Section 5.33.140 Termination of franchise.

  A.  Termination by Operator. The operator may, at its option, terminate the franchise and  surrender all  rights and privileges associated with  the  franchise upon  filing with the City a written  notification  of  its  intent  to  terminate  the  franchise  and  surrender all  rights  thereunder.
Any such termination shall not become effective for a period of ninety (90) days from the date on which  the  operator  files  notification  with  the  City.  During  this  ninety  (90) day  period,  the operator may request that the City consider a withdrawal of any notification of termination filed
under  this  section.  If  the  City  approves  such  a  request,  the  franchise  and  the rights  and responsibilities  of  the  parties  thereunder  will  continue  unimpaired  as  if the  notification  of termination had never been flied.
     B.  Termination by City. A franchise may be  terminated by  the City for any material violation  of  the  franchise  but  only  after  a  hearing  before  the  City  Council.  Prior to  setting  a termination hearing,  the operator shall be given at  least sixty  (60) days notice by certified mail
that the operator has violated a material provision of the franchise and that the City Council will consider  setting  a  termination  hearing.  The  notice  shall  include  a description  of  the  violation which is grounds for conducting a termination hearing.
     In  the  event  that  the  operator  has  not  cured  the  matter  which  constitutes  a material violation of  the franchise within  the sixty (60) day notice period, or has not commenced,  in  the opinion of the City, reasonable and diligent efforts to cure the matter, the City Council may set a
public hearing to determine whether or not the franchise should be terminated.
     The City shall provide thirty (30) days written notice to the operator of the date and time of  the termination hearing. The hearing shall be a public proceeding affording due process. The City Council  shall consider  the evidence and determine whether or not  the franchise should be terminated. The decision of the City Council shall be final and shalt exhaust any appeal through the City.
    C.  Ownership  of  Network.  Upon  termination  of  a  franchise,  the  operator  or  its successors and assigns shall retain ownership of the network and shall be entitled at their option and  expense  to  transfer  or  abandon  the  network. Any  transfer of  franchise and  any  transfer of
ownership of the network shall meet the conditions of section 4, paragraph D and the Cable Act.


(Ord. 2009-22, Add, 10/30/2009)