Title 9 STREETS, PARKS AND PUBLIC PROPERTIES CODE
Chapter 910 COMPREHENSIVE RIGHTS-OF-WAY
910.01 Definitions.
910.02 Purpose and scope of chapter.
910.03 Prohibition--Types of permit--Right-of-way board.
910.04 Application procedure, appeal.
910.05 Criteria for granting permits.
910.06 Obligations of permittees--Conditions of permits.
910.07 Permit fees and auditing.
910.08 Joint planning and construction.
910.09 City use of facilities.
910.10 Adoption of regulations.
910.11 Indemnity--Insurance.
910.12 Removal of facilities.
910.13 Revocation.
910.14 Reservation of rights.
910.15 Temporary movement of facilities.
910.16 Foreclosure and receivership.
910.17 Nonenforcement and waivers by city.
910.18 Captions.
910.19 Severability.
910.99 Penalties.
910.01 Definitions.
For purposes of this chapter, the following terms, phrases, words, and
their derivations have the meanings set forth herein. When not inconsistent with
the context, words in the present tense include the future tense, words in the
plural number include the singular number, and words in the singular number
include the plural number. The words “shall” and “will”
are mandatory and “may” is permissive. Words not defined shall be
given their common and ordinary meaning.
A. “Applicant” means
any person applying for a right-of-way permit hereunder.
B. “Best
efforts” means the best reasonable efforts under the circumstances, taking
into consideration, among other appropriate matters, all applicable laws,
regulations, safety, engineering and operational codes, expedition, available
technology and human resources and cost.
C. “Chapter” means
Chapter 910 of the codified ordinances of the city, as amended from time to
time, and any regulations adopted hereunder.
D. “City” means the
city of Columbus, Ohio.
E. “Council” means the legislative body
of the city.
F. “Director” means the director of public
service.
G. “Force majeure” means a strike, act of God, act of
public enemy, order of any kind of a government of the United States of America
or of the state or any of their departments, agencies or political subdivisions;
riot, epidemic, landslides, lightning, earthquake, fire, tornado, storm, flood,
civil disturbance, explosion, partial or entire failure of a utility or any
other cause or event not reasonably within the control of the party disabled by
such force majeure, but only to the extent such disabled party notifies the
other party as soon as practicable regarding such force majeure and then for
only so long as and to the extent that, the force majeure prevents compliance or
causes noncompliance with the provisions hereof.
H. “General
right-of-way permit” shall have the meaning set forth in Section
910.03(B)(1).
I. “Governmental purposes” means those purposes
classified as governmental under Ohio law, as well as (i) street lighting, (ii)
water utility service and (iii) any other city utility service to the extent
such other city utility service is provided to city
facilities.
J. “Gross revenues” mean a reasonable estimation of
all cash, credit, property of any kind or nature, or other consideration
received directly or indirectly by a general permittee arising from or
attributable to the sale or exchange of any services within the city in any way
derived from the operation of its facilities in or use of the rights-of-way;
provided, however, that gross revenues does not include revenues arising from
services which, in the case of telecommunications services, neither terminate or
originate within the city, or in the case of all other services, are not
consumed or used within the city.
K. “Permittee” means any
person issued a right-of-way permit pursuant to this chapter to use or occupy
all or a portion of the rights-of-way in accordance with the provisions of this
chapter and said right-of-way permit.
L. “Person” means any
natural person or any association, firm, partnership, joint venture,
corporation, or other legally recognized entity, whether for-profit or
not-for-profit.
M. “Public property” means any real property
owned by the city or easements held or used by the city, other than a
right-of-way.
N. “Regulation” means any rule adopted by the
director pursuant to the authority of this chapter, and the procedure set forth
in Section 910.10, to carry out its purpose and
intent.
O. “Residential purposes” means residential use of
right-of-way for such uses as mailboxes, trees, decorative purposes or any curb
cuts and driveways, and as may be further defined in the
regulations.
P. “Right-of-way” means the surface of and the
space above and below the paved or unpaved portions of any public street, public
road, public highway, public freeway, public lane, public path, public way,
public alley, public court, public sidewalk, public boulevard, public parkway,
public drive and any other land dedicated or otherwise designated for the same
now or hereafter held by the city which shall, within its proper use and meaning
in the sole opinion of the director, entitle a permittee, in accordance with the
terms hereof and of any right-of-way permit, to the use thereof for the purpose
of installing or operating any poles, wires, cables, transformers, conductors,
ducts, lines, mains, conduits, vaults, manholes, amplifiers, appliances,
attachments or other property or facilities as may be ordinarily necessary and
pertinent to the provision of natural gas, electric, cable television,
communications or other utility services as set forth in any service permit or
any right-of-way permit. Right-of-way shall not include private easements or
public property, except to the extent the use or occupation of public property
is specifically granted in a right-of-way permit or by
regulation.
