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Home My WebLink About2006-01-04 STAFF REPORTS 3A From: Chardio@aol.com [mailto:Chardio@aol.com] Sent: Wednesday, January 04, 2006 11:42 AM To: RonO@ci.palm-springs.ca.us; ginnyf@ci.palm-springs.ca.us; michaelm@ci.palm- springs.ca.us; chrism @ci.palm-springs.ca.us; stevep@ci.palm-springs.ca.us; CityManager@ci.palm-springs.ca.us; PublicWorks@ci.palm-springs.ca.us; PublicAffairs@ci.palm- springs.ca.us; LeeH@ci.palm-springs.ca.us Cc: Thpsca@aol.com; desert.nick@verizon.net; lexy03O7@dc.rr.com; Psmatilde@aol.com; JGerard@dc.rr.com; Diane.Ross@verizon.net; Chardio@aol.com; chicola@avaya.com; Gpeacockl@aol.com; GLSWRKS@aol.com; JJONESPS@aol.com; jgerard@dc.rr.com; grits7474@msn.com; travisrick@mac.com Subject: City Council Meeting 1/4/06 tv Dear: Mayor Ron Oden =s Mayor Pro Tem Ginny Foat c r Councilmember Mike McCulloch Councilmember Chris Mills ! > ^ Councilmember Steve Pou et a —- David H. Ready, City Manager David J. Barakian, City Engineer Marcus Fuller, Assistant City Engineer e> Lee Husfeldt, Director of Public Affairs RE: Item#3A on this Wednesday's (1/4/2005) City Council meeting beginning a process to switch the undergrounding of utility wires to be funded with Rule 20A funds from Sunrise Way to a different proiect on East Palm Canyon Drive. The Deepwell Neighborhood Organization is in the process of contracting with Southern California Edison to do a study to determine the feasibility and cost of undergrounding all of the utility lines in the Deepwell Neighborhood. As this portion of Sunrise is within the boundaries of Deepwell, the switching of these funds to another project will greatly impact the feasibility of this project. Accordingly, on behalf of the Deepwell Neighborhood Organization, we respectfully request that these funds not be switched from Sunrise Way to another project. Alternatively, we request that this item be delayed on the agenda for two weeks until the next City Council Meeting to give us time to prepare a response. Sincerely, Timothy Holuneier, Chariman, Deepwell Estates Neighborhood Organization CC: Deepwell Board Deepwell Powerline Undergrounding Committee OF PALM S k k rvroMpEniEV yE „' City Council Staff Report CITY COUNCIL JANUARY 4, 2006 LEGISLATIVE Subject: RESOLUTION OF INTENTION FOR A RULE 20A UTILITY UNDERGROUNDING DISTRICT ALONG EAST PALM CANYON DRIVE From: City Manager Initiated by: Director of Public Works/City Engineer SUMMARY This item will initiate proceedings and set a public hearing for the proposed formation of a Rule 20A Utility Undergrounding District on the south side of East Palm Canyon Drive from Gene Autry Trail to Palm Canyon Wash. The public hearing date is proposed for February 1, 2006. RECOMMENDATION: 1) Adopt Resolution No. "A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA DECLARING ITS INTENTION TO ESTABLISH A RULE 20A UTILITY UNDERGROUNDING DISTRICT ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF EAST PALM CANYON DRIVE FROM GENE AUTRY TRAIL TO PALM CANYON WASH." STAFF ANALYSIS: On April 21, 2005 Staff met with representatives of the Southern California Edison Company (SCE), regarding undergrounding of existing overhead utilities. Rule 20 is the Edison Company's tariff rule approved by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) for the conversion of overhead electric facilities to underground facilities. Rule 20 specifies the circumstances and the role of general rate payer versus applicant involvement in the payment for the conversion of overhead electric facilities. Rule 20A criteria was established in order to maintain a general public benefit, while recovery of the costs of an undergrounding project are included in electric rates. An allocation concept was developed in order to ensure equitable treatment for every local government as well as a fair division of SCE funds. The formula was developed by SCE along with the League of California Cities and was approved by CPUC. In 2002 the Item NA .A. City Council Staff Report January 4, 2006 - Page 2 Resolution of Intention for Rule 20A Utility Undergrounding District CPUC approved a decision which modified the ability of local governments to mortgage their annual allocation up to a five year amount. Staff's meeting with SCE staff yielded the information that the City of Palm Springs was eligible for an approximately $2.2million utility undergrounding project. In order to qualify a project for Rule 20A funding, there must be 1) a heavy concentration of electric facilities, 2) a heavy volume of pedestrian or vehicle traffic or 3) civic