Healdsburg City Council
Meeting
April 6, 2026
Marie Sparks
Memorial Volunteer
Award
2025
Marie Sparks
September 14, 1914 – April 10, 1995
• A woman of vision, compassion and grit
• Asking for help was easy, she just didn’t take no for an answer • Rubbed shoulders with Federal and State legislators as easily as she did with the poorest of the poor in the community
• Had the ability to inspire others to work with her, to get to the heart of a problem, and to find a solution.
• She left a legacy of good works, many admiring friends, and a stronger community.
Susan Sheehy
• Active volunteer in Healdsburg Kiwanis Club,
Healdsburg Museum, Alexander Valley Ladies Aid
• Susan is dedicated to her role, and takes her
volunteerism seriously even (or especially) when it
calls for some silliness
• Embodies the spirit of Marie Sparks in her ability to inspire others to work with her in her many
volunteer roles.
• An inspiration to her service clubs. Susan is known
for creating ideas that have a lasting impact.
Susan Sheehy,
Alexander Valley Ladies Aid
• Volunteers with the Alexander Valley Ladies Aid,
serving as past president and in other roles for the last 20 years.
• Susan is responsible for the Cookie Committee at the
Christmas Bazaar.
• Upholds the mission statement for the Aid by
preserving the Alexander Valley Community Church,
serving on the association board for over 25 years.
• The Ladies’ Aid began in 1911, and Susan's greatgrandmother served in the Ladies' Aid. Susan carries on the tradition in her service to the local community.
Susan Sheehy,
Healdsburg Kiwanis Club
Pillar of the Healdsburg Kiwanis Club for over 15 years, serving in every leadership role. Following in her father’s footsteps, a Kiwanian for over 30 years.
Susan brings her creativity to the club and recently launched a new fundraising opportunity, the Texas Hold ‘Em tournament..
Facilitates the Kiwanis involvement in the Oak Mound Cemetery Clean-up days, interclub trips, and brings her contagious good mood everywhere!
Always willing to roll up her sleeves and dig into a job, from hot dogs & garlic fries to pancakes and painting picnic benches, Susan does it all with a smile.
6 Susan Sheehy,
Healdsburg Museum Board
• Volunteers with the Healdsburg Museum for over 9 years, currently as a Secretary, and has held several board roles, from president to secretary.
• Susan volunteers her time at the annual gala fundraiser, and is the creative mind behind the popular “Dine with the
Dead” dinner auction item – a hugely popular item
• Shares her depth of historic Healdsburg and Alexander Valley knowledge, passing on her passion to future
generations.
7 Congratulations Susan!
2025 Marie Sparks Volunteer of the Year
City Manager’s Report
City Council, April 6, 2026
Public Comment
on Non Agenda
Items
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Comentarios del
público sobre
puntos no
incluidos en la
agenda de la
reunión
10 Grove Street Underground
Conversion Project,
Project EL005
City Council, April 6, 2026
Recommended
Actions
Adopt a Resolution rejecting all bids received for
the Grove Street Underground Conversion Project,
Project EL005
This evening’s
presentation
Review of the Goals for Project EL005
Background of Project EL005
Investor-owned Utility Participation
Project Status
Alternatives
Recommendation from Staff
Project Goal 1
Construct the infrastructure to underground investorowned electric and communications utilities from overhead along Grove Street from West Grant Street
to Dry Creek Road
Underground all the current overhead utilities including:
AT&T and Comcast
PG&E (primary and secondary overhead distribution
lines along Grove St. and crossing from Hwy 101)
Existing City of Healdsburg electric infrastructure is
already underground and capable of serving the 30+
customers currently served by PG&E
Project Goal 2
Construct the underground infrastructure to facilitate
the undergrounding prior to the Grove Street
Neighborhood Implementation (Complete Streets)
Project surface improvements project
City design of the Grove Street Underground Conversion Project to construct the underground conduits and facilities for relocation is complete
City issued RFP for underground project
Bids opened on 01/13/2026
Project Goal 3
Convert the PG&E customers in the project area to
City of Healdsburg electric service to provide the
following benefits:
Lower rates
Better services
Local governance
EL005 Project
Schedule
Driver –
Complete
Streets Project
Grove Street Neighborhood Plan Implementation Project
(Complete Streets Project)
Residents prior to 2000 had requested annexation
