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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025 07 14 Public Hearing 403 - First Reading of Ordinance 2025-13: Granting Duke Energy Florida, LLC Distribution Electric Service Line Easement - Tract D, Highlands Section 5PUBLIC HEARINGS AGENDA ITEM 403 CITY COMMISSION AGENDA | JULY 14, 2025 REGULAR MEETING TITLE First Reading of Ordinance 2025-13 granting Duke Energy Florida, LLC Distribution Electric Service Line Easement on City owned real property legally described as Tract "D" of the HIGHLANDS, Section 5, as recorded in Plat Book 19, Page 45 SUMMARY City was contacted by Duke Energy regarding the implementation of its Feeder Hardening program. Existing electric lines located on City owned property located at 700 Sheoah Boulevard are scheduled for upgrades and hardening. The existing electric lines have existed for many years and are located on the western boundary of the subject property. However, the existing lines are not within a dedicated recorded easement area. Duke provided the attached summary of the Feeder Hardening project which is titled, "Substation Optimization Overview for North Longwood Circuit M1757." Generally, the Feeder Hardening program will enable the feeder backbone in the area to better withstand extreme weather events. According to Duke Energy, the implementation of the program will benefit all customers including Winter Springs residents. Because the requested easement is perpetual and not limited to providing service to City property and facilities and will provide general customer service to other Duke customers, Section 4.14 of the City Charter requires the conveyance of the easement to be approved by the City Commission by Ordinance. The Public Works & Utilities Director has reviewed the request and believes the proposed easement will not interfere with existing operations at the City's Water Treatment Plant #2. FUNDING SOURCE RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends the City Commission hold a public hearing and approve Ordinance 2025-13 granting an easement to Duke Energy Florida, LLC on first reading. 371 City of Winter Springs Ordinance No. 2025-13 Page1of3 ORDINANCE NO. 2025-13 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF WINTER SPRINGS, FLORIDA, PURSUANT TO SECTION 4.14 OF THE CITY OF WINTER SPRINGS CHARTER AUTHORIZING THE CONVEYANCE OF A PERPETUAL EASEMENT TO DUKE ENERGY FLORIDA, LLC. ALONG THE WESTERN PROPERTY LINE WITH A WIDTH OF 7.5 FEET ON A CERTAIN PORTION OF REAL PROPERTY OWNED BY THE CITY OF WINTER SPRINGS WHICH IS GENERALLY DESCRIBED AS TAX PARCEL NUMBER: 28-20-30- 5DR-00D0-0000 FOR PURPOSES OF CONSTRUCTING, OPERATING AND MAINTAINING OVERHEAD AND/OR UNDERGROUND ELECTRIC TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION LINES, AND RELATED FACILITIES FOR PROVIDING ELECTRIC ENERGY SERVICES; AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR, CITY MANAGER AND CITY ATTORNEY TO FINALIZE AND EXECUTE ANY DOCUMENTS TO COMPLETE THE CONVEYANCE INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE DOCUMENTS APPROVED AND SET FORTH IN THIS ORDINANCE; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY, THE REPEAL OF PRIOR INCONSISTENT ORDINANCES, NON-CODIFICATION AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE. WHEREAS, the City is granted the authority, under Section 2(b), Article VIII, of the State Constitution, to exercise any power for municipal purposes, except when expressly prohibited by law, and Section 4.14 of the City Charter authorizes the conveyance of City property by Ordinance; and WHEREAS, the City is the fee simple owner of that certain property located in Winter Springs, Florida, currently being utilized as a utility spray field and described as Seminole County Parcel ID: 28-20-30-5DR-00D0-0000 (the “Subject Property”); and WHEREAS, Duke Energy wishes to replace and upgrade existing improvements on the Subject Property and construct certain improvements within a portion of the Subject Property as further indicated, and described on the Easement attached hereto as Exhibit A (the Easement Area); and WHEREAS, Duke Energy intends to construct the improvements within the Easement Area as part of its Feeder Hardening