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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1975-07-28 Committee of the Whole MinutesJuly 28, 1975 7:30 P.M. CALL TO ORDER ROLL CALL OF COUNCIL MEMBERS BID OPENING Surplus equipment DISCUSSION Utility company repre- sentatives regarding contractual agreements for undergrounding TUKWILA CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE OF THE WHOTE MEETING MINUTES 2gq Tukwila City Hall Council Chambers MOVED BY STERLING, SECONDED BY JOHANSON, THAT COUNCILWOMAN HARRIS ACT AS CHAIRWOMAN OF THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOT,F MEETING IN THE ABSENCE OF COUNCIL PRESIDENT TRAYNOR. CARRIED. The meeting was called to order by Chairwoman Harris at 7 :40 P.M. GARDNER, STERLING, DAVIS, HARRIS, SAUL, JOHANSON. Steve Hall, Director of Public Works, stated there were 21 items of surplus equipment offered for bid and 23 bids had been received. City Clerk Shirlee Kinney opened the bids, stating the bidder's name, item that had been bid upon, amount of bid, and whether or not a bid bond accompanied the bid. Steve Hall, Director of Public Works, tallied the bids as they were read and stated that the bid recommendations would be made at the next City Council Meeting on August 4, 1975. He added that any item that was bid on in even dollars and did not specifically stated the bid included sales tax, would be a bid considered to be without sales tax included. MOVED BY JOHANSON, SECONDED BY SAUL, THAT ANY BID SUBMITTED IN EVEN DOLLARS THAT DID NOT SPECIFICALLY SAY INCLUDED THE SALES TAX WOULD BE A BID CONSIDERED TO BE WITHOUT SALES TAX INCLUDED. CARRIED. Chairwoman Harris stated that the City Council Members had several questions about the distribution of the costs with respect to the undergrounding and for this purpose they had requested Steve Hall to invite representatives from the utili- ties that would be involved to be present at this Committee of the Whole Meeting. The representatives introduced themselves as Russell Van Buren from Puget Sound Power and Light Co.; Joseph Maio, Ron Scoones, and B. Wilson from Pacific Northwest Bell; and Jim Anderson from TelePrompTer. Chairwoman Harris stated this information is needed for use in preparing the budget and for City Council action. Councilman Johanson stated that he thought the City Council needs a breakdown of the costs. Councilman Saul stated he wanted to listen to the discussion and then formulate his questions. Councilwoman Davis asked Mr. Anderson from TelePrompTer if her understanding was correct that they were going to serve the whole City. Mr. Anderson, TelePrompTer, stated that was correct, that they had approval to participate in the phase sections that the City has plans for now and plans are being made for future expansion. Councilman Sterling sta- ted that he wanted to see the breakdown of the outlined costs. Councilman Gardner stated that he would like to know what it is going to cost. Steve Hall displayed a map on the blackboard and outlined the three phases of the project that would be referred to as the "Conversion Area." Mr. Anderson, TelePrompTer, stated that his Company will have service for all of the area referred to in these three phases. Chairwoman Harris stated that in early 1972 TelePrompTer was granted a variance by the City which waived the underground requirement at that time, but it called for a comprehensive plan to be submitted by them for the entire City and she wondered if that had been accomplished yet. Mr. Anderson stated that he did not know if it had been done or not, that he could not make a commitment at this time and their Regional Engineer would be someone the City could contact for information. Chairwoman Harris said that some of the areas wart this service and want to know what they can anticipate. TUKWILA CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING July 28, 1975 Page 2 DISCUSSION Contd. Utility company repre- sentatives regarding contractual agreements for undergrounding Contd. Mr. Van Buren, Puget Power, stated that the three calendar years of 1975, 1976 and 1977 referred to in Paragraph C of Agreement was the time that has been mentioned to do the job, but he stated it can be done earlier as his Company will be interested in completing the job as soon as possible inasmuch as Paragraph 3 on Page 2 of the Agreement states that the City shall pay their share within thirty days after completion of the undergrounding within the Conversion Area referred to in the schedule. They will, therefore, be interested in com- pleting the work as they will have more money tied up in the project than the City as the ratio of the share is approxi- mately 60 to 40. Mr. Van Buren stated the amount the City pays is calculated in accordance with Schedule 70 (Conversion to Underground Service) on file with the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission. According to this schedule the amount payable by the City shall be: (a) Total lot line footage (b) Number of lots (c) Street light standards (d) $390 per lot ($390 x 128) Plus $1.15 per foot (15,448 feet) Plus $270 per street light standard (0) TOTAL l 15,448 feet 128 42 $49,920.00 17,765.20 11.340.00 $79,025.20 Mr. Van Buren stated with respect to the street light standards Puget Power is paying $24,403.00, and Puget