The Cambria Community Services District (and some individual staff members) belong to a number of organizations and benefit from the advocacy, training, publications and conferences those associations provide to members.   A review of the expenditure reports over the last couple of years provides an overview of the District’s memberships and various training and conferences attended by staff and Board members.
By encouraging ongoing, professional training and attendance at industry conferences, the District is able to offer better services to the community. The amount we’ve spent on memberships and conferences over the last couple of years, listed below, isn’t meant to be a complete list or argue against or justify the expenditures. I appreciate the fact that CCSD staff and Board value the opportunities that can come our way as a result of spending these dollars. W. Somerset Maugham is credited with putting it this way: “You learn more quickly under the guidance of experienced teachers. You waste a lot of time going down blind alleys if you have no one to lead you.”

The state of California requires every water agency that serves over 3,000 customers submit a report called an Urban Water Management Plan (UWMP) in years ending in 5 and 0. In 2005, as the CCSD was completing its UWMP, we became a member of the California Urban Water Conservation Council (CUWCC).  As a member of CUWCC, Cambria Community Services District has had access to a wide range of supportive and instructive resources in water planning and management, including excellent support in preparing its Urban Water Management Plan.

All members of CUWCC sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that outlines fourteen best management practices (BMPs) for water conservation and efficiency. To date, more than 350 water agencies have become signatories. The Council also tracks the progress of implementing the BMPs and asks for reports every other year. The MOU and BMPs are not binding on the District, but since the point of CUWCC is to expedite and simplify improved water efficiency, not working toward the goals seems like a waste.

According to the reports available on the CUWCC website, the Cambria Community Services District is not on schedule to meet the targets as recommended for most of the BMPs, with a few not even started. For example, BMP 1 is to implement Water Survey Programs for Single-Family and Multi-Family Residential Customers. Home water surveys involve calculating water use, teaching you to read your water meter, surveying the irrigation system, and showing you simple ways to save water both in and outside the home. In San Fransisco, a survey is estimated to take about 45 minutes. To meet the goal that would keep them on track, the District would have had to complete 55 single family residential surveys and 1 multi-family survey( 1.5% of each). To date, they have completed none.

On the plus side, the District is meeting the goals for auditing and fixing system leaks, all accounts are metered,  read and charged by volume measured and has one staff member (well, 50% of one) assigned as conservation coordinator (Cori Ryan). The next report is due April 2010.

As a member of CUWCC and a community already facing water supply emergencies and a moratorium, shouldn’t we be more focused on these best management practices? Instead, we’ll soon see the rebate programs end as more money is spent on desal lobbyists and attorneys defending against litigation caused by the programs of the Water Master Plan.

Being a member of CUWCC isn’t cheap. In March 2007, the District’s membership dues were 2,252.70.  In 2008 we paid 2,335.90 in fees and $350 registration for a workshop/training conference attended by Cori Ryan. It’s no small fortune, but seems like a waste if we aren’t going to work on it. Does the Board support this membership, the MOU signed by the General Manager and the associated BMPs of the Council? Ms. Rudock is not required to get Board approval to join and sign the memorandum of understanding, but a supportive board could make funding the required programs and staff much easier. After all, the BMPs could all be considered policies – which are the domain of the Board.

Bottom line: Conservation and increased efficiency  may not solve all our water woes here in Cambria, but they are the most cost-effective path toward a more reliable water supply for all CCSD customers and our visitors. The CUWCC is a resource that the District should take better advantage of for our community.

With the whole state experiencing the fiscal calamity and the spotlight on the State Water Project, the Delta and an ongoing drought conditions, there is no shortage of online articles focusing on water supply, use, management and solutions to address the realities of a finite amount of fresh and clean water. Here are five links to learn from:

The U.S. Is Years Behind the Rest of the World on Water Issues

The Water Desalination PR Battle: Despite Some Salty Protests, Desal Plants Still Going Up

A Clear Blue Future: How Greening California Cities Can Address Water Resources and Climate Challenges in the 21st Century

Coalition Unveils California Water Solutions Report at Million Boat Float

Disobey Your Thirst Good Magazine focuses on Water in their current issue.

Late breaking news: the Cambria Forest Committee  will be meeting in Suite 204 at 6pm tonight. On the agenda:

4.1 CAMBRIA FOREST MANAGEMENT PLAN – (HAWLEY-O’KEEFE-BODE)
A – GENERATE A LIST OF THE “BENEFITS OF IMPLEMENTING THE CFMP”
4.2 ANNUAL LOT CLEARING – (MILLER, BULER, BODE, TRASK)
A – REVIEW CURRENT CCSD CONTRACT AND SPECIFICATIONS
FOR CONTRACTORS (RATHBUN-BUTLER-TRASK-VALLENS-SCHASSBERGER)
4.3 TREE PLANTING AND EDUCATION – (BUTLER-TRASK-HAWLEY-SCHASSBERGER)
4.4 MEMBERSHIP OUTREACH – (RATHBUN-BOULDIN)

and 5.2 REVISE CFC MISSION STATEMENT

Download the Minutes from the May meeting of the CFC here.

