HomeMy WebLinkAbout707 Right-of-Way Mangement
SECTION 707
RIGHT-OF-WAY MANAGEMENT
SUBSECTIONS:
707.100: TITLE; PURPOSE
707.100: ELECTION TO MANAGE THE RIGHTS-OF-WAY
707.200: ADMINISTRATION
707.300: DEFINITIONS
707.400: APPLICATION AND SCOPE
707.500: RIGHT-OF-WAY VACATION
707.600: ABANDONED FACILITIES
707.700: RIGHT-OF-WAY PERMITS
707.800 REGISTRATION OF TELECOMMUNICATION USERS
707.900: SITING OF NEW STRUCTURES
707.100 ELECTION TO MANAGE THE RIGHTS-OF-WAY: Pursuant to the authority
granted to the City under state and federal statutory, administ rative, and common law,
including but not limited to Minn. Stat. § 237.163, subd. 2(b), the City hereby elects to
manage rights-of-way within its jurisdiction. This Section shall be interpreted
consistently with Minnesota Statutes Chapter 237, Minnesota Rules Chapter 7819, and
other laws governing applicable rights of the City and users of the right -of-way. This
Section shall not be interpreted to limit the regulatory and police powers of the City to
adopt and enforce general ordinances necessary to protect the health, safety and welfare
of the public.
707.200 ADMINISTRATION: The Director is the principal City official responsible for the
administration of the right-of-way, right-of-way permits, and other ordinances related
thereto. The Director may delegate any or all of the duties hereunder.
707.300 DEFINITIONS: The following words, terms and phrases, as used herein, have the
following meanings unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
Applicant: Any person applying for a right-of-way permit or registration under this
Section.
Director: The City’s Public Works Director or his or her designee.
Emergency: A condition that poses a clear and immediate danger to life or health; may
result in a significant loss of property; or requires immediate repair or replacement in
order to restore service.
Excavate: To dig into or in any way remove, physically disturb, or penetrate any part
of a right-of-way.
Facility: A tangible asset for use in connection with the storage or conveyance of:
water; sewage; lighting; electronic, telephone or telegraphic communications; fiber
optics; cable television; electric energy; oil; natural gas; or hazardous liquids. Facility
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includes, but is not limited to, pipes, sewers, conduits, cables, valves, lines, wires,
manholes, and attachments. Facility includes a telecommunications facility.
Obstruct: To place any tangible object upon a right-of-way so as to hinder free and
open passage over that or any part of the right-of-way.
Permit Holder: Any person to whom a right-of-way permit has been issued by the
City.
Registrant: Any person for whom a registration has been confirmed by the City.
Right-of-Way: The area on, below, or above a public roadway, highway, street,
cartway, bicycle lane, trail, and public sidewalk in which the City has an interest,
including but not limited to dedicated or deeded rights-of-way for travel and utility
purposes.
Right-of-Way User: A person owning or controlling or desiring to own or control a
facility in the right-of-way. Right-of-way user includes a telecommunication user.
Section: This entire Section 707.
Structure: Any ground or building mounted pole, spire, tower, building or
combination thereof used to support or convey any facility within the right-of-way.
Telecommunications Facility: A tangible asset used to provide wireless
telecommunication services, including all antennas, support devices, and
telecommunications mechanical equipment including ground-mounted equipment,
associated cables, and attachments.
Telecommunications User: A person owning or controlling or desiring to own or
control a telecommunications facility in the right-of-way.
707.400 APPLICATION AND SCOPE: Except as otherwise stated herein, the provisions of
this Section are applicable to all public and private right-of-way users, including but not
limited to those rights-of-way owned or operated by private entities, the United States,
the State of Minnesota, or any county, town, city, district, or other political subdivision
located wholly or partially within the corporate limits of the City. All right-of-way
users shall comply with all applicable provisions of this Section.
707.500: RIGHT-OF-WAY VACATION: If the City vacates a right-of-way that contains
facilities, the facility owner’s rights in the vacated right-of-way are governed by
Minnesota Rule 7819.3200.
707.600: ABANDONED FACILITIES: A right-of-way user shall notify the City when
facilities are to be abandoned. A right-of-way user who has abandoned facilities in a
right-of-way shall remove them from the right-of-way if required in conjunction with
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other right-of-way repair, excavation, or construction, unless the Director waives this
requirement.
707.700: RIGHT-OF-WAY PERMITS:
707.701 Findings, Purpose and Intent: To provide for the health, safety, and welfare of its
citizens, and to ensure the integrity of its streets and the appropriate use of the rights-of-
way, the City strives to keep its rights-of-way in a state of good repair and free from
unnecessary encumbrances.
Accordingly, the City hereby enacts this Subsection of the Code relating to right-of-way
permits. This Subsection imposes reasonable regulations on the placement and
maintenance of facilities and equipment currently within the City’s rights-of-way or to
be placed therein at some future time. It is intended to complement the regulatory roles
of State and Federal agencies. Under this Subsection, persons excavating and
obstructing the rights-of-way will bear financial responsibility for their work. Finally,
this Subsection provides for recovery of out-of-pocket and projected costs from persons
using the rights-of-way.
