About Cambria

Finally available through Google video, the discussion between the Board Members about what to do about the rate increase. It provides an interesting perspective of the outcome of the rates proposal and prop 218 protest. It’s about 20 minutes in all.

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At the Rates Committee meeting held last Friday morning, the small group of us agreed that keeping the group going to act as a kind of watchdog for the CCSD is a good idea. The Rates Committee is currently the only active committee from the larger group, but agreed that the larger group should be called together to address revising the mission of the CFRCCSD. We made no assumption about CFR’s plans for the future and whether or not they would want to be involved in something other than a rates issue.

What we did decide (by general consensus) were these things:

There will be a meeting on October 1, 2008 at Rabobank at 6pm to define the purpose of the group as it goes forward.

As the Rates Committee of CFRCCSD, we didn’t have the authority to change the mandate of the larger group (if it still exists) and a meeting with everyone interested is necessary. We wanted to make sure anyone who is interested has a chance to get involved. The regular evening meeting of the group has been on the first Wednesday evening of each month at Rabobank. A September 3 meeting would would make it impossible to get something in the paper. To give people enough notice so they could plan to attend, we decided the “redefining meeting” will be held on the first Wednesday in October. (October 1, 2008)

There will be an informal meeting on the first Wednesday of September (this week) at Rabobank at 6pm.

The agenda will consist of two topics: Discussion and planning for the October Rabobank meeting (see above) and discussion of what we’d like to see from a candidates’ forum – format, etc. (The Chamber has scheduled one on the 7th of October at the Vets hall.) No decisions about the group, its mission or its future will be made until the October 1 meeting. We will focusing on the future of Cambria at this meeting, so unless I get an request for an addition to the agenda, the Proposition 218 process and outcome will not be a topic of discussion. That would be a topic more appropriately addressed at a meeting of CFR, the group who lead the campaign or the CCSD. (And I hope it will be!)

Please join us at Rabobank this Wednesday evening at 6pm and on October 1, same time and place.

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On August 11, 2008 Amanda Rice submitted a public document request asking for several items. She asked for copies of emails from General Manager Tammy Rudock to the Board during a given time period, copies of emails from CCSD to the League of Women’s Voters, and copies of any contract between CCSD and the League of Women’s Voters regarding the Prop. 218 protest. The CCSD response, signed by Ms. Rudock, said that she doesn’t retain “sent” emails, that there were no emails to the League nor was there any contract. The following is a reprint of my August 30th email to Ms. Rudock:

Dear Ms. Rudock,

At a time when there is a great deal on community concern about transparency at the CCSD, it is very disturbing to see the public records response received by Amanda Rice. In her request she asked for copies of some of your “sent” emails.

The attached public records response says in part ” Ms. Rudock does not retain sent emails in the regular course of business and I have checked and she did not retain any such emails.” Since the response letter is signed by you, could you please explain who the “I” refers to when the response is talking about your practices.

I have serious concerns, shared by many other Cambrians, that you do not retain “sent” emails. What record do you have of the electronic correspondence you have with others? As CCSD is a public agency, Cambrians have a right to access the records of public business, and ordinary and prudent business practice is to keep records of correspondence. Can you please provide me with an explanation of why such records are not retained.

Among the recipients of this message are the CCSD Board and the CCSD District Counsel. I sincerely hope that you will ensure that the practice of the General Manager maintaining no record of electronic correspondence will be terminated immediately. If this same practice is being followed by any other CCSD employees it should be terminated immediately as well.

Richard Davega

I’ve recently remarked that there is much more to Cambria than the joyous complications of the CCSD and that AboutCambria.com would start covering a wider variety of goings on in our village. With schools recently starting up again, a new superintendent on the horizon and Board members up for election in November….the time is ripe for talking about our schools here in Cambria.

Now, I must admit I am not as up-to-date on the personalities, issues and successes at the schools. But I don’t have to rely on my memory of being a student to try to understand: I don’t have kids, but I did teach high school English in New Orleans for 5 years, including 2 years as department chair, and know a little about Cambria’s teens from the 2 years I worked at the Cambria Community Center (AKA the Youth Center).

