Archive for the ‘Master Plan’ Category
Water Master Plan EIR Responses to Comments Released
At the end of last week, the CCSD posted the final draft of the Water Master Plan Program EIR along with the public comments and response to those comments. The Draft was nearly 500 pages before the comments and responses were added. I’m still wading through the responses to my own comments. I’ll be posting more here about that Program EIR, which is scheduled to be certified by the Board on the 21st of this month. Read it by downloading it at the CCSD’s website.
Demand for Water Can Be Met
I recently provided my five single-spaced pages of comments on the Water Master Plan Program Environmental Impact Report. Ten minutes before the deadline. I have a couple more pages, but no more time. So the Water Supply and the CCSD’s proposed plan to solve the declared 350 shortage are still on my mind. Then I ran across the following couple of paragraphs on the Western City Magazine website :
Despite the fact that water supplies are undeniably constrained (and even oversubscribed, in some cases) and climate change is likely to constrain them even more, there is more than enough water to go around — and that includes enough water to maintain the environmental and biological integrity of our rivers, streams, estuaries and wetlands.
In November 2004, the Planning and Conservation League (PCL) published An Investment Strategy for California Water. This publication (available online at www.pcl.org) concluded that new demands for water associated with California’s projected growth could not only be met, but could be met economically and without damaging California’s environment. The following year, the state Department of Water Resources essentially confirmed PCL’s findings in The California Water Plan Update 2005, Bulletin 160-05.
So now I ask:
If I can’t get a second opinion on the state of the water supply shortage in Cambria, can I at least get a first opinion on the qualifications and background of our current source of information? Or a list of references I could contact? Surely if they have been awarded a contract, the CCSD would have this information.
The next CCSD meeting is April 24 at 12:30 at the Vets Hall. See you there!
More valuable than a gallon of gas? Say YES! with a small donation today.Acre Foot to CCSD Billing Cycle Units conversion
I was not cut out for geometry or physics. All the rules and formulas to try to memorize or burn into my brain with repetition. In reading the Water Master Plan EIR, I once again had a brain that refused to cooperate when it came to making the conversions from annual acre feet to units, to gallons, and back. So, I finally sat down and worked out an excel spreadsheet I could plug numbers into to more easily compare all the information from the EIR. If you have excel and want to try it out, I’ve included a link to it here and in the AboutCambria.com Library. I figure many of you will be working on your thoughtful and clear responses to the Water Master Plan EIR (due monday). Just in time to help confuse clarify some of those numbers is the Water Conversions Calculator for Cambrians, no degree required.
If you don’t have Microsoft Office and Excel, not to panic. I will be working on providing a version of the conversions tables that you can use even if you don’t have Excel.
If you are providing comments on the Master Plan EIR or Fiscalini Ranch EIR , I invite you to contribute then to About Cambria as a post. By sharing information and opinions and planning, we make it easier for everyone to speak and to be heard. Get involved. Try out the Water Calculator
Water Master Plan EIR Posted on CCSD website
Another step toward approval of the CCSD Water Master Plan has been posted on the CCSD’s website. You can download the Environmental Impact Report for the Master Plan, by chapter, by clicking here.
The public review period ends on Monday, April 14, 2008. All interested parties who wish to comment are encouraged to do so. Please submit written comments before 5:00p.m. on April 14 to:
Mr. Robert Gresens, P.E.
District Engineer
Cambria Community Services District
1316 Tamson Drive, Suite 201
Cambria, California 93428
You can download the entire document with one click from AboutCambria.com’s CCSD Documents page.
I invite anyone interested in writing more about the EIR, what it includes, and what it means for Cambria and our future to contact AboutCambria.com or just click the link for “submit a post”.
Everyone else, keep an eye on AboutCambria.com for more on the EIR, the CCSD’s interviews of the applicants for the vacancy and the upcoming meeting this Thursday.
More on Recycled Water
Recently, Joe Geever of Surfrider Foundation sent out an email containing a post about recycled water. The entry originally appeared on the Slate and was written by
“Americans are insatiable water consumers—our water footprint has been estimated to be twice the global average (PDF). ” (See end of post for a link to measure your water footprint.)
