SR-512-004 (15)
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SEP 2 8 2004
EPWM: CP: AA: RF: C:\..\Staff Reports In Process\9_28\Utility2.DOC
City Council Meeting: September 28,2004 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 along 18th Court to Ashland Place North, and
Adopt a Resolution to Establish this Underground District
Introduction
This report recommends that the 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 districtwhere electric, telecommunication and cable
lines will be placed underground. The proposed district would be established beginning on
18th Court at Pico Boulevard and continue south on 18th Court to Pearl St.; east on Pearl
Street to 20th Street; south on 20th Street to Ocean Park Boulevard; west on Ocean Park
Boulevard to 18th Street; south on 18th Street to Ashland Place North; and west on Ashland
Place North, terminating at 16th Street.
Backqround
On May 13, 2003, the City Council approved a plan to relocate selected electric facilities
underground in accordance with the 1972 State Public Utility Commission Rule 20-A, which
specifies that Southern California Edison (Edison) will place existing overhead electric
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SEP 2 8 2004
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facilities underground and approved staff's prioritization of areas for undergrounding
based on impacts to the neighborhoods and point values assigned. The following streets
were prioritized:
. Marine Street, from Frederick Street to Lincoln Boulevard
. 18th Court, from Pico Boulevard to Pearl Street
. 18th Street, from Ocean Park Boulevard continuing to Ashland Place North
. 20th Street, from Pearl Street to Ocean Park Boulevard
On August 10, Council set the public hearing date of September 28, 2004 for the
establishment of the 18th Court to Ashland Place North underground utility district.
Discussion
The Ashland Place North right-of-way carries a heavy concentration of transmission poles
with an unusually heavy concentration of overhead lines, and lies between two major City
streets, 16th and 18th Streets. In carrying out the plan, staff proposes undergrounding
transmission poles along 18th Street at the intersection of Ashland Place North. The
juncture of Ashland Place North at 16th Street was previously performed in the
undergrounding program completed in 1989. Therefore, in order to provide continuity with
the existing underground system, and eliminate uneven patches of overhead facilities, this
connecting right-of-way is included in the current undergrounding plan.
It is necessary to pursue the approval of undergrounding along 18th Court, 20th Street, 18th
Street and Ashland Place North now because significant advance planning is required for
Edison to prepare for construction. Also, in order to maintain its eligibility, Edison is
requesting that the next undergrounding district include Ashland Place North. Completion
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by Edison of the engineering work for the proposed District is anticipated by December
2006, with construction completion during 2008.
On 20th Street, between Pearl and Ocean Park, poles occupy both sides of the street.
Those on the west side of the street are owned by Edison and will be undergrounded with
Rule 20A funds. Poles on the east side, belonging to Los Angeles Department of Water
and Power (LADWP), are not covered by Rule 20A and will be covered on a separate track
through discussions with LADWP.
Santa Monica Municipal Code Section 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
structures within designated areas of the City and the underground installation of wires and
facilities for supplying electric, communication, or similar service.
All affected property owners have been notified in writing of the scheduled public hearing in
accordance with Santa Monica Municipal Code Section 7.52.020. The streets in the
proposed plan will be completed in succession following the Marine Street undergrounding
project currently in design.
Budqet/Financiallmpact
There is no budget or financial impact to the City as a result of the establishment of this
underground utility district. The utility companies use ratepayer funds that are set aside
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specifically for undergrounding projects to fund the costs of proposed undergrounding of
utilities and 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 18th Court to Ashland Court North Underground Utility District, and
2. Adopt the attached resolution finding that the public necessity exists to establish
and underground utility district along 18th Court to Ashland Court North.
Prepared by: Craig Perkins, Director, Environmental and Public Works Management
Anthony Antich, P.E., City Engineer
Ruth Firestone, Engineering Support Services Supervisor
Attachments: Resolution
Maps
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See Adopted Resolution No. 9985 (CCS)
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