The CCHD Board regular meeting will be held tomorrow, Aug 25, 2009 6:30pm at Rabobank (1070 Main Street). According to Administrator Don Melendy, items on the agenda include updates on the business of the District including:

* district finances
* ambulance activity
* community education
* Project Heartbeat
* the activities of the Association of California Healthcare Districts
* Crisis Intervention Team’s activity
* ongoing meetings with CCSD Fire Department regarding co-location

The Board will also discuss policy manual updates of chapter 3.10 and 3.15, which cover CCHD employee appearance and uniform policies and employee health and physical condition/fitness, respectively.

Download the Agenda Packet here.

At last week’s CCSD meeting, I made a formal request that the Board review and reconsider the need for and appropriateness of the Water Code Section  350 emergency declaration at a public hearing. Below is the letter I will be sending as a followup to the Board. What do you think?

I am writing this letter to follow up on the request I made during the public comment period at the August 20, 2009 regular meeting of the Cambria Community Services District.

During those comments, I made a formal request that the CCSD Board review and reconsider the need for and appropriateness of the Water Code Section  350 emergency declaration at a public hearing.

It’s been 2,856 days since CCSD’s board declared a water emergency under California Water Code Section 350.

That state law allows  water agencies “may declare a water shortage emergency condition to prevail within the area served by such distributor whenever it finds and determines that the ordinary demands and requirements of water consumers cannot be satisfied without depleting the water supply of the distributor to the extent that there would be insufficient water for human consumption, sanitation, and fire protection.”

It goes on to provide additional powers and responsibilities:

• “it shall thereupon adopt such regulations and restrictions on the delivery of water and the consumption within said area of water supplied for public use as will in the sound discretion of such governing body conserve the water supply for the greatest public benefit with  particular regard to domestic use, sanitation, and fire protection.”
• “The regulations and restrictions shall thereafter be and remain in full force and effect during the period of the emergency and until the supply of water available for distribution within such area has been replenished or augmented.”
• “The regulations and restrictions may include the right to deny applications for new or additional service connections, and provision for their enforcement by discontinuing service to consumers willfully violating the regulations and  restrictions.”

It was October 25, 2001 was the last time CCSD issued an intent to serve letter for a new home.

Since declaring the water shortage emergency, the district has taken numerous actions that affect the water supply availability:

• developed and approved a water master plan.
• had a change of 3 board members.
• increased storage capacity for fire from 1 million to 1.7 million gallons, an amount that minimizes the chance of service interruption in case the need for fire suppression is coincident with an accident-like the recent Cornwall/Sheffield break.
• increased the water pressure 250 percent to provide adequate flow for firefighting.
• implemented a retrofit rebate program for low-flow toilets and washers that is about to lose funding (almost 300 washer rebates issued to date).
• Reduced the number of potential through promotion of lot mergers and conservation easements.
• attempted (unsuccessfully) to adjudicate the San Simeon basin with  those with senior water rights.
• analyzed alternative sources for additional water and approved taking action to build a desalination plant .
• installed new electronic meters  for almost all customers to reduce water losses from over 12% to about 8%.

In addition to the actions cited above and other Board policy decisions and actions, standards for water efficiency in new construction (both indoor & outdoor use) combined with the county policy and ordinances limiting the rate of growth to less than 2.3% of current housing units county-wide (limited to 1% in Cambria until 2006, 0% through June 2012) protect our water supply from depletion due to new connections that may be permitted over the next 10 years.

We have a wonderful town here and could find ourselves in the expensive and awkward position of defending policies that are outdated, inconsistent or without firm footing.

I am requesting that discussion of reconsideration of the State Water Code 350 emergency declaration be placed on the CCSD Board Agenda without delay.  After eight years and many improvements in our water system and demand management, such a discussion seems a valuable use of the Board’s time and energy.

If the Executive Committee declines to schedule this discussion on the agenda for full Board discussion, I ask to be provided the specific reasons for declining the request, in writing.

Respectfully,

Amanda C. Rice

Cambria Homeowner

www.AboutCambria.com

cc:

Tammy Rudock, CCSD General Manager

Bruce Gibson, Chair, SLO County Board of Supervisors

Paul Hood, Executive Officer, SLO Local Agency Formation Commission

Charles Lester, Central Coast Senior Deputy Director, California Coastal Commission

Lois Capps, Congresswoman California’s 23^rd District

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Cambria

North Coast Advisory Council meets the Aug. 19, 2009 at 6:30 Rabobank. Cambria Community Services District on Aug. 20 at 12:30 Veterans Hall. Highlights of agendas for both are included below. Also this week: Allied Arts meets Thursday to discuss possible move from the Old Schoolhouse (next to the Library) to the Old Grammar School (across from CCSD offices on Main). The public are invited to attend to share their thoughts. That meeting will be at 7pm in the auditorium of the Old Grammar School.

