First a note to anyone at Thursday’s Meeting:
Please add your impressions and what you remember of the meeting. The audio isn’t yet posted at slo-span.org, and I wasn’t there for the whole meeting. So readers can easily follow the added information, use the comment feature (Click comments or click the post title to easily enter comments.) Readers who were not at the meeting are encouraged to use the comment feature to post a specific question about the meeting or related CCSD business.
Sheriff’s Report
The Sheriff reminded everyone that they should get locking gas caps – a rash of gas lines being cut in Cayucos. Also reminded everyone that the Hands-Free cell law in now in effect.
Emergency Preparedness Report
Chief Putney provided a presentation on Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) CERT is made up of local residents trained to help professional emergency services personnel in the event of an emergency.
He gave the history of CERT, from its birth in the 1980s to the birth of Cambria CERT was formed in 2002-2003. If you are interested in CERT history, visit slo-span.org to listen to the audio.
Norm Smith – Coordinator for Cambria CERT described a little about how they are organized and how they respond in the event of and emergency, including providing basic medical aid, building searches, traffic control. If your wouldl like to get involved and join CERT, there’s 20 hours of training in the spring. Contact the Fire Department for more information.
The Chief described the relationships between CCSD Fire and other emergency-related agencies and organizations and how they interact in the event of an emergency. Again, for all the details, check out the audio at slo-span.org. The Cambria Fire Safe Focus Group is more about preparedness – things like chipping, lot-clearing, and education about how to be prepared for a major fire.
Important to note: The Cambria Fire Safe Focus Group has a new website CambriaFireSafe.org
Desalination: Progress Report
Bob Gresans started off by saying he’d be brief, but was encouraged by President Cobin, who said,” You have the stage, don’t be brief, give us all the facts. We’re really excited about the progress.” Mr. Gresans then summarized the staff report (available in the Board Packet). There wasn’t much he said in his presentation that’s not in the written report. In a nutshell, in response to comments made in December at the Coastal Commission meeting, the CCSD undertook some geophysical investigation of the Santa Rosa Creek beach area, as an alternative site for the intake wells for the desalination (desalinization?) plant. They were somewhat surprised to discover that this area could be a better spot than the San Simeon location. No Snowy Plover, consistent with coastal plan, and other advantages. They still need to do soil boring to confirm the findings from these studies – potentially an intake in the northernmost channel and the outflow at the southern end.
In the Q & A with Mr. Gresans – Director Sanders asked whether the channel is deep enough for an intake for desal. The answer was a qualified yes. The studies he presented are preliminary and not highly detailed. The follow-up studies would provide the information to confirm the findings of this study.
Rough estimate of timetable: on site investigations, permitting process, working with the Corps: “Update the prior environmental assessments and the mitigated Negative Declarations from the earlier project so we have the clearance process (3 months) coastal consistency finding from Coastal Commission and getting on their agenda for November or December. Mr. Gresans indicated optimistic prediction:late this fall for further studies. Director Sanders said he thought staff was moving on the project in the way the Board wants, so they should endorse the report and let them get on with it.
Director Chaldecott then let everyone know that he and Director Sanders had met with the Colonel from the Army Corp of Engineers and they were ‘raring to go on the project. The Board will be signing the contract with the Corps, who will then take over the project (including paying for it). Interesting side note: The Federal government had allocated the money a few years back, but then “took it back” to help cover the costs for Hurricane Katrina. The money is now apparently available again and is earmarked for Cambria’s Desal.
There were 7 Cambrians that commented and asked questions some for the project and some against and some just curious. Rich Davega asked a few questions it would be very nice to get answers to, namely, How much will the Desal plant cost when it’s all said and done and how much will that water cost? Will Cambrians really be able to afford the full cost of the water being desalted? There was no answer from the Board or staff at the meeting. Perhaps the answer will be provided at the next meeting. That should be plenty of time to gather the information. And the information is certainly of relevance to the people of Cambria. We may have a $10 million appropriation, but the water isn’t likely to be subsidized when it starts flowing to our taps.
Cambria Healthcare District and the CCSD
During the Board committee reports, the Co-Location Committee announced that the Joint Powers agreement between the CCSD and the CHCD had fallen through. The Healthcare District and the CCSD had been negotiating for a number of years and the Board of the Heathcare District voted unanimously to give up on the co-location plan. Next month’s meeting will provide a final wrap up of the effort, including the reasons the CHCD made the decision they did.
Public Hearing to Consider Fire Suppression Assessment (CPI) Adjustment
Last month, the Board voted to continue the hearing to this meeting to allow the General Manager to bring back evidence showing the 2.9% increase is really needed. Once again, Ms. Rudock provided only general evidence and vague examples of how the additional $11,000 would be used. After asking some specific questions, Directors Clift, Funke-Bilu, and Sanders voted against the increase, so no increase on the fire suppression benefit assessment this year. I applaud these Directors for asking for the evidence and consequences if the increase did not go through and then acting in the interest of the community they serve. The point to be made here wasn’t that the fire department doesn’t deserve to have all the money they need. It was that they already have all the money they need for the fiscal year. The three directors showed support for a policy that asks staff to justify their financial demands with hard evidence and sound logic. The failure to approve the increase will not negatively affect the Fire Department – their budget shows a surplus…even without that $11,000. Just because they CAN get more money out of us doesn’t mean they should automatically do it. I think these Directors have heard the half of the community that has been protesting the rate increases and are representing them.
Other News
The Vets’ Hall finally has a new roof – and for less than was originally budgeted! Funny story that. The initial roofing company they chose to do the job gave a bid, but was disqualified because of a lack of liability insurance. The second company (Cencal Roofing) provided a bid for the same job that was about $2,000 less than the first contractor – and even with contingencies, came in even further under budget than they planned. The first company bid $25,783 and Cencal’s was $22,985. Good thing for Cambrians that first company didn’t have insurance! [Note: The CCSD Purchasing Policy (Section VIII A, B and C) requires any job over $25,000 to be put to out to bid...must be a coincidence those numbers.]
What about the vote????
Sorry, Cambria. The League of Women Voters representatives are not yet ready to certify the count. There is more validating to be done and Ms. Rudock indicated she isn’t sure when they might finish. Ten to sixteen hours left of work to do in checking. She did say they would still be able to meet the September 1st implementation date, should the CCSD prevail.
Stay tuned…This was a four hour meeting and we’re just about 2 hours in. More tomorrow. Or you can add your impressions now!
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Last 5 posts by Amanda Rice
- Gail Robinette Chosen to Complete DeMicco's Term as CCSD Director on Unanimous Vote
- California Coastal Commission Unanimously Denied Army Corps Desal Tests
- Cambria CSD Agenda for November 27, 2011 Meeting Includes Water Conservation & New Tank Project
- Sunken Oil Tanker Off Cambria's Coastline Will Be Checked Again Soon
