PETITION FROM RESIDENTS TO FORM UNDERGROUND DISTRICT IN THE AREA GENERALLY EAST OF PCH INCLUDING 13TH, 14TH, 15TH, AND 16TH STREETS AND BONNIE BRAE, AND OCEAN, ALL WEST OF PROSPECT

 

Recommendation: That the City Council receive the petition, approve funding for preliminary engineering and direct staff to work with SCE to develop the preliminary engineering including using a different design approach similar to Rule 20A project.

 

Background: In accordance with your direction, staff provided start-up assistance to a committee of residents in the area to initiate the petition process to form an underground utility district and assessment district to pay for the work. A copy of the petition is attached for your review.

The next step is to develop a cost estimate for the proposed work. This has been one of the longest steps in the other districts. Staff has determined that future districts would go much smoother if the engineering work includes getting as close as possible to the service hookup so the residents only have to do minor work on their service panel to connect to the new underground system. We have discussed this with SCE and hopefully this design approach can be used in this district.

The City Council advanced the preliminary engineering funds for the Loma and Myrtle districts, which were paid back when the assessment bonds were sold. If the City Council approves this advance, it would also be recovered after a successful assessment district is formed. If the district failed, there would not be any recovery. SCE charged $15,000 for the other two districts and, if directed, staff will get a quote from them for this work. It is likely that the cost will be more as we are trying to use the Rule 20A-design approach for this project. Staff will return to City Council with the SCE preliminary engineering quote for a specific appropriation once we get it.

Once the preliminary engineering work is completed, the formal assessment will be started. Staff would also intend to engage the same team of consultants for the assessment process that worked on the other two districts.