HomeMy Public PortalAbout23-2310 - GRANTING A PUBLIC UTILITY PIPELINE FRANCHISE TO ZENITH ENERGY WEST COAST TERMINALS LLCORDINANCE NO. 23-2310
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CARSON,
CALIFORNIA, GRANTING A PUBLIC UTILITY PIPELINE FRANCHISE
TO ZENITH ENERGY WEST COAST TERMINALS LLC
WHEREAS, on July 16, 1973, the City of Carson (<City=) granted a public utility pipeline
franchise to Southern California Edison Company (<SCE=) by adoption of Ordinance No. 73-264,
which granted SCE a 50-year franchise set to expire August 14, 2023 (<1973 Franchise=) where
the franchise fee was established as 2% of gross annual receipts arising from the use, operation
or possession of the granted franchise within the City; and |
WHEREAS, the 1973 Franchise permitted SCE to construct, lay, operate, maintain, use,
renew, repair, replace, remove, change the size and number of, and remove or abandon in place
a system of pipelines, together with such valves, fittings, manholes, vaults, pumps, and other
appliances, appurtenances, attachments or equipment as SCE or its successors and assigns, may
deem necessary or convenient, for the purpose of conducting, transporting, conveying and
carrying gas, oil, petroleum, water and other substances, on, along, in, under and across certain
public streets, ways, alleys and places within the City of Carson; and
WHEREAS, on March 23, 1999, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 99-030,
approving the location of pipelines to be constructed within certain City streets; and
WHEREAS, on January 4, 2000, the City Council adopted Ordinance No. 99-1185,
restating certain rights granted to SCE under Ordinance No. 73-264, repealing any franchise
rights previously granted to SCE by the County of Los Angeles through County Ordinance No.
9271 on January 24, 1967, and establishing franchise fees to be consistent with fees set out in
Public Utilities Code Section 6231.5; and
WHEREAS, on March 21, 2006, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 06-023
consenting to assignment of the 1973 Franchise from SCE to Pacific Terminals LLC; and
WHEREAS, effective June 1, 2009, there was a name change from Pacific Terminals LLC
to Plains West Coast Terminals LLC; and
WHEREAS, effective October 16, 2020, there was a name change from Plains West
Coast Terminals LLC to Zenith Energy West Coast Terminals LLC, a Delaware limited liability
company (<Zenith=); and
WHEREAS, on July 5, 2023, Zenith filed with the City an application requesting renewal
of the 1973 Franchise; and
WHEREAS, during the month of July 2023, representatives for the City and Zenith
discussed and agreed upon the terms for the renewed 1973 Franchise proposed and set out in
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this Ordinance; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 1000 of the City of Carson9s City Charter, the City is authorized to grant a franchise by adoption of this Ordinance, and to prescribe the terms and conditions of the franchise; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to Charter Section 1001, the City Council passed Resolution No. 23 -122 declaring its intention to grant this franchise to Zenith and setting a public hearing on the granting of this franchise; and
WHEREAS, the City Clerk has published and posted the resolution as required by Charter Section
1001; and
WHEREAS, on November 21, 2023, the City Council held a public hearing on the granting of a public utility pipeline franchise to Zenith on the terms and conditions stated herein; and
WHEREAS, the City Council now desires to grant a franchise to Zenith to operate a public utility pipeline franchise, and Zenith agrees to the terms and conditions stated herein.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CARSON, CALIFORNIA DOES
ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Recitals. The recitals set forth above are true and correct and
incorporated herein by this reference.
Section 2. Authority. Pursuant to Section 1000 of the City of Carson9s City Charter (the <Charter=), and Chapter 8 (Pipeline Franchises) of Article VI (Taxes and Licenses) of the Carson Municipal Code, the City Council hereby grants a public utility pipeline franchise to Zenith (<Franchisee=) as reflected in this Ordinance.
Section 3. Grant of Franchise.
