>>> THE MEETING OF THE ECONOMI
DEVELOPMENT, TECHNOLOGY, AND
CITY LIGHT WILL COME TO ORDER.
IT IS 9:30. I AM SARA NELSON,
CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE. WILL TH
CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT JUAREZ.
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT.
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD. CHAI
NELSON.
>> PRESENT.
>> FOR PRESENT, ONE ABSENT.
>> THANK YOU. WE HAVE ONE ITEM
RELATING TO SEATTLE CITY LIGHT.
IT IS AN ORDINANCE GIVING THEM
FLEXIBILITY ON OVERHEAD ELECTRI
FACILITIES ON STREETS AND
ALLEYS IN THE FIRST HILL
NEIGHBORHOOD. ARE THERE ANY
OBJECTIONS TO THE AGENDA? SEEIN
NONE, THE AGENDA IS ADOPTED. WE
WILL NOW MOVE INTO PUBLIC
COMMENT FOR ITEMS LISTED ON TH
AGENDA. WE HAVE NOBODY SIGNED U
TO GIVE COMMENT IN PERSON AND
AM CHECKING THE LIST AND NO ONE
IS SIGNED UP ON OUR PUBLIC
COMMENT REMOTE LIST, SO I AM NO
OFFICIALLY CLOSING PUBLIC
COMMENT. WITH THAT, WE WILL
MOVE INTO THE ITEM OF BUSINESS.
SO, A BRIEF REMINDER, THOUGH.
THIS IS GOING TO BE A RATHER
SHORT MEETING. WE ARE ONLY GOIN
TO BE DISCUSSING THIS ITEM AND
NOT TAKING A VOTE TODAY. THIS
IS LEGISLATION THAT HAS TO DO
WITH A HISTORICAL ORDINANCE FRO
1969, MANDATING THAT THE
UNDERGROUND OF ELECTRIC
UTILITIES HAS TO OCCUR IN
CERTAIN NEIGHBORHOODS. THAT WAS
55 YEARS AGO AND THERE IS NOT
LOT OF RECORD AS TO SOME OF TH
PROCESS THAT LED UP TO THAT,
BUT CITY LIGHTS PRACTICE IN
FIRST HILL HAS BEEN TO MOVE
UTILITIES UNDERGROUND, OVERHEA
UTILITIES UNDERGROUND, WHENEVER
SAFETY END NEW CONSTRUCTION
STANDARDS ARE TRIGGERED. BUT TH
DEPARTMENT HAS DETERMINED IT
CAN MAINTAIN AND SAFELY OPERATE
UTILITIES. TODAY WE HAVE A
REQUEST FOR FLEXIBILITY, BECAUS
THERE ARE UPGRADES THAT HAVE TO
HAPPEN IN A SMALL PORTION OF
FIRST HILL. SO I INVITE THE
PRESENTERS TO COME UP TO THE
TABLE NOW. EXCUSE ME. OKAY,
PARDON ME. WHILE YOU ARE GOING
UP THERE, WE WILL READ THIS ITE
INTO THE RECORD.
>> AGENDA ITEM NUMBER ONE.
COUNCIL BILL 120594. AN
ORDINANCE RELATING TO
UNDERGROUND UTILITY DISTRICTS,
AUTHORIZING THE CITY LIGHT
DEPARTMENT TO EVALUATE THE RISK
PRESENTED BY OVERHEAD FACILITIE
ON STREETS AND ALLEYS IN THE
FIRST HILL DISTRICT AND TO
DETERMINE, BASED UPON THE
DEPARTMENTS ENGINEERING
STANDARDS, WHETHER ELECTRIC
FACILITIES SHOULD BE UNDERGROUN
AND WHETHER TO DISPOSE OF
REMAINING UTILITY POLES AND
AMENDING SECTIONS 21.6 8.070
AND 21.6 8.090 AND 21.6 8.100
OF THE SEATTLE MUNICIPAL CODE
FOR BRIEFING AND DISCUSSION.
