Reso. No. XX-25
DocID #53613v1
Internal
RESOLUTION NO. XX-25
RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF RICHMOND CLARIFYING THE BOUNDARIES OF UNDERGROUND UTILITY DISTRICT NO. 2022-1 ON
PIERCE STREET AND SAN MATEO STREET PURSUANT TO CALIFORNIA PUBLIC UTILITY COMMISSION (CPUC) RULE 20.
WHEREAS, on July 5, 2022, the City of Richmond (City), adopted Resolution 102-22, authorizing the City Council to designate areas within which all existing overhead poles, overhead wires and overhead equipment associated with the distribution of electric power, telecommunication services and cable television should be removed and replaced with underground wires and facilities, resulting in the creation of Underground Utility District No. 2022-1 on Pierce Street and San Mateo Street; and
WHEREAS, the original boundary line of the District was drawn at the Central Avenue right-of-way, which unintentionally excluded eight adjacent parcels north of Central Avenue that are served by PG&E poles within that right-of-way.
WHEREAS, To ensure consistency with the original intent, these parcels (shown in Exhibit 1) are now expressly included in the existing Underground Utility District in order to complete undergrounding of overhead electric utilities on Central Avenue; and
WHEREAS, the Director of Public Works for the City has determined, after consultation with PG&E and after holding public hearings on the subject, that such undergrounding is in the general public interest for one or more of the following reasons: 1) Such undergrounding will avoid or eliminate an unusually heavy concentration of overhead electric facilities; 2) The street or road or right-of-way is extensively used by the general public and carries a heavy volume of pedestrian or vehicular traffic; 3) Wheelchair access is limited or impeded in a manner that is not compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act; 4) The street or road or right-of-way adjoins or passes through a civic area or public recreation area or an area of significant scenic, cultural, and/or historic interest to the general public; or 5) The street or road or right-of-way is considered an arterial street or major collector as defined by the California Department of Transportation’s California Road System functional classification system; and
WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Richmond has now received the report from the Director of Public Works recommending that the area identified in Exhibit 1 should be formally recognized as part of the underground utility district within which all existing overhead poles, overhead wires and overhead equipment associated with the distribution of electric power, telecommunication services and cable television should be removed and replaced with underground wires and facilities; and
WHEREAS, the City has notified all affected property owners within the clarified area of inclusion to the Pierce Street/San Mateo Street Underground Utility District shown in Exhibit 1 and invited same to attend a public hearing to discuss amending boundaries of the district; and
WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Richmond held a public hearing at which time the Council did receive and consider the recommendation of the Director of Public Works and did hear any and all objections or protests that were raised by the owners of property within the above-described district pertaining to designating this area an underground utility district.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the City Council of the City of Richmond that:
Section 1. The foregoing recitals are true and correct and are hereby adopted as findings of the City Council.
Section 2. The public interest requires the removal of all existing utility poles, except those poles supporting streetlights, traffic signals, or trolley lines, together with all overhead wires and associated overhead structures, and the installation of underground wires and facilities for supplying electric power, communication, or similar associated services within the areas shown in Exhibit 1, attached hereto, with such parcels being formally included within the boundaries of the Pierce Street/San Mateo Street Underground Utility District.
Reso. No. XX-25
DocID #53613v1
Internal
Section 3. That the utility companies, cable television services and other affected services shall commence work on installation of underground facility installation in the Pierce Street/San Mateo Street Underground Utility District, including the eight added parcels, and that as each phase of the project is complete and ready for conversion from overhead to underground utility facilities, all fronting property owners shall be notified by first class letter, postage pre-paid, of the schedule for conversion of all utility service lines.
Section 4. That upon notification, as specified in Section 2 all property owners in the Pierce Street/San Mateo Street Underground Utility District shall have underground electrical entrance facilities installed and inspected pursuant to the City of Richmond Electrical Code within sixty (60) days and that should any property owner fail to install satisfactory underground electrical entrance facilities by the date specified in the notice, the electric utility shall notify the Director of Public Works who shall, within thirty (30) days direct the electric utility in writing to discontinue electrical service to the property, without recourse, pursuant to CPUC Rule 11 until electrical entrance facilities are ready to accept underground electrical conductors and have passed the necessary inspection requirements.
Section 5. That all other conditions of Resolution 102-22 shall remain in effect and be extended to the eight added parcels in Underground Utility District No. 2022-1 upon passage of this resolution.
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I certify that the foregoing resolution was passed and adopted by the City Council of the City of Richmond at a regular meeting thereof held October 7, 2025 by the following vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSTENTIONS:
ABSENT:
PAMELA CHRISTIAN
CLERK OF THE CITY OF RICHMOND
(SEAL)
Approved:
EDUARDO MARTINEZ
Mayor
Approved as to form:
DAVE ALESHIRE
City Attorney
State of California }
County of Contra Costa : ss.
City of Richmond }
I certify that the foregoing is a true copy of Resolution No. XX-25, finally passed and adopted by the City Council of the City of Richmond at a regular meeting held on October 7, 2025.
Reso. No. XX-25
DocID #53613v1
Internal
Pamela Christian, Clerk of the City of Richmond
Distribution Pole
Services
LEGEND
Transformer(s)
Richmond Added Parcels
El Cerrito Added Parcels
Original Boundary
Pierce Street/San Mateo Street Undergound Utility District