Council approves change order to underground electrical lines on Pine Street to make deck safe

Ian Wade of the engineering division described resolution 26‑0579 seeking a change order to the contract with Electric Conduct Construction to relocate electrical facilities off a deteriorated deck and place them underground. Wade said long lead times for meter cabinets and a 23% escalation in wire and conduit costs drove the need for the change order, and that additional ADA compliance work increased sidewalk and curb restoration scope. "So, aside from what it'll do in getting the deck ready, uh just to be able to make safe these electrical facilities and this public rightway is is quite important," he said.

Jason Bower of the Department of Public Works said the electrical work is the enabling step for whatever the city and property owners decide next for the deck, and warned businesses that a one‑day outage (worst case: most of a day) will be necessary during cutover. Council members asked about responsibility for long‑running maintenance and options to sever the city’s ongoing obligation; staff said discussions with property owners and potential license agreements are ongoing and construction to finish undergrounding is expected by year end.