A flurry of emails has been flying through the ether about the fields at the elementary school, a discussion launched by the always passionate and sincere Steve Kniffen. Apparently, the fields at the elementary school are unusable. There was an effort to get the grass growing again over the summer, but for whatever reason, there has been little success. And in considering the frustration of no fields at the NEW school, Steve thought of more questions about budget issues and irrigation and quality.

Teri Mertens wrote a coherent and useful reply. While it didn’t offer any specific solutions, it did offer a clear sense of values and another first-hand view of the situation:

I supervise lunch recess on the 3rd tier at the grammar school. The small patch of grass on that upper level is currently the only open field. The lack of field space creates congestion on the rest of the playground. I am grateful that Steve Kniffen volunteers regularly to run an afternoon softball game (on the blacktop) to keep a LARGE group of students involved and positive.

I know where Steve’s passion about the fields comes from. I have seen his commitment to the children in this town. He is a taxpayer who volunteered his time to pass our school bond. A parent who installed tether ball courts at the old school. A dedicated coach of many sport teams. A regular volunteer on campus who teaches the rules of games and encourages fair play. A fundraiser who barbecues for many worthy causes. A homeowner who can appreciate the beauty and pride of a well kept yard.

We all know Steve deeply cares about Cambria.

I have witnessed the fields at their best and at their worst. At the end of last year they were a travesty. I know that the District maintenance has been trying to rectify the problem. I believe that the parents and staff have been patient. I think that Steve has been (and is continuing to be) an important advocate for the children. We can’t drop the ball again… we can’t let the fields die this year.

Last year, I was walking by the Old Grammar School and a tourist asked me if it was going to be demolished. The knee high thistle under the climbing structure and the dead fields gave the appearance of abandonment. I remembered living near the school when my kids were toddlers. On the weekends we would walk over to swing on the swings, hang on the bars, and look through the windows to admire all of the beautiful artwork. It was quality family time. How sad that the neighbors of that site no longer have a welcoming “gem” to enjoy. How sad that the school district doesn’t maintain this “playground space” to encourage a healthy community.

All district sites should be places of community pride: Places that encourage and welcome good, clean fun. I am hoping that our new Superintendent will see our school sites as community assets to be loved by more than just the K-12 population.

It’s worth my time,

Toni Mertens

Cindy Fratto responded that the issue is “of utmost concern to me” and offered to meet with Steve and anyone else about the concerns Steve raised. She went on to say :

Many of these concerns have been misunderstood, as often happens in our small town. They are still vaild concerns and deserve a sincere response. Please contact me if you would like to meet to go over these and any others. I will discuss/answer to the best of my abilities, and find out what I don’t know.

I don’t think I speak out of turn in saying that the entire Board cares very much about this District and is not ignoring these concerns.

Cindy Fratto

The back and forth among some of the more verbal folks was revealing. It’s the same basic complaint I’ve been hearing at the CCSD for at least a year now: the public complain about the lack of information dissemination and the scheduling of the meeting while members of the Board argue that if the public would attend the meetings, they would be informed and have a say. In a way, both sides are right. And this is precisely why I started AboutCambria.com…to provide another way for people to get information on their own time, at their own pace. Ideally, it would serve as a place for conversation and finding solutions, too.

From one of Steve’s later responses on this issue of information sharing:

“…elected representatives have a responsibility to diseminate information to their constituantcy beyond the attendence at a meeting…Thursday nights are impossible for me and maybe others as well, that should not preclude us from information. I spend lots of time at events where this information should be forthcoming: PTA meetings, site council, recess, reading the Cambrian. The problem is this, we live in a feel good society, we don’t want to discuss failures, problems and mishaps. We just want them to go away, but they are not. If my circle of friends don’t posses this information, then we are not trying to hard to get that information out. The number of people who are now informed because of the reply all button on my computer should prove the point that it is not to hard to get the information out there…”

Cindy Fratto will be meeting with the PTA on Tuesday September 2 at 6pm, so jot it on your calendar if you’d like to go find out what is being done to fix the fields and address other concerns about the quality of the facilities.

AboutCambria.com is a reflection and creation of those who participate, which means you’re quite likely to run into some strong opinions and biases. But I work to provide both sides the time and space to have their opinion heard – not unbiased, but working toward balance.

