San Bernardino, California: Solid Waste Management District Strategic Operations Analysis. As operator of 35 landfill sites in the County, the District became concerned with the potential revenue diversion that might be associated with introduction of one or more Rail Haul disposal programs, or other County competing landfills.

A comprehensive financial evaluation model was created displaying each of the 35 sites individually and cumulatively to ascertain individual financial characteristics as related to the systemwide budget. The analysis included modeling the current and future capacity of the sites, usage rates, comprehensive revenue sources, and fee schedules, operating costs, AB239 impact measurement capability, closure cost funding allowance and projected life of each site, among other items.

The entire system financial structure when aggregated, tied into the District's current operating budget. The analysis pointed out profitable and non-profitable sites and explained the driving circumstances behind the District's financial position, with a view toward consolidating operations at profitable sites and closing marginal operations.

Santa Clarita, California: Landfill vs. Rail Haul Solid Waste Disposal Economic Evaluation. The City of Santa Clarita was faced with the prospect of a new landfill site proposed for a location in close proximity to the City. The City believed that an alternative to this program could be a rail haul program to a remote landfill site, which would alleviate the need for siting the landfill at its proposed location.

The general feeling has been that rail haul is considerably more expensive than landfill, effectively precluding its consideration as a viable alternative at the current time. The City believed this might not necessarily be the case when all factors were taken into account. TNDG was commissioned to evaluate these issues.

Results of the analysis demonstrated that while estimates of rail haul costs were currently in excess of those at alternative landfill sites, tipping fees at landfill sites were increasing at such a rapid rate that within a short period of time they would be equal to and then exceed those of the current rail haul estimates.

The analysis highlighted the "scarcity of land" economic phenomenon impacting the cost structure in landfill areas, and discussed the price stabilizing impact the rail haul alternative could have on long-term pricing structures.

San Luis Obispo County, California: Cambria Pines TDR Program. Provided economic analysis of proposed transfer of development rights (TDR) program for the Cambria Pines small lot subdivision located in San Luis Obispo County. Analysis included: (1) a review of the housing market and current land values and (2) an assessment of the likelihood that future development activities both within and adjacent to the impacted area could economically benefit from TDR purchases.

Santa Barbara County, California: Evaluation of Economic Issues Related to Agricultural Preserve Component of Mission Oaks Ranch Master Plan. TNDG was retained by the County of Santa Barbara to evaluate economic issues related to the proposed subdivision of the Mission Oaks Ranch, a 3,800-acre property currently used for cattle grazing.

The proposed subdivision would create 31 parcels ranging in size from 100 to 250 acres. Residential development would only be allowed on two acres of each parcel, with the remaining land to be preserved for agricultural use.

TNDG's role in the project was to determine the extent to which the property's post-development land value would create pressure to further subdivide the ranch and generate development pressure on surrounding ranches. TNDG also evaluated the relative advantages of managing the property's agriculture preserve area through a land trust versus a homeowner's association.

The study involved an analysis of potential economic returns from agricultural uses of the property and proposed a system for allocating these returns given the unequal distribution of agricultural resources among the 31 parcels.