Q. “Right-of-way board” shall have the meaning set
forth in Section 910.03(F).
R. “Right-of-way permit” means the
nonexclusive grant of authority to use or occupy all or a portion of
city’s rights-of-way granted pursuant to this
chapter.
S. “Right-of-way related costs” means the total costs
to the city of planning, regulating, purchasing, maintaining and governing the
rights-of-way, including any costs of joint planning, enforcement of this
chapter, and related costs and overheads, including but not limited to an
appropriate allocation of the costs of any geographic information systems
utilized by the city.
T. “Service permit” means a valid service
permit or franchise issued by the city pursuant to the Columbus City Charter,
the Columbus City Codes or Constitution and laws of Ohio or the United States,
and accepted by any person, pursuant to which such person may operate or provide
natural gas, electric, cable television, communication or other utility services
to consumers within the city.
U. “Special right-of-way permit”
shall have the meaning set forth in Section 910.03(B)(2). (Ord. 1589-98 § 1
(part).)
910.02 Purpose and scope of chapter.
A. The purpose of this chapter is to provide for the regulation of the use
or occupation of all rights-of-way in the city, the issuance of right-of-way
permits to persons for such use or occupancy and to set forth the policies of
the city related thereto.
B. A right-of-way permit issued pursuant to this
chapter does not take the place of any service permit, franchise, license, or
permit which may be additionally required by law, including any required by
Chapter 903. Each permittee shall obtain any and all such additional state,
federal or city franchises, licenses or permits necessary to the operation and
conduct of its business or the occupation or use of any right-of-way; provided,
however, that no permittee holding a valid right-of-way permit shall be required
to obtain a service permit for any type of services rendered by said permittee
for which the city did not require service permits at the time said
permittee’s permit was last issued or renewed. Should there be a direct
conflict between the provisions of this chapter and a valid service permit, the
provisions of the service permit shall prevail; provided, however, that
additional obligations shall not be construed as a conflict.
C. The director
is hereby directed and empowered to enforce the provisions of this
chapter.
D. The city’s policy regarding rights-of-way is:
1. To
promote the utilization of rights-of-way for the public health, safety and
welfare and to promote economic development in the city;
2. To promote the
availability of a wide range of utility, communication and other services,
including the rapid deployment of new technologies and innovative services, to
the city’s residents and taxpayers at reasonable costs;
3. To promote
cooperation among the permittees and the city in the occupation of
rights-of-way, and work therein, in order to minimize public inconvenience
during right-of-way work, and eliminate wasteful, unnecessary or unsightly
duplication of facilities;
4. To promote public safety and protect public
property;
5. To ensure adequate public compensation for private use of the
rights-of-way and the costs related thereto, including the regulation
thereof;
6. To promote and require reasonable accommodation of all uses of
rights-of-way; and when all requests for right-of-way use cannot be
accomplished, to give priority for use of rights-of-way, in the order indicated,
from highest to lowest, to the following users:
(a) The city for
governmental purposes;
(b) Another governmental entity for governmental
purposes with the city’s concurrence, or other governmental use required
by law;
(c) General right-of-way permittees and proprietary uses by the
city; and
(d) Special right-of-way permittees; provided, however, that the
director may reasonably require cooperation and accommodation among permittees
in the public interest; and
7. To assure that applicants have the financial,
technical and managerial resources to comply with this chapter and the
provisions of any right-of-way permit issued hereunder; provided that, for
purposes of this chapter, an applicant possessing valid certification from the
Public Utilities Commission of Ohio, including certification pursuant to R.C.
4933.81 et seq., for the services to be provided by the facilities subject to
this chapter shall be presumed to possess the requisite financial, technical and
managerial resources, unless otherwise shown by clear and convincing
evidence.
E. All right-of-way permits granted hereunder shall be
non-exclusive and no property right of any nature shall be created by the
granting of a permit under this chapter.
F. This chapter does not apply, and
nothing herein should be construed to apply the provisions of this chapter, to
structures or facilities owned or operated by the city or any city operations
that occupy or use the rights-of-way. It is specifically contemplated, however,
that all city departments or divisions that utilize the rights-of-way shall
carry out their operations in a manner consistent with the policy set forth in
this chapter, including participation and cooperation in all joint planning
hereunder and identification of structures and facilities located in the
rights-of-way. (Ord. 1589-98 § 1 (part).)
