Chapter 13.16
UNDERGROUND UTILITY INSTALLATION
Sections:
13.16.020 Public hearing by council.
13.16.030 Council may designate underground utility districts by resolution.
13.16.050 Exception for emergency or unusual circumstances.
13.16.070 Notice to property owners and utility companies.
13.16.080 Responsibility of utility companies.
13.16.090 Responsibility of property owners.
13.16.100 Responsibility of city.
13.16.010 Definitions.
Whenever the words or phrases defined in this section are used in this chapter, they shall have the meanings assigned to them in the following definitions:
“Commission” means the Public Utilities Commission of the state of California.
“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 13.16.030.
“Utility” includes all persons or entities supplying electric communication or similar associated service by means of electrical materials or devices. (Prior code § 9-2.01)
13.16.020 Public hearing by council.
The 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. At the time it sets the date for such a public hearing, the council shall direct the city engineer to prepare an estimate of the cost to each property owner or occupant within such designated area to complete the work required under Section 13.16.090. 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 hearing at least fifteen (15) days prior to the date thereof, which notice shall contain the city engineer’s estimate of cost of the work required under Section 13.16.090. (Ord. 2003-17 § 1; prior code § 9-2.02)
13.16.030 Council may designate underground utility districts by resolution.
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 be 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 of such underground facilities as may be occasioned thereby. (Prior code § 9-2.03)
13.16.040 Unlawful acts.
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 of occupant of the underground work necessary for such owner of, 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 § 9-2.04)
13.16.050 Exception for emergency or unusual circumstances.
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 council in order to provide emergency service. The council may grant special permission on such terms as the 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 § 9-2.05)
13.16.060 Other exceptions.
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 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 the same building or to an adjacent building without crossing or overhanging any public right-of-way;
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 § 9-2.06)
13.16.070 Notice to property owners and utility companies.
Within ten (10) days after the effective date of a resolution adopted pursuant to Section 13.16.030, the city clerk shall notify all affected utilities and all persons owning real property within the district created by such resolution, 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 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 subject to the applicable rules, regulations and tariffs of the respective utility or utilities on file with the Commission.
Notification by the city 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 § 9-2.07)
13.16.080 Responsibility of utility companies.
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 § 9-2.08)
13.16.090 Responsibility of property owners.
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 13.16.080, and the termination facility on or within the building or structure being served, all in accordance with the applicable rules, regulations and tariffs of the respective utility or utilities on file with the Commission. 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 (10) days after the receipt of such notice.
B. In case of service by mail, notice shall be addressed to the person in possession of such premises at such premises, and shall be addressed to the owner thereof as such owner’s last known address as the same appears of the last equalized assessment roll, and when no address appears, to General Delivery, city of Winters. 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, cause a copy thereof, printed on a card not less than eight inches by ten (10) inches in size, to be posted in a conspicuous place on the premises.
C. 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 the 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.
D. If upon the expiration of the thirty (30) day period, such 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 the property. Upon completion of the work by the city engineer, he or 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 the legal description of the property against which such cost is 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 (10) days thereafter.
E. The city engineer shall, forthwith upon the time for hearing such protests having been fixed, give notice in writing to the person in possession of such premises, and a notice in writing to the owner thereof, in the manner provided for in subsection (B), of the time and place that the 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.
F. Upon the date and hour set for the hearing of protests, the council shall hear and consider the report and all protests, if there be any, and then proceed to affirm, modify or reject the assessment.
G. If any assessment is not paid within five days after its confirmation by the 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 of the properties on which the assessment has not been paid, and the assessor and tax collector shall add the amount of the assessment to the next regular bill for taxes levied against the premises upon which such assessment was not paid. Such assessment shall be due and payable at the same time as the property taxes are due and payable, and if not paid when due and payable, shall bear interest at the rate of six percent per annum. (Prior code § 9-2.09)
13.16.100 Responsibility of city.
City shall remove at its own expense all city-owned equipment from all poles required to be removed 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 13.16.030. (Prior code § 9-2.10)
13.16.110 Extension of time.
In the event that any act required by this chapter or by a resolution adopted pursuant to Section 13.16.030 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 act will be accomplished shall be extended for a period equivalent to the time of such limitation. (Prior code § 9-2.11)