Dear Cambria,

I apologize for being a day behind on my letter. I wanted to capture some of the recent losses to our community the day I wrote my letter. I have just finished my ninth week on the job; as they say, time flies when you are having fun, and I mean that. I know our community has differing opinions on several community issues. Whether it be water, parks, fire, or open space, all those who have reached out to me have been some of the most polite, kind, and gracious individuals, despite any frustrations they may have. That is what makes our community great. That greatness is finite at times. 

We lost some of that greatness just fourteen short days ago. Cindy Steidel passed away unexpectedly on June 10th. Cindy was elected to the CCSD Board of Directors on November 6, 2018; her term expired on December 2, 2022. Subsequently, she was elected Finance Committee Chairperson from January 3, 2019, through December 16, 2020. Finally, again, she was appointed Finance Committee member on February 1, 2023. 

Cindy was, without a doubt, fearless in her endeavors. She was stern yet loving while balancing constituents' expectations. She was impartial, fair, firm, and consistent, all needed to be a fair leader; Cindy was all of these things. While I did not have a relationship with Cindy, I have been told she was hilarious, engaging in conversation, and the community came first. She will be missed by so many. 

If the week was not hard enough, we lost another Cambrian who was just as impactful. John Rohrbaugh passed away on Thursday, June 22. He was a leader in the community and relentlessly reported about Cambria. He was loved by so many and was a guiding light in Cambria. He served on the Policy Committee from January 17, 2019, through November 22, 2019, and was relentless in his service; he will be missed. John was a part of the Cambriaca community who reported on everything Cambria. He has left an indelible mark on our community. 

Without going into details, I have had a loss within my own family, and I know we will continue to experience loss as we move through life in our community. Yet, from what I have experienced, Cambria remains strong while honoring those that came before us and carrying on their spirit. While we may have our differences, we remain untied. 

Lastly, here are some of our latest activities:

• The Board approved an Agreement for Consultant Services with CIO Solutions for information technology (IT) support services through June 30, 2026. CIO Solutions has provided crucial support to the operations of the CCSD since 2017.
• The Board approved an Agreement for Legal Services with Carmel & Naccasha.
• The Board adopted Resolution 38-2023, approving the CCSD Preliminary Budget for Fiscal Year 2023-2024. 
• The Board approved the 2023-2024 Annual Water Shortage Assessment Report and approved submission to the Department of Water Resources. 
• The Board adopted new water and sewer rates effective July 15, 2023. The water and sewer rate adjustments are necessary to provide adequate revenue to fund the annual costs of water and sewer operations. 

June 15, 2023 Board Meeting Documents

Upcoming July Board Meeting Items:

1. Modification of the project description for the Water Reclamation Facility Coastal Development Permit (CDP) application.
2. Request to seek proposals to supply water meters.
3. San Simeon water transmission main and effluent line repair.
4. Advertise for an open position on the Finance Committee.
5. Policy Committee scope and appoint a new chairperson.
6. Appoint an Ad Hoc Committee to review Strategic Plan process.
7. Changing Strategic Plan Workshop meeting dates and consider facilitator. 
8. Receive Ad Hoc Committee Report on the Strategic Plan.
9. Approval of a letter regarding fire evacuation routes.

I want to promote this as much as anything; please come see me, on July 12, 2023, from 8 a.m. until 7 p.m. at Cambria Veterans' Memorial Hall. We will provide coffee, snacks, and the ability to engage in dialogue about everything Cambria. 

The Cambria Community Services District administrative office will be open Monday - Thursday and every other Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. or by appointment only. The administrative 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 our administrative office.

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, and I look forward to serving you. 

Matthew McElhenie