Dear Cambrians,

Over the past several weeks, the Cambria Community Services District has held committee meetings to evaluate our current and future capital improvement projects. These meetings are critical to our effort to remain transparent, fiscally responsible, and responsive to the evolving needs of the Cambria community.

As a special district, the CCSD is tasked with delivering essential services, such as water, wastewater, fire protection, and parks and recreation, while navigating unique funding and operational capacity challenges. Unlike cities or counties, special districts like ours typically rely on limited, service-specific revenue streams and cannot access general sales tax or broad discretionary funding. This makes it especially important to prioritize projects in a way that balances service delivery, infrastructure reliability, and long-term financial sustainability.

At the heart of our discussions has been the Capital Improvement Project (CIP) List, a working document that outlines the infrastructure upgrades, replacements, and enhancements identified across all departments. Each project is evaluated based on regulatory compliance, public safety, operational necessity, environmental benefit, and community impact. Projects are then prioritized using a tiered ranking system to ensure that the most urgent needs are addressed first, while still planning for future improvements when resources allow.

In tandem with this process, we also review the health of our General Fund reserves. Best practices for special districts call for a reserve sufficient to cover unexpected emergencies, unanticipated cost increases, or temporary revenue shortfalls. These reserves are not a blank check but a financial safety net that protects essential services and community assets. Responsible management of these reserves requires discipline, foresight, and careful alignment with the district’s strategic priorities.

We recognize that community needs and expectations are high, and rightly so. Cambria is a special place, and we are committed to ensuring that our infrastructure and services reflect the quality and resilience our residents deserve. At the same time, we must be realistic about what can be accomplished within our existing financial framework, and we appreciate your continued understanding and involvement as we work through these challenges together.

Administrative & Finance Departments 

Records Retention Project

During the month of April, my assistant and I conducted a comprehensive review of all district records to determine which must be retained and which can be securely destroyed in accordance with the District’s records retention schedule. All district records are now stored onsite, eliminating the need for offsite storage with Vital Records Control (VRC). This effort aims to enhance efficiency, ensure compliance with retention policies, improve accessibility to important district records, and eliminate the monthly cost of storing records.

Facilities & Resources Department

Main Street Streetlight Repairs

From April 28 through May 1, Electricraft will use a boom truck to upgrade and replace non-functioning streetlights along Main Street between Cambria Drive and Burton Drive. Please use caution, watch for workers in the roadway, and follow all posted signs and instructions. Your cooperation is greatly appreciated and helps ensure a safe work environment for everyone.

Cambria Skatepark

The Cambria Community Services District (CCSD) is pleased to provide an update on the progress of the Cambria Skatepark Project, which has been years in the making and reflects our commitment to making the skatepark a reality.

Since the project’s inception, the CCSD has remained committed to working with the Cambria Community Council (CCC), Skate Cambria, and our residents to move this project forward. To date, the CCSD has committed $178,000 in preliminary project costs, dedicated hundreds of staff hours and legal services, and restricted approximately $768,764 in General Fund reserves as a grant requirement. Additionally, the CCSD successfully applied for and received a recommendation for a $600,000 federal grant from the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), administered by California State Parks (pending funding in April); local funds raised by Skate Cambria in coordination with the CCC, coupled with CCSD monies ($178,000), helping to close some of the funding gaps for this project. 

As with many public construction projects across California and the nation, the Cambria Skatepark Project has not been immune to the impacts of inflation and increasing material and labor costs. The community must understand that the total cost to break ground and complete this project remains unknown, while previous cost estimates placed the project at approximately $1.2 million. Construction costs fluctuate due to various economic factors beyond our local control. In coordination with the CCC and the project management team, the District will continue refining estimates as the project moves closer to bidding and construction once the appropriate funds have been deposited with the District. This uncertainty is precisely why the District and the CCC have diligently sought grant funding and private fundraising donations with Skate Cambria in coordination with the CCC's careful financial planning to ensure the project is completed responsibly and sustainably.

