[Ord. #258, S1]
As used in this chapter:
a.
COMMISSION – shall mean the public utilities commission of
the State of California.
b.
UNDERGROUND UTILITY DISTRICT OR "DISTRICT – shall mean 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 22-3.
c.
POLES, OVERHEAD WIRES AND ASSOCIATED OVERHEAD STRUCTURES –
shall mean 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.
d.
UTILITY – shall mean and include all persons or entities supplying
electric, communication or similar or associated service by means
of electrical materials or devices.
[Ord. #258, S2]
The council may 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.
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 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.
[Ord. #258, S3]
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 which within such removal and
underground installation shall be accomplished and within which affected
property owners shall 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 to occasioned thereby.
[Ord. #258, S4]
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 22-3 hereof, it shall be 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 section 20-9, and for such reasonable time required to remove these facilities after the work has been performed, and except as otherwise provided in this chapter.
[Ord. #258, S5]
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 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.
[Ord. #258, S6]
This chapter and any resolution adopted pursuant to section 20-3 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 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
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.
[Ord. #258, S7]
Within 10 days after the effect date of a resolution adopted pursuant to section 20-3, the city clerk shall notify all affected utilities and all persons owning real property within the district created by the 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, subject to 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 22-3, together with a copy of this chapter, to affected property owners as such are shown on the last equalized assessment roll and to the effected utilities.
[Ord. #258, S8]
If underground construction is necessary to provide utility service within a district created by any resolution adopted pursuant to section 22-3, 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. #258, S9]
a.
Every person owning, operating, leasing, occupying or renting a building or structure within a district shall perform construction and provide that portion of the service connection on his property between the facilities referred to in section 22-8 and the termination facility on or with said building or structure being served, all in accordance with applicable rules, on file with the commission.
b.
In the event any person owning, operating, leasing, occupying or renting said property does not comply with the provisions of paragraph a of the section 22-9 within the time provided for in the resolution enacted pursuant to section 22-3, 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 said property.
[Ord. #258, S10]
City shall 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 22-3.
In the event that any act required by this chapter or by a resolution adopted pursuant to section 22-3 cannot be performed within the time provided on account of shortage of materials, wars, 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.
It shall be 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 stated in Chapter 1, section 1-5.
