HomeMy WebLinkAbout1998-08-10 City Council (23)City of Palo Alto
City Manager’s Report
TO:HONORABLE CITY COUNCIL
FROM:
DATE:
SUBJECT:
CITY MANAGER
AUGUST 10, 1998
PERMIT WITH NEXTLINK CALIFORNIA,
INSTALLATION OF FIBER OPTIC CONDUITS
DEPARTMENT: PUBLIC WORKS
CMR:344:98
INC. FOR THE
This is an informational report on a permit to be issued to Nextlink California, Inc.
(Nextlink) for the installation of approximately 34,320 lineal feet of fiber optic cable within
a conduit under Certain sidewalks and streets in downtown University Avenue area and other
streets in southern Palo Alto. No Council action is required.
BACKGROUND
Nextlink of Fremont has applied to the City for a permit to install a fiber optic "backbone"
cable through Palo Alto as part of a telephone network covering the Bay Area.
As with previous MFS, MCI, and Brooks Fiber permits, the City will require that Nextlink
install the conduit under the sidewalk area (where possible) and under the street at.street
crossings using directional boring methods. This trenchless technology minimizes adverse
impacts to pedestrian and vehicular traffic.
Also, based on recent projects, staff will require Nextlink, or its contractor to;
Participate in weekly meetings. ....
Request all utilities with existing underground structures along the
construction route to attend a pre-construction meeting. (Additional meetings
during the construction will be scheduled if necessary.)
Provide timely notification to other utilities, individually and via Underground
Service Alert (USA), of the contractor’s location and schedule of construction
so as to ensure that all possible precautions are taken to avoid service
interruptions. Also, the contractor will be required to ,pothole" for conflicts
frequently, and review and verify USA markings for any location where it is
suspected that existing utilities were not marked clearly or correctly.
CMR:344:98 Page 1 of 3
The project location is shown on the attached map and generally includes University Avenue,
Hamilton Avenue, Ramona Street, Channing Avenue, Greer Road, Amarillo Avenue, West
Bayshore Road, Fabian Way and Charleston Road.
Precautions will be taken to ensure that trees and their root structures will not be impacted.
An application for Architectural Review is being submitted by the applicant to the City of
Palo Alto Planning Department. Construction will be performed in accordance with City of
Palo Alto standards. The permit is expected to be issued in September 1998.
Other-permit conditions will include:
Notification: Nextlink will provide a minimum of two written notices of the
construction schedule to those addresses directly impacted by the work. In the
event there is an outage or service break to the utilities, Nextlink will
immediately notify the City of Palo Alto or responsible agency, so that steps
can be taken to notify any impacted customers and restore service.
Liability: Nextlink will provide a $2,000,000 comprehensive general and
automotive liability insurance policy.
Indemnification: Nextlink will indemnify and hold harmless the City against
any claims, demands, losses, damages, whether direct or indirect, including
liability resulting from loss of service to any third party for any interruption to
any telecommunication or other utility service.
Bond: Nextlink will provide a performance bond in the amount of $50,000 to
guarantee the faithful performance of sidewalk and street restoration work
within City of Palo Alto right-of-way.
RESOURCE IMPACT
Nextlink will be required.to collect and distribute the Telephone Utility Users Tax to the City
from its service users pursuant to the Palo Alto Municipal Code. Nextlink will also pay the
City a fee for the Permit for Construction in the Public Street which covers the City’s
administration and inspection costs.
POLICY IMPLICATIONS
Nextlink is a telephone corporation as defined in the Public Utilities Code Section 234, and
a public utility as defined in Public Utilities Code 216, with the legal right to access Palo
Alto’s public right-of-way. Although the law does not require Nextlink to obtain a city
franchise, the City may regulate the location and manner of construction. However, the City
cannot restrict or interfere with Nextlink’s right to construct or maintain its
telecommunication lines.
CMR:344:98 Page 2 of 3
ATTACHMENTS
Map of the project location
PREPARED BY: James Harrin
DEPARTMENT HEAD:
S enior..Enginy.e4,
GLENN S. ROBERTS
Director of Public Works
CITY MANAGER APPRO~
HARRISON
Assistant City Manager
CMR:344:98 Page 3 of 3
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