SUBJECT:     FOURTH/FIFTH/SIXTH STREET (PHASE I) UNDERGROUND UTILITY DISTRICT

 

COUNCIL DISTRICT:  3

SNI AREA:  University

 

 

RECOMMENDATION

 

Adoption of a resolution to consider the establishment of Rule 20A Underground Utility District bounded by South Fourth Street, South Fifth Street and South Sixth Street between East San Fernando Street and East Santa Clara Street and setting a public hearing on January 15, 2002 at 1:30 p.m.  CEQA: Exempt.

 

BACKGROUND

 

The Department of Public Works manages the Rule 20A Underground Utility Program which is approved by the City Council on an annual basis.  Through Rule 20A, the California Public Utilities Commission requires Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) to annually set aside funds for financing the undergrounding of overhead distribution facilities located on public streets within the City of San José .  Pacific Bell and AT&T Broadband budget funds to participate in projects where the PG&E Rule 20A funds are programmed.

 

The proposed Fourth/Fifth/Sixth Street Phase I & II Underground Districts are included in the 2000/01-2005/06 Rule 20A and Rule 20B (In‑Lieu Fee) Underground Utility Program Workplan approved by the City Council on June 11, 2001.  The proposed projects will remove aerial facilities within the proposed Underground Utility District.

 

ANALYSIS

 

The five-year work plan shows the proposed Fourth/Fifth/Sixth Street (Phase I) Underground Utility District bounded by South Fourth Street, South Fifth Street and South Sixth Street between East San Fernando Street and East Santa Clara Street (District) to be legislated in 2001.  This project is proposed to be funded through PG&E’s Rule 20A funds and other utility company funds. 

 

The provisions and the procedures to establish Underground Utility Districts are defined by the San José Municipal Code.  It is necessary that City Council conducts a public hearing and adopts an ordinance establishing the area as an Underground Utility District.  The proposed District meets the following Municipal Code criteria for establishment:

 

·        Such removal and replacement underground will eliminate, and such prohibition will avoid, an unusually heavy concentration of poles and overhead wires within said area;

 

·        The public streets or rights-of-way within said area are extensively used by the general public and carry a heavy volume of pedestrian or vehicular traffic.

 

Establishment of the proposed District, as shown on Attachment A, will require the conversion of approximately 2,000 linear feet of aerial facilities to underground facilities along South Fourth Street, South Fifth Street, South Sixth Street, East San Fernando Street and East Santa Clara Street.

 

Sixteen of the 24 properties adjacent to the proposed District are currently provided overhead service from the facilities to be undergrounded and will require electrical service panel conversion work.  The cost of conversion for a single-family residential dwelling is typically $800 to $2,500.  The cost can be significantly higher for multi-family and commercial/business type buildings.  Rule 20A monies will be utilized to fund conversion work up to $1,500 per service entrance.  Additionally, PG&E and Pacific Bell will provide up to 100 feet of trenching and conduit installation, from the front property line to the building structure. City staff is currently investigating opportunities to provide grants to supplement service panel conversion costs in excess of $1,500.  If grant funding cannot be identified, service panel conversion costs in excess of $1,500 will be borne by the property owner.  The remaining eight properties are currently being provided with utility service from outside the proposed District boundaries and will not be affected by this project.

 

A schedule for establishment and implementation of the proposed Underground Utility District is presented in Attachment B.

 

PUBLIC OUTREACH

 

A community meeting was held on November 13, 2001, to inform the public of this undergrounding project.  Five citizens attended the meeting representing ownership of 12 of the 16 properties requiring conversion.  Staff responded to questions about the project area and the undergrounding and conversion processes.  Attendees were unanimously supportive of the proposed project.  Notices of public hearing will be sent to all utility companies and owners and occupants of property adjoining the proposed District upon adoption of the resolution setting a public hearing.

 

COORDINATION

 

The establishment of this District and the proposed project schedule has been coordinated with PG&E, Pacific Bell, AT&T Cable Services, and the San José Redevelopment Agency.  The required resolution to set the public hearing has been reviewed by the City Attorney's Office.

 

COST IMPLICATIONS

 

1.         COST OF RECOMMENDATION                                                                        NONE

 

2.                  COST OF PROJECT (ESTIMATED):                                                            $1,020,000

 

a.       RULE 20A PORTION

         COST TO UTILITIES:                                                  

            PG&E Rule 20A Allocation (City of San Jose)                                         $400,000

            Pacific Bell Rule 32 Cost                                                                           300,000

            AT&T Cable Services Cost                                                                       230,000

 

         COST TO CITY:

            Streetlight/Signal Conversions (Fund 465)                                                    40,000

            Project Development, Administration

            and Construction Inspection (Fund 001)                                                       50,000

           

                 TOTAL PROJECT COST                                                                          $1,020,000

 

3.                  SOURCE OF FUNDING:              Fund 465 - Construction Excise Tax

                                                                    Fund 001 - General Fund

 

4.                  ESTIMATED START DATE OF CONSTRUCTION:                        August 2002

 

5.                  ESTIMATED COMPLETION DATE OF CONSTRUCTION:         February 2003

 

BUDGET REFERENCE

 

Fund:               

465  Construction Excise Tax

Appn:  

4979

RC:     

105283

Amount:             

$250,000

Budget Document:    

2000-2001 Appropriation Ordinance, Section 2.4, Item 3(q).

 

Fund:   

001

Appn:  

0571

RC:     

000610

Amount:          

$8,466,708

Budget Document:

2000-2001 Appropriation Ordinance, Section 2.20, Item 1.

 

CEQA

 

Exempt.

 

 

RAJEEV BATRA

Acting Director, Public Works Department

Attachments

ATTACHMENT A

 

Map of area is available in the Office of the City Clerk

 

 

 

ATTACHMENT B

 

UNDERGROUND UTILITY DISTRICT AT FOURTH/FIFTH/SIXTH STREET (PHASE I)

 

 

 

Establishment Schedule

 

Nov. 13, 2001                      City staff presentation to community describing project goals and impacts at community meeting.

 

Dec. 18, 2001                       City Council adopts a resolution setting a time and place for a Public Hearing.

 

Dec. 19, 2001                       Director of Public Works mails a notice of Public Hearing to all adjacent property owners.

 

Jan. 8, 2002                          Director of Public Works transmits a report of comments and/or protests received for consideration at the Public Hearing.

 

Jan. 15, 2002                        City Council conducts a Public Hearing and at its conclusion approves an Ordinance establishing an Underground Utility District Fourth/Fifth/Sixth Street (Phase I) on South Fourth Street, South Fifth Street, South Sixth Street, East San Fernando Street and East Santa Clara Street.

 

 

Project Implementation Schedule

 

 

August 2001                          Utility companies began design of substructure, conduit, vaults, electric and cable facilities.

 

August 2002                          Construction starts

 

February 2003                      Utility companies complete connections and remove overhead wires and poles.