In some neighborhoods, dozens of power lines are tangled in trees, wrapped around telephone polls and crisscrossing  streets and alleys.

But the blight could soon be cleaned up under a new city plan to do away with tangled utility lines.

The City Council this week voted unanimously to begin the process of identifying and reducing utility wire blight throughout the city.

Third District Councilwoman Suzie Price, who proposed the effort, said residents throughout the city can see large collections of utility wires that are often bundled and hanging from telephone poles or tied to other wires. In some cases the wires remain long after a business or resident moves. 

Price said resident groups have been conducting their own evaluations of wire issues. The Belmont Heights Community Association has been vocal on the issue for past several years, she said.

“Violations of maintenance standards by utility providers can cause safety concerns including increased risk of fire, high winds disconnecting poorly maintained wires, tree branches causing service interruptions, and downed power lines resulting in damage to private property,” Price said in her agenda item. “Additionally, utility wires that are not well maintained create visual blight throughout our city, and can contribute to the overall deterioration of a community.”

The city over then next two months will conduct an audit of utility wires to identify maintenance needs and violations, as well as safety concerns.