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Title:
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Adoption of a Resolution (1) Finding that the Public Health, Safety or Welfare Requires the Formation of Underground Utility District No. 11 Located Along Culver Boulevard between Sepulveda Boulevard and Commonwealth Avenue; (2) Declaring Such Designated Area Underground Utility District No. 11; and (3) Ordering the Removal and Underground Installation of Wires and Facilities within such District.
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City of Culver City, California
Agenda Item Report
Meeting Date: 02/23/15 Item Number: PH-1
CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM: PUBLIC HEARING – Adoption of a Resolution (1)
Finding that the Public Health, Safety or Welfare Requires the Formation of
Underground Utility District No. 11 Located Along Culver Boulevard between
Sepulveda Boulevard and Commonwealth Avenue; (2) Declaring Such Designated
Area Underground Utility District No. 11; and (3) Ordering the Removal and
Underground Installation of Wires and Facilities within such District
Contact Person/Dept.: Mate Gaspar/PW Phone Number: (310) 253-5602
Fiscal Impact: Yes [X] No [] General Fund: Yes [] No [X]
Public Hearing: [X] Action Item: [] Attachments: [X]
Commission Action Required: Yes [] No [X] Date: _______________
Public Notification: (E-Mail) Agenda and Meetings – City Council (02/17/15); (Mail) Public
Notification to each parcel owner within 500 feet of proposed district (02/12/15); (Mail)
Public Notification to all Affected Utilities in the proposed district (02/12/15)
Department Approval:
Charles D. Herbertson (02/12/15)
City Attorney Approval:
Carol Schwab (by H. Baker) (02/13/15)
Chief Financial Officer Approval:
Jeff Muir (by M. Noller) (02/17/15)
City Manager Approval:
John M. Nachbar (02/17/15)
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends the City Council adopt a resolution (1) finding that the public
health, safety, or welfare requires the formation of Underground Utility District No. 11
located along Culver Boulevard between Sepulveda Boulevard and Commonwealth
Avenue; (2) declaring such designated area Underground Utility District No. 11; and
(3) ordering the removal and underground installation of wires and facilities within
such District.
PROCEDURE:
1. The Mayor seeks a motion from the City Council to receive and file the affidavits
of publication and posting of notices and correspondence received in response to
the public hearing notices; and,
2. The Mayor calls for a staff report and the City Council Members may pose
questions to staff as desired; and,
3. The Mayor seeks a motion to open the public hearing; and,
4. The Mayor seeks a motion to close the public hearing after all public testimony
has been presented; and,
5. The City Council discusses the item and arrives at its decision.
City of Culver City, California
Agenda Item Report
BACKGROUND:
Per Tariff Rule 20A, Replacement of Overhead with Underground Electric Facilities,
Culver City is allocated a certain amount of funding every year which is derived from
Southern California Edison (SCE) ratepayers and set aside exclusively for utility
underground projects This year, the amount allocated to Culver City is $196,659
and the total allocation balance including previous years is $542,556. In addition,
the California Public Utilities Commission allows local governments to spend ahead
up to five years of Rule 20A allocations. With a significant amount of funding
available for a project, staff has met with representatives of Southern California
Edison to discuss potential undergrounding projects and to determine the scope of
work and associated costs.
On January 12, 2015, the City Council discussed the various locations for
undergrounding of utility facilities and then tentatively selected the location on
Culver Boulevard between Sepulveda Boulevard and Commonwealth Avenue as
the undergrounding project site.
On February 9, 2015, the City Council adopted a resolution that called for a public
hearing for February 23, 2015, to determine whether the public health, safety, or
welfare requires the formation of Underground Utility District 11 located along
Culver Boulevard between Sepulveda Boulevard and Commonwealth Avenue.
DISCUSSION:
This location is a major transportation gateway into Culver City. In 2009, Caltrans
completed the construction of a new off-ramp from the 405 freeway to Culver
Boulevard. In addition, Caltrans realigned Culver Boulevard from Sawtelle
Boulevard to Commonwealth Avenue in order to improve traffic operations. With the
City’s proposed capital project to realign Culver Boulevard from Commonwealth
Avenue to Elenda Street, an undergrounding project at the westerly end would be a
complimentary aesthetic improvement that would reduce the large number of
overhead wires in the area. (Four transmission lines and poles would remain as
they are prohibitively costly to underground. The transmission lines are located at
the highest part of the pole. Four distribution poles will be removed).
SCE requires an undergrounding resolution that will among other things require
other utilities on the poles to underground their facilities at their cost. The Rule 20A
funds can only be used to underground SCE facilities.
Culver City Municipal Code Section 5.04 details the procedures for formation of an
underground utility district, removal of overhead utility facilities, and installation of
underground facilities. Since 1968, 10 UUD’s have been formed in the City.
City of Culver City, California
Agenda Item Report
UUD No.1 Washington Place and Boulevard easterly of the 405 Freeway to Higuera
Street
UUD No. 2 Washington Boulevard between Higuera Street and La Cienega
Boulevard
UUD No. 3 Washington Boulevard between and La Cienega Boulevard and Fairfax
Avenue
UUD No. 4 Washington Boulevard between Del Rey Avenue and the 405 Freeway
UUD No. 5 Sawtelle Boulevard between La Ballona Creek and Overland Avenue
UUD No. 6 Jefferson Boulevard between Overland Avenue and 70’ southerly of
Sawtelle Boulevard
UUD No. 7 Elenda Street between Culver Boulevard and Washington Boulevard
UUD No. 8 Sepulveda Boulevard between 70’ southerly of Sawtelle Boulevard and
Playa Street; Playa Street between Sepulveda Boulevard and Hannum
Avenue; Jefferson Boulevard between Slauson Avenue and Sepulveda
Boulevard; and Hannum Avenue between Slauson Avenue and Playa
Street.
UUD No.9 Overland Avenue between Venice and Culver Boulevards. 1999
UUD No. 10 Exposition Boulevard between Venice Boulevard and Washington
Boulevard and a portion of National Boulevard between Washington
Boulevard and Wesley Street 2007
All affected utilities on the poles and property owners within 500 feet were notified of
this public hearing. There are no cost impacts to the adjacent private property
owners.
Should the City Council adopt the proposed resolution this evening, the
undergrounding of the distribution lines and four poles is expected to be completed
by December 31, 2018.
FISCAL IMPACT:
In order to fund any project, SCE will use both Rule 20A funds that are currently
accumulated as well as borrow ahead five (5) years from future Rule 20A fund
allocations for Culver City as allowed by CPUC regulations. The estimated total
amount available for borrowing ahead five (5) years is $1 million. The total project
cost is estimated to be about $1.5 million.
No City funds will be required, either for construction or future maintenance.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Proposed Resolution
2. Public Notification
City of Culver City, California
Agenda Item Report
MOTION:
That the City Council:
Adopt a Resolution 1) finding that the public health, safety, or welfare requires
the formation of Underground Utility District No. 11 located along Culver
Boulevard between Sepulveda Boulevard and Commonwealth Avenue; (2)
declaring such designated area Underground Utility District No. 11; and (3)
ordering the removal and underground installation of wires and facilities within
such District.