Dear Cambrians,

In 2024, the San Luis Obispo County Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) completed its Municipal Service Review (MSR) of the Cambria Community Services District. LAFCO is the independent county agency responsible for evaluating local governments to ensure they operate efficiently and are financially sustainable. As part of its review, LAFCO found that the Cambria CSD’s General Fund is too limited to adequately support core services, including fire protection, facilities, parks, and administration. The report also noted that General Fund revenues have declined by approximately 12% over the past five years, which has placed additional strain on operations and raised concerns about the District’s ability to maintain service levels and community safety.

Given the recent community discussions on the Final budget for 2025/26, I thought it would be good to discuss last year’s fiscal year closeout and why the District’s spending philosophies have shifted. The Fourth Quarter Budget Report for Fiscal Year 2024/25 shows that the District’s financial health continues improving and moving toward long-term stability. Overall, the picture is very positive.

The General Fund, which includes Fire, Facilities and Resources, and Administration, ended the year with a net income of just over $543,000. Revenues exceeded expenditures, reflecting careful cost management and stable revenues. This surplus also helps strengthen our reserves, giving us more flexibility moving forward.

The Water Operations Fund did close the year with a small deficit of about $33,000. This was mainly due to the timing of capital project expenditures and some higher operating costs. But it’s important to note that this shortfall is minor compared to past years, and it was more than offset by surpluses in other areas. For example, the Water Reclamation Facility Operations Fund ended with a surplus of nearly $450,000, thanks to lower-than-expected maintenance and operational costs. The WRF Capital Outlay recorded just under $70,000 in expenditures, which were fully funded through reserves. The Wastewater Fund also performed very well, ending the year with a surplus of almost $580,000. Again, this was due to lower-than-expected costs and the timing of specific capital projects.

On the capital side, the District advanced a wide range of significant projects this year. These included the East Ranch restroom, the water meter replacement program, Stuart Street Tank rehabilitation, Santa Rosa Well 3 rehab, SCADA upgrades, EV infrastructure, and wastewater system improvements. We also made progress on the Coastal Development Permit for the Water Reclamation Facility, which remains a critical priority for the District.

Looking ahead, these surpluses are not simply carry-over funds; they will play a vital role in addressing our remaining critical infrastructure needs. This includes long-term investments in water storage and distribution reliability, continued rehabilitation of aging wastewater facilities, fire and emergency response equipment improvements, and upgrades to facilities like the Veterans’ Hall and other community assets. By dedicating today’s surpluses to tomorrow’s needs, the District ensures we can responsibly fund these projects without creating instability in future budgets.

In summary, the District ended the year in a stronger financial position. Surpluses in the General Fund, Wastewater Fund, and WRF more than offset the modest deficit in the Water Fund. This reflects the benefits of prior rate adjustments, disciplined spending, and responsible reserve use. The District is steadily moving away from structural deficits and toward fiscal sustainability, strengthening our ability to provide essential services, invest in infrastructure, and protect the community’s future.

Stuart Street Tank Project Update

Construction activity for the Stuart Street Tank project will begin next week with the setup of the construction staging area. On September 2, 2025, dewatering and removal of Tank II will begin.

To stay informed on the progress of the Stuart Street Tank Construction, please visit https://www.cambriacsd.org/stuart-street-tank-construction-project-updates regularly. We will provide ongoing updates, including key construction milestones, road closures, and any potential impacts on services.

Administrative & Finance Departments 

Fiscal Year 2025–2026 Budget Update

CCSD staff is currently incorporating the Board’s requested revisions to the Fiscal Year 2025/2026 Budget, which was approved at last week’s Board meeting. Once the updates are finalized, the adopted budget document will be posted here.

Facilities & Resources Department

Maintenance Technician Recruitment 

The Cambria Community Services District is currently accepting applications to establish a hiring list for the position of Maintenance Technician in the Facilities & Resources Department. This recruitment will remain open until the District’s needs are met. For first consideration, apply immediately. For more information, click here.

Cambria Fire Department

On Monday, September 22, 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. 

Water & Wastewater Departments

Please refer to the August 14, 2025 Board Meeting agenda packet to read the latest utilities report.

CCSD Second Response to Information Hold Letter No 2 DRC2013-00112 (Cambria Community Services District) Development Plan/Coastal Development Permit 

The Cambria Community Services District (CCSD) has submitted all remaining items previously requested under the “information hold” for our Coastal Development Permit (CDP) application. With this submission, the information response phase for the current scope of the project is now complete, pending any further clarifying questions from the reviewing agencies.