Power will own and operate all fixtures. Councilwoman Harris asked why the City has to pay $11,340 of the charge for the street light standards. Mr. Van Buren, Puget Power, stated that is because the City wishes to go to underground wiring; that as far as his Company is concerned the City has standards and lighting is adequate as is and they are changing to undergrounding at the request of the City; they are having to remove all of the overhead wiring and standards and the City will pay about 50% of the cost. Chairwoman Harris stated that the City has an ordinance to go to undergrounding; however, she stated that she questioned the reasoning of the Company that the City pay if they will not be owned by the City. Mr. Van Buren, Puget Power, stated there will be no salvage for his company in taking down the overhead lighting. Councilman Johanson asked if the City is doing the trenching? Mr. Van Buren, Puget Power, stated that his Company is doing the trenching. Steve Hall stated that the City will do the patching up of the black top after Puget Power has done the trenching. Mr. Van Buren, Puget Power, stated that if the City wishes to do the trenching there would be a $15,000 credit on the job. Mr. Van Buren added that if the City did not pay according to the scale set up by the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission his Company would be in violation of the Commission's rulings. Mr. Van Buren stated that his Company would rather not underground where there is an existing system, but it is nice to have all of the wiring underground it is more expensive for them to maintain because if something goes wrong it costs more for repair. Councilman Saul stated that he thought the City should participate in the cost of the undergrounding. Chairwoman Harris stated she felt the City Council should have an attorney give his interpretation to sections of Ordinance #471. Councilman Sterling asked what the cost would be to the private owner and Mr. Van Buren stated it would be $58. Coun- cilman Sterling asked what could be done if the property owner was not able to pay the $58.00? Mr. Van Buren said his Company had nothing to do with that part of it if the property owner balks that Puget Power will go to Steve Hall, Director of Public Works, and it is up to him or the City Council to deter- mine how the work will be done or payment enforced. TUKWILA CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE OF THE WHOT,F MEETING July 28, 1975 Page 3 DISCUSSION Contd. Utility company repre- sentatives regarding contractual agreements for undergrounding Contd. Ja Eleanor McLester, audience, stated that this amount may not seem like a lot of money, but there are many older people who may not be able to pay this amount and she wondered how long they might have to pay. Councilwoman Harris stated that she did not think public funds could be used to do this work from the street to the private home and she would like to see the amount pro -rated on the owner's light bill. Mr. Van Buren, Puget Power, stated that the property owner is also going to have to change their service entrance equipment and the Company will have to have the $55 prior to laying the wire in the trench. Steve Hall stated the service entrance equipment would have to be passed by the State Electrical Inspector. Mr. Van Buren, Puget Power, stated there will have to be a conduit also to run to the undergrounding and in some cases this might not be necessary. Mrs. Eleanor McLester, audience, stated that in some of the older homes the electrical inspec- tion might require the complete rewiring of some of the homes before Puget Power can hook into the undergrounding. Mr. Van Buren stated he did not think this would be the case as the inspection would be only to the service entrance equipment. Mrs. McLester stated she would like to have someone speak to the State Electrical Inspector about this matter. Chairwoman Harris stated she thought the City Council should get together a list of the things each home owner would have to buy in case they have to hire all of their work done. Councilwoman Davis stated that it appears that the City Council has a lot of legal questions before they can proceed further. She added they have two different directions to go either they can ask the Council Attorney to review the matter or wait until January to proceed when they have their legal questions answered. Mrs. Mildred Hepenstall, audience, stated that she hated to see any delays in the project, that she is eager for the under grounding to be done on her street and prices are going up. Councilman Saul stated that the City has undergrounded before and if this procedure follows the same pattern it seems like the work could go ahead. He added that we all know prices are going up. Chairwoman Harris stated that the streets that were done in 1969, 1970 and 1971 were funded by Forward Thrust and other Federal monies. Councilman Sterling suggested that the City Council make a list of the questions they want the City Attorney to answer and have the answers ready for City Council meeting. Chairwoman Harris stated that she thought this is a matter to put into the hands of the Council Attorney. Councilman Sterling stated he thought they should go first to the City Attorney and then if an opinion is refused go to the