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HomeMy WebLinkAbout0617.093I i. December 9, 1993 THE HONORABLE CITY COUNCIL palo Alto, California 17 Resolution of Intent to Establish underground utility pistrict No.3S -Southgatg Members of the Council: 'rhis report presents a tentative procedural calenaar for r'E!placement of overhead electric, telephone, and CATV s}'st€ms on deteriorated power poles currently located in rear lot easements with an underground system in the public right-ot-way vithir. the proposed boundaries shown on the attached map. It also requests Council adoption of a Resolution of rntent to Estahlish underground utility District No. 35 in the project area. Background In the last five years, the Electric utility has focused its undergroundinq projects mainly in the dOw~town commercial areas, since Pacific Bell was unable to commit to underqroundinq in any residential areas. R~cently, as indicated in CMR:200-93, staff ~as successful in obtaining Pacific Bell's agreement to underground the overhead lines in the Southgate residential neighborhood. southgate area was selected for unaergrounding mainly for the following reasons. The primary reason is that 55 percent of the 77 poles in the southgate area are deteriorated and require replacement~ The majority of ~~e poles in the Southgate area are along rear lot easements. Replacing them is expe~sive, bacause of li~ited access, and in some cases, major trimming of mature trees and/or possible removal of structures might he required. Instead of investing funds to reconstruct this overhead system, staff is convinced that the best economical and long-term solution to the CHR;U7Ul prOble~ wo~ld be to replace the eXisting overhead system with an underground system in tile street ri9ht-of-way~ Secondly, the underground district project is b~in9 proposed as a joint construction project with the Southgate Water and Gas Main and SQrvice Replacement Project, scheduled for construction in July 1994. By coordinating the design ana construction with the Water and Gas project, the City 'Will avoid multiple trenches whicb would :be necessary if done separately. This will not only mini~ize the disruption but ~il1 Also reduce expenses, since the cost of trenching viII be shared between the utilities occupying the trench. This undergrounding project will result in the removal of 77 poles and provide underground ~ervice to 249 parcels. Out of the 249 parcels, there are 240 single family homes and 9 commercial properties. Completion of this p~oject ~jll eliminate overhead distribution lines in the Southgate area~ enable extension of ~he more efficient 12~V system into the area and provide a future 12KV connecting tie to the College Terrace neighborhood~ Other benefits include reduced tree trimming costs, increased safety due to elimination of poles in the roadyays and in rear lots, improved reliability and ~csthetics. Once the underground district is created, the utilities Department will prepare bids for the installation of the underground substructure required prior to placing the electric, telephone, CATV, street light and City communication facilities underground. After the nev underground systems (cable. transformers, switches, etc.) have been inst.alled, the property owners will connect to the new underground system, utilizing their o~ contractors. City crews will then remove th~ overhead power lines, and telephone r.rews will complete the project by removal of the remaining telephone and CATV overhead faci1itie~ and the poles. On October 8, 1993, a letter ~as sent to the property owners in the p~oposed district introducing the project and inviting them to a meeting~ During the meeting (attended by 34 property owners) on November 10, 199J~ staff explained the details of the project and answered questions from the property owners. A questionnaire, which was included with the letter, was used to determine the level of support for the project. Staff has received completed questionnaires fron'. 