(A) (1) The city shall have power to grant or lease or renew any lease, the right to use the streets, highways, alleys, public grounds, or buildings, and to grant franchises, or to enter into contracts for the construction, maintenance and operation of any electric or general railroad, over, along or upon or across the streets, avenues, highways, alleys and public places of the city without statutory limitations as to the duration thereof to any private person, persons, firm or corporation.
(2) No such grant or lease or franchise or renewal thereof shall be transferable except with the approval of the City Commission expressed by ordinance.
(3) A copy of all transfers and mortgages or other documents affecting the title to the use of the grants, renewals, leases or franchises provided herein shall be filed with the City Clerk within ten days after the execution thereof.
(4) No grant, lease or renewal to the right to use the streets, highways, alleys, public grounds or buildings of the city shall in any event be for a longer period of time than 30 years.
(5) Nothing contained in division (A)(2) -(4) above, shall be construed as limiting or applying to the power of the city which is hereby expressly conferred, to grant franchises or to enter into franchise contracts for the construction, maintenance and operation of any general railroad over, along or upon or across the streets, avenues, alleys and public places of the city.
('72 Code, § 12½-1)
(B) (1) The city shall have authority to grant franchises for public utilities, subject to the provisions of division (B)(2) below.
(2) No ordinance granting a franchise for public utilities shall become a law or become effective in any way unless the same shall be passed by a vote of five-sevenths of all members of the Commission.
('72 Code, § 12½-2) (Ord. O-78-69, passed 12-6-78; Am. Ord. O-81-27, passed 5-6-81; Am. Ord. O-97-13, passed 5-7-97; Am. Ord. 0-2000-14, passed 3-22-00)