COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: Brett Fulgoni, Director of Public Works
DATE: January 21, 2025
SUBJECT: Adoption of a Resolution Approving a Proposed Grant of Easement to Pacific Gas & Electric for the Rule 20A Program
Description:
The City Council will consider granting easements to Pacific Gas & Electric on City property to accommodate the Rule 20A Program.
Environmental Notice: The activity is not a “Project” as defined under Section 15378 of the California Environmental Quality Act State Guidelines; therefore, pursuant to State Guidelines Section 15060(c)(3) no environmental review is required.
RECOMMENDATION:
Adopt a Resolution authorizing the Mayor to execute Easement Deeds for portions of City property along South Miller Street and South McClelland Street to accommodate the Pacific Gas & Electric Rule 20A Program.
BACKGROUND:
Since 1967, moving electric utilities underground in the State of California has been performed under California Public Utility Commission (CPUC) Rule 20. Under Part A of Rule 20, (Rule 20A) undergrounding is paid for and performed by the local electric ut ility PG&E. Through the Rule 20A program, P acific Gas & Electric (PG&E) is required to annually set aside funds from electric utility ratepayers, in the form of work credits, for financing the undergrounding of overhead utilities.
Criteria utilized to identify an improvement area for the Rule 20A program is met by the following: “to benefit a civic or a public recreation area.” The City Civic Center is generally bounded by Broadway State Route 135 on the West, Cook Street on the North, Miller Street on the East, and Jones Street on the South. City government offices, Elks Field, and the Abel Maldonado Youth Center are located in the subject area.
DISCUSSION:
In order to accommodate the Rule 20A Program, easements not only from the City are necessary, but private property owners are encouraged to participate as well. City staff, in coordination with PG&E, have reached out to property owners to convey the benefit of 2 the program and help obtain the necessary easements. Private property easements do not require Council action and can be recorded once approved.
Two City easements are located on South McClelland Street adjacent to the Abel Maldonado Youth Center, and two are located on South Miller Street adjacent to the Transit Center. City staff has ident ified the specific location of the proposed easement areas to the appropriate staff with no objections. To improve the aesthetics of the program, staff seeks to underground the necessary transformer equipment along South McClelland Street. PG&E is aware of the request and will attempt to comply with the City’s request.
The easements requested by PG&E are necessary to support their work and accommodate the necessary infrastructure to convert overhead utilities to underground.
Additionally, these easements grant the right to periodically construct, reconstruct, install, inspect, maintain, replace, remove, and operate facilities within the easement area.
Alternative(s)
City Council may choose to deny the request to grant PG&E the necessary easements.
However, this alternative is not recommended as the denial will prohibit the Rule 20A Program and will result in the loss of proposed funding for the project.
Fiscal Considerations
The grant of easements for the Rule 20A Program will result in no significant cost to the City other than the cost of the necessary staff time to accommodate the City and private easements.
Impact to the Community
The impact to the community will be an aesthetic enhancement to the Civic Center with the elimination of the overhead utilities converted to underground.
ATTACHMENTS
A. Resolution
B. Miller Easement Deed
C. McClelland Easement Deed