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CONSIDERATION OF GRANTING EASEMENT E-1617-46 TO OKLAHOMA NATURAL GAS COMPANY TO ALLOW CONSTRUCTION, OPERATION, AND MAINTENANCE OF GAS LINES IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE JAMES GARNER AND ACRES INTERSECTION PROJECT.
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BACKGROUND: On November 24, 2015, City Council approved contract K-1516-83 with Meyer, Scherer & Rockcastle, Ltd. (MSR) for architectural services for the design of the new Central Library approved as part of NORMAN FORWARD. The Central Library will be located north of the intersection of Acres Street and James Garner Avenue. Additionally, construction of James Garner Avenue was also approved as part of the NORMAN FORWARD program.
On June 14, 2016 City Council approved Amendment No. One to Contract K-1516-83 with Meyer, Scherer, and Rockcastle, LTD, increasing the contract amount by $64,900 for a revised contract amount of $3,750,710; and an appropriation of $64,900 from the Norman Forward Fund Balance (051-0000-253.20-00) to Project NFB008, James Garner and Acres Intersection Project, Design (051-9403-431.62-01).
The James Garner and Acres Intersection Project will consist of a new relocated intersection and an improved stormwater system. The construction will also require a number of existing utilities be relocated.
DISCUSSION: The existing ten-inch (10”) steel gas main, belonging to Oklahoma Natural Gas (ONG) is currently in conflict with the proposed stormwater system and will have to be relocated. The design proposed by ONG will involve boring a twelve-inch (12”) steel gas line under and across Acres Street just east of North Park Avenue. The new alignment will then parallel Acres Street for approximately five-hundred feet (500’) and tie into the existing twelve-inch (12”) steel gas line east of the new intersection.
Discussions with ONG have resulted in a proposed routing to the south of the right-of-way of Acres Street in Andrews Park. This new location will allow the gas line to be constructed properly and out of any future roadway projects on Acres Street. This routing and utility easement has been approved by the City Department of Parks and Recreation. The attached easement exhibit illustrates the proposed alignment of the ONG gas line as it crosses Andrews Park.
RECOMMENDATION: Based upon the above information, it is the recommendation of staff that Easement E-1617-46 be accepted as a public utility easement.