A. The City Council hereby grants a public utility pipeline franchise (<Franchise=) to
construct, lay, operate, maintain, use, renew, repair, replace, remove, change the size and number of, and remove or abandon in place a system of pipelines, together with such valves, fittings, manholes, vaults, pumps, and other appliances, appurtenances, attachments or equipment, to Franchisee and its successors and assigns, as Franchisee or its successors and assigns may deem necessary or convenient, for the purpose of conducting, transporting, conveying and carrying gas, oil, petroleum, water and other substances, on, along, in, under and across certain public streets, ways, alleys and places within the City of Carson, as approved from time to time by resolution of the City Council.
B. Pursuant to Carson Municipal Code Section 6827, the Franchisee shall not
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operate the franchise granted by this Ordinance or add any pipeline to the franchise granted by
this Ordinance, without first obtaining the City Council9s prior approval by resolution. Pursuant
to Section 6819 of the Carson Municipal Code, all facilities previously authorized by the City
Council shall be subject to this Ordinance. Franchisee has represented to City that there are
currently approximately 25,442 feet of pipelines that exist within the City of Carson.
Cc. The Franchise term shall be for a period of ten (10) years commencing on the
effective date of this Ordinance, with a maximum of two (2) opportunities to extend the Franchise
for an additional five (5) years each. Pursuant to Section 1002 of the Charter, the City Council
may grant a longer term on a case-by-case basis.
Section 4. 4_ Fees. Franchisee shall pay to the City franchise fees pursuant to California
Public Utilities Code Section 6231.5(a) and (b), in the following amounts:
A. Base Annual Fee.
A base annual fee shall be paid within sixty (60) days after the end of each calendar
year and during the life of the Franchise for each and every year, commencing with
calendar year 2023, according to the <franchise payment period= as defined in Carson
Municipal Code Section 6800 et seq., by multiplying the pipe length expressed in feet
by the applicable base rate, as follows:
Pipe Size (Internal) Base Rate in S
Diameter in Inches Per Lineal Foot
0-4 0.088
6 0.132
8 0.176
10 0.220
12 0.264
14 0.308
16 0.352
18 0.396
20 0.440
22 0.484
24 0.528
26 0.572
28 0.616
30 0.660
For pipelines with an internal diameter not listed above, the fees shall be in the same
proportion to the fees of a twelve inch (12=) diameter pipe as the diameter of the
unlisted pipe is to twelve (12) inches. The formula used in arriving at the annual fee
shall apply to any existing, replacement, modification or extension of the pipeline.
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B. Adjustments.
(1) The amount of the fee specified above shall be adjusted at the time payment is
due by multiplying the base fee by the Consumer Price Index, All Urban
Consumers for the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim area as published by the
United States Department of Labor, Office of Information for the month of
September immediately preceding the month in which payment is due and
payable, and divided by the Consumer Price Index for June 30, 1989, which is
declared to be 100.0 (being the base CPI used for purposes of future
adjustments in the fee).
(2) In no event shall an annual fee be charged which is less than the base annual
fee amount established above.
(3) The indices specified in paragraph 1 above are calculated and published by the
United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics. If the Bureau
discontinues the calculation or publication of the Consumer Price Index for the
area, and if no transposition table is available to convert to another index, then
the amount of each annual adjustment in base fees shall be computed by using
a comparable governmental index.
Cc. Publication Costs. Pursuant to Carson Municipal Code Section 6817, within thirty
(30) days after receiving an invoice or statement from the City for all advertising and publishing
costs incurred in connection with the granting of this franchise, the Franchisee shall pay the
balance of such invoice in full.
Section 5. Insurance. Franchisee shall obtain, and provide satisfactory evidence of
having obtained, the following policies of liability and workers' compensation insurance from
companies that are authorized to transact business in the State of California by the Insurance
Commissioner of California and have a minimum rating of or equivalent to A-: VIII in Best's Key
Rating Guide, Comprehensive Liability Insurance. In the event of any conflicting language
between this Section 5 and Section 6809 of the Carson Municipal Code, this Section 5 shall be
interpreted in a manner consistent with Section 6809 of the Carson Municipal Code. If such
interpretation is not reasonable in City9s determination, then this Section 5 shall govern.