Council Attorney. Ed Bauch, audience, asked if there would be any charge from Pacific Northwest Bell and TelePrompTer for the undergrounding. Mr. Maio, Pacific Northwest Bell, stated there would be a charge to the City of $16,927, but no cost to the individual subscriber. Mr. Anderson, TelePrompTer, stated there would be no charges from his company. Mr. Wilson, Pacific Northwest Bell, stated the City could have a formal agreement with his Company if they wish. Chairwoman Harris stated she would like to have an agreement with Pacific Northwest Bell as well as TelePrompTer; however, the agreements would come subsequent to an ordinance. The City Council Members agreed they would like to have agreements with Pacific Northwest Bell and TelePrompTer as well as Puget Power, which has already been submitted for approval. Ed Bauch, audience, asked Mr. Van Buren, Puget Power, if there have been any projections by his Company for the next 7 years. Mr. Van Buren stated that it is under study and will be sub- mitted to the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commiss- ion for approval as soon as it is completed. TUKWILA CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE OF THE WHOT,R MEETING July 28, 1975 Page 4 DISCUSSION Contd. Utility company repre- sentatives regarding contractual agreements for undergrouding Contd. RECESS 10 :10 P.M. 10 :20 P.M. Fire Chief's presentation re: joint power agreement with King County Fire Districts and Sea -Tac ADJOURNMENT 11 :25 P.M. Steve Hall, Director of Public Works, stated that the total cost of the project will be $720,000 which is taking into con- sideration inflation. Chairwoman Harris asked if Pacific Northwest Bell could work out a program so the City Council will know the cost to be borne by the utility and the City. Mr. Maio stated that his Company could give the City Council a Cost Study that would give this information. Chairwoman Harris stated there are resolutions to be introduced at the City Council and they would let Steve Hall, Director of Public Works, know when to get the contracts ready for Pacific Northwest Bell and Tele- PrompTer. She added that in the meantime they would ask that Pacific Northwest Bell furnish them with information to read and study. MOVED BY STERLING, SECONDED BY JOHANSON, THAT THE MEETING RECESS. CARRIED. Chairwoman Harris called the meeting back to order with Council Members present as previously listed. Fire Chief Crawley stated that he had asked the City Council to consider his request to attend meetings and help plan the joint power agreement with King County Fire Districts Nos. 1, 11, 2, 18, 23, 24, 26, and Sea -Tac Airport. He stated he felt sure Tukwila will have to join this agreement at a later date and he would like to be in on the planning so Tukwila will be represented at this time. He stated that 5C% of his calls are coming in on the 911 line now due to constant advertising on Channel 7 that this is the emergency number to call. He stated that numerous calls have been made and letters written to all of the media that have given this as an emer- gency number and they have all discontinued it except Channel 7. Chairwoman Harris felt the City of Tukwila should do their own advertising and have a drive with letters, stickers, bill- boards, etc. telling people who live in Tukwila the number to call for emergencies. Chief Crawley stated that they have tried this method for almost two years and it has not met with suc- cess. Chief Crawley stated this problem is aggravated by the fact that there are so many telephone prefixes in Tukwila. Mr. Maio, Pacific Northwest Bell, stated it would be an impos- sibility to change their lines so Tukwila would be just one prefix; that it would cost millions of dollars, but he would take the problem back to his office and see if anything could be done. Councilman Sterling added that he would like to see the City of Tukwila have their Fire Department remain indepen- dent and have the say --so in their operation. He added that he was afraid if we go to this system we will be told what to do and when and will no longer remain independent; also the cost to the City is not known and it would likely mean the hiring of additional personnel and buying of more equipment. Chief Crawley passed a list to each of the City Council Members listing what he felt would be the basic assumptions in the joint power agreement with King County Fire Districts and Sea -Tac. Chairwoman Harris asked Chief Crawley if he could get some idea of the cost this would be to the City of Tukwila. Chief Crawley stated there is none at this time and part of the plan is to work up the agreement and he would like to be in on that stage of it. He stated that he believed there would be no money involved until after the agreement had been signed. He stated he did not know how many hours it will take to work up this agreement, it might take several months, it will take a lot of man hours but he stated by participating in this he felt he would be doing his job as a Fire Chief. Councilwoman Davis stated the Public Safety and Health Committee would make a recommendation on the matter when it comes out of Committee. MOVED BY SAUL, SECONDED BY DAVIS, THAT THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING ADJOURN. CARRIED. 4 Noma Booher, Council Secretary