Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Alison Lechowicz
PO Box 3065
Oakland, CA 94609
(510) 545-3182
Alison@ltmuniconsultants.com
www.LTmuniconsultants.com
PO Box 3065
Oakland, CA 94609
(510) 545-3182
Ltmuniconsultants.com
TRANSMITTAL LETTER
Lechowicz & Tseng Municipal Consultants (L&T) is pleased to submit the attached statement of
qualifications for Service Area #7: Financial Services for the City of Carmel. After working in public
finance for over 10 years, Alison Lechowicz and Catherine Tseng founded L&T, a women-owned
business. Lechowicz & Tseng provides financial planning, rate studies, and management consulting. We
enjoy helping California public agencies draft financially and socially responsible plans to meet the needs
of diverse communities.
L&T staff have more than 20 years combined experience working on financing plans, enterprise fund rate
studies, municipal debt assignments, and the development of public agencies. Ms. Lechowicz and Ms.
Tseng regularly conduct rate and fee studies compliant with Propositions 218 and 26. We have
experience regarding special assessments and voter-approved revenue measures. Both Alison Lechowicz
and Catherine Tseng are Independent Municipal Advisors certified by the National Association of
Municipal Advisors. We can advise the City on all aspects of municipal finance funding alternatives,
legal requirements, recent court cases, industry standard practice, and approaches used by comparable
agencies.
L&T is located in Oakland and anticipates that most of the work will conducted from our home office.
However, we remain flexible to work from City offices on occasion as needed. Alison Lechowicz is
authorized to contract on behalf of Lechowicz & Tseng Municipal Consultants and will serve as the
Citys main contact person. Her information is listed below:
Alison Lechowicz
Lechowicz & Tseng Municipal Consultants
2017
NONE
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2,000,000 claim
Hiscox, Inc., 520 Madison Avenue, 32nd Floor, New York, New York 10022
Contact person for city, funding
Alison Lechowicz Project Manager & Financial Analyst alternatives, fiscal impacts,
budget development, grant
applications, financial analysis
NONE
Lechowicz & Tseng Municipal Consultants (L&T) is co-owned by Alison Lechowicz and Catherine Tseng as equal
partners/principals. L&T has no other staff.
Alison Lechowicz
Project Manager and Lead Financial Analyst
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Certified Independent Municipal Advisor; Series 50 - Public Financial Advisor Qualification, expert witness
regarding municipal rates and finance
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BA - Architecture; Master of Urban Planning
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Certified Independent Municipal Advisor; expert witness regarding municipal rates and finance
Financial Analyst
Working with an citizens advisory committee, Catherine assisted with the development of a
new water rate structure that addressed the decline in revenue due to the drought.
City of Benicia, CA
2014
Financial Analyst
Water and wastewater financing plans and rate studies as both utilities were operating in a
deficit. Catherine also assisted in raw water rate study with Valero. As the largest untreated
water consumer, Valero consumes nearly half of all the Citys raw water.
X
Financial Analyst
Catherine performed and analysis to determine the financial impact of a satellite recycled
water treatment plant on the Citys water consumption, wholesale water purchases, and
overall finances.
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City of Modesto , CA
2016
City of Modesto
wwong@modestogov.com
$125,00 per study. Developed 10 year pro forma cash flows for the water and sewer enterprise funds. Worked
with engineers to conduct capital improvement planning. Developed funding alternatives for projects including
rates, developer fees, use of reserves, and new debt (municipal bonds or state loans. Conducting multiple workshops
with City Council. As part of the rate approval process, Alison drafted the public notices, had them translated into
Spanish, developed a mailing list, and coordinated printing and mailing. Ms. Lechowicz was rehired by the City to assist
the City with its water and wastewater budgeting process for fiscal year 2018. Budget review cost is $16,000
NONE
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2016
nick@vdcllc.com
Cost - ongoing services (on call) total approximately $4,000 per month. Financial analyst providing rate studies, financial
planning, development impact fee studies, and public approval assistance to the District. Ultimately, the final report
included a portfolio of financial tools: loans, community facilities district bonds, acreage assessments, and connection
fees. We found that RCWD needed each of these mechanisms to fund a various elements of District expenses.
