Title
Staff Report for a Resolution Authorizing the City Manager to Acquire Easements for the Underground Utility Project on East 14th Street North of 150th Avenue, Project Nos. 123-38-279 and 123-38-328
Staffreport
SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Staff recommends approval of the resolution authorizing the City Manager or his designee to acquire easements for the Underground Utility Conversion Project.
BACKGROUND
Undergrounding of utilities along East 14th Street from 150th Avenue to Maud Avenue/Thornton Street was one of the areas established as an Underground Utility Conversion District and project. City staff worked with PG&E to prepare for the undergrounding of PG&E facilities in the area and removal of all utility poles (excluding street light poles).
Pole-mounted equipment that cannot fit within the existing right of way requires easements from the adjacent private property owners. Much of the equipment will be underground, but access to vaults and transformers will be required in certain instances. These will be flush-mounted on the ground.
Analysis
To place all of the overhead wires along this portion of East 14th Street underground, PG&E must have access and utility easement rights to install previously pole- mounted equipment at five locations. The City was asked by PG&E to acquire these rights as required by the Public Utilities Commission Rule 20 Program for undergrounding utilities.
This action will allow the City Manager to execute agreements with the property owners if negotiations are successful.
There are five locations that require an easement on private property:
· 2193 East 14th Street (commercial building) - 502 square foot underground trench
· 2399 East 14th Street (trailer park) - 411 square foot underground trench to connect to a pole already located on the property
· 14444 East 14th Street (apartment complex) - 53 square foot underground trench and flush-mounted box
· 14400 East 14th Street (apartment complex) - 95 square foot underground trench and flush-mounted box
· 14366 East 14th Street (apartment complex) - 436 square foot underground trench and 89 square foot area for a transformer and flush-mounted box
Previous Actions
· On April 7, 2003, by Resolution No. 2003-092, the City Council adopted the E. 14th Street Underground Utility District
· On May 19, 2008, by Resolution No. 2008-050, the City Council approved the 2008-09 Five-year Utility Underground District Conversion Project list. This project was included on this list
· On May 18, 2009, by Resolution No. 2009-065, the City Council approved the extension of the E. 14th Street Underground Utility District to Maud Avenue/Thornton Street
· On July 2, 2012, by Resolution No. 2012-079, the City Council approved the 2012-13 Five-year Utility Underground District Conversion Project list
Applicable General Plan Policies
General Plan Policy No. 44.05 Street Beautification - City should implement programs to underground utilities along its commercial thoroughfares.
Permits and/or Variances Granted
Required permits and/or variances will be determined at the time of implementation of the utilities undergrounding work at each location.
Environmental Review
Environmental determination will be performed for each location at the time of implementation. Historically, placing existing utilities underground is categorically exempt per Section 15302 (d) of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
Fiscal Impacts
The project was originally funded in account 210-38-172. This was the main account for all undergrounding activity that was established in the 1990s. Money was appropriated to this account periodically throughout the years to fund the various projects.
In October 2011, a new fund for underground utility conversion work was created (123), and funds from the 210 accounts were transferred over to these new accounts.
This project is funded with money in accounts 123-38-279 (underground utility fees) and 123-38-328 (PG&E reimbursement account). The cost to acquire the easements is estimated at approximately $20,000.
PREPARED BY: Tara H. Peterson, Administrative Services Manager, Engineering and Transportation