Dear Cambrians,

I hope this message finds you well. I am pleased to share that, with the dedicated efforts of our team and invaluable partners, we have completed the weed abatement process on the parcels that did not meet the initial deadline. This is a major improvement in our process compared to one short year ago.

Last Year’s Challenges included:

• Ineffective Planning: Last year's weed abatement efforts faced significant organizational issues.
• Limited Community Engagement: Minimal effort was made to engage residents, which hindered the ability to address specific problem areas effectively. This disconnect may have resulted in a lack of awareness about the importance of weed abatement and its impact on fire safety.

This Year’s Success

• Enhanced Coordination and Planning: This year, there was a concerted effort to improve planning and coordination among fire department leadership, and clear guidelines and timelines were established to streamline the process.
• Increased Community Involvement: We engaged residents weekly via email and social media blast-outs.  As such, the Cambria residents and property owners became more engaged in the abatement efforts through enhanced communication and informational sessions held by the Chief at the Vet’s Hall. This grassroots involvement increased awareness and fostered a sense of shared responsibility for maintaining the environment.
• Our partnership with Paradise Tree Service, alongside the exemplary work of our Cambria Fire Department, has been instrumental in achieving this important goal. Their commitment to ensuring the safety and well-being of our community has made a significant difference, and we are grateful for their hard work and expertise in managing this essential task. Completing this project enhances Cambria's aesthetic appeal and plays a critical role in fire prevention and overall community safety. Maintaining our open spaces and properties ensures that we are better prepared for the fire season and minimizes the risk to our neighborhoods.

Overall, Cambria's weed abatement program improvements reflect a holistic approach emphasizing collaboration, community engagement, and strategic planning. Maintaining momentum and continuing to engage residents will be key to building upon these successes in the coming years.

We commend Paradise Tree Service for their professional handling of the abatement process and the fire department's leadership and coordination. Their teamwork exemplifies the spirit of Cambria, showcasing how we can come together to tackle challenges for the greater good. Thank you to everyone in our community for your understanding and cooperation during this process. We appreciate your support and look forward to continuing our work together to maintain a safe and beautiful Cambria for all.

Administration & Finance Departments

Cambria Community Services District Administrative Office Relocation

Effective November 4, 2024, the CCSD administrative office's new address will be:

2150 Main Street #1-B

Cambria, CA 93428

Key Details:

• Current Office Closure Dates at 1316 Tamsen Street, Suite 201: October 28, 2024, through November 1, 2024
• New Office Opening Date at 2150 Main Street, Suite #1-B: November 4, 2024
• New Administrative Office Address: 2150 Main Street, #1-B, Cambria, CA 93428
• Mailing Address: PO Box 65 Cambria, CA 93428 (no change)

During the transition period of October 28, 2024, through November 1, 2024, there might be brief interruptions in our services. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your understanding and patience. Our phone numbers and email addresses will remain the same, and you can continue to reach us at:

• Phone: (805) 927-6223
• Website: www.cambriacsd.org 

We look forward to welcoming you to our new office and continuing to serve you with the same dedication and care. If you have any questions or need further information, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Facilities & Resources Department

Creeks to Coast Cleanup

Let's all work together to keep our waterways and parks clean and protect the beautiful natural environment of SLO County. Join the cleanup on Saturday, September 21st, from 9 am to 12 pm at one of many locations around SLO County - a part of a statewide and even international cleanup day! Register to participate in one of our many SLO County locations for ECOSLO's annual Creeks to Coast Cleanup by clicking here.

Cambria Skatepark

The minor use portion of the permitting process with SLO County Planning is complete, and the project is almost ready for submission to SLO County for a building permit.

Staff met with the Office of Grants and Local Services (OGALS) to review our final submission of the A&R form and form 10-904, which will complete our submission to the National Park Service for grant funding. Staff anticipates receiving funding in January 2025.

Maintenance Technician Recruitment 

The Cambria Community Services District is currently accepting applications for one vacancy in the Facilities & Resources Department for the Maintenance Technician position. This recruitment is open until the needs of the District are met. For more information, please visit our website.

Maintenance Technician Patrick Moloney has accepted another position that will work with his new school schedule as he works towards his educational goals. His dedication, hard work, and positive attitude have made him a great asset to our community. We are thrilled about this new opportunity for him and wish him all the best in his future endeavors.

Cambria Fire Department

Meet the Fire Chief

On Monday, September 23, 2024, 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.  

