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CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
City of Anaheim
PUBLIC UTILITIES DEPARTMENT
DATE: OCTOBER 24, 2023
FROM: PUBLIC UTILITIES DEPARTMENT
SUBJECT: FORMATION OF UNDERGROUND DISTRICT NO. 71 –
OLIVE/VERMONT
ATTACHMENT (Y/N): YES ITEM # 18
GOVERNMENT CODE § 84308 APPLIES: NO
RECOMMENDATION:
That the City Council, by Resolution:
1) Determine that the formation of Underground District No. 71 – Olive/Vermont (District) and any construction activities associated therewith are categorically exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to sections 15301(b), 15302(c), 15302(d), and 15303 of Title 14 of the California Code of Regulations; and 2) Approve the formation of Underground District No. 71 – Olive/Vermont in the area shown on Exhibit A of the Resolution (Attachment 1) in accordance with the requirements of Chapter 17.24 of the Anaheim Municipal Code concerning Underground Utilities.
DISCUSSION:
At their meeting on September 27, 2023, the Public Utilities Board (Board) held a public hearing to consider the formation of the proposed District and on that basis recommended that the City Council approve its formation.
The Underground Conversion Program (Program) was established by the City Council in 1990 to underground overhead power and communication lines along major roadways and in areas needing reliability improvements, as codified in Chapter 17.24 of the Anaheim Municipal Code. The criteria for adding projects to the Five-Year Plan for undergrounding include engineering and operational considerations, coordination with other roadway projects, geographic diversity, aesthetic enhancements, and available funding. The proposed Olive/Vermont undergrounding project is part of the Five-Year Plan.
The City’s adoption of the Resolution forming the District would initiate the detailed design and easement acquisition process and would require telecommunication companies to work with Anaheim Public Utilities (APU) to underground overhead Formation of Underground District No. 71 – Olive/Vermont October 24, 2023
facilities along Vermont Avenue from Anaheim Boulevard to State College Boulevard, along Olive Street south of Vermont Avenue to South Street, and along South Street from Anaheim Boulevard to Olive Street, as shown and demarcated on Exhibit A of the Resolution (Attachment 1).
During its September 27, 2023 regular meeting, the Board conducted a public hearing to consider the proposed formation of the District. APU provided notice of the hearing to all affected residents, schools, businesses, and utility companies within the proposed district boundary, as required under section 17.24.040 of the Anaheim Municipal Code. Notices of the public hearing were also published in the Anaheim Bulletin, and all public hearing documentation was made available for public review at the City Clerk's Office.
Prior to the public hearing, three emails and one phone call were received from the public and their details were presented to the Board for consideration. One of the email correspondences was from Southern California Gas Company, indicating that it does not have any transmission gas facilities within the project limits, and the other two email correspondences were from Southern California Edison (SCE) and Verizon (MCI), indicating that they have aerial facilities within the project limits. The phone call was from a resident who wanted more clarification on the public hearing notice and whether the property will be impacted by the project. At the public hearing, no members of the community spoke against the proposed underground district formation.
The District’s undergrounding will be coordinated with Olive, Jefferson, and Theodore Roosevelt Elementary schools’ schedule, and other residents and businesses within the project limits to identify suitable locations for placement of utility equipment, and to minimize traffic impacts during construction. Additionally, the undergrounding will replace the lights on existing utility wood poles with new stand-alone street light poles that will be spaced to meet current roadway guidelines and enhance roadway visibility along these corridors. Final street paving will be coordinated with the Public Works Department.
On East Street, APU, SCE, and various telecommunication companies have overhead facilities co-located on jointly owned poles. SCE is regulated by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) and is therefore not obligated to fund undergrounding in jurisdictions where SCE does not serve customers. Therefore, utility poles will remain overhead around the intersection of Vermont Avenue and East Street. APU has applied for a federal grant for East Street that would pay for SCE’s undergrounding in the future, if awarded.
APU’s scope of work is estimated to cost $16 million dollars. APU has offered to install civil structures for telecommunication companies to streamline the project, and those that participate will reimburse APU for their proportionate costs for trenching and roadway repairs. The project is tentatively scheduled to begin construction in Spring 2025 for completion by Summer 2026, subject to coordination with other utility companies and City departments who have facilities within the District, and securing easements for placement of electrical equipment. The construction bid award will be subject to City Council consideration at a future meeting.
ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINATION:
Formation of Underground District No. 71 – Olive/Vermont October 24, 2023
APU recommends that City Council determine that the creation of the District and the underground construction activities associated therewith are categorically exempt from CEQA pursuant to Sections 15301(b), 15302(c), 15302(d), and 15303 of Title 14 of the California Code of Regulations. The proposed work within the District will include the undergrounding of existing overhead facilities and the installation of minor street apparatuses, which do not have the potential to create a significant effect on the environment.
IMPACT ON BUDGET:
Sufficient funds for formation and design engineering are budgeted in APU’s Fiscal Year 2023/24 Electric Capital Improvement Program budget from restricted Electric Utility funds. Funds for construction will be subject to City Council approval.
Respectfully submitted,
Dukku Lee
Public Utilities General Manager
Attachment:
1. Resolution (with attached district boundary map)