The City Council voted 3-2 to approve two projects that would put overhead powerlines underground at the Seal Beach agency’s Monday, June 10 meeting.
Mayor Gary Miller and Councilman Michael Levitt cast the dissenting votes. One project would be on Seal Beach Boulevard and the other would be in Old Town. Putting utilities under the ground is called “undergrounding.”
Mayor Miller wanted “undegrounding” projects for College Park East, which he represents, and for Leisure World.
He and Councilman Levitt were out voted in favor of projects that had already been proposed.
California Public Utilities Commission Rule 20 regulates moving overhead power lines underground, according to the staff report from Sean Crumby, who is both director of Public Works and assistant city manager.
Rule 20A projects are paid for by Southern California Edison’s electricity customers, but there must be a public benefit for the projects to get the funding, according to Crumby’s report.
Seal Beach has an Edison account with a balance of $954,919 for putting overhead powerlines under ground. “The city may borrow up to five years in advance to fund projects,” Crumby’s report said. “The annual allocation for Seal Beach in 2013 is $96,653.”
The report also said cities are allowed to borrow against five years’ expected Rule 20 funds.
The staff report included cost estimates of various possible powerline projects, but Crumby described those estimates as “very preliminary.”
The staff report said Edison would provide refined cost estimates after project plans were complete. Staff recommended two locations for moving utility lines underground: Seal Beach Boulevard, 400 feet north and 400 feet south of the Golden Rain intersection (the main entrance to Leisure World) and Seal Beach Boulevard from Pacific Coast Highway to Electric Avenue in Old Town.
College Park East resident Patty Campbell asked for an undergrounding project for her neighborhood. She said Lampson Avenue was the only way in or out of College Park East. She said if there was an earthquake and powerlines came down, College Park East residents would be trapped.
Campbell asked the council to put an undergrounding project in the budget because College Park East had a unique situation.
Miller said College Park East had transition lines across their roads. He proposed adding the Candleberry/Lampson Avenue intersection to the undergrounding project.
District One Councilwoman Ellery Deaton, who represents Old Town, moved to adopt the proposal as staff had presented it. Councilman Shanks immediately seconded the motion.
Miller asked Crumby what the benefit was for the PCH to Electric Avenue project.
Crumby said the area was in a tsunami zone.
Shanks said no one disagreed that College Park East had a problem, but that other areas also had problems.
Miller asked Crumby where College Park East’s escape route would be. “There is no route,” he said.
Miller said he had been on the council five years and he had brought the issue up a couple of times.