program that will enable the feeder backbone within the area to better withstand extreme weather events, and the implementation of the Feeder Hardening program will benefit all customers including City of Winter Springs residents by increasing resiliency and reliability of the distribution infrastructure; and WHEREAS, Duke Energy has requested an Easement from the City over a portion of the Subject Property for purposes of implementing the Feeder Hardening program; and 372 City of Winter Springs Ordinance No. 2025-13 Page2of3 WHEREAS, the proposed Easement is perpetual and not a service easement limited to providing service to the Subject Property, and therefore, the City Charter requires the easement to be conveyed by Ordinance; and WHEREAS, the City Commission hereby finds that the easement conveyance contemplated by this Ordinance serves a public purpose and is in the best interests of the citizens of Winter Springs and Seminole County; and NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF WINTER SPRINGS HEREBY ORDAINS, AS FOLLOWS: Section 1. Recitals. The foregoing recitals are hereby incorporated herein by this reference. Section 2. Conveyance of Real Property. Pursuant to Section 4.14 of the City Charter, the City Commission of the City of Winter Springs hereby authorizes the City to convey the Easement attached hereto as EXHIBIT AA@ to Duke Energy. EXHIBIT AA@ is hereby deemed fully incorporated herein by this reference. Section 3. Authority to Complete Conveyance. In conjunction with the conveyance authorized by Section 2 of this Ordinance, the Mayor, City Manager and City Attorney are authorized to finalize and execute whatever documents are necessary to complete the conveyance of the Easement. Section 4. Repeal of Prior Inconsistent Ordinances and Resolutions . All prior inconsistent ordinances and resolutions adopted by the City Commission, or parts of prior ordinances and resolutions in conflict herewith, are hereby repealed to the extent of the conflict. Section 5. Severability. If any section, subsection, sentence, clause, phrase, word or provision of this Ordinance is for any reason held invalid or unconstitutional by any court of competent jurisdiction, whether for substantive, procedural, or any other reason, such portion shall be deemed a separate, distinct and independent provision, and such holding shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this Ordinance. Section 6. Non-Codification. This Ordinance shall not be codified in the City Code. Section 7. Effective Date. This Ordinance shall become effective immediately upon adoption by the City Commission of the City of Winter Springs, Florida, and pursuant to City Charter. 373 City of Winter Springs Ordinance No. 2025-13_ Page 3of3 ADOPTED by the City Commission of the City of Winter Springs, Florida, in a regular meeting assembled on the ____ day of ______________, 2025. ____________________________________ KEVIN McCANN, Mayor ATTEST: ______________________________________ CHRISTIAN GOWAN, City Clerk Approved as to legal form and sufficiency for the City of Winter Springs only: _______________________________________ ANTHONY A. GARGANESE, City Attorney Legal Advertisement: First Reading: Second Reading: Effective Date: 374 Page 1 of 4 Prepared by: Duke Energy Florida, LLC Return To: Duke Energy Florida, LLC Attn: Land Services 299 1st Ave N Mail Code: FLMAILROOM St. Petersburg, Florida 33701 Parcel # 28-20-30-5DR-00D0-0000 EASEMENT State of Florida County of Seminole THIS EASEMENT (“Easement”) is made this day of July, 2025, from CITY OF WINTER SPRINGS, a Florida municipal corporation (“Grantor”, whether one or more), to DUKE ENERGY FLORIDA, LLC, a Florida limited liability company, Post Office Box 14042, St. Petersburg, FL 33733 (“Grantee”). Grantor, for and in consideration of the sum of One and 00/100 Dollar ($1.00) and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, does hereby grant unto Grantee a perpetual easement, to construct, reconstruct, operate, patrol, maintain, repair, replace, relocate, add to, modify, and remove electric and communication lines for purposes of providing a transmission and distribution line under and across the Easement Area described below to provide