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Cambria CSD hires consultant to update fees and capacity charges amid objections about procurement
Summary
The board approved a $55,000 contract with Revenue & Cost Specialists to update the district's fee schedule and water/wastewater capacity charges, noting fees are more than a decade out of date; some public commenters and directors said a formal RFP should have been issued.
The Cambria Community Services District voted March 12 to hire Revenue & Cost Specialists (RCS) for a $55,000 study to update the district’s user fees, connection and capacity charges.
General Manager McElhaney said many CCSD fees have not been comprehensively updated for years and that the district needs current fee schedules and capacity calculations. Greg Brown of RCS told the board the capacity-fee portion will require a system valuation and that the firm found CCSD fees are about 12 years old; he warned that updating them could lead to “a jump” in some charges because of inflation and system-value changes.
Several residents asked why the district had not run a formal request-for-proposals process; Christine Heinrichs urged further competitive solicitation before the board committed public funds. Legal counsel and the general manager said several vendors were nonresponsive to prior outreach for this relatively small scope, and the board adjusted the funding split so part of the study is paid from enterprise reserves.
Director Thomas moved to approve the contract and adopt a budget amendment; the motion carried on a unanimous roll call. The agreement directs RCS to return specific recommended fee schedules and supporting analyses to the board for possible adoption at a future meeting.
The board and staff said the updated fees will be presented to the board before any change goes into effect and that certain fee increases can be phased or tied to policy decisions about affordability and moratoria.
