| Projects
Summary
Below is a list of sample projects
including a description of the project and the results of each
engagement.
 Client:
City of Azusa Project: MRF
Tonnage Review
Project Description: Tested
and analyzed the amount of solid waste tons delivered to a
material recovery facility (MRF) operated by the City’s
exclusive solid waste service provider. The company’s
compensation was based on the amount of tons it reported as
collected in the City and delivered to its material recovery
facility.
Results: Found that the
tons reported to the City by the MRF operator were reasonable.
Contact: Mr. Cary Kalscheuer
/ Assistant to Director of Utilities / 626.812.517
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 Client:
City of Baldwin Park
Project: Franchise Fee Audit
Project Description: Under
subcontract to SCS Engineers, audited the solid waste franchise
fees paid to the City by its exclusive hauler, and reviewed
the accuracy of the hauler’s billings to its customers
in the City. Examined and tested the hauler’s detailed
accounting and billing records; reported findings to City.
Results: Found that the
hauler had slightly overpaid its franchise fees.
Contact: Ms. Wendy Harris
/ Solid Waste Program Manager / 626.960.3993
Ms. Michelle Leonard / SCS Engineers / 562.426.9544
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 Client:
City of Brea Project: Stormwater
Rate Study
Project Description: Currently
assisting the City in designing new customer rates to provide
funding for the City’s stormwater management program.
Work has involved developing various approaches to allocating
the City’s stormwater management costs among the residential,
commercial, industrial and agricultural sectors. Our work
has included developing a computer spreadsheet model that
emulates the impact of various rate designs on each of the
City’s 30,000 utility ratepayers.
Results: Project is currently
ongoing.
Contact: Mr. Charles View
/ Development Services Director / 714.990.7690
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 Client:
California State University Long Beach Project:
Procurement Assistance
Project Description: Assisted
the University in procuring new solid waste services. Work
included preparing request for qualifications and invitation
to bid documents. Provided justification and documentation
to the University’s legal counsel to support the disqualification
of one proposer. Work also included evaluating the University’s
current waste diversion programs and recommending improvements
to comply with the State’s waste diversion requirements
for State facilities.
Results: Assisted the University
in procuring more reliable service at a lower cost. The proposer
screening criteria we developed precluded one potential firm
with a poor safety record from participating in the RFP process.
Contact: Mr. Rob Quirk
/ Director of Facilities Management / 562.985.8886
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 Client:
City of Hawthorne Projects:
Procurement; Fee Audits
Project Description: Served
on team of consultants that assisted the City of Hawthorne
in a competitive procurement for residential and commercial
solid waste service. Designed new recycling programs, specified
the scope of services to be included in the new service agreement,
prepared RFP documents, and evaluated proposals. Also, assisted
the City with franchise fee audits of its exclusive residential
and non-exclusive commercial solid waste service providers.
Results: Our competitive
procurement resulted in over $2 million in annual savings
to the City’s residents and businesses. Our franchise
fee audit resulted in the recovery of approximately $1.5 million
in undeclared franchise fees.
Contact: Mr. Jag Pathirana / Finance
Director / 310.349.2927
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 Client:
City of Imperial Beach Project:
Procurement Assistance
Project Description: As
part of another firm, assisted the City in procuring a new
solid waste services agreement. Drafted RFP and franchise
agreement, and conducted pre-proposal meeting with haulers.
Evaluated proposals, identified best proposal, and prepared
report of findings and recommendations.
Results: Assisted the City
in procuring new automated services including single stream
recycling and volume-based rates.
Contact: Mr. Hank Levien
/ Public Works Director / 619.423.8311
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 Client:
City of La Cañada Flintridge
Project:
Contract Negotiation
Project Description: Assisted
the City with negotiations with its two incumbent haulers
for semi-exclusive refuse collection agreements. Conducted
policy workshops for the City’s Public Works and Traffic
Commission, prepared contract and RFP documents, and attended
several contract negotiations. Also assisted the City with
AB 939 compliance. Work included correcting the City’s
waste diversion rate and implementing waste reduction programs
in accordance with a Compliance Order from the CIWMB.