areas, recreation areas and scenic areas, in addition to the lines being along arterial or major collector roads. Meeting any one of the criteria qualifies the project for Rule 20A funding. Subsequent to the meeting with SCE, staff on July 19, 2005 proposed the following two projects for Rule 20A funding: 1) west side of Sunrise Way from East Palm Canyon Drive to Sunny Dunes Road 2) east side of Sunrise Way from Vista Chino to San Rafael Drive. Staff requested SCE to prepare a cost estimate to determine if construction of these two projects could be accomplished, given the approximately $2.2million project budget that the City of Palm Springs would be permitted to have. On October 17, 2005, Staff received an estimate from SCE. The estimate showed the East Palm Canyon Drive to Sunny Dunes Road portion has an estimated cost of $1.26million. The Vista Chino to San Rafael Drive portion was estimated to cost $1.9million. Although, the total of these project costs is approximately $3.1million, the City currently is holding covenants on over 1400LF of property frontage along Sunrise Way. These covenants resulted from development which occurred in the past within these limits. And if called by the City as a part of this project, would result in the total cost being reduced to the City by approximately $450K. The covenants recorded against the properties at the time of development require the property owner to participate in their fair share of the undergrounding costs, as determined by the frontage of the particular property. The resulting project estimate would be reduced to approximately $2.6million, which SCE has informed us is within the range allowable for SCE to proceed with an undergrounding district based on five year mortgaging of allocation funds. The last City Rule 20A Undergrounding Project was completed in 1999 along East Palm Canyon Drive. A public hearing for these proposed districts was scheduled for December 7, 2005. At that public hearing, some of the property owners upon whose properties covenants were recorded objected to the payment of $30-$50,000 that would be required. Council did not form either district and instructed staff to return with alternate locations. Staff reviewed other candidate locations, and identified two potential Rule 20A Undergrounding Districts: 1) on the south side of East Palm Canyon Drive from Gene Autry Trail to Palm Canyon Wash; or 2) on the north side of Ramon Road from Cerritos to 500' west of El Cielo. The East Palm Canyon Drive segment is City Council Staff Report January 4, 2006 - Page 3 Resolution of Intention for Rule 20A Utility Undergrounding District estimated to cost approximately $2.6million. The Ramon Road segment is estimated to cost $1.2million. The Ramon Road segment has no recorded covenants on adjacent properties while the East Palm Canyon Drive segment has one, from VIP Motors. This one covenant, if called as a part of this project, would reduce the cost of this segment by approximately $280,000. Director of Community & Economic Development, John Raymond, has spoken with Jerry Johnson of VIP Motors who has expressed a willingness to pay their fair share amount in accordance with the covenant because the district would underground an adjacent 650 feet of frontage across a vacant property also owned by VIP. It is staff's recommendation that the East Palm Canyon Drive corridor be selected as the next Rule 20A Utility Undergrounding District. Letters of Notice will be mailed to all property owners along the chosen roadway within the limits noted above, as authorized by the attached Resolution of Intention. Meeting notices will also be published in The Public Record. A Resolution of Intention is attached for establishing a Rule 20A Utility Undergrounding District for East Palm Canyon Drive. If City Council should choose to proceed with a Rule 20A Utility Undergrounding District for Ramon Road, a Resolution of Intention for Ramon Road is also attached. The Resolution of Intention will call for a public hearing on February 1, 2006, to consider the formation of the Rule 20A Underground Utilities District. Also, attached are Proposed District Boundary Maps and Cost Estimates. Finance Director Review: i FISCAL IMPACT: ✓ � All construction costs are being paid by SCE and reimburse rom Rule 20A allocations and property owner contributions as required by covenant and no cal general funds are required for the work. Ur G ' �,David J. Barakian Thomas J. Wilso Director of PubliiccsWo�rks/City Engineer Asst City Manag r-Dev Services David H. Ready City Manager Attachments: 1. Resolution