The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About02. Underground Utility District 22 AGENDA MEMO DATE: July 26, 2011 TO: Mayor and Members of the City Council FROM: Office of the City Manager By: John Oskoui, P.E., Director of Public Works SUBJECT: UNDERGROUND UTILITY DISTRICT (NO. 22) ON BELLFLOWER BOULEVARD FROM DALEN STREET TO APPROXIMATELY 900 FEET NORTH OF IMPERIAL HIGHWAY RECOMMENDATION That the City Council: ADOPT A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DOWNEY MODIFYING THE BOUNDARIES OF UNDERGROUND UTILITY DISTRICT NO. 22 FROM ALONG THE WEST SIDE OF BELLFLOWER BOULEVARD FROM THE I-105 FREEWAY TO APPROXIMATELY 900 FEET NORTH OF IMPERIAL HIGHWAY TO THE WEST SIDE OF BELLFLOWER BOULEVARD FROM DALEN STREET TO APPROXIMATELY 900 FEET NORTH OF IMPERIAL HIGHWAY AND CAUSING ALL SPECIFIED UTILITIES THEREIN TO BE RELOCATED UNDERGROUND. BACKGROUND At its July 12, 2011, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 11-7283 declaring its intention to modify the boundaries of Underground Utility District (UUD) No. 22, from the west side of Bellflower Boulevard from the I-105 Freeway to approximately 900 feet north of Imperial Highway to the west side of Bellflower Boulevard from Dalen Street to approximately 900 feet north of Imperial Highway, as a California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) Rule 20B project. In accordance with the CPUC Rule 20B guidelines, Rule 20B projects are directly funded by the applicant (City) and are subsidized by Southern California Edison (SCE) at an amount equal to the cost of an equivalent overhead electrical system plus the cost of removing the existing overhead electrical system. DISCUSSION While the City has completed the design plans and is in the process of acquiring the necessary right-of-way for the Bellflower Boulevard and Imperial Highway Intersection Improvement Project, now is the opportune time to initiate an underground utility district to facilitate this project. It is important for the undergrounding effort to precede the roadway improvements in order to avoid construction delays, as the SCE-owned power poles are in direct conflict with the proposed roadway improvements. CITY OF DOWNEY, CALIFORNIA Mayor and Members of the City Council Bellflower Boulevard – Underground Utility District July 26, 2011 Page 2 In accordance with Rule 20B guidelines, the City is required to prepare an Engineer’s Report, hold a public hearing, make specific findings, and adopt a resolution to create an underground district. An Engineer's Report has been prepared which reflects the revised boundaries of Underground Utility District No. 22. Notices of the Public Hearing were sent to all affected utilities and property owners and an Affidavit of Noticing is attached. A public hearing will be held on Tuesday, July 26, 2011 at 7:30 P.M., where information regarding Underground Utility District No. 22 will be available to interested residents and property owners. The resolution modifying the boundaries of Underground Utility District No. 22 is also attached. FINANCIAL IMPACT In accordance with the CPUC Rule 20B guidelines, rate funds are allowed to subsidize the cost of the undergrounding. The subsidy includes an amount equal to the cost of an equivalent overhead electrical system plus the cost of removing the existing overhead system. The remaining cost shall be paid for by the City. Since Rule 20B guidelines only apply to SCE, all other utilities agencies may be responsible for undergrounding their facilities at their own expense based on negotiations to take place between the City and the respective utility companies. Based on a preliminary estimate, the cost of undergrounding the utilities within Underground Utility District No. 22 is estimated at $815,000, with the City’s portion yet to be determined. A detailed preliminary estimate of cost is included in the Engineers Report. The City’s Fiscal Year 2011-12 Capital Improvement Program includes the Bellflower Boulevard at Imperial Highway Intersection Improvement Project (Account No. 26-16605), which will be utilized to cover the City’s cost of undergrounding the existing overhead utilities within Underground Utility District No. 22. Attachments: Resolution Bellflower UUD 22 Affidavit of Noticing Resolution No. 11-7283 Proof of Publication Engineers Report S\AgendaMemosCC2011\07-26-11\UUD22 Adopt Resolution RESOLUTION NO. ______ A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DOWNEY MODIFYING THE BOUNDARIES OF UNDERGROUND