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Home My WebLink About12/07/1999, 2 - FORMATION OF UNDERGROUND DISTRICT 14: SANTA ROSA STREET - MARSH TO PACIFIC council mMecember7, 1999 j acEnaa Repont hcmN CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO FROM: Michael D.McCluskey, Director of Public Works Prepared By: Barbara Lynch Civil Engineer SUBJECT: FORMATION OF UNDERGROUND DISTRICT 14: SANTA ROSA STREET-MARSH TO PACIFIC CAO RECOMMENDATION 1. Adopt resolution approving the proposed revised priority list for underground districts. 2. Pass to print the ordinance to amend Section 13.12.040 of the municipal code to establish Underground District 14. 3. Direct staff to proceed with District 14 upon final passage of the amended municipal code. DISCUSSION Construction is currently underway replacing the bridge on Santa Rosa Street between Marsh and Pacific Streets. Staff is also attempting to acquire the lot on the comer of Marsh and Santa Rosa streets for a "pocket" park. Utilities are underground on Santa Rosa from the northerly side of the bridge north along Santa Rosa to Marsh. From the north side of the bridge the utilities go overhead to cross the bridge and continue south on Santa Rosa. At the time staff requested authorization to advertise the bridge construction, a member of the public requested the City to underground the overhead utilities in this block because of the proximity of the creek and the attractive view associated with it. The City Council directed staff to proceed with developing an underground district for this block. Because the underground district for the Santa Rosa Street bridge was not formed in advance of the bridge construction project,it was not possible to coordinate undergrounding with the bridge work. Staff met with the various utility companies affected to discuss what would be entailed in completing the district. We also discussed what infrastructure, such as conduits in the street,was reasonable to include with the bridge project. PG& E has informed us that we can receive reimbursement for work done in advance of the adoption of the district through the undergrounding program. If the Council approves the underground district, we will request the bridge contractor.to include certain conduits before we reconstruct the street at the end of the year. We would request reimbursement for this work. The remaining work and actual undergrounding would occur in accordance with the timetable set forth in the ordinance. For many years, the City has pursued undergrounding overhead utility lines using Public Utility Commission(PUC) funds called"20A funds." To date twelve districts have been completed and another is under construction. In the past, the Council has identified and listed projects on a preferred project list using the conceptual priorities in the list below. The preferred project list has been revised by the Council to permit undergrounding to take place in conjunction with improvement projects such as street widenings.The latest revision,see Attachment A, occurred in 2-1 Council Agenda Report—Formation of Underground District Page 2 1995 when Council adopted Resolution #8471 which reprioritized the list to allow the undergrounding in the railroad area to coincide with the construction of the Jennifer Street Bridge. The conceptual priority list is as follows: 1. Downtown 2. Major entryways and traffic corridors 3. Streets scheduled for widening 4. Area with large new developments 5. Areas adjacent to above locations and which have particularly unsightly overhead utilities. In response to the Council's request to underground Santa Rosa Street south of Marsh a proposed revision to the priority list is also shown in Attachment A. This would be the new listing for projects to receive PUC funds for undergrounding. The changes are the insertion of the Santa Rosa project and addition of a project to be coordinated with the Mid Hxguera Street widening project. The process for formation of a utility district shall be in accordance with Chapter 13.12, "Underground Utilities" of the Municipal Code. The City Clerk has notified all affected property owners and utilities at least 30 days prior to the date of this Public Hearing. If after the hearing Council determines that the district is necessary, the Council shall pass to print the ordinance establishing Underground District 14. Staffwill return after the necessary advertising period for the ordinance and request Council give final passage declaring the area an underground utility district. The ordinance includes a description of the district and fixes the time by which all overhead utilities must be removed. FISCAL IMPACT Approximately $240,000 is allocated by PG&E every year to the PUC 20A funds for underground conversion within the City. These funds then pay for the work to underground PG&E overhead wires. The City decides through the underground district process which areas we want undergrounded. We can "spend"these funds as much as five years in advance. PG&E has confirmed that this block long project is eligible for the PUC 20A funds. As of June 8i° we were approximately $93,000 in the red. A new allocation will be made in January. The new allocation will be enough to cover the deficit in the account and the cost of this new underground district. PG&E estimates the work will cost $75,000. Past experience would indicate it will be higher than this initial estimate. The individual property owners are responsible to pay for the conversion of their building and service equipment on their building to receive new service from underground. ALTERNATIVES 1. The underground district could be completed at a later date since the work will not be completed with the bridge construction. The work could be coordinated with the 2i-2 Council Agenda Report:—Formation of Underground District Page 3 development of the "pocket" park at the corder of Marsh and Santa Rosa. It could also be placed farther down on the priority list to be funded after other higher priority projects. 