Last Thursday’s CCSD meeting had a larger than usual crowd of Cambrians, most of whom came to speak and view the outcome of the Rate Protest tabulations – though that was not the only item on the agenda that will affect us all in the next several years. Board President Joan Cobin rearranged the agenda to move the Rates issue to about fifteen minutes into the meeting, instead of after the staff reports, committee reports and consent agenda, as in the published agenda. I applaud her desire to “get right to business”, though the representatives from the League of Women Voters (Sara Horn and President Ann Garfinkel) missed at least half of the report from by General Manager Tammy Rudock on the counting. Ms. Horn and Ms. Garfinkel were only at the meeting very briefly, leaving before the public comments and before the Board officially accepted the League’s report. Watch their report by clicking here:

I also missed the start of item VIII A, having planned my arrival based on the original schedule. Fortunately, the Board meetings are recorded, so I was able to catch up on what I missed later – and Cambrians who had come pretty much only for this item seemed appreciative that it was given priority and moved to the start of the meeting.

Excerpts of that part of the meeting will soon be available at Google video and audio is, as always, available at Slo-span.org. I encourage anyone who couldn’t get to the meeting to watch the conversation and deliberation of the Board that followed the public comments and lead to the unanimous approval of a resolution to raise the rates 12% and revisit the issue next year to determine if an additional 14% is really needed.

The bottom line, as Kathe Tanner notes in the week’s Cambrian, is that the Water and Wastewater enterprise funds will have more money in them to keep the system running and the effect on our pocketbooks won’t be as severe as initially proposed. The Board also directed that staff shouldn’t use any staff time to pursue a loan of any size until getting further direction from the Board.

I applaud the entire Board for the time they all clearly put into considering how to move forward. No matter what the actual number of accounts or valid protest letters, there was a clear and strong message from half of the community, and a pretty loud silence from the other half. Muril Clift’s measured approach showed he had spoken to his constituents and had the best interests of the community and the CCSD at heart when he came up with an alternative most in the community find reasonable.

More excerpts will be available in the next couple of days. Watch some of the public comments made on this item and Art Montandon’s responses to questions raised by Cambrians in their comments.

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The Rates Committee of Cambrians for a Fiscally Responsible CCSD will meet tomorrow at Moonstone Beach Bar and Grill at 9:30, instead of the usual time – with tourist season in high gear we need to finish the meeting and be on our way before the restaurant opens and starts seating people. As always, the Rates Committee meeting welcomes anyone interested in attending – no special password needed.

Thank you, once again to the MacKinnons for providing such a comfortable place (and what a view!) for our meetings. You should check out their stylish new website. Looking good!

Don’t forget:

The north end of Moonstone Beach Drive is now closed to through traffic because construction has begun on the replacement of the Leffingwell Bridge.

 

Yesterday’s CCSD meeting was packed with Cambrians who showed up to see what the Board would do about the proposed rate increase. The short version: the Board passed a resolution to implement an increase of 12% for a year, at which time they would evaluate the situation and determine whether an additional increase was needed. They also directed staff to not spend any staff time (for now) on getting that proposed $8.1 Million loan. The long version is available on slo-span today and tomorrow when the district’s meeting is broadcast, and here, on AboutCambria.com as soon as I come home from Portland. (My brother is getting married tomorrow…to a super-awesome woman, so I’m taking a day or two off to enjoy some family time.)

CONTROLLING GROWTH

Like most Cambrians, I chose to live here because of the uniqueness of our small village, nestled in the pines, beside the sea. Most of us have escaped from urban congestion, and do not want Cambria’s beauty and lifestyle to deteriorate from overpopulation.

In the past, lack of water has been the means to regulate, or stop growth. Many Cambrians thought that by denying new water sources, they could prevent increased density. However, during the past 20 years we have grown to the point of straining our water resources, just to provide for those already here. To control future growth, we must place legislative and administrative limits on growth potential, and reduce the land available for growth.

