Community Council pledges funds; Cambria board directs counsel to draft skatepark funding agreement

The Cambria Community Services District board moved forward on the long‑running Cambria Skatepark project after the Cambria Community Council pledged the funds needed to close a funding shortfall and to underwrite contingency costs.

General Manager McElhaney told the board the lowest responsive construction bid for the skatepark was $1,344,000 and that available project funding left an estimated shortfall of roughly $175,000 before additional contingencies. Staff presented three options: award the contract using district funds, reject all bids and rebid later, or seek a hold/extension from the low bidder while the gap is closed. McElhaney cautioned that awarding the contract using district reserves would draw down available general fund reserves significantly.

Champ (Champ/****) Clark, representing the Cambria Community Council, told the board the council would transfer its construction funds (including maintenance and investment‑account sources) and also set aside a contingency pledge to bridge the final gap. Clark outlined account amounts for the board: "We have $69,312" in a maintenance fund, "$623,000" set aside for construction and "$14,274" in another account, and said a donor and investment income from bequests would be used to cover the remaining costs and contingency.

Vice President Dean thanked Clark and the Community Council and praised staff for grant work that enabled a $600,000 matching grant and other awards. "Now that we know that the funding has been secured to bridge the gap and to cover the contingency, I would like to ask district counsel what our next steps will be so we can move forward," she said. District Counsel Carmel described a roadmap: staff and counsel will draft a funding agreement, exchange it with the Community Council and their attorney for review (one to two weeks), bring it to both boards for approval (possible special meeting), then place the construction contract on the CCSD agenda. Carmel said the process could move quickly and aimed for a board approval window in August if negotiations proceed smoothly.

Public comment during the item was strongly supportive. Skatepark volunteers and community leaders, including Julie Amade and several longtime residents, gave personal accounts of volunteer fundraising and youth benefits. Multiple speakers urged the board to protect donated funds and to finalize agreements that limit future community financial exposure.

The board then took a motion from Vice President Dean to "direct counsel to prepare a skate park funding agreement working in collaboration with the Community Council and with the board ad hoc committee of President Farmer and Director Dean." The motion was seconded and approved by unanimous roll call; the record shows directors voting "Aye." The board asked counsel to include the amounts and conditions discussed and to return with an executed draft for board consideration, likely as a special meeting if timing required.

What happens next: Counsel and staff will negotiate terms with the Community Council, draft a funding agreement for review by both organizations' counsel, and present the agreement to the CCSD board for formal approval. If both boards sign, staff will agendaize the construction contract for the board's action and aim to begin construction within weeks, subject to permitting and contractor timelines.

Funding specifics mentioned in the meeting: lowest responsive bid $1,344,000; estimated funding gap ~ $175,000; Community Council construction fund ~ $623,000 and maintenance account ~$69,312; additional funds from donor and investment income were described by the council representative. Board and counsel noted that unspent contingency funds would be retained or returned per the agreement terms.

The vote: Motion directing counsel to draft a funding agreement with the Community Council — moved by Vice President Dean, seconded — APPROVED by unanimous roll call.