Enhancing Residential Neighborhoods in University City

by Councilman Scott Peters
for the Golden Triangle News
December 2005

Most electric, telephone, and cable TV utility lines in University City’s residential areas are located overhead. In fact, all of the older communities in the City of San Diego are sprinkled with exposed utility lines, and residents are fed up with this "sky graffiti" in their beautiful neighborhoods.

After decades of looking at these overhead lines, my City Council colleagues and I spearheaded a comprehensive Utility Line Undergrounding Program three years ago. Today, the program is moving forward, and as part of the plan, all overhead utility lines in the City’s residential neighborhoods will be buried underground within 25 years. In Council District One, including University City, that timeline is slightly shorter, with a total completion date expected in 2020.

With twenty-four undergrounding projects planned for District One, I determined that the fairest way to prioritize the construction was to choose the order of the projects through a public lottery. The public lottery in University City was held at the November 9, 2004, University City Planning Group ("UCPG") meeting. At that time, UCPG board chairman Stan Siegel helped me chose the order of blocks for University City, at random from a hat, and the University City undergrounding schedule was set.

On December 13, I will join residents at 11a.m. to celebrate the completion of the Stresemann Street undergrounding project in University City. The Stresemann Street overhead utility transfer directly benefits 84 homeowners who live along Stresemann, between Governor Drive and Passy Street. As part of the project, fourteen new trees will be planted and 20 new street lights will be installed. Please join us for this important event.

Coordinating our efforts with utility providers, the Stresemann under-grounding project involved trenching and burying 5,844 feet of utility lines underground. The total cost of the project was $2.3 million in SDG&E surcharge fees. Those fees must be spent on undergrounding projects and can not be used by the City of San Diego for any other purpose.

As part of my continued effort to enhance and renew residential neighborhoods in University City, I am dedicated to keep utility undergrounding projects in University City on track. I hope you find this information useful, and remember I’m always eager to hear from you. Please email me your thoughts at ScottPeters@sandiego.gov, I always rely on your opinion and input.