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

The Cambria Community Services District board on July 13 directed district counsel to prepare a skatepark funding agreement after the Cambria Community Council pledged to provide the remaining construction shortfall and a 15% contingency. General Manager McElhaney earlier told the board the lowest responsive construction bid for the Cambria Skatepark was $1,344,000 and staff reported available project funding at roughly $1.68–1.69 million, leaving a funding shortfall estimated at about $170,000–$175,000 before construction contingencies.

A Community Council representative (SEG 1412) outlined available funds: a maintenance account ($69,312), a construction set‑aside ($623,000) and other investment income, and said the council will move donor funds and investment income to cover the remaining shortfall and the proposed 15% contingency (~$201,600). Vice President Dean moved — and the board seconded — a motion directing counsel to draft a funding agreement in coordination with the Community Council and an ad hoc board committee (President Farmer and Vice President Dean); the motion passed by unanimous roll call.

District counsel Carmel described the next steps: staff and counsel will negotiate deal points with the Community Council, prepare a draft funding agreement for both parties' legal review, present the agreement to both boards (likely a special meeting) and then, if approved, agendize the construction contract for formal award (target: August meeting). Community speakers at the meeting praised the pledge and urged the board to move forward; speakers also asked for clarity on contingency calculations and bidder fairness if the project were rebid.