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Home My WebLink AboutORD 2427r—.�_, ._ _� ._.._.____.._W... .._..._..._.._.._ ..�.___.___�,�_.......w..�..._....._..�.�. � _W._._.� __. ._.._. I ' ' • z ' . •-: -- �_ , " .- f^�- �• ` O�'#fi.�It�1L ��.� �r� �.�- ' � � ,, . A '' ... � , • ;� 4�._ CITY OF �{ENTON WASHINGTON '' � ORDINANCE N0. a y�- '� � ��/- � �� AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF RENTON DECLARING I THE pQLICY OF THE CITY WITH RESpECT TO THE �I UNDERGROUND RELOCATION AND INSTALLATION OF a THE EXISTING AND THE NEW ELECTRIC AND COMMU- � NICATION FACILITIES WITHIN THE CITY OF RENTON AND PROVIDING CERTAIN MINIMUh1 REQUIREMENTS AND PROCEDURES RELATING THERETO. The City Council of the City of Renton do ordain as follows : II SECTION I . A. Policy. It shall be the policy of the Cit�y of Renton to require compliance with the following orderly program per- � taining to the underground relocation of all existing overhead wires I�I carrying any electrical energy, including, but not limited to, tele- phone, telegraph, cable television, and electrical power, and tore- quire the underground installation of all nevr electrical communication facilities , with certain exceptions noted hereinafter. The health, safety, and general welfare of the residents of the community require that all such existing overhead facilities be relocated underground as soon as practicable in accordance with the requirements included herein, and that all new facilities specified herein be installed under- � ground. . . 6. Purpose, The purpose of this ordinance is to establish minimum requirements and procedures for the underground installation , and relocation of electric and communication facilities �vithin the City I of Renton. C. Scope. Subject to the excepted facilities listed in Para- ' d graph D of this sect�on, this or inance shall apply to all electr�c facilities and to all communication facilities , including but not lim,ited to, telephone, telegraph, and cable tele�is,ion facilities . /1/ . �, -- - - .. � _._... - � , j " .J . , ' . , • .: . . � .� . , • . , �. , r' , �pY ' 1 ( i� ' �- . ` •r � �. • . � F�� .s. D. Excepted facilities from underground requirements . This ordinance shall not apply to the follow.ing facilities : l . Electric uti7ity sub-stations , pad-mounted trans- formers and sv�aitching facilities not located on the public right-of-way where site screening is or will be provided in accordance with SECTION V, ° C 2. 2. Electric transmission systems of a voltage of 55 kv or more, (including poles and t��ires) and equivalent communication facilities where the utility providing electraca� energy is willing to provide,at its expense;an underground street light�ing circuit including all conductor and conduit to a point on the poles at least forty (40) feet above ground level to serve utility, owned street lighting fixtures to be mounted on the poles at said location. 3. Ornamental street lighting standards . 4. Telephone pedestals and other equivalent commu- nication faciiities . 5. Police and fire sirens, or any similar municipal equipment, including traffic control equipment. ' SECTION II . Cost. The cost and expense of converting existing overhead facilities to underground, or installing neW facilities under- ground shall be borne by the serving utilities and/or the oGvners or occupants of the real property served and/or persons applying for such underground service in accordance with the applicable filed tariffs, or tf�e published policies of the respective utilities furnishing such service. /2/ � i - . _ _ . _ _ ... ... ;_ --� - � , ,,i i . - �. � , : � e � , _ ,..-., , .. . . . , ., . , � • . ,s • �'�' , . .. . , . , , o.. _ : . SECTION III . Underground Require��?ents. A. Definitions . The following terms when used in this ordinance . shall have the meanings given below: l . Rebuilds: A replacement of overhead facilities , for a distance of three (3) or more spans (four I poles) or five hundred (500' ) feet exclusive of � replace�nents due to casualty damage. . � , �; _ - 2. Services : Facilities located on private property and/or for the specific purpose of servicing one customer. 3. Relocations: Removal of existing facilities with subsequent re-installation at an adjacent location, generally necessitated by road�t;�ay widening projects, sha71 constitute a relocation. . B. Services. All new, rebuilt, or relocated electric or communi- n o erhead or under round facilit to service connec- � e ices from a v cat�on s rv �J Y � tions of structures shall be installed underground from and after the effective date of this ordinance. C. Business Centers and Industrial Areas. 1 . The following requirements apply to all areas of the City of Renton which are outlined on the attached map. 2. Al1 existing overhead electric and communication - facilities, with the exceptions previously noted in Section I D9 shall be converted to underground facilities within fifteen (15) years from the effecti ve date of thi s ordi nance, subject to a ten (10) year extension by the City ayhereby in the City's judgment, their financial situation /3/ . .� � ` . . • . y", . -,..� ; � � •_ •. ` •' � , y � _ •, • � . .. _,.__'_...._..'_"E�,:...,,.,"' prohibits the City from participating to the degree implied by the proVisions of this or- dinance. � 3. All extension, rebuilds, relocations, or duplica- tions of existing overhead electric and communi- ' cation facilities shall be installed underground � from and after the effective date of this ordi�- nance. 