April-May Work Conducted by FPL
The Seven Isles Homeowners Association (HOA) has been advised by Florida Power and Light (FPL) that some of our community streets are having work conducted under the Storm Secure Underground Pilot Program (SSUP). The goal of the SSUP program is to underground certain neighborhood power lines to enhance reliability during storms and restore power faster after severe weather.
FPL and its contractor, MasTec, are installing underground lateral lines with transformers along the streets of DeSota, Barcelona, and Pelican, as well as the small portion of Seven Isles Drive between Barcelona and DeSota. DeSota is already in permitting stages and is expected to commence on or before April 1. Pelican and Delmar are in pre-permitting planning stages and will follow soon after DeSota.
All homeowners who will be directly affected by this work were already contacted several months ago by FPL or MasTec, in order to be made aware of work to be performed. Unfortunately, there may be cases where there are new homeowners who did not receive disclosure of this planned work from the old homeowners. As a result, residents of affected properties will receive a letter as well as a door hanger if they are on the SSUP program.
MasTec will also walk properties to verify location of the meters in advance of any digging. If, by chance, any damage to the property results from the work, MasTec will be responsible to handle repairs. “As a result, it is a good idea for homeowners to take timestamped photos of their property where the work will be performed, before the work starts,” advised Austin Ragoonanan of FPL.
Transformers are either already located in those homeowners’ easements or will be newly located in their easement areas. Typically, the work does not require trenching but can include directional boring into the ground to create access pits, often 200-300 feet down and approximately 5’ x 5’ wide, according to Ragoonanan.
This undergrounding is funded by FPL through funds automatically collected from all residents as part of the Storm fee on monthly FPL bills. The SSUP program is part of a larger FPL lateral improvement program taking place across South Florida and should NOT be confused with the future utilities undergrounding that the Seven Isles HOA has been discussing with the City for the past several years.
April-June Work Conducted by AT&T
Similarly, the Seven Isles HOA was recently contacted by AT&T to alert us that overhead work will be conducted sometime between now and June, 2021, for the installation of new fiber and conduit for a new high speed network. Initially, AT&T said they intended to conduct underground boring and digging in right-of-ways in front of homes, but later advised that the majority of their work will be aerial, with minimal need to dig under driveways or swales. While individual homeowner permission is not required when utility companies work within right-of-ways, AT&T assured the HOA that no work will commence without homeowners receiving printed door hangers explaining the process and timeline. AT&T also advised that this work will be done at no cost to homeowners. Blue Streak Cable and Telecommunications, Inc. of Miami, FL, is the subcontractor of record who will be performing the AT&T work.
Larger Undergrounding Project Spearheaded by City of Ft. Lauderdale
Meanwhile, the Seven Isles HOA has been in ongoing communication with the City of Fort Lauderdale about these notifications, in an effort to coordinate efforts for current and future undergrounding of all utilities. Since my report in last month’s newsletter, we have had additional discussions with the City about the “Seven Isles Overhead Utility Undergrounding Project”, which is in early planning stages. Based on questions from homeowners during our February 2021 annual membership meeting, the City of Ft Lauderdale’s Deputy Director of Financing reviewed the water accounts for Seven Isles homeowners and confirmed with Utility Billing that, to date, no funds have been collected through our individual water bills for the purpose of covering upfront costs of engineering plans and consultants for undergrounding the Seven Isles utilities. While there has been some internal work conducted by the City, plans will be required in order for the city to conduct the necessary bidding process. This is similar to processes already completed, and funds already paid, by the Las Olas Isles, Idlewild, and Riviera Isles neighborhoods.
Victor Carosi, Assistant Director of the City’s Public Works department noted, “Our office, with the City Officials, is intent on action. It is a complicated process with many matters requiring attention and resolution. Your continued patience as we navigate the process is greatly appreciated.”
The Seven Isles HOA will continue to update residents as we learn more. Residents may direct your questions regarding the City of Fort Lauderdale’s Seven Isles Overhead Utility Undergrounding project to the City Public Works Department at undergrounding@fortlauderdale.gov . Please do not call the HOA board members with questions or issues.
For questions related to the imminent work being done by FPL (SSUP program) or AT&T, affected residents can refer to the information provided on their door hangers.
