SR-512-004 (13)
EPWM:CP:AA:RF:F:\DATA\SPFILES\SP-MISC\ccReports\MarineStreetPublicHearing.DOC
City Council Meeting: July 8, 2003 Santa Monica, California
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: City Staff
SUBJECT:Hold a Public Hearing to Determine the Necessity of Establishing an
Underground Utility District on Marine Street, between Lincoln Boulevard
and Frederick Street, and Adopt a Resolution to Establish this
Underground Utility District.
Introduction
This report recommends that City Council hold a public hearing to determine whether
the public necessity requires an underground utility district, and adopt a resolution
establishing a new Underground Utility ?District? where electric, telephone and cable TV
lines will be placed underground. The proposed district would be established along
Marine Street between Lincoln Boulevard and Frederick Street.
Background
California Public Utility regulation, Rule 20A Section 8209, specifies that each utility
company must allocate two percent of its gross revenues for use in placing aerial
facilities underground. The facilities include electrical lines, telephone lines and/or cable
TV lines. The regulations specify locations or conditions where facilities may be
undergrounded using designated utility company funds and require that one or more of
the following locations or conditions be met:
1) Areas adjacent to a public use area such as a park, Civic Center or school,
2) Arterial streets used by the community at large, or
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3) Locations where there are unusually heavy concentrations of wires adjacent
to an electrical substation or other facility which causes significant
interference with TV and radio reception in nearby residences.
On May 13, 2003, staff recommended that City Council conceptually approve a five-
year plan to evaluate the relocation of selected electric facilities underground as
described and in accordance with the 1972 State Public Utility Commission Rule 20-A,
which specifies that Southern California Edison (Edison) will, at its expense, place
existing overhead electric facilities underground.
Discussion
Using criteria reflecting a ?point system?, a collection of residential streets was
suggested as prime candidates for utility undergrounding. Based on impacts to the
neighborhoods and point values assigned, staff recommended prioritizing the
undergrounding as follows:
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Marine Street, from Frederick Street to Lincoln Boulevard
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18 Court, from Pico Boulevard to Pearl Street
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18 Street, from Ocean Park Boulevard continuing to Ashland Place North
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20 Street, from Pearl Street to Ocean Park Boulevard
Municipal Code No. 7.52.020 sets forth the procedure by which the City Council may
call for a public hearing to ascertain whether the public necessity, health, safety, or
welfare requires the removal of poles, overhead wires, and associated overhead
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structures within designated areas of the City and the underground installation of wires
and facilities for supplying electric, communication, or similar service. In accordance
with the Municipal Code, staff recommended that the City Council set a public hearing
for July 8, 2003 to determine the necessity of establishing the underground utility district
at Marine Street.
In 1999 the Public Utilities Commission amended their tariff to allow the use of Rule 20A
funds to include the conversion of underground service from the property line to the
existing electrical panels or meters, and conversion of the electric panels to the
buildings within a proposed District. Property owners are no longer required to pay for
connections or conversion of these services to the new underground system. A field
review of properties within the proposed Marine Street District, performed by City staff
and Edison personnel, reveals that forty-seven parcels will require conversion of their
service from overhead to underground.
Undergrounding utilities within the proposed District would reduce visual blight and bring
a significant new enhancement to the area. If utilities are undergrounded in the
proposed district, no overhead utilities will exist along this section of Marine Street,
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since utilities on northern portions of Marine from Frederick to 16 Street were already
placed underground. It is necessary to pursue the Marine Street utility undergrounding
now because significant advance planning is required for Edison to prepare for
construction and to coordinate the utility construction work with the anticipated
Streetscape Improvement Plan. Completion by Edison of the engineering and
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construction work for the proposed District is anticipated by December 2005.
All affected property owners have been notified in writing of the scheduled public
hearing in accordance with Municipal Code 7.52.020. Streets proposed in the five-year
plan will be completed in succession following the Main Street undergrounding project
currently under construction, which is scheduled for completion by August 1, 2003.
Budget/Financial Impact
There is no budget or financial impact to the City as a result of the establishment of this
Underground Utility District. The utility companies fund the costs of proposed
undergrounding of utilities and also pay the service connection costs for affected
property owners.
Recommendation
Staff recommends that the City Council:
1. Hold a public hearing to receive public testimony regarding the establishment of
the proposed Marine Street Underground Utility District, and
2. Adopt the attached resolution finding that the public necessity exists to establish
an Underground Utility District along Marine Street between Lincoln Boulevard
and Frederick Street.
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Prepared by: Craig Perkins, Director of Environmental and Public Works Management
Anthony Antich, P.E., City Engineer
Ruth Firestone, Engineering Support Services Supervisor
Attachments: Map of Proposed Undergrounding District
Resolution for Adoption
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EPWM: CP: AA: DB: SL: F:\DATA\SPFILES\SP-MISC\cc Reports\MarineSTPHsupple.DOC
Council Meeting: July 8, 2003 Santa Monica, California
SUPPLEMENTAL STAFF REPORT ? ITEM 9B
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: City Staff
SUBJECT: Supplemental Report for Public Hearing to Determine the Necessity of
Establishing an Underground Utility District on Marine Street, Between
Lincoln Boulevard and Frederick Street
Introduction
This supplemental report provides additional background information regarding the
conditions by which California Public Utility Rule 20A funds may be used to
underground electric utilities. This additional information does not change staff?s
recommendation.
Deleted:
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Discussion The California Public Utilities Code Rule 20A specifies conditions which must
exist in order to utilize Rule 20A funds to underground overhead utility lines. These
regulations are continuously reviewed and amended by actions of the California Public
Utilities Commission (CPUC). Rulings by the CPUC can result in frequent revisions. The
current conditions that must be met for Southern California Edison to utilize Rule 20A
funds to underground overhead lines, as amended by CPUC sheet 31867-E, currently
in effect are:
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1. Such undergrounding will avoid or eliminate an unusually heavy concentration of
overhead electric facilities;
2. The street or road or right-of-way is extensively used by the general public and
carries a heavy volume of pedestrian or vehicular traffic;
3. The street or road or right-of-way adjoins or passes through a civic area or public
recreation area or an area of unusual scenic interest to the general public; or
4. The street or road or right-of-way is considered an arterial street or major
collector road, as defined in the Governor?s Office of Planning and Research
General Plan Guidelines.
The undergrounding is considered to be eligible for rule 20A funds if one or more of
these conditions exist.
Deleted:
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Recommendation
Staff recommends that the City Council take the actions specified in the original staff
report.
Prepared by: Craig Perkins, Director of Environmental and Public Works
Mnagement
Anthony Antich, P.E., City Engineer
Donald Patterson, Senior Administrative Analyst
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