145 property owners, of whom 60 percent are in favor of the project~ 21 percent are not in favor of the project, and 19 percent are undecided. CKP.:U7,'J - The total cost of the proposed project is estimated at $2,200,000. For fiscal years 1993-94, $6e,OOO has been designated for planning and engineering of thi~ project and has been allocated in the 1993-94 Elect~ic Capital Imp=ovement Project FUnds. Propgsed PrQCedure The first step in the establishment of the district is Council adoption of a Resolution of Intent to establish Underqround utility District No. 35. The resolution defines the district boundarie.s and sets a time and place fot'" ~, pul:llic hearing on the matter which will be scheduled for the Karch 21~ ~994. Council meeting. At the public hearing, the property owners will have an opportunity to comment on the project. The adopt.ion of the Resolution of Intent will also serve as a formal action that is required by Pacific Bell prior to starting engineering design. After the public hearing, if the council elects to proceed, the following will occur~ 1. Formation of Underground utility Dist~ict No. 35 ~ill be initiated by council's adopticn of the attached Resolution of Intent. District tlo. 35 encompasses the area approximately bounded by Churchill Avenue, El C~~ino Real, Alma Avenue and Park Boulevard. 2. Council will hold a public hearing on Underground utility District No. 35, soliciting public comment. After public comment is received, Council will either adopt or reject an ordinance forming Underground Utility District No. 35. 3. If the City Council approves the formation of the District contractor will be retained to install power, 't.e1 ephone , communication and cable TV substructure in a jointly occupied trench. upon award of contract by the c~uncil, an aqreement for joint participation between the City, Pacific Bell, and Cable co-op .ill be executed. The only cost to the property owners ~ill be that of replacing the ~verhead service drops to their buildings with underground services. It is estimated that the average cost per property owner will be approx:imately $2500 each. Property owners will be offered the option of financing tl.eir service conversions under Section 1~.16.092 of the Palo Alto MUnicipal Code. This involves borrowing the funds from the City and having the repayment of costs which added to their property tax CXR:U7:'3 .~" , . "1~~~~--""_'L_' .'~~?:-~~~~. bills over a 10 year period, at an interest rate specified by the Counc i 1 .. Environmental Impact AS3essment This project is cateqorically exempt from the environmental impact assessment procedure, as described in the Palo Alto Environmental Procedure~ .. Council Action and Tentati.ve Schedule The first council action requir~d to initiate the procedure will be adoption of the Resolution of Intent to establish Ullderground District No. 35. Below is the tentative projp.ct schedule .. 1. 2. 5. 6. 8. Action REsolution of Intent to establish Underground Utility District No. 35 Public Hearing Award of ccnstruction contract and Joint Construction Agreement with Pacific Bell/CATV Substructure (conduit, vaults etc.) installation by contractor. Resolution determining properties electing to pay service conversion cost over a period of 10 years. Installation of underground t'acilities (cablc-s~ sw:f..tches etc.) Service conversion work by property o'Wnel'S Pole removal and project completion • Denotes Council Action CO:617.93 December 13, 19~3* March ?o1, 1994. August 1994 through December 1994 August 199.(" January 1995 through Hay 1995 May 1995 through August 1995 August 1995 through December 1995 - Resog.§ndlltioD statf recommends that cou~cl1 adopt the attached Resoluti~n of Intent to amend Secti¢n 12.16.02, of Chapter 12.16 of Title 12, of the Palo Alto Municipal Code by est4blishing Underground Utility District No. 35. Attachment: Resolution District 3S Boundary Map Related CKR: CMR:200:93 Electric UnderqrQund conversion Projects CM1U617:" EL REAL SOUTHGATE lNJERGR()( /'.C) 01$ TP!C T NO 35 BOiJ'.Ci.AR Y MAP CITY OF PALO ALTO CALIFORNIA 1"-300' SOUt-lO .... R"f O~ PROPOSED UNOE:rlGIWUND DI51 RIC r pgO~'ffIIIU; IN ~POPO ~ 0 Uj\,'O:;jlG~OI.JND D':iTRICr 21151 lK33fj-BM-S-OOl . .,. follows: -, .<,-" -;/ - .,,,,.,,.'