The Coral Gables City Commission voted to approve a 30-year franchise agreement with Florida Power & Light Co., a step city officials said will help advance a large-scale undergrounding effort to improve grid reliability and reduce storm-related outages. The vote followed presentations from FPL and city staff and a roll-call affirmation by the commission.

Mayor Vince Lago read the franchise language onto the record and thanked both city and FPL staff for a long-running negotiation. Addis, the FPL representative, told the commission the agreement “will allow us to continue doing business with the city of Coral Gables for the next 30 years” and described the company’s outreach and planning for undergrounding work.

Commissioners praised the long-term benefits of undergrounding — fewer outages, greater redundancy and improved street character — and asked staff to ensure strong resident communication. Vice Mayor Anderson said company teams had been “extremely informative,” noting repeated outreach visits before construction begins in each neighborhood. The city manager confirmed ongoing coordination with FPL to obtain easements and plan swale restorations after construction.

City staff emphasized the program’s scale and complexity. The manager said the city and FPL are coordinating multiple departments and contractors to protect trees and restore landscaping once trenching and conduit installation are complete.

What’s next: staff will continue negotiations on pole, lighting and undergrounding details and bring implementing agreements and easement documents back to the commission for approval. The franchise vote authorizes both the utility and city to proceed under the stated terms and is intended to fast-track construction and outreach phases.