Title
a. Set a public hearing for July 30, 2013, at 1:30 p.m., to consider approving the formation of the Carmel Valley Area Rule 20A Underground Utility District No. 15; and
b. Direct the Clerk of the Board to notify by mail all affected property owners and utilities in the proposed utility district of said Public Hearing.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors:
a. Set a public hearing for July 30, 2013, at 1:30 p.m., to consider approving the formation of the Carmel Valley Area Rule 20A Underground Utility District No. 15; and
b. Direct the Clerk of the Board to notify by mail all affected property owners and utilities in the proposed utility district of said Public Hearing.
SUMMARY:
Residents of Carmel Valley have requested the formation of a Rule 20A Underground Utility District on a certain section of Carmel Valley Road. Such a project would improve community aesthetics and safety by undergrounding existing overhead utility lines in the area. Monterey County Code Section 14.08 establishes regulations and procedures for the removal of overhead utility facilities and the installation of underground facilities through the formation of an underground utility district. Section 14.08.020 requires all affected property owners and utilities in the proposed utility district to be notified by mail ten days prior to the Public Hearing and for the Board of Supervisors to hold a Public Hearing to give all interested persons an opportunity to be heard.
DISCUSSION:
A number of individual residents and community organizations, such as the Carmel Valley Village Improvement Committee and Carmel Valley Road Committee, have requested the overhead utilities along Carmel Valley Road be placed underground. The utilities are underground along some sections of Carmel Valley Road. However, the section between Meadows Road and Pilot Road are still overhead. The proposed Public Hearing will initiate the process to underground the utilities along the 3.1-mile section of Carmel Valley Road between Garland Ranch Regional Park and Pilot Road (Attachment A).
Overhead utility facilities are placed underground each year under Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) Rule 20A. Rule 20A is an electric tariff filed with the California Public Utilities Commission. Projects performed under Rule 20A are nominated by a city, county or municipal agency and discussed with PG&E, as well as the other affected utilities (e.g., telephone, cable, fiber optic, water, and sewer (Attachment B).
Rule 20A projects are typically in areas of a community that are used most by the general public, both residents and visitors. These projects are also paid for by customers through future electric rates. To qualify, the governing body of a city or county must, among other things, determine, after consultation with PG&E, and after holding public hearings on the subject, that undergrounding is in the general public interest for one or more of the following reasons: 1) Undergrounding will avoid or eliminate an unusually heavy concentration of overhead electric facilities; and/or 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; and/or 3) The street, road or right-of-way adjoins or passes through a civic area or public recreation area or an area of unusual scenic interest to the general public; and/or 4) The street or road or right-of-way is considered an arterial street or major collector as defined in the Governor's Office of Planning and Research General Plan Guidelines.
The current balance of the Rule 20A Allocation is $8,712,311. The allocation increased by $400,000 in 2013 and it is reasonable to expect a similar increase in future years. The proposed 3.1 mile segment is estimated to use $7.4 million of the Rule 20A Allocation balance. The design and construction are under the control of PG&E and, based on discussion with the utility, the typical project takes 5 to 7 years to complete.
The foregoing process has been identified for the purpose of undergrounding overhead utilities in the County of Monterey, and is consistent with Monterey County Code Section 14.08 which establishes regulations and procedures for the removal of overhead utility facilities and the installation of underground facilities through the formation of an underground utility district.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
Affected utilities include PG&E, AT&T and Comcast. Resource Management Agency - Public Works staff will prepare the mailings to all affected property owners and utilities for the Clerk of the Board. Both the Carmel Valley Village Improvement Committee and Carmel Valley Road Committee requested and support the recommendation of the formation of the underground utility district.
FINANCING:
This will not impact the General Fund. The estimate for staff costs to coordinate and obtain rights of entry from adjacent property owners is $50,000. There are sufficient appropriations to cover these costs in FY 2013-14 Road Fund 002, Appropriation Unit RMA012. The total cost of all mainline construction and of trenching on private property within the Rule 20A district will be funded by the utility companies involved in the District. The total cost of the project, including PG&E's project management, engineering, and construction, is at $7.4 million.
Prepared by: Enrique Saavedra, P.E., Senior Civil Engineer, (831) 755-8970
Approved by:
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Robert K. Murdoch, P.E., Director of Public Works
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Benny J. Young, RMA Director
Dated: June 14, 2013
Attachments: Notice of Public Hearing; Attachment A - Proposed Undergrounding District Boundary; Attachment B - List of Utility Companies (Attachments on file with the Clerk of the Board)
cc:
PG&E, Sidney Pogatchnik, Rule 20A Program Liaison
AT&T, Susan Barraza
Charter Communications, Mike Rose, Project Manager