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Archive for the ‘community news’ Category

I Sense a Wave of Tacoma Tourists…and Maybe a Keeper or Two

This just in…an article about Cambria in the Travel section of today’s News Tribune of Tacoma, Washington. Of course, the article, written by ANN TATKO-PETERSON,  was originally published in the Contra Costa Times June 15.

With lovely pictures and a lengthy list of local temptations and stories, this one could cause an increase in tourists from north of here. Hope they all have great fun.

Tags: tourism, travel

community news Comments 0 Aug 14th, 2008

Re-invigorating the Cambria American Legion

Re-invigorating the Cambria American Legion

Karina Tiwana, the newly installed commander of the American Legion Post 432 is kicking off a new marketing effort to focus attention on the great work being done by members of the group and to solicit even greater support and participation by the community. While the events put on in Cambria are most often successful, most of the work is done by a small group of dedicated members who put in a significant number of hours each week.
Cambria has over four hundred and thirty five dues paying American Legion members who support the group’s activities. Post 432 has been serving the community for seventy five years. It is hoped that with greater visibility through the local newspaper, TV and radio coverage, we can stimulate greater participation by members and the general public at large.
There is much good work being done in support of our military men and women both active and retired, but the need is great. Much more can be done with the generous support of the American Legion members and the local community.
Please think about how you could contribute to supporting the men and women who defend our country and the freedom we all enjoy.

Regards,

Richard Brownhill

This post was submitted by Richard Brownhill.

Tags: 93428, Cambria, veterans, vets hall

CCSD, community news Comments 0 Jul 22nd, 2008

About Cambria’s Growing Library of Documents

This site was born to provide a place for Cambrians to share resources and ideas relevant to the CCSD and it’s rate increase. We were helping each other through a crash course of what our local government can and should be doing. To that end, I have posted many links and documents (accessible by clicking the Library and/or Links tabs at the top of the page.)

To date, the Library has 97 documents from many reputable sources. In the Library you will find:

• numerous CCSD expenditure reports, contracts and financial documents obtained through public records requests.
• Primers and booklets about Community Services District laws and the communities they serve, published by the state and professional organizations.
• Rate Studies and Budgets from other agencies - to compare with what the CCSD has done.
• All about water: supply, demand, drought, management, pricing and financing.
• Publications written primarily for CSD staffs and boards to aide in their service to the community.
• An excel document for doing water quantity conversions (acre-feet->CCSD Units ->Gallons) and water demand calculations.
• Documents focussed on public participation, improving government accountability and civic engagement.

Visit the library to download any of the documents available. Below is a list of the document titles and authors you will find in the aboutcambria.com online library.

If you have any documents you think should be included in the library (paper or electronic), please contact Amanda Rice at 927-4191 or amanda at aboutcambria.com.

Tags: Cambria, documents, library, local, resources

Back Story, Helping Hands, about aboutcambria, community news Comments 0 Jul 7th, 2008

Big Sur on Fire and Online - What You Can Do

As nearly everyone is certainly aware, a major fire is burning a little over 45 miles north of Cambria. Highway One has been closed for at least two weeks and Cambria Fire Chief Putney has been leading a strike team for almost two weeks. According to a 6AM update at Surfire2008.org today, over 72,000 acres have burned and the fire is only 11% contained. There are 2,320 personnel currently fighting this fire and only 3 injuries so far. Surfire2008.org is being updated “officially” twice a day, but is acting as a communication source and bulletin board for locals, so there are posts being put up throughout the day by many in the community.

Anyone visiting the site can see updates on the fire fighting efforts as well as needs and offers to help. Of particular interest to Cambrians should be the pages where people can offer housing or to volunteer and the pages listing needs for housing or volunteers.

For other official fire information, visit the County of Monterey’s Fire Information page. To see a map updated yesterday of the Indians and Big Sur Fires, Click Here. See the change in the affected areas, check out this image from July 1 and July 3.

For information more current, but unofficial, visit the surfire2008.org blog first, then go visit Xasáuan Today, which is continuing to update a back country photo tour of the areas affected by the fire (pre-fire). KUSP radio also has been keeping a great web resource updated regularly. Below is a Google Earth image of the fire details from this morning.

