Loading...
(a) A person who desires to install, operate, or maintain a newsrack on a public right-of-way that is not open to vehicular traffic shall submit an application for a newsrack license to the director on a form provided for that purpose. The applicant must be the person who will install, operate, or maintain the newsrack. The application must be verified and contain all of the following information:
(1) Name, address, telephone number, and signature of the applicant. If the applicant is a person other than the publisher, then the publisher must also sign the application, agreeing to be bound by the terms contained in the license.
(2) Name, address, and telephone number of the person the city may contact concerning installation, placement, operation, and maintenance of the applicant’s newsracks.
(3) Form of business of the applicant and, if the business is a corporation or association, a copy of the documents establishing the business.
(4) Number of newsracks the applicant wishes to install or operate in the city and a list indicating the proposed location (by blockface) of each newsrack, the name of the publication each newsrack will dispense, and whether the publication will be dispensed free or for a charge.
(5) Dimensional measurements of each style of any freestanding newsracks to be installed, with drawings or photographs.
(6) Proposed method of securing any freestanding newsracks.
(b) Following a review of the application, execution of the written agreement required under Section 43-126.19(b), payment of a nonrefundable $100 application processing fee, and payment of the annual fee for a newsrack license, the director shall, within 60 days following the date of receipt of an application for an initial license and within 30 days following the date of receipt of an application for a license renewal, issue a newsrack license to the applicant unless denial is required by Section 43-126.20.
(c) Upon issuance of a license for the installation, operation, and maintenance of newsracks and payment of the annual fee for the newsrack license, the director shall issue a decal for each newsrack permitted under the license, reflecting the license number and expiration date. A decal must be displayed on each permitted newsrack at all times, so that the decal is visible from the street.
(d) A decal issued to one person may not be transferred to another person. A decal issued for one newsrack may not be transferred to another newsrack without the approval of the director, except that a decal may be transferred to a replacement newsrack at the same location.
(e) If a decal is lost, stolen, or mutilated, the director may issue a duplicate decal, upon written request of the licensee, for a fee of $2.
(f) Before any newsrack not authorized under a newsrack license may be installed, operated, or maintained on the public right-of-way, the licensee must make a written request to the director for the additional newsrack, pay the required annual fee, and display a valid decal on the newsrack as required by this division.
(g) The director may (in accordance with procedures established by this division for the allocation of newsrack locations) approve changes to the location of a validly licensed newsrack, upon written request by a licensee, for no additional fee. An amendment that substantially changes the scope of a license (such as displaying, distributing, or selling in a newsrack a publication not specified in the license application for that newsrack) must be applied for in the same manner as the original license.
(h) A licensee shall notify the director within 10 days of any change in the address or telephone number of the publisher or of the person responsible for the installation, operation, or maintenance of the newsracks permitted under the license.
(i) A license issued to one person may not be transferred to another person. A newsrack location assigned to one person or publication may not be transferred to another person or publication without following the procedures established by this division for the allocation of newsrack locations. (Ord. Nos. 26809; 27201)
(a) It is a condition of a license that the installation, operation, and maintenance of each newsrack be in accordance with this division.
(b) Prior to the issuance of a license, the licensee shall execute a written agreement providing all of the following:
(1) The licensee will defend, indemnify, and hold whole and harmless the city of Dallas and its officers, agents, representatives, or employees against any and all claims, lawsuits, judgments, costs, or expenses (including attorney’s fees) for bodily injury, property damage, or other harm arising out of, or in any way related to, the licensee’s occupancy, maintenance, or use of the licensed area or the licensee’s placement, installation, operation, or maintenance of any newsrack. The indemnity must include claims for damages that any publicly or privately owned utility or communication company sustains arising from the licensee’s occupancy, maintenance, or use of the licensed area or the licensee’s placement, installation, operation, or maintenance of any newsrack.
(2) If the city of Dallas is ever made a defendant in any cause of action, directly or indirectly, based upon the licensee’s occupancy, maintenance, or use of the licensed area, or the licensee’s placement, installation, operation, or maintenance of any newsrack, the city shall have the right, at its option, to implead the licensee and its successors and assigns.
(3) The licensee will procure, prior to the issuance of a license, and keep in full force and effect at all times during the license term, commercial general liability insurance coverage (including, but not limited to, premises/operations, independent contractors, and contractual liability) protecting the city of Dallas against any and all claims for damages to persons or property as a result of, or arising out of, the licensee’s occupancy, maintenance, or use of the licensed area or the licensee’s placement, installation, operation, or maintenance of any newsrack, with minimum combined bodily injury (including death) and property damage limits of not less than $500,000 for each occurrence and $500,000 annual aggregate. The insurance policy must be written by an insurance company approved by the State of Texas and acceptable to the city and issued in a standard form approved by the Texas Department of Insurance. All provisions of the policy must be acceptable to the city and must name the city and its officers and employees as additional insureds and provide for 30 days written notice to the director of cancellation, non-renewal, or material change to the insurance policy.