2. Do not develop an underground district for this area. ATTACHMENTS Attachment A Current Underground District List, Proposed Underground District List Attachment B - Proposed Map of District 14 Resolution Ordinance \1955-metro\sys\groupsbww %wm;A_wffent pmj6=\bndgas\93"wnta rm\statt reports\up dmt76.dm I r z 2-3 Attachment A-Underground District Priority Listing Priority List as of last Council Action 09951: Higuera-Madonna to Marsh Partially completed with the Higuera/ Madonna widening as District 11. Remainder to be completed with Higuera widening n/o High street. District 12 Jennifer Street Bridge Completed District 13 Santa Rosa- Montalban to US 101 under construction District 14 Monterey- Santa Rosa to US 101 District 15 Broad- Marsh to South District 16 California- San Luis to US 101 District 17 Area bounded by Santa Rosa, Marsh,California, Monterey District 18 Grand- Monterey to Slack Revised Priority List: District 14 Santa Rosa-Marsh to Pacific District 15 Higuera-s/o High to Marsh District 16 Monterey- Santa Rosa to US 101 District 17 Broad-Marsh to South District 18 California- San Luis to US 101 District 19 Area bounded by Santa Rosa,Marsh, California,Monterey District 20 Grand-Monterey to Slack 2m4 i M A R S H S T R E E T R/W R/W CHEDA W PROPERTY W �i KARDEL PROPERTY (A ' 9 /2 Q ]OP �O cR ms'Q KUNDERT �— PROPERTY (no overhead from Santa Rosa) R/W R/W P A C I F I C S T R E E T SANTA ROSA STREET -UNDERGROUND DISTRICT- Marsh Street to Pacific Street District 14 LEGEND: 2.5 DATE District 14 Boundory m OCT. '99 RESOLUTION NO. (1999 Series) A RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO ADOPTING A PRIORITY LIST FOR UNDERGROUND DISTRICTS FOR OVERHEAD UTILITIES WHEREAS,the City of San Luis Obispo maintains an ongoing program to underground overhead utility lines; and WHEREAS, the City Council periodically updates and adopts a new priority list for this work; THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of San Luis Obispo: SECTION 1. The following priority list shall be used for the undergrounding of overhead utilities: District 14 Santa Rosa-Marsh to Pacific District 15 Higuera-s/o High to Marsh District 16 Monterey - Santa Rosa to US 101 District 17 Broad-Marsh to South District 18 California- San Luis to US101 District 19 Area bounded by Santa Rosa,Marsh, California,Monterey District 20 Grand-Monterey to Slack SECTION 2. Resolution No. 8471 (1995 Series)previously listing priorities shall be rescinded. Upon motion of seconded by and on the following roll call vote: AYES: NOS: ABSENT: the foregoing resolution was adopted this day of , 1999. Mayor Allen Settle ATTEST: APPROVED AS TO FORM: Lee Price,City ClerkJ J g - C' Attorney 2-6 ORDINANCE NO. (1999 Series) AN ORDINANCE OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO AMENDING SECTION 13.12.040 OF THE SAN LUIS OBISPO MUNICIPAL CODE TO ESTABLISH A NEW UNDERGROUND UTILITY DISTRICT 14 WHEREAS,the City of San Luis Obispo wishes to improve the appearance of the City by the removal of overhead utilities in areas of scenic interest; and WHEREAS, San Luis Obispo Creek and the Santa Rosa Bridge provide a visual gateway to the southern part of the old town and the railroad district; and WHEREAS,the City is able to utilize Public Utility Commission funding for this purpose; BE IT ORDAINED by the Council of the City of San Luis Obispo as follows: SECTION 1. The following subsection 14 of Section 13.12.040 of the San Luis Obispo Municipal Code is hereby added to establish Underground District 14: 14. Beginning at the westerly comer of Lot 1, Block 200 of the Buckley Tract in the City of San Luis Obispo,filed November 15, 1883,Book A,Page 46 of Maps, said point also being the intersection of the southerly right-of-way line of Marsh Street and the easterly right-of way line of Santa Rosa Street; thence, southeasterly along the easterly right-of-way line of Santa Rosa Street to the intersection of the northerly right-of--way line of Pacific Street; thence, westerly crossing Santa Rosa Street to the intersection of the northerly right-of- way line of Pacific Street with the westerly right-of-way line of Santa Rosa Street; thence,northwesterly along the westerly right-of-way line of Santa Rosa Street to the southerly right-of-way line of Marsh Street; thence, easterly,crossing Santa Rosa Street to the point of beginning. Property owners shall be prepared to receive underground service by October 30,2000. Overhead facilities shall be removed from public property by December 30,2000. SECTION 2. A summary of this ordinance, approved by the City Attorney,together with the names of the Council members voting for and against it, shall be published at least five days prior to its final passage,in the Tribune,a newspaper published and circulated in this City. This ordinance will go into effect at the expiration of thirty days after its final passage. 2- / INTRODUCED on the day of , 1999,AND FINALLY ADOPTED by the Council of the City of San Luis Obispo on the day of ,2000, on the following roll call: AYES: NOES: ABSENT: Mayor Allen Settle ATTEST: APPROVED AS TO FORM: Lee Price, City Clerk . J,#enp,,gCtf Attorney 6-Q