of Intention - District for south side of East Palm Canyon Drive 2. Resolution of Intention - District for north side of Ramon Road 3. Proposed District Boundary Map - District, south side of East Palm Canyon Drive 4. Proposed District Boundary Map - District, north side of Ramon Road 5. Cost Estimate - Both Districts 6. Photos RESOLUTION NO. A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA GIVING NOTICE OF ITS INTENTION TO ESTABLISH A RULE 20A UTILITY UNDERGROUNDING DISTRICT ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF EAST PALM CANYON DRIVE FROM GENE AUTRY TRAIL TO PALM CANYON WASH WHEREAS, Rule 20 was approved by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) and provides or a conversion of overhead electric facilities to underground facilities; and WHEREAS, it is recommended that such an undergrounding utility district, hereinafter called District be formed within the City of Palm Springs, County of Riverside, State of California, on the south side of East Palm Canyon Drive from Gene Autry Trail to Palm Canyon Wash. THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA, DOES HEREBY RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS: Section 1. THE CITY COUNCIL HEREBY DECLARES its intention to conduct a Public Hearing concerning the Rule 20A Utility Undergrounding District on the south side of East Palm Canyon Drive from Gene Autry Trail to Palm Canyon Wash. This public hearing is to ascertain whether public necessity, health, safety or welfare requires the removal of poles, overhead wires and associated overhead structures and the underground installation of wires and facilities for supplying electric, communication or similar or associated service in any such District herein described above. Section 2. Any interested person may file a written protest with the City Clerk prior to the conclusion of the hearing, or having previously filed protest, may file a written withdrawal of that protest. A written protest shall state all grounds of objection and protest by a property owner, shall contain a description sufficient to identify the property owned by such property owner. At the public hearing, all interested persons shall be afforded the opportunity to hear and be heard. Section 3. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a Public Hearing on these matters will be held by the City Council of the City of Palm Springs, California on Wednesday, February 1, 2006 at 6:00 p.m., or as soon thereafter as feasible in the City Council Chamber at City Hall, located at 3200 East Tahquitz Canyon Way, Palm Springs, California. Section 4. The City Clerk shall cause notice to be given of the time and place of the Public Hearing by causing the publishing of this Resolution once in the local paper not less than ten (10) days before the date of the hearing and shall notify all affected property owners by mailing a copy of this resolution to such property owners and utilities concerned at least ten (10) days prior to the date thereof and by posting a copy of this Resolution on the official bulletin board customarily used by the City Council for the posting of such notices, pursuant to the Act. Section 5. The area proposed to be included in the District is shown upon that certain map entitled Rule 20A project on the south side of East Palm Canyon Drive from Gene Autry Trail to Palm Canyon Wash, which is on file with the office of the City Clerk of the City of Palm Springs, California. ADOPTED THIS day of 2006. David H. Ready, City Manager ATTEST: James Thompson, City Clerk CERTIFICATION STATE OF CALIFORNIA ) COUNTY OF RIVERSIDE ) ss. CITY OF PALM SPRINGS ) I, JAMES THOMPSON, City Clerk of the City of Palm Springs, California hereby certify that Resolution No. , is a full, true and correct copy, and was duly adopted at a regular meeting of the City Council of the city of Palm Springs, California on by the following vote: AYES: NOES: ABSENT: ABSTAIN: James Thompson, City Clerk City of Palm Springs, California RESOLUTION NO. A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA GIVING NOTICE OF ITS INTENTION TO ESTABLISH A RULE 20A UTILITY UNDERGROUNDING DISTRICT ON THE NORTH SIDE OF RAMON ROAD FROM CERRITOS TO 500' WEST OF EL CIELO WHEREAS, Rule 20 was approved by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) and provides or a conversion of overhead electric facilities to underground facilities; and WHEREAS, it is recommended that such an undergrounding utility district, hereinafter called District be formed within the City of Palm Springs, County of Riverside, State of California,on