SUBJECT/RECOMMENDATION:
Title
Approve a second amendment to the Clearwater Interlocal Agreement (ILA) with Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA) for Undergrounding of Utilities along Myrtle Avenue, Cleveland to Court Streets, adding cost for private communication companies to underground their facilities, and authorize the appropriate officials to execute same.
Body
SUMMARY:
In support of the City’s new City Hall (22-0019-EN) and MSB Renovation (23-0035-EN) projects as well PSTA’s Multimodal Transit Center, the city partnered with PSTA to initiate removal of Duke’s overhead power lines along the west side of Myrtle Avenue from just north of Cleveland Street to just south of Court Street. This will improve aesthetics of the urban landscape, provide a cleaner visual appearance, enhance pedestrian access while also offering increased reliability and safety compared to overhead lines. This undergrounding effort provides opportunities for increased property values, creating a more attractive environment for businesses and residents, stimulating investment and revitalizing the area.
On March 17, 2025, City Council approved an ILA with PSTA providing funding and management of Duke to underground electric utilities as noted above. The city paid Duke a total of $671,431.56 with PSTA reimbursing the city for 25% of the total cost or $167,858. CRA Trustees approved use of one million in CRA funds to cover the city’s portion of this utility underground work on March 31, 2025.
On November 20, 2025, Council approved the first amendment to the ILA, providing for PSTA’s additional contribution of $14,967.49 for work required to connect CSX equipment, not originally anticipated. PSTA’s payment to Duke was a pass-through cost to the city. No additional funding was needed by the city.
The second amendment to the ILA provides for funding and management of four private communication companies to underground their lines co-located on the Duke-owned power poles, necessary for Duke to remove their poles from the ROW. The proposed cost to complete this work (based on not-to-exceed estimates provided by the private communications providers) and the initial Duke efforts, are summarized in the table below. The city total cost is approximately $163,000 under the $1M budgeted for the project.
|
Provider Scope |
Amount |
City Portion, 75% |
PSTA Portion, 25% |
|
Duke - Original ILA |
$671,431.56 |
$503,573.56 |
$167,858.00 |
|
Duke for CSX - 1st Amendment |
$14,967.49 |
NA |
$14,967.49 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Frontier Communications |
$55,940.29 |
|
|
|
WOW! |
$111,831.54 |
|
|
|
Spectrum |
$207,939.83 |
|
|
|
Lumen |
$69,067.10 |
|
|
|
Joint User Total - 2nd Amndmt |
$444,778.76 |
$333,584.07 |
$111,194.69 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Costs |
$1,131,177.81 |
$837,157.63 |
$294,020.18 |
Work is expected to be completed by March 2027.
APPROPRIATION CODE AND AMOUNT:
3887552-530300-R2005 $444,778.76
Funding is available in capital improvement project R2005, Infrastructure (City) to fund the contract. Funding is provided by CRA.
STRATEGIC PRIORITY:
Investment in undergrounding of overhead power and private communication lines, and removal of poles in the downtown core supports all five of the strategic priorities below.
