About the Cambria Community Services District

We must not, in trying to think about how we can make a big difference, ignore the small daily differences we can make which, over time, add up to big differences that we often cannot foresee.”       -Marian Wright Edelman

We just got our CCSD  bill  for November and December.  These bills should be a reminder to all of us that little things can add up and make a big difference.  Three examples of this maxim are easily seen with our bill, if we are observant.

1. Because the Board rescinded the rate increase, we are paying last year’s rate and have a credit of $2.60 for water and $7.79 for sewer for “overpayment” on the last bill. Just over ten bucks per connection (conservatively) means the district will be collecting in the neighborhood of $40,000 less for this billing cycle than they had planned. Heck, a difference of two quarters on every bill is $12,000 for the year. Little numbers sure can add up quick.

2. We used 5 units this billing cycle (one unit = 748 gallons). Our bill says we used 5 units  last year for the same billing cycle (although our actual bill from last year for the same period says we used 6). One unit per billing cycle, per connection is an annual difference of 55 acre feet used annually.* Historically, the CCSD has drawn about 800 acre feet annually for use by residences and businesses. 55 acre-feet is about 8% of our production for 2008.  55 acre feet would be enough water to provide 6 units every billing cycle to every residential project on the waitlist (666).Of course, 6 units per billing cycle is toward the lower end of “average residential connection use”.  Even increasing that use to 18 units per residential connection, 55 acre-feet would be enough water for 222 connections. This bears rephrasing: 55 acre-feet is the result of ONE UNIT (748 gallons) difference per billing cycle per connection. Saving as little as 12.23 gallons per day, per household (for us, is would be 6 gallons per person per day) could “create” enough water for use by the entire waitlist. It adds up fast, doesn’t it? Even in a small community like Cambria.

3. This third example of how your CCSD bill proves things can add up comes from former CCSD Candidate Rich Davega. He has pointed out on AboutCambria.com (and elsewhere) that the CCSD pays the full 42¢ for first class postage when sending out our bills, instead of a reduced postage rate to which they are legally entitled.  Savings of 10¢ per bill, every billing cycle could mean $2,400  saved every year. BY TAKING ADVANTAGE OF RATES THE CCSD IS ALLOWED TO USE!  Rich takes this savings a step further, suggesting further savings could be had by more widespread use of the Direct Deposit option, combined with suspension of paper bills for those customers.  Rich wrote in a recent email:

Another idea ripe for implementation is suspending paper bills for customers enrolled in Direct Debit. I had unconfirmed information that 700 customers are using this service. I suggest marketing it to customers in order to hope fully expand the current usage. Many of these customers might welcome an email bill, or email to check their bill at a CCSD website, in lieu of a mailed bill.

The annual savings for eliminating paper bills to just these 700 would be $1,764.  If just half of the residential customers chose this option, annual savings would be about $5,060. This is an even better solution than a return to the postcard-bills that were the M.O. when I first moved here 8 years ago. Sure $5,060 is but a drop in the CCSD budget bucket, but we could accumulate quite a reservoir  of funds in almost no time.

Yes, little things add up. Le’s see if we can start building up the positive and strengthening the community by changing as many small things as possible, that we may experience big improvement. What’s the best way to eat and elephant? One bite at a time.

NOTES:

* By the numbers:

• Billing Cycles per year= 6

• Number of connections assumed for all above calculations was 4,000 (residential – does not account for commercial meters. )

• Well Production for 2008 was 707.61 Acre Feet.

• Play with more water numbers using the water calculator found here.

• One reduced rate available would be 32¢ per bill. Another reduced available rate (used when everyone’s receiving the the EXACT same mailing) would be 20¢ per piece.