UTILITY DISTRICT NO. 22 ALONG THE WEST SIDE OF BELLFLOWER BOULEVARD FROM THE I-105 FREEWAY TO APPROXIMATELY 900 FEET NORTH OF IMPERIAL HIGHWAY TO THE WEST SIDE OF BELLFLOWER BOULEVARD FROM DALEN STREET TO APPROXIMATELY 900 FEET NORTH OF IMPERIAL HIGHWAYAND CAUSING ALL SPECIFIED UTILITIES THEREIN TO BE RELOCATED UNDERGROUND. THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DOWNEY DOES RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS: WHEREAS , Pursuant to Resolution No. 11-7283, a Public Hearing was held on July 26, 2011, by the City Council of the City of Downey to determine whether the public necessity, health, safety and welfare require the removal of poles, overhead lines, and associated overhead structures along the west side of Bellflower Boulevard from Dalen Street to approximately 900 feet north of Imperial Highway; and WHEREAS, notice of such hearing was given in the manner required by law; and WHEREAS, such hearing was duly held on July 26, 2011, and all persons interested were given an opportunity to be heard. NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DOWNEY DOES HEREBY RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. That it hereby finds and determines that the public necessity, safety and welfare require the removal of poles, overhead wires and associated structures and the underground installation of wires and facilities for supplying electrical, telephone, communication, or similar services in the City of Downey along the west side of Bellflower Boulevard from Dalen Street to approximately 900 feet north of Imperial Highway of the City for the following reasons: (1) Bellflower Boulevard is a secondary arterial highway which is exclusively used by the general public and carries a high volume of pedestrian and vehicular traffic; and (2) The City desires to widen Bellflower Boulevard along the west side from Dalen Street to a point approximately 900 feet north of Imperial Highway in order to construct additional turn lanes at the Imperial Highway intersection to accommodate traffic volume growth and, as such, the undergrounding of the existing overhead utilities along the aforementioned limits of Bellflower Boulevard is necessary in order to complete the intersection improvement project; and (3) Undergrounding will avoid and/or eliminate an unusually heavy concentration of overhead distribution facilities; and (4) Undergrounding will improve the reliability of utility services by removing the potential for loss of service due to wire separation and/or damage to supporting structures as a result of traffic accidents, fire, earthquakes, winds, or other acts of God. The area within Underground Utility District No. 22 is further described in the Engineer's Report on file in the office of the City Clerk, which by this reference is made a part hereof. RESOLUTION NO. _____ PAGE TWO SECTION 2. Those poles, overhead wires and associated structures along the west side of Bellflower Boulevard from Dalen Street to approximately 900 feet north of Imperial Highway shall be removed and underground installations made within the existing right-of-way in Underground Utility District No. 22 as follows: All Southern California Edison Co. overhead distribution facilities as well as all overhead facilities belonging to Verizon, Time Warner Cable, and other utility providers within Underground Utility District No. 22 shall be removed no later than August 31, 2012 or prior to construction of roadway improvements, whichever occurs first. Utility companies, upon showing that they cannot comply with such limitations may, upon approval of the City Council, request an extension of time as provided in Section 7510 of the Downey Municipal Code. SECTION 3. Within ten (10) days after adoption of this Resolution, the City shall mail a copy of the same and a copy of Chapter 5, Article VII, of the Downey Municipal Code to affected property owners as such are shown on the last equalized assessment roll and to the affected utilities. SECTION 4. The City Clerk shall certify to the adoption of this Resolution. APPROVED AND ADOPTED THIS 26th day of July, 2011. _____________________________ LUIS H. MARQUEZ, Mayor ATTEST: JOYCE E. DOYLE, Interim City Clerk I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing Resolution was duly adopted by the City Council of the City of Downey at a regular meeting thereof held on the 26th day of July, 2011, by the following vote: AYES: Council Members: NOES: Council Members: ABSENT: Council Members: ABSTAIN: Council members: ______________________________ JOYCE E. DOYLE, Interim City Clerk RESOLUTION NO. 11-7283 ADOPT A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DOWNEY DECLARING ITS INTENTION TO MODIFY THE BOUNDARIES OF UNDERGROUNDING UTILITY DISTRICT NO. 22 FROM ALONG THE WEST SIDE OF BELLFLOWER BOULEVARD FROM THE I-105 FREEWAY TO APPROXIMATELY 900 FEET NORTH OF IMPERIAL HIGHWAY TO THE WEST SIDE OF BELLFLOWER BOULEVARD FROM DALEN STREET TO APPROXIMATELY 900 FEET NORTH OF IMPERIAL HIGHWAY AND CAUSING ALL SPECIFIED UTILITIES THEREIN TO BE RELOCATED UNDERGROUND. THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DOWNEY DOES RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. That the public interest and convenience require, and that it is the intention of the City Council of the City of Downey to amend the boundaries of Underground Utility District No. 22 and to order the removal of poles with their related overhead wires and assorted overhead structures along the west side of Bellflower Boulevard from Dalen Street to approximately 900 feet north of Imperial Highway, all in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 5, Article VII, of the Downey Municipal Code and California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) Rule 20B. SECTION 2. All work contemplated by this Resolution of Intention shall be done in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 5, containing Sections 7500 through 7510 of Article VII of the Downey Municipal Code and the CPUC Rule 20B guidelines. Under Rule 20B guidelines, rate funds are allowed to subsidize the cost of the undergrounding. The subsidy includes an amount equal to the cost of an equivalent overhead electrical system plus the cost of removing the existing overhead system. The remaining cost shall be paid for by the City. SECTION 3. Pursuant to the provisions of Section 7501 of the Downey Municipal Code, the City Council of the City of Downey hereby sets the hour of 7:30 p.m., on July 26, 2011, as the time, and the Council Chamber at 11111 Brookshire Avenue, Downey, California, as the place for the hearing of protests in relation to the proposed revision to the District boundaries. SECTION 4. The interim City Clerk shall give notice of said hearing in the manner provided in Section 7501 of the Downey Municipal Code. SECTION 5. The Interim City Clerk shall certify to the adoption of this Resolution. APPROVED AND ADOPTED this 12th day of July, 2011. LUIS H. MARQUEZ LUIS H. MARQUEZ, Mayor ATTEST: JOYCE E. DOYLE JOYCE E. DOYLE, Interim City Clerk RESOLUTION NO. 11-7283 PAGE TWO I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing Resolution was adopted by the City Council of the City of Downey at a regular meeting held on the 12th day of July, 2011, by the following vote, to wit: AYES: Council Members: Brossmer, Gafin, Guerra, Vasquez, Mayor Marquez NOES: Council Member: None ABSENT: Council Member: None ABSTAIN: Council Member: None JOYCE E. DOYLE JOYCE E. DOYLE, Interim City Clerk . . . 11111 Brookshire Avenue . . P.O. Box 7016 . . Downey, CA 90241-7016 . . . City of Downey Engineer’s Report .......... Revised Bellflower Boulevard Underground Utility District #22 From ~ Dalen St. and Bellflower Blvd. to ~900’ N/O Imperial Highway Prepared by: Utility Resource Networks For the City of Downey April 20, 2011 ENGINEER’S REPORT UNDERGROUND UTILITIES RULE 20B TABLE OF CONTENTS I.Summary.........................................................................................1 II.Background.....................................................................................1 III.Utility Coordination........................................................................1 IV.Private Property Impacts.................................................................3 V.Construction Cost Estimate............................................................3 VI.ConstructionSchedule....................................................................4 VII.Boundary Maps...............................................................................4 APPENDIX Table 1 – Utility Agencies Table 2 – List of Properties Impacted by Underground Utility Rule 20b Preliminary Cost Estimate i Engineer’s Report Underground Utilities Rule 20b Project Overview 1.SUMMARY In May 2009 Utility Resource Networks (URN), was contracted by KFM Engineering on behalf of the City of Downey to prepare exhibits and a cost estimate depicting what would be required for the removal of poles, overhead