(a) Certificate of Registration Applications. To obtain a Certificate of Registration to construct, own, or maintain any system within the City, or to obtain a renewal of a Certificate of Registration issued pursuant to this Chapter, an application must be filed with the City on the form adopted by the Public Service Director, which is hereby incorporated by reference. For all applications, the City shall collect an application fee. The application fee shall be equal to all the actual and direct costs incurred by the City that are associated with receiving, reviewing, processing, and granting (or denying) an application. At the time of its decision to either grant or deny an application, the City shall calculate and assess all actual and direct costs involved in receiving, reviewing, processing, and granting (or denying) the application and provide a written invoice to the applicant for the appropriate amount. The City shall require that the applicant remit all application fee amounts invoiced within thirty (30) calendar days of its decision to either grant or deny a Certificate of Registration. Any applicant who fails to timely remit such invoiced application fee amounts shall be subject to the penalties of this Chapter, the imposition of any other legal or equitable remedies available to the City and the immediate revocation of any Certificate of Registration having been issued.
(b) Information Required for Application to Obtain a Certificate of Registration. The applicant shall keep all of the information required in this section current at all times, provided that the applicant or Provider shall notify the City of any changes to the information required by Section 1002.06
(b)(2) within fifteen (15) calendar days following the date on which the applicant or Provider has knowledge of any such change and shall notify the City of any changes to other information required by this section within thirty (30) calendar days following the date on which the applicant or Provider has knowledge of such change. The information provided to the City at the time of application shall include, but not be limited to, the following:
(1) Each applicant's name, legal status (i.e., partnership, corporation, etc.), street address, and e-mail address, if applicable, and telephone and facsimile numbers, and
(2) The name, street address and e-mail address, if applicable, and telephone and facsimile numbers of a system representative. The system representative shall be available at all times. Current information regarding how to contact the system representative in an emergency shall be provided at the time of application and shall be updated as necessary to assure accurate contact information is available to the City at all times.
(3) Certificate of Insurance: A certificate of insurance where required to be provided to meet the requirements of this section shall:
A. Verify that an insurance policy has been issued to the applicant by an insurance company licensed to do business in the State of Ohio;
B. Verify that the applicant is insured on an occurrence basis against claims for personal injury, including death, as well as claims for property damage arising out of the: use and occupancy of the rights-of-way by the applicant, its officers, agents, employees and contractors; and placement and use of facilities in the rights-of-way by the applicant, its officers, agents, employees and contractors, including, but not limited to, protection against liability arising from any and all operations, damage of underground facilities, explosion, environmental release, and collapse of property;
C. Name the City, its elected officials, officers, employees, agents and volunteers as additional insured as to whom the comprehensive general liability and completed operation and products liability insurance required herein are in force and applicable and for whom defense will be provided as to all such coverages;
D. Require that the City be notified thirty (30) calendar days in advance of cancellation of, or coverage changes in, the policy. The liability insurance policies required by this section shall contain the following endorsement: "It is hereby understood and agreed that this policy may not be diminished in value, canceled, nor the intention not to renew be stated, until thirty (30) calendar days after receipt by the City, by registered mail, return receipt requested, of a written notice addressed to the City's Public Service Director of such intent to cancel, diminish, or not to renew." Within thirty (30) calendar days after receipt by the City of said notice, and in no event later than five (5) calendar days prior to said cancellation, the Provider (or applicant) shall obtain and furnish to the Public Service Director a certificate of insurance evidencing replacement insurance policies.
(4) Satisfy the requirements for comprehensive liability coverage, automobile liability coverage and umbrella coverage as follows:
A. Comprehensive general liability insurance: comprehensive general liability insurance to cover liability, bodily injury, and property damage must be maintained. Coverage must be written on an occurrence basis, with the following minimum limits of liability and provisions, or their equivalent:
(i) Bodily injury each occurrence: One Million Dollars ($1,000,000).
Annual aggregate: Three Million Dollars ($3,000,000).
(ii) Property damage each occurrence: One Million Dollars ($1,000,000).
Annual aggregate: Three Million Dollars ($3,000,000).
(iii) Personal injury annual aggregate: Three Million Dollars ($3,000,000).