There are many opportunities for people to give their help or financial support to those who are directly affected by these fires. I suggest visiting surfire.org to find out what help is most needed. And keep all the firefighters and other emergency workers in your thoughts and prayers.

Are you prepared for a possible emergency here in Cambria? Visit the Fire Emergency Preparedness pages on the CCSD’s web site. Use the navigation links on the right to learn about preparing for evacuation or staying put if a fire like the one in the Big Sur area threatens our community.

Tags: Big Sur, emergency, fire, help

Helping Hands, community news Comments 0 Jul 6th, 2008

Closed Meetings and Brown Act Requirements

Closed meetings are the exception and permitted only if they meet defined purposes . . . All actions taken and all votes in closed session must be publicly reported orally or in writing and copies of any contracts or settlements approved must be made available promptly. (Download The Ralph M. Brown Act Pamphlet from the State of California Here)
Many matters are discussed and decided behind closed doors at “Closed Meetings”, by the Board and the General Manager. There are 5 categories (1) Personnel, (2) Pending Litigation and (3) Labor Negotiations and (4) Property Negotiations, (5) Others, which may be the topics discussed at closed meetings, but all actions taken and all votes in closed session must be publicly reported. . . promptly.”
I have scanned several documents (agendas and minutes) that show a pattern and practice of Brown Act violations with respect to closed meetings.
May 2007 Board Meeting - Adjourn to closed session - 5 matters
June 2007 District Counsel Reported no reportable items from closed session.
June2007 Board Meeting - Adjourn to closed session - 3 matters
July 2007 District Counsel reported no reportable items from closed session.
July 2007 Board Meeting - Adjourn to closed session -1 matter
August 2007 - District Counsel unable to report on closed session because it was about him. General Manager reported no reportable items from closed session.
August 2007 - Board Meeting - Adjourn to closed session -2 matters
September 2007 - Tammy Rudock reported no actionable items from last month’s closed session since it dealt with contract for district counsel/legal services.
September 2007 - Board Meeting - Adjourn to closed session 1 matter
October 2007 - District Counsel reported no actionable item reportable at today’s meeting.
As you can see, the actions taken and votes are never publicly reported, as required by the Brown Act. Further, there are conflicts of interests in having the General Manager act as the negotiator in labor contracts when most of management salaries and benefits are pegged to those in the bargaining unit. As a five year contract for the service employees and for the general manager have already been approved, and these are all pegged together, the district should appoint its own negotiator, who would have the employer’s interests at heart, rather than the employees. A closed meeting may be held so that the board may instruct its own negotiator, without the knowledge of the other side. The employee group have their own negotiators. Final action on compensation for an individual employee must be in open session.
I am requesting that the Board comply immediately with the requirement, that at each board meeting, any closed meeting agenda items from a previously held closed meeting, be disclosed with respect to all actions taken, and all votes reported, and copies of any contracts or settlement approved be made promptly. Additionally, the board, should request that a report be made of all matters that were reportable (for the prior 12 months) be disclosed within a reasonable time.
Charlotte Darehshori

(Download a full explanation of the Ralph M. Brown Act Here)

CCSD, Cambria University, community news Comments 0 May 15th, 2008

Brutal Slaughter of Elephant Seals

There is more to life than this….The headline in the Cambrian reads: “Three elephant seals shot to death.” I am stunned by this brutal attack on these animals, but then to suggest this slaughter could be done as a form of entertainment is incomprehensible.

Northern elephant seals are protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act. Merely disturbing one is a federal offense; injuring or killing one can be prosecuted as a misdemeanor. A violation of the law can result in civil penalties of up to $12,000 and criminal fines of up to $20,000 and imprisonment.

Three elephant seals were found shot to death Saturday at the Piedras Blancas rookery between the ocean and Highway 1 about 12 miles north of Cambria.

Wildlife officials are offering a reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to the arrest of the shooter or shooters.

community news Comments 0 May 10th, 2008