East Palo Alto Municipal Code Ch. 13.16 Underground Utility Districts

Whenever in this chapter the words or phrases defined in this section are used, they shall have the respective meanings assigned to them in the following definitions:

"Commission" means the Public Utilities Commission of the state of California.

"Person" means and includes individuals, firms, corporations, partnerships, and their agents and employees.

"Poles, overhead wires and associated overhead structures" means poles, towers, supports, wires, conductors, guys, stubs, platforms, crossarms, braces, transformers, insulators, cutouts, switches, communication circuits, appliances, attachments and appurtenances located aboveground within a District and used or useful in supplying electric, communication or similar or associated service.

"Underground utility district" or "district" means that area in the city within which poles, overhead wires, and associated overhead structures are prohibited as such area is described in a resolution adopted pursuant to the provisions of Section 13.16.030.

"Utility" means and includes all persons or entities supplying electric, communication or associated service by means of electrical materials or devices.

(Prior code § 11-1.301)

The city council may from time to time call public hearings to ascertain whether the public necessity, health, safety or welfare requires such removal of poles, overhead wires and associated overhead structures within designated areas of the city and the underground installation of wires and facilities for supplying electric, communication, or similar or associated service. The clerk of the council shall notify all affected property owners, as shown on the last equalized assessment roll and utilities, concerned, by mail of the time and place of such hearings at least ten days prior to the date thereof. Each such hearing shall be open to the public and may be continued from time to time. At each such hearing all persons interested shall be given an opportunity to be heard. The decision of the council shall be final and conclusive.

(Prior code § 11-1.302)

If, after any such public hearing the council finds that the public necessity, health, safety or welfare requires such removal and such underground installation within a designated area, the council shall, by resolution, declare such designated area an underground utility district and order such removal and underground installation. Such resolution shall include a description of the area comprising such district and shall fix the time within which such removal and underground installation shall be accomplished and within which affected property owners must be ready to receive underground service. A reasonable time shall be allowed for such removal and underground installation, having due regard for the availability of labor, materials and equipment necessary for such removal and for the installation for such underground facilities as may be occasioned thereby.

(Prior code § 11-1.303)

Whenever the council creates an underground utility district and orders the removal of poles, overhead wires and associated overhead structures therein as provided in Section 13.16.030, it is unlawful for any person or utility to erect, construct, place, keep, maintain, continue, employ or operate poles, overhead wires and associated overhead structures in the district after the date when such overhead facilities are required to be removed by such resolution, except as such overhead facilities may be required to furnish service to an owner or occupant of property prior to the performance by such owner or occupant of the underground work necessary for such owner or occupant to continue to receive utility service as provided in Section 13.16.090, and for such reasonable time required to remove such facilities after such work has been performed, and except as otherwise provided in this chapter.

(Prior code § 11-1.304)

Notwithstanding the provisions of this chapter, overhead facilities may be installed and maintained for a period not to exceed ten days, without authority of the city engineer in order to provide emergency service. The city engineer may grant special permission, on such terms as the city engineer may deem appropriate, in cases of unusual circumstances, without discrimination as to any person or utility, to erect, construct, install, maintain, use or operate poles, overhead wires and associated overhead structures.

(Prior code § 11-1.305)

This chapter and any resolution adopted pursuant to Section 13.16.030, shall unless otherwise provided in such resolution not apply to the following types of facilities:

A. Any municipal facilities or equipment installed under the supervision and to the satisfaction of the city engineer;

B. Poles, or electroliers used exclusively for street lighting;

C. Overhead wires (exclusive of supporting structures) crossing any portion of a district within which overhead wires have been prohibited, or connection to buildings on the perimeter of a district, when such wires originate in an area from which poles, overhead wires and associated overhead structures are not prohibited;

D. Poles, overhead wires and associated overhead structures used for the transmission of electric energy at normal voltages in excess of thirty-four thousand five hundred (34,500) volts;

E. Overhead wires attached to the exterior surface of a building by means of a bracket or other fixture and extending from one location on the building to another location on the same building or to an adjacent building without crossing any public street;

F. Antennae, associated equipment and supporting structures, used by a utility for furnishing communication services;

G. Equipment appurtenant to underground facilities, such as surface mounted transformers, pedestal mounted terminal boxes and meter cabinets, and concealed ducts;

H. Temporary poles, overhead wires and associated overhead structures used or to be used in conjunction with construction projects.

