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A person may not circumvent payment of access line fees or evade payment of such fees by bartering, transfer of rights or by any other means that result in undercounting a provider’s number of lines. Capacity or services may be bartered if the imputed lines are reported in accordance with § 52.11 of this chapter.
(1998 Code, § 122-186) (Ord. 99-15, passed 4-7-1999)
(A) A provider is subject to the reasonable regulation of the city to manage its public rights-of-way pursuant to the city’s rights as a custodian of public property under state and federal laws. A provider is subject to city ordinances and requirements and federal and state laws and regulations in connection with the construction, expansion, reconstruction, maintenance or repair of facilities in the public rights-of-way.
(B) At the city’s request, a provider shall furnish the city accurate and complete information relating to the construction, reconstruction, removal, maintenance, operation and repair of facilities performed by the provider in the public rights-of-way.
(C) The construction, expansion, reconstruction, excavation, use, maintenance and operation of a provider’s facilities within the public rights-of-way are subject to applicable city requirements.
(1) A provider may be required to place certain facilities within the public rights-of-way underground according to applicable city requirements absent a compelling demonstration by the provider that, in any specific instance, this requirement is not reasonable or feasible nor is it equally applicable to other similar users of the public rights-of-way.
(2) A provider shall perform operations, excavations and other construction in the public rights-of-way in accordance with all applicable city requirements, including the obligation to use trenchless technology whenever commercially economical and practical and consistent with obligations on other similar users of the public right-of-way. The city shall waive the requirement of trenchless technology if it determines that the field conditions warrant the waiver, based upon information provided to the city by the provider. All excavations and other construction in the public rights-of-way shall be conducted so as to minimize interference with the use of public and private property. A provider shall follow all reasonable construction directions given by the city in order to minimize any such interference.
(3) A provider must obtain a permit prior to any excavation, construction, installation, expansion, repair, removal, relocation or maintenance of the provider’s facilities, as reasonably required by applicable city codes. Once a permit is issued, the provider shall give to the city a minimum of 48 hours’ notice (which could be at the time of the issuance of the permit) prior to undertaking any of the above listed activities on its network in, on or under the public rights-of-way. The failure of the provider to request and obtain a permit from the city prior to performing any of the above listed activities in, on or over any public right-of-way, except in an emergency as provided for in division (C)(10) below, will subject the provider to a stop-work order from the city and enforcement action pursuant to this code. If the provider fails to act upon any permit within 90 calendar days of issuance, the permit shall become invalid and the provider will be required to obtain another permit.
(4) When a provider completes construction, expansion, reconstruction, removal, excavation or other work, the provider shall promptly restore the public rights-of-way in accordance with applicable city requirements. A provider shall replace and properly relay and repair the surface, base, irrigation system and landscape treatment of any public rights-of-way that may be excavated or damaged by reason of the erection, construction, maintenance or repair of the provider’s facilities within 30 calendar days after completion of the work in accordance with existing standards of the city in effect at the time of the work.
(5) Upon failure of a provider to perform any such repair or replacement work, and five days after written notice has been given by the city to the provider, the city may repair such portion of the public rights-of-way as may have been disturbed by the provider, its contractors or agents. Upon receipt of a invoice from the city, the provider will reimburse the city for the costs so incurred within 30 calendar days from the date of the city invoice.
(6) Should the city reasonably determine, within two years from the date of the completion of the repair work, that the surface, base, irrigation system or landscape treatment requires additional restoration work to meet the standards of the city which existed at completion of the restoration work, a provider shall perform such additional restoration work to the satisfaction of the city, subject to all city remedies as provided herein.
(7) Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the city determines that the failure of a provider to properly repair or restore the public rights-of-way constitutes a safety hazard to the public and there is not adequate time to notify the provider due to the nature of the safety hazard, as reasonably determined by the city, the city may undertake emergency repairs and restoration efforts. A provider shall promptly reimburse the city for all costs incurred by the city within 30 calendar days from the date of the city invoice.