(4) The license is subject to the rights of the city, public utilities, and franchisees in and to the public right-of-way and the rights of the city to make changes to the grade of any street, sidewalk, or parkway, and the licensee will never make a claim against the city for damages it might suffer by reason of the installation, construction, reconstruction, operation, or maintenance of any public improvement, utility, or communication facility on the licensed area.
(c) The annual license fee for a newsrack license is:
(1) $15 for each freestanding newsrack located within a public right-of-way of the city; and
(2) $60 for each newsrack space operated in a multiple newsrack unit, which amount includes $45 for rental of the newsrack space from the city or the city contractor.
(d) A licensee shall pay the annual license fee for a newsrack license to the director. The payment must be made on or before the issuance of a license. All sums due under this section must be deposited by the city controller and are subject to a $25 fee for each dishonored check. Except as specifically provided otherwise in this division, no license fees will be prorated upon termination of any license. (Ord. Nos. 26809; 27201)
(a) The director shall deny a newsrack license if the director determines that the applicant has:
(1) made a false statement of a material fact on an application for a newsrack license;
(2) failed to provide the information requested on an application for a newsrack license;
(3) failed to execute a written agreement in accordance with Section 43-126.19(b);
(4) failed to pay the nonrefundable application fee or annual license fee at the time due; or
(5) failed to comply with the requirements of this division or other applicable law.
(b) The director shall revoke a newsrack license if the director determines that the licensee has:
(1) made a false statement of a material fact on an application for a newsrack license;
(2) failed to comply with the requirements of the newsrack license, the written agreement executed under Section 43-126.19(b), this division, or any other applicable law;
(3) failed to maintain in full force and effect the insurance as required by this division; or
(4) failed to pay any fees required by this division at the time due.
(c) If the director determines that an applicant must be denied a newsrack license under this section, the director shall notify the person in writing that the application is denied and shall include in the notice the reason for denial and a statement informing the applicant of the right to appeal.
(d) If the director determines that a newsrack license must be revoked under this section, the director shall notify the licensee in writing that the license is revoked and shall include in the notice the reason for revocation and a statement informing the applicant of the right to appeal. (Ord. Nos. 26809; 27201)
(a) If the director denies the issuance or renewal of a license or revokes a license, the director shall send to the applicant or licensee, by certified mail, return receipt requested, written notice of the reason for denial, nonrenewal, or revocation and of the right to an appeal.
(b) Upon receipt of written notice of the denial, nonrenewal, or revocation, the applicant or licensee whose application for a license or license renewal has been denied or whose license has been revoked has the right to appeal to either the permit and license appeal board or the state district court.
(c) An appeal to a permit and license appeal board must be in accordance with Section 2-96 of this code. The filing of an appeal under this subsection stays the action of the director in revoking a license until a final decision is made by the permit and license appeal board. A revocation upheld by the board takes effect on the first midnight that is at least 24 hours after the board issues its decision.
(d) An appeal to the state district court must be filed within 30 days after receipt of notice of the director’s decision. The applicant or licensee shall bear the burden of proof in court. (Ord. Nos. 26809; 27201)
(a) A newsrack license expires and becomes invalid on August 1 of each year, unless sooner terminated by the director in accordance with this division or by city council ordinance in accordance with the city charter. A licensee shall apply for renewal of a newsrack license at least 30 days, but not more than 90 days, before expiration of the license. An application for renewal must be made in accordance with the procedures established in Section 43-126.18.
(b) An existing licensee will be able to renew a license for the same newsrack locations until those newsrack locations are reallocated under a five-year lottery conducted under Section 43-126.23(c) or 43-126.29(h)(3), except that failure to timely renew a license in accordance with Subsection (a), or denial or revocation of a license, will result in the location for that newsrack being made available to other publishers.
(c) A licensee who timely applies for renewal of a license in accordance with Subsection (a) is not required to pay the $100 license application fee. (Ord. Nos. 26809; 27201)
(a) Initial allocation. Before June 1, 2009, the director shall allocate locations for freestanding newsracks in accordance with the following procedures:
(1) The director shall determine how many freestanding newsracks may be placed on a blockface in locations complying with this division.