910.03 Prohibition--Types of permit--Right-of-way board.
A. Unless otherwise permitted pursuant to the Columbus City Codes, no
person shall use, occupy, construct, own or operate structures or facilities in,
under or over any rights-of-way or any public property within the city unless
such person first obtains a right-of-way permit and conforms to the requirements
set forth therein and in this chapter; provided, however, that right-of-way
permits shall not be required for the following uses:
1. Newspaper
stands;
2. Carts;
3. Sidewalk cafes;
4. Awnings;
and
5. Residential purposes, so long as, in the opinion of the director, the
such use:
(i) Has received or will receive all other necessary permits,
including any under Chapter 903 and 905 Columbus City Codes;
(ii) Is not
inconsistent with policy of the city;
(iii) Does not adversely affect the
public health, safety or welfare; and
(iv) Does not materially interfere
with the other lawful use of the right-of-way.
The director shall adopt
regulations controlling and further defining residential purposes and to
otherwise implement the determinations to be made under this section. Such
regulations shall, among other matters, specify that the owner of facilities
that holds title to such facilities solely as a result of a leaseback, defined
as the sale or transfer of property by a permittee to another person
contemporaneously followed by the leasing of the property to the permittee on a
long term basis, that are not operated or controlled by said lessee, and are
operated or controlled by the permittee, are not considered to be using,
occupying, owing or operating such facilities, for purposes of this chapter,
solely as a result of such leaseback.
B. The following types of right-of-way
permits are available:
1. General Right-of-Way Permit. Right-of-way permit
granted to persons who desire and are granted authority to utilize rights-of-way
generally for business purposes including the provision of utility, cable
television, communications or other services to the city, its residents and
taxpayers; and
2. Special Right-of-Way Permit. Right-of-way permit granted
to a person for a specific, limited use of the rights-of-way or a specific
portion thereof as further delineated in such permit. A special right-of-way
permit shall not be available to any person for use of more than one (1) mile of
right-of-way. Special right-of-way permits may be granted for any amount of
right-of-way to agencies of the government of the United States, the state of
Ohio, or its political subdivisions for governmental purposes.
3. Nothing in
this chapter should be construed to preclude the city from requiring any person
offering any natural gas, electric, cable television, communications or other
utility services for which the city may lawfully require a service permit, to
acquire a service permit upon the expiration of any right-of-way permit issued
hereunder.
C. Any such right-of-way permit may also allow the use of
specified public property for the uses set forth in the right-of-way permit and
in this chapter.
D. Each right-of-way permit shall specify the use or uses
for which it is granted and contain such other nondiscriminatory terms and
conditions as are appropriate and as are set forth in the
regulations.
E. Unless otherwise set forth herein, right-of-way permits or
the rights of a permittee thereunder are not transferable without the prior
express written approval of the director, upon written request. Such request
shall contain evidence that the proposed transferee has the financial, technical
and managerial resources to comply with the obligations of this chapter and its
right-of-way permit and shall be granted if such transferee has such resources.
In making said determination, a proposed transferee shall be presumed to possess
the requisite, financial, technical and managerial resources if said transferee
possesses a valid certification from the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio,
including certification pursuant to R.C. 4933.81, et seq., for the services to
be provided by the facilities subject to this chapter, unless otherwise shown by
clear and convincing evidence. The director shall adopt regulations providing
procedures for transfer of right-of-way permits that shall include provisions
providing that (i) all requests for transfer shall be deemed approved if the
director does not disapprove the same within thirty (30) days of receipt of the
completed written transfer request, and (ii) transfer to affiliates under common
ownership and control with the permittee shall not require approval, so long as
the director is provided thirty (30) days’ written notice of such
transfer.
F. There is hereby created a right-of-way board, consisting of the
director and the directors of development and trade and utilities. The
right-of-way board shall act by majority vote and each of its members may
designate an alternate, in writing, to perform such member’s duties and
obligations in such member’s absence. The director shall act as chair of
the right-of-way board.
G. The director shall adopt regulations controlling
and further defining residential purposes and to otherwise implement the
determination to be made under this section. Such regulations shall, among other
matters, specify (i) that the owner of facilities that holds title to such
facilities solely as a result of a leaseback, defined as the sale or transfer of
property by a permittee to another person contemporaneously followed by leasing
of the property to the permittee on a long term basis, and are operated or
controlled by the permittee, are not considered to be using, occupying, owing or
operating such facilities, for purposes of this chapter, solely as a result of
such leaseback. (Ord. 1589-98 § 1 (part).)