(8) A provider shall furnish the city with construction plans and maps showing the location and proposed routing of new construction or reconstruction at least 15 days (subject to divisions (C)(1) and (D) below), before beginning construction or reconstruction that involves an alteration to the surface or subsurface of the public rights-of-way. A provider may not begin construction until the location of new facilities and proposed routing of the new construction or reconstruction and all required plans and drawings have been approved in writing by the city, which approval will not be unreasonably withheld, taking due consideration of the surrounding area and alternative locations for the facilities and routing.
(9) If the Public Works Director or his or her designee declares an emergency with regard to the health and safety of the citizens and requests by written notice the removal or abatement of facilities, a provider shall remove or abate the provider’s facilities by the deadline provided in the Public Works Director or his or her designee’s request. The provider and the city shall cooperate to the extent possible to assure continuity of service. If the provider, after notice, fails or refuses to act, the city may remove or abate the facility, at the sole cost and expense of the provider, without paying compensation to the provider and without the city incurring liability for damages.
(10) Except in the case of customer service interruptions and imminent harm to property or person (“emergency conditions”), a provider may not excavate the pavement of a street or public rights-of-way without first complying with city requirements. The Public Works Director or his or her designee or designee shall be notified immediately regarding work performed under such emergency conditions, and the provider shall comply with the requirements of city standards for the restoration of the public rights-of-way.
(11) Within 60 days of completion of each new permitted section of a provider’s facilities, the provider shall supply the city with a complete set of “as built” drawings for the segment in a format used in the ordinary course of the provider’s business and as reasonably prescribed by the city, and as allowed by law.
(12) The city may require reasonable bonding requirements of a provider, as are required of all other entities that place facilities in the public rights-of-way.
(D) In determining whether any requirement under this section is unreasonable or unfeasible, the Public Works Director or his or her designee or his or her designee shall consider, among other things, whether the requirement would subject the provider or providers to an unreasonable increase in risk of service interruption, or to an unreasonable increase in liability for accidents, or to an unreasonable delay in construction or in availability of its services, or to any other unreasonable technical or economic burden.
(1998 Code, § 122-187) (Ord. 99-15, passed 4-7-1999)
(A) In the exercise of governmental functions, the city has first priority over all other uses of the public rights-of-way. The city reserves the right to lay sewer, gas, water and other pipe lines or cables and conduits, and to do underground and overhead work, and attachments, restructuring or changes in aerial facilities in, across, along, over or under a public street, alley or public rights-of-way occupied by a provider, and to change the curb, sidewalks or the grade of streets
(B) The city shall assign the location in or over the public rights-of-way among competing users of the public rights-of-way with due consideration to the public health and safety considerations of each user type, and to the extent there is limited space available for additional users, may limit new users, as allowed under state or federal law.
(C) If, during the term of a municipal consent, the city authorizes abutting landowners to occupy space under the surface of any public street, alley or public rights-of-way, the grant to an abutting landowner shall be subject to the rights of the provider. If the city closes or abandons a public right-of-way that contains a portion of a provider’s facilities, the city shall close or abandon such public right-of-way subject to the rights conveyed in the municipal consent.
(D) (1) If the city gives written notice, a provider shall, at its own expense, temporarily or permanently, remove, relocate, change or alter the position of provider’s facilities that are in the public rights-of-way within 120 days, except in circumstances that require additional time as reasonably determined by the city based upon information provided by the provider for projects expected to take longer than 120 days to remove, change or relocate, the city will confer with provider before determining the alterations to be required and the timing thereof. The city shall give notice whenever the city has determined that removal, relocation, change or alteration is reasonably necessary for the construction, operation, repair, maintenance or installation of a city or other governmental public improvement in the public rights-of-way. This section shall not be construed to prevent a provider’s recovery of the cost of relocation or removal from private third parties who initiate the request for relocation or removal, nor shall it be required if improvements are solely for beautification purposes without prior joint deliberation and agreement with provider.
