Cambria’s situation is unique in many ways. But an unspoken assumption seems to lurk beneath the plans and decisions of Cambria’s leaders: Cambria is an island unto itself, alone in the universe – not a town located in a beautiful county, nor a village of the great loony, loving state of California, nor a plot of property for which the federal government is responsible, nor a citizen of this unlikely and amazing planet.
We Are Not the First and Won’t Be the Last
In our isolated little burg, it’s easy to forget that we are not really isolated and definitely not cut off from the culture and resources and support of other people. We can learn from other communities our size, from many people in communities everywhere. The actions and plans of our leaders seem to imply they’d rather re-invent the mousetrap and have a new thing than buy off-the-rack. Cambria’s mouse, the argument runs, is unique. The problems involved in trapping a Cambria mouse are not like any other mouse anywhere and Cambria’s chair-standers demand only the best for ourselves.
But the Information is Out Here
In the last century, before the explosion of the “information age” and the internet, information was available, but seeking it out could be next to impossible. Educating yourself about anything even vaguely technical could mean weeks of gathering periodicals, books and other documents – and weeks more to find the relevant information. Local leaders were dependent on paid experts and whatever published information was available from university centers and the state or federal government. The explosion of information available online combined with the digitization of public records and greater understanding of source valuation means no community is restricted to its own knowledge and that of the experts it pays. Without a single phone call or face-to-face, anyone with a connection to the internet can gather information quickly, distill the relevant stuff with ease and still have time to check eBay for anything irresistible to bid on.
Leadership is More than Waving and Wearing the Crown. Sometimes You Have to THINK.
We are living in a culture that doesn’t accept the word of our leaders without question. We are unlikely to take it on faith that our government and the people in it have our best interests at heart. The same, of course, likely applies to our leaders also. If they are convinced they are doing what is in the best interest of the community, then they should share that.
So What’s my Point? What’s my Problem?
What am I looking for from the CCSD? What do I need before I will support their plan for my town’s future? How can we solve the problems and enjoy our beautiful home?
1. I would like a real answer to my questions about our water supply shortage and the solutions the CCSD is proposing. “Because we said so.” or “Because in 2000 some Cambrians said so.” are the answers I’ve gotten so far. I was 6 years old the last time I accepted “Because I said so” to the question “why?” I find it insulting as an answer from a local elected official or government employee. Lack of answers is likely to make me more troublesome rather than discourage further questions. I don’t question to challenge, I question to learn.
2. I would like to feel sure that our leaders are making decisions using accurate, timely information and that they scrutinize the quality of the source before acting on it. In other words, I expect my elected leaders to think critically and consider not just the information, but its source. In a way, each decision they make for the community, they are making on my behalf. I definitely want anyone taking action in my name be cognizant of that fact. Personality shouldn’t enter into it. Whether or not you like me or agree with me shouldn’t affect your recognition that you make decisions on my behalf.
In high school, when I too Algebra 1, there were dozens of equations to be solved each week for homework. It was a requirement that we “show our work”, not just write the final answer. Mr. Peters probably didn’t ever do more than make sure I’d written more than just an answer – he’d probably done the math on how much longer it would take to grade those dozens times 180 students. I don’t blame him. Just like in Algebra 1, I want my representatives on every level of government to “show their work” on a decision, not just tell me the answer. And just like Mr. Peters, most people will only be checking that you DID the work of thinking before you decided. One way to “show your work” would be to verbalize the process you went through to get to an action taken (or not taken). In other words, what information, specifically, lead you to the outcome. I may be comfortable supporting your position because you’ve clearly THOUGHT about it, given it due consideration, not just flipped a coin or worked the politics.
One specific example was seen during the discussion of the Fire Safety Ordinance a few meetings back. Director Funke-Bilu explained that in figuring out whether or not to support a draft of the new ordinance, he’d attended the Fire Ordinance Committee meetings, but also spoke to CalFire and some CCSD firefighters and other stakeholders – the folks on the ground with the real-life experience and who would be affected most by the changes. He didn’t go into exhaustive detail, but left no doubt in my mind that if we were to sit down together for a few hours, he could and would share those details that led to his decision to not support the ordinance. Not that difficult, just requires actually processing information and a pinch of meta-cognition.
