Dear Cambrians,

I hope this letter finds you well. We have quite a bit going on in the District. We recently finished our first Board review of the draft project description for the WRF. It was a very robust discussion that included many public comments and Board recommendations. We will receive more feedback as SLO County does its first informal review of the project description. Once we discuss and incorporate those recommendations, staff will meet again with the ad hoc committee to finalize the draft and bring it back before the Board for approval. With Board approval, staff will then submit the Coastal Development Permit application to the County of San Luis Obispo. 

The moment we come out of fire season and start to feel more comfortable, Mother Nature reminds us that there is another side of the coin. Nevertheless, let me assure you that we have some great staff working the extra hours to be as prepared and resilient as possible for the storms. For our community members, please read below for storm preparation:

What to expect:

• High Surf Advisory is from 6 AM Saturday to 9 PM PST Tuesday.
• Large breaking waves of 15 to 20 feet with dangerous rip currents.
• The highest surf is Saturday night, Sunday, and Monday night and Tuesday on west- and southwest-facing beaches.
• Coastal Flood Advisory: from 3 AM Sunday to 9 AM PST Tuesday. On Sunday and Tuesday, minor coastal flooding is expected during the early morning high tides.
• For the Coastal Flood Advisory: Seawater flooding is likely around high tide over vulnerable low-lying coastal areas such as parking lots, beaches, and walkways. Significant damage to roads or structures is NOT expected. There is an increased risk of ocean drowning. Rip currents can pull swimmers and surfers out to sea. Large breaking waves can cause injury, wash people off beaches and rocks, and capsize small boats near shore.

How to prepare:

• Emergency Numbers: In case of emergency, dial 911.
• Electrical Outage: Report electrical outages to PG&E at 1-800-743-5002.
• Sandbag locations: Fill sandbags at the Cambria Dog Park (2021 Rodeo Grounds Rd.) or Lampton Park (Corner of Lampton and Windsor). Remember to bring your sandbags and shovels!
• Sandbags and Shovels: Purchase these essentials at your local hardware store.
• Charge Electronics: Ensure that your phones, laptops, and other essential devices are fully charged in case of power outages.
• Stay informed: Keep an eye on weather forecasts and emergency alerts. Follow official instructions and be prepared to evacuate if necessary. 

Sandbag Locations:

Cambria residents can fill up sandbags at the Cambria Dog Park parking lot at 2021 Rodeo Grounds Road and Lampton Park at the corner of Lampton and Windsor. Bring your sandbags and a shovel. Tractors are not allowed to take sand from the district's sand locations. Sandbags are available at most local hardware stores but not at the Cambria Fire Department. For additional information about emergency preparedness in Cambria, click here.

Administration & Finance Departments

Administration Office Closure

The CCSD administration office will be closed on Monday, February 19, 2024, in observance of President's Day. Don't hesitate to get in touch with the CCSD's 24-hour main line at (805) 927-6223 for all Water and Wastewater emergency services. The office will reopen on Tuesday, February 20, 2024, at 9:00 a.m. 

Administrative Technician II - Front Desk Recruitment

The Cambria Community Services District is currently accepting applications for the Administrative Technician II - Front Desk position. This recruitment is open until the needs of the District are met. To apply, please visit https://www.cambriacsd.org/administrative-technician-ii-front-desk-recruitment.

Facilities & Resources Department

Contact Facilities & Resources Manager

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.

Maintenance Technician Recruitment

The Cambria Community Services District is currently accepting applications for the Maintenance Technician position. This recruitment is open until the needs of the District are met. To apply, please visit https://www.cambriacsd.org/maintenance-technician-recruitment.

Cambria Veterans' Memorial Building Audio System 

Mr. Aguirre and Mrs. Dodson are meeting vendors to receive quotes on a new audio system at the Veterans' Memorial Building.

