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No person shall dig, excavate or in any manner disturb any City-owned property (Property), to include City parks, streets, parking areas, alleys, multi-use trails, levees, floodwalls, stormwater retention or detention areas, utilities, or other rights-of-way and appurtenances, except in accordance with the following:
1. Permit Required. No excavation shall be commenced without first obtaining a permit therefor. A written application for such permit shall be filed with the City and shall contain the following:
A. An exact description of the Property, by lot and street number, in front of or along which it is desired to excavate;
B. A statement of the purpose, for whom and by whom the excavation is to be made;
C. The person responsible for the refilling of said excavation and restoration of the Property to preexisting grade and condition; and
D. Dates of commencement of the work and estimated completion.
2. Public Convenience. Property shall be altered in the manner which will cause the least inconvenience to the public and allow the uninterrupted passage of water along and through the Property.
3. Barricades, Fencing and Lighting. Adequate barricades, fencing and warning lights meeting standards specified by the City shall be so placed as to protect the public from hazard. Any costs incurred by the City in providing or maintaining adequate barricades, fencing or warning lights shall be paid to the City by the permit holder/property owner.
4. Bond Required. The applicant shall post with the City a penal bond in the minimum sum of one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) issued by a surety company authorized to issue such bonds in the State. The bond shall guarantee the permittee’s payment for any damage done to the Property, and payment of all costs incurred by the City in the course of administration of this section. In lieu of a surety bond, a cash deposit of one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) may be filed with the City, refundable upon completion of the project and restoration of the Property to the City’s satisfaction.
5. Insurance Required. For the duration of a contract, the applicant must obtain and maintain $500,000.00 public liability and property damage/auto insurance in the minimum amount of $100,000.00 for each occurrence of property damage and $500,000.00 for each occurrence of personal injury or bodily harm.
6. Restoration of Property. Property disturbed in the course of the work shall be restored to the condition of the property prior to the commencement of the work, or in a manner satisfactory to the City, at the expense of the permit holder/property owner.
7. Inspection. All work shall be subject to inspection by the City. Backfill shall not be deemed completed, nor resurfacing of any Property begun, until such backfill is inspected and approved by the City. The permit holder/property owner shall provide the City with notice at least twenty-four (24) hours prior to the time when inspection of backfill is desired.
8. Completion by the City. Should any excavation of any Property be discontinued or left open and unfinished for a period of twenty-four (24) hours after the approved completion date, or in the event the work is improperly done, the City has the right to finish or correct the excavation work and charge any expenses therefor to the permit holder/property owner.
9. Responsibility for Costs. All costs and expenses incident to the excavation shall be borne by the permit holder and/or property owner. The permit holder and owner shall indemnify the City from any loss or damage that may directly or indirectly be occasioned by such excavation.
10. Notification. At least forty-eight (48) hours prior to the commencement of the excavation, excluding Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays, the person performing the excavation shall contact the Statewide Notification Center and provide the center with the information required under Section 480.4 of the Code of Iowa.
11. Permit Issued. Upon approval of the application and filing of bond and insurance certificate, a permit shall be issued. A separate permit shall be required for each excavation.
12. Permit Exemptions. Property owners, in the usual course of maintenance and upkeep of their properties, are exempt from the permit application requirement of this section. Utility companies are exempt from the permit application requirement of this section. They shall, however, comply with all other pertinent provisions, including bonding and insurance, which shall be submitted for approval before any work commences.
(Section 135.09 – Ord. 07-2022 – Nov. 22 Supp.)
The abutting property owner shall maintain all property outside the lot and property lines and inside the curb lines upon public streets and shall keep such area in a safe condition, free from nuisances, obstructions, and hazards. In the absence of a curb, such property shall extend from the property line to that portion of the public street used or improved for vehicular purposes. The abutting property owner shall not be required to remove diseased trees or dead wood on the publicly owned property or right-of-way. Maintenance includes, but is not limited to, timely mowing, trimming trees and shrubs, and picking up litter and debris. The abutting property owner may be liable for damages caused by failure to maintain the publicly owned property or right-of-way.
(Code of Iowa, Sec. 364.12[2c])
If the abutting property owner does not perform an action required under the above section within a reasonable time, the City may perform the required action and assess the cost against the abutting property for collection in the same manner as a property tax.
(Code of Iowa, Sec. 364.12[2e])
It is unlawful for any person to throw, push, or place or cause to be thrown, pushed or placed, any ice or snow from private property, sidewalks, or driveways onto the traveled way of a street or alley so as to obstruct gutters, or impede the passage of vehicles upon the street or alley or to create a hazardous condition therein; except where, in the cleaning of large commercial drives in the business district it is absolutely necessary to move the snow onto the street or alley temporarily, such accumulation shall be removed promptly by the property owner or agent. Arrangements for the prompt removal of such accumulations shall be made prior to moving the snow.
(Code of Iowa, Sec. 364.12[2])
The property owner shall, at the owner’s expense, install any culvert deemed necessary under any driveway or any other access to the owner’s property, and before installing a culvert, permission must first be obtained from the City. In the event repairs are needed at any time with respect to culverts, it shall be the responsibility of the property owner to make such repairs, and, in the event the owner fails to do so, the City shall have the right to make the repairs. If the property owner fails to reimburse the City for the cost of said repairs, the cost shall be certified to the County Treasurer and specially assessed against the property as by law provided.