707.702 Right-of-Way Permit Required:
(1) Permit Required. In addition to all other requirements in this Section, including
but not limited to the requirement for a telecommunications user to register each facility
pursuant to Subsection 707.800 and the requirements relating to siting of new structures
in Subsection 707.900, and except as otherwise provided in the City Code, no person
may install, construct, repair, remove or relocate a facility or temporarily or
permanently obstruct or excavate any right-of-way without first having obtained a right-
of-way permit from the City.
(2) Exceptions. A right-of-way permit is not required for the following activities.
These exceptions do not relieve the person from fully complying with all applicable
provisions of this Code.
a) No right-of-way permit is required of the property owner for gardening
or sodding otherwise allowed in the boulevard area adjacent to the paved
portion of the public streets, or for gardening or sodding in boulevard
areas where a public easement exists for underground purposes. Trees,
shrubbery, gardening and sodding in the boulevard by the property
owner are allowed only by permission of the Director, and shall be
removed and the right-of-way restored to its condition prior to the
placement promptly by the owner at the owner’s expense upon a finding
by the Director that the existence of such encroachment upon the
boulevard interferes with maintenance of the boulevard, interferes with
maintenance or replacement of a utility or right-of-way improvement, or
constitutes a safety hazard.
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b) No right-of-way permit is required of the property owner for driveway
replacement or repair that does not involve any of the following in the
boulevard area:
• Enlargement or reduction of the driveway area.
• Relocation of the driveway from its existing location.
• Change to the driveway grade.
• Repair to or change of the driveway curb, gutter, or apron.
c) No right-of-way permit is required of City employees acting within the
course and scope of their employment and contractors acting within the
course and scope of a contract with the City.
d) No right-of-way permit is required of persons who install mailboxes in
the right-of-way in accordance with requirements of the U.S. Postal
Service.
e) No right-of-way permit is required of persons who temporarily place
residential household refuse containers in the right-of-way for the
collection of solid waste or recyclables.
707.703 Application for Right-of-Way Permits:
(1) A written application for a right-of-way permit shall be submitted to the
Engineering and Inspections Department at least two weeks prior to the anticipated
project start date. The application shall be made on a form provided by the City and
shall include or be accompanied by all of the following:
a) plans and specifications prepared and signed by an engineer licensed to
practice in the State of Minnesota;
b) a scaled drawing showing the location and area of the proposed project
and the location of all proposed facilities;
c) confirmation that other right-of-way users have been notified and
existing facilities located pursuant to local, state and federal laws, rules,
and regulations including but not limited to Minnesota Statutes Chapter
216D and Minnesota Rules Chapter 7560 (Gopher One Call Excavation
Notice System);
d) a traffic control plan;
e) a restoration plan;
f) a timeline for the proposed project;
g) if requested by the Director, a scaled drawing showing the location of all
known existing facilities;
h) a public notification plan and a copy of the property owner notice
required by Subsection 707.710 (1) d) below;
i) proof of insurance required by Subsection 707.705 below;
j) a description of the method for backfilling and compacting, the
specifications as to the materials to be used, and the method for street
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excavation which must protect abutting property and existing facilities;
and
k) required attachments.
(2) All applications shall be consistent with the provisions of this Section and good
engineering, safety, and maintenance practices shall be followed for the work or
activity conducted under the right-of-way permit.
(3) If the City has suffered any undisputed loss, damage, or expense because of the
applicant’s prior excavations, obstructions, or other work in the right-of-way or
any emergency actions relating thereto, the Director may require the applicant to
reimburse the City for such expense before considering a new permit application
for approval.
707.704 Permit Fees:
(1) The City shall establish a right-of-way permit fee in an amount sufficient to
recover City costs. The City shall impose the permit fee at the time an
application for a right-of-way permit is submitted. An application shall not be
reviewed or a permit issued unless the permit fee has been paid. Permit fees
paid for a permit that is denied or revoked are not refundable. Unless otherwise
agreed to in a franchise agreement, permit fees may be charged separately from
and in addition to the franchise fees imposed on a right-of-way user in the
franchise agreement.
(2) In accordance with Minnesota Rule 7819.1000, Subp. 3, the City shall establish
and impose a delay penalty for unreasonable delays in right-of-way excavation,
obstruction, or restoration. No delay fee shall be imposed if the delay is due to
circumstances beyond the control of the permit holder, including without
limitation inclement weather, acts of God, or civil strife.
(3) The permit fee and delay penalty shall be established from time to time by the
City Council and set forth in the City Fee Schedule.
707.705 Issuance of Permit, Conditions, and Insurance:
(1) Issuance. Upon the Director’s determination that the applicant has satisfied the
requirements of this Section, the Director shall issue the right-of-way permit
subject to the terms and conditions of this Section.
(2) Conditions. The Director may impose reasonable conditions upon the issuance
of the right-of-way permit and the performance of the permit holder to protect
the public health, safety, and welfare or to protect the right-of-way and its
current use. In addition, a permit holder shall comply with all local, state and
federal laws, rules, and regulations including but not limited to Minnesota
Statutes Chapter 216D, Minnesota Rules Chapter 7560 (Gopher One Call
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Excavation Notice System), and provision of mapping information in
accordance with Minnesota Rules 7819.4000 and 7819.4100.