(2) The director shall determine how many freestanding newsracks are being lawfully operated on the blockface. A freestanding newsrack will be considered as being lawfully operated on a particular blockface if it is designated as being located on that blockface in the most recent list of newsrack locations:
(A) provided to the director before May 28, 2008 by a publisher holding a valid newsrack license issued by the city council or a valid temporary newsrack license issued by the director before May 28, 2008; or
(B) provided to the director by a publisher within 10 calendar days after the director’s issuance of a temporary newsrack license occurring on or after May 28, 2008.
(3) If the number of lawfully-operated freestanding newsracks on the blockface exceeds the number of newsrack spaces allowed on the blockface under this division, the director shall conduct a lottery to determine the allocation of the newsrack spaces.
(4) The director shall place in a pool the names of all publications dispensed in the freestanding newsracks that are being lawfully operated on the blockface. If the same publication is being dispensed by more than one newsrack on the blockface, its name will be placed in the pool twice. The director shall draw from the pool a number of publication names equal to the number of newsrack spaces allowed under this division on that blockface. The director shall assign numbers to the names, beginning with the Number 1 for the first-drawn name and continuing in a sequential manner. The publications whose names are drawn will be allocated a newsrack space on the blockface as long as compliance with this division is maintained. The publishers of the publications allocated a newsrack space through the lottery process will select locations on the blockface in the order in which their publication names were drawn, with Number 1 having first choice. The director shall draw the remaining publication names from the pool and assign them a number, beginning with the number following the one assigned to the last publication allocated a newsrack space on the blockface. These remaining publications will be allocated a newsrack space on the blockface (in the order drawn) only if any of the other publications originally allocated a newsrack space on the blockface do not want the space or do not qualify for the space. The publisher of any publication that is not allocated a newsrack space on the blockface shall remove the newsrack containing that publication within 10 days after the date the lottery is conducted.
(5) If the number of lawfully-operated freestanding newsracks on the blockface equals the number of newsrack spaces allowed on the blockface under this division, the publications dispensed in those lawfully-operated newsracks will each be allocated a newsrack space on the blockface as long as compliance with this division is maintained. The publishers of the publications allocated newsrack spaces under this paragraph shall select locations on the blockface in the order in which their completed license applications are received by the director in compliance with this division, with the first received having first choice.
(6) If the number of lawfully-operated freestanding newsracks on the blockface is less than the number of newsrack spaces allowed on the blockface under this division, the publications dispensed in those lawfully-operated newsracks will each be allocated a newsrack space on the blockface as long as compliance with this division is maintained. The publishers of the existing publications allocated newsrack spaces under this paragraph shall select locations on the blockface in the order in which their completed license applications are received by the director in compliance with this division, with the first received having first choice. The remaining newsrack spaces will be allocated through the lottery process described in Subsection (b) of this section.
(b) Future allocation. After the initial allocation of newsrack locations under Subsection (a), whenever one or more freestanding newsrack spaces become available on a blockface, the director shall allocate the newsrack locations in accordance with the following procedures:
(1) The director shall, by personal service or by regular United States mail, notify all publishers that a lottery will be held to allocate the available freestanding newsrack spaces. The notice must:
(A) identify the number and location (by blockface) of the available newsrack spaces;
(B) state the date, time, and location of the lottery;
(C) state the date and time by which the director must receive all requests to have publications entered in the lottery and the address at which the requests must be received; and
(D) state any other information the director determines necessary to conduct the lottery.
(2) The director shall place in a pool the names of all publications for which requests to participate in the lottery were timely received. If the same publication was requested more than once, its name will be placed in the pool twice. The director shall draw from the pool a number of publication names equal to the number of newsrack spaces available on that blockface. The director shall assign numbers to the names, beginning with the Number 1 for the first-drawn name and continuing in a sequential manner. The publications whose names are drawn will be allocated a newsrack space on the blockface as long as compliance with this division is maintained. The publishers of the publications allocated a newsrack space through the lottery process will select locations on the blockface in the order in which their publication names were drawn, with Number 1 having first choice. The director shall draw the remaining publication names from the pool and assign them a number, beginning with the number following the one assigned to the last publication allocated a newsrack space on the blockface. These remaining publications will be allocated a newsrack space on the blockface (in the order drawn) only if any of the other publications originally allocated a newsrack space on the blockface do not want the space or do not qualify for the space.
(c) Random five-year lottery. Five years after the initial allocation of newsrack spaces on a blockface and every five years thereafter, the director shall reallocate the newsrack spaces in accordance with the lottery procedures established in Subsection (b) of this section. The publisher of any publication that is not allocated a newsrack space on the blockface shall remove the newsrack containing that publication within 10 days after the date the lottery is conducted. (Ord. Nos. 26809; 27201)
Loading...