The primary objective of this chapter is to protect the public's interest in its rights-of-way. The Otsego City Council finds that regulation, maintenance and administration of public rights-of- way, as set forth in this chapter, is in the best interests of the health, safety and welfare of Otsego's citizens. Specifically, the Council makes the following findings:
A. Demands for usable space over, under, and across rights-of-way threaten to exceed the already limited space practically available in existing public rights-of-way.
B. Because systems are typically installed in shallow trenches, the streets are restored in narrow "ribbons" which deteriorate faster than the surrounding street surface and shorten the original design life, thereby increasing costs to taxpayers.
C. Lengthy and uncoordinated construction, installation, repair or relocation of equipment or facilities within the public rights-of-way add to existing hazards and inconvenience for motorists and pedestrians.
D. Telecommunication companies and users are not paying their fair share of the costs to acquire, develop, and maintain public rights-of-way.
E. Efficient management and regulation of public rights-of-way can ensure economical access to City owned water, storm drain and sanitary sewer systems, as well as economical access for all other current and future users of public rights-of-way.
F. This chapter seeks, among other things, to accomplish the following objectives:
1. Eliminate hidden subsidization of private companies by taxpayers.
2. Protect the public health, safety, welfare and convenience.
3. Ensure the structural integrity and quality of streets.
4. Minimize detours and bottlenecks on public streets due to lengthy and uncoordinated construction activity within public rights-of-way.
5. Make efficient use of the limited space below the public right-of-way to ensure both access by private utility and communications companies, as well as economical access to City owned water, storm drain, and sanitary sewer systems. (Prior Code § 6-6-1)