(If you find errors or omissions in this post, please bring them to my attention so I may correct them. Email me by clicking here)

This just in: The CCSD is looking for a replacement for District Counsel Art Montandon. According to a press release on the CCSD’s site:

The Cambria Community Services District (CCSD) is requesting proposals, including professional qualifications, for its District Counsel legal services. Under direction of the CCSD Board of Directors, the District Counsel acts as chief legal advisor to the Board of Directors and officers of the CCSD; acts as legislative counsel in drafting laws, ordinances, and resolutions proposed for adoption by the Board of Directors; represents the CCSD in litigation; and performs related work as required.
Essential duties and responsibilities:

• Attend and participate at all regular and special meetings of the CCSD Board of Directors, including Closed Session, advising on matters of legal policy and procedure.
• Attend and participate as needed in meetings of CCSD commissions and committees appointed by the Board of Directors.
• Draft ordinances, resolutions, contracts, deeds, and other legal documents.
• Develop and/or provide legal review of CCSD staff reports, meetings agendas, legislation, and other business documents.
• Determine when to prosecute, compromise, or dismiss civil litigation and advise the Board of Directors and General Manager on such matters.
• Assemble and evaluate evidence.
• Prosecute violators of the CCSD municipal code.
• Manage the caseload assignments to outside legal counsel in coordination with the CCSD General Manager.

Deadline to Apply is noon on January 26, 2009. Determination of the successful candidate is tentatively scheduled for consideration during the Board’s Regular Meeting on Thursday, February 19, 2009, at 12:30 p.m., at Cambria Vets Hall.

I welcome the new atmosphere that debuted at the December CCSD meeting with the new directors. One good meeting is a step in the right direction, but there is much more work to be done and many issues that need attention. Some of these can be addressed with simple, one time policy-setting actions. Some with require ongoing monitoring and/or discussion with the community to resolve. I offer you my wish list for the Board of Directors in 2009.

My first wish has already been granted (or at least is in process). One of the most promising  suggestions to come out of that meeting was that the utilities committee and an ad hoc finance committee would meet and look at the state of the District and prioritize the needs. A similar plan was offered by the Cambrians for a Fiscally Responsible CCSD last year, who spent some time doing that very thing. I am definitely looking forward to  hearing the findings of these committees.

Here are  “simple” policy issues or operational concerns I’d like to see addressed:

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION DURING MEETINGS

Clarify Policy for ceding time to another person

Develop Policy for presenting visuals during a meeting (by member of public)

Consider public comment in two places, after manager’s report and before adjourning, for example.

Develop Policy for ensuring questions asked by members of the public are answered if they are not answered right away.

PUBLIC RECORDS

Procedures to follow if Public Records request not honored within 10 days

Ordinance on Public Records needs updating in Lexis-Nexis Municipal code to reflect CPRA cost limits.

Establish costs and procedures for receiving e-records (when available, instead of paper).

Some more involved policy decisions that need immediate attention:

Establishing a realistic policy on email retention.

Establishing a Utilities Advisory Committee and/or Budget Advisory Group and/or Performance Audit Committee to address participatory budget making, contract and procurement oversight, community goals, maintenance and capital improvements, and other operational issues.

Develop clear and legal rate increase (Prop 218 Compliance) Procedures

Other Policy Considerations:

Access to a balance sheet in addition to the expenditures report at each monthly meeting.

Review of the policies for allocating overhead.

Retirement and other Benefits for new hires.

Policies for independent contractors and consultants when engaged longer than one quarter. (ie Cumulative cost estimates to trigger Board approval/confirmation)

Some Other Community Suggested Changes or Additions:

In addition to the monthly meeting, an informal regular monthly or quarterly  Q & A with Board/Staff (perhaps in the evening).

Whether newly elected or veteran director, each of you has an opportunity to foster an inclusive atmosphere instead of a divisive, combative one. This is not to say we won’t still disagree. After all, you don’t get harmony when everyone sings the same note.

Staff reports by the department heads instead of summaries from the District Manager.

Greater emphasis on Conservation, including encouraging and supporting use of district recycled water for landscaping, home graywater systems and home rain catchment systems to reduce potable water use for landscaping.

More coordination between the County and District to enhance local control of growth and resource issues.

Online Bulletin Board or Community Forum where Cambrians can ask staff questions and get answers to those already answered.

That’s a long list of wishes for anyone to absorb. There is a cluster of major issues not included here – the solution to the water shortage and control on growth – a cluster that will have it’s own day (so to speak) and has it’s own ticking time bombs. The changes won’t  happen overnight, but I have hope they will happen. And I intend to be part of the solution whenever possible – at the very least making sure Cambria is informed and able to act when necessary.

What are your wishes? Leave your comment here.