910.04 Application procedure, appeal.
A. Applications for a general right-of-way permit by a holder of a service
permit shall be filed in such form and in such manner as the regulations
require. There shall be no application fee. Any person holding a valid service
permit shall be granted a general right-of-way permit. Such general right-of-way
permit shall be valid so long as the underlying service permit is valid and the
applicable provisions of that service permit, the right-of-way permit and of
this chapter are complied with; provided, however, that such right-of-way permit
shall only relate to and entitle the permittee to utilize the rights-of-way, in
accordance with this chapter, for purposes directly related to the provision of
the specific services for which it has a service permit. Any other right-of-way
use by such permittee shall require a separate or amended right-of-way permit
issued pursuant to Section 910.04(B).
B. All other applications for general
right-of-way permits, or amendments or renewals thereof, shall be filed in such
form and in such manner as the regulations require, along with an application
fee of one thousand dollars ($1,000.00). The director shall determine if the
application is in order and shall, within forty-five (45) days of the receipt of
a complete application, issue a written report regarding such application. The
report shall recommend that the right-of-way board deny or grant the
right-of-way permit, subject to any appropriate terms and conditions, in
accordance with the criteria set forth in this chapter. The director’s
report shall be served upon the applicant by mail along with a notice of when
the right-of-way board will consider the same. The right-of-way board shall then
consider such recommendation and make a final determination in writing, within
thirty (30) days of the director’s report, as to whether or not such
right-of-way permit should be granted and if so, upon what terms and conditions.
The term of each such general right-of-way permit shall be for ten (10) years
from issuance, or such lesser term as the applicant requests.
C. An
application for a special right-of-way permit, or renewal thereof, shall be
filed in such form and in such manner as the regulations require, along with an
application fee of either (i) fifty dollars ($50.00) for a special right-of-way
permit for residential purposes, or (ii) five hundred dollars ($500.00) for all
others. If the director determines that the application is in order and that the
criteria set forth in Section 910.05 have been met, and that the application
should be granted, the director shall, within forty-five (45) days of a receipt
of a completed application, conditionally grant or renew such a right-of-way
permit subject to any appropriate terms and conditions or deny the same. The
director’s conditional grant, renewal or denial shall be served upon the
applicant by mail. Such conditional denial, grant or renewal shall become final
unless modified or rejected by the right-of-way board within thirty (30) days of
issuance by the director, or unless appealed pursuant to Section 910.04(E). The
term of such special right-of-way permits shall be three (3) years from
issuance, or such lesser term as the applicant requests. A special right-of-way
permit for residential purposes may be granted for an indefinite term from
issuance, but may be cancelled by the director with sixty (60) days written
notice.
D. Any applicant may appeal the failure of the director to grant a
right-of-way permit, or to recommend it to be granted upon terms and conditions
acceptable to the applicant, to the right-of-way board. In order to perfect such
appeal, the applicant shall file, within ten (10) days of the director’s
determination or recommendation, or within sixty (60) days of the filing of the
application if the director has taken no action, an appeal to the right-of-way
board. The right-of-way board shall then review the matter and after affording
the applicant an opportunity to be heard either in person or in writing render a
final determination within thirty (30) days of the filing of the appeal, unless
such period is waived by the applicant. Except to the extent otherwise
appealable by law, the right-of-way board’s decision shall be
final.
E. Any right-of-way permittee shall, within thirty (30) days of the
granting or renewal of any right-of-way permit hereunder, if and as applicable,
pay a pro rata portion of the fees required by section 910.07(B) or (C);
provided, however, that should the permittee appeal, and during the pendency
thereof the permittee does not use or occupy any right-of-way, the permittee
shall not be required to pay such pro rata portion of said fees until such
appeal has been finally determined. (Ord. 1589-98 § 1 (part).)
910.05 Criteria for granting permits.
A. A general right-of-way permit shall be granted to any applicant holding
a valid service permit.
B. Except as provided in Section 910.05(A) and (C),
a general or a special right-of-way permit shall be granted to an applicant upon
a determination that:
1. The granting of the right-of-way permit will
contribute to the public health, safety or welfare in the city;
2. The
granting of the right-of-way permit will be consistent with the policy of the
city as set forth in Section 910.02(E); and
3. The applicant is not
delinquent on any taxes or other obligations to the city or Franklin County and
has the requisite financial, managerial and technical ability to fulfill all its
obligations hereunder.
C. A special right-of-way permit for residential
purposes not exempted pursuant to Section 910.03(A) shall be granted at the
director’s discretion if the director finds that granting such permit will
not be inconsistent with the policy of the city set forth in Section
910.02(D).
D. The director or the right-of-way board may impose such lawful
conditions on the granting of a permit as reasonably required to be consistent
with the criteria set forth in this Section 910.05 and to promote the policy of
the city set forth in Section 910.02(D). (Ord. 1589-98 § 1
(part).)