4. All areas rezoned i'or commercial or industrial use after the effective date of this ordinance shall be converted to underground in the same manner as provided herein in sub-paragraph 2 for existing facilities within fifteen (15) years from the effective date of such rezoning, subject to a ten (10) year extension b� the City, provided that the Board of Public Works elects to add such rezoned areas to those out� lined on the attached map as designated in sub-paragraph 1 above. D. Residential Areas . 1 . The following requirements app]y to all areas � Zoned by the Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance of the City of Renton as single family and multi- family residential . 2. All extensions, duplications , relocations , or rebuilds of existing overhead electric and commu- nication facilities shall be installed under- ground from and a�ter the effective date of this ordinance. E. Retail Business and Public Facilities . 1 . The following requirements apply to all areas /4/ I . _ . . _ __ . . _ _ . . . . _ . , f . ,i ,, , � . .. , , • • � . ..-. . . . . , : � • ; . .. � ._.. .e__..__ not included in Paragraph � above and zoned by . the Zoning Ordinance of the City of Renton as _ retail business and public facilities. � � 2. The un�erground requirements respecting all electric or communication facilities in these areas shall conform to the requirements of the immediately surrounding areas as determ�ned by . � the zoning classifications� provided, that where the surrounding areas have varying requirements � in accordance with the provisions of SECTIONS III �,and III �the underground requirements shall be those applicable to the predoninantly surroundin area. 9 , F. Street Lighting. Street lighting facilities or systems conforming to the current standards of the City of Renton Traffic En- gineer shall be installed as in integral part of al� undergrounding projects. G. All rights-of-way proposed to be dedicated to the City and/or easements for public facilities shall be subject to the provisions of this ordinance. ' H. The otvner(s) of real property abutting an undergrounding pro- ' ject shall be responsible for converting to underground service and disconn� � ecting their overhead services following the availability of underground service. I . 4dhere abovegrade pole line ins-tallations are permitted under the variance procedures outlined in SECTION VI , conductors shall be placed in vertica7 alignment or any other approved alignment as subsequent]y desig- nated by the City Traffic Engineer. J. Plans for all above-ground installations, including those ex- cepted under SECTION I9 D l , sh�ll be submitted to the Pianning Departm.ent for approval of site screening and set-backs prior to the issuance of a service permit by the Quilding Department. /5/ K. As-built ProjectDrawings in a Eorm and scale conforming to generally accepted engineering practice shall be submitted in duplicate to the off ice of the City Traffic Engineer within thirty <30) days of the completion of any underg�und I project within the City. In addition, each utility shall submit in duplica te as- built drawings of all o£ its underground facilities within the City on an annual basis, cou�nencing on January 1, following the effective date of this ordinance, provided that if said drawings are not available at the time of the effective date of this ordinance, each utility shall be given a reasonable time to prepare such drawings. SECTICLN IV. Permits and Fees. An underg�ound permit shall be acquired by the serving utility from the office of the City Traffic Engineer prior to the proceeding with construction of facilities in the public right-of�way, easements i for public facilities, and/or public property. The fee for and terms for such i permit for any undergrounding as hereinabove defined, sh.all be identical and in I addition to that speci£ied in Chapter 8 Title IX of Q�rdinance No. I628 entitleci ►� "Code of General Osdinances of the City of Renton and/or any future amendments ./ thereto�:� B. �verhead Permit. Where above�-grade pole line installations are permitted under the variance procedures of SECTIQ�N VI, a permit shall be acquired by the serving utility from the office of the City Traf Eic Engineer pri�r to proceeding with construction of such facilities in the public right-oftiway and/or public property. The fee for and terms of such permit shall be identical to and in lieu of that specified in Chapter 8 Tit1e IX of Ordinance No. 1628 and any subsequent amendments thereto. C. Amendment to Chapter 8 Title IX of Ordinance No. 1628. Chapter. _8� Title IX of Qrdinance No. 1628 is hereby amended to exclude overhead pole lines for wh�.ch 1 jurisdiction shall henceforth be placed under the �.ff ice of the City Traffic Engineer and f�r which the permit provisions of �agraph B abw e shall apply. � I D. The terms of the above permits create a liability on the serv�ng utility for excess inspection fees as provided for in Cha pter S Title IX of Ordinance No. 1628. and/or any amendments thereto. /6/ SECTION V. Design Standard�. A. All conductors, switches, transformers, and regulating devices shall be I installed in accordance with the applicable national, state, and local safety standards. All structural devices shall be designed in accordance with the provisions of the latest editi�n