3. I would be more likely to support anyone open to my active participation in the decision-making process. Sure, engaging the public is time-consuming and can slow things down, but that’s part of the point. Anything accomplished or planned in my community is done with money from my pocket. I want to feel I am heard by the people spending that money. Active participation is more than sitting in silent observation or being allowed three minutes at a meeting for a monologue or sitting at a presentation of information where questions are left unanswered. Active participation requires give and take. It requires information and dialog. It requires effort and builds trust.
4. Accountability is more than electability. I would like a responsive Board and staff that understand we mean no harm when we check up on what they’re doing from time to time. And I’m not implying I don’t trust you. I’m just asking what’s up. Like a parent who asks the teen behind the closed bedroom door, “Whatcha doin?”, we’d like the door to open when they tell us they’re working on homework – just so we can check. When the door stays closed, even if they say “Doin’ Homework.” we feel compelled to ask again, because when a teen tells us something through a closed door, our imagination can get the better of us as we think about all the awful things they could potentially be doing. For everyone involved, the better move is to open the door so it is crystal clear homework is being done.
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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
a) no desal
b) Rationing: water diet for the town. Penalize the excessive usage. Recent CCSD newsletter states 30% used on landscape irrigation of water-hungry species.
c) We owe the wait list their meters, so give them the access from the rationing. Then we can fire the class-action-in-waiting lawyer.
d) Freeze growth: there’s plenty of houses to remodel.
d) No CCSd transportation stipend. The IRS lets you write-off these expenses.
I agree completely with the 5 points Bob made.
I totally agree with Cyndi.
I think the CCSD directors are condescending to the ratepayers, whom they are supposed to serve.
I am outraged by some of their actions. For example, when the new CCSD attorney was hired a few years ago, he just couldn’t find a house anywhere in Cambria or nearby. So, the CCSD created a grandfathered water meter (a rather strange action) and GAVE IT TO HIM! He slapped the meter on a lot, but never built his home. Now the meter (and the lot, also, I think) is on the market for just under $400,000. Where’s the outrage? If he can’t or won’t use the created meter, it should be given back to the CCSD and “un-created,” if there is a way to do so. If it’s sold, the proceeds should go back to the CCSD general fund, not in the pocket of the attorney. These are the kinds of actions, and lack of transparency in government, that Cyndi Hawley addresses so eloquently in her statement. I don’t think most ratepayers know about this outrageous deal; and that was on top of the big-bucks salary and all the related perks they gave him and themselves. OUTRAGEOUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
1. I, too, am aggravated that questions to the CCSD do not get answered.
SUGGESTION
I would ask the CCSD to start and maintain a running list of Questions asked by the public and their corresponding answers. And I would ask that they post this on their web site. and KEEP UP with it.
I have seen other municipal bodies do this and IT WORKS.
ANOTHER SUGGESTION
is that at each Public CCSD meeting, MOVE the public comment time to the beginning of the meeting, as has already been asked of the CCSD numerous times; and follow public comment time with ANSWER PUBLIC QUESTIONS TIME. this would be a review of each question asked by the public at the LAST meeting and their corresponding answers. The CCSD needs to capture and answer public questions in a timely fashion. This is an expected practice in business.
2. The lack of visual support and presentations for projects the CCSD undertakes is sorely lacking. For example, has anyone ever presented a picture or rendering of the proposed desal plant? I have searched for pictures of them on the web and they are UGLY AND MASSIVE. If you see one, you are going to freak out!
Or of the proposed cell towers WITH the concrete support buildings? Same thing…UGLY and MASSIVE.
SUGGESTION
If this was done with every new proposal/project and then POST it on the CCSD web site, the public may be more likely to be, as Amanda said: “supporting your position because you’ve clearly THOUGHT about it, given it due consideration, not just flipped a coin or worked the politics.”
