The council is empowered to grant by ordinance a franchise to any person, firm or corporation, whether operating under an existing franchise or not, to furnish the city and its inhabitants with transportation, communication, terminal facilities, water, light, heat, power, refrigeration, storage or any other public utility or service, or to use the public streets, ways, alleys and places, as the same may now or may hereafter exist, in connection therewith. (Ord. 2000-017 § 2(j) (Exh. A))