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ELECTRICAL REPORT
Burbank Water and Power officials reported that November was a relatively quiet month for the utility company. There was one unplanned outage, caused by a squirrel in an overhead line, officials said.
Water usage was also down in November, which officials said was due to successful conservation efforts from residents and city staff members.
WHAT IT MEANS
The monthly report is meant to give a regular picture of utility operations within the city.
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CONSTRUCTION APPROVED
Kabbara Engineering is set to begin construction on a southwest Burbank intersection after the council agreed Tuesday to a $110,350 contract with the Orange-based construction firm.
The improvements will include a second left-turn lane in the east and west approaches at the intersection of Alameda Avenue and Buena Vista Street. Construction also includes widening the intersection to accommodate a designated right-turn lane on eastbound Alameda Avenue to southbound Buena Vista Street. The project will also include the reconstruction of pavement on Buena Vista Street between Riverside Drive and Alameda Avenue.
WHAT IT MEANS
Traffic studies have shown that improvements are needed at this intersection, officials said.
Construction is slated to begin later this year.
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NEW ORDINANCE
The council on Tuesday adopted a new ordinance that changes the procedure and regulations for placing overhead power lines underground.
The ordinance was introduced in December, and a Burbank Water and Power study found that many of the city’s 252 circuit miles of utility lines can be placed beneath the street.
The ordinance also changes administration of the underground lines from the public works director to the city manager
WHAT IT MEANS
The council allocated $360,000 each year for water and power “aesthetically-driven undergrounding,” which would fund about one-tenth street mile of construction.
Staff members are therefore concentrating on certain segments in the city where putting the wires underground will have “maximum visual impact,” officials said.