lines, and associated overhead structures on Bellflower Blvd. from Dalen St. to approximately 900’ north of Imperial Hwy. This work is associated as a Rule 20b project with the exception of CIAC taxes and will be paid for by the City. 2. BACKGROUND Bellflower Boulevard is a regional route extensively used by both residents and commuters carrying a heavy volume of vehicular as well as pedestrian traffic. One of the main north/south corridors through Downey, Bellflower Boulevard is a signature thoroughfare that is strongly identified with the City of Downey. Bellflower Boulevard is currently burdened with an unusually heavy concentration of overhead facilities, which detract from the overall appearance of the City. A key element to beautifying the corridor and to accommodate the future Bellflower Blvd Street Improvement project, is to underground all overhead utility lines, within the city ROW. In addition to improving the City’s physical appearance by removing the visual blight caused by these above ground facilities, the undergrounding will decrease the heavy concentration of obstacles within the public right-of-way subject to impact by vehicles. Utility undergrounding will add to the free and safe movement of pedestrians outside of the vehicular travel way. Further, the undergrounding will improve the reliability of the utility services by removing the potential for loss of service due to wire separation and/or damage to supporting structures as a result of traffic accidents, fire, earthquakes, winds, storms or other acts of God. 3.UTILITY COORDINATION There are numerous existing overhead utilities, all on wood poles along Bellflower Boulevard, which will be undergrounded as part of Rule 20b project. Per field investigations by URN Staff, the following utility agencies are impacted by this Rule 20b: Southern California Edison Company (electrical distribution), Verizon (telephone) and Time Warner Cable (telecommunications), formerly Comcast Cable and XO Communications. Each impacted utility will thoroughly survey and document their existing facilities and prepare construction plans reflecting the proposed undergrounding of their facilities. Through coordination with URN and the City, the Utility Companies will submit plans 1 for review. Based on the City comments and on the terms set forth for the Rule 20b resolution, revisions to the utility plans may be required. Once the utility invoices and contracts are executed and construction documents, plans and specifications, are completed and approved by the City, the Cities designated utility contractor will apply for a City permit prior to the start of construction. Furthermore, the City will be responsible for the installation of all infrastructure, which may include conduit, manholes, vaults, pull-boxes etc. based on the Utility Companies plans and specifications. The Utility Companies will be responsible for all conduit tie-ins, cabling, splicing, cutting over electric and communications lines to meet the deadlines as set in Section VI, Construction Schedule. Third party easement documents that may be required, will be prepared by the appropriate utility company, and the City will be responsible for coordination and obtaining approvals and signatures by the appropriate property owners. All easement documents must be executed before any utility cabling and energizing can commence. This does not include the placement of infrastructure within the ROW as defined per the resolution. After the undergrounding of facilities is complete, it is the responsibility of the Utility Companies to remove all overhead facilities, which includes poles, overheard wires, conductors, cables, strand, and other associated hardware within the boundary limits of the Rule 20b project. Based on preliminary field investigations and research of existing overhead utilities, the following is the approximate lengths of the proposed undergrounding per utility. Utility Agency Approximate Length SCE Distribution 1,580 linear feet (Backbone) SCE Distribution 436 linear feet (Laterals) Verizon 1,580 linear feet (Backbone) Verizon 450 linear feet (Laterals) XO Communications 1,535 linear feet Time Warner Cable 1,580 linear feet Fiber and COAX NOTE! Linear footage includes new cable for existing underground at Imperial Hwy 2 4. PRIVATE PROPERTY IMPACTS As a result of the changes in scope and required undergrounding of existing overhead facilities, a total of 10 properties will be affected by this Rule 20b project. Of those 10 