Results: Successfully negotiated
two non-exclusive agreements for solid waste services on terms
that accomplished the City’s solid waste objectives.
Key terms include providing the haulers with an economic incentive
to recycle through the use of a sliding scale of franchise
fee rates for various diversion rates.
Contacts: Mr. Steve Castellanos
/ Public Works Director / 818.790.8882
Ms. Mary Goytia Strauss / Management
Analyst 818.790.8882
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 Client:
City of Lompoc Project:
Routing Efficiency; Rate Study
Project Description: Developed
a rate model to allocate costs between landfill and collection
operations and among single family, multi-family, and commercial
customers. Audited the City’s multi-family and commercial
collection routes. Developed new landfill and collection service
rates based on allocated costs and market rates. Presented
findings and recommendations to City Council.
Results: Re-designed and
re-balanced the City’s routes to create greater route
density. Our design resulted in the elimination of two route-days
and capacity to accomodate new growth. Designed new volume-based
rates to provide customers with an incentive to divert waste.
Contact: Ms. Claudia Stine
/ Solid Waste Superintendent / 805.875.8023
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 Client:
City of Monterey Park Project:
MRF Tonnage Audit
Project Description: Verified
the accuracy of amount of tons received, diverted and landfilled
by a local material recovery facility (MRE). Verified the
accuracy of franchise fees paid to the City. Work included
examining the MRF operator’s operational and accounting
records, reviewing the reasonableness of its tonnage allocation
methodology, and confirming its gross receipts.
Results: Found that the tons reported
and franchise fees paid to the City by the MRF operator were
reasonable.
Contact: Ms. Tina Clark
/ Principal Management Analyst / 626.307.1383
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 Client:
City of Ontario Project:
Rate Study
Project Description: Performed
a rate study for the City’s municipally operated solid
waste enterprise. Worked in conjunction with the City’s
water/wastewater rate consultant to develop a rate model to
allocate the City’s costs and design rates for single
family, multi-family, commercial, and rolloff customers.
Results: Re-designed rates
based on the cost of service and the type of service
rather than land use type.
Contacts: Mr. Mohamed El-Amamy
/ Utilities Director / 909.395.2681
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 Client:
City of Orange Projects:
Sanitation/Stormwater Rate Study
Project Description: Assisted
the City in performing a cost of service analysis of its sanitation
service rates. Work included designing new rates for single
family, multi-family, and non-residential customers. Developed
a rate model to emulate the impact of various rate scenarios
on individual customers, and specific customer sectors.
As part of another firm, conducted a financial
and management assessment of the City’s solid waste
service provider, and assisted the City in procuring a new
solid waste services agreement. Evaluated the hauler’s
internal controls and management structure. Prepared RFP and
draft franchise agreement that was used in the City to negotiate
an agreement with a new hauler.
Results: Developed more
equitable rates for sanitation service. Developed report to
the City with several recommendations for improvement by the
City’s solid waste service provider.
Contact: Mr. Bob Von Schimmelmann
/ Streets Division Manager / 714.532.6480
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 Client:
City of San Bernardino Project:
MRF Feasibility Study
Project Description: As
part of another firm, estimated the cost and evaluated the
feasibility of developing a city-owned MRF. This involved
an analysis of in-city and out-of-city feedstock sources,
as well as an assessment of nearby competing facilities. Developed
and analyzed various scenarios based on various throughput
rates and material mixes. Prepared report of findings and
recommendations for the City.
Results: Our analysis was used
by the City to negotiate a more competitive disposal tipping
fee at the County-owned landfills.
Contact: Mr. Lynn Merrill
/ (former) Director of Public Services / 909.217.1201
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 Client:
City of San Buenaventura Project:
Annual Rate Review
Project Description: As
part of another firm, conducted several annual reviews of
the rate adjustment application submitted by the City’s
franchised hauler. Performed on-site testing and evaluation
of the company’s revenues and expenses, made adjustments
based on rate-making provisions in the City’s contract,
presented findings and recommendations to a subcommittee of
the City Council.