service to customers beyond the Property, and to also provide service to the Property described below, including, but not limited to, all necessary supporting structures, and all other appurtenant apparatus and equipment for the transmission and distribution of electrical energy, and for technological purposes related to the operation of the electric facilities and for the communication purposes of Incumbent Local Exchange Carriers (collectively, “Facilities”). Grantor is the owner of that certain property legally described as follows: Tract “D” of the Highlands, Section Five, as recorded in Plat Book 19, Page 45 of the Official Public Records of Seminole County, Florida. (hereinafter referred to as the “Property”) The Facilities may be both overhead and underground and located in, upon, over, along, under, through, and across a portion of the Property within an easement area described as follows: The West Seven and a Half Feet (7.5’) of Tract “D” of THE HIGHLANDS SECTION FIVE, (hereinafter referred to as the "Easement Area"). The rights granted herein include, but are not limited to, the following: 1. Grantee shall have the right of reasonable ingress and egress over the Easement Area, only as reasonably necessary, over other portions of the Property and any adjoining lands now owned or hereinafter acquired by Grantor, using existing lanes, driveways, and adjoining public roads where practicable as mutually agreed upon by the parties when feasible. 2. Grantee shall have the right to trim, cut down, and remove from the Easement Area, at reasonable times and using safe and generally accepted arboricultural practices, trees, limbs, undergrowth, other vegetation, and obstructions, but only to the extent reasonably necessary to protect or access the Facilities. 375 Page 2 of 4 3. Grantee shall have the right to trim, cut down, and remove from the Property, at reasonable times and using safe and generally accepted arboricultural practices, dead, diseased, weak, dying, or leaning trees or limbs, which, in the reasonable opinion of Grantee, might fall upon the Easement Area or interfere with the safe and reliable operation of the Facilities. Grantee shall provide prior notice to Grantor before undertaking such activities outside the Easement Area, when practicable. 4. Grantee shall have the right to install necessary guy wires and anchors extending beyond the boundaries of the Easement Area, provided that any such installation extending beyond the boundaries of the Easement Area shall be subject to Grantor’s prior written consent, which shall not be unreasonably withheld. 5. Grantee shall have the right to relocate the Facilities and Easement Area on the Property to conform to any future highway or street relocation, widening, or alterations mandated by a governmental authority, and with reasonable notice to Grantor and consultation on the location, provided such location must not interfere with the Grantor’s utilities operation on the Property. 6. Grantor shall not place, or permit the placement of, any structures, improvements, facilities, or obstructions, within or immediately adjacent to the Easement Area that unreasonably interfere with the exercise of the rights granted herein to Grantee. Grantee shall have the right to remove any such structure, improvement, facility, or obstruction, at the expense of Grantor, only upon reasonable notice and a reasonable opportunity for Grantor to cure the violation. 7. Excluding the removal of vegetation, structures, improvements, facilities, and obstructions as provided herein, Grantee shall promptly repair or cause to be repaired any physical damage to the surface area of the Easement Area and Property (including any building and equipment owned by Grantor thereon) resulting from the exercise of the rights granted herein to Grantee. Such repair shall be to a condition which is reasonably close to the condition prior to the damage, and shall only be to the extent such damage was caused by Grantee or its contractors or employees. 8. Grantee may increase or decrease the voltage and change the quantity and types of Facilities only to the extent reasonably necessary to provide safe and reliable service to the Property. 