the north side of Ramon Road from Cerritos to 500, west of El Cielo. THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA, DOES HEREBY RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS: Section 1. THE CITY COUNCIL HEREBY DECLARES its intention to conduct a Public Hearing concerning the Rule 20A Utility Undergrounding District on the north side of Ramon Road from Cerritos to 500' west of El Cielo. This public hearing is to ascertain whether public necessity, health, safety or welfare requires the removal of poles, overhead wires and associated overhead structures and the underground installation of wires and facilities for supplying electric, communication or similar or associated service in any such District herein above described. Section 2. Any interested person may file a written protest with the City Clerk prior to the conclusion of the hearing, or having previously filed protest, may file a written withdrawal of that protest. A written protest shall state all grounds of objection and protest by a property owner, shall contain a description sufficient to identify the property owned by such property owner. At the public hearing, all interested persons shall be afforded the opportunity to hear and be heard. Section 3. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a Public Hearing on these matters will be held by the City Council of the City of Palm Springs, California on Wednesday, February 1, 2006 at 6:00 p.m., or as soon thereafter as feasible in the City Council Chamber at City Hall, located at 3200 East Tahquitz Canyon Way, Palm Springs, California. Section 4. The City Clerk shall cause notice to be given of the time and place of the Public Hearing by causing the publishing of this Resolution once in the local paper not less than ten (10) days before the date of the hearing and shall notify all affected property owners by mailing a copy of this resolution to such property owners and utilities concerned at least ten (10) days prior to the date thereof and by posting a copy of this Resolution on the official bulletin board customarily used by the City Council for the posting of such notices, pursuant to the Act. Section 5. The area proposed to be included in the District is shown upon that certain map entitled Rule 20A project on the north side of Ramon Road from Cerritos to 500' west of El Cielo, which is on file with the office of the City Clerk of the City of Palm Springs, California. ADOPTED THIS day of 12006. David H. Ready, City Manager ATTEST: James Thompson, City Clerk CERTIFICATION STATE OF CALIFORNIA ) COUNTY OF RIVERSIDE ) ss. CITY OF PALM SPRINGS ) I, JAMES THOMPSON, City Clerk of the City of Palm Springs, California hereby certify that Resolution No. , is a full, true and correct copy, and was duly adopted at a regular meeting of the City Council of the city of Palm Springs, California on _ by the following vote: AYES: NOES: ABSENT: ABSTAIN: James Thompson, City Clerk City of Palm Springs, California o� = 46. � enr�uvmv 3aise3n,a � i.ON s,:v,av He evry seass3ssv zsi so --- �ej IiolaOdGD I S 95t 6 .I J J2°V� O A OCC OCC 7i y2;a 2� 0 0 c2j c2j RAM ON ROAD . ,q _ '9 - - _ - __ __ __ . -__ RAC19N . _ ROAD i en A C 2 T. ., m po � ��-- 724 AOUEftO_RIOAD l94 AOOOb--ROAO.— „v a �� •,. n l—_:- - ---- f— I BIR/ST0 ROAD BARSM ROAD BARISTO i i I Dave Barakian From: Mike.Beard@SCE.com Sent: Wednesday, December21, 2005 3:14 PM To: Dave Barakian Cc: Lin.Juniper@SCE.com; Mike.Beard@SCE.com Subject: RE: Rule 20A E. Palm Canyon/Gene Autry Ramon Rd. Cerritos to Cielo. Dave. I conducted a field survey on E. Palm canyon and Ramon Rd. on 12/20. My estimated cost are listed below. E. Palm Canyon, From Gene Autry to Palm Canyon Wash. Approx 5700 feet. 1- 33kv circuit 1-12kv circuit 1-4. 8kv circuit The estimate for converting this section of line to underground is $ 2. 6 m. Approx. 3500 feet. 1-33kv circuit 1-12kv circuit The estimate for converting this section of line to underground is $ 1.225m A revised estimate will be sent to you after the design is completed. Please call me if you have any questions. See you on January 4th, 9a. 1 a i �. IL LOOKING WESTBOUND ON RAMON ROAD FROM 500 FEET WEST OF EL CIELO ROAD 1 • a� K� �ijq y LOOKING EASTBOUND ON RAMON ROAD AT CERRITOS ROAD i � 1'y� � r •y� D � � d CANYONLOOKING WESTBOUND ALONG EAST PALM • AT RIM ROAD , y, iMlo LOOKING EASTBOUND ALONG EAST PALM CANYON DRIVE, EAST OF SOUTHRIDGE ROAD l ✓�f* IM � s"�• �e «« «,:mow ...wwvru�w�.,.rw.�,w�. rsw�w. n.r�x.+�• ,.....,._.. .. LOOKING EASTBOUND ALONG EAST PALM CANYON DRIVE ADJACENT TO V.I.P. MOTORS, WEST OF CHEROKEE WAY