A. General Liability Insurance (Coverage Form ISO CGL CG 00 01 or equivalent).
Each liability insurance policy obtained by Franchisee must:
(1) Be issued to the Franchisee and name the City of Carson, its elected and
appointed officials, employees, officers and agents as additional insureds;
(2) Provide coverage for Franchisee's liabilities, including without limitation,
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Franchisee's obligation to indemnify the City of Carson, its elected and
appointed officials, employees, officers and agents, for all liability for personal
and bodily injury, death and damage to property arising from activities
conducted pursuant to the Franchise, and the acts or omissions of the
Franchisee, and its agents, servants and employees, committed in the conduct
of franchise operations. The coverage must provide liability insurance in the
amount of $15,000,000 per occurrence, subject to self-insured retention in an
amount and form that is appropriate and prudent for operations substantially
similar to those of Franchisee, and subject to approval by City of Carson in its sole
discretion, and may not be cancelled unless at least thirty (30) days prior written
notice is provided to the Cityby Franchisee or its insurance provider.
B. Automobile Liability (Coverage Form ISO CA 00 01 including <any auto= and
endorsement CA 0025 or equivalent). A policy of comprehensive automobile liability insurance
written on a per occurrence basis in an amount not less than $5,000,000 per accident for bodily
injury and property damage, issued to Franchisee and name the City of Carson, its elected and
appointed officials, employees, officers and agents as additional insureds.
C. Workers' Compensation. Each workers' compensation insurance policy
obtained by the Franchisee must:
(1) Provide coverage as required by the Statutory Limits of the State of California.
Cover all of the Franchisee's employees who in the course and scope of their
employment conduct or perform work pursuant to the franchise operations;
(2) Provide for every benefit and payment presently or after conferred by Division
4 of the California Labor Code upon an injured employee, including vocational
rehabilitation and death benefits;
(3) Be noncancellable without thirty (30) days prior written notice to the City by
Franchisee or its insurance provider.
(4) In lieu of the policy of workers' compensation insurance required by this
section, Franchisee may substitute and provide a certificate of consent to self-
insure, issued by the Board of Industrial Relations of the State of California.
D. Employer's Liability Coverage. Each employer liability insurance policy obtained
by Franchisee must include a coverage limit of no less than $1,000,000 per accident for bodily
injury or disease.
E. Professional Coverage (Errors and Omissions). If applicable, the Franchisee must
ensure that appropriate professional liability insurance coverage is obtained for any and all third
partyarchitects, engineers, surveyors, or other professionals hired to conduct or perform work
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pursuant to the franchise operations, and that such coverage include a coverage limit of no less
than $5,000,000 per occurrence or claim, $5,000,000 aggregate.
F. Pollution Coverage. Each pollution liability insurance policy obtained by the
Franchiseeshall be for sudden and accidental coverage and must:
(1) Provide limits of coverage of $5,000,000 per occurrence and $10,000,000
aggregate, or other equivalent insurance as determined acceptable by the City
of Carson; and
(2) Be issued to the Franchisee and name the City of Carson, its elected and
appointed officials, employees, officers and agents, as additional insureds by
endorsement formacceptable tothe City of Carson.
G. Waiver of Subrogation. For general liability, automobile liability, worker9s
compensation and pollution coverage, each of Franchisee9s insurers are deemed hereof
to waive all rights of subrogation and contribution it may have against the City, its
officers, employees and agents and their respective insurers.
H. Evidence of Coverage. Upon acceptance of the Franchise, and for as long as
Franchisee has pipelines existing in the City, Franchisee shall file with the Carson City
Manager, or designee, a certificate of insurance for each of the required policies
executed by the company issuing thepolicy, certifying that the policy is in force, with any
necessary endorsements, including without limitation, cancellation notification
endorsements. Franchisee shall provide the Carson City Manager, or designee, with
renewal certificates throughout the term of the Franchise. Franchisee shall provide all of
the following information with respect to the policy.