A good example of this is the alternate water sources research and study. I would like to see the study and analysis of alternative water sources that were turned down so I can see WHY they were turned down. Why isn’t this analysis on the CCSD web site? WE paid an awful lot of money to not be allowed to see the thought process that led the CCSD to choose desal over other sources.
And it would go a long way to sharing the real facts with ALL so we don’t have continuing mis-information being mis-used. Recent example of this was in last week’s Cambrian. Anne Wyatt’s opinion piece stated that Cambrians voted for desal as their preferred new water source.
THAT IS A LIE and is being perpetuated by county government (Anne is a PLANNING COMMISSIONER for the county which the paper neglected to list, though they listed all her other past posts) for their own political reasons to influence public opinion.
AS was pointed out at the Public meeting on the Fiscalini Ranch/Community Park Project EIR review
(I think) there was NO OFFICIAL VOTE for Desal. It was an advisory and Peter Chaldecott had evidence of that. We may even have a scanned copy of the questionnaires that went out and what the public was told about their participation in that “query”. It was NOT A VOTE and we need to correct that continued mis-information so it can no longer be used as an argument by the county/CCSD to shut up objectors to Desal.
3. There should be no more opening of our public meetings with the threat of the Sheriff as enforcer of Emotional Cambrians. That was so outrageous.
4. See response to number 2. Above
These are all easily implemented suggestions. For the CCSD to not do this tells me they do not care about the people they are supposed to represent and really do want the public to go away and “stifle”.
Since when do we consider aesthetics more important than vital services? The aesthetics can be easily worked out (as was the cell tower at the top of Fiscalini Ranch where it was cleverly disguised) We need water and we need more cell service.
I think a big problem in Cambria is a constant flow of newcomers that don’t understand the history, don’t think they have a duty to learn on their own time, and want CCSD officials to take time to educate them.
To Bob’s points to focus on:
Right on to suggestions b and c. Banish all irrigation and save enough water to serve the wait list. Lift the moratorium immediately. Why should my neighbor be able to water ornamental plants and run water down the gutter, causing me to suffer all use of my property?
The first d is in direct conflict with c. Are you in favor of granting meters or not? There is already a freeze, it’s called a moratorium. As for remodels, there should be no expansions of any sort as long as the moratorium is in effect.
On Montandon’s meter: I too have a problem with the concept of manufacturing meters to raise cash as long as the wait list exists. But the present CCSD laws allow them to do it, up to 3(?) per year. In Montandon’s case, my understanding was that the meter was in lieu of cash that they could not afford to pay him. It was based on a salary requirement that was commensurate with what other similar officials earn. have you checked out what he was making before he went to work full time for CCSD? By the way, do you think they would need someone like him full time if there was no moratorium? They never had a full time district counsel before the moratorium.
On desal plant aesthetics: There has been a rendering of the proposed plant in the design package for years. Have you looked at it? It looks like a horse barn. Online, are you looking at similar sized plants? Are you looking at plants that had to pass Coastal Commission approval?
Nobody says there was an official vote for desal. It was an advisory vote. This advisory vote is really only a very small part of the rationale the present CCSD used in deciding on their direction.
In response to Deryl Robinson:
You have hit the nail on the head Deryl…….so many Cambrians (and a lot involved in this website) are new to town and do not bother to do some homework before voicing opinions and making demands. I guess it is just so much easier to jump in and make allegations. Thanks to you (and Peter in a earlier response) for trying to clarify and provide some history.
Ann
I’m glad you are participating. I’d like to see more voices like yours here. Not all of the Cambrians who are new to town “don’t bother” with the homework. This site probably has so many of those newer Cambrians precisely because they are trying to figure out what the homework even is. I’ve been here 8 years and there is so much information that just the gathering could exhaust some of us. I agree: it is easier to just voice an uneducated opinion, but those who know more should jump in and educate. This site was developed to try to provide a centralized place for newcomers and natives alike to find out both what’s going on and what our history is. I encourage your continuing participation and contribution.
Amanda Rice, Site Administrator.