CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT
MEETING DATE: February 15, 2017
PREPARED BY: David Gittleson, Associate Engineer/Public Works-Engineering
APPROVED BY: City Manager
Title
GRANT UTILITY SERVICE EASEMENT TO PG&E FOR THE OAK CANYON BOOSTER STATION
END
RECOMMENDATION(S)
RECOMMENDATION
1. Approve the granting of a 10 foot wide underground utility easement to PG&E for the right to access, maintain, and replace electrical conduits and cables which provide power service to the Oak Canyon Booster Station; and
2. Authorize the City Manager to execute the necessary easement deed to effect this action.
BODY
COUNCIL PRIORITIES, GOALS & STRATEGIES:
Ongoing Priorities
Enhancing public safety
Maintaining fiscal responsibility
2016 Focus Areas
Planning Our Community
Enhancing Our Services
REPORT NARRATIVE:
The FY 2015/16 Capital Improvements Program (CIP) includes the rehabilitation of the Oak Canyon Booster Station Rehabilitation project. This booster station is located in the Jackson Oaks neighborhood off of Oak Canyon Drive. The station serves approximately 100 residents with potable water and fire protection. This project helps support the City Council goal of providing a safe and reliable water delivery system for the residents of Morgan Hill.
The station was originally constructed with the Jackson Oaks residential development in 1969 and had reached the end of its service life expectancy. The City entered into a construction contract with Monterey Peninsula Engineering for $1,592,000 in March 2016 to upgrade the entire booster station. The scope of work included: new high efficiency pumps, new electronic motor control system, new emergency generator, and new smaller hydropneumatic tank - all enclosed in a new secured building. The Oak Canyon Booster Station Rehabilitation Project is roughly 90% complete at this time. It is estimated to be complete in March 2017.
During the design process, staff submitted an application to PG&E to relocate the existing transformer, as it would be in the way of future planned improvements. During PG&E's design process, they discovered that there was no existing easement on the City's property to perform maintenance or routine repairs on their facilities. Thus, PG&E is now requesting the City grant them an easement for access and maintenances purposes up to and including the new transformer. The easement is located within the driveway that accesses the Oak Canyon Booster Station (see attached easement deed). PG&E prepared the easement documents and there are no costs to the City for granting said easement.
The sole purpose of the electrical conduits and transformer within the easement is to provide power to the City's booster station. It is in the City's best interest to allow PG&E access as they see fit to maintain their support infrastructure to the City's booster station. Staff therefore recommends granting PG&E the underground electrical easement.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: Inform
Staff met with the Jackson Oaks and Holiday Lake Estates neighborhood residents in August 2015 to inform them of multiple water improvement projects, including the Oak Canyon Booster Station project. Staff notified residents in close proximity to the Oak Canyon Booster Station that commencement of construction activities would begin shortly. Staff has also been sending out updates through Nextdoor and providing updated information on the City's website throughout the construction.
ALTERNATIVE ACTIONS:
None.
PRIOR CITY COUNCIL AND COMMISSION ACTIONS:
The Oak Canyon Booster Station Rehabilitation Project was included in the adopted FY 2015/16 Capital Improvement Program budget for a total of $1,394,000.
On February 4, 2015, City Council approved a service agreement for design professionals with HydroScience Engineers, Inc. for $115,302 to develop plans and specifications to rehabilitate the Oak Canyon Booster Station.
On March 2, 2016, City Council awarded a construction contract to Monterey Peninsula Engineering for $1,592,000 to rehabilitate the Oak Canyon Booster Station.
FISCAL AND RESOURCE IMPACT:
No fiscal impact. There are no costs associated with this Council action.
CEQA (California Environmental Quality Act):
Not a Project
Granting an easement to PG&E is considered not a project.
LINKS/ATTACHMENTS:
1. Easement Deed
2. Project Location Map