(1) The policy number;
(2) The date upon which the policy will become effective and the date upon which it
will expire;
(3) The names of the named insured and any additional insureds;
(4) The additional insured endorsement form(s);
(5) The self-insured retention endorsement (if applicable);
(6) The subject of the insurance;
(7) The type of coverage provided by the insurance;
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(8) The amount of limit of coverage provided by the insurance; and
(9) Copies of Additional Insured (including Primary and Non-Contributory coverage),
Waiver of Subrogation, and Cancellation Notification endorsements that form a
part of the policy and are applicable to the Franchisee's operations under this
Ordinance.
iF Claims Made Policies. If any of the required policies provide claims-made
coverage:
(1) The retroactive date must be shown and must be before the date of the
contract or the beginning of contract work.
(2) Insurance must be maintained and evidence of insurance must be provided for
at least five
(5) years after completion of the contract of work.
(3) If coverage is canceled or non-renewed, and not replaced with another claims-
made policy form with a retroactive date prior to the contract effective date,
Franchisee must purchase <extended reporting= coverage for a minimum of five
(5) years after completion of work.
J. Compliance. All Franchise operations must be suspended during any period that
the Franchisee fails to maintain these policies in full force and effect.
K. Self-Insurance Program. In lieu of any insurance required by this Section the City
of Carson may, upon application by Franchisee, permit Franchisee to substitute a self-
administered claims program (self-insurance) covering the risks assumed under this Franchise.
In the event that Franchisee is permitted to substitute a program of self-insurance, Franchisee
shall provide Citywith a letter evidencing and describing the self-administered claims program,
duly executed by an authorized officer of Franchisee, and shall notify the Carson City Manager,
or designee, in writing thirty (30) days prior to the termination of the self-administered claims
program.
Section 6. Faithful Performance Bond. Pursuant to Carson Municipal Code Section
6810, on or before the effective date of this Ordinance, Franchisee shall file and thereafter at
all times during the life of the Franchise keep on file with the Supervisor a corporate surety bond
approved by the City Attorney running to the City in the penal sum of $100,000, with a surety
to be approved by the Supervisor, conditioned that Franchisee shall well and truly observe,
fulfill and perform each condition of the Franchise and that in case of any breach of condition of
the bond the whole amount of the penal sum shall be deemed to be liquidated damages and
shall be recoverable from the principal and sureties of the bond. If said bond is not filed prior to
the effective date of this Ordinance, then the award of the Franchise may be set aside, this
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Ordinance granting the Franchise repealed at any time prior to the filing of said bond, and any
money paid in consideration for said award of franchise shall be deemed forfeited. In the event
that said bond, after it has been so filed, shall at any time during the life of the franchise
become insufficient, Franchisee agrees to renew said bond, subject to the approval of the City
Attorney, within ten (10) days after written notice to do so from the Supervisor.
Section 7. Acceptance. Franchisee shall, within thirty (30) days after passage of this
Ordinance, file with the City Clerk of the City of Carson and with the Supervisor, a written
acceptance of the terms and conditions of the Franchise granted by the adoption of this
Ordinance, pursuant to Carson Municipal Code Section 6805.
Section 8. Retroactive Application of Fees. Within thirty (30) days after the passage
of this Ordinance and prior to signing the written acceptance of the Franchise, Franchisee shall
pay to the City, in addition to any other fees required, the base annual fee set out in Section
4(B) of this Ordinance, retroactively assessed on a pro-rated basis, for the period of August 15,
2023, to the effective date of this Ordinance granting the Franchise.
Section 9. City9s Right to Audit. City reserves the right to audit Franchisee9s
operation and maintenance ofthepublicutilitypipeline at Franchisee9s reasonable expense. The
option to audit may be exercised during the term of the Franchise, upon termination or
expiration of the Franchise, or at any time thereafter as long as Franchisee has pipelines
existing in the City. Franchisee shall provide City with reasonable access to the public utility
pipeline for auditing purposes upon seven (7) days written notice of an audit by the City.
