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RESOLUTION NO. 2017-216 OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHULA VISTA ESTABLISHING UTILITY UNDER- GROUNDING DISTRICT #141 ON F STREET FROM BAY BOULEVARD TO BROADWAY, AND DISTRICT #142 ON F STREET FROM BROADWAY TO FOURTH AVENUE AND AUTHORIZING THE EXPENDITURE OF UTILITY ALLOCATION FUNDS TO SUBSIDIZE PRIVATE SERVICE LATERAL CONVERSIONS
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RECOMMENDED ACTION
Recommended Action
Council conduct the public hearing and adopt the resolution.
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SUMMARY
On October 17, 2017, Council adopted Resolution No. 2017-193, which declared the City’s intent to form two Utility Undergrounding Districts on F Street and set a public hearing for November 21, 2017 to establish these districts. The current action will form these districts and authorize utility allocation funds to be used for both undergrounding the utilities on F Street and private service laterals.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
Environmental Notice
Environmental Notice
The Project qualifies for a Class 1 Categorical Exemption pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act State Guidelines Section 15303 Class 3 (New Construction or Conversion of Small Structures) and/or 15301 Class 1 (Existing Facilities).
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Environmental Determination
The Director of Development Services has reviewed the proposed project for compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and has determined that the project qualifies for a Class 1 Categorical Exemption pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines Section 15303 Class 3 (New Construction or Conversion of Small Structures) and/or 15301 (Existing Facilities). Thus, no further environmental review is required.
BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION
Not applicable
DISCUSSION
On October 17, 2017, staff presented an agenda report summarizing the status of the City’s utility undergrounding program, discussing the priority of the areas with overhead utilities, and recommending the next districts to be formed and financing through the California Public Utilities’ Commission Rule 20A program. Through this program, the City receives an allocation of $2.0 million per year to be spent on utility undergrounding projects in accordance with Rule 20A requirements. Due to the high priority score and the opportunity to coordinate undergrounding with the recommended improvements in the F Street Promenade, staff recommended that the next undergrounding districts be on F Street from Bay Blvd. to Broadway (UUD #141) and on F Street from Broadway to Fourth Avenue (UUD #142). The Notice of Intent to form these districts was passed through adoption of Resolution No. 2017-193 (Attachment 1).
Estimated costs for these undergrounding districts were provided by SDG&E on June 1, 2017. The range was from $2.9 to $3.2 million for F Street from Bay Blvd. to Broadway and $1.5 to $1.7 million for Broadway to Fourth Avenue. These costs will be refined once SDG&E commences the design process. All design and construction funding will be provided through the City’s Rule 20A allocations. City staff time will be funded by TransNet in City CIP project STM394.
On August 22, 2017, City staff participated with SDG&E in a walk-through of the project area, along with staff from AT&T, Media 3 and Sweetwater Authority. Based on the information obtained during the walk-through and from SDG&E, staff has prepared Boundary Maps for both districts (Attachment 2). The properties that are included obtain utility service from F Street. There will be no cost to the residents for the undergrounding for properties with service provided through SDG&E, since the cost of undergrounding the service laterals will be included in the District. Right of way acquisition is not anticipated to be required.
Chula Vista Municipal Code (CVMC) Section 15.32 (Attachment 3) specifies that property owners within the utility undergrounding district to be formed and all affected utility companies shall be notified. Two properties (640 & 740 F Street) in the district do not have aerial SDG&E service from the poles on F Street but do appear to have aerial communications service (Cox, AT&T). These utilities would customarily be included in a joint service lateral trench with the SDG&E service. Since no SDG&E service lateral trench is required for these properties, the communications utilities will be notified and requested to provide an alternative connection for continued service. The property owners will also be notified prior to the date of utility pole removal to ensure coordination for the continuance of utility service.
Notices of the public hearing were sent to all property owners on October 31, 2017. After the resolution of formation has been passed, a certified copy of the resolution, including maps of the undergrounding districts, will be recorded at the office of the County Recorder.
After formation of the utility undergrounding districts, the following steps will be needed to proceed with the projects:
• The Capital Improvement Program (CIP) project STM-394 has been established in Fiscal Year 2017-18 for design costs related to the removal of the wood pole-mounted street lights and their replacement on new concrete standards plus relocation of other City-owned infrastructure to be done in conjunction with the undergrounding. Based on SDG&E’s schedule for completion of design, additional funding will be requested for construction costs related to signal upgrades, pavement rehabilitation, street lights, and appurtenances.
• SDG&E will prepare and submit the final trench and conduit design to other utilities and staff. It is estimated that SDG&E will request Joint Trench offers from the other utilities. The design process is estimated to take one year to complete.
• Staff will return to Council to establish the date within which conversions on private property and pole removal must be accomplished. If needed, property owners that are responsible to complete work for the continuance of their other utility services will be notified within 15 days of passage of this resolution.
• Prior to construction, staff will obtain Permits to Enter for SDG&E from property owners located within the District in order to underground their service laterals.
• Utility undergrounding will be coordinated with the relocating of City facilities, the construction of facilities related to F Street beautification, and pavement rehabilitation.
DECISION-MAKER CONFLICT
Staff has reviewed the property holdings of the City Council members and has found no property holdings within 500 feet of the boundaries of the properties which are the subjects of this action. Consequently, this item does not present a disqualifying real property-related financial conflict of interest under California Code of Regulations Title 2, section 18702.2(a)(11), for purposes of the Political Reform Act (Cal. Gov’t Code §87100,et seq.).
Staff is not independently aware, and has not been informed by any member, of any other fact that may constitute a basis for a decision maker conflict of interest in this matter.
LINK TO STRATEGIC GOALS
The City’s Strategic Plan has five major goals: Operational Excellence, Economic Vitality, Healthy Community, Strong and Secure Neighborhoods and a Connected Community. The Utility Undergrounding program supports the Economic Vitality goal, as it increases the appeal and marketability of Chula Vista neighborhoods.
CURRENT YEAR FISCAL IMPACT
Passage of this resolution will not have any direct fiscal impact on the City. A total of $100,000 in TransNet for the design of other public facilities related to undergrounding (such as streetlights) is included in CIP STM394, Local Street Utility Undergrounding District.
ONGOING FISCAL IMPACT
There will be no direct fiscal impact on the City, since utility undergrounding districts will be financed using 20A funds.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Agenda Statement and Resolution No. 2017-193
2. District Boundary Maps
3. CV Municipal Code Section 15.32
Staff Contact: Elizabeth Chopp, Senior Civil Engineer