(Prior code § 11-1.306)

Within ten days after the effective date of a resolution adopted pursuant to Section 13.16.030, the clerk of this council shall notify all affected utilities and all persons owning real property within the district created by such resolution of the adoption thereof. The clerk shall further notify such affected property owners of the necessity that, if they or any person occupying such property desire to continue to receive electric, communication, or similar such or associated service, they or such occupant shall provide all necessary facility changes on their premises so as to receive such services from the lines of the supplying utility or utilities at a new location.

Notification by the clerk shall be made by mailing a copy of the resolution adopted pursuant to Section 13.16.030, together with a copy of this chapter, to affected property owners as such are shown on the last equalized assessment roll and to the affected utilities.

(Prior code § 11-1.307)

If underground construction is necessary to provide utility service within a district created by any resolution adopted pursuant to Section 13.16.030, the supplying utility shall furnish that portion of the conduits, conductors and associated equipment required to be furnished by it under its applicable rules, regulations and tariffs on file with the commission.

(Prior code § 11-1.308)

A. Every person owning, operating, leasing, occupying or renting a building or structure within a district shall construct and provide that portion of the service connection on his/her property between the facilities referred to in Section 13.16.080 and the termination facility on or within such building or structure being served in accordance with applicable rules and regulations of the respective utility on file with the commission.

B. In the event any person owning, operating, leasing, occupying or renting such property does not comply with the provisions of subsection A of this section within the time provided for in the resolution enacted pursuant to Section 13.16.030, the city engineer shall post written notice on the property being served and thirty (30) days thereafter shall have the authority to order the disconnection and removal of any and all overhead service wires and associated facilities supplying utility service to such property.

OR

C. Every person owning, operating, leasing, occupying or renting a building or structure within a district shall construct and provide that portion of the service connection on his/her property between the facilities referred to in Section 13.16.080 and the termination facility on or within such building or structure being served. If the above is not accomplished by any person within the time provided for in the resolution enacted pursuant to Section 13.16.030, the city engineer shall give notice in writing to the person in possession of such premises, and a notice in writing to the owner thereof as shown on the last equalized assessment roll, to provide the required underground facilities within ten days after receipt of such notice.

D. In the event any person owning, operating, leasing, occupying or renting such property does not comply with the provisions of subsection C of this section within the time provided for in the resolution enacted pursuant to Section 13.16.030, the city engineer shall post written notice on the property being served and thirty (30) days thereafter shall have the authority to order the disconnection and removal of any and all overhead service wires and associated facilities supplying utility service to such property.

E. The notice to provide the required underground facilities may be given either by personal service or by mail. In case of service by mail on either of such persons, the notice must be deposited in the United States mail in a sealed envelope with postage prepaid, addressed to the person in possession of such premises at such premises, and the notice must be addressed to the owner's last known address as the same appears on the last equalized assessment roll, and when no address appears, to "General Delivery, City of East Palo Alto, California." If notice is given by mail, such notice shall be deemed to have been received by the person to whom it has been sent within forty-eight (48) hours after the mailing thereof. If notice is given by mail to either the owner or occupant of such premises, the city engineer shall, within forty-eight (48) hours after the mailing thereof, cause a copy thereof, printed on a card not less than eight inches by ten inches in size, to be posted in a conspicuous place on the premises.

F. The notice given by the city engineer to provide the required underground facilities shall particularly specify what work is required to be done, and shall state that if such work is not completed within thirty (30) days after receipt of such notice, the city engineer will provide such required underground facilities, in which case the cost and expense thereof will be assessed against the property benefited and become a lien upon such property.

G. If upon the expiration of the thirty (30) day period, the said required underground facilities have not been provided, the city engineer shall forthwith proceed to do the work; provided, however, if such premises are unoccupied and no electric or communications services are being furnished thereto the city engineer shall in lieu of providing the required underground facilities, have the authority to order the disconnection and removal of any and all overhead service wires and associated facilities supplying utility service to such property. Upon completion of the work by the city engineer, he/she shall file a written report with the city council setting forth the fact that the required underground facilities have been provided and the cost thereof, together with a legal description of the property against which such costs are to be assessed. The council shall thereupon fix a time and place for hearing protests against the assessment of the cost of such work upon such premises, which time shall not be less than ten days thereafter.

H. The city engineer shall forthwith, upon the time for hearing such protests having been fixed, give a notice in writing to the person in possession of such premises, and a notice in writing thereof to the owner thereof, in the manner hereinabove provided for the giving of the notice to provide the required underground facilities, of the time and place that the board will pass upon such report and will hear protests against such assessment. Such notice shall also set forth the amount of the assessment.

(Prior code § 11-1.309)