Most recently, L&T was engaged to draft RCWDs Fiscal Policy Manual. The manual includes policies and best
practices for budgeting, accounting, debt issuance, and raising revenues. In August 2017, Ms. Lechowicz provided a
training to the Board covering the Policy Manual.
NONE
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Water and Sewer Rate Studies and Community Center Financial Plan
dbreitstein@todb.ca.gov
Cost - $40,000 for rate studies and $10,000 for Community Center Financial Plan
Ms. Lechowicz has conducted two water and sewer rate studies compliant with Proposition 218. The studies
evaluated operating and capital expenditures, financing alternatives including cash, bonds, and State Loans, cash
flow, rate design, and bill impacts. Alison also conducted several development impact fee studies for the Town
and met with developers in their office to explain the fees. Alison drafted a financial plan for the Towns Community
Center. The plan considered revenues from landscape and lighting assessments, General Fund appropriations, and
rental fees.
NONE
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Napa, CA
2012
phillip.miller@countyofnapa.org
Cost - $60,000.
In 2012, Alison worked as part of a design-build team to conduct the required sewer improvements and
recommended water system improvements. Our team drafted and filed the necessary paperwork to form the
district with the County. We also worked with the community to gain support and the residents voted an
assessment of $19,000 per parcel. The assessment was used as the dedicated repayment source for US
Department of Agriculture bonds. We reviewed financing options and found that the USDAs Rural Utilities Service
offered the lowest cost financing for NBRID. We conducted a project initiation meeting with NBRID, the consultant team,
and the USDA to explain the need for financing. We conducted financial projections using a range of interest rates.
NONE
PM - Project Manager
Water & Sewer Rate Studies Rate Studies and Community Center Plan
City of Modesto Town of Discovery Bay
Rate Study & Financial Plan Assessment District Formation & Financing
Root Creek Water District Napa Berryessa Resort Improvement District
None
None
None
Alison Lechowicz PM & Lead 195 195 195
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WHO WE ARE
Lechowicz & Tseng Municipal Consultants is a women-owned firm founded by Alison Lechowicz
and Catherine Tseng. Our objective is to provide financial consulting and management services to
local governments. Alison and Catherine have over 20 years combined experience in municipal
consulting and public finance. Catherine has a background in urban planning and worked for the
City of Oakland before becoming a consultant. Alison has experience working for a civil
engineering firm and a background in public administration. Both Alison and Catherine are
certified independent municipal financial advisors and have completed financial planning
assignments throughout California.
L&T is committed to providing professional services with superior value and responsiveness. By
utilizing a small team approach, our clients receive greater one-on-one attention and can be
assured that the work is conducted by highly qualified professionals. Our clients are provided
direct communication with the consultants who guide the project through each step.
WHAT WE DO
Management Consulting: Develop public agency policy manuals, conduct City Council/
Board and staff trainings, and provide long term plans.
Financial Plans: Develop comprehensive financial plans focused on immediate needs as
well the long-term viability of agencies. Our financial models are flexible and user-friendly to allow
for sensitivity analysis and to illustrate the impacts of policy decisions.
Utility Rate & Fee Studies: Conduct utility rate studies deriving both traditional and
innovative rate structures that comply with cost of service principles and Proposition 218
requirements. Address policy goals, customer acceptance, and social influences.
Impact Fee/Capacity Charge Studies: Complete development impact fees and capacity
charge studies that offset the cost of expanding infrastructure to serve new development without
placing a burden on existing customers
Public Approval Process: Lead informational workshops to educate the public about
municipal finance. We provide start-to-finish assistance in the utility rate approval process
including presentations to decision makers, publication of reports, and printing and mailing of
notices to rate payers.
Utility Appraisal: Develop an inventory of utility assets and determine fair market value.
We assist public agencies with negotiating the purchase or sale of utility property.
Expert Witness: Testify on behalf of public agencies to defend against lawsuits. We also
represent public agencies as streetlight customers of California's electric utility providers in rate
cases at the CA Public Utilities Commission.
Alison Lechowicz
Principal
9/28/17