Chapter 13.16 — UNDERGROUND UTILITY FACILITIES

As used in this chapter:

"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 above ground 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 13.16.040.

"Utility" means all persons or entities supplying electric communication or similar or associated service by means of electrical materials or devices. (Prior code § 19-1; Ord. 21-1722 § 2)

The City Council may, from time to time, call public hearings to ascertain whether the public necessity, health, safety or welfare requires the 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 associated service. The City Clerk 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 10 days prior to the date of the hearing. 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 City Council shall be final and conclusive. (Prior code § 19-2; Ord. 21-1722 § 2)

Prior to holding such public hearing, the City Engineer shall consult with all affected utilities and shall prepare a report for submission at such hearing containing, among other information, the extent of such utilities' participation and estimates of the total cost to the City and affected property owners. Such report shall also contain an estimate of the time required to complete such underground installation and removal of overhead facilities. (Prior code § 19-3; Ord. 21-1722 § 2)

If after any such public hearing, the City Council finds that the public necessity, health, safety or welfare requires such removal and such underground installation within a designated area, the City Council shall by resolution, declare such designated area an underground utility district

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City of Norwalk, CA

NORWALK CODE

§ 13.16.040

§ 13.16.070

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 services. 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 of such underground facilities as may be occasioned.

(Prior code § 19-4; Ord. 21-1722 § 2)

Whenever the City Council creates an underground utility district and orders the removal of poles, overhead wires and associated overhead structures, as provided in Section 13.16.040, 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, described in Section 13.16.100, hereof, 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 § 19-5; Ord. 21-1722 § 2)

Notwithstanding the provisions of this chapter, overhead facilities may be installed and maintained for a period, not to exceed 10 days, without authority of the City Council, in order to provide emergency service. The City Council may grant special permission, on such terms as the City Council 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 § 19-6; Ord. 21-1722 § 2)

In any resolution adopted pursuant to Section 13.16.040, the City may authorize any or all of the following exceptions:

• 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 connecting 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 nominal voltages in excess of 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 of the building to another location on the same

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City of Norwalk, CA

PUBLIC SERVICES

§ 13.16.070

§ 13.16.110

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 § 19-7; Ord. 21-1722 § 2)

Within 10 days after the effective date of a resolution adopted pursuant to Section 13.16.040, the City Clerk shall notify all affected utilities and all persons owning real property within the District created by such resolution of the adoption of the district. The City 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 or associated services, they or such occupant shall provide all necessary facility changes on their premises so as to receive such service from the lines of the supplying utility or utilities at a new location.

Notification by the City Clerk shall be made by mailing a copy of the resolution adopted pursuant to Section 13.16.040, 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 § 19-8; Ord. 21-1722 § 2)

If underground construction is necessary to provide utility service within a district created by any Resolution adopted pursuant to Section 13.16.040, 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 § 19-9; Ord. 21-1722 § 2)

• 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 or her property between the facilities referred to in Section 13.16.090 and the termination facility on or within such building or structure being served.

• B. In the event any person owning, operating, leasing, occupying or renting the 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 13.16.040, the City Engineer shall post written notice on the property being served and, 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.

• (Prior code § 19-10; Ord. 21-1722 § 2)

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City of Norwalk, CA

NORWALK CODE

§ 13.16.110

§ 13.16.130

The City shall remove at its own expense all City-owned equipment from all poles required to be removed by this chapter in ample time to enable the owner or user of such poles to remove the same within the time specified in the resolution enacted pursuant to Section 13.16.040. (Prior code § 19-11; Ord. 21-1722 § 2)

In the event that any act required by this chapter or by a resolution adopted pursuant to Section 13.16.040 cannot be performed within the time provided on account of shortage of materials, war, restraint by public authorities, strikes, labor disturbances, civil disobedience, or any other circumstances beyond the control of the actor, then the time within which such act will be accomplished shall be extended for a period equivalent to the time of such limitation. (Prior code § 19-12; Ord. 21-1722 § 2)

It is unlawful for any person to violate any provision or to fail to comply with any of the requirements of this chapter. Any person violating any provision of this chapter or failing to comply with any of its requirements shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction shall be liable to the penalty established in Chapter 1.16. Each such person shall be deemed guilty of a separate offense for each day during any portion of which any violation of any of the provisions of this chapter is committed, continued or permitted by such person, and shall be punishable as provided for in this chapter. (Prior code § 19-13; Ord. 21-1722 § 2)

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City of Norwalk, CA

PUBLIC SERVICES

§ 13.20.010

§ 13.16.130

CHAPTER 13.20 PIPELINE FRANCHISES

Note: Prior code history: prior code §§ 18-1.1—18-1.4.

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City of Norwalk, CA

PUBLIC SERVICES

§ 13.20.010

§ 13.20.040