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Residents of 123 East Oak Ave. tell council electrical access is blocking promised RSI upgrades
Summary
Owners and residents of a 24‑unit building told the council their building was promised windows, doors and central air under the RSI/LAWA program but say Southern California Edison requires a transformer box that the city has not allowed because it violates front‑setback aesthetics; they asked the city to help find a solution so work can proceed.
Residents and owners from 123 East Oak Avenue urged the council to intervene after delays that they say have prevented promised RSI/LAWA upgrades, including central air and new windows.
Janet Hodgman (S8), a board member representing the 24‑unit complex, said the building was permitted historically with only a 400‑amp service and that Southern California Edison requires a transformer box placement that the city has told them would violate the front setback and local aesthetics. “We are in a position of not even being able to keep up with the utility,” she said, adding that some units include elderly residents and people with disabilities who were promised air conditioning through the program.
William Hodgman (S13) said the building includes roughly 24 units and about 55 tenants, a third of whom are elderly or retired, and reiterated that the only feasible location for Edison’s transformer is in the front of the property. He urged the council to allow the transformer with reasonable aesthetic mitigation: “We can put a skin on it. We can do something attractive that promotes the city,” he said, adding that the residents simply want a fair resolution so they can receive the RSI benefits they were told would arrive.
Michael Woodworth (S18) said he spent significant money based on promises made in sale listings and that the community was owed service upgrades through the RSI settlement. He said he could not understand why a precedent (815 Main Street) apparently allowed a similar configuration and urged fairness: “All we’re asking for is fairness,” he said.
City Manager (S9) and staff acknowledged the Oak Avenue RSI issue and told the speakers that a community development director meeting was scheduled the next day to review details and next steps. The council requested staff follow up directly with residents.
Next steps: staff to meet with the residents, review Edison requirements and site constraints, and report back to council on possible mitigation measures and a timeline for completing the RSI upgrades.
