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History
- Referred to energy and telecommunications
- Referred to energy and telecommunications
Full text
The text isn't available here yet. Check nysenate.gov.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the public service law, in relation to cooperation in the removal, protection and replacement of utility facilities in cities having a population of one million or more persons
Summary of provisions
This bill would authorize cities having a population of one million or more persons to create a "utility facility coordination committee," including both city and utility corporation representatives, to: develop and foster strategies and procedures for effective and cost efficient cooperation in dealing with interference problems inherent in essential municipal construction projects in streets crowded with public gas, electric, steam, telephone and/or waterworks facilities. These approaches would include: efficient notification and data exchange; effective coordination and planning; development of cooperative bidding processes; and a feasibility study on comprehensive long-term strategies coupled with analysis of costs to both ratepayers and taxpayers.
A report to the legislature, with recommendations, is due January 1, 1991. Within six months of the creation of a utility facility coordinating committee, at least one project would be selected to ascertain the practicality and effectiveness of joint-planning agreements under which removal, protection and replacement work for utility corporations would be carried out under the city's contract. Actual performance would be carefully monitored and audited. The bill includes projects financed or carried out by New York City Water Board.
Read the full memo (668 words)
Justification
The City of New York's proposed State utility facility-relocation legislation, promotes increased cooperation between local government, in cities with a population of one million or more, and utilities located in such cities will result in a more equitable and effective process for minimizing community impact of projects involving street openings. This legislation authorizes the creation of a new mechanism - a "utility facility coordinating committee" - to enable more detailed planning to occur when a street, water, sewer or drainage project will disturb utility facilities, or a utility project will affect City facilities. Joint planning prior to the bidding of city projects will promote more comprehensive agreement between involved parties as to the extent, nature and cost of the work involved, thus reducing costs to utility ratepayers and city taxpayers. Also, expected is a reduction in the time necessary to complete a project, to greater convenience the public.
Better coordination planning between cities and utilities is an important and necessary first step, which is anticipated to lead to further steps to simplify and streamline joint city-utility project planning. These next steps could include joint-planning agreements and cooperative bidding of work. This proposed legislation requires that within six months of the establishment of a utility Facility Coordination Committee in a city with a population of one million or more, a "sample" project be selected in order to further explore this process. In New York City, six projects have already been selected tentatively for planning with the intention of utilizing joint-planning agreements and cooperative bidding.
As these six projects progress the City and utilities will be better able to assess the effectiveness of joint-planning agreements and cooperative bidding. Previous pilot pre-engineering projects in New York City for water main construction have reduced utility relocation costs by almost two thirds. Additionally, we will be able to audit whether reasonable and fair formulas can be developed to allow for projects to be paid for on a periodic, rather than a per project, basis. This bill lays a solid basis for the development and institutionalization of effective new procedures that will result in greater equity for all concerned. New York City's utility facility-relocation proposal establishes an area in which it and private utilities can meet to better resolve the complex problems associated with joint projects. This proposal institutes a process to enable both sides to balance interests and reach fair agreements on matters such as the scope of work and associated costs. The cost-saving and time-saving features of this plan are to the ultimate benefit of all citizens residing in localities addressed by this legislation.
Fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
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