B. Completed operations and products liability shall be maintained for six (6) months after the termination of a Certificate of Registration.
C. Property damage liability insurance shall include coverage for the following hazards: E - explosion, C - collapse, U - underground.
(5) Comprehensive Auto Liability Insurance: Comprehensive auto liability insurance to cover owned, hired, and non-owned vehicles must be maintained. Applicant may maintain comprehensive auto liability insurance as part of applicant's comprehensive general liability insurance; however, said insurance is subject to approval by the Public Service Director. Coverage must be written on an occurrence basis, with the following limits of liability and provisions, or their equivalent:
A. Bodily injury each occurrence: One Million Dollars ($1,000,000.00)
Annual aggregate: Three Million Dollars ($3,000,000.00)
B. Property damage each occurrence: One Million Dollars ($1,000,000.00)
Annual aggregate: Three Million Dollars ($3,000,000.00)
(6) Additional Insurance: The City reserves the right to require any other insurance coverage it deems necessary after review of any proposal submitted by applicant.
(7) Self-insurance: Those applicants maintaining a book value in excess of Fifty Million Dollars ($50,000,000.00) may submit a statement requesting to self-insure. If approval to self-insure is granted, applicant shall assure the City that such self-insurance shall provide the City with no less than would have been afforded to the City by a third-party insurer providing applicant with the types and amounts of coverage detailed in this section. This statement shall include the following:
A. Audited financial statements for the previous year;
B. A description of the applicant's self-insurance program; and
C. A listing of any and all actions against or claims made against applicant for amounts over One Million Dollars ($1,000,000.00) or proof of available excess umbrella liability coverage to satisfy all total current claim amounts above Fifty Million Dollars ($50,000,000.00).
D. The Public Service Director may modify or waive these requirements if they are not necessary in determining the sufficiency of the self-insurance. The Public Service Director may request applicable and pertinent additional information if it is necessary in determining the sufficiency of the self-insurance.
(8) The City's examination of, or failure to request or demand, any evidence of insurance in accordance with this Chapter, shall not constitute a waiver of any requirement of this section and the existence of any insurance shall not limit applicant's obligations under this Chapter.
(9) Documentation that applicant or Provider maintains standard workers' compensation coverage as required by law. Similarly, Provider shall require any subcontractor to provide workers' compensation coverage in amounts required by law for all of the subcontractor's employees.
(10) If the person is a corporation, a copy of the certificate of incorporation (or its legal equivalent), as recorded and certified to by the secretary of state (or legal equivalent) in the state or country in which incorporated.
(11) A copy of the person's certificate of authority from the PUCO and/or the FCC and/or FERC, if the person is lawfully required to have or actually does possess such certificate from said Commission(s) and any other approvals, permits, or agreements as set out in Section 1002.05.
(12) Upon request of the City, a narrative (or if applicable PUCO/FCC/FERC application information) describing applicant's proposed activities in the City including credible information detailing applicant's financial, managerial, and technical ability to fulfill applicant's obligations under this Chapter and carry on applicant's proposed activities.
(c) Criteria For Issuance of a Certificate of Registration. In deciding whether to issue a Certificate of Registration, the City shall consider:
(1) Whether the issuing of the Certificate of Registration will contribute to the health, safety, and welfare of the City and its citizens.
(2) Whether issuing of the Certificate of Registration will be consistent with this Chapter;
(3) Whether applicant has submitted a complete application and has secured all certificates and other authorizations required by law in order to construct and operate a system in the manner proposed by the applicant;
(4) Whether the applicant is delinquent on any taxes or other obligations owed to the City, County, and/or state;
(5) Unless the applicant is otherwise exempted from such consideration by ORC 4939.03(c)(5), whether the applicant has the requisite financial, managerial, and technical ability to fulfill all its obligations under this Chapter and the issuance of a Certificate of Registration; and
(6) Any other applicable law.
(d) Grant or Denial of an Application for a Certificate of Registration.
(1) The City, not later than sixty (60) calendar days after the date of filing by an applicant of a completed application, shall grant or deny the application.
(2) If an application for a Certificate of Registration is denied, the City shall provide to the applicant, in writing, the reasons for denying the application and such other information as the applicant may reasonably request to obtain consent.
