North Hermosa Beach utility undergrounding approved
Efforts to underground utilities on the north end of Hermosa Avenue date back to December 2016, when this photo was taken. Photo
A five-year effort to promote utility undergrounding in a section of Hermosa Beach gained approval Tuesday night after residents voiced support for the new Greenwich Village North Underground Utilities Assessment District.
Residents voted according to parcel ownership; the final vote was 57-31 in favor of the plan. It needed a 50 percent majority to take effect. Dozens of people debated the matter during a four-hour hearing. City Clerk Eduardo “Eddie” Sarmiento announced the vote totals.
The vote creating the district also approved a final engineer’s report and authorized the city manager to proceed with an agreement with property owners for payment of design costs. Assessments will extend over a 25-year period.
Design and construction are estimated to cost approximately $4 million. The design and bidding processes are expected to up to two years. Bonds will be sold to finance the project.
Following the vote, the council voted unanimously to begin the process.
We should allow 1.5 years to 2 years to get the design done and get bids.
The project will involve undergrounding of overhead utility lines and poles along Hermosa Avenue from 27th Street to north of 34th Street.
According to city statements, the project is a “neighborhood initiative.”
Numerous speakers, however, said they were not properly informed about the planning procedure and were essentially locked out of the decision-making process.
Lead-up to the vote was contentious, with vocal supporters and opponents crossing swords on Zoom or on the phone in the virtually-conducted meeting.
Council member Hany Fangary suggested to the council that the vote count be delayed to allow residents with concerns about the process to be fully heard. The proposal was met with a collective cold shoulder from his fellow council members.
“Some speakers have raised serious concerns,” he said.
“We have provided answers to all of the questions,” said City Attorney Michael Jenkins. “There is no reason for delay. I don’t know what more can be done. For those who say they were not informed, there is nothing we can do about that at this time. We have responded to concerns. We have just tabulated the results of the vote, and we won’t be undoing the vote.”
Jenkins also noted, “The more delay, the more this project will cost,” he said.
Votes were counted excruciatingly slowly, one by one, with each parcel owner submitting their preference in a sealed envelope. Consultant Jeff Cooper then announced each vote.
One ballot was signed, but no preference indicated, and it was not counted.
“It is important to bring this matter to closure. The issue has long predated the pandemic, but the city goes on,” said Mayor pro Tem Justin Massey.
Following the vote, Cooper told the council that the undergrounding project “will be done in phases — 10 or 15 parcels at a time.” It will take about two years to complete the process, which will begin soon, he added.
In a project such as this, homeowners in the district shoulder the entire cost of the project, but have assistance from city staff.
Costs of forming the district and construction of the project are paid from the proceeds of the assessment bonds. None of these costs is the responsibility of city taxpayers. ER