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REQUEST FOR COUNCIL ACTION <br /> Date: 7/9/12 <br /> Item No.:13.b <br />Department Approval City Manager Approval <br />Item Description: Discuss Draft Overhead Electric Undergrounding Policy <br />B <br />ACKGROUND <br />1 <br />The City Council requested staff to work with the Public Works, Environment, and Transportation <br />2 <br />Commission to develop a policy on Overhead Electric Undergrounding. Property owners have <br />3 <br />occasionally asked for the overhead electric power lines to be undergrounded as a part of street <br />4 <br />reconstruction projects. The City Council approved the undergrounding of the electric lines on the <br />5 <br />Ramsey County Rice Street interchange project. This project utilized the Community Requested <br />6 <br />Facilities Surcharge as a funding mechanism for this work. <br />7 <br />The PWETC was presented a draft policy for their review and provided feedback for revisions. <br />8 <br />The Commission has recommended the policy to the City Council. A copy of the draft policy is <br />9 <br />attached. (Attachment A) <br />10 <br />PO <br />OLICYBJECTIVE <br />11 <br />The City is committed to improve transportation corridors for all users and modes of <br />12 <br />transportation. Frequently conflicts exist to construct facilities for all modes in crowded right of <br />13 <br />ways. Undergrounding helps to reduce the conflicts and improve safety. <br />14 <br />FI <br />INANCIALMPACTS <br />15 <br />Undergrounding is a community cost for existing overhead electric lines under Public Utilities <br />16 <br />Commission rules. Community Requested Facilities Surcharge on electric utilities bills is <br />17 <br />available to the Council as a funding mechanism or other statutory authorized funding <br />18 <br />mechanisms such as property tax levies. <br />19 <br />SR <br />TAFF ECOMMENDATION <br />20 <br />Staff is seeking Council feedback and direction on the draft policy as provided. <br />21 <br />RCA <br />EQUESTEDOUNCILCTION <br />22 <br />Discuss the draft policy and provide direction to staff. <br />23 <br />Prepared by: Duane Schwartz, Public Works Director <br />Attachments: A: Draft Overhead Electric Undergrounding Policy <br />Page 1 of 1 <br /> <br />