerable interruption occurring north of Main to Croyden Lane. Water service has been restored to all residential and commercial customers, and all roads have been opened to traffic.
Coastal Development Permit
On October 17, utility staff hosted our consultant for a site visit history of the WRF and to discuss the project. The visit included CCSD service wells 9P2 & 9P7, the future Zero Liquid Discharge site, and the evaporation pond. Our consultant will review the CCSD’s CEQA and EIR documents and develop the new project description. Staff have scheduled a meeting with County Planning to discuss the intended approach and confirm their support. A key focus being developed by our consultant for the CDP is the restoration of the Title 27 pond to mitigate temporal losses since its implementation.
Water Meter Replacement Program
We are dealing with some supply chain issues with our vendors and are researching other options for moving the project forward.
Stuart Street Tank Construction
We are currently in the environmental permitting process. District Staff have prepared the scope of work to be released for the informal bidding process for the Design/Build tank replacements. The environmental permitting tasks are a bit more costly than similar projects due to their location in a coastal zone and the need to perform CEQA and NEPA as required when funded by a federal grant. Our federal grant funding requires CEQA/NEPA. The tanks are also located in a Geological Study Area, which increases permitting complexity.
San Simeon Water Line & Effluent Line
Staff held its second status update meeting with consultants on October 24. Phase A (the first of seven project phases) has been completed, and we are working through Phase B. A hydraulic feasibility analysis is now being evaluated. Phase C will begin the environmental permitting process.
San Simeon Well 3
The staff has received three bids for replacing the San Simeon Well 3 motor and pump. This item is on the November 6th Resources & Infrastructure Committee agenda for consideration.
Instream Flow Study (IFS) & Adaptive Management Plan (AMP)
A progress meeting with our consultants has been scheduled for Monday, October 30.
Zero Liquid Discharge Program
The Department of Energy has approved Global Water Innovations (GWI) tasks and timelines, the final step needed for grant clearance. GWI is now working on a final, detailed budget and believes they will begin building the mobile pilot unit at the beginning of November as soon as the budget is approved. They anticipate meeting with CCSD immediately to discuss pilot details, formalize the legal agreement, and obtain Board approval. They intend to start building in November.
5500 Heath Lane WWTP Road Surface Upgrades
Staff has completed the contract for grading, repaving Heath Lane, and raising surfaces to the correct height. The staff has contracted services for a much-needed upgrade before the wet season.
Van Gordon Creek Streambed Repairs
An update on the emergency work performed in the Van Gordon Creek streambed was completed on September 20, 2023. Our emergency application was submitted, accepted, and finished as of October 24, with the receipt of the Van Gordon Creek Vegetation Management Report. This concludes our emergency/seasonal work in the streambed.
Status of the Wastewater SST Project
Mrs. Dodson created a Wastewater SST Project information page on the website. It is available here: https://www.cambriacsd.org/wastewater-sst-projects.
October 19, 2023, Board Meeting Update
For a more detailed Board meeting transcript, go to https://slo-span.org/meeting/ccsd_20231019/.
- The Board of Directors received the Ad Hoc Committee report on future use and funding for the Veterans' Hall.
- The Board of Directors adopted Resolution 55-2023, continuing work under emergency contracts to repair the East-West Village Transmission Line project.
Upcoming November Board Meeting Items (subject to change):
- Receive a presentation from San Luis Obispo County Emergency Services for Zonehaven.
- Receive the Ad Hoc Committee Report for Long-Term Water Supply and Storage Options.
- Discussion and consideration of adopting a resolution continuing work under emergency contracts for the East-West Village transmission line emergency repair project pursuant to Public Contract Code Section 22050 or adopting a resolution terminating the emergency action.
- Discussion and consideration to fill a vacant seat on the Finance Committee.
- Discussion and consideration to approve an intent to serve letter for the Cambria Skatepark restroom.
- Discussion and consideration to approve a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the Regional Biosolids Cooperative.
- Discussion and consideration to authorize San Luis Obispo County Integrated Waste Management Authority to submit a JPA application and act as lead agency on behalf of CCSD and authorize the General Manager to submit a letter of authorization.
- Discussion and consideration of approval of new location to relocate the electric vehicle (EV) charging station at the Veterans' Hall.
- Discussion and consideration of First Quarter Budget Report for Fiscal Year 2023/24.
- Discussion and consideration to receive Ad Hoc Committee Report on the Strategic Plan workshop process and consider recommendations for a facilitator.
- Discussion and consideration of providing electronic payment services with Tyler Technologies.
- Discussion and consideration to approve a deed restriction and will serve letter for Fiscalini Ranch Preserve Restroom.
- Proclamation honoring Wastewater Systems Superintendent John Allchin
On Thursday, November 2, 2023, from 8:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., I will work out of the Cambria Veterans' Memorial Hall. I would love to meet interested community members and hear your thoughts. We will provide coffee, snacks, and the ability to engage in dialogue about everything Cambria.
As always, I welcome your feedback and ideas. If you have any concerns, please don't hesitate to contact me or any of our management team.
Thank you again for your support; I am at your service.
Matthew McElhenie
