To provide for the health, safety and well-being of its citizens, and to ensure the structural integrity of its streets and the appropriate use of the rights of way, the City strives to keep its rights of way in a state of good repair and free from unnecessary encumbrances. Although the general population bears the financial burden for the upkeep of the rights of way, a primary cause for the early and excessive deterioration of its rights of way is frequent excavation.
Right-of-way obstruction is a source of frustration for merchants, business owners and the general population which must avoid these obstructions or change travel or shopping plans because of them and has a detrimental effect on commerce. Persons whose equipment is within the right of way are the primary cause of these frequent obstructions.
The City holds the rights of way within its geographical boundaries as an asset in trust for its citizens. The City and other public entities have invested millions of dollars in public funds to build and maintain the rights of way. It also recognizes that some persons, by placing their equipment in the right of way and charging the citizens of the City for goods and services delivered thereby, are using this property held for the public good. Although such services are often necessary or convenient for the citizens, such persons receive revenue and/or profit through their use of public property.
In response to the foregoing facts, the City hereby enacts this new Chapter of this Code relating to right-of-way permits and administration, together with an ordinance making necessary revisions to other Code provisions. This Chapter imposes reasonable regulations on the placement and maintenance of equipment currently within its rights of way or to be placed therein at some future time. It is intended to complement the regulatory roles of State and Federal agencies. Under this Chapter, persons disturbing and obstructing the rights of way will bear a fair share of the financial responsibility for their integrity. Finally, this Chapter provides for recovery of out-of-pocket and projected costs from persons using the public rights of way. (Ord. 217, 6-22-1998)