CITY OF CARMEL-BY-THE-SEA

CITY COUNCIL
Staff Report

March 5, 2018
EXTRAORDINARY BUSINESS

TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members

SUBMITTED BY: Robert M. Harary, P.E., Director of Public Works

APPROVED BY: Chip Rerig, City Administrator

Pacific Gas & Electric Presentation,New Gas Line Project

SUBJECT:

RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the City Council receive the presentation, and allow for comments and questions from the
public.

BACKGROUND/SUMMARY:
Public Works and Community Planning and Building have been meeting with representatives of Pacific Gas and
Electric Company (PG&E) recently to review PG&E's proposed new gas line project and consider various pipeline
alignments. PG&E and staff now agree that the safest and most practical route would be as follows (from west to
east): North San Antonio from the Pebble Beach gate south to Fourth Avenue, continuing east along on
Fourth Avenue to San Carlos, where it will be turning north and continue to Camino del Monte, then heading
northeast along Camino del Monte to the City limits. The alignment is depicted on the attached alignment map.
The pipeline will have a total length of 4,900 feet (slightly less than one mile), and the pipeline trench will average
4 feet deep. Construction will proceed one block at a time. Following completion, there will be no new above
ground facilities, and no property easements are needed. PG&E believes that this project is exempt from the
requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act, staff will be reviewing this as the project design
develops.
At the March 5, 2018 Council Study Session, Public Works and PG&E will introduce the proposed project to
the City Council and public. Because this item was postponed from the February Council meeting, updated
notifications of this presentation have been sent to properties within 300 feet of the alignment.
As part of the Encroachment Permit process, staff will develop Special Conditions customized to this unique
project. With comments from the community, these Special Conditions will be tailored to minimize disruption to
residents along the alignment, protect or restore City and other utility facilities that may inadvertently be
damaged, address traffic control issues, and provide a safe environment for the construction crews.
This project will benefit from the special conditions of an encroachment permit model recently implemented by
the City of Monterey which significantly reduced impacts during construction of Cal Am Water's Monterey
Pipeline, a considerably larger pipeline which traversed five miles across that city.
Preliminarily, the Special Conditions will include the following requirements prior to and during construction:
· Traffic control and detour plans, including accommodations for pedestrians
· Pre-construction potholing and protection of City storm drains, CAWD sewer facilities,
 and Cal Am water lines that cross above or below the new gas pipeline
· 24/7 Emergency contact information
· Asphalt trench sawcutting, backfill, and temporary repaving – daily if warranted, to
prevent road closures over nights and weekends
· Coordination w/Carmel Police, Fire, Schools, MST, GreenWaste, Pebble Beach, etc.
· Protection of all trees and consultations between PG&E's arborist and the City Forester
should any trees need to be pruned
· Possible shutdowns during City and Pebble Beach special events
· Updated construction schedules on a weekly basis
· Invitations to City staff for construction meetings and copies of meeting minutes
· Results of soil compaction and asphalt density testing by an independent laboratory
· Increased insurance limits appropriate to the complexity of construction
· Continuation of public outreach, including a hotline phone number for public concerns
Should the project proceed into construction, Public Works staff would lead the oversight of the project and help
resolve problems as they arise. The Directors of Public Works and Public Safety have the authority to
immediately shut down the project if serious problems or safety issues arise.
At this time, construction is anticipated to begin in late May and be completed by early November. Anticipated
Special Conditions promptly following completion of the gas pipeline will include:
· Reconstruction of damaged asphalt pavement to the City's satisfaction
· Asphalt pavement resurfacing (overlay or slurry seal) along the alignment
· Restoration of any damaged asphalt berms and swales
· Restoration of centerline stripes and pavement markings
· Submittal of as-built plans

FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact at this time. However, as staff becomes increasingly involved with oversight and inspection of
this project, especially during construction, an agreement with PG&E will be developed so that PG&E reimburses the
City for any actual City labor costs and expenses incurred.

PRIOR CITY COUNCIL ACTION:

None.

ATTACHMENTS:

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