Cambria board approves Canon Engineering contract to stabilize Santa Rosa Creek

The Cambria Community Services District board voted unanimously April 9 to hire Canon Engineering for the Santa Rosa Creek streambank stabilization project and adopted Resolution 14-2026 to amend the FY25–26 budget and authorize the general manager to execute the agreement.

The board and staff described the work as primarily permitting and design rather than construction, with much of the cost driven by surveys, biological studies and agency permitting. General manager McElhinney told the board that timely permits are critical to avoid months-long delays that could push a hoped-for 2027 groundbreaking into the following year.

Vice President Dean, who chaired the RNI committee that reviewed proposals, said Canon provided the most thorough submittal, had deep local permitting experience and could meet the project's aggressive timeline. Bill Henry of Instero Environmental, the district's consultant on the project, told the board that Canon's team included local specialty firms and environmental subcontractors (SWCA and geotechnical partners), and that the firm's past work on regional streambank projects made its higher cost defensible.

Board members pressed staff on cost comparisons and scope. Utilities manager Green said the district viewed this phase as a permitting project: construction is expected to be shorter and less costly than the permitting, which could span a year or more. Director Scott asked whether monitoring and future follow-up were included; Henry and staff confirmed that agencies often attach multi-year monitoring conditions to permits and that those obligations would affect later budget planning.

Vice President Dean moved to approve the agreement and adopt Resolution 14-2026; the motion passed on roll call with Directors Scott and Thomas and President Farmer also voting aye. Staff said Canon's contract is structured as a fixed-fee, not-to-exceed professional-services agreement for the design and permitting phase; the board will consider construction contracting and related costs at a later date.

The project is intended to address streambank erosion risks to the district's collection system and nearby public trails; staff noted that seasonal survey windows and coordination with state and federal resource agencies make the permitting schedule time-sensitive. The board thanked staff and the consultant for the briefing and public commenters for raising procurement questions.

The board did not alter the contract award. With the approval, staff may finalize the agreement and begin the environmental surveys and permit submittals needed to keep the project on the district's timeline.