of the U ni€orm Building Code, subject to the provision of the immediately following sub-paragraph: A.1. All underground facilities provided for herein sha11 be installed in such manner as to coordina�e with other underground facilities i.e. water, sewer and gas pipelines, traffzc control and other signal systems. Wherever such coordination requires I �installatiQn practices more restrictive or demanding than the minimum standards required , National, i by applicable/State and Local Codesand Safety standards, the requirements of such coordination shall be governing and controlling. � I B. All vaults, handholes, ventilation gratings, and access covers and c�nduit I in public rights-of-way sha11 be strong enough to withstand 10,000 pound wheel l�ad. The serving utility may, at their option, elect to restrict a 10,000 pound wheel load requirement to traveled street areas while assuming the responsibility for up-grading facilities beyond the original traveled street areas should subsequent widening occur. C. Any equipment excepted from those underground requirements or otherwise permitted to be instaZled above-ground shall be: l. Placed within an enclosure or part of the building being served, or 2. Suitably screened with masonry or other decorative panels and/or evergreen trees, shrubs, and landscaping pla nted in sufficient depth and height, within a period of five C5) years, to �orm an effective sight barrier. The utility shall be responsible for the installation, maintenance, repair, or replace.ment of the af orementioned screening materials when the real property on which the above-ground facilit,y is located is owned by the utility. When said above-ground facility is Iocated on non-utility o�aned . real property, the owner Cs) shall bear the expense of installation ma intenance, repair or replacement of screening materials outlined hereinabove. /7/ ' i- '�! F" ` � . - `� . .• �rA• . . . , . . . . '. �'�.._ _.�.. D. Space frames and structural arrangements �ot^ holding equip- ment shall be designed to have �an uncluttered and neat appearance. E. Streets shall be graded to sub-grade prior to the installa- tion of underground facilities . SECTION VI. Variance Procedures . A. . All app7ications for variances from the foregoing underground ; requirements shall first be filed with the City of Renton Bodrd of Public Works . The Board shall promulgate rules and regulations go�erning application for, hearings pertaining to, and the grantings of va.riances from the foregoing , underground requirements . Underground requirements shall be waiyed by a il variance only if the utility owner(s) or user(s) or any other affected party can demonstrate that it would work an undue hardship to place the facilities concerned, underground. By an undue hardship is meant a technological diffi� culty associated with the particular facility, or with the particular real property involved, or a cost of undergrounding such a facility whi_ch, in the Board 's discretion, is deemed to outweigh the general we1-�are considera- tion implicit in underground installation, or an area Where the growth pattern has not been sufficiently estab7ished to permit the det�rmination of ultimate service requirements or major service routes , SECTION VII . A. Joint Trenches . In the undergrounding of fa�ilities., as contemplated by this ordinance, it is the Cit,y's intent to aathorize the � establishment of joint or common trenches; that is , t�e utilization of a single trench where feasible by all utilities and/or franchi�e holders in- volved in the relocatlon of overhead facilities. Upon dppll�ation for an underground permit, the City Traffic Engineer shallc�teri�line yvhat utilities and franchise holders shall use the proposed trench and the issuance date of the applicable undergraund permit, If at the time of application fior an underground permit, it does not appear that all utilities involved in the underqrounding project have made appropridte arrangements for th� use qf common trenches , the City of Renton Traffic Engineer may delay the issuance of such permit unti7 all utilities involved in such relocat�on shall haye been given the opportunity to beheard upon tvro weeks ' noticeP /S/ ; i � � _ . _ . . _ _.. _ � . , . , � - �� _ _ h"�s�l ' � • + ��.' - � ' ^ � '. ry a . ' • y J• .. .�.. ......_. ��.�" • . . -- � - - .___ _ _ . ' . _ '_" '_ .... ' _'_ . __. __._ . _..�__ ..�_ _, .__ __......_ ...._.__..._� __ .v ��_..k>:s..._�. SECTION VIII. Enforcement. � A. A violation of the provisions of this ordinance or any amend-- ments thereto, by any entity or individual affected thereby, is made a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of not more than $25.00 per day per viola- tion, except for the provisions of SECTION IV for which the fine structure of Ordinance No. 1620 and any amendnents thereto shall apply. . B. Enforcement Officer. The City of Renton Traffic Engineer or his designated representative shall be responsible for investigation of violations and citation of the violating parties. SECTION IX. Any and all ordinances or parts of orc�inances in conflict herewith are hereby repealed and superceded. PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL this J�j day of ✓ , 196 �. �/i' " - - _ - yi.,.r'..-� _ HELP�1ZE NELSON � � - �ity Clerk APPROVED BY THE MAYOR this �� day of , 196�. O t�� . DO(�ALD W. CUSTER Mayor Approved as to Form; �� "c� GERARD M. SHELLAN City Attorney � /9/