It’s Time To Drink Toilet Water
Recycling sewage is safe and efficient, so why aren’t we doing it?
By Eilene Zimmerman Posted Friday, Jan. 25, 2008, at 7:33 AM ET
Officials in Orange County , Calif. , will attend opening ceremonies today for the world’s largest water-purification project, among the first “toilet-to-tap” systems in America . The Groundwater Replenishment System is designed to take sewage water straight from bathrooms in places like Costa Mesa, Fullerton, and Newport Beach and—after an initial cleansing treatment—send it through $490 million worth of pipes, filters, and tanks for purification. The water then flows into lakes in nearby Anaheim , where it seeps through clay, sand, and rock into aquifers in the groundwater basin. Months later, it will travel back into the homes of half a million Orange County residents, through their kitchen taps and showerheads.
It’s a smart idea, one of the most reliable and affordable hedges against water shortages, and it’s not new. For decades, cities throughout the United States have used recycled wastewater for nonpotable needs, like agriculture and landscaping; because the technology already exists, the move to potable uses seems a no-brainer. But the Orange County project is the exception. Studies show that the public hasn’t yet warmed to the notion of indirect potable reuse (IPR)—or “toilet-to-tap,” as its opponents would have it. Surveys like one taken last year in San Diego show that a majority of us don’t want to drink water that once had poop in it, even if it’s been cleaned and purified. A public outcry against toilet-to-tap in 2000 forced the city of Los Angeles to shut down a $55 million project that would have provided enough water for 120,000 homes. Similar reluctance among San Diego residents led Mayor Jerry Sanders to veto the city council’s approval in November of a pilot program to use recycled water to supplement that city’s drinking water. (A similar plan failed once before in 1999.)
But San Diego is in the midst of a severe water crisis. Read the rest of this article on the Slate.
Please help restore and protect the ocean we love by joining Surfrider Foundation at: www.surfrider.org/join
Measure your water footprint , Click here.
2008 CCSD Objectives
The 2008 CCSD goals that were approved on January 22, 2008 are linked here and written below.
I have some concerns which I will try to lay out following the CCSD objectives.
Proposed CCSD Board Goals and Objectives for 2008
Goal
To have a trusting relationship between Cambria residents and CCSD Board/Staff that is built on shared understanding of community needs and the potential to achieve them
(Executive Committee Cobin, Sanders)
Objectives
Facilitate consensus building among Cambria residents concerning issues before the Board by; (February)
- Enhancing opportunities for community-identified opinion-leaders to access and discuss materials
- Encouraging use of Public Comment periods for raising questions/concerns
- Scheduling periodic Forums for information exchange with community residents and Board
- Providing scheduled opportunities for residents to have face to face dialogue with key staff members
Goal
Ensure the Safety of Cambria residents and their property
(ad hoc Committee Sanders, Funke-Bilu)
Objectives
Actively engage community members and organizations in systematic efforts to:
- Adopt a Defensible Space Ordinance (February)
- Pursue financing to complete the expansion of fire fighting water storage tank capacity
- Adopt and increase awareness of Evacuation Plan, Encourage more public training for CERT
- Work with County to improve roads and bridges
- Pro-actively strive to have the Cross-town Trail completed (including street lighting & traffic signal at Cambria Drive and Flood Control elements)
Goal
Provide an Alternate Water Source for Cambrian Residents and Property owners
(ad hoc Committee Chaldecott, Sanders)
Objectives
- Aggressively pursue the implementation of all elements of the Water Master Plan by;
- Adopting the publicly vetted and revised Water Master Plan EIR by February 2008
- Lobby for timely appropriation of approved Federal funding for Desal
- Obtain Coastal Commission permit to gather data necessary to complete desal design by meeting as directed by Commissioners with their staff
- Continue communications with Army Corps of Engineers
Goal
Assure Adequate Enterprise Funds to Support Water and Wastewater Operations/Projects
(Finance Committee Cobin, Sanders)
Objectives
Adopt a community supported Rate Increase sufficient for Water & Wastewater Operating/Project Costs by;
- Agreeing on accounting principles and strategies for allocation of administrative overhead for developing District budget (January)
- Creating a budget for 2008/09 for public review that shows operating costs for Water and Wastewater
- Departments as well as reserves for Depreciation/Repair & Replacement.