properties, 1 is a residential property and 9 are commercial properties. Table 2, attached in the Appendix, identifies all properties impacted by Rule 20b. The property owners listed in Table 2 of this report, (except 9530 Imperial) were previously notified in writing upon approval of the resolution in January 2010 in regards to this Rule 20b project. These property owners as well as the ones notified on the previous engineers report will need to be sent new notices based on the change in the scope of this Rule 20b project. The existing services to the commercial properties along Bellflower Blvd. are currently underground with the exception of 12741, 12749, 12757, and 12801 Bellflower Blvd, in addition to 9454, and 9530 Imperial Hwy. It is anticipated that the overhead services to these commercial buildings will remain, with the addition of 1 new riser pole to be placed on private property, thus allowing all overhead facilities within the ROW as described on the attached boundary map to be placed underground. 5.CONSTRUCTION COST ESTIMATES COST TO UTILITY: This project shall be established as a Rule 20B project. Under Rule 20B of the CPUC, rate funds may be used to subsidize the underground project. The subsidy includes an amount equal to the cost of an equivalent overhead electrical system, plus the cost of removing the existing overhead electrical system. The remaining cost is to be paid by the City of Downey. Since Rule 20B only applies to SCE and Verizon, the other utility agencies may be responsible to replace all overhead facilities, with underground facilities within the designated Rule 20b boundary limits at their own expense based on negotiations with the City of Downey The existing diagrammatic exhibit for the proposed Rule 20b project will be modified in conjunction with the change in scope of the Rule 20b project. COST TO PRIVATE PROPERTY OWNER : While the majority of the improvements will be done at no cost to affected private property owners, utility easements may be required to underground utilities serving private property – these are service laterals that connect private properties to the utility system on Bellflower Boulevard. As stated in section 3 the utility agencies will provide 3 the needed private property easement documents, and the city will be responsible for the coordination and execution of the necessary easements directly with the private property owners. 6CONSTRUCTION SCHEDULE . SCE has been paid the advance engineering fees and have initiated their base design process, and once any additional advance engineering fees are paid, and upon receipt of the SCE redline prelim the other utility companies will begin design for the underground construction. All the utility agencies will submit construction documents to the City for review and approval. Removal of all overhead facilities by the utility agencies will commence after the completion of all underground connections. The following is the proposed schedule for the completion of work associated with Rule 20b Activity Completion Date Underground substructure installation TBD by city contractor Secure third party easements TBD Underground cable completion and TBD activation by utility agencies Removal of all poles, overhead wires and other associated overhead August 15, 2012 structures 7. UNDERGROUND DISTRICT BOUNDARY MAP Attached is a map illustrating the revised Rule 20b boundaries, within which, all overhead facilities will be removed, and replaced with an underground system from ROW to ROW. 4 APPENDIX Table 1- List of Utility Agencies Table 2 – List of Properties Impacted by Rule 20b Preliminary Cost Estimate Table 1 Utility Agencies Utility Contact Person Address Southern California Marquis Randolph 1924 Cashdan St. EdisonCompton, CA 90220 Verizon Ernie Ybarra 12905 E. Los Nietos Rd. Santa Fe Springs CA 90670 So Cal Gas Co. Kevin Quinn 701 N. Bullis Rd Compton, CA 90221 Time Warner Gene Harrigan 14338 Lakewood Blvd, CommunicationsBellflower, CA 90670 XOLee Arold 1924 Deere Avenue CommunicationsSanta Ana, CA 92705 Table 2 List of Properties Impacted by Underground Rule 20b Property TypeAddress APN Commercial 12351Bellflower Blvd Commercial Park SiteBellflower Blvd Commercial 9449Imperial Hwy Kaiser Commercial 9454Imperial hwy Blvd Commercial 9530Imperial Hwy Commercial 12741Bellflower Blvd Commercial 12749Bellflower Blvd Commercial 12757Bellflower Blvd Commercial 12807Bellflower Blvd Residential 9603Cheddar Total by Property Type Residential 1 Commercial 9 Total10