HomeMy WebLinkAbout06 - Underground Utility District 15 - Newport McFadden Square Intersection• March 22, 1999
CITY COUNCIL AGENDA
ITEM NO. 6
TO: MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT
SUBJECT: PROPOSED UNDERGROUND UTILITY DISTRICT NO. 15
(NEWPORT /MCFADDEN SQUARE INTERSECTION — 19T" STREET TO 32ND
STREET)
RECOMMENDATION:
Schedule a public hearing for 7:00 P.M. on April 26,1999, to determine whether or not an
underground utilities district should be formed along Newport/Balboa Boulevard — McFadden
Square intersection and Newport Boulevard from 19th Street to 32nd Street, using the procedure
of Chapter 15.32 of the Municipal Code.
DISCUSSION:
In the late 1960's the California Public Utilities Commission (P.U.C.) enacted a rule, known as the
"Rule in Case 8209" (Rule 20A), providing that the regulated electrical utilities establish a defined
• program to underground existing overhead utility lines. The telephone companies participate by
undergrounding their facilities in cooperation with electrical utility projects.
The program is paid for with utility company funds allocated in accordance with a P.U.C. specified
formula. (This program is completely separate from the assessment district program used to
underground utilities in residential areas.) In Newport Beach the allotment is currently $329,000
per year.
Because of the limited amount of funds available compared with the large amount of existing
overhead utilities, the City Council adopted a policy on October 26, 1971, assigning first priority to
undergrounding along Pacific Coast Highway; and further providing for a special priority for
undergrounding in conjunction with construction projects along major and primary arterial
highways.
In order for an undergrounding project to be eligible for funding under the Rule 20A program, the
project must satisfy one or more of the following P.U.C. specified criteria:
a. The undergrounding will eliminate an unusually heavy concentration of overhead facilities,
or
b. The street is extensively used by the general public and carries a heavy volume of
pedestrian or vehicle traffic, or
. c. The street adjoins or passes through a civic area or public recreation area or an area of
unusual scenic interest to the general public.
The City's current Rule 20A undergrounding program has expended available funds through
SUBJECT: Proposed Underground Utility District No. 15 (Newport/McFadden Intersection — 191" Street to 32n° Street)
March 22, 1999
Page: 2
Calendar Year 1998, with the most recent project being the undergrounding along Newport •
Boulevard from 32nd Street northerly to the "Arches" interchange which is currently under
construction.
The City's account from the Edison Company's Rule 20A undergrounding program is now
$469,000.00, with additional projected allotments of $329,000 per year through the year 2001.
The City must hold a hearing and adopt a resolution to establish the district in order to use the
funds.
At its regular meeting held on January 16, 1998, the City's Public Works Committee discussed the
establishment of an underground utilities district to underground overhead utilities along
Newport/Balboa Boulevard at the McFadden intersection and Newport Boulevard from 19th Street
to 32nd Street. It is recommended that the City move to establish an underground utilities district
to underground all overhead utilities along Newport Boulevard from 19th Street to 32nd Street.
The estimated cost of the proposed undergrounding project is $1,030,000. Edison anticipates
that it will be approximately 2 years before the design will be complete. It is anticipated that the
City will have approximately $1,127,000 in its Rule 20A account by the year 2001 to fund
Underground Utility District No. 15.
The recommendation is based upon the following findings:
1. The Edison Company has funds available from the City's allocation of Rule 20A funds if
the City establishes the proposed district.
2. The proposed district meets the P.U.C. eligibility criteria as stated above.
3. The proposed district conforms with the City Council's priority criteria stated above.
4. If other desirable undergrounding projects should be identified, additional funds are
projected to be available by FY 2002 or the City could request an advance of funds from
the Edison Company.
The location of the proposed Underground District No. 15 is shown on the attached sketch.
Also attached is a report describing the City's utility funded underground program from its
inception in 1968 to the present.
Respectf )� b itte ,
Public Works Department
Don Webb, Director
By: . /, /7a
Richard H ffstadt ((//
Development Engineer
Attachments: Sketches showing proposed District No. 15 .
Status report on Rule Case 8209 Undergrounding Program
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CITY OF NEWPORT BEACH
PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT
UTILITIES UNDERGROUNDING PROGRAM
March 5. 1999
Projects to replace overhead electric and communication systems with underground
facilities may be accomplished in a variety of ways. The procedure of most interest to the
public is one by which utility companies furnish the funds, and local public agencies
determine where they will be spent. The procedure is referred to as the Rule in Case
8209. The Southern California Edison Company designates this procedure as Rule 20A.
Pacific Bell does not allocate specific amounts of money to a public agency; however, it
undergrounds the same area that is undergrounded by the power company.
The Rule in Case 8209 (Rule 20A)
In 1965, the Public Utilities Commission of the State of California instituted an order of
investigations, Case 8209, concerning tariffs, practices, economics, and the esthetics of
undergrounding. In 1967, as a result of the investigations and after holding a number of
public hearings, the commission established rules for the replacement of overhead
facilities with underground facilities.
The rule in Case 8209 (Rule 20A) provides that each public utility will, at its own expense,
replace overhead facilities provided that the governing body of the city or county has:
A. Determined, after consultation with the utility companies and after holding public
hearings, that such undergrounding is in the public interest for one or more of the
following reasons:
1. The undergrounding will avoid or eliminate an unusually heavy
concentration of overhead facilities.
