On December 5, 2024, the OC Chapter of EWRI welcomed Michael J. Sinacori, Assistant City Engineer of Newport Beach, and Jeffrey M. Cooper, Executive Vice President and COO at NV5. The duo delivered an insightful presentation on the challenges, successes, and lessons learned during the undergrounding of overhead utilities on Balboa Island and other locations in the City. Their discussion centered on two key assessment districts, AD-113 (215 properties) and AD-124 (965 properties), which were completed despite considerable obstacles.
Sinacori opened the session by highlighting a major hurdle: coordinating efforts between the City and utility companies. Recognizing the inefficiencies of the past project's communication, he brought all stakeholders into a single room to coordinate this project's construction. To improve oversight, the Newport Beach City Council transferred project management from Southern California Edison, AT&T, and Spectrum to the City. This marked a significant shift, as utility undergrounding was uncharted territory for the City, which was traditionally focused on sewer, water, and traffic infrastructure. Sinacori shared how his expertise in water infrastructure proved valuable.
Construction site for undergrounding in AD-113
The City successfully secured bids of $6.2 million for AD-113 and $35 million for AD-124, with a significant portion of the funding obtained through federal bonds. Jeff Cooper of NV5 expanded on the financing and community engagement required for the projects. Unlike public infrastructure initiatives, utility undergrounding relies on funding from property owners within the district. Cooper explained the three critical phases of assessment district projects required before construction: petition, voting, and undergrounding assessment calculation.
The petition phase consists of gathering property owner signatures to gauge interest, requiring at least 60% support for the project to proceed. The City holds the voting phase, and each property owner's vote is weighted based on the assessed undergrounding value of their property. The assessment calculation is how much each property owes as part of the project costs.
Cooper noted that ensuring fair and straightforward cost allocation, along with familiarity with the state's codes, is key to a successful project. He emphasized the importance of early preparation, including creating a robust property database and implementing a clear public information plan to address property owner questions and concerns. He credited community support and transparent communication as key factors in the projects' success.
To conclude the session, EWRI thanked Sinacori and Cooper for their invaluable insights and presented each with an ASCE plaque to recognize their contributions.
Sinacori (left) and Cooper (right) accepting ASCE OC ERWI's plaque of recognition after the presentation.
About the Author:
Judy Beik is a civil engineer with a focus in water and wastewater engineering in Orange County, CA. She is passionate about projects that help improve community water safety and security. Judy can be contacted at jbeik@mknassociate.us or LinkedIn.
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