AgdaPkt 2012-01-23 - Laserfiche WebLink

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7.A. - Page 2 The affected property owners have been sent a notice of the public hearing through a direct mailing and notice in the newspaper at least ten days before tonight's scheduled hearing. The proposed underground district covers Middlefield Road from Main Street to MacArthur Avenue as shown in the attached boundary map and described in the legal description. With the establishment of the district in early 2012, the estimated completion date for the removal of utility poles is December 2016. The long project schedule is dictated by PG&E's accumulation of Rule 20A funds and how quickly PG&E staff can design the underground electrical distribution for this area. Once the district is established staff will continue to work with PG&E to expedite this schedule, recognizing that the improvements to this corridor are a City Council priority and critical to the continued econom ic g rowth of the city. The estimated construction cost for underground PG&E's utilities is $7.7 million. The city will primarily draw from existing PG&E Rule 20A allocation funds for this work. As of August 4, 2011, the city has $6.37 million in credit allocation and will have an estimated $7.7 million by 2015, when construction is anticipated to begin. The cost of the design for the Underground Utility District will be paid initially by the city but reimbursed at a later date by PG&E and the other utilities in accordance with the Rule 20A funding regulations. Last year, the city entered a maintenance agreement with Astound to provide fiber service (I-Net) to city facilities. The I-Net service along Middlefield Road serves the Fair Oaks Community Center from City Hall. Through the maintenance agreement, Astound is under no obligation to participate in the district. However, Astound has agreed to participate in the district if their cost (approximately $54,000) is equally shared by the city. The city will reinstall street lights currently mounted on wooden utility poles onto new electroliers. As of October 31, 2011, under the Gas Tax Construction Fund- Underground Overhead Utility Program and Street Light Installation budget, the city has available $238,316 and $376,893, respectively, for a total of $615,209. These funds will be used for the reconstruction of the streetlight system. At conclusion of the public hearing, Council can consider introducing the ordinance to establish this underground district. If this introduction takes place, the ordinance will be confirmed on February 6, 2012 with the ordinance being effective 30 days from that date. In Redwood City, underground utility districts have been previously formed along Chestnut Street, and segments of James Avenue, Roosevelt Avenue, Marshall Street, and along that segment of Middlefield Road designated as "Theatre Way".