910.06 Obligations of permittees--Conditions of permits.
A. In addition to the other requirements set forth herein and in the
regulations each permittee, except a special right-of-way permittee for
residential purposes, shall:
1. Use its best efforts to cooperate with other
permittees and the city for the best, most efficient, most aesthetic and least
obtrusive use of rights-of-way, consistent with safety, and to minimize traffic
and other disruptions including street cuts;
2. Participate in such joint
planning, construction and advance notification of right-of-way work, excepting
such work performed in an emergency provided the permittee uses its best efforts
to contact the city at the earliest possible time after beginning any such
emergency work requiring excavation or other interference with the flow of
traffic, as may be required by Chapter 903 and this chapter and as may be more
specifically set forth in regulations promulgated pursuant to this chapter, and
provided further, that mandatory joint planning shall not (i) commence prior to
January 1, 1999, or (ii) require the exchange or provision of trade secrets or
competitively sensitive materials or information;
3. Reasonably cooperate
with other permittees in utilization of, construction in and occupancy of
private rights-of-way within the city, but only to the extent the same is
consistent with the grant thereof, is not additionally burdensome to any
property owner or unreasonably burdensome to the permittee; provided, however,
that nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to require expenditure of
funds or rearrangement of facilities by a permittee without fair
compensation;
4. Upon reasonable written notice of not less than sixty (60)
days, except in an emergency threatening the public health, safety or welfare,
and at the direction of the director, and at the permittee’s sole cost,
promptly remove or rearrange facilities as necessary, as further specified in
the regulations (i) during any construction, repair or modification of any
street, sidewalk, city utility (except for the nonstreet lighting facilities of
the division of electricity) or other public improvement, (ii) as part of the
director’s determination, to the extent permitted by Ohio law, that
designated portions of its rights-of-way should accommodate only underground
facilities or that facilities should occupy only one side of a street or other
public way, provided that such determination is reasonable and a part of an
overall improvement or beautification plan or project, (iii) if an additional or
subsequent city or other public use of rights-of-way is inconsistent with the
then current uses of such permittee, (iv) or for any other reasonable cause as
determined by the director pursuant to Section 910.14(B);
5. Provide maps
and other information relating to a permittee’s facilities and operations
within the rights-of-way and compliance with this chapter in such form,
including, for general right-of-way permittees, digital or other form compatible
with any city geographic information system; provided, however, that such maps
or information for facilities in place as of January 1, 1999 shall not be
required to be in digital form prior to January 1, 2002, and at such times, no
less than annually, as the regulations require. Said maps and information shall,
at a minimum, locate, describe and identify all uses of, and structures and
facilities of such permittee in, the rights-of-way;
6. Perform all work,
construction, maintenance or removal of structures and facilities within the
right-of-way, including tree trimming, in accordance with good engineering and
construction practice including any appropriate safety codes and in accordance
with the regulations and use its best efforts to repair and replace any street,
curb or other portion of the right-of-way, or facilities or structure located
therein, to a condition to be determined by the director to be adequate under
current standards and not less than materially equivalent to its condition prior
to such work and to do so in a manner which minimizes any inconvenience to the
public, the city and other permittees, all in accordance with the regulations
adopted hereunder or under Chapter 903;
7. Register, or cause to be
registered, its facilities with underground reporting services as set forth in
the regulations;
8. Use its best efforts to cooperate with the city in any
emergencies involving the rights-of-way in such manner as the regulations shall
require including the maintenance of a twenty-four (24) hour emergency
contact;
9. Unless otherwise set forth in a right-of-way permit, or without
director’s prior written approval, if the permittee has elected to pay fee
under this chapter pursuant to Section 910.07(B)(1)(ii), refrain from entering
into leases or other “wholesale” type agreements with affiliates for
the use of such permittee’s facilities located within the rights-of-way.
Any such lease or agreement shall be filed with the director for the
director’s approval in such manner as the regulations
require;
10. Field identify, using distinct identification, all structures
and facilities in areas of the rights-of-way designated for construction or
related activities in accordance with the regulations, provided that the
regulations shall require that the field identifications utilize, to the
greatest extent possible, customary industry standards for such identification;
and
11. Designate a single point of contact for all purposes hereunder, as
well as comply with such other contact and notice protocols as the regulations
require.
B. Each permittee shall assure that any subcontractor or other
person performing any work or service in the right-of-way on behalf of said
permittee will comply with all applicable provisions of this chapter and its
right-of-way permit and will identify the permittee for whom such contractor is
working. Said permittee shall be responsible and liable hereunder for all
actions of any such subcontractor or others as if said permittee had performed
or failed to perform any such obligation. (Ord. 1589-98 § 1
(part).)
