Measure P

What about Measure P?

In November 2006, 78% of Cambrians approved Measure P-06 which restricts water service to Cambria boundaries. Below is the exact language of the measure:

“Shall the ordinance requiring a majority vote of the electorate of the Cambria Community Services District to provide potable water service outside the 2006 District boundaries be adopted? The Board of Directors shall not authorize the extension of water service except non potable water for agricultural and irrigation purposes for outside of the District boundaries, as the boundaries exist at the enactment of this ordinance, for residential, industrial, or commercial purposes without first completing environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act or its successor statute, amending the Water Master Plan, and then submitting the question for approval to the voters of the District. The property owner seeking water service will pay the costs of the application and election in advance.” 

     BALLOT QUESTION:

Shall the ordinance requiring a majority vote of the electorate of the Cambria
Community Services District to provide potable water service outside the 2006
District boundaries be adopted?    YES OR NO

Cambrians voted in favor of Measure P by a whopping 78.55% with 76% of Cambrians turning out to vote in 2006.

Although Measure P was supported by 78% of Cambrians, a few locals, some of our CCSD directors and many investors who own property without water, are in favor of selling Cambria’s proposed desal water to San Simeon and other neighboring communities in order to lessen the cost of the desalination plant. (see About Cambria).

In this article the writer correctly notes that Measure P only restricts Water Service within Cambria’s boundaries, not Water Sales.  Thru this nuanced language the measure itself, written by a CCSD former legal counsel, avoids a full discussion and identification of growth inducement from a future water supply.  There are no “Build Out Reduction” plans for San Simeon, Harmony,  or Cayucos – doesn’t their growth affect Cambria?

One should also note that all you have to do to send Water outside of Cambria is complete an environmental review, amend the Water Master Plan, and submit the question to the voters of the District.

Cambrians should know in advance that growth inducement from desal, or any other new water supply, is not only a distinct possibility, but that unplanned growth is the most likely result when words are nuanced, numbers are inaccurate, financial costs are not disclosed,  and as monetary incentives and pressure to develop the North Coast increase.