2. The street is extensively used by the general public and carries a heavy
volume of pedestrian or vehicular traffic; and
3. The street adjoins or passes through a civic area or public recreation area
or an area of unusual scenic interest to the general public.
B. Created an underground district in the area which provides that:
1. All existing overhead communications and electrical distribution facilities in
the district shall be removed; and
2. Each property owner served from such overhead facilities shall provide all .
facility changes on his premises necessary to receive service from the
i
underground facilities of the utility as soon as it is available; and
3. The utilities are authorized to discontinue their overhead services.
Underground Utilities Coordinating Committee:
To meet the requirements of the Rule Case 8209, on December 28, 1968, the City
Council established the Underground Utilities Coordinating Committee. The original
committee consisted of 4 members:
1. City Manager
2. Public Works Director
3. Representative from the Southern California Edison Company
4. Representative from Pacific Bell
At a later date, one Council member was added to the committee. Currently
Councilwoman Debay is the member on the committee.
The main purposes of this committee are to: (1) make recommendations to the City
Council on the location and priority of conversion work within the City, (2) advise the City
council on all underground utilities matters; and (3) coordinate underground work and
plans between the City and affected utility companies.
The Underground Utilities Coordinating Committee meets bimonthly, and the meetings
are open to the public.
Establishment of Priorities:
After the first series of public hearings were held by the City Council, it became evident
that because of; (1) the limited funds available, (2) the large number of requests for
undergrounding, and (3) the difficulty in getting the individual property owners to pay for
work (service conversions) to be done on private property, a uniform City -wide approach
was needed.
On October 26, 1971, the City Council approved the following policy for establishing
underground utility districts:
1. First priority will be given to undergrounding utilities along Coast Highway.
2. A special review of priorities will be given to undergrounding when extensive
construction is proposed along major and primary streets.
E
Some of the reasons for concentrating on Coast Highway were as follows:
1. The conversion on Coast Highway would meet all of the criteria established
by Rule 20A.
2. Coast Highway carries an unusually heavy volume of vehicular traffic and is
used by everyone in the City.
3. Coast Highway was designated by the State as a scenic highway.
4. The Orange County Coast Association is working to underground the entire
length of the Coast Highway in Orange County.
5. The Newport Tomorrow Report recommended undergrounding in
commercial areas.
6. Most of the adjoining property owners were willing to pay for the cost of the
work done on private property.
Existing Program
District No. 1 - Ocean Boulevard from Heliotrope Avenue to Poppy Avenue.
Established after a public hearing held on November 23, 1970.
(Estimated amount of Rule 8209 funds - $28,000)
District No. 2 - Coast Highway from Riverside Avenue to Marina Drive. Established
after a public hearing held on May 24, 1971. (Est(mated amount of
Rule 8209 funds - $230,000)
District No. 3 - Coast Highway from Bayside Drive to Jamboree Road, and
Jamboree Road from Coast Highway to Bayside Drive. Established
after a public hearing held on December 10, 1973. (Estimated
amount of Rule 8209 funds - $87,000)
District No. 4 - Coast Highway from Jamboree Road to MacArthur Boulevard.
Established after a public hearing held on November 25, 1974.
(Estimated amount of Rule 8209 funds - $250,000)
District No. 5 - Jamboree Road from north of San Joaquin Hills Drive to south of
Santa Barbara Drive. Established after a public hearing held on
November 25, 1974. (Estimated amount of Rule 8209 funds -
$100,000)
District No. 6 - Coast Highway from Dover Drive to easterly of Upper Bay Bridge.
Established after a public hearing held on November 8, 1976.
(Estimated amount of Rule 8209 funds - $200,000)
3
District No. 7 - Way Lane from Fernleaf Avenue easterly and westerly. Established
after a public hearing held on October 23, 1979. (No Rule 8209
funds involved).
District No. 8 - Superior Avenue from 15th Street to northerly City boundary of Tract
7817. Established after a public hearing held on November 9, 1981.
(Estimated amount of Rule 8209 funds - $75,000)
District No. 9 - Superior Avenue from 15th Street to northerly City boundary.
Established after a public hearing held on July 9, 1984. (Estimated
amount of Rule 8209 funds - $87,000)
District No. 10 - Balboa Boulevard in the vicinity of I Street. (No Rule 8209 funds
involved)
District No. 11 - West Coast Highway from Newport Boulevard to Santa Ana River.
Established after a public hearing held on June 24, 1985.
(Estimated amount of Rule 8209 funds - $1,275,000)
District No. 12 - West Coast Highway from Dover Drive westerly to Marino Drive and
MacArthur Boulevard from East Coast Highway northerly to Crown
Drive.
District No. 13 - West Coast Highway from Dover Drive westerly to Marino Drive and
MacArthur Boulevard from East Coast Highway northerly to Crown
Drive was established after a public hearing on January 10, 1994.
(Estimated amount of Rule 8209 funds - $158,000)
District No. 14 - Newport Boulevard from 32 "d Street northerly to north of the "Arches"
Bridge. Established after a public hearing on May 12, 1997.
(Estimated amount of Rule 8209 funds - $500,000)
Proposed Districts
District No. 15 - Newport/Balboa Boulevard — McFadden Square Intersection and
Newport Boulevard from 19th Street to 32 "d Street.
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