910.07 Permit fees and auditing.
A. Except for any fees charged pursuant to Chapter 903, general
right-of-way permittees who have a service permit shall not be liable for any
additional right-of-way permit fees over and above any service permit fees
specified in its service permit for uses of rights-of-way directly related to
the uses for which such permittee holds its service permit, so long as the
amount of such fees due in each quarter is equal to or greater than the amounts
otherwise due the city pursuant to Section 910.07(B). If the amount due under
Section 910.07(B) is more than said service permit fees, then the permittee
shall receive a credit in each quarter against such amount for all such fees
paid in such quarter, and shall pay the balance to the city as set forth in
Section 910.07(E).
B. (1) In addition to any fees charged pursuant to
Chapter 903, all general right-of-way permittees, shall pay an annual fee, for
each calendar year, based upon either (i) the miles of right-of-way which the
permittee occupies or desires to occupy in said calendar year as
follows:
|
For the first mile, or any part thereof, (0-1)
|
$10,000.00
|
|
Plus, for the next nine (9) miles, or any part thereof (1-10), an
additional
|
$ 7,500.00
|
|
Plus, for the next ninety (90) miles, or any part thereof (11-100), an
additional
|
$ 20,000.00
|
|
Plus, for the next four hundred (400) miles, or any part thereof (101-500),
an additional
|
$ 62,500.00
|
|
Plus, for all use over five hundred (500) miles, an additional
|
$100,000.00
|
or, (ii) seventy-five one hundredths (.75) percent of that
permittee’s gross revenues for the prior calendar year.
(2) For
permittees electing option (i), quarterly payments shall be made on or before
March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31 of the calendar
year.
(3) For permittees electing option (ii), estimated quarterly payments
shall be made on or before the same dates as in Section 910.07(B)(2), based upon
the gross revenues for the corresponding quarter for the prior calendar year.
The final payment each year shall be accompanied by a statement of an
independent certified public accountant attesting to the reasonableness of the
methodology used for the estimation of the gross revenues upon which the payment
was based.
(4) Each permittee shall, at its sole option, at the time its
first payment is due hereunder for its initial permit, and thereafter for each
renewal, elect in writing one of the fee options contained in Section
910.07(B)(1)(i) and (ii). Such election shall not be changed for the balance of
the term of said permittee’s permit.
C. In addition to any fees
charged pursuant to Chapter 903, special right-of-way permittees shall pay an
annual fee of two dollars ($2.00) per lineal foot of right-of-way used or
occupied, but not less than one thousand dollars ($1,000.00). This fee shall be
waived for all special right-of-way permits for residential purposes and may be
waived by the director for special right-of-way permittees that are agencies of
the government of the United States, the State of Ohio, or its political
subdivisions. Such fee shall be paid in advance for each calendar year prior to
January 31 of such year.
D. Further specification regarding the
determination and calculation of the fees set forth in Sections 910.07(B) and
(C) may be set forth in the regulations.
E. All fees pursuant to this
chapter shall be paid by check, money order or wire transfer to the city
treasurer as the regulations require.
F. Each general right-of-way permittee
shall maintain books, records, maps, documents and other evidence directly
pertinent to its calculation of payments to the city. The director, the city
auditor or either’s designated agents shall have reasonable access to any
books, records, maps, documents and other evidence for inspection, copying and
audit to the extent necessary to assure that the payments hereunder are accurate
and that all right-of-way permittees fully comply with the provisions of this
chapter and their respective right-of-way permits.
G. The fees and minimums
specified in Sections 910.04(B) and (C) and 910.07(B) and (C) may be modified or
adjusted by regulation effective on or after January 1, 2000; provided, however,
that (i) such fees remain reasonable and nondiscriminatory, (ii) that the total
revenues to the city generated by such fees represent a reasonable allocation of
right-of-way related costs, and (iii) any increase in such fees and minimums is
no greater than a cumulative four (4) percent per year annual increase since
1999, or the year of the last such increase, whichever is later; and provided
further, however, that any such cumulative increase shall not be greater than
twelve (12) percent. (Ord. 1589-98 § 1 (part).)
910.08 Joint planning and construction.
In order to promote the purposes of this chapter and the policy set forth
herein, the director shall adopt regulations requiring and governing joint
planning and construction for all right-of-way permittees except for special
right-of-way permittees for residential purposes. Such regulations shall not,
however, require a permittee to divulge trade secrets or other competitively
sensitive confidential information release of which would cause material injury
to the permittee. Such regulations shall also require any confidential
information of a permittee in the possession of the city be treated as such, to
the extent determined legally appropriate by the city attorney. (Ord. 1589-98
§ 1 (part).)