(3) Insurance. Permit Holder shall obtain and maintain, throughout the term of the
right-of-way permit and all work performed under the permit, a commercial
general liability insurance policy which provides coverage for damage to the
personal property of others or injury to persons. The City shall be named as an
additional insured on said insurance policy. Said policy shall contain a clause
which provides language stating that the company that issues the policy shall not
change, non-renew, or materially change the policy without first providing the
City thirty (30) days prior written notice.
707.706 Permit Display: Right-of-way permits shall be conspicuously displayed or otherwise
available at all times at the indicated work site and shall be available for inspection by
the Director.
707.707 Permit Validity and Extensions: A right-of-way permit is valid only for the area of
the right-of-way specified in the permit and for the dates specified in the permit. No
permit holder may do any work outside of the area specified in the permit or begin its
work before the permit start date or continue working after the permit end date. Any
permit holder desiring to obstruct, excavate, or perform other work in an area greater
than that specified in the permit or desiring to perform work on dates not specified in
the permit shall apply for a new or extended right-of-way permit and pay any additional
fees required by the City. The permit holder shall obtain the new or extended permit
before performing any work not allowed by the original permit.
707.708 Financial Security: Before a right -of-way permit is issued, the applicant shall
deposit cash or submit an irrevocable letter of credit or a corporate bond in favor of the
City in an amount determined by the Director to be sufficient to: (a) cover expenses of
restoration and permit administration; (b) properly safeguard persons or property
exposed to the work or activity; (c) protect the City and its employees from any suit,
action or cause of action arising by reason of such work or activity; and (d) cover costs
of enforcement. The Director may require additional security in the amount necessary to
assure the City that the street and base are restored to a condition comparable to that in
existence when the work commenced. The City shall deduct from the financial security
all costs actually incurred by the City. Any portion of the financial security not retained
by the City shall be returned to the person who submitted the financial security within
60 days of the completion of the work. If the costs exceed the financial security the
City may, at any time, require that additional funds be deposited. Regardless of
whether additional funds are deposited, if the costs exceed the financial security after
the work is complete, the City shall invoice the permit holder for the difference. The
invoice shall be paid within 30 days of receipt. The required financial security must be:
(1) Satisfactory to the City Attorney in form and substance.
(2) Conditioned on the permit holder’s faithful compliance with all the terms and
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conditions of this Section and all rules, regulations and requirements pursuant
thereto, including payment of all charges and fees.
(3) Conditioned on the permit holder’s agreement to indemnify and hold the City,
its elected and appointed officials, employees and agents, and its officers
harmless against any and all claims, judgments, or other costs arising from the
right-of-way permit or for which the City, its elected and appointed officials,
employees, and agents may be made liable by reason of any accident or injury to
persons or property through the fault of the applicant or permit holder.
707.709 Denial of Permit: The Director may deny a right-of-way permit for failure to meet the
requirements and conditions of this Section or if the Director determines that the denial
is necessary to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the public or to protect the
right-of-way and its current use.
707.710 Standards for Construction or Installation:
(1) General Standards. Excavation, backfilling, patching, restoration, installation or
maintenance of fixtures and structures and all other work performed in the right-
of-way must be done in conformance with all applicable Minnesota Statutes and
Administrative Rules, including without limitation Rules 7819.5000 and
7819.5100, all requirements of the City Code, and all local laws, rules and
regulations. The permit holder shall comply with the following additional
standards when performing the work authorized under the right-of-way permit:
a) Take such precautions as are necessary to avoid creating unsanitary
conditions.
b) Conduct the operations and perform the work in a manner that ensures
the least obstruction to and interference with traffic.
c) Take adequate precautions to ensure the safety of the general public and
those who require access to abutting property.
d) Notify in writing property owners within 75 feet of the work to be
performed at least three days prior to any work being performed. The
written notice shall include contact information for the permit holder, the
nature of the work being done, possible planned service interruptions,
anticipated construction dates including duration of the work, and a map
or graphic showing the location of the work relative to the properties.
e) Comply with the Minnesota Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices
at all times during construction or installation.
f) Exercise caution at all times for the protection of persons, including
employees, and property.
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g) Protect and identify excavations and work operations with barricade
flags and, if required, by a flag person in the daytime and by warning
lights at night.
h) Provide proper trench protection as required by the Occupational Safety
and Health Administration in order to prevent cave-ins endangering life.
i) Protect the root growth of trees and shrubbery.
j) If possible, provide for space in the installation area for other right-of-
way users.
k) Maintain access to all properties and cross streets as possible during
construction and installation and maintain emergency vehicle access at
all times.
l) Maintain alignment and grade unless otherwise authorized by the
Director. Changes not approved by the Director will require removal and
reconstruction.
m) During plowing or trenching of facilities, a warning tape must be placed
at a depth of twelve (12) inches above copper cables with over two
hundred (200) pairs and above fiber facilities.
n) Below concrete or bituminous paved road surfaces, directional bore
facilities must be installed in conduit.
o) The placing of all facilities must comply with the National Electric
Safety Code, as incorporated by reference in Minnesota Statutes section
326B.35.
p) At the direction of the Director, facilities being installed or relocated
shall be placed in a common conduit system or share other common
arrangements.
q) A Minnesota licensed surveyor shall be used to locate property lines,
install property pins, and replace any destroyed property pins at corners.
r) Excavations, trenches, and jacking pits off the roadway or adjacent to the
roadway or curbing shall be sheathed and braced depending upon
location and soil stability and as directed by the Director.
s) Excavations, trenches, and jacking pits shall be protected when
unattended to prevent entrance of surface drainage.
