SR-512-004 (14)
th
EPWM: CP: AA: RF: SP-MISC\cc Reports\Utility Undergrounding 18 to Ashland
City Council Meeting: August 10, 2004 Santa Monica, California
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: City Staff
SUBJECT: Public Hearing to Determine the Necessity of Establishing an Underground
th
Utility District along 18 Court to Ashland Court North
Introduction
This report recommends that the City Council set a public hearing on September 28, 2004
Deleted:
to hear testimony
thth
to establish an underground utility district along 18 Court from Pico to Pearl, south on 20
th
Street to Ocean Park Boulevard, and continuing south on 18 Street to Ashland Court
North. Aboveground utilities in the proposed district would be undergrounded using Public
Utilities Commission Rule 20A Funds.
Background
On May 13, 2003 in accordance with California Public Utility Commission (CPUC) Rule
Deleted:
staff recommended that
20A, the City Council approved a plan to underground overhead transmission power poles
Deleted:
conceptually
Deleted:
evaluate the
in residential areas and establish an underground utility district on Marine Street from
Deleted:
ion of
Frederick Street to Lincoln Boulevard. Other streets proposed in the plan were prioritized
as follows.
th
?
18 Court, from Pico Boulevard to Pearl Street
th
?
18 Street, from Ocean Park Boulevard continuing to Ashland Court North
th
?
20 Street, from Pearl Street to Ocean Park Boulevard
1
Staff has completed field reviews of each street and confirmed that the conditions shown in
the prioritization process are still valid.
Deleted:
recommended that
At its July 8, 2003 meeting, Council directed staff to work on realizing the completion of
utility undergrounding for priority streets identified at its May 13 meeting and provide
information on actions needed to expedite projects with Southern California Edison
Deleted:
City
(Edison) and the CPUC. Accordingly, staff met with representatives from Edison to
Deleted:
the
Deleted:
Company
discuss the accelerated funding of undergrounding projects. Edison?s concern that
Deleted:
advance
Deleted:
for the ?general public
Ashland Court North did not satisfy the criteria for Rule 20A funding was also discussed
interest? requirement, and therefore did
not qualify
and Edison ultimately agreed that it is eligible.
Discussion
th
Approval of undergrounding along 18th Court, 20 Street, 18th Street and Ashland Court
North now provides for the significant advance planning Edison requires. In order to
maintain its eligibility, Edison is requesting that the next undergrounding district include
Ashland Court North. Completion by Edison of the engineering work for the proposed
District is anticipated by December 2006. Construction is anticipated to occur during 2007
and 2008.
In addition to the streets above, other residential streets with overhead transmission power
poles that have been identified for future undergrounding. Given the limited annual
allotment of Rule 20A funds to Santa Monica and the length of time it will take to complete
2
the streets that have already been designated for undergrounding, it is likely to be several
years before any of the following streets can be scheduled:
th
?
Pearl Street, from 18 Court to Centinela Avenue
th
?
14 Street, from Colorado Avenue to Pearl Street
?
Nebraska Avenue, from Stewart Street to Centinela Avenue
ndth
?
Delaware Avenue, from 22 Street to 20 Street
thth
?
Michigan Avenue, from 19 Court to 11 Street
th
?
19 Court, from Michigan Avenue to Pico Boulevard
Municipal Code Section 7.52.020 sets forth the procedure by which the City Council may
Deleted:
call for a
set a public hearing to ascertain whether the public necessity, health, safety, or welfare
requires the removal of poles, overhead wires, and associated overhead 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 recommends that the City Council set a public hearing for September 28, 2004
to determine the necessity of establishing the underground utility district. All affected
property owners will be notified in writing of the scheduled public hearing in accordance
with Municipal Code 7.52.020.
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
3
undergrounding of utilities and pay the service connection costs for affected property
owners.
Recommendation
Staff recommends that the City Council set a public hearing on September 28, 2004 to
th
receive public testimony regarding the establishment of the proposed 18 Court to Ashland
Court North Underground Utility District.
Prepared by: Craig Perkins, Director, Environmental and Public Works Management
Anthony Antich, P.E., City Engineer
Ruth Firestone, Engineering Support Services Supervisor
Deleted:
Donald Patterson, Senior
Administrative Analyst
4