Starting in 2006, we have put into motion the controls that will limit growth directly, rather than using a secondary issue like water as the growth limiting method. Cambrians approved Measure P-06 to limit the ability of the CCSD to provide water to customers outside the current service area. The Water Master Plan has designated 4,650 homes as the maximum. That would be an increase of about 700 homes, built over approximately 22 years, at a rate of no more than 1% per year. An aggressive program of lot consolidation and retirement is under way, and will ultimately reduce the number of buildable lots to match the maximum number of homes allowed. These measures mean that, although a small amount of growth will be allowed over several years, Cambria will always remain “Cambria – Pines by the Sea.”

I support this effort to retain Cambria as a charming village in the pines, with ocean views. As a CCSD Director, I will do my best not to allow Cambria to become like many coastal communities, which have removed all vegetation toward densely stacked homes with windows facing the ocean.

SECURING ADDITIONAL WATER SOURCES

For 30 years, Cambrians have battled over how to provide more water to the community. For most of those years, the issue was actually stopping or controlling growth. Now that a plan for controlling, and ultimately limiting growth has begun, developing a sufficient and reliable water source should be a CCSD priority.

These additional water sources have been proposed:

- Increased conservation

- Increased well production, or additional wells

- Wastewater recycling

- Surface storage reservoir

- Water importation

- Desalination of seawater

Here are the realities of each alternative:

Increased conservation: Conservation is the most cost effective means of finding additional water, as it requires only small investments in retrofits, and since reducing usage costs nothing. However, for Cambria, an insignificant amount of additional water is possible here. The average Cambrian already uses less than half the water that other Californians use. Most homes have been retrofitted or built with low-flow plumbing fixtures. Additionally, a large proportion of homeowners have installed drought tolerant landscaping. Businesses have also taken measures to reduce their water usage. Certainly, continued conservation is vital for maintaining Cambrians’ low usage, but increased conservation can no longer provide sufficient additional water to meet our needs. Most important, conservation cannot meet our needs during an extended drought.

Increased well production, or additional wells: The CCSD does not have superior rights to the ground water from the San Simeon Creek, or Santa Rosa Creek well fields. We are thus limited in the amount of water that can be taken from these wells. Additionally, the San Simeon wells must always contain sufficient water to prevent seawater intrusion. Landowners upstream from CCSD wells have superior rights to the water, and could take legal action against us if we overdraft it. These restrictions mean that little source of additional water is available from these well fields. Furthermore, the wells are subject to reduced production through drought, and have historically been shut down by MTBE pollution.

Recycled Water: Water recycling should be expanded to the extent possible. It is also the best immediate, short-term source of additional water while a permanent source is developed. However, water recycling has some inherent restrictions, and the amount of new water that can be delivered is ultimately limited by the amount of water used in the recharge basin. It could also be limited by a reduction in overall usage of potable water during a severe drought. Implementing an area wide recycling program would require a complete, second pipeline delivery service to all areas of the community. I perceive that the cost of this extensive system could not be justified based on the amount of water available. Recycled water can be mandated to certain high volume users, and voluntary user programs can be established. I would support early implementation of this technology (without constructing a second pipeline delivery service), as it faces fewer environmental and regulatory problems inherent in other options.

Surface storage – reservoir: Surface water storage was probably a viable option several years ago, when an offer was made to provide land for a reservoir. Today, with land and construction costs at an all time high, and with regulations for developing a large, multi-acre facility near the coast so restrictive, completing a project in any foreseeable future would be difficult. Even if such a project could be completed, the amount of water available for storage would be subject to the forces of nature. This year, we have seen many reservoirs, nationwide, dry up. Furthermore, all water placed in the reservoir would be subtracted from the natural flow that recharges our wells, and prevents saltwater intrusion.

Water importation: This is an available source of additional water; however, unlike all the above sources, we would be relying on contracts with other water providers. These may sell water available today, but tomorrow’s water could become unavailable when we most need it, for several reasons. Again, natural forces like drought can affect the total amount available, and thus reduce supplies. Obviously, relying on importation removes our primary control over the water. Importation also means both construction and maintenance costs of pipelines, pumping stations and right-of way-purchases that could be make this a very expensive alternative with unpredictable supplies over time.