9. The rights granted in this Easement include the right to install Facilities wherever needed on the Property to serve existing and future development on the Property. Facilities installed outside the designated Easement Area shall be installed only upon mutual written agreement of the parties hereto. Upon such agreement, the Easement Area shall be deemed to include such future locations. 10. All other rights and privileges reasonably necessary, in Grantee's reasonable discretion, and consistent with the other provisions herein, for the safe, reliable, and efficient installation, operation, and maintenance of the Facilities. 11. Grantee agrees to indemnify and hold Grantor harmless for, from and against any and all losses, claims or damages incurred by Grantor arising directly from Grantee 's negligence or failure to exercise reasonable care in the construction, reconstruction, operation or maintenance of Grantee's facilities located on the above described easement. Grantor covenants not to interfere with Grantee’s facilities within the Easement Area in Grantor’s premises, and Grantor further covenants to indemnify and hold Grantee harmless from any and all damages and injuries, whether to persons or property, resulting from interference with Grantee’s facilities by Grantor 376 Page 3 of 4 or by Grantor’s agents or employees. The terms Grantor and Grantee shall include the respective heirs, successors, and assigns of Grantor and Grantee. The failure of Grantee to exercise or continue to exercise or enforce any of the rights herein granted shall not be construed as a waiver or abandonment of the right thereafter at any time, or from time to time, to exercise any and all such rights. This Easement shall be governed by Florida law. TO HAVE AND TO HOLD said rights, privilege, and easement unto Grantee, its successors, licensees, and assigns, forever. The rights and easement herein granted are exclusive as to entities engaged in the provision of electric energy service. Grantor warrants and covenants that Grantor has the full right and authority to convey to Grantee this perpetual Easement, and that Grantee shall have quiet and peaceful possession, use and enjoyment of the same. 377 Page 4 of 4 IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Grantor has signed this Easement under seal effective this day of , 2025. Witnesses: CITY OF WINTER SPRINGS a Florida municipal corporation (Witness #1) KEVIN McCANN, MAYOR Printed Name: Address: Grantor(s) Mailing Address: (Witness #2) 1126 East State Rd. 434 Winter Springs, FL 32708 Printed Name: Address: STATE OF FLORIDA COUNTY OF SEMINOLE The foregoing instrument was acknowledged before me by means of  physical presence or  online notarization, this day of ______, 2025 by KEVIN McCANN, MAYOR of CITY OF WINTER SPRINGS, a Florida municipal corporation, on behalf of the corporation. He is personally known to me or has produced as identification. Notary Public: Printed/ Typed Name: Commission Expires: This instrument prepared by Manny R. Vilaret, Esquire, 10901 Danka Circle Suite C, St. Petersburg, FL 33716 378 LEGEND +PROPOSED PEDESTAL CENTERLINE ADJACENT PROPERTY BOUNDARY PROPERTY BOUNDARY Lake Seminole Orange Volusia THIS IS NOT A SURVEY. LOCATIONS SHOWN ARE APPROXIMATE. THE ACTUAL CENTERLINE LOCATION OF THE UTILITY LINE IS THE CENTERLINE OF THE EASEMENT. VICINITY MAP-NTS ¹ SCALE:DATE: 6/23/2025 DRAWN: JN DWG NO: CHECKED: KA SHEET: APPROXIMATE LOCATION OF DISTRIBUTION R/W ACROSS PROPERTY OF THE CITY OF WATER SPRINGS LOCATION: EXHIBIT "B" 1 of 1 700 SHEOAH BLVD, WATER SPRINGS, FLORIDA 32708 BARRERA PIDN: 28-20-30-5DL-0000-0450 SITE THIS MAP MAY NOT BE A CERTIFIED SURVEY AND HAS NOT BEEN REVIEWED BY A LOCAL GOVERNMENT AGENCY FOR COMPLIANCE WITH ANY APPLICABLE LAND DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS AND HAS NOT BEEN REVIEWED FOR COMPLIANCE WITH RECORDING REQUIREMENTS FOR PLATS THE CITY OF WATER SPRINGS PIN: 28-20-30-5DR-00D0-0000 APPROXIMATE CENTERLINE OF EASEMENT (TYPICAL) DEC ROW EASEMENT UNDERGROUND R/W 7.50' 3.75' 3.75' 1:558 EZELL PIDN: 28-20-30-5DL-0000-0460 CHANDLER PIDN: 28-20-30-5DL-0000-0470 HIGHLANDS HOMEOWNERS ASSN INC PIDN: 33-20-30-515-0G02-0000 HIGHLANDS HOMEOWNERS ASSN INC PIDN: 28-20-30-5DR-00C0-0000 GREGORY PIDN: 