>> GOOD MORNING. PRESENT
YOURSELVES AND BEGIN YOUR
PRESENTATION.
>> THANK YOU. I AM JEFF WOLF,
THE LEGAL AFFAIRS ADVISOR FOR
SEATTLE CITY LIGHT.
>> THANK YOU. I AM HINA ARAI,
SENIOR POLICY AND PROJECT
MANAGER AT SEATTLE CITY LIGHT.
>> GOOD MORNING. I AM ERIC
McCONAGHY. I AM WITH COUNCIL
CENTRAL STAFF.
>> AND WE HAVE COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD WITH US NOW AS WELL.
>> THANK YOU.
>> GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL
MEMBERS. WE ARE HERE TODAY
ASKING CITY COUNCIL TO AMEND
MUNICIPAL CODE CHAPTER 21.68
AS IT PERTAINS TO THE FIRST HIL
DISTRICT. YOU CAN GO TO THE NEX
SLIDE. MUNICIPAL CODE 21.68
ESTABLISHES FOR MANDATORY
UNDERGROUND DISTRICTS. THE
CENTRAL AREA, UNIVERSITY
DISTRICT, SOUTH SEATTLE, FIRST
HILL. WE ARE FOCUSING ON FIRST
HILL HERE. MANDATORY
UNDERGROUND IN IN THIS CONTEX
MEANS THAT ALL COMMUNICATION
LINES SHALL BE UNDERGROUND IN
DEFINED AREAS AND IN THE
RIGHT-OF-WAY AND THAT PROPERTY
OWNERS MUST, AT THEIR OWN COST,
CONNECT TO THE UNDERGROUND
DISTRIBUTION FACILITIES. SO THE
NEED TO BUILD THE
INFRASTRUCTURE TO HOLD THE
CONDUIT THAT CONNECTS TO THE
RIGHT-OF-WAY AND THEY NEED TO D
THE TRENCHING AND MOVE THE
POINT OF CONNECTION TO THEIR
BUILDINGS TO A LOCATION THAT CA
BE ATTACHED UNDERGROUND. IF YO
LOOK AT THE FOUR DISTRICTS, TH
CENTRAL AREA IS MOSTLY COMPLETE
SOUTH SEATTLE IS ENTIRELY
COMPLETE. LESS SHY IS ENTIRELY
COMPLETE AND FIRST HILL IS ONLY
20% COMPLETE AND PART OF THAT I
THE COMPLEXITY WORTH FIRST
HILL, GIVEN THE COMPLEXITY OF
THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND THE
RELIANCE ON STREETS IN THE AREA
NEXT SLIDE. THIS GIVES YOU A
LITTLE BIT OF AN AREA. THIS IS
THE FIRST HILL DISTRICT ON THI
MAP. THE DISTRICT GOES FROM ROY
ON THE NORTH DOWN TO MADISON ON
THE SOUTH. IT IS BOUNDED BY
I-5. IT IS ESSENTIALLY THE WEST
SIDE OF CAPITOL HILL AND FIRST
HILL, LOOKING INTO THE CITY. W
HAVE A NEIGHBORHOOD THAT WE ARE
FOCUSING ON, WHERE WE NEED TO D
A 4K CONVERSION. WHAT THAT IS
IS THAT WE HAVE 26 KV, THE
VOLTAGE THAT RUNS THROUGH THE
DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM IN SEATTLE
THAT CITY LIGHT OPERATES UNDER
AND WE HAVE SOME ANTIQUATED
LINES THAT ARE FOR KV AND THEY
NEED TO BE CONVERTED TO 26 KV
TO MEET THE STANDARDS THAT WE
SET AND ALSO BECAUSE WE DON'T
HAVE THE REPLACEMENT PARTS TO
REPLACE 4 KV INFRASTRUCTURE
SHOULD IT FAIL, SO WE HAVE SOM
URGENCY IN GETTING THIS DONE.
