PROJECT NO. CIP 97-182 MYRTLE AVENUE UNDERGROUNDING AND
PROJECT NO. CIP 97-183 LOMA DRIVE UNDERGROUNDING –
STATUS REPORT

 

Recommendation:

It is recommended that the City Council receive and file this report.

 

Summary:

This report covers the progress made to date in the two undergrounding districts. Several corrections have been made to both system infrastructures in order to accommodate specific needs at locations within each district. This includes changes to Southern California Edison’s (SCE) design plans allowing relocation of poles originally to remain within the districts and relocation of existing underground stub outs to accommodate the needs of specific homeowners’ conversions.

The conversion rate in the Myrtle District stands at 100% and in the Loma District at 92% with the exception in the Loma District of three properties that are to be torn down, one location as possibly to be torn down or sold, and fourteen newly constructed buildings with either telephone or cable or both yet to be installed. The punch list for the homeowners’ conversions in the Myrtle District includes eleven locations and the owners have been notified to correct the problems.

SCE started work in the Myrtle District on February 1, 2001, and expects to complete it, including wiring, cross over, and pole removal, by the end of May 2001. They plan to begin the work in Loma District on March 1, 2001 and finish by the end of July 2001.

 

Work Completed :

The per original design plan work related to the substructure installation of ducts for electricity, telephone and cable television has been completed. The placement of vaults, pull boxes, hand-holes and laterals to residents as indicated on the initially drawn plans have been also completed. Pavement repairs, striping, and final clean up of the reconstructed areas within the project have been completed.

 

Work in Progress:

Construction is underway to facilitate removal of two poles on the boundary line on Palm Drive in the Myrtle District. The first one is on private property at 125 26 ^th Street, which had not been part of the original design plan to be removed for this construction. The second one, at 2611-2621 Manhattan Avenue, will not be installed and instead the underground ducts will be extended to the northeast corner of Palm Drive and Greenwich Village.

Verizon has been asked to coordinate their work with SCE in both districts in order to finish their work prior to SCE beginning the final phase of construction which includes pole removal and installation of street lights.

 

Work Remaining:

SCE has yet to finish the installation of primary and secondary wires in both districts. However, the company has not assigned enough manpower in either district and that may cause further unwanted delays in completion. Although SCE’s original plans were aimed at simultaneous construction of the projects, due to the recent "California power crisis" they have stated that they may finish the Myrtle District before beginning the Loma District. Some preventive measures have to be taken before any such plan might form.

A homeowner conversion punch list is being prepared for the Loma District. The final notice to non-compliant homeowners will be sent shortly. This letter will require them to finalize their conversion work by no later than March 1, 2001, or the City will take necessary actions to also bring that district to 100% compliant.

 

Conclusions:

Staff is spending a great deal of effort to bring the compliance rate to 100% in the Loma District by the end of March 2001. It is noteworthy that such efforts will save a lot of time and money to bring the project in that district to completion. In addition, upon resolution of current problems with SCE in terms of staffing shortages, it is anticipated that work in both districts will be completed by the end of July 2001.

 

Fiscal Impact:

None.