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CITY OF NEWPORT BEACH CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT Agenda Item No. _____ November 23, 2004 TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL FROM: Public Works Department Patrick Arciniega 949-644-3311 parcineiga@city.newport-beach.ca.us SUBJECT: PROPOSED UNDERGROUND UTILITIES DISTRICT NO. 19 - SANTA ANA HEIGHTS (AREA BOUNDED BY MESA DRIVE, CYPRESS STREET, AND A PORTION OF ORCHARD DRIVE) RECOMMENDATION: Schedule a public hearing for 7:00 P.M. on January 11, 2005, to determine whether or not an Underground Utilities District should be formed in Santa Ana Heights along Mesa Drive, Cypress Street, and a portion of Orchard Drive, using the procedure of Chapter 15.32 of the Municipal Code. DISCUSSION: The community of Santa Ana Heights (SAH) acting through the Santa Ana Heights Project Advisory Committee (SAHPAC) first requested the County of Orange to form an Underground Utilities District (UUD) in 1995. The primary reasons cited for the formation of an UUD were the fact that power poles stand in the middle of the horse bridle paths along Cypress Street and Mesa Drive. In addition, there are poles in the sidewalk areas of both streets as well. The community wants the poles placed underground so that riders and pedestrians will not be forced to walk into the street to move around the poles. These streets are the community’s primary equestrian trails and access routes to Upper Newport Bay Regional Park. On July 31, 2002, the Orange County Board of Supervisors directed the County’s Public Facilities and Resources Department (PFRD) to prepare a report on the formation of an UUD in eastern SAH using the area’s redevelopment (RDA) funds. In June 2003, homeowners in SAH were sent information on this preliminary report. In July 2003, the City of Newport Beach officially annexed Santa Ana Heights, and in doing so, became the more appropriate authority to create the UUD for the area. Still using promised redevelopment funds, the City moved forward with this project and hired GFB-Friedrich in July 2004 to prepare a map and Underground Utilities Report to explain the scope of the project and the impact to area residents and business. City staff and the consultant met with the SAHPAC in August 2004 to discuss our plans. The SAHPAC was very supportive of the overall effort. We have scheduled an informal information meeting to discuss the project and the impacts of the UUD designation at the following time and place: December 7, 2004 6:30 P.M. Eddie Murphy Room John Wayne Airport Administrative Building Following the consent of the County, the City intends to use the RDA funds from the Santa Ana Heights Project Area to completely fund the design, construction, and conversion of private property services for this District. After the District is formed at the Public Hearing the City will be required to make advance payments in the amount of $58,800 to Southern California Edison (SCE) and $24,000 to SBC for the design of their underground systems. Once the plans have been completed and finalized, construction can be scheduled. Following is a tentative schedule for proposed Underground Utilities District No. 19: • Council Action to Set Public Hearing for UUD November 23, 2004 • Property Owner Information Meeting December 7, 2004 • Public Hearing January 11, 2005 • Utilities Design Project February 2005 - August 2006 • Public Utilities Commence Work January 2007 • Private Property Conversions Begin September 2007 • Private Property Conversions Complete March 2008 • Overhead Utilities Removed June 2008 Environmental Review: A Notice of Exemption was completed October 22, 2004 and filed with the County Recorder on October 29, 2004. A Certificate of Environmental Proceedings was completed on November 9, 2004. Prepared by: Submitted by: __________________________ ______________________ Patrick L. Arciniega Stephen G. Badum Associate Engineer Public Works Director Attachments: 1. Exhibit Showing District Boundaries 2. Resolution Finding On Petition 3. Engineer’s Report |
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