Twentynine Palms Municipal Code Ch. 15.08 Underground Utility District

It is the purpose and intent of the ordinance codified in this Chapter to provide for the orderly removal of existing overhead facilities and the construction of new underground facilities by providing a procedure by which the City Council may create an underground utility district upon finding that it is in the public interest to do so.

(Ord. 120 § 1, 1994)

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

(a) "City" means the City of Twentynine Palms.

(b) "Commission" means the Public Utilities Commission of the State of California.

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

(d) "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.

(e) "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 15.08.040.

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

(Ord. 120 § 2, 1994)

The notice shall refer to the report prepared by the City Engineer and shall include an estimate of the cost to property owners.

(Ord. 120 § 3, 1994)

(a) Upon receipt of the report described in Section 15.08.030, 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 or associated service in those areas. The City Clerk shall notify via mail all affected property owners as shown on the last equalized assessment roll and utilities concerned of the time and place of such hearings.

(b) Notice of Hearing. At least ten (10) days prior to any hearing, or as otherwise provided by law. The notice shall refer to the report prepared by the City Engineer and shall include an estimate of the cost to the property owners. Prior to holding such public hearing, set out in Section 15.08.040, the City Engineer shall consult with all affected utilities and shall prepare a report for submission at such hearing containing, among other information, the boundaries of the proposed district, the extent of such utilities' participation and estimates of the total costs to the City and affected property owners. Such reports shall contain an estimate of the time required to complete such underground installation and removal of overhead facilities.

(c) Conduct of hearing may be continued from time to time. At each hearing, all persons interested shall be given an opportunity to be heard. The decision of the City Council shall be final and conclusive.

(Ord. 120 § 4, 1994)

If, after 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 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 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 of such underground facilities as may be occasioned thereby.

(Ord. 120 § 5, 1994)

Whenever the City Council creates an underground utility district and orders the removal of poles, overhead wires and associated overhead structures therein as provided in Section 15.08.050, 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 said overhead facilities are required to be removed by such resolution, except as said 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 Sections 15.08.110 through 15.08.170, and for such reasonable time required to remove said facilities after said work has been performed, and except as otherwise provided in this Chapter.

(Ord. 120 § 6, 1994)

Notwithstanding the provisions of this Chapter, overhead facilities may be installed and maintained for a period, not to exceed ten (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.

(Ord. 120 § 7, 1994)

In any resolution adopted pursuant to Section 15.08.050, 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 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 and switches, 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.

(Ord. 120 § 8, 1994)

(a) Within thirty (30) days after the effective date of a resolution adopted pursuant to Section 15.08.050, the City Clerk shall notify all affected utilities and all persons owning real property within the district created by said resolution of the adoption thereof. 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 service, 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.

(b) Notification by the City Clerk shall be made by mailing a copy of the resolution adopted pursuant to Section 15.08.050, together with a copy of the municipal code codified in this Chapter, to affected property owners as such are shown on the last equalized assessment roll and to the affected utilities.

(Ord. 120 § 9, 1994)

If underground construction is necessary to provide utility service within a district created by any resolution adopted pursuant to Section 15.08.050, 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.

(Ord. 120 § 10, 1994)

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 property between the facilities referred to in Section 15.08.100 and the termination facility on or within said 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 15.08.050, 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 thirty (30) days after receipt of such notice.

(Ord. 120 § 11, 1994)

The notice to provide the required underground facilities may be given either by personal service or by mail. In case of service by mail, the notice must be deposited in the United States mail in a sealed envelope with first class postage prepaid, addressed to the person in possession of such premises at such premises, and, if different, to the owner thereof as such owner's name and address as the same appears on the last equalized assessment roll, and when no address appears, to General Delivery, City of Twentynine Palms. 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 (8″ × 10″) in size, to be posted in a conspicuous place on said premises.

(Ord. 120 § 12, 1994)

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 said 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.

(Ord. 120 § 13, 1994)

If upon 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 with his own force or may let a contract for 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 said property. Upon completion of the work by the City Engineer, the City Engineer 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 cost is to be assessed. The City Council shall thereupon fix a time and place for a public meeting and hearing concerning the assessment of the cost of such work upon such premises within the time frame required by law. Costs include all costs of installation plus overhead.

(Ord. 120 § 14, 1994)

The City Engineer shall forthwith, upon the time for hearing on 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 City Council will pass upon such report and will hear protests against such assessment. Such notice shall also set forth the amount of the proposed assessment, and all other information required by law.

(Ord. 120 § 15, 1994)

Upon the date and hour set for the hearing of protests, the City Council shall hear and consider the report and all protests, if there be any, and then proceed to affirm, modify, or reject the assessment.

(Ord. 120 § 16, 1994)

If any assessment is not paid within thirty (30) days after its confirmation by the City Council, the amount of the assessment shall become a lien upon the property against which the assessment is made by the City Engineer, and the City Engineer is directed to turn over to the Assessor and Tax Collector a notice of lien on each said properties on which the assessment has not been paid, and the Assessor and Tax Collector shall add the amount of said assessment to the next regular bill for taxes levied against the premises upon which said assessment was not paid. Said assessment shall be due and payable at the same time as said property taxes are due and payable, and if not paid when due and payable, shall bear interest at the same rate and be subject to sale for delinquency.

(Ord. 120 § 17, 1994)

The City may remove at its own expense all City-owned equipment from all poles required to be removed hereunder 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 15.08.050.

(Ord. 120 § 18, 1994)

In the event that any act required by this Chapter or by a resolution adopted pursuant to Section 15.08.050 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 be extended for a period equivalent to the time of such limitation.

(Ord. 120 § 19, 1994)