(A) It shall be unlawful to use any vault, space, room or structure under any sidewalk without having first secured a permit from the city council. Such permits shall be issued by the city superintendent and shall be signed by the mayor with the approval of the city council.
(B) Applications for a permit to use or maintain a vault, space, room or structure under the sidewalk shall be made in writing and shall state thereon specifically the size of the space intended to be used or maintained and the purpose for which it is to be used. No permit shall be transferred excepting in accordance with the provisions of this chapter. Each application shall contain an agreement by the applicant to abide by the regulations contained in this chapter.
(C) Each applicant shall file with the application a bond in the sum of fifty thousand dollars ($50,000.00), with surety approved by the mayor and council to save the city harmless from any liability resulting or caused by such vault, room or structure.
(D) Whenever any premises abutting on any such vault, room or structure for which a permit has been issued shall be conveyed or whenever the interest or lease or right of occupancy of the person holding the permit shall be transferred or conveyed, the grantee or transferee must make application for a transfer of the permit to him or it and must furnish a bond as is required in the preceding subsection. A fee of two dollars ($2.00) shall be required for such transfer, and upon payment of the fee and the full compliance with the contents thereof, a new permit shall be issued.
(E) All openings through the sidewalk into any vault, space, room or structure shall be kept covered and guarded. If the opening is a manhole or trap door, an adequate strong metal cover must be provided and must be equipped with a rough surface so that there will be no danger of any pedestrian slipping on it. If a stairway is provided, the stairway must be properly guarded with a railing at least three feet (3') high.
(F) The annual fee to be paid for such permits shall be twenty dollars ($20.00).
(G) Any person using or maintaining any such vault, space, room or structure prior to the effective date hereof shall comply with this chapter within ten (10) days after the effective date hereof. The city council may direct the city superintendent to close up any vault, space, room or structure for which no permit has been obtained.
(H) No such vault, space, room or structure shall be used for storage of explosives or flammable liquids nor shall a cesspool be located therein.
(I) Such vaults, spaces, rooms or structures shall be firmly constructed so as to support two hundred fifty (250) pounds per square foot uniformly distributed and where such sidewalks are subject to trucking, they shall be capable of safely sustaining a concentrated load of eight thousand (8,000) pounds placed upon an area two and one-half feet (21/2') square so located as to produce maximum stress conditions.
(J) Any permit issued under the provisions of this chapter may be revoked by order of the mayor and council for a violation of any of the provisions of this section. (1977 Code)