About Cambria

According to the agenda for next week’s CCSD meeting, the district will consider a contract with Van Scoyoc Associates Inc. The District was advised to hire a lobbying firm to assure money is appropriated and budgeted for the desalination project. The Army Corps of Engineers is now the lead agency on the project, instead of the CCSD.  The current system in Washington DC isn’t exactly the ideal of the democratic process, but we must work within the system as best we can. Personally, I find the current system distasteful and ridiculously uneven, but that doesn’t mean I think hiring a lobbyist is a bad idea, in theory. It’s probably necessary if we are to secure any federal funds for a desal plant. Of course, whether we should be spending this much on lobbying in pursuit of funding for desal is a different question entirely.

Unlike many of the firms and companies with which the district enters into contracts, the profiles of lobbying firms are well-documented, publicly available and easy to find online.  A quick trip to OpenSecrets.org reveals a great deal more about Van Scoyoc Associates Inc. than the firm’s own site. Some of the highlights:

Only three lobbying firms have made more money than Van Scoyoc Associates Inc. between 1998 and 2009. Van Scoyoc Associates brought in $210,248,000 over that ten year period, almost $55 million more than the number five firm. They were the number 2 firm in 2006 and number 3 in 2007 and 2008.

Van Scoyoc Associates also ranks high in the “revolving door” category. When American voters discard elected officials—and their staffs—lobbying firms and interest groups are quick to snap up the unemployed. Lobbying firms—which often charge steep fees from their deep-pocketed clients—can offer former government employees salaries far greater than those proffered by Uncle Sam, as well as continued influence on Capitol Hill. In return, firms get lobbyists who already have established connections in the federal government and whose résumés can act as a powerful draw for potential clients. The lobbying firms shown here have the greatest track record of hiring former government employees. There are 50 lobbyists listed for 2009 at Van Scoyoc Associates, over half meet the “revolving door” criteria. One of these revolving door lobbyists (Marda Robillard) even contributed to Lois Capp’s campaign in 2008.

For a very complete picture of who this firm has lobbied and who they have lobbied for, visit OpenSecrets.org. If you find more that we should know about this firm as we consider entering into a contract with them, add it here as comment. Or, better yet, come to the CCSD meeting next Thursday and raise the issue and your concerns.

ADDED 8:20am: The CCSD is already listed (with active hyperlink) on the Van Scoyoc Associates website.

The agenda for the regular June meeting of the Cambria Community Servies District has been published.  Items of interest – especially for anyone interested in district spending and budgeting – consideration of the 2009-10 proposed budget. Although the rate increase will go into place (starting July 1), the budget is still under consideration. Also of interest: Co-Location of fire and ambulance.

1. OPENING
A. Call to Order
B. Pledge of Allegiance
C. Establishment of Quorum
D. Report from Closed Session
2. PUBLIC COMMENT (Total Time Limited to 15 minutes)
Members of the public wishing to address the Board on any non-actionable item not listed on the agenda (items 1 – 6) and within the jurisdiction of the Cambria CSD may do so when recognized by the President. Public comments during this and other portions of the agenda will be limited to 3 minutes per person.
3. AGENDA REVIEW: ADDITIONS/DELETIONS AND PULLED CONSENT ITEMS
(Estimated Time: 5 minutes)
4. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS/PRESENTATIONS
Friends of the Library Presentation
5. SPECIAL REPORTS
A. SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT REPORT

(Estimated Time: 5 minutes)
6. MANAGER’S AND BOARD REPORTS
A. MANAGER’S REPORT
(Estimated Time: 10 minutes)
B. MEMBER AND COMMITTEE REPORTS
(Estimated Time: 10 minutes)
7. CONSENT AGENDA
All matters on the consent calendar are to be approved by one motion. If Directors wish to discuss a consent item other than simple clarifying questions, a request for removal may be made. Such items are pulled for separate discussion and action after the consent calendar as a whole is acted upon.
A. Approve Expenditures for Month of May 2009
B. Approve Minutes of Board of Directors Meeting, May 28 and June 15, 2009
C. Consider Adoption of Resolution 27-2009 Approving Van Scoyoc Associates Professional Services Agreement
D. Consider Adoption of Resolution 29-2009 Approving Amended 2009 Board of Directors’ Bylaws
(Estimated Time: 15 minutes)
8. HEARINGS AND APPEALS
A. Public Hearing to Consider Adoption of Resolution 23-2009 Authorizing a Fire Suppression Benefit Assessment Consumer Price Index (CPI)
Adjustment in the Amount of 5% for FY 2009-2010
B. Public Hearing to Consider Adoption of Resolution 26-2009 Approving the CCSD Operating Budget for Fiscal Year 2009/2010
(Estimated Time: 30 minutes)
9. REGULAR BUSINESS
A. Consider Introduction of Ordinance 01-2009 Repealing and Replacing CCSD Code Section 3.04.020

B. Consider Approval of Letter Agreement Outlining Recommendations for Co-Location of Cambria Community Healthcare District Resources at the CCSD Fire Station
(Estimated Time: 60 minutes)

More details when they are available. Meeting will be at 12:30 Thursday June 25, 2009 at the Veterans Memorial Hall on Main Street.