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dty of Palo Alto
City Manager's Report
HONORABLE CITY COUNCIL
CITY MANAGER DEPARTMENT:UTILITIES
SEPTElImER 29, 1994 CMR:453:94
Irutalling Utility Box .. in Sidewalk in.tead of Current Policy of
Installing tbern in Plaoter Strip
This is to intbnn Council of 9. change in tt,e .;:urrent policy of lnstalHng utility boxes
in planter strips. Utility boxes will now be installed in the sidewalks rath-er thaIl to
planter strips \vherev~r feasible.
RECOMMENMTIONS
ntis is an informational repon and no City COllr • .;il aCIlon is required.
fOLlCY IMPLICAT1Pl'lS
The change to in:s.tal! utility boses in the sidewaik rather than in the planter strip \.\'ill
mean retuming ~o the previous constnlCtion policy.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Approximately ten years ago. the Public ""Vorks Department instructed the Utilitie.s
Department to stop placing uliiity boxes (electric, telephone nnd CATV) in the sidewalk
areas due to the potential tripping hazard. The hazard occurs when the dilTerential
settling or uplifting of thl.! sidewalk and boxtS is caused by tree roots or soils that
expa.~d when wet and shrink when dry, by d,terioration of the boxes and lids, or
missing lids.
The directive given by Public Works wa, to install the boxes in the planter strip
between the curb and sidewalk. Utilities has complied with this request and has
insta1lod the majority of its utility box,," in the planter stlip.
During the last several years, and more recently during the last six months. Utilities has
received significant feedback from residents, Planning Commission, Archit~tural
Review Board, Tree Task Fanoe Members, and the Planning Department about the
aesthetics of the boxes and the loss of planter a'1.d tree spaces. Concern was expressed
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abo>.rt the utility bo,xes filling up the planter are,l$ and leaving no room for future tre<:s
or plants. The consensU$ (if rnformation received by staff is to save the plante~ strip for
trees and plants and mo"e ~'I. boxes to the si~ewalk.
Utilities' staft're';c!'\\'ed construction standards to detennine whether the boxes could
N:: in.orJ.alkd in sidc\"131ks. Materials used in old buxes and new hoxe8 'were examined
and current rr..aintenance praoztices were evaluated. It was found that older boxes made
of concrete had many brea.1(s in the Hd.<; resulting in high maintenance. The nc\v boxes
made. of pol)'mer COf'.crele are not falling. Staff has. noticed Ettle or no settling around
th< newer bo.x<s. In addit;"n, a!1 potentially hazardous old boxes are being repaired or
replaced as part of an ongofng annuaJ maintenance program.
TIteSo: fi'1dings and ,uncems raised by the public were discussed with Public Works
staff and t..~c Cit)' Attorney. Based on the::e discussions, both Publ;t: ',vories and the
City Attorney have agreed that Utilities ctmld resume its former practice of installing
utility "0\~S ill the sid~\I\ alL
Fl,ltu_rt.:" meeting and di~'<;'",j5~ions. wili b~ held bet\',een s!zjT irom Public \Vorks and
l.'tilil;C--:-; to de\,fiop gaidt.>lint.':-' (lr lL3ying utili!)' boxes in fhf." sidc\\'slk.
FISC _"_L_l)'.lL~CT.
There is a m<uginaJ incr~~e (les.~ th;.n 3%) In cost of constru.;tion when hoxes arc
lnstalled in t:,e side,yalk. This cost is induded in the overall pruject l'(1St when budgets
are prepared.
ENVIRO!'!Mf.NTAL ASSESS~IEr>lL
ProjeC'l<; involving undcrgrounding of utilities are categorically exempt from the
;::nvirorunental impdct assessment proccdures f as described in the Palo Alto
Envirorunentai Procedures,
PREPARED BY:
DEPARTME'NT HEAD APPROVAL:
EDW
CITY MANAGER APPROVAL: ~lf&t~~~~
AsSlstant City Manager
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CMR:~.5J :94
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