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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1975-04-28 Committee of the Whole MinutesApril 28, 1975 7:30 P.M. CALL TO ORDER ROLL CALL OF COUNCIL MEMBERS DISCUSSION Information meeting regarding the first three phases of the utility underground ing program J1. CDri U� a r 6ftw C Nos a99r //74 TUKWILA CITY COUNCIL Tukwila City Hall COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING Council Chambers MINUTES Council President Traynor called the meeting to order at 7:55 P.M1 GARDNER, STERLING, TRAYNOR, DAVIS Council President Traynor introduced Steve Hall, Director of Public Works, to the audience and stated that he would explain the first three phases of the utility undergrounding program. Steve Hall showed the audience with the use of a wall map the streets that would have the utilities underground. He stated that this year the City would be doing the first three phases which is 56th Street from 144th to 147th and 57th Avenue from 142nd to 149th, 147th Avenue from 56th to 58th, the cul- de-sac on 58th Avenue, and 59th Avenue South to 149th, plus a portion of 142nd down to 58th. Mr. Hall introduced Ron ouonoser, engineer for Pacific Northwest Bell; Jerry Renna representing Cable TV; and Russ Van Buren, Puget Power and Light. Steve Hall explained that he had asked the above mentioned representatives to attend this meeting to answer any questions that the audience might have. Steve Hall explained that the light fixtures would be colonjal type on a, iicta r which has been found to be more durable than wooden poles that can be mutilated by carving. He further explained that the streets will be upgraded and widened and attempts will be made not to disturb any front lawns. Mr. Hall explained that property owners will bear the cost of running the underground utilities from property line to house and changing to the undergrounding. Steve Hall said it was the intent of the City to have good residential streets that will keep the speeds down and make the city beautiful. Stewart James, 144 57th South, stated that he has a pole right in his driveway and he asked if the light fixture would be moved. Steve Hall assured him that the new fixture would not be in his driveway, and all of the wires would be underground. Mr. Skousness from Pacific Northwest Bell stated that it would be the responsibility of the property owners to get the trench dug from their house to the source of power in response to an uniden- tified question from the audience as to the possibility of puttin the trench the closest distance from house to street. Mrs. Phyllis Pesicka, 14726 57th Avenue South, asked if the under grounding would go on past her house. Steve Hall told her that it would go on past her house. An unidentified question from the audience asked if all of the utilities would be put in the same trench. The representative from Northwest Bell stated that the answer to that question was yes. He added that there is a stipu- lation to stay at least two feet from water and sewer lines. Charles Wester stated that he had recently concreted his driveway and had been told that he would have to have two different sized trenches one for power and one for telephone. The representa- tive from Pacific Northwest Bell said that one trench can be used for both utilities. Don Garron, audience, stated that in talking about widening the roads he wondered it it would take any of his property. He stated that at 144th Street it is a raceway now. Steve Hall stated that he felt none of his property would be taken in widening the street. Jim Greaves asked if there is a plan to change the grade on the street. Steve Hall stated that on 57th Street the grade will be changed. Councilman Johanson entered the Committee of the Whole Meeting at 8:10 P.M. Steve Hall, Director of Public Works, stated that it will cost each property owner about $200 to dig the trench and change to undergrounding. An unidentified citizen stated that he would like to have a breakdown on the $200 that it will cost to change to undergrounding. The representative from Puget Power stated that they would require the trench be 28 inches, the conduit will be on a 45 degree angle. There will be a charge of $55 if the service is under 100 feet. The trench and backfill will have to TUKWILA CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE OF THE WROTE MEETING April 28, 1975 Page 2 DISCUSSION Contd. Informational meeting regarding the first three phases of the utility underground ing program Contd.' .1/ be provided by the property owner. Phyllis Pesicka asked if someone would visit each residence and tell them what should be done and where the trench would have to be dug. The Puget Power representative stated that they would come out and tell each property owner what they would have to do and the property owners would be notified by letter when the inspection would take place. Jim Thompson, audience, stated that the $55 that was mentioned paid for the conduit, then what would the rest of the $200 be for? He asked if that would be for digging the trench. Steve Hall stated that he thought the average would be about $200 which would pay for conversion and even digging the trench. George Hill, audience, stated he undergrounded a couple of years ago and it cost quite a bit. Phyllis Pesicka stated that the representative from the telephone company had said there was no charge from street to house, will this be so on the Cable TV? Councilman Sterling asked if all of the streets can have Cable TV. The representative from Cable TV stated that there are streets that cannot have Cable TV because it is not already in. Councilman Sterling stated that he had understood that the franchise made it possible for every house in Tukwila to have Cable