Despite some recent rhetoric suggesting otherwise, we want to be clear:

The Cambria Community Services District remains fully committed to completing this project under the terms agreed to by the District and the Cambria Community Council and consistent with the expectations of the granting agencies and the Cambria community.

We understand the excitement, passion, and sometimes frustration accompanying a public/private project like this. However, it is essential to recognize that public projects require careful planning, environmental review, transparent funding, and regulatory compliance. The CCSD has deliberated to ensure this project is financially sustainable and complies with all local, state, and federal requirements.

As the Cambria Skatepark Project moves forward, one of the CCSD's most critical responsibilities is ensuring that any agreements with contractors, including issuing a Request for Proposals (RFP) and entering a construction contract, are supported by sufficient funding to cover the full cost of the project, including potential cost overruns.

Public contracting rules and best practices are clear:

Entering a contract with a general contractor without adequate funding exposes the District’s General Fund, which is taxpayer-funded, the financial foundation for vital community services like fire protection, emergency response, and facility maintenance, to unnecessary risk.

Construction projects, especially in today’s volatile economic environment, often face unforeseen circumstances such as material cost increases, labor shortages, and weather delays. Without a sufficient reserve of dedicated project funds, any cost overruns would have to be paid out of the District’s General Fund, potentially impacting existing and critical essential services and operations, which we rely upon as a Community Services District with limited revenue options. 

That is why the CCSD is committed to ensuring a reasonable and responsible funding plan before bidding, selecting a contractor, and entering into a contract for the skatepark's construction. This approach protects not only the skatepark project's success but also the District's financial health and long-term sustainability, as well as its core services for the entire Cambria community.

As the Cambria Skatepark Project moves closer to construction, the community needs to understand the different stages of cost estimating and why only formal bids received through a public Request for Proposals (RFP) process provide true cost certainty for a project.

Engineering Estimates

Engineering estimates are typically developed by design professionals (engineers or architects) early in the project planning phase. These are professional opinions of probable costs associated with the project based on industry standards, similar projects, and available cost data.

However, engineering estimates are just that, estimates. They do not reflect real-time market conditions, material price fluctuations, or contractor availability, and they often exclude specific contractor overhead and profit margins.

Mock Bids or Budgetary Quotes

Project teams may sometimes seek informal pricing or "mock bids" from contractors to get a rough idea of current construction costs. These numbers are helpful for budgeting, but they are non-binding and often lack the detail or risk protections that come with a formal bid. Contractors providing mock pricing are not committing to those numbers in a legally binding way.

Formal Bids Through the RFP Process

Formal bids received through a public RFP process are legally binding proposals submitted by licensed contractors who intend to perform the work. These bids are based on detailed construction documents and specifications provided by the project team.

Importantly, qualified contractors build contingencies into their bids to cover reasonable and foreseeable risks. This may include:

• Material price variability
• Labor costs
• Subcontractor pricing
• Site conditions
• Minor changes in scope

However, these built-in contingencies typically do not cover large or unexpected cost overruns, significant design changes, or added project features that arise after the bid is submitted. That is why public agencies, including the Cambria Community Services District Board of Directors, may consider an additional project contingency fund to address unforeseen issues during construction.

The Cambria Community Services District Board of Directors will consider establishing a formal target amount of funds to be raised and deposited with the District to move forward with the bidding process while protecting taxpayer funds and accounting for potential overruns associated with completing this project. This item will be scheduled for discussion and possible action at a Special Meeting of the Board of Directors on Thursday, April 24, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. at the Veterans' Memorial Hall, 1000 Main Street, Cambria, CA 93428, and via Zoom Webinar. 

Establishing this target will provide clarity for all parties involved, ensuring that the District, the Cambria Community Council, donors, and the broader community have a shared understanding of the minimum funding necessary to proceed with construction, given current cost uncertainties. We will notify the community once the Special Meeting date is confirmed and encourage all interested residents to attend, listen, and participate in this vital conversation about the future of the skatepark project.