(2) If the provider fails to relocate facilities in the time allowed by the city in this section, the provider may be subject to liability to the city for such delay and as set forth in the city codes or ordinance, now or hereafter enacted.
(3) Notwithstanding anything in this division (D), the Public Works Director or his or her designee and a provider may agree in writing to different time frames than those provided above if circumstances reasonably warrant such a change.
(E) During the term of its municipal consent, a provider may trim trees in or over the public rights-of-way for the safe and reliable operation, use and maintenance of its network. All tree trimming shall be performed in accordance with standards promulgated by the city. Should the provider, its contractor or agent, fail to remove such trimmings within 24 hours, the city may remove the trimmings or have them removed, and upon receipt of a bill from the city, the provider shall promptly reimburse the city for all costs incurred within 30 working days.
(F) Providers shall temporarily remove, raise or lower its aerial facilities to permit the moving of houses or other bulky structures, if the city gives written notice of no less than three business days. The expense of these temporary rearrangements shall be paid by the party or parties requesting and benefitting from the temporary rearrangements. The provider may require prepayment or prior posting of a bond from the party requesting temporary move.
(1998 Code, § 122-188) (Ord. 99-15, passed 4-7-1999)
(A) A provider shall obtain and maintain insurance in the amounts reasonably prescribed by the city with an insurance company licensed to do business in the state acceptable to the city throughout the term of a municipal consent conveyed under this chapter. A provider shall furnish the city with proof of insurance at the time of filing the acceptance of a municipal consent. The city reserves the right to review the insurance requirements during the effective period of a municipal consent, and to reasonably adjust insurance coverage and limits when the Public Works Director or his or her designee determines that changes in statutory law, court decisions or the claims history of the industry or the provider require adjustment of the coverage. For purposes of this section, the city will accept certificates of self-insurance issued by the state or letters written by the provider in those instances where the state does not issue such letters, which provide the same coverage as required herein. However, for the city to accept such letters the provider must demonstrate by written information that it has adequate financial resources to be a self-insured entity as reasonably determined by the city, based on financial information requested by and furnished to the city. The city’s current insurance requirements are described in Exhibit A, kept on file in the office of the City Clerk.
(B) The provider shall furnish, at no cost to the city, copies of certificates of insurance evidencing the coverage required by this section to the city.
(C) An insurance certificate shall contain the following required provisions:
(1) Name the city of and its officers, employees, board members and elected representatives as additional insureds for all applicable coverage;
(2) Provide for 30-days’ notice to the city for cancellation, non-renewal or material change;
(3) Provide that notice of claims shall be provided to the Public Works Director or his or her designee by certified mail; and
(4) Provide that the terms of the municipal consent which impose obligations on the provider concerning liability, duty and standard of care, including the indemnity section, are included in the policy and that the risks are insured within the policy terms and conditions.
(D) The provider shall file and maintain proof of insurance with the Public Works Director or his or her designee during the term of a municipal consent or an extension or renewal. An insurance certificate obtained in compliance with this section is subject to city approval. The city may require the certificate to be changed to reflect changing liability limits. A provider shall immediately advise the City Attorney of actual or potential litigation that may develop may affect an existing carrier’s obligation to defend and indemnify.
(E) An insurer has no right of recovery against the city. The required insurance policies shall protect the provider and the city. The insurance shall be primary coverage for losses covered by the policies.
(F) The policy clause “other insurance” shall not apply to the city if the city is an insured under the policy.
(G) The provider shall pay premiums and assessments. A company which issues an insurance policy has no recourse against the city for payment of a premium or assessment. Insurance policies obtained by a provider must provide that the issuing company waives all right of recovery, by way of subrogation, against the city in connection with damage covered by the policy.