East Ranch Restroom

On December 7, 2023, the Board of Directors approved the Intent to Serve Letter for the public bathroom facility at the East Fiscalini Ranch Park and approved a change to the Community Park Master Plan to allow the Board-approved water-serving restroom design. The project is in process at the planning level with the County.  The application expiration date has been extended from February 23, 2024, to August 23, 2024. The soil plan review letter from our geotechnical consultant and revisions to the civil plan set relating to lighting were received from our consultant on January 31, 2024. The previously prepared Environmental Monitoring Plan was reviewed and accepted by our environmental consultant for this phase on February 6, 2024. With the completion of all documents and responses to the County’s previous plan review summary, staff resubmitted the requested items through the County’s online permit portal on February 13, 2024. The submittal documents are currently under review by the County Planning Department, and issuance of the construction permit is expected, barring any unforeseeable delays. 

Cambria Skatepark

The Department of Parks and Recreation Office of Grants and Local Services contacted the District and indicated that Section 106 is required for the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) application. We must complete the steps below to document that Section 106 compliance has been met for their project. Section 106 documentation cannot be over five years from the date submitted to the State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO) for approval. Section 106 should be completed early in the project planning process and must be completed before any ground disturbance and/or construction.  District staff is currently in the process of completing the LWCF Program's Section 106 requirements. On January 19, 2024, and February 5, 2024, the staff contacted the Native American Tribes, and we are awaiting responses. District staff attended the LWCF Federal Requirements Workshop on January 31, 2024. Staff met with our consultant on January 29, 2024, and received drawings from him that date identifying the encroachments that would result from changes proposed by NCAC.  

The Section 106 processes are described below. 

Cambria Fire Department

Contact Fire Chief

To submit general inquiries or to schedule a meeting with Chief Burkey, please submit your inquiries or concerns here: https://www.cambriacsd.org/contact-fire-chief.

Meet Fire Chief

On Friday, February 23, 2024, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., Fire Chief Michael Burkey will be working out of the Cambria Veterans' Memorial Hall and would love to meet you and hear your thoughts on anything related to the Cambria Fire Department. 

Water & Wastewater Departments

Wastewater Operator OIT, I or II Recruitment 

The Cambria Community Services District is accepting applications for the Wastewater Operator OIT, I or II positions. This recruitment is open until the needs of the District are met. To apply, please visit https://www.cambriacsd.org/wastewater-operator-oit-i-or-ii-recruitment.

Water Treatment Operator OIT, I or II Recruitment 

The Cambria Community Services District is accepting applications for the Water Treatment Operator OIT, I or II positions. This recruitment is open until the needs of the District are met. To apply, please visit https://www.cambriacsd.org/water-treatment-operator-oit-i-or-ii-recruitment.

Storm Update

On February 4, 2024, the on-call operator changed all water sites over to emergency generator power to mitigate the multi-day power loss. Site visits ensured all primary water pumping and storage systems were undamaged. The following day, the fire department notified water staff of a tree that fell directly on top of a fire hydrant, and the county roads crew removed the tree from the road. Water staff removed the remainder of the tree on the road shoulder on the hydrant and ensured no leaks were present in the water piping underground.  Other water sites were cleared of downed trees as well.  

Stuart Street Tank Project

On January 11, 2024, the Board of Directors approved an Agreement for Consultant Services with MKN & Associates, Inc., for engineering design and bid/construction phase services to replace the Stuart Street Tanks. 

District Staff met with engineers and associates on February 6, 2024, to discuss the timeline and construction sequence of the Stuart Street Tank Replacement. Concerns were raised about the foundation depth and distance between the existing tanks. Staff will work with consultants to provide future updates on the tank replacement project.  

SR4 Well Negotiations

Staff met with the CUSD this week to continue negotiations; each party has requested additional information to inform future discussions. We anticipate our next meeting will occur in the next month. 

San Simeon Well 3

Utility staff brought three updated proposals for installation to the Resources & Infrastructure Committee on February 12, 2024. The citizens committee selected Precision Hydro to construct and replace San Simeon Well 3. A kick-off meeting is tentatively scheduled for late February, and we look to have replaced the pump by the end of March. 

San Simeon Water Line & Effluent Line Well Field Transmission Lines

A review of the Preliminary Design Report occurred on January 22, 2024, to discuss the alternatives for alignment and consider the most feasible for construction. The Resources and Infrastructure Committee reviewed the alignments and potential installations at their February 12, 2024, meeting and voted for Alignment #3. This recommendation will come before the Board of Directors in March for final resolution. CCSD staff and consultants have contacted State Parks to coordinate regulatory and environmental permitting. The District looks forward to working collaboratively with State Parks on this project.  

