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Consent Decree Implementation Program Management
June 2007 – Current
KBC is assisting the Program Manager in developing financial capability and affordability models for wet weather related improvements. Tasks include Financial Capability Assessment Project Management, service area data collection and synthesis, Financial and Economic Model design and maintenance, Wet Weather Plan Development support, Financial Analysis communication to Board of Directors, public stakeholders, and basin planners, public information & web content support, Consent Decree compliance support, and special projects. KBC also conducts an annual rate sufficiency evaluation to determine if future revenues will cover operating and debt expenses as well as bond covenants; KBC makes recommendations for rate increases based on modeled results.
KBC supports the consulting engineer in financial reporting for all deliverables, including Bond Official Statements, 537 planning, and annual consent decree status reports. KBC is tasked to conduct institutional assessments and address potential cost allocation and rate structure modifications and is the primary contact for financial and demographic data collection and refinement for a regional sewer planning agency.
Financial Management Support
June 2007 – Current
KBC is assisting with county- and internally-mandated financial goals and objectives. This includes assisting the Office of the Director as a member of the Financial Objectives Task Force, performing a Capital Improvement Program reconciliation, and providing ongoing support to the CFO in developing internal staff procedures for monitoring project expenditures and assessing arbitrage requirements. This work has included supporting the adoption of a financial management database to track Consent Decree capital improvement program performance, and monitoring the utility’s implementation of its Strategic Plan action items related to financial management.
Capital Program Reconciliation, Exposure Analysis, and Data Management System Implementation
2009 – 2010
KBC helped develop a capital project reconciliation process according to the requests of the County Board of Commissioners. The reconciliation process tracked and documented all project legislations, expenditures, contract estimates, contract amounts, cost estimates, budget amendments,and many other relevant project data fields.
KBC helped develop financial metrics to calculate the financial exposure of the capital fund. In addition, KBC was deeply involved in the data collection necessary to complete the exposure analysis.
The reconciliation analysis positioned KBC as a valuable contributor to the implementation of a PeopleSoft system for tracking capital project activity. The project is still underway and expected to go online in the summer of 2010.
Stormwater Fee Study
April 2008- July 2008
KBC provided financial advisory services related to a large city’s Storm Drainage Management Fee Cost/ Revenue Study. The primary objectives of the study were to identify the stormwater revenue requirements, analyze the appropriateness of the City’s existing rate structure, and to evaluate the adequacy of the City’s existing stormwater rates in providing equitable cost recovery in alignment with existing regulatory compliance.
New Raw Water with Potable Reserve Rate Recommendation
2009
Performed a revenue neutral analysis for a new raw water with potable reserve rate. A client of the utility wanted to convert their chillers to use raw water instead of potable water in existing buildings and new buildings being built in the future. The utility wanted to know what the rate would be to result in a “revenue neutral” scenario after converting the old chiller and adding the new ones. Attended utility board meeting to present findings.
National Consent Decree Analysis
December 2006 – January 2008
The purpose of this project was to create a database of current Wet Weather Consent Decree (CD) requirements, Long Term Control Plans (LTCP), and NPDES permits or other enforcement mechanisms,and determine their impacts on the communities they serve. This information will be vital to implementing a cost effective funding approach for Waste Water Treatment Plants (WWTPs).
Storm Water Utility Development
Developed the City’s Phase 2 Application in response to the EPA’s storm water regulations including establishing the utility, management and organization structure, cost of service, rate determination, billing system integration. Work elements included cost of service analysis, parcel analysis using DCAD data, custom class and rate determination, and billing system integration.
This assistance included- Completing the permit renewal process
- Developing application of GIS technology
- Reviewing legal requirements given regulatory changes
- Modifying the existing management program as needed
- Coordinating efforts with the TNRCC
- Revising user fees to fund stormwater activities
Evaluation and Assessment of Operations
Provided a comprehensive evaluation and assessment of operations for a large water system as part of their Continuous Improvement Program. Worked directly for the Board of Directors, analysis of general and administrative activities and related costs, and an analysis and recommendations on organization and staffing. The analysis of general and administrative activities was accomplished primarily through a benchmarking effort of 12 peer utilities. The approach resulted in both an internal performance gap analysis (i.e. management expectations vs. actual results) and an external performance gap analysis with the 12 peer utilities. A Human Resources Analysis System (HRAS) was utilized to assist with the internal and external comparisons and train personnel in its use for future studies. The findings of this analysis were used to identify opportunities for improvements. Recommendations included expanding spans of control between supervisors and staff, reorganizing the utility along business lines and the development of a Strategic IT Plan.
2006 Rate Evaluation and Analysis. ALCOSAN, Pittsburgh, PA; Project Manager. Assisted Authority personnel with budgetary process, bond refinancing, and the 2006 rate and revenue evaluation.
Public Relations/Rate Increase Analysis. ALCOSAN, Pittsburgh, PA. Consultant. Provided the Authority with a peer analysis of the 5 other utilities. This project included conducting a survey of each utilities Public Relations department or function and methodology used to implement rate increases.
Industrial Surcharge Study. ALCOSAN, Pittsburgh, PA; Subconsultant. Assisted Prime Consultant with Industrial Surcharge analysis and assessment of Significant Industrial Users (SIU’s) and recommended an equitable rate structure.
Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority, Pittsburgh, PA; Project Manager. Completed 2004 Annual Report and Projections. Consulted with finance director on adequate revenue, reserves, and GASB reporting practices.
San Antonio Water System and Wastewater Rate Study. Consultant. Evaluated major issues surrounding its water resources and supply, and increasing requirements for its wastewater and reclaimed water treatment. Tasks included development of cost of service and allocation of those costs for the wastewater treatment costs across the standard operating parameters within the System’s National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permit.
City of Dallas NPDES MSF Storm Water Reapplication, Dallas, Texas; Consultant. Reviewed the current pricing structure and suggested revisions needed to accommodate changing conditions since rates were implemented. Additionally, reviewed storm water costs for the previous five years and revenue needs for the next five years.