THE NEIGHBORHOOD WE ARE FOCUSIN
ON IS CURRENTLY IN THIS LITTLE,
YELLOW OUTLINE WHICH IS BOUNDE
BY BELMONT ON THE EAST, SUMMIT
ON THE WEST, HARRISON ON THE
NORTH AND EAST JOHN STREET IN
THE SOUTH. IT INCLUDES 40
SEPARATE SERVICE ADDRESSES AND
650 CUSTOMER ACCOUNTS. NEXT
SLIDE. THIS IS ANOTHER
DEPICTION OF THE MAP ON THE
RIGHT. THE AREA THAT WE ARE
FOCUSING ON. ON THE LEFT IS AN
ENGINEERING DIAGRAM AND I
INCLUDED THIS HERE IN THIS
PRESENTATION. IT IS COLOR-CODED
AND THE PINK AREAS ARE THOSE
AREAS WITH BUILDINGS THAT HAVE
4K SERVICE AT THIS TIME AND
NEED TO BE CONVERTED. NEXT
SLIDE. JUST TO GIVE YOU A
LITTLE BIT MORE BACKGROUND, THE
MANDATORY UNDERGROUNDING
ORDINANCE IS DIFFERENT FROM,
DISTINGUISHED FROM, THE
NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE %
UNDERGROUNDING WAS PERFORMED AS
PART OF A LOCAL IMPROVEMENT
DISTRICT. THIS IS A MANDATORY
ORDINANCE, NOT SOMETHING THAT
THE NEIGHBORS THEMSELVES
ELECTED TO DO. THE PROPOSED
AMENDMENTS THAT ARE BEING
PRESENTED TODAY FOR YOUR
APPROVAL ALLOWS CITY LIGHT
DISCRETION IN ITS PLANNING TO
DETERMINE WHICH DISTRIBUTION
LINES IN THE DISTRICT SHOULD BE
UNDERGROUND, BASED ON
ENGINEERING STANDARDS AND IF
COMMUNICATION LINES USING THE
SAME POLES NEED TO BE
UNDERGROUND DID CITY LIGHT WIL
COORDINATE TO BE MOST
EFFICIENT. WE BELIEVE THIS IS A
WIN-WIN FOR THE UTILITY AND THE
CUSTOMERS. HERE AGAIN, FOCUSIN
ON THE AREA WE ARE WORKING ON,
YOU CAN SEE ON THE PICTURE ON
THE LEFT THERE IS AN ALLEY AND
IT HAS SOME POLES THAT ARE VER
CLOSE TO THE BUILDINGS
THEMSELVES. WITHIN ONE OR TWO
FEET AND THAT DOES NOT MEET OU
CURRENT CLEARANCE STANDARDS,
ESPECIALLY WHEN WE UPGRADE TO
26 KILOVOLT. OUR CLEARANCE
STANDARD IS 14 FEET FROM THE
BUILDING. SO, THOSE POLLS WILL
NEED TO BE UNDERGROUNDED IN
ORDER TO MEET OUR ENGINEERING
STANDARDS. HOWEVER, THAT IS
DISTINGUISHED FROM THE
PHOTOGRAPH ON THE RIGHT, WHICH
IS HARRISON STREET, WHERE WE
MEET ALL OF THE CLEARANCE
STANDARDS, THAT THOSE LINES THA
ARE CURRENTLY UP THERE ARE 26
KV ALREADY. THERE IS NO WORK
THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE ON THOSE
LINES. UNDER THE ORDINANCE WE
WOULD BE REQUIRED TO UNDERGROUN
THAT SYSTEM AND THERE IS NO REA
GOOD REASON TO DO THAT. IT WOUL
JUST BE A USE OF MONEY THAT
WOULD NOT REALLY BENEFIT
DIRECTLY EITHER THE UTILITY OR
THE CUSTOMERS. NEXT SLIDE.