Instream Flow Study (IFS) & Adaptive Management Plan (AMP)

IFS work has lately been concentrating on CDP and TAC (Technical Advisory Committee) comment responses. They have addressed the TAC comments received in their report and are awaiting a few follow-up items, one of which is from the county, which wanted more fish rescue details that were not completed initially. Stillwater is coordinating with CDFW (California Department of Fish and Wildlife) for more details and recommendations.

Stillwater is completing a memo summarizing recommendations for the district. Their report had recommendations for monitoring and District operations, but it was not explicitly spelled out. They are expanding on this in a separate memo for us to review and address how we can manage our operations to protect aquatic resources.    

Water Meters

Per CCSD Municipal Code 4.04.130, “It shall be the consumer's duty to keep the space around the water meter free from obstruction that would interfere with access to the same by the district employees. If the consumer fails to provide property access to the meter after twenty-four (24) hours’ notice, the district may perform the necessary work and shall charge the cost to the consumer”.

The District would like to refrain from pursuing action under the municipal code; as such, we appreciate your help keeping your meters free from obstruction.

February 8, 2024, Board Meeting Update 

For a more detailed Board meeting transcript, go to hhttps://slo-span.org/meeting/ccsd_20240208/. 

• The Board of Directors held a Public Hearing to receive community input on the Draft Project Description for the Water Reclamation Facility Coastal Development Permit Application.
• The Board of Directors received community input for Strategic Plan accomplishments, current internal strengths, current internal weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT) analysis, and vision for Cambria.
• The Board of Directors approved the Strategic Plan update.
• The Board of Directors approved the 2024 Fire Hazard Fuel Reduction Program process and deadlines.
• The Board of Directors directed the staff and district counsel to prepare a civil administrative citation ordinance for violation of CCSD ordinances and regulations.

February 14, 2024, Board Meeting Update 

For a more detailed Board meeting transcript, go to hhttps://www.cambriacsd.org/2024-02-14-board-meeting.

February 15, 2024, Board Meeting Update 

For a more detailed Board meeting transcript, go to https://slo-span.org/meeting/ccsd_20240215/.

• The Board of Directors received and filed the Second Quarter Budget Report for FY 2023/24
• The Board of Directors approved annual updates to the Board and Standing Committee Bylaws with one revision to the Standing Committee Bylaws
• The Board of Directors discussed the PROS Committee goals for 2024 and beyond

Upcoming March Board Meeting Items (subject to change):

• Strategic Planning Workshop on 3/4/2024
• Discussion and consideration to adopt the District Strategic Plan update
• Discussion and Consideration of an annual review of the Affordable Housing Unit Allocation
• Consideration of approval of the Management and Confidential Employees (MCE) Group Payment & Compensation Plan
• Consideration to postpone the General Manager's performance evaluation to a date certain
• Discussion and consideration of adoption of a Resolution to approve the Records Retention Schedules
• Discussion and consideration of adoption of the Fund Balance Cash Reserve Policy revisions recommended by the Staff and Finance Committee
• Discussion regarding District vehicle use
• Discussion and consideration to approve the Capital Improvement Project (CIP) list format
• Discussion and consideration of the adoption of Policy 1045 Legal Counsel and Auditor Policy

CCSD Seeking Community Input for Strategic Plan

The Board of Directors will hold a special meeting on Monday, February 26, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. at the Veterans' Memorial Hall located at 1000 Main Street Cambria, CA 93428, and via Zoom Webinar to receive any additional community input for the Strategic Plan Workshop. Members of the public can submit written comments to the Confidential Administrative Assistant at boardcomment@cambriacsd.org. 

The Board of Directors will hold an adjourned special meeting on Monday, March 4, 2024, at 9:00 a.m., at the Veterans' Memorial Hall located at 1000 Main Street Cambria, CA 93428, and via Zoom Webinar to facilitate a workshop to update the Cambria Community Services District's Strategic Plan and set a date for the next Strategic Planning workshop. Mr. Dick Clark will facilitate the workshop.

On Friday, February 23, 2024, from 8:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., I will be working out of the Cambria Veterans' Memorial Hall and would love to meet you and hear your thoughts on everything Cambria. 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