Desalination: This presents the best long-term solution for a dependable water source. The Pacific Ocean is an unlimited water source not subject to natural forces like drought. It is close at hand, and does not require extensive pipelines, or right-of-way expenses. Although pollution is possible, it is highly unlikely to disable the system at length, as was the case in the Santa Rosa well field pollution. As system owners, we would have complete independence from outside forces controlling any imported water. The allocated Federal grant makes plant construction more than competitive with the other alternatives, and new ideas in solar and wind power generation may greatly reduce the operational energy costs.

Summary:

We must use a comprehensive strategy to meet both our current and future water needs. To do that, we must build on the success of our collective conservation efforts, and expand all possible uses of recycled water, while planning for the long-term solution – desalination.

REESTABLISHING TRUST

The recent 218 votes centered on a theme of mistrust of board actions, especially in the financial management area. The protesters questioned:

- The advisability of borrowing funds for improvement projects.

- The salary and benefits programs provided to district personnel.

- The lack of published monthly or quarterly accounting reports on both general and enterprise funds.

The CCSD Board countered with the belief that the protesters misunderstood the Board’s actions, and that all the material requested by the protesters was readily visible and available. Currently, I see the issue to be not who is right, but more importantly, the need to reestablish a connection between all Cambrians and the Board. I also perceive that it is the Board’s responsibility to lead in the effort toward reestablishing trust between all parties. This does not mean we must all agree on all points, which is highly unlikely. We should, however, honor each other’s viewpoints by recognizing that they are sincere positions.

I believe trust can be re-established in the CCSD by:

- Providing clear and frequent financial reports.

- Clearly detailing the needs for any project, including its funding details.

- Issuing frequent progress reports on all projects.

- Establishing liaisons or advisory groups on large projects, and on continuing issues within the community. These include growth management, additional water sources, and personnel policies.

- Providing the public with access opportunities to Board members and staff, plus easy access to question and answer forums, perhaps online.

Since my appointment in March 2008, I have endeavored to:

- Attend as many formal and informal community group meetings as possible, including those held to protest rate increases.

- Answer all questions asked of me, even when I knew my response would be met with disfavor.

- Demand clearer financial reporting.

While these are positive steps, they represent only a good start. If elected, I will work diligently to implement all feasible ideas for an improved CCSD. I feel that the current Board, plus any new Board members, must now go the extra mile to create a trusting, transparent relationship with all constituents.

-Muril Clift

My Requirements for a CCSD Director

Michael Stoddard

A commitment of understanding that:

• The CCSD Board of Directors are elected to be beholden to the Cambria Community Services District’s ratepayers
• The CCSD administration, staff and Board are employees of the District’s ratepayers

A commitment to action for fiscal responsibility, accountability and transparency:

• Including improved cash flow tracking, and cash flow justification that the public can understand
• An expense review that includes expense justification from CCSD administration on a quarterly basis – a commitment to no more “rubber stamping” of district operating expenses
• An overt Board involvement during any negotiations for employment/union/CIP/Capital Outlay contract negotiation process prior to public meeting Board approval of such contracts
• A budget development policy that provides for active public input at even the earliest stages and requires review of fiscal-related policies used to develop the prior budget (i.e. what is the status of capital projects, priorities placed on infrastructure spending or possible opportunities for cost savings
• An annual review of expenditure-reducing Capital Outlays (e.g. SCADA, etc.) to determine if an objective of cost reduction is being met
• Inclusion of fiscal analysis in all CIPs and Capital Outlays

A commitment to a new, future water rate structure that reflects a fair infrastructure usage demand rate between commercial and residential – and includes a rate structure that eliminates the discrimination against families, as the current rate structure does

A commitment to publicly explore the creation of a citizen’s advisory committee(s) – or “kitchen cabinet(s)” so that Directors can informally call forth on a regular basis, community input on policy decisions (not for debate or lobbying, but for input)

A commitment to implement policy to improve public access and understanding of CCSD policies and expenditures

A commitment to study how Board of Director’s meetings can improve the format for public input and discussion (i.e. review of three-minute input rule, timing of public input during meeting, early public distribution of documents, documentation and answering of public questions, etc.) while trying to reduce overall meeting time and improving effectiveness of public meeting time for the Directors and the public