>> SO, AS JEFF STATED EARLIER,
MAINTAINING THE CODE IN ITS
CURRENT FORM CREATES
DISPARITIES. IT TREATS THE
FIRST HILL NEIGHBORHOOD
DIFFERENTLY THAN OTHER SIMILAR
SITUATED NEIGHBORHOODS WITHOUT
BASIS. THE DISPARITY RESULTS IN
BOTH DIRECT AND INDIRECT COSTS.
FOR EXAMPLE, UNDER THE CURRENT
CODE A CUSTOMER LIVING IN THE
FIRST HILL NEIGHBORHOOD, ONCE
CITY LIGHT CONVERTED ITS SYSTEM
WOULD HAVE TO PAY TO MOVE THEI
SERVICE DROPS. A SERVICE DROP
IS WHERE CITY LIGHTS ELECTRICAL
CABLES CONNECT TO THE CUSTOMER'
FACILITY. SO, FOR EXAMPLE, NOT
ONLY WOULD THEY HAVE TO PAY TO
MOVE THEIR SERVICE DROP, BUT
THEY WOULD ALSO HAVE TO PAY TO
TRENCH UNDERGROUND TO CONNECT
TO THE CITY LIGHT ELECTRICAL
BOX. VERY SIMILAR TO HOW A
CUSTOMER IS RESPONSIBLE FOR
THEIR SIDE SEWER, ALL THE WAY U
TO SPU'S MAIN. AND INDIRECT
COST IS CUSTOMERS WOULD
EXPERIENCE THE LOSS OF USE OF
THEIR STREETS AS WELL AS LOSS O
PARKING FOR THE DURATION OF THE
PROJECT FOR WHEN CITY LIGHT IS
UNDERGROUNDING THEIR SYSTEM AND
FINALLY THE COMMUNICATIONS
LINES AND REDUNDANT SERVICES
WOULD LIKELY REMAIN, BECAUSE
THE EXISTING CODE DOES NOT
MANDATE, DOES NOT HAVE AN
ENFORCEMENT MECHANISM, TO
MANDATE REMOVAL.
>> CAN YOU STOP THERE A SECOND?
HAS THERE BEEN PUBLIC PUSHBACK
THE LAST TIME THERE WAS
MANDATORY UNDERGROUNDING AND
THEN CUSTOMERS WERE TOLD HOW
MUCH IT WOULD COST THEM AND,
YOU KNOW, THE IMPACT TO THEIR
STREET? DO YOU REMEMBER THE
LAST TIME, THE LAST PROCESS THI
OCCURRED IN?
>> WE ARE NOT AWARE THAT IT HAS
EVER BEEN DONE IN AN AREA WITH
THIS DENSITY OF BUILDINGS AND
WHERE THE INFRASTRUCTURE IS. AN
YOU WILL SEE SOME PHOTOGRAPHS
IN THIS PRESENTATION, WHERE
THERE IS A LOT OF COMPLICATION
IN TERMS OF UNDERGROUNDING
GIVEN THE INFRASTRUCTURE OF THE
BUILDINGS. SO WE HAVE NOT
EXPERIENCED THAT IN SOUTH
SEATTLE. CERTAINLY IN SOUTH
SEATTLE THERE WAS MUCH MORE OPE
AREA. IT WAS MUCH MORE OF AN
INDUSTRIAL AREA. IT DID NOT HAV
THE SAME DENSITY OF POPULATIONS
AND THERE WERE MORE BUSINESSES
SAME WITH THE DISTRICT AREA. SO
THIS IS KIND OF UNIQUE IN TERM
OF DOING THIS AND THIS IS ONE O
THE REASONS WHY WE HAVE DELAYE
MODIFYING INFRASTRUCTURE IN THI
AREA, TO THE END.
>> THANK YOU.
>> NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
>> SO THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF TH
CONSEQUENCE OF MANDATORY
UNDERGROUNDING. IF YOU LOOK AT
THIS PICTURE, THIS CUSTOMER HA
THEIR SERVICE DROP ON THE LEFT
SIDE OF THE BUILDING. AS YOU CA
SEE, THERE IS A LOT OF BEAUTIFU
ROCK, SO THIS CUSTOMER WOULD
HAVE TO DIG UP AND MOVE THE
SERVICE DROP AND TRENCH THROUGH
ALL THE WAY TO CITY LIGHTS HAN
HOLE ELECTRICAL BOX, WHICH
WOULD COST A LOT. ANY TIME A
CUSTOMER HAS TO SPEND THEIR OW
FUNDING TO MEET SORT OF
CLEARANCE AND RELIABILITY AND
ELECTRICAL STANDARDS, THEY HAV
CHALLENGES. THEY HAVE ISSUES AN
THEY ARE NOT SO HAPPY, SO THIS
WOULD BE AN EXAMPLE OF WHERE A
CUSTOMER WOULD EXPERIENCE SUCH
DISPARITY. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
SO, SCL LOOKED AT THE IMPACTS
CAREFULLY AND CRAFTED AMENDMENT
TO ALLOW SCL TO ASSESS
FACILITIES CONSISTENT WITH
ENGINEERING STANDARDS AND
DETERMINE WHETHER ELECTRIC CABL
WOULD NEED TO BE UNDERGROUNDED
AND OF COURSE, DEVELOP
APPROPRIATE PLANS. ADDITIONALLY
THE AMENDMENT WOULD ALSO GIVE
CITY LIGHT DISCRETION TO
DETERMINE DISPOSITION OF
TELEPHONE COMMUNICATION POLES.
WHETHER THEY COULD STAY AND
SERVE ANOTHER PURPOSE, LIKE
STREETLIGHTS, OR WHETHER THEY
SHOULD BE REMOVED. FINALLY THE
AMENDMENT WOULD ALLOW CITY LIGH
TO LEAD COORDINATION EFFORTS
WITH TELECOMS AND TO SET A
SCHEDULE FOR FACILITY REMOVALS,
AS WELL AS NOTICE TO CUSTOMERS
THAT THE TELECOM SHOULD PROVIDE
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND,
ERIC, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING YOU
WOULD LIKE TO ADD?
>> NO THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE
THE DETAIL. I WILL SAY I SAW A
EARLIER VERSION OF THE
PRESENTATION AND I REALLY LIKE
WHAT YOU DID WITH THE MAPS. I
APPRECIATE YOU CALLING OUT THE
PINK AREAS TO GIVE CONTEXT FOR
WHERE THE WORK IS, UP AGAINST
THE PHOTOGRAPHY. SO THANKS FOR
THAT. AS ONE OF THE VIEWERS, I
LIKE THAT PART. THANK YOU.
>> SO IT IS CLEAR YOU ARE
ASKING FOR SOME FLEXIBILITY
HERE THAT WILL SAVE THE PROPERT
OWNERS SOME MONEY AND PROBABLY
ALSO THE UTILITY. SO MY QUESTIO
IS, WHAT ABOUT THE PROPERTY
OWNERS WITH THE LINES IN THE
ALLEY THAT WILL BE
UNDERGROUNDED?
>> WELL, I DID TAKE A TOUR OF
THAT AREA ON THAT PARTICULAR
ALLEY AND AGAIN, THIS ORDINANCE
AFFECTS THE ENTIRE FIRST HILL
DISTRICT. SO THERE WILL BE A
LOT OF DIFFERENT PERMUTATIONS
THAT WE ENCOUNTER AS WE MODIFY
THESE AREAS. WITH RESPECT TO ON
AREA, THE ALLEY BETWEEN SUMMIT
AND BELMONT, I DID TO HER WITH
THE ENGINEERS THAT PARTICULAR
AREA AND THOSE APARTMENT
BUILDINGS, AND A SINGLE HOME,
EYES AS WELL, WILL INCUR A COS
FOR SURE. SOME OF THEM ALREADY
UNDERSTOOD THIS WAS COMING UP
AND THEY ALREADY PLANNED AND HA
SOME UNDERGROUND CONNECTION.