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t) All backfilling must be placed in six inch (6") layers at optimum
moisture and compacted with the objective of attaining ninety-five
percent (95%) of Standard Proctor. Compaction shall be accomplished
with hand, pneumatic, or vibrating compactors as appropriate.
u) Backfill material shall be subject to the approval of the Director. The
Director may permit backfilling with the material from the excavation
provided such material is acceptable to the Director.
v) Compacted backfill shall be brought to bottom of the aggregate base of
the approved street section.
w) Street and pedestrian traffic shall be maintained throughout construction
unless provided otherwise by the permit.
x) No lugs damaging to roadway surfaces may be used.
y) Dirt or debris must be periodically removed during construction, which
may require the use of a mechanical sweeper.
z) Above-ground utility markers may not be installed except as authorized
by the Director.
aa) Other reasonable standards and requirements of the Director.
(2) Standards for Installation of Underground Utilities. The permit holder shall
comply with the following standards when installing facilities underground:
a) Buried fiber facilities shall be at a minimum depth of three (3) feet and a
maximum depth of four (4) feet unless an alternate location is approved
in advance by the Director. Buried copper facilities below concrete or
bituminous paved road surfaces must be placed at a minimum depth of
three (3) feet and a maximum depth of four (4) feet. Other buried copper
facilities must be placed at a minimum depth of thirty (30) inches and a
maximum depth of four (4) feet.
b) Crossing of streets and hard surfaced driveways shall be directional
bored unless otherwise approved by the Director.
c) If construction is open cut, the permit holder must install the visual
tracers within twelve (12) inches and over buried facilities. If other
construction methods are used, substitute location methods may be
considered by the Director.
d) The permit holder shall register with Gopher State One Call and comply
with the requirements of that system.
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e) Compaction in a trench shall be ninety-five percent (95%) of Standard
Proctor and copies of test results must be submitted to the Director.
Tests will be required at the discretion of the Director. Tests must be
conducted by an independent testing firm at locations approved by the
Director. The Director may require recompaction and new tests if
densities are not met.
f) The facilities shall be located so as to avoid traffic signals and signs,
which are generally placed a minimum of three (3) feet behind the curb.
g) When utilizing trenchless installation methods to cross an area in which
a municipal utility is located, and when directed by the Director, the
permit holder shall excavate an observation hole over the utility to
ensure that the utility is not damaged.
h) All junction boxes or access points shall be located at least ten (10) feet
from City hydrants, valves, manholes, lift stations, or catch basins unless
an alternate location is approved by the Director.
i) Underground facilities shall not be installed between a hydrant and an
auxiliary valve.
j) Buried telecommunications facilities must have a locating wire or
conductive shield, except for di-electric cables.
k) Buried fiber facilities must be placed in a conduit unless the permit
holder obtains a waiver from the Director.
(3) Standards for Installation of Overhead Facilities. The permit holder shall
comply with the following standards when installing facilities overhead:
a) All wires shall be a minimum of eighteen (18) feet above paved surfaces
and at a location that does not interfere with traffic signals, overhead
signs, or street lights.
b) Facilities shall be co-located on structures where possible.
c) Placing overhead facilities on both sides of the right-of-way is prohibited
unless specifically approved by the Director.
(4) Trenchless Excavation. A permit holder employing trenchless excavation
methods, including but not limited to horizontal directional drilling, shall follow
all requirements set forth in Minnesota Statutes Chapter 216D and Minnesota
Rules Chapter 7560, and shall employ potholing or open cutting over existing
underground utilities before excavating as determined by the Director.
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“Potholing” means excavating the area above an underground facility to
determine the precise location of the underground facility without damage to it,
before excavating within two feet of the marked location of the underground
facility.
(5) Location of Facilities.
a) Location. Placement, location, and relocation of facilities must comply
with local regulations and other applicable laws, and with Minnesota
Rules 7819.3100, 7819.5000, and 7819.5100.
b) Corridors. The Director may assign specific corridors within the right-
of-way, or any particular segment thereof, for each type of facility that is
or, pursuant to current technology, the Director expects will someday be
located within the right-of-way. All right-of-way permits involving the
installation or replacement of facilities shall designate the proper
corridor for the facilities at issue. Facilities shall be placed in a common
conduit system or share other common arrangements at the direction of
the Director.
c) Limitation of Space. To protect the health, safety, and welfare of the
public or when necessary to protect the right-of-way and its current use,
the Director shall have the power to prohibit or limit the placement of
new or additional facilities within the right-of-way. The Director shall
strive to accommodate all existing and potential users of the right-of-
way, but shall be guided primarily by considerations of the public
interest, the public’s needs for the particular service, the condition of the
right-of-way, the time of year with respect to essential services, the
protection of existing facilities in the right-of-way, and future City plans
for public improvements and development projects.
707.711 Restoration of Right-of-Way: The permit holder shall restore the right-of-way to the
satisfaction of the Director.
