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Council introduces ordinance to enable underground utilities district and pursue Rule 20 credits
Summary
Council introduced Ordinance No. 854 to amend Chapter 12.28 (underground utilities) to create a streamlined process for forming underground utility districts, require pre‑hearing cost estimates, and authorize use of Rule 20 work credits to cover service laterals up to 100 feet.
The Crescent City Council introduced Ordinance No. 854, updating municipal code Chapter 12.28 to help the city pursue California Public Utilities Commission Rule 20 work credits to underground distribution and collocated utility lines as part of the Front Street reconstruction and gateway improvements. Council voted to waive full reading and read the ordinance by title only.
City attorney Martha Rice explained the proposed updates would (1) require the council to adopt qualifying findings to create a district, (2) require the city manager to submit a report before the public hearing outlining the project area and cost estimate, and (3) authorize the city to use work credits to underground service laterals up to the meter and up to a maximum of 100 feet so that property owners would not necessarily bear lateral conversion costs. Staff said the city presently holds approximately $393,942 in Rule 20 work credits while Del Norte County holds about $2,406,655; credits must be committed to a project by June 8 to avoid expiration.
Staff endorsed pursuing the credits now to take advantage of planned reconstruction of Front Street (Clean California and CDBG projects) and gateway elements; council introduced the ordinance and staff outlined an ambitious schedule (adoption April 7, property owner notices April 21, public hearing May 5, agreement with Pacific Power May 19) to meet the June 8 commitment deadline.