28-20-30-5EG-0000-0050 VALLEJO PIDN: 28-20-30-5EG-0000-0040 379 Substation Optimization Overview for North Longwood Circuit M1757 Substa�on Op�miza�on is a comprehensive plan for iden�fied circuits that incorporates feeder hardening construc�on prac�ces and the placement of self-op�mizing equipment to improve the survivability and reliability of the circuit. This plan uses the FEMA HAZUS and SLOSH models, which contain the weather data for storms over the last 200 years. Distribu�on subject mater experts then use these outputs to determine the op�mum deployment plan considering factors such as current projects in the area, cri�cal customers, opera�onal knowledge, and resource availability. Feeder Hardening is a long-term program that will systema�cally rebuild the feeder backbone to Grade B construc�on and meet the loading requirements of both NESC 250B Combined Ice and Wind District Loading and 250C Extreme Wind Loading. Grade B Construc�on Strengthen the line by employing larger load factors (margins of safety) to the forces on the structures as well as greater strength reduc�on factors for the materials that support the forces on structures. In other words, the structures will be stronger. Rule 250B Combined Ice and Wind District Loading defines the condi�ons by zone. All of Florida is in the “Light Loading Zone” which states that forces must be calculated at 30 ºF and with a 60- mph wind. Rule 250C Extreme Wind Loading states the forces must be calculated at 60 ºF with a wind defined by the proximity to the coastline. Wind speed ranging from 100 to 140 must be considered in Florida depending on the loca�on. The Feeder Hardening program will enable the feeder backbone to beter withstand extreme weather events. This includes strengthening structures, upda�ng BIL (basic insula�on level) to current standards, upda�ng conductor to current standards, reloca�ng difficult to access facili�es, and replacing oil filled reclosers as appropriate. This will include the grid deployment of automated isola�on and restora�on equipment as dictated by circuit topography. Specifically, Duke Energy’s North Longwood Substa�on, located on Ronald Reagan Blvd, circuits M1757, M1758 and M1760 have been selected for hardening ac�vi�es. The route of circuit M1757 takes it into the boundaries of the City of Winter Springs. The following sta�s�cs apply to Circuit M1757: • Approximate feet to be harden: 11,370 • Total customers on Circuit: 1,689 • Total customers in City of Winter Springs: 1,464 The implementa�on of the feeder hardening program will benefit all customers including City of Winter Springs residents by increasing the resiliency and reliability of the distribu�on infrastructure. This includes the upgrades in poles and wire engineered to meet NESC 250B and 250C loadings along with reloca�on of lines underground in sec�ons that are difficult to access (like the sec�on across the Winter Springs facility at 700 Sheoah Blvd) all contribute to improving reliability and maintainability. Addi�onally, upgrades to the automated restora�on network allow for reduced sec�onaliza�on and isola�on �mes to limit the scope (number of affected customers) of any outages that may occur. 380 M1757 Net Map 381 Exis�ng Facili�es at 700 Sheoah Blvd: 382 • The red sec�on above is to be remain overhead but with stronger poles since it is accessible. The yellow sec�on above is not bucket truck accessible, thus, remaining overhead would provide difficulty in reducing outage �mes. Due to the inaccessibility of the yellow sec�on, this will be rerouted UG. 383 Proposed UG (including 1000 AL ONLY) 384 Easement Area: The proposed easement will be located along the western property line with a width of 7.5 feet. Currently Circuit M1757 runs overhead along the west property line. A direc�onal bore would be employed to place a 6-inch conduit down the center of the 7.5-foot easement sec�on to house the underground primary cables. This would provide clearance for the water storge tank that is located approximately 20 feet from the west property line. Private locate services have verified the proposed underground path is clear of any obstruc�ons. Existing OH to be removed Proposed UG Easement Boundary (7.5’ x 252.57’) 385