(1) Timing. All work to be done under the right-of-way permit and all required
restoration of the right-of-way must be completed within the dates specified in
the right-of-way permit.
(2) Duty to correct defects. Upon notification from the Director, the permit holder
shall correct all defects in restoration as required by the Director. Correction
work shall be completed within the time provided by the Director, not including
days during which work cannot be done because of circumstances beyond the
control of the permit holder, including without limitation inclement weather,
acts of God, or civil strife.
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(3) Failure to restore. If the permit holder fails to restore the right-of-way in the
manner and to the condition required by the Director, or fails to satisfactorily
and timely complete all restoration required by the Director, the City may
complete the restoration. The permit holder shall reimburse the City for its
reasonable costs incurred in completing the restoration and shall pay any delay
penalty and/or degradation fee imposed by the City within thirty (30) days of
invoice from the City. If a permit holder fails to pay as required, the City may
deny future right-of-way permit applications.
707.712 Inspection and Authority of Director:
(1) Notice of Completion and As-Builts. When the work under any right-of-way
permit is completed, the permit holder shall furnish a completion certificate and
as-built drawings in accordance with Minnesota Rule 7819.1300 and the Public
Works Design Manual.
(2) Site Inspection. The permit holder shall make the work site available at all
times during the execution of and upon completion of the work for inspection by
the Director or other City personnel and to all others authorized by law.
(3) Authority of Director.
a) The Director may order the immediate cessation of any work which the
Director determines, in the Director’s sole discretion, poses a serious
threat to the life, health, safety, or well-being of the public.
b) The Director may issue an order to the permit holder requiring the
correction of any work that does not conform to the terms of the right-of-
way permit or other applicable laws, standards, conditions, or codes.
The order shall inform the permit holder that failure to correct the
violation may result in revocation of the right-of-way permit.
707.713 Work Done Without a Permit: Except in an emergency situation as set forth below,
any person who installs, constructs, repairs, removes or relocates a facility temporarily
or permanently obstructs or excavates any right-of-way without a right-of-way permit
issued by the City shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.
(1) Emergency Situations – Right-of-Way User. A right-of-way user shall
immediately notify the City of any event concerning its facilities that it
considers to be an emergency and may take any actions reasonable and
necessary to respond to the emergency. Within two (2) business days after the
occurrence of the emergency, the right-of-way user shall apply to the City for
the necessary right-of-way permit(s), pay the fees associated therewith, and
fulfill the rest of the requirements necessary to bring itself into compliance with
this Section for the actions it took in response to the emergency.
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(2) Emergency Situations – City. If the City becomes aware of an emergency
concerning facilities in the right-of-way, the City will make reasonable attempts
to contact the owner of each facility affected, or potentially affected, by the
emergency. In any event, the City may take whatever action it deems necessary
to respond to the emergency. If the emergency was caused by a facility or
facilities, the owner thereof shall reimburse the City for its costs in responding
to the emergency.
(3) Non-Emergency Situations. Except in an emergency, any person who obstructs
or excavates a right-of-way without first having obtained a right-of-way permit
must subsequently obtain a right-of-way permit. The fee for a subsequently
issued right-of-way permit shall be established from time to time by City
Council and set forth in the City Fee Schedule. The permit holder shall also pay
all the other fees required by the City Code, deposit with the City the fees
necessary to correct any damage to the right-of-way, and comply with all other
requirements of this Section.
707.714 Damage to Other Facilities:
(1) When the City performs work in the right-of-way that requires the alteration or
relocation of an existing facility, the Director shall notify the facility owner as
soon as is reasonably possible. The facility owner shall reimburse the City for
the City’s costs incurred in such alteration or relocation within thirty (30) days
from the date of billing.
(2) Each facility owner shall be responsible for the cost of repairing any facilities in
the right-of-way which it or its facilities damage. Each facility owner shall be
responsible for the cost of repairing any damage to the facilities of another
caused during the City's response to an emergency caused by that owner’s
facilities.
707.715 Revocation of Permits:
(1) Substantial Breach. The Director may revoke any right-of-way permit if the
permit holder substantially breaches any of the terms and conditions of any
applicable statute, ordinance, rule or regulation, or any condition of the right-of-
way permit. A substantial breach includes, but is not limited to, the following:
a) The violation of any material provision of the right-of-way permit or this
Section;
b) The attempt to evade any material provision of the right-of-way permit
or the perpetration or attempt to perpetrate any fraud or deceit upon the
City or its citizens;
c) Any material misrepresentation of fact in the permit application;
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d) The failure to complete the work in a timely manner unless a permit
extension has been obtained or unless the failure to complete work is due
to reasons beyond the permit holder’s control; or
e) The failure to timely comply with an order of the Director.
(2) Written Notice of Breach. If the Director determines that the permit holder has
committed a substantial breach, the Director shall notify the permit holder of the
breach in writing and demand that the permit holder remedy the violation. The
notice and demand shall inform the permit holder that continued violations may
result in revocation of the right-of-way permit. In the notice and demand, the
Director may also impose additional or revised conditions on the right-of-way
permit to mitigate and remedy the breach.