Between the $178,000 in General fund reserves, the $600,000 grant from LCWF, and the additional $47,500 grant from the Cambria Tourism Board, the District has secured over $825,000 for this project. This achievement is a testament to the Board and Staff’s unwavering commitment to seeing this project through to completion.

We look forward to delivering a project that meets the needs of local youth and families and reflects the best of what Cambria can accomplish when we work together.

Cambria Fire Department

Meet the Fire Chief

On Tuesday, May 20, 2025, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., Fire Chief Michael Burkey will be working out of the Cambria Veterans' Memorial Hall and would love to meet you and hear your thoughts on anything related to the Cambria Fire Department. 

2025 Fire Hazard Fuel Reduction Program (FHFRP)

July 1, 2025 is the deadline to abate and remove the fuels and vegetation for vacant parcels requiring abatement.

Each year, the Cambria CSD Fire Department conducts a Fire Hazard Fuel Reduction Program (FHFRP) to abate vegetation and hazardous wildland fire fuels. The FHFRP is carried out pursuant to the authority contained in Government Code Sections 61100(d) and (t) and Health and Safety Code Sections 14875 et seq. and is initiated by the CCSD Board of Directors adoption of a resolution declaring the vegetation and hazardous wildland fire fuels on the identified properties to be a public nuisance.

This annual requirement is an effort to reduce the fire hazard caused by the accumulation of combustible materials on vacant parcels. Keep in mind that the forest helps define Cambria, and it is important that we reduce the fire hazard without destroying its ability to regenerate. Make every effort to protect seedlings, young native trees, ferns, and bushes by marking them prior to cutting. Property owners are required to clear all combustible vegetation and/or debris from their property by the deadline of July 1, 2025.

The following are vacant parcel guidelines to help you comply:

• Remove combustible construction materials and trash from the property.
• Trim weeds and annual grasses to 4 inches in height. Avoid exposing bare soil or creating a situation that would encourage erosion.
• All downed trees and rounds or dead limbs within 30 feet of any structure must be removed. Tree stumps fallen over shall be cut and retain no more than six feet of the log within this 30-foot zone.
• All downed trees beyond 30 feet from any structure 12 inches in diameter or greater may remain on the parcel. However, the entire trunk must be completely on the ground. Materials less than 12 inches in diameter shall be cut and removed from the property.
• All standing dead trees that pose a safety risk to improved property and/or infrastructure shall be removed.
• Remove ladder vegetation from under trees and shrubs, maintaining 6 feet of vertical clearance for trees greater than 20 feet in height.
• All Poison Oak, Scotch/Irish/French or other broom-type plants, Pampas grass, Jubata grass, and (Crocosmia) also known as Fire Weed, shall be removed. Isolated specimens may be left with greater than ten (10) feet separation, and all dead material removed. 

For more information, please click here.

Summary of Ordinance - An Ordinance Adding Chapter 6.05 to the CCSD Municipal Code Relating to Weed Abatement Standards

This Ordinance Summary is published in accordance with the provisions of Government Code Section 25124. On April 10, 2025, the Board of Directors of the Cambria Community Services District adopted Ordinance 01-2025 adding Chapter 6.05 to the Cambria Community Services District Municipal Code relating to Weed Abatement Standards. Ordinance 01-2025 was adopted by the following vote:

AYES: 5 (Scott, Thomas, Farmer, Gray & Dean)

NAYS: 0

ABSENT: 0        

Ordinance 01-2025 will add a new Chapter to the CCSD Municipal Code to set forth standards for weed abatement to facilitate regulation and control of the growth and accumulation of weeds, grasses, and other combustible vegetation, in order to reduce fire risks and protect the health, safety, and general welfare of the community. The Ordinance includes definitions of “Weeds,” “Noxious Plants,” and “Hazardous Trees,” and provides standards for property owners to maintain their property in accordance with Chapter 49 of the California Fire Code Sections 4906 and 4907, as well as for the abatement of weeds and hazardous trees. Exceptions are also specified in the Ordinance.