Our submittal includes the following key documents:

• A grading and drainage exhibit for the Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) facility, including the brine container pad
• A Sedimentation and Erosion Control Plan
• A plan for removal of the pond liner and restoration of the Environmentally Sensitive Habitat Area (ESHA)
• A consolidated table summarizing total site disturbance and earthwork across initial facilities, proposed improvements, and offsite work areas
• Supporting documentation for policy consistency

Next, agency staff will review our materials for consistency with applicable policies and determine any remaining procedural steps. These may include a Planning Commission hearing, public notice, and scheduling.

We remain available to respond to any agency questions and will continue to keep the community updated as the application progresses.

Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade

The Cambria Community Services District is committed to maintaining and improving essential infrastructure to better serve our residents and protect our environment. As part of this commitment, the Wastewater Treatment Plant is currently undergoing a major $12 million upgrade to modernize and enhance its treatment process. These capital improvements are part of the infrastructure projects identified during the Proposition 218 rate increase process and are being funded through those approved rate adjustments. 

This critical project includes extensive underground work, tank rehabilitation, and other improvements that are necessary to ensure the long-term reliability and efficiency of the plant. While this work is underway, you may notice an increase in heavy equipment activity and construction-related noise in the area. 

We understand that these disruptions can be inconvenient, and we sincerely appreciate your patience and understanding as we move forward with these vital improvements. Once completed, the upgraded facility will provide significant benefits to the community, including improved treatment performance, environmental protection, and regulatory compliance.

EV Fleet

The Cambria Community Services District is pleased to announce the acquisition of our new electric vehicle (EV) tractor last week. This exciting addition to our fleet supports sustainable operations, reduces our environmental impact, and ensures reliable service to the community. A special thank you goes out to Utilities Manager Green for his leadership in making this important project a reality.

CCSD Board of Directors Meeting

Regular Board Meeting

📅 Date: Thursday, September 11, 2025

⏰ Time: 10:00 AM
📍 Location: 1000 Main Street, Cambria, CA 93428

Public Participation:
✉️ Written comments should be submitted to the Confidential Administrative Assistant via email to boardcomment@cambriacsd.org or the submission portal 24 hours before the Board meeting. 

CCSD Standing Committee Meetings

Finane Committee Meeting

📅 Date: Monday, September 15, 2025
⏰ Time: 10:00 AM
📍 Location: 1000 Main Street, Cambria, CA 93428

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

Resources & Infrastructure Committee Meeting

📅 Date: Monday, September 15, 2025
⏰ Time: 2:00 PM
📍 Location: 1000 Main Street, Cambria, CA 93428

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

Fire Protection Committee Meeting

📅 Date: Thursday, September 18, 2025
⏰ Time: 10:30 AM
📍 Location: 1000 Main Street, Cambria, CA 93428

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

PROS Committee Meeting

📅 Date: Thursday, September 18, 2025
⏰ Time: 2:00 PM
📍 Location: 1000 Main Street, Cambria, CA 93428

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

CCSD Notice of Intent to Fill Parks, Recreation, and Open Space (PROS) Committee Member Vacancy

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Cambria Community Services District (CCSD) is accepting applications to fill one (1) seat on the Parks, Recreation, and Open Space (PROS) Committee. Applicants must live and be registered to vote within the CCSD boundaries. The selected candidate will serve until February 13, 2027.

CCSD Notice of Intent to Fill PROS Committee Member Vacancy

The CCSD Board of Directors will consider all applications and appoint a PROS Committee Member to fill the vacant term at the Regular Board meeting on September 11, 2025, commencing at 10:00 a.m. in a hybrid, in-person/virtual format. Members of the public may participate and provide public comment on agenda items during the meeting in person at the Veterans' Memorial Hall at 1000 Main Street, Cambria, CA, 93428, by joining the Zoom meeting or by submitting written correspondence to boardcomment@cambriacsd.org. 

PROS Committee applications can be delivered to

• The Cambria Community Services District administration office or drop boxes located at 2150 Main Street, #1-A, Cambria, California 93428
• Mailed to: Cambria Community Services District, Attention: Confidential Administrative Assistant, PO Box 65, Cambria, CA 93428
• Emailed to the Confidential Administrative Assistant at hdodson@cambriacsd.org.  

Applications can be downloaded here.

Meet the General Manager

On Monday, September 22, 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.

Matthew McElhenie