·;"'0 .. ·. "J\,.,- RESOL·UTIllN NO. RES0LUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE C-ITY OF PALO ALTO DECLARING ITS INTENTION TO AMEND SECTION 12.16.020 OF CllAPTBR 12.16 OF TITLE 12 OF THE PALO ALTO MUNICIPAL CODE BY ESTABLISHING L~ERGROL~ UTILI~{ DIS1~ICT NL~SR 35 The Councilor. the City of PaJo Alto does RESOLVE as ~~. In its opinion, the public necessity, health a..'1d safety require, and it is t.he intention of the Council, pursuant to Section ~2.16.040 of Chapter 12.16 of Title 12 of the Palo Alto MUnicipal Code (RCode·), to amend Section 12.16~020 af Chapter 12.16 of the Code, by ordering the establishment of a:;. Underground Utility District ("'District II) and to prohibit the construction in and require the removal frore the proposed District of all poles and overhead lines and associated overhead structures used or useful in supplying electric, communic~tion or similar and associated services. SECTION 2. The: number of th€ Underground Utility District Number 35 'Of commonly known as Southgate~ proDOsed District is the City of Palo Alto, SECTJ:.mL-l. The description of the area comprising the District is as follows: ~l of the area in the County of Santa Clara~ city of Pale AI tOI encompassing the area bourlded by Alma Avenue, Park Boulevard, El Camino Real, and Churchill Avenue, all as more particularly de· scribed on t.r.at certain !Tap entitled "Southgate Underground Utility District Number 35,R on file in the office of the City Clerk. SECTION -4 _ From and after the effective date of the establis:r~nt of the proposed District, no perso:::l or ut il iqr shall erect or construct within the District any pole, overhead l~nes or associated overhead structure used or useful in st.:.pplyi!lg ele::tri~. c~lmunication or similar associated services. SECTION~. Within ninety (90) days from the date of the completion and acceptance of the proposed underground facilities within the District to be constructed by the City of Palo Alto and the Pacific Bell Comp3.ny ~ all poles and m;erhead lines and associated structures used or useful in supplying elec~ric, communication or similar and associated services in the proposed District e~...all be :l"el!\Oved~ and from and after the date no person or utility shall use or :rraintain such facilities within the p:::-oposea District. Additional notice shall be given after the completion date has bee~ precisely det~Lmined. ~QtL6... NOTICE IS HERE"BY GIVEN that Monday, the 21st day of March, 1994, at the hour of 7:00 o'clock p.m., in the regular meeting place of is Cit}· Council, Civic CentEr, Palo AJ to, California, is hereby fixed as the time and Dlace when and wher~ the Council shall hear all protests and receive evidence for and against the action herein proposed, and when and where the Ccuncil 1 ,. '-':, < ., - shall consider and finally deter.mine whether the public necessity. health and safety requix-e the eatablisM.ent of the District and the removal of poles, overhead wires, and associated overhead struc­ tures, and the underground installation of wires and facilities for supplying electric, communication and similar or associated services in the District hereinabove described. SECTION 7. At the ~ublic hearing. all persons interested shall be given an opportuDl.ty to ~ heard. The hearing way be continued from time to time as determined by the Council. SECTION a. The Electrical Engineerin~ Manager, Department of Utilities, City of Palo Alto, is hereby desl.gnated as the person to answer inquir~es regarding the pretest proceedings, to be had herein and may be contacted during re~~lar office hours at Palo Alto Civic Center, 250 Hamilton Avenue I Palo Alto, California, 94301. or by calling (415) 329-2365_ SECTION_9~ The Clerk of the City shall give" notice of the public hearing br ~ublishing notice of the public hearing and the director of uti11tles shall mail copies of this resolution to all property owners within the proposed I:'istrict as shown on tf1.e last equalized tax roll of thE: City. C'ond to al.~ utilities supply~.ng electric, communication or sirn~lar or associated services within the proposed DiBtrict~ the mailing to be completed at least thirty (30) days p~ior to the date of the public hearing. The Clerk is authorized to include in the notice to be mailed Cl statement to the effect that any affected property owner tas the option of paying the cost of convertin~ his or her service connection to underground locations over a per~od of years. Such notice sf1All conform to Section 12.16~092 of Chapter 12~16 of Title 12 of the Code. TNTRODUCED AND PASSED, AYES, NOES, ABSEN'I'~ ABSTENTIONS, A'l"I'EST: APPROVED: City Clerk Mayor APPROVED AS TO FORM, City Manager Senior .~st~ City Attorney Director of Utilities Director of Financi2- 2