The Council may grant permission to any individual, company, or corporation to construct and operate a public utility in the streets and public grounds of the City, subject to the provisions of statute requiring consents of abutting owners, and subject also to the provisions of this Charter. The ordinance shall prescribe the kind and quality of service or product to be furnished, the rate or rates to be charged therefor, the manner in which the streets and public grounds shall be used and occupied, and any other terms and conditions conducive to the public interest.
At any time prior to the termination thereof any previous grant of a franchise for the construction or operation of a public utility, may be renewed by ordinance to the original grantee or to the assignee in possession thereof, or to such person or corporation as may be designated in writing to the Mayor of the City by such grantee or assignee, upon any terms conducive to the public interest; provided said utility at the time of said renewal is still being operated; and provided further that said renewal shall not be effective until approved or granted by a majority vote of the electors in accordance with the provisions of this Charter.
If the utility whose franchise is renewed, is a street railway, and if during one year prior to said renewal, a street railway has been operated upon such streets or parts thereof as will be occupied under such renewal, it shall not be necessary to obtain the consent of the owners of property abutting thereon.
No right to construct, maintain or operate any public utility in the City of Toledo shall be exclusive, nor shall it be granted for a longer period than twenty-five (25) years; provided, however, franchises for the use of the streets for public transportation purposes may provide for the regulation or prevention of competition in parts of the City defined and limited by such franchise.
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