TV available. Councilwoman Davis stated that she had received complaints that some citizens who want the Cable TV had not been able to have it available. Mrs. Pesicka asked if the property owners provide the ditch what will Puget Power pro- vide for the $55? The Puget Power representative stated that they will lay the wire and take down the overhead wires. Wayne Nelson, audience, asked if there is a time table made up yet. Steve Hall, Director of Public Works, stated that they are in the process of approving the plans at the present time and it will be two or three months before work is started. The repre- sentative from Puget Power stated that completion of the work depends on how fast the trenches are dug and they will have to take down the overhead wires all at once. He stated it will likely be about three months. Steve Hall stated that funding was approved for the first two phases last November and the third phase in December. He added that it had taken 60 days for the design to be completed and his Department is now ready to have a meeting with the utilities concerned. He stated that this is as fast as they could get to it. George Hill, audience, stated that if it is not started until August the streets will be torn up all winter. Steve Hall stated that it will probably not be too bad, that they had gone as fast as they could. Ed Bauch, audience, stated that sewers had been put in on his street in November and had just been completed and the people on his street had been glad it was put in during the winter as there was no dust. Steve Hall stated that he realized the timing was not the best but they had done the best they could. Council President Traynor stated that once the streets are concreted he felt they should not be torn up again. Steve Hall replied that was the plan not to have to tear up the streets again. An unidentified member of the audience stated that she thought a long look should be taken at the street lights. She added that she hoped they could not be easily broken. Steve Hall stated the light fixtures and poles are being leased from Puget Power, they will be acrylic plastic which is not broken easily and they will be maintained by Puget Power. The poles will be five feet lower than what is being used at the present time. An unidentified member of the audience stated that he understood the property owners would be contacted and they would have time to prepare the trenches. Steve Hall stated that the property owners should have plenty of time to prepare the trenches. The repre- sentative from Puget Power stated that the poles are embedded about four feet into the ground. Councilman Gardner stated we will be leasing the light parts and the poles then. Steve Hall stated that was correct, the City would be leasing the whole thing. Councilman Gardner asked how much will the City have to pay for the covering of the trenches. Steve Hall stated that Northwest Bell would cost about $17,000 and Puget Power about $60,000. Council President Traynor stated that Steve Hall would TUKWILA CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE OF THE WHOT,F MEETING April 2$, 1975 Page 3 DISCUSSION Contd. Informational meeting regarding the first three phases of the utility underground ing program Contd. RECESS 8:50 P.M. 9:00 P.M. Cost of shuttle bus Street light designs ADJOURNMENT 9 :05 P.M. 4 0- 0614) Norm Booher, Recording Secretary //f present the figures at a later date. Terry Griffith, audience, stated the new street lights that had just been put in were different from the colonial type street lights that were shown in this meeting. She stated she felt this would look funny to have two different kinds of lights. Steve Hall stated there are several different kinds of lights now, and the new lights that were put in were on arterial streets and had to comply to a different standard. Councilwoman Davis asked what kind of guarantee the City would have with Puget Power that the poles would be nice and straight. She stated that from personal ex— perience she had seen them put in crooked and nothing could be done about it. Steve Hall stated that the City has final approval on the job and approval will be withheld if any of the poles are not straight. An unidentified member of the audience stated that he was distressed about the TV Cable. He asked if we have a franchise will we have to get another one to come in and do the rest of the area that is not serviced. Councilman Johanson stated that when the City was originally approached by TV Cable the undergrounding was being considered and they seemed agreeable to extend this to underground where needed. He stated he was surprised they are not doing a proper job. He further stated he thought they should do something. Council President Traynor agreed that he felt they should do something, although they are taking care of the undergrounding where the TV Cable is presently used. MOVED BY DAVIS, SECONDED BY TRAYNOR, THAT THE MEETING RECESS. CARRIED. Council President Traynor called the meeting back to order with all Council Members present as previously listed. Councilman Gardner stated that he would like to know how much it has cost to operate the shuttle bus for months of January through April 1975 and if there was an increase over last year. Council President Traynor stated that this information would be obtained for Councilman Gardner. Councilwoman Davis stated that regarding the colonial type light fixtures that have been selected for the City she would like to see what is available in designs. Council President Traynor stated that he personally liked the streets the way they are, and he would like to seem them remain unchanged. MOVED BY TRAYNOR, SECONDED BY STERLING, THAT THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOT,F MEETING ADJOURN. CARRIED.