(e) Obligations of a Provider Upon Receipt of a Certificate of Registration. In addition to the other requirements set forth herein, and in the Rules and Regulations, each Provider shall:
(1) Use its best efforts to cooperate with other Providers and users of the rights-of-way and the City for the best, most efficient, and least obtrusive use of rights-of-way, consistent with safety, and to minimize traffic and other disruptions including street cuts; and
(2) When possible, participate in joint planning, construction and advance notification of rights-of-way work, as may be required by the City; and
(3) Upon reasonable written notice, and at the discretion of the Public Service Director, promptly remove or rearrange facilities as necessary for public safety; and
(4) Perform all work, construction, maintenance or removal of facilities within the rights-of-way, in accordance with good engineering, construction and arboricultural practice (if applicable), including any appropriate state building codes, safety codes and laws and use best efforts to repair and replace any street, curb or other portion of the rights-of-way, or facilities located therein, to a condition to be determined by the Public Service Director to be adequate under current standards and not less than materially equivalent to its condition prior to such work and to do so in a manner which minimizes any inconvenience to the public, the City and other Providers, all in accordance with all applicable provisions of this Chapter, any Rules and Regulations the City may adopt, and the Code; and
(5) Construct, install, operate, and maintain its facilities and system in a manner consistent with all applicable laws, ordinances, construction standards and governmental requirements including, but not limited to, the National Electric Safety Code, National Electric Code, and applicable FCC, FERC, or other federal, state and/or local regulations; and
(6) Be on notice that removal of trees, or the use of vegetation management programs within the rights-of-way of the City require prior written approval by the Public Service Director. Any such activities, unless an emergency, shall only be performed following the prior written approval of the Public Service Director and must be performed in accordance with standard horticultural and arboreal practices as promulgated by entities such as the National Arbor Day Foundation, the International Society of Arboriculture, and the tree care industry, all as may be required by the City. Pruning shall at a minimum meet or exceed the requirements of the most current version of the American National Standards Institute ANSI A300 Standard. Any additionally required horticultural and arboreal practices and guidelines, including required special consideration/ protection of historical trees, shall be described in the Rules and Regulations adopted by pursuant to Section 1002.09(e) of this Chapter. Emergency removal of trees or the use of vegetation management programs within the rights-of-way of the City may be performed in rights-of-way as described herein and in accordance with the Rules and Regulations, but the Public Service Director shall be provided notice of such emergency work being performed within two (2) business days of the start of the work. Any non-emergency tree removal or the use of vegetation management programs within the rights-of-way that is performed without the Public Service Director's written permission shall subject a person to the penalties of Section 1002.99 of this Chapter and may further require that the tree or vegetation be replaced, at the sole expense of the responsible person, with a healthy tree or vegetation of like kind and quality; and
(7) Warrant that all worker facilities, conditions, and procedures that are used during construction, installation, operation and maintenance of the Provider's facilities within the rights-of-way shall comply with all applicable standards of the Federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration; and
(8) Use its best efforts to cooperate with the City in any emergencies involving the rights-of-way; and
(9) Provider shall, weather permitting, remove all graffiti within twenty-one (21) calendar days of notice. Provider shall use all reasonable efforts to remove any and all graffiti on any of the Provider's facilities located within the City rights-of-way. Should the Provider fail to do so, the City may take whatever action is necessary to remove the graffiti and bill the Provider for the cost thereof; and
(10) Providers shall use all reasonable efforts to field identify their facilities in the rights-of-way whenever Providers are notified by the City that the City has determined that such identification is reasonably necessary in order for the City to begin planning for the construction, paving, maintenance, repairing, relocating or in any way altering any street or area in the rights-of-way as defined in this Chapter. The City shall notify the Providers of the City's date to begin the process at least thirty (30) calendar days prior to the commencement of said activities. In field identifying facilities:
A. Providers shall identify all facilities that are within the affected rights-of-way using customary industry standards and distinct identification; and
B. Facilities will be so marked as to identify the Provider responsible for said facilities; and
C. Should any such marking interfere with the facilities function, create a safety problem or violate any safety code, alternative methods of marking the facilities may be approved by the Public Service Director; and
D. All marking should be clearly readable from the ground and include Provider's name, logo and identification numbering or tracking information. No advertising will be permitted.