910.09 City use of facilities.
Except for traffic control facilities and facilities in place as of the
effective date of this chapter, facilities that are the subject of other
agreements between the city and a permittee, or as otherwise provided by law,
the city shall not install or maintain upon any poles and within any underground
pipes or conduits or other facilities of any general or special right-of-way
permittee, any facilities desired by the city for the city’s use without
the consent of such permittee unless: (i) such installation and maintenance is
lawful and consistent with good engineering and construction practice and all
appropriate safety codes, (ii) such installation and maintenance does not
unreasonably and materially interfere with existing and future operations of the
permittee, (iii) such installation and maintenance is not unduly burdensome to
such permittee, (iv) the city enters into an agreement with the permittee which
specifies other appropriate and reasonable terms and conditions, including
compensation, governing the use of permittee’s facilities, and (v) the
city’s use is nondiscriminatory. Each permittee shall cooperate with the
city in the development of a facility use agreement for such city facilities.
Each permittee shall cooperate with the city in planning and designing its
facilities so as to accommodate the city’s reasonably disclosed
requirements in this regard. Copies of all agreements hereunder shall be filed
with the director. (Ord. 1589-98 § 1 (part).)
910.10 Adoption of regulations.
A. In accordance with the provisions of Section 910.10(C), the director
may promulgate regulations, as the director deems appropriate from time to time,
to carry out the express purposes and intent of this chapter, including
regulations governing the procedures of the right-of-way board.
B. Such
regulations shall not materially increase the obligations of any permittee
hereunder. In promulgating such regulations, including those related to Section
910.06(A), the director shall, among other appropriate factors, consider the
costs of permittee compliance as an important factor in determining the
appropriateness of the regulations.
C. The director shall promulgate
proposed regulations by filing the same with the clerk of council for
publication in the city bulletin pursuant to Section 121.05. Each general
right-of-way permittee shall be served with a copy of the proposed regulations
by regular U.S. mail; provided, however, that any failure of any permittee to
actually receive such notice shall not in any way affect the validity or
enforceability of such regulation. Any person, including any permittee, may file
specific written comments or objections on the proposed regulations within a
thirty (30) day period after such publication (hereinafter “comment
period”). The proposed regulations shall become effective thirty (30) days
after the end of the comment period (or such longer period as determined by
council), unless such regulation is modified or rejected by council.
D. The
mayor may adopt emergency regulations to be immediately effective, when the
mayor determines the same to be appropriate or required by the public health,
safety or welfare; provided, however, that any such regulation shall nonetheless
be subject to the comment and review process as set forth in Section 910.10(B).
(Ord. 1589-98 § 1 (part).)
910.11 Indemnity--Insurance.
A. Except for special right-of-way permittees for residential purposes,
each permittee shall, as a condition of its right-of-way permit, indemnify,
protect and hold harmless the city from any claim, loss or damage arising in any
way from permittee’s occupation or use of the right-of-way, including but
not limited to the construction, operation or maintenance of permittee’s
facilities, and from any such permittee’s negligent or wrongful act or
omission excluding, however, claims arising from the city’s sole
negligence or wilful misconduct.
B. Except for special right-of-way
permittees for residential purposes, each permittee, as a condition of its
permit, shall keep in force a policy or policies of liability insurance, having
such terms and in such amounts as are set forth in the regulations, covering its
facilities and operations pursuant to its right-of-way permit. The city shall be
named as an additional insured on such policy.
C. Such regulations shall
provide that upon the written application of a permittee and approval of the
director, city attorney and city auditor, which approval shall not be
unreasonably withheld, permittees who maintain a net book value in excess of ten
million dollars ($10,000,000.00) may self-insure in lieu of providing policies
of insurance. (Ord. 1589-98 § 1 (part).)
910.12 Removal of facilities.
A. Except for special right-of-way permittees for residential purposes
when the permit so allows, any right-of-way permittee that intends to
discontinue use of and abandon any facilities within the rights-of-way shall
submit a written notice to the director describing the portion of the facilities
to be discontinued and abandoned, any plan for securing the same and the
proposed date of abandonment, which date shall not be less than sixty (60) days
from the date such notice is submitted to the director. A permittee shall not
abandon such facilities without such notice. The permittee shall remove or
secure such facilities if and as required by the written order of the director
so long as such order is issued no more than sixty (60) days from the date said
notice is submitted to the director.
B. Should any permittee fail, after
notice, to remove or rearrange facilities at the director’s request as
specified in Section 910.06(A)(4) or comply with the director’s order
pursuant to Section 910.12(A), the city may, at its option and in addition to
the imposition of any penalties or other remedies hereunder, undertake or cause
to be undertaken, any reasonable action necessary to remove, secure, or
rearrange the facilities. The city shall have no liability for any damage caused
by such action and the permittee shall be liable to the city for all reasonable
costs incurred by the city in such action. (Ord. 1589-98 § 1
(part).)