- Determining the magnitude of increase (difference between budgeted needs and current rate income).(March)
- Conducting Public Forums for discussion of proposed increased rate. (March)
- Approve a 218 Letter to residents with a straight forward and clear explanation of a rate increase that adequately supports Water and Wastewater operating costs. (April)
- Approve 2008/09 Budget based on rate increase following a non protested 218 process (June)
Goal
Seek out projects that promote the health and well being of Cambria residents
(ad hoc committee Chaldecott, Cobin)
Objectives
Increase recreational opportunities and health enhancing services for Cambrians and visitors by
- Adopting the Fiscalini Ranch/Community Park EIR after public review & comment period (March)
- Directing staff to seek state and private funding to construct approved park
- Requesting the PROS Commission to gather data and submit a 2009/10 P&R Depart plan of action
- Provide for more athletic facilities for use by youths and adults
- Encouraging the Chamber of Commerce and others to jointly sponsor Community activities such as Concerts in the Park and Youth Athletics
- Working with Coast Unified School District to champion expanded After-School Youth programs and elective educational opportunities for adults
Let’s look at the last goal listed: “Seek out projects that promote the health and well being of Cambria residents (ad hoc committee Chaldecott, Cobin)
The CCSD did a recreation survey in 2004. the PROS analysis can be found here:
http://www.cambriacsd.org/Library/Website/services/parks/PROS%20Analysis%20of%20Reports.pdf
Here is an excerpt of the top wants, but go read the whole analysis.
“ANALYSIS OF THE 2004 PARKS AND RECREATIONS SURVEY REPORTS AND DISCUSSIONS”
By PROS Parks and Recreation Committee, July, 2005
“Requests for new or expanded services were (in order of importance):
- more hiking trails
- a lap pool
- a dog park (the survey was sent before the new dog park was opened)
- a jogging track/trail ”
No where in the CCSD goals is there any reference to the Community Survey results. Further, the Conceptual plan that has been approved according to the CCSD was developed and approved a year BEFORE the recreation survey was conducted. I am a career Creative Director and let me tell you, if I paid a firm to develop a concept plan and got approval on that concept BEFORE I took a user needs survey, I would be FIRED!! What objectives and direction was the firm given to design to?
I have to assume they were given the following direction, as stated on the CCSD web site:
http://www.cambriacsd.org/cm/Services/Parks_and_Recreation/community%20park%20project.html
“Community Workshops”
To date, four community workshops have been held to identify Cambria’s recreational needs at the community park. Attended by numerous local organizations, students and parents, the initial workshop on October 22, 2003 identified a list of miscellaneous activities and facilities desired by the community. A second meeting held on December 7, 2002, consisted of a site tour of the park property and a workshop that further narrowed community recreational needs. The top two priorities identified at this workshop were athletic fields and a multi-purpose community center.
Two additional public hearings were held in 2003 to obtain input on the Draft Conceptual Plan of the community park”
I would like to see the documentation of these meetings that justify the objectives: “The top two priorities identified at this workshop were athletic fields and a multi-purpose community center.” This is not reflected in the most recent rec survey of the community.
CCSD Objective under their health and recreation goal says:
“Directing staff to seek state and private funding to construct approved park ”
My questions are these:
-How can our community afford this Park project, as envisioned by the CCSD, especially in view of the fiscal problems we are facing?
-how can CCSD “staff seek state and private funding to construct approved park” when there is no FINAL APPROVED PARK DESIGN PLAN? As far as I can tell, the CONCEPT of a community park was approved, not a Final DESIGN INSTALLATION PLAN. this is one of the big points that lost Main Street to the lights. Be very careful of this terminology.
http://www.cambriacsd.org/cm/Services/Parks_and_Recreation/community%20park%20project.html
“In May 2003, a Conceptual Park Plan was approved by the Parks, Recreation and Open Space Commission (PROS). It was submitted to the CCSD Board of Directors at its November 20, 2003 Board meeting. The proposed plan indicates development of 17.5 acres of The Fiscalini Ranch Preserve/East.”
