This ordinance makes revisions to Auburn City Code (ACC) 13.32A.130, Underground Wiring. The proposed revisions are to sections related to converting aerial power and communication lines to underground as part of City projects. The current code requires properties with service connections to lines that are being undergrounded as part of a City project to either pay for the cost of undergrounding their private service line connections or to disconnect and remove the private service line connections.  This requirement is to allow the City to have the utility poles removed from the public right-of-way and removes potential obstructions.  These two options can be problematic to property owners as undergrounding the service connections is expensive and disconnecting them would result in the property being without electricity and telephone. These challenges can delay a City project that includes undergrounding and can result in additional costs to the City and impacts to the public.

The proposed code changes would provide a third option that would allow the City to connect the property to the newly undergrounded lines when it is determined to be in the best interest of the City’s infrastructure and the public.  Such a connection would be located outside of any building structures.

This ordinance was reviewed and discussed at the Council Study Session on March 25, 2019 and staff received consensus from the City Council to bring it forward for adoption.