910.13 Revocation.
A. In addition to any other rights set out in this chapter, the city
reserves the right to revoke, in accordance with the procedures set forth in
910.13(B), any right-of-way permit in the event such permittee violates any
material provision of this chapter or its right-of-way permit.
B. The
director shall give a permittee thirty (30) days prior written notice of an
intent to revoke said permittee’s right-of-way permit. Such notice shall
state the reasons for such action. If the permittee cures the violation or other
cause within the thirty (30) day notice period, or if the permittee initiates
efforts satisfactory to the director to remedy the stated violation, the
director may rescind said notice of revocation. If the permittee does not cure
the stated violation or other cause or undertake efforts satisfactory to the
director to remedy the stated violation the director may recommend said permit
be revoked. After granting the permittee an opportunity to be heard in person or
in writing, the right-of-way board may revoke the right-of-way permit. Unless
otherwise required by law, the decision of the right-of-way board shall be
final.
C. Unless otherwise permitted by the director or required by law, if
a right-of-way permit is revoked, all facilities located in the rights-of-way or
located upon public property pursuant to such permit shall be removed at the
sole expense of the permittee. (Ord. 1589-98 § 1 (part).)
910.14 Reservation of rights.
A. Nothing in this chapter should be construed so as to grant any right or
interest in any right-of-way or public property other than that explicitly set
forth herein or in a permit.
B. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed
to prevent the city from constructing, maintaining, repairing or relocating any
nonproprietary city utility, including street lighting, communications or like
facilities; grading, paving, maintaining, repairing, relocating or altering any
street, public property or right-of-way; or constructing, maintaining,
relocating, or repairing any sidewalk or other public work or improvement. To
the extent that such work requires temporary or permanent relocation or
rearrangement of any facilities or structures of any permittee, such relocating
or rearrangement shall be accomplished at the sole cost of the permittee in such
time and in such manner as set forth in the regulations. (Ord. 1589-98 § 1
(part).)
910.15 Temporary movement of facilities.
In the event it is necessary to move or remove temporarily any of the
permittee’s wires, cables, poles, or other facilities placed pursuant to
this chapter, in order to lawfully move a large object, vehicle, building or
other structure over the streets of the city, upon two (2) weeks written notice
by the director to the permittee, the permittee shall, at the expense of the
person requesting the temporary removal of such facilities, comply with
director’s request; provided that the permittee’s expense has been
reasonably secured by the person so requesting. (Ord. 1589-98 § 1
(part).)
910.16 Foreclosure and receivership.
Upon the filing of any voluntary or involuntary petition under the
Bankruptcy Act by or against the permittee, or any action for foreclosure or
other judicial sale of the permittee’s facilities located within the
right-of-way, the permittee shall promptly notify the director of such fact.
(Ord. 1589-98 § 1 (part).)
910.17 Nonenforcement and waivers by city.
The permittee shall not be relieved of its obligation to comply with any
of the provisions of its right-of-way permit or this chapter by reason of any
failure of the city or to enforce prompt compliance. (Ord. 1589-98 § 1
(part).)
910.18 Captions.
The captions and headings in this chapter are for convenience and
reference purposes only and shall not affect in any way the meaning of
interpretation of this chapter. (Ord. 1589-98 § 1 (part).)
910.19 Severability.
If any section, subsection, clause or provision or any part thereof of
this chapter shall be finally adjudicated by a court of competent jurisdiction
to be invalid, the remainder shall be unaffected by such adjudication and all
the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect. (Ord. 1589-98
§ 1 (part).)
910.99 Penalties.
A. In addition to any other penalties set forth in this chapter, and the
remedy of specific performance which may be enforced in a court of competent
jurisdiction, the following penalties shall apply.
1. Any person or
permittee violating Sections 910.03(A) or 910.12(A), or failing to pay when due
any forfeiture imposed pursuant to 910.99(A)(2), shall be guilty of a
misdemeanor of the fourth (4th) degree. Each day such violation continues shall
be deemed a separate offense.
2. For failure to comply with any other
provision of this chapter, the penalty shall be a civil forfeiture, payable to
the city, in the amount of five hundred dollars ($500.00) per day for each day
of violation. In addition, for failure to timely comply with a notice by the
director to remove or rearrange facilities pursuant to Section 910.06(A)(4), an
additional civil forfeiture equal to any costs incurred by the city as a result
of such failure, including but not limited to any penalties or liquidated
damages charged the city by its contractors occasioned thereby, shall be
imposed.
B. Any permittee may be excused for violations of this chapter and
its right-of-way permit due to force majeure. (Ord. 1589-98 § 1
(part).)
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