The Council may by ordinance grant permission to any person, firm or corporation to construct and operate a public utility on, across, under or above any public street or ground within this City. It may prescribe in the ordinance the kind and quality of service or product to be furnished, the rate or rates to be charged therefor, and any other terms conducive to the public interest. Such grant may be amended or renewed in the manner and subject to the provisions established by this Charter for original grants. Such grant, amendment or renewal shall be for such period of time as the Council may determine, and shall not be perpetual or exclusive.
Before the passage of the ordinance making, amending or renewing such grant, and within ninety (90) days after such ordinance is introduced in the Council, the Mayor shall file with the Council a public written report containing recommendations as to such ordinance.
No consent of the owner of property abutting on any public street or ground shall be necessary to the effectiveness of any such grant, amendment, or renewal, unless the construction or operation of the public utility authorized thereby is of such character as to constitute an additional burden upon such public street or ground. All such grants, amendments or renewals shall be made subject to the continuing right of the Council to provide reasonable regulations for the operation of such utilities with reference to such streets and public grounds, including the right to require such reconstruction, relocation or discontinuance of appliances, plant or equipment used in such streets or public grounds as shall, in the opinion of the Council, be necessary in the public interest.
(Effective 1-1-32.)