MINUTES
OF THE
UTILITY UNDERGROUNDING TASK FORCE
SPECIAL MEETING
Tuesday, April 5 at 4:00 p.m.
City Hall
1 Dr. Carlton Goodlett Place, Rm. 421
AGENDA
1. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL
The meeting was called to order at 4:10 p.m. by Task Force Administrator Jill Lerner.
Present: Steven Aronowitz Travis Kiyota (PG&E)
John Bitterman R. Warren Langley
John Brooke Robert Macray
Chris Coghlan Richard Millet
Lynn Fong (DPW) John Newlin
Gino Graziani (Comcast) Bob Pickard (SBC)
Marla Jurosek (PUC) Jon Rubin
Dan Weaver
2. INTRODUCTIONS
Members introduced themselves, expressing their affiliation, utility undergrounding experience and interest and supervisorial sponsor.
Utility Undergrounding Task Force
Minutes
April 5, 2005
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3. OVERVIEW OF LAWS AND RULES FOR TASK FORCE MEMBERS
Deputy City Attorney Teresa Mueller appeared to explain the Sunshine Ordinance, Brown Act, the laws governing City officials with respect to public notice requirements, open meetings, public documents and behavior.
4. CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE ACTION TO APPROVE: TASK FORCE PROCEDURAL RULES
The group discussed setting a regular date for the meetings. Amanda Khan of Supervisor Dufty’s office requested that the meeting day not be Tuesdays since the Board of Supervisors meets every Tuesday at the same time. The group agreed on holding its regular meeting on Mondays. Ms. Lerner will check on the availability of a room at City Hall on Mondays. The vote for the By-Laws was tabled until the next meeting.
5. SELECTION OF TASK FORCE CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR
After an explanation of the obligations of the Chair and Vice Chair, Mr. Weaver nominated Chris Coghlan for Chair; seconded by Mr. Millet, Mr. Coghlan’s nomination was unanimously approved. Ms. Jurosek nominated Mr. Weaver for Vice Chair; seconded by Mr. Newlin and Mr. Pickard, the nomination was unanimously approved.
Mr. Coghlan took over the conduct of the meeting.
6. OVERVIEW OF ISSUES TASK FORCE MAY CONSIDER IN FUTURE MEETINGS
Mr. Weaver suggested that the first thing the Task Force should hear is a briefing how undergrounding occurs in the state and the City. Mr. Newlin asked for a list of what the undergrounding areas are in the City, when they started and procedures for going from one area to another.
Lynn Fong, Undergrounding Program Manager, DPW, introduced herself. She will provide a map and status report of the current City Undergrounding program at the next meeting. Currently working on forty-two miles. Expect to complete construction portion this program by 2007. PG&E is the main utility trench agency responsible for the
Utility Undergrounding Task Force
Minutes
April 5, 2005
Page 3
construction of the substructure as well as coordinating with the other utility companies involved. Dept. of Public Works responsible for coordinating the different City agencies and working with residents.
Mr. Weaver explained the framework of current undergrounding rules and regulations. California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) Rule 20 was enacted in 1967 and went into effect in 1968. Rule 20 governs the undergrounding programs of investor-owned utilities. In 2003, the CPUC conducted a series of meetings for updating and improving Rule 20. Now the PUC is saying it no longer wants to look at undergrounding.
Mr. Weaver also suggested that a few members pay a visit to the Supervisors who have not made appointments yet and ask them to do so.
8. ADJOURNMENT
By motion of Mr. Macray, the meeting was adjourned at 4:45 p.m.
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