(1998 Code, § 122-189) (Ord. 99-15, passed 4-7-1999)
(A) Each municipal consent granted under this chapter shall contain provisions whereby the provider agrees to promptly defend, indemnify and hold the city harmless from and against all damages, costs, losses or expenses:
(1) For the repair, replacement or restoration of city’s property, equipment, materials, structures and facilities which are damaged, destroyed or found to be defective solely as a result of the provider’s acts or omissions; and
(2) From and against any and all claims, demands, suits, causes of action and judgments for:
(a) Damage to or loss of the property of any person (including, but not limited to, the provider, its agents, officers, employees and subcontractors, city’s agents, officers and employees, and third parties); and/or
(b) Death, bodily injury, illness, disease, loss of services, or loss of income or wages to any person (including, but not limited to, the agents, officers and employees of the provider, provider’s subcontractors and city, and third parties), arising out of, incident to, concerning or resulting from the negligent or willful act(s) or omissions of the provider, its agents, employees and/or subcontractors, in the performance of activities pursuant to such municipal consent.
(B) No municipal consent indemnity provision shall apply to any liability resulting from the negligence of the city, its officers, employees, agents, contractors or subcontractors.
(C) The provisions of the required indemnity provision set forth in an individual municipal consent shall provide that:
(1) It is solely for the benefit of the parties to the municipal consent and is not intended to create or grant any rights, contractual or otherwise, to any other person or entity;
(2) To the extent permitted by law, any payments made to, or on behalf of the city under the provisions of this section are subject to the rights granted to providers under Tex. Utilities Code §§ 54.204 through 54.206; and
(3) Subject to the continued applicability of the provisions of Tex. Utilities Code §§ 54.204 through 54.206, as set forth in division (C)(2) above, the provisions of the indemnity shall survive the expiration of the municipal consent.
(D) The city shall advise the provider as soon as practicable, in writing, of actual or potential litigation that may give rise to any provider’s obligation to defend and indemnify under this section. Failure to comply with this notice requirement shall not be deemed a waiver by the city to require such indemnification.
(1998 Code, § 122-190) (Ord. 99-15, passed 4-7-1999)
Within 30 days following the date of the passage of any action affecting the annexation of any property to or the disannexation of any property from the city’s corporate boundaries, the city agrees to furnish provider written notice of the action and an accurate map of the city’s corporate boundaries showing street names and number details. For the purpose of compensating the city under this chapter, a provider shall start including or excluding access lines within the affected area in the provider’s count of access lines on the effective date designated by the State Comptroller of Public Accounts, for the imposition of state local sales and use taxes, but in no case less than 30 days from the date the provider is notified by the city of the annexation or disannexation.
(1998 Code, § 122-192) (Ord. 99-15, passed 4-7-1999)
The provisions of this chapter are severable. However, in the event this chapter or any tariff that authorizes the provider to recover the fee(s) provided for this chapter or any procedure provided in this chapter or any compensation due the city under this chapter becomes unlawful, or is declared or determined by a judicial, administrative or legislative authority exercising its jurisdiction to be excessive, unrecoverable, unenforceable, void, illegal or otherwise inapplicable, in whole or in part, or is exchanged for another means of compensation under higher authority, the provider and city shall meet and negotiate a new agreement that is in compliance with the authority’s decision or enactment. Unless explicitly prohibited, the new agreement shall provide the city with a level of compensation comparable to that set forth in this chapter as long as the agreed-to compensation is recoverable by the provider in a manner permitted by law for the unexpired portion of the term of this chapter.
(1998 Code, § 122-193) (Ord. 99-15, passed 4-7-1999)
This chapter shall be construed in accordance with the city code(s) in effect on the date of passage of this chapter to the extent that such code(s) are not in conflict with or in violation of the Constitution and laws of the United States or the state, subject to the city’s ongoing authority to adopt reasonable regulations to manage its public rights-of-way, pursuant to §§ 52.17 and 52.18 of this chapter or as otherwise provided by law. Municipal consents entered into pursuant to this chapter are performable in the county.
(1998 Code, § 122-194) (Ord. 99-15, passed 4-7-1999)
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