7-1A-1: FINDINGS, PURPOSE AND INTENT:
To provide for the health, safety and welfare of its citizens, and to ensure the integrity of its streets and the appropriate use of rights of way, the city strives to keep its rights of way in a state of good repair and free from unnecessary encumbrances.
Accordingly, the city hereby enacts this chapter regulating right-of-way permits and administration. This chapter imposes reasonable regulation on the placement and maintenance of facilities and 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 excavating and obstructing the rights of way will bear financial responsibility for their work. Finally, this chapter provides for recovery of out-of-pocket and projected costs from persons using the public rights of way.
This chapter shall be interpreted consistently with 1997 session laws, chapter 123, substantially codified in Minnesota Statutes sections 237.16, 237.162, 237.163, 237.79, 237.81 and 238.086 (the "Act") and the other laws governing applicable rights of the city and users of the right of way. This chapter shall also be interpreted consistent with Minnesota Rules 7819.0050–7819.9950 where possible. To the extent any provision of this chapter cannot be interpreted consistently with the Minnesota Rules, that interpretation most consistent with the act and other applicable statutory and case law is intended. This chapter shall not be interpreted to limit the regulatory and police powers of the city to adopt and enforce general ordinances necessary to protect the health, safety and welfare of the public. (Ord. 813, 4-2-2001)