THE AREA WHERE THEY CONNECT TO
THEIR BUILDING IS ALREADY
UNDERGROUND AND THEY HAVE A
CONDUIT FROM THE POLE, GOING
DOWN TO WHERE IT WOULD BE
CONNECTED. SO THEY ARE ALREADY
READY IN MANY INSTANCES TO
RECEIVE CONNECTION FROM OUR
UNDERGROUND FACILITIES.
>> OKAY, THANK YOU. AND I
UNDERSTAND THAT ONE POLICY
OUTCOME OF THIS LEGISLATION IS
INTENDED TO SUPPORT MORE
AFFORDABLE HOUSING. CAN YOU
SPEAK TO THAT A BIT?
>> SURE. HOUSING, YOU KNOW, TH
EXPENSE THAT IT TAKES TO BUILD
THE HOUSING IS CERTAINLY A
FACTOR AND WHEN A BUILDING
OWNER IS REQUIRED TO DO
UNDERGROUND INFRASTRUCTURE, THA
IS ALWAYS MORE EXPENSIVE THAN
AN OVERHEAD CONNECTION. SO IN
THIS INSTANCE, YOU KNOW, THE
BUILDING OWNER COULD CHOOSE TO
GO UNDERGROUND IF THEY CHOSE
TO, BUT THEY COULD CHOOSE THE
CHEAPER OPTION AND GO OVERHEAD
>> THANK YOU. OKAY, I AM LOOKIN
TO SEE IF THERE ARE ANY
QUESTIONS FROM MY COLLEAGUES.
AM NOT SEEING ANY. I HAVE ONE
MORE QUESTION. WHEN ARE YOU
SCHEDULED TO BEGIN THIS WORK,
IF WE APPROVE THIS ORDINANCE?
>> WELL, WE HAVE AN ENGINEERIN
DESIGN ALREADY PUT IN PLACE
WHICH FOLLOWED THE ORDINANCE,
WHICH REQUIRED THE ENTIRE THING
TO BE UNDERGROUNDED. HOWEVER,
BECAUSE WE HAVE AN URGENCY HERE
BECAUSE WE HAVE REPLACEMENT
PARTS THAT ARE DIFFICULT TO
FIND, THE CONVERSION IS OF SOME
URGENCY. WHAT WE ARE PLANNING T
DO IS AMEND THE CURRENT PLAN AN
ASSUMING THE PASSAGE OF THIS
ORDINANCE, AMEND THE CURRENT
PLAN SO THAT THOSE AREAS THAT
DON'T NEED TO BE UNDERGROUNDED
WILL REMAIN AS THEY ARE AND THE
WE WILL UNDERGROUND THOSE
PORTIONS, WHICH IS ALREADY
DESIGNED. SO I DON'T FOR SEE IT
WILL TAKE TOO LONG TO MAKE THOS
CHANGES AND I WOULD HOPE WE
COULD GET GOING INTO THOUSAND
24.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ALL
RIGHT, I HAVE NO MORE QUESTION
AND IF NOBODY ELSE DOES, I AM
NOT SEEING A HAND UP. THIS
CONCLUDES THE AGENDA OF THE JUN
14 MEETING OF THE ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT, TECHNOLOGY --
EXCUSE ME, LET ME SAY THAT
AGAIN. THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
TECHNOLOGY, AND CITY LIGHT
COMMITTEE. I REALLY APPRECIATE
YOU BRINGING THIS FORWARD AND W
WILL DISCUSS AND POSSIBLY VOTE
THIS OUT OF COMMITTEE ON THE
28th.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBERS.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THIS
MEETING IS ADJOURNED. IT IS
9:48.