When service from underground electric or communication facilities is available, the city shall mail a notice to the owners of all structures or improvements served from existing overhead facilities, which notice shall state the information required by RCW 35.96.050. If the owner of any structure or improvement receiving such notice shall fail to convert to underground the service lines from existing overhead facilities to such structure or improvement within 90 days after the mailing to said owner of the notice required hereunder, the city shall order the electric and communication utilities to disconnect and remove all such service lines; provided, that if the owner has filed his written objections to such disconnection and removal with the city clerk within 30 days after the mailing of the notice, then the city shall not order such disconnection and removal until after the hearing on such objections.

Upon the timely filing by the owner of objections to the disconnection and removal of service lines, the city council, or a committee thereof, shall conduct a hearing to determine whether removal of all or any part of the service lines is in the public benefit. The determination reached by the city council shall be final in the absence of an abuse of discretion. (Ord. 2088 § 5, 1974; 1961 code § 16.34.040.)