(A) The Council may grant franchises by ordinance.
(B) Franchise rights shall always be subject to the superior right of the public to the use of streets and public places.
(C) All persons desiring to make any burdensome use of the streets or public places, inconsistent with the public’s right in such places or desiring the privilege of placing in, over, upon or under any street or public place any permanent or semi-permanent fixtures for the purpose of constructing or operating railways, telegraphing or transmitting electricity, or transporting by pneumatic tubes, or for furnishing to the city or its inhabitants or any portion thereof, transportation facilities, water, light, heat, power, gas or any other such utility, or for any other purpose, shall be required to obtain a franchise before proceeding to make the use of the streets or public places or before proceeding to the place the fixtures in those places.
(Prior Code, § 2.72)