(3) Response to Notice of Breach. Within two (2) business days of receiving the
written notice and demand, the permit holder shall provide the City with its plan
to cure the breach. Any failure to respond to the notice, to submit an acceptable
plan, or to implement the approved plan shall be grounds for immediate
revocation of the right-of-way permit.
(4) Reimbursement of City Costs. Upon revocation of a right-of-way permit, the
permit holder shall reimburse the City for its reasonable costs incurred because
of the revocation, including but not limited to restoration costs, collection costs,
and attorney fees.
707.716 Non-Completion or Abandonment of Work: Work shall progress expeditiously to
completion in accordance with any time limitation specified in the right-of-way permit
so as to avoid unnecessary inconvenience to the public. In the event that the permit
holder fails to timely complete the work in accordance with the terms of the right -of-
way permit or ceases or abandons the work without due cause, in addition to any other
remedy provided in this Section, the City may, after six (6) hours’ notice in writing to
the permit holder of its intention to do so, correct the work, fill the excavation and
repair the right-of-way in a manner that it deems necessary to protect the safety and
welfare of the public. The City shall make or contract for all temporary and permanent
repairs, including but not limited to backfilling, compacting, and resurfacing, and the
permit holder shall reimburse the City for all costs incurred for such work. If the permit
holder fails to reimburse the City within thirty (30) days of billing, the City may do any
or all of the following: (1) reimburse itself from the proceeds from any cash deposit,
letter of credit, bond, or other security given by the permit holder; (2) deny the permit
holder any future right-of-way permits; and (3) impose a delay penalty.
707.717 Indemnification and Liability: By applying for and accepting a right-of-way permit
the applicant and permit holder agree to indemnify, defend and hold the City and its
employees, contractors, agents, representatives, elected and appointed officials, and
consultants harmless from any and all claims, damages, losses, costs and expenses,
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including attorneys’ fees, arising from, based on, or related to the right-of-way permit or
the applicant’s or permit holder’s work within the right-of-way or on the facility all
subject to Minnesota Rule 7819.1250.
707.718 Appeal: An applicant that has been denied a right-of-way permit or a right-of-way user
that has had a right-of-way permit revoked may appeal the denial or revocation to the
City Manager. Such appeal shall be taken by filing with the City Clerk within ten (10)
days after the denial or revocation, a written statement requesting a hearing before the
City Manager and setting forth fully the grounds for the appeal. A hearing shall be held
within thirty (30) days of receipt of the request. Notice of the hearing shall be given by
the City Clerk in writing, setting forth the time and place of hearing. Such notice shall
be mailed, postage prepaid, to the applicant or permit holder at his/her/its last known
address at least five (5) days prior to the date set for hearing.
707.800 REGISTRATION OF TELECOMMUNICATION USERS:
707.801 Findings, Purpose and Intent: The City desires high quality wireless
telecommunication services to accommodate the needs of residents and businesses. At
the same time, the City strives to minimize the negative impacts that telecommunication
facilities can have on aesthetics and public safety. Due to the many services that must
be delivered within its limited area, the City also strives to avoid unnecessary
encumbrances within the right-of-way. The purpose of this Subsection 707.800 is to
regulate the installation of telecommunication facilities within the right-of-way in a
manner that balances desire for service with aesthetic, public safety, and right-of-way
flexibility concerns.
Rights-of-way are appropriate locations for telecommunication facilities that present
minimal impacts. The City recognizes that, as wireless technology advances, some areas
of the City may be hard to serve with wireless technology due to the lack of siting
alternatives in the immediate vicinity.
707.802 Registration: In addition to all other requirements in this Section, including but not
limited to the requirement to obtain a right-of-way permit pursuant to Subsection
707.700 and the requirements relating to siting of structures in Subsection 707.900, a
telecommunications user who desires to place telecommunication facilities in the right-
of-way shall register each facility with the City.
707.803 Application for Registration: A written application for registration shall be submitted
to the Engineering and Inspections Department at least two weeks prior to installation
of the facility. The application shall be made on a form provided by the City and shall
include all required information and attachments. All such applications shall be
consistent with the provisions of this Section and good engineering, safety, and
maintenance practices shall be followed.
707.804 Registration Fee: The City shall establish a registration fee in an amount sufficient to
recover City costs. The fee shall be imposed on each registered facility both at the time
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of application and annual thereafter on January 1 of each year until the facility is
removed from the right-of-way. The registration fee is nonrefundable. The registration
fee shall be established from time to time by the City Council and set forth in the City
Fee Schedule. Failure to pay the registration fee shall be grounds for revocation of the
registration.
707.805 Indemnification and Insurance:
(1) Indemnification. By applying for and accepting a registration the applicant and
registrant agree to indemnify, defend and hold the City and its employees,
contractors, agents, representatives, elected and appointed officials, and
consultants harmless from any and all claims, damages, losses, costs and
expenses, including attorneys’ fees, arising from, based on, or related to the
facility, including but not limited to the facility’s registration, design, location,
installation, maintenance or other matters arising out of or related to the facility
within the right-of-way all subject to Minnesota Rule 7819.1250.
(2) Insurance. Registrant shall obtain and maintain, throughout the term of the
registration, a commercial general liability insurance policy which provides
coverage for damage to the personal property of others or injury to persons. The
City shall be named as an additional insured on said insurance policy. Said
policy shall contain a clause which provides language stating that the company
that issues the policy shall not change, non-renew, or materially change the
policy without first providing the City thirty (30) days prior written notice.
