Title
Staff Report for a City of San Leandro City Council Resolution to Authorize the City Manager to Execute an Agreement with Pacific Gas and Electric Company for Abandoned Facilities
Staffreport
SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATIONS
This agreement memorializes best practices and City standards with respect to abandoning unused underground gas and electric conveyance systems within the City's right of way.
Staff recommends authorizing execution of the agreement by the City Manager or her designee.
BACKGROUND
Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) holds a franchise agreement for distribution of natural gas and electricity within San Leandro. The franchise agreement permits use of the public right of way for construction and maintenance of a transport and distribution system but is silent with respect to abandoned facilities that are no longer in use.
Section 5-1-300 of the San Leandro Municipal Code authorizes the Engineering and Transportation Director to establish standards for encroachments within the public right of way as required to protect the safety and convenience of the public.
Utility companies have historically left abandoned facilities in the roadway but in 2015, after an abandoned gas transmission line delayed storm drain work on the Siempre Verde Park project for several months, the practice of abandoning underground utilities in place was put on hold within San Leandro.
Analysis
In exchange for permission to leave abandoned underground facilities in place, PG&E has offered to maintain records of the location of the facilities, provide records upon request, mark locations of abandoned facilities upon request, and remove the portion of abandoned facilities in conflict with new or proposed improvements. These terms are included in the proposed agreement.
As abandoned facilities can be difficult to identify, this agreement obligates PG&E to keep accurate records of any facilities that they abandon. Abandoned facilities occupy some of the finite ...
Click here for full text