Cambria CSD Fire Department 2024 Fire Hazard Fuel Reduction Program (FHFRP)

On August 26, 2024, Paradise Tree Service completed parcel clearing for all parcels placed on the Contract Abatement List, and the Cambria Fire Department completed inspections on August 27, 2024.

Water & Wastewater Departments

Waste Water System Equipment Maintenance – Effluent Ponds Valve Issue

Wastewater staff completed the annual cleaning of the effluent ponds to prepare for the upcoming wet season. The dewatering and rehabilitation process for this preventative maintenance task occurs over most of two weeks. This exercise is necessary to counter potential compliance concerns and to identify both physical and operational areas that can be improved. During this preventative maintenance exercise, problems were encountered when placing effluent ponds 1 & 2 back into service.  Staff determined that the valve operator gearbox to the outlet valve had broken the operator shaft bearing. The operator stem was driving out the valve bonnet instead of opening the valve.  Procurement of essential repair parts has been ordered with a lead time of two weeks; staff anticipates the return to service of the third finishing pond to service in September. After preventive maintenance cleaning, a level sensor in the treated effluent wet well failed. After cleaning and adjusting the backup level transducer, staff placed the pump back in service.

Lead and Copper Inventory Compliance

Last month, Water Department staff excavated to inspect over 360 customer site connections within the meter box to ensure no lead service lines were present. The sites were generated from a stratified random sampling plan approved by the Division of Drinking Water. Staff submitted the report to the Division of Drinking Water Lead Service Line Inventory Unit and received approval before the end of August. Department staff will continue to inventory customer-side information on leaks and record it in our GIS mapping system. A physical copy of the report is available at the CCSD Administration Office. Additional information on this type of reporting can be found here.

Rodeo Grounds Pump Station Back-Up Power System Replacement Project

The Cambria Community Services District is requesting proposals from licensed electrical contractors for the replacement of a backup power supply generator and automatic transfer switch and the disposal of the old generator and transfer switch. The completed project shall result in a fully functional, permanent-mounted, diesel-powered generator and automatic transfer switch. The full request package can be accessed here.

San Simeon Water Line & Effluent Line Well Field Transmission Lines

Utility surveys and Caltrans encroachment area surveys are being performed. Potholing for utility locating and GeoTech permitting are underway. With the data gathered from these surveys and reports, Utilities staff, in coordination with consultants, looks forward to submitting an Encroachment Permit with Caltrans by late August. Permitting lead time for this scale of project ranges from 4 months to 1 year. Even with a one-year lead time for permit issuance, the District would be in a good position, seasonally, to proceed with the installation by late Summer to early Fall of 2025.

San Simeon Well 3

The refurbished well is completely operational, but staff are awaiting the delivery and installation of a variable-frequency drive (VFD). Due to supply chain lead times, the VFD's installation is being pushed back to September.

Stuart Street Tank Project

The Coastal Development Permit (CDP) application was successfully submitted to SLO County Planning on 8/27/2024. We anticipate a 2–3-month review period before permit issuance. The CDP application number is P-APP2024-00206.

Water Meter Replacement Program

The water department received 1,700 registers to complement the Endpoints already received. Staff began installing them “in-house” in the community's north end. Manual data imputing is required for each replacement. Water staff works with utility billing to integrate location/ meter identification information. As the information is recorded, staff verifies portal viability for real-time data. While in initial training mode, this information provided an alert to a potential leak at a residence. Water staff immediately investigated and validated the warning. The part-time homeowner was contacted while the water staff isolated the water loss.

Be advised that Water department staff continue to install water meters, so look for district staff working to replace devices in front yards. Please keep the area around the meter box clear of obstructions for three feet in all directions.

Zero Liquid Discharge Program

The staff has submitted to County Planning for a Substantial Conformance Determination concerning the temporary pilot run. County Planning deemed a project modification permit for the temporary pilot test run unnecessary.

Staff are working collaboratively with the Regional Waterboards and the Division of Drinking Water to establish, if necessary, any monitoring or analysis of the ZLD permeate. Staff anticipates the pilot operation occurring in the last week of October.

Upcoming October Board Meeting Items (subject to change):

• Discussion and Consideration Regarding Creating a Policy for Streetlights and Facilities under CCSD's Jurisdiction
• Receive and File the Completed Instream Flow Study
• Consideration of Approval of the Draft CCSD's Climate Adaptation Policy

On Monday, September 23, 2024, 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, and as always, we welcome your feedback and ideas.

If you have any concerns, please don't hesitate to contact me or any of our management team.

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

Matthew McElhenie