707.806 Confirmation of Registration: Upon the Director’s determination that the applicant
has satisfied the requirements of this Section, the Director shall confirm the registration
subject to the terms and conditions of this Section. The Director may impose reasonable
conditions upon the registration to protect the health, safety, and welfare or to protect
the right-of-way and its current use. In addition, a registrant shall comply with all local,
state and federal laws, including but not limited to Minnesota Statutes Chapter 216D
and Minnesota Rules Chapter 7560 (Gopher One Call Excavation Notice System).
707.807 Denial of Registration: The Director may deny a registration for failure to meet the
requirements and conditions of this Section or if the Director determines that the denial
is necessary to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the public or the right-of-way
and its current use.
707.808 Update of Registration: The registrant shall inform the City of any change in the
registration information within fifteen (15) days of the change.
707.809 Inspection and Authority of Director.
(1) Site Inspection. The registrant shall make the site of each facility available at all
times for inspection by the Director or other City personnel and to all others
authorized by law.
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(2) Authority of Director. The Director may order the immediate repair or removal
of any facility which the Director determines, in the Director’s sole discretion,
poses a serious threat to the life, health, safety, or well-being of the public or
fails to comply with any federal, state or local law, rule or regulation. The order
shall inform the registrant that failure to correct the violation may result in
revocation of the registration.
707.810 Revocation of Registration:
(1) Substantial Breach. The Director may revoke any registration if the registrant
substantially breaches any of the terms and conditions of any applicable statute,
ordinance, rule or regulation, or any condition of the registration. A substantial
breach includes, but is not limited to, the following:
a) The violation of any material provision of the registration or this Section;
b) The attempt to evade any material provision of the registration or the
perpetration or attempt to perpetrate any fraud or deceit upon the City or
its citizens;
c) Any material misrepresentation of fact in the registration application;
and
d) The failure to timely comply with an order of the Director.
(2) Written Notice of Breach. If the Director determines that the registrant has
committed a substantial breach, the Director shall notify the registrant of the
breach in writing and demand that the registrant remedy the violation. The
notice and demand shall inform the registrant that continued violations may
result in revocation of the registration. In the notice and demand, the Director
may also impose additional or revised conditions on the registration to mitigate
and remedy the breach.
(3) Response to Notice of Breach. Within two (2) business days of receiving the
written notice and demand, the registrant shall provide the City with its plan to
cure the breach. Any failure to respond to the notice, to submit an acceptable
plan, or to implement the approved plan shall be grounds for immediate
revocation of the registration.
(4) Reimbursement of City Costs. Upon revocation of a registration, the registrant
shall reimburse the City for its reasonable costs incurred because of the
revocation, including but not limited to collection costs and attorney fees.
707.811 Location of Facilities:
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(1) Ownership. No telecommunications facility shall be placed on any structure
without written permission from the owner of the structure. If the structure is
owned by the City, a collocation or lease agreement may be required.
(2) New Structures. New structures may be installed in the right-of-way only
permitted by Subsection 707.900.
(3) Attachments to Existing Structures. Telecommunication facilities that comply
with the following requirements may be attached to existing structures within
the right-of-way:
a) The extension to the existing structure, including lightning rods and all
other attachments, shall not exceed the height of the existing structure by
more than ten (10) feet. Once the height of a structure has been
increased under the provisions of this paragraph, the height shall not be
further increased.
b) If the structure must be replaced to structurally accommodate the
telecommunication facility, the height of the replacement structure shall
not exceed the height of the existing structure and the diameter of the
replacement structure shall not exceed the diameter of the existing
structure by more than fifty (50) percent. Once the diameter of a
replacement structure has been increased under the provisions of this
paragraph, the diameter shall not be further increased.
c) Excluding electrical meter and mounting hardware, the
telecommunication facility shall not have an aggregate volume greater
than six (6) cubic feet.
d) The telecommunication facility shall not have any individual surface
area face greater than three (3) square feet except that an individual face
of a cylindrical device shall not exceed ten (10) square feet.
e) The telecommunication facility shall not extend outward from the
existing structure or arm thereof by more than eighteen (18) inches,
except that an antenna one-half (1/2) inch or less in diameter may extend
an additional six (6) inches.
f) The telecommunication facility shall have limited exposed cabling and
mounting hardware. It shall also match the structure it is attached to in
color and, as close as practicable, in material and design.
g) The telecommunication facility shall not interfere with public safety or
with the use of a public safety structure.
h) The telecommunication facility shall not interfere other existing
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telecommunication facilities.
i) Telecommunication facilities in the right-of-way shall be removed and
relocated at the City’s request and at no cost to the City when the
Director determines that removal and relocation is necessary to prevent
interference with: (1) present or future City use of the right-of-way for a
public project; (2) the public health or safety; or (3) the safety and
convenience of travel over the right-of-way.