NCAC Agenda Highlights

• Discuss solutions for Cambria Trolley funding cuts. (With RTA rep Aimee Wyatt)
• Comments on project at 1043 Main Street (new building at Main and Cambria Drive)
• Discussion and possible action regarding recent  PG&E removed pines and oaks.

Full Agenda at NCAC website.

CCSD Agenda Highlights

CONSENT AGENDA

• Consider Adoption of Resolution 38-2009 Naming the Cambria Dog Park in Honor of Joyce and John Heller
• Consider Adoption of Resolution 39-2009 Rescheduling the September 24, 2009, Regular Board Meeting to October 1, 2009

HEARINGS AND APPEALS

• Public Hearing to Consider Adoption of Resolution 36-2009 Authorizing Fire Suppression Benefit Assessment, With No Consumer Price Index (CPI) Adjustment for FY 2009-2010
• Consider Introduction of Ordinance 02-2009 Electing to Have Delinquent Solid Waste Collection and Disposal Service Charges Collected on Tax Roll
• Conduct Public Hearing to Consider Approving the Appropriation Limit for Fiscal Year 2009/2010, and Adopt Resolution 35-2009 Establishing the Appropriation Limit for the CCSD

REGULAR BUSINESS

• Discuss DRAFT CCSD Proposition 1A Contingency Plan
• Consider Request by North Coast Ocean Rescue (NCOR) Team for Insurance Coverage Under the CCSD Liability Policy for its Annual “Pier to Point Fun Paddle and Ocean Race” Fundraiser

Full Agenda at CCSD website

A Noisy Few Weeks.

For almost two weeks, the usual quiet of Cambria was replaced by a near constant hum of chainsaws and the louder droning of chippers grinding up Cambria’s tree branches. PG&E’s contracted tree trimmers were out in force here on Lodge Hill. They cut down two large pines in my front yard and an even bigger one across the street was removed. Cluttered on nearly every lot and in many front yards all over Cambria you can see the large rounds that were left behind. My yard was also littered with smaller branches and a couple of nests, creating the perfect fuel forgetting a fire going.

Before the cutting

After The Cutting

On Ardath Drive

A PG&E arborist was in the neighborhood this last winter, evaluating all the trees near the power lines. About 6 weeks later, another PG&E rep brought by a notice that two of our trees would be cut down because they were diseased and threatening the power lines.  This is the third major mature tree removed by PG&E since we moved in. All of them were unhealthy or dying and threatened the power lines.

Stump in foreground from 2002 tree removal. Others along left side removed in 2009.

The first tree PG&E took down was in November 2002. The last 30 or so feet fell the wrong way as they tried to take it down, pulling down 3 power poles, closing Ardath for over a day and cutting power to about 1/3 of Cambrian homes. That one was left right where it fell, occupying the entire front yard until we could afford to have someone cut and haul away the carcass. The tree company never came back or contacted us after the accident.

The remains of the two trees cut down this year now litter my side yard and have reduced the amount of yard space my dogs have by over half. Removing these remains are not part of what PG&E does, apparently. The reliability of our electricity infrastructure has been improved, but fuel for a fire in Cambria has just grown exponentially.

Fuel for Fire

Fuel for fire

The Big(ger) Picture

Recent letters to the Cambrian and an article in the New Times reflect the concern of community members have about destruction of our precious Monterey Pine forest.  One of the first things I learned as a member of the North Coast Advisory Council was Cambrians feel strongly about protecting our trees. Tree removal is an issue of San Luis Obispo County authority. Here in Cambria, no tree over 8” in diameter at 4’ from the ground may be removed or killed unless a permit is first issued.   A permit can only be issued if the tree meets certain criteria. To comply with County ordinances designed to protect existing trees and other coastal vegetation from indiscriminate or unnecessary removal consistent with local coastal plan policies and pursuant to Section 30251 of the Coastal Act which requires protection of scenic and visual qualities of coastal areas, you and I have to get a permit from the County and pay a fee of at least $123 (plus $123 for hazardous tree determination.) We are also expected to replace “any tree removed to accommodate new development or because it is a safety hazard shall be replaced, in a location on the site and with a species common to the community…” (County Ord.  23.05.064)

The PG&E Power

The New Times article by Colin Rigley (Aug 6-13 edition) stated the tree cutting by PG&E was exempt from permitting by the County. After reading the related  Coastal Land Use Ordinance (CZLUO), it’s not clear why PG&E is exempt. And because PG&E didn’t get tree removal permits, (at $123 per tree) they are also exempt from the tree replacement requirement.   Read the Coastal Zone Land Use Ordinance specific to tree removal standards.

