TITLE
Recommendation to adopt resolution revising Underground Utility District No. 40 for portions of Willow Street under California Public Utilities Commission Rule 20A. (Districts 6,7)
DISCUSSION
On October 10,2006, RES No. 06-0118 was adopted creating Underground Utility District No. 40 for Willow Street between the westerly City Boundary and Atlantic Avenue. Subsequent to our resolution, Southern California Edison (SCE) conducted a preliminary investigation for the proposed undergrounding and recommended that their facilities west of the Los Angeles River (River) be excluded from our Underground Utility District No 40. Their reasons are provided as follows:
1. There is a 220 KV high volume transmission corridor just within our westerly city
boundary which cannot be undergrounded due to cost and land right issues.
2. There are poles west of the River belonging to the California Department of
Transportation that cannot be ordered underground by a City of Long Beach
resolution.
3. SCE's transmission facilities between the westerly city boundary and the River
are relatively new (installed in 2002), and it would be more cost effective to
replace facilities that are nearer to the end of their useful life.
A diagram showing the revised limits of Underground Utility District No. 40 is attached as Exhibit A. SCE's statement on this matter is attached as Exhibit B. The September 5, 2006, City Council letter initiating the undergrounding of utilities along both Willow Street and Alamitos Avenue is attached as Exhibit C. The resolution drafted to modify Underground Utility District No. 40 is attached as Exhibit D.
This resolution is necessary in order for SCE to prepare engineering plans for this project.
This matter was reviewed by Deputy City Attorney Amy Burton on March 10, 2008, and Budget Management Officer Victoria Bell on March 17, 2008.
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
City Council action is requested on April 1 , 2008, so that SCE may proceed with planning and carrying out this project.
FISCAL IMPACT
SCE's original cost estimate in 2006 for undergrounding utilities along Willow Street was $6,800,000, based on the length of the corridor to be undergrounded. This did not include the 220 KV high volume transmission corridor which must be maintained overhead. The cost to underground utilities in the original area was revised in 2008 to $12,600,000. The cost of undergrounding the reduced area shown on Exhibit A is estimated as $5,200,000, as there are no transmission lines to underground in this area.
According to the State of California Public Utility Commission rules, these costs are SCE's responsibility. The City may incur minor costs (approximately $20,000) for the construction of underground electrical feeds to the City-owned street lighting system. These costs cannot be firmly stated until final plans have been developed for the project, but will come from funds budgeted in the General Fund (GP) in the Department of Public Works (PW) for street light maintenance.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
BODY
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LONG BEACH AMENDING RESOLUTION NO. RES-06-0118 REVISING UNDERGROUND UTILITY DISTRICT NO. 40 FOR PORTIONS OF WILLOW STREET UNDER CALIFORNIA PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION RULE 20A (DISTRICTS 6 AND 7)
Respectfully Submitted,
Michael P. Conway
Director of Public Works
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PATRICK H. WEST |
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