-How can an EIR be done accurately without a Final Design and Installation plan?
http://www.cambriacsd.org/cm/Services/Parks_and_Recreation/community%20park%20project.html
“Community Park ProjectThe CCSD is currently working with consultants to develop an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) and Master Development Plan (MDP) for the Fiscalini Ranch Preserve. When the draft EIR is completed in Spring 2007, a pubic hearing will be set to present findings and obtain public input.”
-Are the top requests for new or expanded service being addressed in the Park Conceptual plan or the EIR?
In other words, do the goals and objectives for the design of a Cambria community park meet the solicited, surveyed and stated NEEDS of the community? It appears there is a complete disconnect between the objectives of the CCSD and the community as it relates to the Development of the Open Space.
The CCSD states the need as follows:
http://www.cambriacsd.org/cm/Services/Parks_and_Recreation/community%20park%20project.html
“The Need Cambria has a major deficit in parkland and recreational opportunities, particularly for its growing youth population. Local school facilities are maximized for athletic activities and there has been a sharp increase in soccer, baseball and other sports requiring additional playing fields. See Community Park FAQs for more information. The County owned Shamel Park is far too small to support a population of more than 6,000.”
I have to ask: What growing youth population? Even in the PROS analysis of the Rec Survey they say that :
“Some organized field sports (soccer, baseball/softball) will be accommodated at the Santa Lucia Middle School if a state parks grant is awarded in late 2005. Multipurpose athletic fields are planned for the proposed community park. ”
Muti purpose athletic fields were wanted by no more than 13% of respondents surveyed.
Why are we pursuing them in design development?
The current direction of the park development seems to be completely out of touch with our community demographics, as laid out in Frank’s post. And in this week’s Cambrian, there is a story about the State cutting funds and CLOSING STATE PARKS due to budget cuts.
SO, WHO WILL DEFINE CAMBRIA’S FUTURE?
[Anne Winburn]
[ 93428 ]
Self-Assessment Tool for Decision-Makers in Small Communities
National Environmental Services Center | 1-800-624-8301 | www.nesc.wvu.edu
Providing drinking water, wastewater, and solid waste services are important functions for small community governments. This self-assessment guide, designed to be used by decision makers in small communities, is structured to identify areas where improvement can be made in the management of environmental services. It is intended to identify broad areas where training is needed. It covers general areas of system operations, finances and administration, and environmental personnel management. It focuses more on those areas where decision makers are most likely to be directly involved.
Questions will elicit simple yes, no, don’t know, or not applicable responses.
Answers that are colored indicate areas where training or additional information may be needed to help improve environmental services. The guide assumes that the community has municipal control of their wastewater, drinking water, and solid waste systems. This assumption will not be true for all communities, so not all questions will be applicable to all communities. However, even in cases where the community does not have municipal control of a particular service, for example when a service has been contracted to a private company, there may still be some questions that are applicable in that section.
Examples of types of officials who will find this guide useful include small town mayors, town managers, town clerks, county commissioners, and member of governing boards or committees for water, wastewater, and solid waste services.
Small community officials using this guide can contact the National Environmental Service Center (NESC) to provide training and assistance when areas where improvements could be made are identified. NESC can provide assistance in a number of ways including providing targeted training, providing educational materials, or referring local decision makers to other organizations who also provide assistance or training. To get assistance from NESC, call 800-624-8301 and ask to speak to a training specialist.
This material is reproduced with permission from the National Environmental Services Center. Due credit is given to NESC for any these materials.
Read this now: selfassessmenttool4decisionmakers.pdf
Upcoming Cambria CSD Meeting - Tuesday 12:30 at the Veterans’ Hall
Read the agenda for the upcoming CCSD meeting by clicking here.
