SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL - Record No: CB 120594

• Record No: CB 120594
• Version: 1
• Council Bill No: CB 120594
• Type: Ordinance (Ord)
• Status: Passed
• Current Controlling Legislative Body: City Clerk
• On agenda: 7/5/2023
• Ordinance No: Ord 126853
• Title: AN ORDINANCE relating to underground utility districts; authorizing the City Light Department to evaluate the risks presented by overhead facilities on streets and alleys in the First Hill district and to determine, based upon the Department's engineering standards, whether electric facilities should be undergrounded and whether to dispose of remaining utility poles; and amending Sections 21.68.070, 21.68.090, and 21.68.100 of the Seattle Municipal Code.
• Sponsors: Sara Nelson
• Supporting documents: 1. Summary and Fiscal Note, 2. Presentation, 3. Signed Ordinance 126853, 4. Affidavit of Publication

Date	Ver.	Action By	Action	Result
7/14/2023	1	City Clerk	attested by City Clerk
7/14/2023	1	Mayor	returned
7/14/2023	1	Mayor	Signed
7/7/2023	1	City Council	submitted for Mayor's signature
7/5/2023	1	City Council	passed	Pass
6/28/2023	1	Economic Development, Technology, and City Light Committee	pass	Pass
6/14/2023	1	Economic Development, Technology, and City Light Committee	discussed
6/13/2023	1	City Council	referred
6/1/2023	1	Council President's Office	sent for review
5/31/2023	1	City Clerk	sent for review
5/31/2023	1	Mayor	Mayor's leg transmitted to Council

CITY OF SEATTLE
ORDINANCE __________________
COUNCIL BILL __________________
title
AN ORDINANCE relating to underground utility districts; authorizing the City Light Department to evaluate the risks presented by overhead facilities on streets and alleys in the First Hill district and to determine, based upon the Department's engineering standards, whether electric facilities should be undergrounded and whether to dispose of remaining utility poles; and amending Sections 21.68.070, 21.68.090, and 21.68.100 of the Seattle Municipal Code.
body
WHEREAS, on July 19, 1968, Ordinance 96796 was enacted, requiring the undergrounding of electric distribution, telephone, telegraph, CATV, and other wires and facilities in the First Hill district for the general welfare of the inhabitants of the city and providing for the termination of overhead service to customers in such district; and
WHEREAS, the City Light Department ("Department") periodically publishes engineering standards for the design, construction, and maintenance of the Department's electric distribution facilities; and
WHEREAS, these standards are developed consistent with federal, state, and local requirements to ensure the safe operation of the Department's electric distribution facilities; and
WHEREAS, the Department has determined that certain overhead facilities in the First Hill district, not yet relocated under Ordinance 96796, can be maintained and operated safely without the requirement that they be undergrounded; and
WHEREAS, most existing utility poles in the First Hill district carry communication lines owned or maintained by entities other than The City of Seattle; and
WHEREAS, the undergrounding of electric overhead facilities poses significant additional cost to the Department and its ratepayers; and
WHEREAS, the undergrounding of facilities in the First Hill district poses a financial burden to building owners as electrical services will only be available from such underground facilities, req...