Dear Cambria,

I hope each of you had an excellent 4th of July. I was blessed enough to spend the day with my family, slow down, and appreciate life, which was humbling. Sometimes that is what we all need to do: slow down and appreciate what we have. As a new General Manager in the District, self-reflection is an essential practice for personal and professional growth. Reflecting on my experiences, actions, and decisions can help identify areas I need to improve. Change, professionally and personally, is eternal. There is always room for improvement in all areas of our lives. 

In our fast-paced and competitive world—humility often falls by the wayside in a world that values self-promotion and personal achievement; humility is a virtue that holds immense power and significance. It is a quality that allows us to navigate life's challenges with grace, empathy, and a deep understanding of our place in the world. At its core, humility is the ability to recognize and appreciate the worth and contributions of others. I stand here today on my parents' shoulders, who sacrificed daily so I could enjoy opportunities they never had. When we are humble, we acknowledge that no one achieves success alone. We understand that our accomplishments are often the result of the support, guidance, and collective efforts of countless individuals who have helped us along the way.

By embracing humility, we become lifelong learners, constantly seeking to expand our horizons and broaden our understanding of the world. Humility allows us to connect with others on a deeper level. When we approach interactions humbly, we create space for empathy, compassion, and understanding. We are open to learning from others, even if their viewpoints differ. Humility helps us put aside our ego and genuinely listen to others, valuing their opinions and recognizing every individual's inherent dignity and worth. As we strive to become better versions of ourselves, let us remember the power of humility in a community with diverse perspectives, opinions, and beliefs. If we do that, we will continue to thrive despite our differences. 

Here is one of the ways I stay true to the above because I am trying to better myself a little every day, humbly, from those that have come before me. As such, I recently attended the General Manager Leadership Summit, which provided networking and professional development opportunities for special district general managers throughout California. The schedule of events was as follows:

• So, you want to be a General Manager?
• Finding Funding: Grants, Financing & Initiative Campaigns 
• Command Your Mindset
• Are you a destination employer? Attract, hire, and retain the best.
• Leadership with an Agile Mindset
• Keeping up with CalPERS: Common Compliance Findings and New and Emerging Interpretations
• Employee Engagement: Lessons from the Mouse House
• Managing a Hybrid Workplace
• Designing a Well-Balances Liquidity Strategy in the Face of Uncertainty 
• State of CA Pensions & the Latest and Greatest from Inside our State and Federal Capitols

 Below are upcoming July Board meeting items:

• Updating the assignment of banking powers.
• Advertise for an open position on the Finance Committee.
• Receive Ad Hoc Committee Report for the monthly Strategic Plan update and tracking process.
• Change Strategic Plan Workshop meeting dates.
• Appoint an Ad Hoc Committee to review Strategic Plan Workshop process and consider options for a workshop facilitator.
• Review status of Policy Committee's scope of work and consider appointing a new Chairperson.
• Approval of a letter to property owners regarding the use of emergency evacuation routes.
• Modification of the project description for the Water Reclamation Facility (WRF) Coastal Development Permit (CDP) application.
• Water meters upgrades.
• San Simeon water transmission main and effluent line repair.
• Amendment to contract with Stillwater for revisions to the scope of services for Instream Flow Study. This will address some of the Coastal Commission concerns as it applies to the Coastal Development Permitting process.
• Discussion regarding converting PROS to a standing committee.
• Approval of agreements for Audit & Human Resources services.
• We are amending the District salary schedule.
• Request that the Chairpersons of R&I and Finance meet with staff to update the Capital Improvement Projects (CIP) list.
• Discussion regarding contracting with a registered investment advisor who will assist the District in greater returns on our financials.

Please 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; I am at your service. 

Matthew McElhenie

General Manager