The Cambrians for a Fiscally Responsible Cambria Community Services District (CFRC), the group of Cambrians who organized the rate protest campaign, will be making a presentation to the board. If you can attend the meeting, please do. The agenda indicated the Board plans to adopt a resolution approving the 2008 Board Goals and Objectives - which will affect every ratepayer and Cambria resident.
Other Business includes the retirement of Don Villeneuve and approving the Vacancy Appointment process, recind the surcharges as of the January/February bills and a review of the long-term water supply alternatives. View the agenda for complete details.
[ 93428 ]
Cambria Water Supply Opportunities
CCSD has for years fixated on desalination as the next, best opportunity for a new, supplemental water supply for Cambria. The decisions of this and prior Boards have jeopardized the future of Cambria. Their decisions have put us on a path to developing the most expensive and unsuccessful technology for a new drinking water source. Desalination is an amazing technology. Forcing non-potable water through fine reverse-osmosis membranes at high pressures purifies the water to drinking water standards. However, the high pressures require high cost energy to run the plant pumps. The membrane filter process yields high concentrations of salt laden contaminates, difficulty in cleaning the membranes, and raises great concerns for discharge of the filter waste to the environment.
Is desalination California’s answer to the drought?
Northern California just endured its driest winter in 20 years. The state’s population is growing by half a million people a year. New dams are controversial. Although 10 years ago there were none, today 20 desalination projects are on the drawing board in California’s coastal areas from San Diego to Marin County. Filtering salty ocean water into drinkable fresh water is expensive. And environmental challenges loom. But groundbreaking on several facilities may start within two years. New technology has cut the cost of filtering ocean water in half since 1990. Still, the process, which uses large amounts of electricity, can cost at least three times as much as other ways. In large part because of high costs, none of California’s 20 proposed projects is under construction. San Jose Mercury News_ 6/3/07
Desalination, with a Grain of Salt – Pacific Institute June 2006
“The potential benefits of ocean desalination are great, but the economic, cultural, and environmental costs of wide commercialization remain high.”
Less than 10% of desalination in the US is for desalination of seawater. The remaining capacity is primarily dedicated to desalinating wastewater and pure water for high-quality industrial purposes.
Of the plants constructed, many have not lived up to the expectations of cost of construction or operating efficiency. Tampa Bay built for over $100 Million has been fraught with difficulties due to “serious management and technological failures.” Changes valued at over $29Million (25+% over-run) have yet to yield an operating plant – six years late!
California experience is no better for municipal systems. Santa Barbara’s RO plant was decommissioned as it never operated commercially and proved to be an expensive burden. They decided to use other sources “more fully”. City of Morro Bay’s RO plant is intermittently used as an emergency source. Marina Coast Water District’s RO plant was idle at the time of the Pacific Institute report. Santa Catalina Island’s RO plant is inactive.
Who is moving ahead with their studies, even in light of all the adverse results to-date?
Large municipalities or water districts with deep pockets. Marin Municipal Water District; East Bay MUD/SF Utility Commission/Santa Clara Valley Water District; EBMUD; Monterrey Water and Sanitary District; City of Santa Cruz; California Water Company; LADWP; Long Beach; Huntington Beach; Orange County; San Diego/Orange County…
What are our Alternatives?
Recycled Water
Recycled water or tertiary treated water can be used for landscape and agriculture irrigation as well as groundwater-recharge, which would benefit the environmental concerns at Santa Rosa Creek and supplement the groundwater levels in San Simeon well field. The State Water Board and Coastal Commission place recycled water reuse as its highest priority of sound water supply management after household conservation. California Water Code Section 13511 states “The legislature finds and declares that a substantial portion of the future water requirements of this state may be economically met by beneficial use of recycled water….Use of recycled water constitutes the development of “new basic water supplies” as that term is used” in the water code.
