TITLE
Recommendation to find that excavations are immediately required for the general health, safety, and welfare of the City and cannot be delayed; that alternatives to excavating, such as alternative routing, or construction methods, such as boring or excavation of the parkway, are not possible; approve a discretionary permit to excavate on Artesia Boulevard, between Atlantic Avenue and East Coolidge Street, a City street that has been reconstructed within the previous 60 months, in accordance with Section 14.08.060 of the Long Beach Municipal Code. (District 9)
DISCUSSION
The Long Beach Gas and Oil Department (LBGO) has filed for a discretionary permit to excavate on Artesia Boulevard, between Atlantic Avenue and East Coolidge Street, which was reconstructed on November 30, 2014, and is under an excavation moratorium for 60 months, until November 30, 2019 (map attached). LBGO is requesting the permit to excavate and replace a section of aging gas main pipeline as part of a larger project to replace similar aging gas main pipelines on Artesia Boulevard, between East Coolidge Street and Gardenia Avenue, that is currently prone to leak and fail in the event of an earthquake.
Long Beach Municipal Code (LBMC) Section 14.08.060, Public Works permit-issuance, requires that a permit for an excavation in a City street that has been reconstructed within the previous 60 months, and is not for an emergency repair or for a new utility service connection, be deemed discretionary and subject to the approval of the City Council. LBMC Section 14.08.060 further states that the City Council may authorize a discretionary permit if:
• The applicant can demonstrate that the permit for excavation is immediately required for the general health, safety, and welfare of the City and cannot be delayed until after the street’s moratorium has expired; and
• The applicant can demonstrate that alternatives to excavating, such as alternative routing, or construction methods such as boring or excavation of the parkway, are not possible.
LBGO states that the proposed excavations are necessary for the general health, safety, and welfare of the City, and cannot be delayed until after the moratorium has expired because the section of pipeline that would remain in place after the Artesia Boulevard Pipeline Replacement Project has been completed would be extremely vulnerable to failure and will lack the integrity of the surrounding pipelines.
LBGO wishes to be proactive by replacing the existing gas pipeline system now, and does not think it is prudent to wait until the excavation moratorium expires on November 30, 2019. LBGO states that there are no other alternatives to excavating that are practical for installing the gas main pipeline. An open cut trench in the pavement is the most practical method to use.
After the completion of the gas main pipeline installation, as a permit requirement, LBGO will reconstruct the full width of westbound Artesia Boulevard, from curb-to-median, between Atlantic Avenue and East Coolidge Street, and then restripe it in order to restore the street surface of Artesia Boulevard back to its original condition, see the attached map for the limits of the reconstruction and restriping. LBGO has also agreed to repair any street degradation caused by, or related to, the excavations during the remaining period of the street moratorium, to the satisfaction of the Director of Public Works.
The Public Works Department has reviewed the application and found the proposed excavations to be compatible with existing installations and not an obstacle to any street use or any known proposed developments. Traffic control requirements, stipulated by the Traffic Engineering Division, will be made a part of the special conditions for the discretionary excavation permit.
This matter was reviewed by Deputy City Attorney Linda T. Vu on February 23, 2016 and by Budget Management Officer Victoria Bell on March 2, 2016.
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
City Council action on this matter is requested on March 22, 2016, to allow commencement of this work.
FISCAL IMPACT
If the discretionary permit is approved, LBMC Section 14.08.110 exempts LBGO from all fees and bonds. Approval of this recommendation will provide continued support to the local economy.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
BODY
[Enter Body Here]
Respectfully Submitted,
CRAIG A. BECK
INTERIM DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS
APPROVED:
PATRICK H. WEST
CITY MANAGER