(11) A Provider that is replacing an existing utility pole shall be responsible to coordinate with all other Providers to ensure the orderly transfer of all lines or cables to the replacement utility pole, the removal of the existing utility pole, and the restoration of the rights-of-way within thirty (30) calendar days, weather permitting, after the replacement utility pole is installed. Upon request, the Public Service Director may grant the Provider additional time for good cause.
(f) Establishment of Utility Corridors.
(1) The Public Service Director may assign specific corridors within the rights-of-way, or any particular segment thereof as may be necessary, for each type of facilities that are, or that the Public Service Director expects may someday be, located within the rights-of-way.
(2) Any Provider whose facilities are in the rights-of-way and are in a position at variance with utility corridors established by the Public Service Director shall at the time of the next construction of the area, excluding normal maintenance activities, move such facilities to their assigned position within the rights-of-way. Existing underground facilities located within a designated utility corridor shall not be required to relocate into adjacent or alternative portions of the rights-of-way unless they are in conflict with an actual or proposed public improvement project. The above requirements may be waived by the Public Service Director for good cause shown including, but not limited to, consideration of such factors as the remaining economic life of the facilities; public safety; customer service needs; laws precluding such undergrounding of facilities; and hardship to the Provider. If a Provider is denied a requested waiver from the above requirements by the Public Service Director, the Provider may appeal the denial.
(3) The Public Service Director shall make every good faith attempt to accommodate all existing and potential users of the rights-of-way as set forth in this Chapter.
(4) Providers may enter into written agreements to use existing poles and conduits with the owners of same and shall use best efforts to install their facilities within the rights-of-way.
(5) No facility placed in any rights-of-way shall be placed in such a manner that interferes with normal travel on such rights-of-way.
(6) Unless otherwise stated in a Certificate of Registration, Permit, or Section 1002.06(f)(6)C., all facilities within the rights-of-way shall be constructed and located in accordance with the Code and with the following provision:
A. Whenever all existing facilities that have been traditionally located overhead are located underground in a certain area within the City, a Provider who desires to place its facilities in the same area must also locate its facilities underground.
B. Whenever a Provider is required to locate or relocate facilities underground within a certain area of the City, every Provider with facilities within the same area of the City shall concurrently relocate their facilities underground.
C. The above requirements may be waived by the City for good cause shown including, but not limited to, consideration of such factors as the remaining economic life of the facilities; public safety; customer service needs; laws precluding such undergrounding of the facilities; and hardship to the Provider. If a Provider is denied a requested waiver from the above requirements by the Public Service Director, the Provider may appeal the denial.
(g) Historic Districts.
(1) Unless otherwise required by law, the City shall have the authority to prohibit the use or occupation of the right-of-way by a Provider if the right-of-way for which the Provider seeks use and occupancy lies within a Historic District.
(2) As a condition for approval for the collocation or installation of small cell facilities and/or wireless support structures in an area designated as a Historic District, the City may:
A. Require reasonable, technically feasible, and nondiscriminatory design or concealment measures for the small cell facilities and wireless support structures.
B. Request that a Provider comply with the design and aesthetic standards of the Historic District or a residential district, as provided for in the City's Design Guidelines.
C. Request that a Provider explore the feasibility of using certain camouflage measures to improve the aesthetics of the small cell facilities and wireless support structures to minimize the impact to the area aesthetics.
(3) This section may not be construed to limit the City's authority to enforce local codes, administrative rules, or any rules or regulations adopted or authorized by ordinance that are applicable to a historic area designated by the state or City and historic preservation zoning regulations consistent with the preservation of local zoning authority under 47 USC 332(c)(7), the requirements for facility modifications under 47 USC 1455(a), or the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (54 USC 300101 et seq.), and the regulations adopted to implement those laws.
(Ord. 2022-46. Adopted 12/08/22; Ord. 2023-35. Adopted 12/14/23; Em. Ord. 2024-01. Adopted 02/08/24; Ord. 2024-02. Adopted 02/22/24)