Surface Water Supplies – State Water Project via San Luis Obispo County
The Bay News (Morro Bay and Cayucos) January 10, 2008 states: ”Of the (SLO) County’s 25,000 AF entitlement, only 4,830AF are actually under contract…Under the latest State apportionment of water San Luis Obispo could have gotten 6,250AF. (Which means that 1,420AF is availablefor sale). The County wants to sell the excess water allotment to the Central Coast Water Authority(Santa Barbara)!!! CCSD should immediately open discussions with SLO County to reserve rights to a new water supply by means of a 1 year water reliability agreement. All SLO County property owners have paid for our portion of the state water on their property tax bills for decades. Sale of our water to Santa Barbara, while we plan to pat $Millions for a new expensive, water supply is irresponsible!!!
Why can’t Cambria have the same benefits as every other coastal community? Is it the CCSD or San Luis Obipso County who has failed us?
Who are the beneficiaries of proper and timely planning? - Morro Bay (1,313AF), Pismo Beach (1,100AF), Questa College, County Jail Complex, California Men’s Colony, Oceano CSD, Avila CSD, and SLO Coastal School District.
Who has no benmefits of State water - Cambria!
Well Supplies
CCSD has failed to optimize the usage of the Santa Rosa well field and the San Simeon well field. Safe yield as determined by the State of California and agreed to by the State Fish and Game are a total over 1,600 AF. Our withdrawal permits total 1,230AF and we have never used more than 820AF (1988).
CCSD needs to reevaluate their decision making regarding the use of our valuable well fields. CCSD should be petitioning the State and the Fish and Game for further definition to the pumping regimens, be more cooperative and pro-active in their dealings with the State and County to utilize our full allotment of water supply.
Frank J. DeMicco
Master Plan?
“I know of no safe repository of the ultimate power of society but people. And if we think them not enlightened enough, the remedy is not to take the power from them, but to inform them by education” - Thomas Jefferson
The beautiful coastal town of Cambria is appealing and inviting in many ways. Trails through the pines and over the hills of Fiscalini Ranch, a well-used library, a busy farmer’s market each Friday afternoon, artists and galleries, Pinedorado Days, strong support of youth activities, live music, mild weather, a sense of small town and friendly conversation that adds at least 30 minutes to any trip downtown to do errands.
But we’re told this corner of paradise is short of life-sustaining water - we must conserve what we have, stop any new growth and dedicate the greatest part of the CCSD’s time, energy and money to pursuing the new water source of choice: a Desalination plant.
And the project is stalled once again. (View the most recent denial by the Coastal Commission at their December meeting.) I am not a CCSD director nor am I staff. I have read nearly every word of the documents related to water sources posted on the CCSD website and minutes from meetings, some of which I attended, others I did not. It seems to me the CCSD is committed to the success of a desalination plant project for Cambria. And many pages of drafted plans are both guiding and justifying their decisions.
Two of these documented plans (Tasks 3 and 4 of the Water Master Plan and the Build-Out Reduction Plan) are only drafts and have not been approved by the board. The third main document is a state mandated Urban Water Management Plan that was adopted after the usual public hearing process in December 2005.
In light of the success of the 218 rejection of the rate increase, a sustained spike in interest and action by Cambrians and the continued reluctance of the Coastal Commission to give a green light to Desal, it’s clearly time to take another look at the long-range plans and goals of the community and the agencies that provide services. A community-wide collaboration would seem appropriate. Cambria is experiencing growing pains of the worst kind and is in dire need of a roadmap for the future. A higher level of transparency, cooperation and patience must be expected from everyone. Let’s stop taking sides. We are all members of this community. The beauty and problems are ours. Let’s enjoy the beauty and end the problem, not the other way around.
Good planning is critical to ensuring Cambria’s survival over the long-term. Inviting all Cambrians to participate and making it easy to stay informed are essential to any master plan’s success. If we can’t plan together in designing our future, there is no way we will ever be able to cooperate to find solutions for the issues we are facing. Parts of the Water Master Plan have been highlighted here at AboutCambria.com. There are many resources online about collaborative democracy and civic engagement - GET INVOLVED, STAY INFORMED, TAKE ACTION.
(Of course, the reality is that many people do not have the time or interest to dedicate. But making assumptions about who will or will not get involved as you gather your invitees is the K.O.D. to open and inclusive processes.)