Cambria board adopts updated Fiscalini Ranch management plan after months of review

The Cambria Community Services District board on a unanimous roll call Tuesday adopted an updated Fiscalini Ranch public access and resource management plan, concluding more than a year of edits and consultations with the Friends of Fiscalini Ranch Preserve and the State Coastal Conservancy.

The plan, revised 06/17/2026, was presented by General Manager McElhaney and endorsed at the meeting by Diane Anderson, board chair of the Friends of Fiscalini Ranch Preserve. "We've actually built a stronger working relationship between CCSD and FFRP," Anderson said, adding that FFRP consulted legal counsel and voted unanimously to concur with the draft.

Why it matters: the conservation easement is the controlling legal document for the ranch. Kitty Connolly, executive director of the Friends of the Fiscalini Ranch Preserve, told the board the easement "is a permanent legal agreement that protects Fiscalini Ranch Preserve" and that the revised management plan must be consistent with — and does not override — that easement.

The discussion at the meeting included both procedural clarifications and substantive concerns. Resident Ted Siegler warned the board that "the document should not be about whether to manage the ranch, but how to do it in accordance with terms of the conservation easement," arguing that language in the draft read like staff explanations rather than firm stewardship commitments. Director Michael Thomas said he was concerned the agenda language overstated a shift in the district's role and suggested the record instead say the district is "establishing more fiscal discipline to ensure the integrity of the general fund." Staff said they had worked through Thomas's edits with the ad hoc committee and FFRP; counsel cautioned that substantial late edits could restart a 45‑day Conservancy review.

After public comment from multiple residents — who both praised the collaboration with FFRP and urged added attention to eucalyptus removal and creek restoration — Director Thomas moved to approve the plan and Director Scott seconded. The roll call vote recorded Ayes from Thomas, Scott, Gray, Dean and President Farmer; the motion carried.

What happens next: staff and FFRP will continue implementation and coordination. The General Manager noted the State Coastal Conservancy had agreed to waive the remaining 45‑day review period for the changes the parties had already agreed to, enabling adoption at this meeting. Several speakers asked the board to direct staff to study additional invasive‑species removal and creek work (particularly eucalyptus removal near Highway 1 and Santa Rosa Creek); the board acknowledged those requests and indicated staff follow‑up or future agenda items may be scheduled.

The board ended the item by thanking FFRP volunteers and staff for their work on the plan.