Results: Excluded certain
costs in the hauler’s rate application that should not
have been funded by ratepayers (charitable donations, related-party
expenses, etc.), and prepared rate adjustment recommendations
to the City Council.
Contact: Mr. Ray Olson /
Maintenance Service Manager / 805.652.4518
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 Client:
City of San Fernando Project:
Procurement Assistance
Project Description: Assisted
the City in conducting a competitive procurement for solid
waste services. Work included conducting public workshops
and study sessions for the Council, specifying the scope of
services, preparing the RFP, drafting the franchise agreement,
evaluating the proposals, interviewing finalists, and negotiating
the final agreement.
Results: City awarded contract
to a new hauler at lower rates. Replaced the previous non-exclusive
commercial service arrangements with exclusive commercial
service.
Contact: Mr. Steve Angarita
/ Sr. Management Analyst / 818.898.1242
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 Client:
City of Santa Barbara Project:
Contract Negotiation
Project Description: Assisted
the City in evaluating a request by one of the City’s
haulers to extend its contract term by 10 years to secure
financing for its material recovery facility through the California
Pollution Control Financing Authority (CPCFA). Prepared policy
report for the City Council and assisted with contract negotiations.
Results: Our report was
used by the City to negotiate a contract extension on terms
that were favorable to the City.
Contacts: Mr. Stephen MacIntosh
/ Environmental Programs Supervisor / 805.897.1908
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 Client:
City of Santa Cruz Project:
MRF Feasibility Study
Project Description: Under
a subcontract with Environmental Science Associates, reviewed
and analyzed the financial requirements and feasibility of
the City’s planned expansion of its Resource Recovery
Facility. Work involved estimating capital and operational
costs based on various levels of throughput and material mixes.
Performed a ‘make vs. buy’ analysis
by comparing the cost of expanding the facility to the cost
of using a processing facility in a nearby jurisdiction. Compared
the incremental travel costs, tipping fees and potential material
sales revenue with the cost of expanding the City’s
existing facility.
Results: The City used our
analysis in its planning process, which eventually resulted
in the City developing its own single-stream processing facility.
Contact: Mr. Kelly Runyon
/ Environmental Science Associates / 415.896.5900
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 Client:
City of South Gate Project:
Host Fee Negotiation
Project Description: Reviewed
the revenue, expenses, and throughput for a transfer station
located in the City and operated by a national solid waste
company. Assisted the City in negotiations to adjust the transfer
station host fees paid to the City by the transfer station
operator. Work involved a competitive analysis of the local
market for processing and disposal capacity, and performing
sensitivity analysis on the transfer station operator’s
profits based on various host fee arrangements. Initiated
a franchise fee audit of the franchise fees paid by the City’s
local solid waste service provider.
Results: During our project,
a Federal indictment was handed down against the local service
provider. The project was discontinued in lieu of a comprehensive
settlement agreement among the local service provider, the
national solid waste company, and the City.
Contact: Mr. Bob Dickey
/ Public Works Director / 323.563.9500
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 Client:
City of Vernon Project: AB
939 Compliance
Project Description: Since
2000, we have been assisting the City with achieving its State-mandated
waste diversion goals (AB 939). Our work consists of providing
technical recycling assistance to a broad cross section of
the City’s businesses, monitoring the City’s tonnage
reported through the State’s Disposal Reporting System,
and preparing the City’s AB 939 Annual Report. We also
assist the City in verifying the fee payments and reported
tonnage amounts of its 25 independent refuse haulers.
Results: Since 2000, the businesses in Vernon
have consistently achieved a waste diversion rate of at least
50 percent. As a result of our franchise fee and tonnage audits,
we have recovered over $30,000 in unreported franchise fees
and prevented over 100,000 tons of solid waste from being
improperly allocated to the City.
Contact: Mr. Lew Pozzebon
/ Director of Environmental Health / 323.583.8811
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