The city council does find and determine that the public interest and welfare requires that all utility lines, including but not limited to wires for supplying and distributing electrical energy and services, including street lighting, telephone, telegraph and cable television service, to be constructed in the city upon property which is yet undeveloped or is to be redeveloped with either new buildings or with alteration of existing residential buildings in a value in excess of that value which may be established from time to time by resolution of the city council and commercial/industrial buildings in a value in excess of 40 percent of the value of that building as determined by the chief building official of the city, shall be placed underground, in pursuance of this chapter.
(Prior code § 7250.1)
All utility lines, including but not limited to wires for the supplying and distribution of electrical energy, street lighting, telephone, telegraph and cable television service to be constructed in the city on property being developed or redeveloped for any purpose whatsoever, shall be placed underground unless special permission to construct such facilities above the ground is granted as hereinafter provided. For the purpose of this section, appurtenances and associated equipment such as, but not limited to, surface mounted transformers, pedestal mounted terminal boxes and meter cabinets, and concealed ducts in an underground system may be placed above ground. Any person constructing or causing to be constructed any building in the city shall be responsible for complying with this section and shall make necessary arrangements with utility companies involved to provide for underground installation of these facilities.
(Prior code § 7250.2)
The provisions of this chapter shall apply to new residential, commercial, industrial and mobilehome park development and to alterations to residential buildings involving an estimated cost in excess of that value which may be established from time to time by resolution of the city council and commercial/industrial buildings in a value in excess of 40 percent of the value of that building as determined by the chief building official of the city.
(Prior code § 7250.3)
A. 
The provisions of this chapter shall not include or apply to the following:
1. 
Primary electrical energy transmission facilities operated at nominal voltages in excess of 34,500 volts.
2. 
Facilities necessary to the transmission or reception of radiated wireless communication media.
3. 
Temporary facilities to supply electrical power to communication services interrupted by damage or destruction of existing underground facilities.
4. 
Utility lines which do not provide service to the property being developed.
B. 
Where the enforcement of the provisions of this section would result in severe economic hardships requiring underground expenditures which are substantially disproportionate to the improvement being remodeled or erected and served, property owners may make application for exception from the provisions of this section in the following manner:
1. 
Written application shall be filed with the secretary of the planning commission.
2. 
Such application shall include all information necessary to properly appraise the planning commission of the circumstances existing which require such an exception.
3. 
Within 30 days after the filing of such application, the planning commission shall consider the application and shall make its findings and recommendations to the city council.
4. 
Within 30 days after the receipt of the recommendation of the planning commission, the city council shall consider the recommendation and may grant or deny the application.
5. 
Filing fee for this application for exception shall be $40.00 or such fee as the city council from time to time shall establish by resolution. The fee shall be paid to the city at the time of filing. No application shall be considered filed unless the established fees have been paid to the city.
(Prior code § 7250.4)