TITLE
Recommendation to receive supporting documentation into the record, conclude the hearing and determine that it is in the general public interest to mandate the undergrounding of utilities, as specified in City of Long Beach Assessment District No. 08-01; and declare ordinance creating an underground utility district along The Toledo between Second Street and the Geneva Walkway read the first time and laid over to the next regular meeting of the City Council for final reading.
(District 3)
DISCUSSION
In response to a request from the majority of property owners, on December 16, 2008, City Council adopted RES-08-0159, creating an assessment district for the undergrounding of utilities along a portion of The Toledo as shown on the attached Exhibit A. On June 2, 2010, the City entered into a contract for the first phase of the work, involving the installation of underground conduits within the public right-of-way. That work is now complete. The second phase of this project involves the installation of underground service connections to the individual properties outside of the public right-of-way. This work must be carried out by the individual property owners at their own expense. It is in the general public interest to require the installation of such underground service connections, because failure to do so shall result in the continued need to maintain unsightly and deteriorating overhead wires, support poles, and associated above-ground structures.
In order to ensure that all of the property owners do this work in a timely fashion, it is recommended that an underground utility district be created, pursuant to Municipal Code Section 15.48. These regulations provide a process for ordering the installation of service connections on private property, compliance deadlines, and penalties for failing to carry out the work by these deadlines. A report specifying the recommended date by which property owners must complete all facility changes on their premises necessary to receive services, and an estimate of the time required to complete the underground installation, is attached as Exhibit B.
This matter was reviewed by Assistant City Attorney Heather A. Mahood on November 9, 2010 and by Budget Management Officer Victoria Bell on November 11, 2010.
SUSTAINABILITY
All concrete work will include recycled waste ash, diverting these materials from our landfills.
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
The installation of underground service connections to each and every individual property is critical to the success of Assessment District No. 08-01. Establishing an underground utility district on December 7, 2010, will provide for the earliest possible completion of the final phase of this project.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact to the City associated with the requested action. The costs of the improvement project within the street right-of-way will be paid solely from prepaid assessments and the proceeds of the improvement bonds that were issued. Work that will be required between the street and each individual structure on the street will be done and paid for by the respective property owners. There is no local job impact associated with the recommendation.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
BODY
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LONG BEACH CREATING THE TOLEDO UNDERGROUND UTILITY DISTRICT PURSUANT TO LONG BEACH MUNICIPAL CODE CHAPTER 15.48
Respectfully Submitted,
MICHAEL P. CONWAY
DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS
APPROVED:
PATRICK H. WEST
CITY MANAGER