Chapter 5.33 FRANCHISE - CABLE COMMUNICATIONS
Section 5.33.080 Occupancy of streets and public easements.
A. Existing facilities. The operator shall utilize existing poles, conduits, and
other facilities whenever feasible and shall not construct or install any new,
different, or additional poles, conduits, or other facilities whether on public or private
property until the written approval of the City is obtained.
B. Underground installation. The facilities of the operator shall be installed
underground to the fullest extent possible. !n areas where either telephone or
electric utility facilities are installed aerially at the time of construction of the network,
the operator may install its facilities aerially with the understanding that at such time
as both telephone and electrical facilities are relocated underground, the operator shall
likewise place its facilities underground. Previously installed aerial cable shall be
relocated in concert with other utilities at the operator's cost when the other utilities
convert from aerial to underground construction. Any streets or
sidewalks damaged
or disturbed in the construction or operation of operator's poles, cables and other
installations shall be promptly repaired and restored by the operator at its
expense and
to the reasonable satisfaction of the City.
C. Location and condition. The operator shall locate all transmission lines,
equipment, and structures so as to cause minimum interference
with the rights and
reasonable convenience of property owners. The operator shall install and maintain its
lines, equipment, and structures in accordance with the requirements of the National
Electrical Safety Code promulgated by the National Bureau of Standards and the
National Electrical Code of the National Board of Fire Underwriters.
D. Excavation permits. The operator shall not open or disturb the surface of
any street, sidewalk, driveway, or public place for any purpose without first obtaining a
permit to do so from the City. In addition, where existing conduit or backyard easements
are not available for
underground installation, the operator shall design the network in such a manner as
to permit construction behind and parallel with street curbing, in parking strips, or
under the sidewalks where available, with a minimum of street excavation.
E. Use of easements. The operator may install network facilities in public utility
easements. Upon commencement of installation of facilities in a public utility
easement, the operator shall proceed diligently to complete the installation. No trenches
or otherwise uncovered areas shall be left open longer than allowed by the terms of the
encroachment permit as provided by the City.
F. Changes required by public improvements. The operator shall, at its expense,
temporarily disconnect, relocate or remove from the street or other public place any
property of the operator when required by the City by reason of traffic conditions,
public safety, street
vacation, street construction, installation of sewers, drains, water pipes, or any
other type of structure or improvement by public agencies. If the City elects to change
the grade of any street
or public way, or to vacate or otherwise alter the same, the operator shall relocate
its
poles and other installations at its expense.
G. Protection of facilities. Nothing contained in this
section shall relieve the City or
any person, company or corporation from liability arising out of the failure to exercise
reasonable care to avoid damaging the operator's facilities while performing any
work connected with grading, regrading, or changing the line of any street or public
place or with the construction or reconstruction of any sewer or water system.
H. Requests for removal or change, The operator shall,
at the request of any person
holding a building or moving permit, temporarily raise or lower its wires to permit
the
building or moving to proceed. The expense of such temporary removal, raising or
lowering of wires shall be paid by the person requesting the action, and the operator
shall have the authority to require such payment in advance. The operator shall be given
no less than five (5) days written notice of any move contemplated to arrange for
temporary wire changes.
I. Authority to trim trees. The operator shall
have the authority to trim trees
upon end overhanging streets, alleys, sidewalks, and other public places of the City so as
to prevent the branches of such trees from coming in contact
with the wires and
cables of the operator. The same requirements for reasonable notice that are specified
for access to private properly shall be required prior to trimming trees.
J. Restoration or reimbursements. In the event of disturbance of
any street or private
property by the operator, the operator shall, at its own expense and in a manner approved
by the
City or the owner, replace and restore such street or private property in as
reasonably good a
condition as before the work causing such disturbance was done. All restoration work
shall be guaranteed by the operator for a period of one year to be free from structural
defects. In the event there is any problem with restoration work, the operator shall, upon
written notice from the City,
repair the defect within fifteen (15) days (weather permitting) of receiving notice
unless otherwise agreed upon by the City. in the event operator fails to perform such
replacement or restoration, the City shall have the right to do so at the sole expense of
operator.
K. Emergency removal of network. If in the case of fire or disaster
in the City it shall
become necessary in the reasonable judgment of the City to cut or move any of the wires,
cables, amplifiers or other appurtenances to the network of the operator, such cutting or
moving may be completed. Any repairs rendered necessary thereby shell be made by
the operator at its sole
expense.
L. Alternate routing of network. In the event continued use of a street or other
easement or right-of-way is denied to the operator by the City, the operator shall provide
service to the affected subscribers over alternate routes within a reasonable period of
time agreed upon by the City.
(Ord. 2009-22, Add, 10/30/2009)