CSD Past, Present & Future

The Plumas County Board of Supervisors established the Gold Mountain Community Services District (CSD) in 1996 with their approval of the Gold Mountain development permit. Under California Government Code the County Board had responsibility for running the new “Dependent” district from 1996 through 2004. During those early years under Board of Supervisor governance, the County worked with the developer to build the water and wastewater system and contract with the City of Portola for fire protection services. Original Gold Mountain residents coordinated closely with the county to represent the best interests of the growing list of new residents. In 2004, owner/residents, petitioned for control of the District from the County, and took control of the “Independent” District in January 2005.

The CSD remains a Local Governmental Agency under California Government Code and is now run by an elected Board of Directors comprised of residents whose voting address is within the District. With three major functions-water, wastewater, and fire protection-the new board started in 2004 with essentially zero funding, no master plan, and no roadmap for the way ahead. Through professional management, sound fiscal planning, establishing a rate structure, and investing in professional engineering studies, the CSD has made great strides to "right the ship" and prepare the District for continued growth.

Projects completed over our first 15 years include: 

Development of a complete set of governing district policies and procedures.

• Development of a Master Plan to provide a blueprint for future growth. The district based the plan on trigger points in long term service requirements to identify domestic water storage and distribution improvements as well as increases to wastewater handling capacity;
• Establishment of a rate structure to support operations and begin funding for needed capital facilities;
• Building a capital savings plan to fund long term capital improvements and replacement programs;
• Passage of a Fire Tax to fund fire protection activities;
• Implementation of a mechanism to fund future infrastructure through system development charges for new construction;
•  In cooperation with the Gold Mountain Homeowners Association (HOA), developed an aggressive hazardous fuel removal program to protect the community from wildfire; and
• Working with the HOA, developed a modern storage and maintenance facility for community vehicles and equipment.

The District today is financially sound, professionally managed, and is in an excellent position to serve existing customers and accommodate development in the foreseeable future.  In addition, planning mechanisms are in place to identify future infrastructure needs, as well as to finance their construction.