In addition to the CZLUO, the County’s  North Coast Area Plan (NCAP) provides even more specific standards for tree removal and replacement. The Planning Area Standards for Cambria states: “Any Monterey pine trees that are six inches or more in diameter 4.5 feet above ground removed shall be replaced at a 4:1 ratio. Any oak trees that are four inches or more in diameter 4.5 feet above ground removed shall be replaced at a 6:1 ratio.” (NCAP page 7-23, Revised August 2008)

Cambria’s Living Pine Forest

Whether or not PG&E should be exempt from County fees and permitting, or forgiven for leaving behind thousands of feet of wood on properties all over town (during fire season), we should not ignore the intent of the policies and ordinances that help re-populate our forest. Most of the tall trees that surround us began after the extensive clear cutting Cambria suffered about a hundred years ago and have reached the end of their natural lives. There will be fewer and fewer that are healthy and thriving, especially considering the ongoing drought conditions.

Greenspace, The Cambria Landtrust has a nursery of trees, ready for planting, to fill in where the old trees have died or been removed.  If you had any trees removed by PG&E, or even if you didn’t, help revitalize our forest by planting a replacement tree. The volunteers at Greenspace can help find a place to plant the tree, whether on your property or elsewhere. If you plant it yourself, remember to plant it away from places where it might threaten the power lines!

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Beginning August  17, day-use parking fees will increase by $2 to $5, and camping fees will increase by $10 – $21 a night. Camping reservations made prior to that date will be honored at the lower price.

Annual Passes will go back on sale immediately at the existing price of $125. In future months,  additional fee and pass increases are possible as State Parks assesses how the partnership program stretches the reduced budget funding to help keep parks open.

A list of specific parks affected is expected to be available next week and I will post any updated information as soon as it is available.

It should be noted that these increases do not raise park revenues enough to cover all the costs. Doing that would require steep increases that would price people out of their public park system. These increases are another tool in the efforts being taken by California State Parks to keep more parks open during this time of budget cuts and employee furloughs.

The department continues to seek support from cities, counties, corporations and nonprofit organizations who may want to sponsor or operate particular parks to help keep them open. Further, park managers have been reducing services and modifying their operations by closing portions of parks and reducing operating hours.

“We have loyal visitors who truly love our parks,” said State Parks Director Ruth Coleman. “We will do our best to maximize the use of additional funds so that parks continue to be available for public enjoyment.”

The map below shows all the State Parks our region.

San Luis Obispo has eleven State Parks.  State Parks in the county of ‘San Luis Obispo‘

Cayucos (State Beach)	San Luis Obispo
Estero Bluffs (State Park)	San Luis Obispo
Harmony Headlands (State Park)	San Luis Obispo
Hearst San Simeon (State Park)	San Luis Obispo
Hearst San Simeon (State Historical Monument)	San Luis Obispo
Los Osos Oaks (State Natural Reserve)	San Luis Obispo
Montaña de Oro (State Park)	San Luis Obispo
Morro Bay (State Park)	San Luis Obispo
Morro Strand (State Beach)	San Luis Obispo
Oceano Dunes (State Vehicular Recreation Area)	San Luis Obispo
Pismo (State Beach)	San Luis Obispo

Learn more about California State Parks on their official website.

Order an annual pass online for $125 any business day before 3pm and it’ll be in tomorrow’s mail.

UPDATE:

Updated fees for parks in SLO County:

Hearst San Simeon State Historical Monument

Hearst Experience Tour (combo) Child Child Entry Guided Tour / Walk $12.00
Hearst Daily Tour Adult Adult Entry Guided Tour / Walk $24.00
Hearst Daily Tour Child Child Entry Guided Tour / Walk $12.00
Hearst Experience Tour (combo) Adult Adult Entry Guided Tour / Walk $24.00
Hearst Evening Tour Adult Adult Entry Guided Tour / Walk $30.00
Hearst Evening Tours Child Child Entry Guided Tour / Walk $15.00

Morro Bay State Park

Morro Bay – Museum of Natural History Child Entry Museum / Park Entry $0.00
Morro Bay – Museum of Natural History Adult Entry Museum / Park Entry $2.00

Oceano Dunes State Vehicle Recreation Area

Oceano Dunes Paid Vehicle Undeveloped Parking $5.00

Pismo State Beach

Pismo Paid Vehicle Developed Parking $10.00

Download the full list of fees for all state parks.

A recent  article on CalCoastNews.com examines how much the San Luis Ambulance company charges for transports. It’s quite a thorough article, including explanations of how ambulance services determine what they charge, comparisons between SLO and other counties, and noting that Cambria’s residents are served by the Cambria Community Healthcare District and are subject to different charges than the rest of the county.
Read the article here.