The cable operator shall expeditiously carry out all of its operations during the course of any construction, operation or maintenance operations of public or private property. The cable operator shall protect or support public or private property to prevent damage caused by construction, installation, maintenance or operation of its cable system. If the cable operator fails to protect such property, the city may do so, and the operator shall directly compensate the city for all reasonable expenses incurred thereby. In the event that it has damaged property, the cable operator, without undue delay, and at its own expense, shall restore, repair or replace public or private property to as good condition as existing prior to the disturbance, or compensate property owners for damage caused by related actions. Restoration, repair or replacement of public ways shall be completed within at least ten business days, and restoration, repair or replacement of private property, with the exception of franchisee’s private property not used in the construction, operation or maintenance of the cable system, shall be completed within at least 30 calendar days, except in those cases where the restoration, by its nature, cannot be completed in that period even with the exercise of due diligence and the city has authorized an extension of the restoration period. The cable operator shall take all proper steps to ensure that any resurfacing or reconstruction of public ways rests upon a property filled and tamped foundation. The city may elect to repair or replace public property so damaged, such as sewage lines and request reimbursement for the reasonable expenses associated with the repair or replacement. Subject to the foregoing, the cable operator may trim trees and other vegetation from public ways, at its own expense and subject, at the city’s option, to the city’s supervision. The cable operator shall notify any person whose property is damaged by its actions or operations within 24 hours of the time the damage is discovered. At a minimum, this section requires the cable operator to place a prominent notice in a prominent place on the damaged property or make other diligent efforts to directly contact the property owner or resident.
(Prior Code, § 110.074) (Ord. 13-08, passed 6-3-2013)