Council sets Dec. 8 hearing to create underground utility districts in University Heights and Encanto

The San Diego City Council voted unanimously on Oct. 20 to set a Dec. 8, 2025 public hearing to consider creating two underground utility districts: a block-level district in University Heights (Council District 3) and a district in Encanto (Council District 4).

Chelsea Klatius, deputy director in the Transportation Department, briefed the council on the process for creating underground utility districts under the city's procedural ordinance and asked the council to set the hearing date in December so staff can mail notices to property and utility owners and proceed with certification and design phases. "Today the only action before you is to approve a resolution setting that public hearing date," Klatius said.

Public commenters supported undergrounding as a fire-safety and resilience measure and urged attention to ongoing maintenance after undergrounding is completed. Laurie Saldana told the council that some early undergrounding neighborhoods now show signs of underground infrastructure shifting tied to rising water tables and sea-level impacts, and she urged follow-up repairs by utilities. Blair Beekman praised the planning process but expressed concern about overreliance on SDG&E for future infrastructure work.

Councilmember Whitburn said the action is the first step in a lengthy process that will allow property owners and community members to provide design feedback and emphasized the wildfire-safety benefits of undergrounding along canyon slopes. Whitburn moved to approve the staff recommendation; Councilmember Campbell seconded and the motion passed 9-0.

Next steps: Staff will mail notices to affected property and utility owners ahead of the Dec. 8 public hearing; subsequent council action will include certification steps and assignment of design and construction responsibilities.