(4) Ground-Mounted Equipment. Ground-mounted equipment related to
telecommunication facilities may be erected in the right-of-way only when in
compliance with the following provisions:
a) The ground-mounted equipment will not disrupt traffic or pedestrian
circulation;
b) The ground-mounted equipment will not interfere with vehicle and
pedestrian intersection sight lines;
c) The ground-mounted equipment will not create a safety hazard;
d) The location of the ground-mounted equipment minimizes impacts on
adjacent property;
e) The ground-mounted equipment will not adversely impact the health,
safety, or welfare of the community;
f) The ground-mounted equipment shall be separated from the nearest
ground-mounted equipment installation on the same block face by a
minimum of three hundred (300) feet unless the equipment is placed
underground, or unless waived by the Director;
g) If located adjacent to residential uses, ground-mounted equipment shall
be limited to three (3) feet in height above grade and twenty-eight (28)
cubic feet in cumulative size;
h) If located adjacent to non-residential uses, ground-mounted equipment
shall be limited to five (5) feet in height above grade and eighty-one (81)
cubic feet in cumulative size;
i) The ground-mounted equipment shall have limited exposed cabling and
mounting hardware. It shall also match the structure it is attached to in
color and, as close as practicable, in material and design; and
j) The ground-mounted equipment shall be removed and relocated at the
City’s request and at no cost to the City when the Director determines
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that removal and relocation is necessary to prevent interference with: (1)
present or future City use of the right-of-way for a public project; (2) the
public health or safety; or (3) the safety and convenience of travel over
the right-of-way.
707.812 Failure to Register: Any telecommunications user who fails to register shall be guilty
of a misdemeanor. The telecommunications user shall subsequently register. The fee
for a subsequent registration shall be established from time to time by the City Council
and set forth in the City Fee Schedule. The registrant shall also pay all the other fees
required by the City Code, deposit with the City the costs necessary to correct any
damage to the right-of-way, and comply with all other requirements of this Section.
707.813 Appeal: A telecommunication user that has had a registration denied or revoked may
appeal the denial or revocation to the City Manager. Such appeal shall be taken by filing
with the City Clerk within ten (10) days after the denial or revocation, a written
statement requesting a hearing before the City Manager and setting forth fully the
grounds for the appeal. A hearing shall be held within thirty (30) days of receipt of the
request. Notice of the hearing shall be given by the City Clerk in writing, setting forth
the time and place of hearing. Such notice shall be mailed, postage prepaid, to the
applicant or registrant at his/her/its last known address at least five (5) days prior to the
date set for hearing.
707.900 SITING OF NEW STRUCTURES:
707.901 Findings, Purpose and Intent: In order to accommodate the needs of residents and
businesses while protecting the public health, safety and general welfare of the
community, the City Council finds these regulations are necessary to maximize the use
of existing and approved structures in the right-of-way in order to reduce the number of
new structures necessary in the right-of-way to serve the community.
707.902 Scope and Application: In addition to all other requirements in this Section, including
but not limited to the requirement to obtain a right-of-way permit pursuant to
Subsection 707.700 and the requirement of a telecommunications user to register each
facility pursuant to Subsection 707.800, installation or construction of structures shall
be subject to the requirements of this Subsection 707.900.
707.903 New Structures: The installation or construction in the right-of-way of a new structure
shall be allowed only under the following circumstances:
(1) New structures in the right-of-way shall be Permitted Uses subject to this
Section, except that new structures in right-of-way abutting the following zoning
districts: rural subdivision residential, low density residential, medium density
residential, town center, and transitional town center, shall be Uses Permitted by
Condition subject to this Section and City Code Section 1110.
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(2) The maximum height of the structure, including all attachments, shall not
exceed fifty (50) feet. The height of structures shall be determined by
measuring the vertical distance from the structure's point of contact with the
ground to the highest point of the tower, including all facilities.
(3) Structures shall comply with the following setbacks:
a) Structures shall be located at least 10 feet from the curb or if there is no
curb from the traveled right-of-way.
b) Structures shall be located at least 2 feet from pedestrian trails or
sidewalks.
c) Structures shall be located at least 5 feet from a residential lot line.
d) Structures shall be located at least 2 feet from a commercial or industrial
lot line.
e) Structures shall be located at least 300 feet in any direction from the
nearest existing structure.
If a proposed new structure cannot meet all of the setback requirements, the
proposed new structure shall not be permitted except by written exception
granted by the Director.
(4) Placing overhead facilities on both sides of the right-of-way is prohibited unless
specifically approved by the Director.
(5) Structures shall not include any lighting except as specifically required by
federal, state, or local laws, rules or regulations.
(6) Structures shall not contain any signs or advertising except for applicable
warning and equipment information required by the manufacturer or federal,
state, or local laws, rules or regulations.
(7) Structures shall be designed to blend into the surrounding environment to the
maximum extent possible including through the use of building materials, color,
texture, and screening.
(8) Structure design shall be subject to approval by the Director taking into
consideration safety, interference with the right-of-way and aesthetics.
(9) Structures shall not interfere with the right-of-way.
(10) Structures shall not endanger the public health, safety or welfare.
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707.904 Exceptions: The siting requirements in subdivision 707.903 above shall not apply to
the installation of public safety structures or by written exception granted by the
Director.
(Ord. Adopted 117-05, publ. 04/01/2017)
(Ord. Amd. 117-14, publ. 07/29/2017)
(This Space Intentionally Blank
For Future Amendments.)