Section 10. Compliance with Local, State, and Federal Regulations. Except as
otherwise stated herein, Franchisee shall comply with all mandates of the City of Carson9s City
Charterand Carson Municipal Code, including Article VI, Chapter 8. Franchisee shall also comply
with State and Federal regulations.
Section 11. Hold Harmless. Pursuant to Section 6821 of the Carson Municipal Code,
the Franchisee shall be responsible to the City and save the City and its officers and employees
free and harmless from all damages or liability arising from the use, operation or possession of
the franchise, and from the use, operation or maintenance of the facilities erected,
constructed, laid, operated or maintained thereunder.
Section 12. CEQA. The pipelines which are the subject of this Franchise will continue
to be operated by Franchisee. The Franchisee will continue use and/or maintain the pipelines
as previously approved. Therefore, the City has determined this grant of Franchise is exempt
from the requirements of California Environmental Quality Act as a Class 1 Categorical
Exemption, Existing Facilities, pursuant to Section 15301 of the CEQA Guidelines.
Section 13. Name Change. In the event that Franchisee changes its legal name,
Franchisee shall advise the City bywritten notice to the Carson Public Works Director before the
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expiration of sixty (60) days after the effective date of such name change.
Section 14. Severability. If any section, subsection, sentence, clause, phrase, or
portion of this Ordinance, or the application thereof to any person or circumstances, is, for any
reason, held invalid or unconstitutional by any court of competent jurisdiction, such invalidity or
unconstitutionality shall not affect any other provision or application, and to this end the
provisions of this ordinance are declared to be severable. The City Council hereby declares that
it would have adopted this ordinance and each section, subsection, sentence, clause, phrase,
part or portion thereof, irrespective of the fact that any one or more sections, subsections,
sentences, clauses, phrases, parts or portions thereof be declared invalid or unconstitutional.
Section 15. Effective Date. This Ordinance shall be in full force and effect thirty (30)
days after its second reading and adoption.
Section 16. Certification. The City Clerk shall certify to the adoption of this Ordinance
and shall cause the same to be posted in the manner required by law.
[remainder left intentionally blank]
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PASSED, APPROVED and ADOPTED at a regular meeting of the City Council on this 5" day of
December 2023.
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
t a ; a
Sunny K. Soltani, City Attorney
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES ) ss.
CITY OF CARSON
CITY OF CARSON:
(Fach Br Minn Lula Davis- Holmes, Mayor
ATTEST:
Dr. Khaleah K. Bradshaw, City Clerk
|, Dr. Khaleah K. Bradshaw, City Clerk of the City of Carson, California, hereby attest
to and certify that the foregoing ordinance, being Ordinance No. 23-2310 passed
first reading on 21* day of November, 2023, adopted by the Carson City Council at
its meeting held on the 5" day of December, 2023, by the following roll call vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSTAIN:
ABSENT:
RECUSED:
01007.0001/921471.2
COUNCIL MEMBERS:
COUNCIL MEMBERS:
COUNCIL MEMBERS:
COUNCIL MEMBERS:
COUNCIL MEMBERS:
Davis-Holmes, Hilton, Dear, Hicks, Rojas
None
None
None
None
ORDINANCE NO. 23-2310
Page 10 of 11
Dr. Khaleah K. Bradshaw, City Clerk
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES ) ss.
CITY OF CARSON )
|, Dr. Khaleah K. Bradshaw, City Clerk of the City of Carson, California, do hereby certify
that Ordinance No. 23-2310 has been duly and regularly published according to law and the order
of the City Council of said City and that same was so published in Our Weekly, newspaper of
general circulation on the following date:
Adopted Ordinance: De terdour is ) 2023
7
In witness whereof, | have hereunto subscribed my name this ake day of Decurcowc )
K Rraddaur
Dr. Khaleah K. Bradshaw, City Clerk
01007.0001/921471.2
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