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Council approves 20% city contribution to West Street undergrounding district, asks staff to explore financing options
Summary
After proponents described steep cost increases since 2021, the council agreed Feb. 25 to provide a 20% city contribution toward the preliminary $7.0M West Street Underground Utility Assessment District and directed staff to return with a funding plan that could include the city purchasing bonds to reduce borrowing costs.
The City Council voted Feb. 25 to provide a 20% city contribution to the proposed West Street Underground Utility Assessment District (2021‑1), a South Laguna project covering roughly 101 assessable parcels. Engineering bids and inflation drove the current preliminary cost estimate to about $7.0 million; the engineer’s draft report included a 10% general benefit contribution that the city typically pays. Proponents asked the council to increase city support to reduce homeowners’ parcel assessments.
Public proponents described wildfire and public‑safety motivations and urged broader city support so more neighborhoods would be able to afford undergrounding. Opponents and some property owners cautioned that even with a 20% contribution the assessments could be high and asked for deferment options for older or fixed‑income residents. City staff said a deferment loan program exists in principle and can be applied; they also described the district formation steps (engineer’s report update, community workshop, public hearing and balloting).
Council adopted a motion to support a 20% city contribution and asked staff to return with a funding strategy for that contribution. Councilmembers also requested staff evaluate financing options, including the possibility of the city purchasing bonds directly to lower interest costs for the district. The motion passed on a unanimous voice vote.