The Ordinance also declares that weeds, grass, and combustible vegetation growing or accumulating upon private property within the District, which do, or will when dry, create a fire hazard and which constitute a danger to the property and to neighboring property or the health or welfare of residents of the property and the people residing in the vicinity, constitute a public nuisance. The Ordinance includes provisions for enforcement and abatement of properties that constitute a fire hazard and public nuisance pursuant to the District’s Civil Administrative Citation procedures contained in Chapter 1.14 of the District’s Municipal Code.  Costs of abatement can be recovered in accordance with Section 1.14.090 and Notices of Lien may also be recorded pursuant to that Section.

In accordance with Government Code Section 25124, a certified copy of the full text of the Ordinance is available for public review electronically below and at the following location:

Cambria Community Services District             

2150 Main Street, #1-A                                   

Cambria, CA 93428                                                    

For questions, please call the Cambria Community Services District at (805) 927-6223.         

Water & Wastewater Departments

Please refer to the April 10, 2025, Board Meeting agenda packet to read the latest utilities report.

CCSD Board of Directors Meetings

Special Board Meeting

📅 Date: Thursday, April 24, 2025
⏰ Time: 2:00 PM
📍 Location: 1000 Main Street, Cambria, CA 93428

Public Participation:
✉️ Written comments may be submitted via email to boardcomment@cambriacsd.org or through the submission portal at least 24 hours before the meeting.

Regular Board Meeting

📅 Date: Thursday, May 8, 2025
⏰ Time: 10:00 AM
📍 Location: Veterans' Memorial Hall, 1000 Main Street, Cambria, CA 93428

Public Participation:
✉️ Written comments may be submitted via email to boardcomment@cambriacsd.org or through the submission portal at least 24 hours before the meeting.

CCSD Standing Committee Meetings

Finance Committee Meeting

📅 Date: Monday, May 12, 2025
⏰ Time: 10:00 AM
📍 Location: Veterans' Memorial Hall, 1000 Main Street, Cambria, CA 93428
💻 Zoom Webinar: Available for virtual attendance

Public Participation:
✉️ Members of the public can submit written comments to be read at Standing Committee meetings.

Resources & Infrastructure Committee Meeting

📅 Date: Monday, May 12, 2025
⏰ Time: 2:00 PM
📍 Location: Veterans' Memorial Hall, 1000 Main Street, Cambria, CA 93428
💻 Zoom Webinar: Available for virtual attendance

Public Participation:
✉️ Members of the public can submit written comments to be read at Standing Committee meetings.

Fire Protection Committee Meeting

📅 Date: Thursday, May 15, 2025
⏰ Time: 10:30 AM
📍 Location: Veterans' Memorial Hall, 1000 Main Street, Cambria, CA 93428
💻 Zoom Webinar: Available for virtual attendance

Public Participation:
✉️ Members of the public can submit written comments to be read at Standing Committee meetings.

PROS Committee Meeting

📅 Date: Thursday, May 15, 2025
⏰ Time: 2:00 PM
📍 Location: Veterans' Memorial Hall, 1000 Main Street, Cambria, CA 93428
💻 Zoom Webinar: Available for virtual attendance

Public Participation:
✉️ Members of the public can submit written comments to be read at Standing Committee meetings.

On Tuesday, May 20, 2025, from 8:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., I will be working out of the Cambria Veterans' Memorial Hall and would love to meet you and hear your thoughts on everything, Cambria. We will provide coffee and snacks; as always, we welcome your feedback and ideas. 

If you have any concerns, please don't hesitate to contact me.

Thank you again for your support; I am at your service. 

Matthew McElhenie