Form revised: December 6, 2011

FISCAL NOTE FOR NON-CAPITAL PROJECTS

Department:	Contact Person/Phone:	CBO Analyst/Phone:
Seattle City Light	Lynn Best / 386-4586	Calvin Chow / 684-4652

Legislation Title:

AN ORDINANCE relating to the City Light Department, accepting various easements granted to The City of Seattle for overhead and underground electrical rights in King County, Washington; placing said easements under the jurisdiction of the City Light Department; and ratifying and confirming certain prior acts.

Summary of the Legislation:

This legislation accepts all of the easements granted to The City of Seattle for overhead and underground electrical distribution rights, as part of the Department of Planning and Develop-ment (DPD) land use permitting process, during 2011, places these easements under the jurisdiction of Seattle City Light, and ratifies and confirms certain prior acts.

Background: 

As part of the approval process for short plats, lot boundary adjustments, and unit lot subdivisions, DPD obtains reviews of these land use permitting applications by other City departments.  If City Light requires an easement to ensure adequate access to provide electrical service to any lot or lots created by such property division, an easement in gross is placed upon the property division as a condition of final plat approval by DPD.  The property owner signs the plat as grantor.  The plat is approved by DPD, and then recorded with the King County Recorder’s Office.

The Seattle City Charter requires that all acquisitions and dispositions of property interests, including easements, must be approved by ordinance.  This legislation will accept all of the easements for electrical service rights obtained by the City in short plats, lot boundary adjustments, and unit lot subdivisions, during 2011.

__X_ This legislation does not have any financial implications.

Other Implications:

a) Does the legislation have indirect financial implications, or long-term implications?

No

b) What is the financial cost of not implementing the legislation?

No direct costs.  The legislative acceptance of real property interests perfects the City’s title against potential legal challenges, a liability issue.  

c) Does this legislation affect any departments besides the originating department? 

Yes, DPD approves the short plats, lot boundary adjustments, and unit lot subdivisions which incorporate the electrical service easements being accepted.

d) What are the possible alternatives to the legislation that could achieve the same or similar objectives?

None.

e) Is a public hearing required for this legislation? 

No.

f) Is publication of notice with The Daily Journal of Commerce and/or The Seattle Times required for this legislation?

No.

g) Does this legislation affect a piece of property?

Yes, plat maps of the permitted properties are recorded as indicated in the legislation.      It would not be cost effective to provide these maps as attachments to a Fiscal Note.

h) Other Issues:

None.

List attachments to the fiscal note below:

None.