In 2000, City Council adopted the Grove Street
Neighborhood Plan
Plan to bring the public facilities to City standards In January 2023, City Council authorized the One Bay Area Grant application for curb, gutter and sidewalk
improvements
Grove Street Neighborhood Plan Implementation (Complete Streets) Project
In May 2023, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission approved a $2,217,000 grant for the Complete Streets Project Needs to have funding obligated by 08/30/2026
Construction must be award by 09/2026
Grove Street
UUD
Formation
Driver
Grove Street Underground Conversion Project,
Project EL005
After public hearings, City Council found public's health, safety, or welfare requires the removal of poles, overhead wires, and associated overhead structures within designated areas
(underground utility districts (UUDs)) of the City
The UUDs are intended to
eliminate unusually heavy concentrations of overhead facilities in heavy pedestrian / vehicular traffic areas
improve the aesthetics of civic streets or areas of scenic interest EL005
Background
Grove Street Underground Conversion Project,
Project EL005
In 03/2024 City Council formed the Grove Street
Underground Utility District
Existing utilities on the street include:
City of Healdsburg electric, water, and sewer (all
currently underground)
Telecom includes AT&T and Comcast which are mostly
aboveground
PG&E has overhead electric lines
Transmission lines and distribution lines
Some feed a few Healdsburg residents, but primarily
they just move power across the City to feed other
towns and cities
Aboveground
Infrastructure
on Grove Street
(Looking south)
City of Healdsburg PG&E Telecom
Project EL005
Intent
Project EL005 would construct the conduits and related facilities to underground PG&E and communications lines The design was developed to the investor-owned utility standards Participation by investor-owned in costs of underground facilities was anticipated to pay the equivalent of the aboveground infrastructure per CPUC Rule 20B.
Additional cost to install the aboveground investor-owned utilities in the new underground infrastructure is anticipated as a separate subsequent cost.
Investorowned Utility
Participation
Conversion to undergrounding utilities is governed by CPUC Rule 20 for cost sharing for investor–owned utility conduits, as follows:
20A: 100% funded by investor-owned utilities’ rate payers, spread across the vast network of customers served.
Typically used in ‘public interest’ modifications such as ADA compliance
20B: Investor-owned utility pays the cost of an equivalent overhead system (approximately 20-40% of Project.
Typically used for projects that do not rise to the 20A 20C: Project funded by requestor –Typically applies to individual properties
Investorowned Utility
Participation
Staff believes the Project falls under Rule 20B. Investorowned utilities believe it falls under Rule 20C • PG&E is estimating its opinion of costs for moving their facilities underground – expected end of 06/2026
• May need to get CPUC to rule on this, adding more time to the process
Project EL005
Status
Project EL005 bids are in and provide real costs rather than estimates for cost sharing and to have the project ready for construction in advance of the Complete Streets project and customer requesting service changes
As budgeted, Project EL005 depends on investor-owned utility participation
Negotiating through Rule 20, which may require CPUC
involvement, cannot be completed in time to not adversely impact the Complete Streets Project with grant funding time constraints
Alternatives
Alternative 1 (Recommended) – Reject All Bids:
Move conduits for City facilities such as streetlights to the Complete Streets Project
Continue negotiations with investor-owned utilities to reach a conclusion on the Rule 20 cost participation
Convert customers from PG&E to City electric services as modification requests are received
Pursue undergrounding efforts at a later date
Alternative 2 –Award EL005 to Low bidder:
Fund the project from yet to be determined sources in the Electric Department
Budget shortfall is estimated at $2.118 million
Continue negotiations with investor-owned utilities to reach a conclusion on the Rule 20 cost participation
Neither Alternative includes subsequent costs from investor-owned utilities to move their facilities or allowed fees for service accounts removed from PG&E.
Recommended
Actions
Adopt a Resolution rejecting all bids received for the Grove Street Underground Conversion Project, Project
EL005
Questions
Public
Comment
Comentarios
del público