[R.O. 2011 §625.320; Ord. No. 97-35 §1, 3-18-1997]
A. Revocation For Cause. In addition to all other rights, powers and remedies available to the City, then following compliance with the applicable procedures of Section
625.310, the City shall have the additional, separate and distinct right to revoke a franchise and all the rights, authority, power, privileges and permissions granted the operator by the Cable Communications Code and a separate franchise agreement, as a result of and in response to, any of the following events or reasons:
1. Fraud. The operator commits an act of fraud, as
determined by a court of competent jurisdiction, against the City
in obtaining its franchise, or upon being granted the continuation
of the franchise commits such an act against the City; or
2. Failure to correct defect. The operator fails to:
a. Pay the franchise fee within five (5) days following; or
b. Substantially correct a material violation of the Cable Communications
Code within thirty (30) days following:
(1)
Written demand by the City to effect such compliance, unless
such decision is stayed by a court of competent jurisdiction or agreed
to by the City; or
(2)
A final decision of a panel of arbitrators, if used by the City
and the operator, or a court of competent jurisdiction reviewing the
disputed matter.
3. Bankruptcy. An operator is adjudged to be bankrupt.
However, should the City be prohibited from revoking the franchise
due to an operator's bankruptcy, the operator agrees, as a means of
assuring future payments of the franchise fee payable under its franchise
agreement and assuring future compliance with all other requirements
of its franchise agreement, to provide to the City within thirty (30)
days of an order of a court of competent jurisdiction adjudging the
operator to be bankrupt, and entitled to the protection of State and
Federal bankruptcy laws, a bond in the amount of the franchise fees
paid by the operator to the City the previous year.
B. Revocation By Ordinance. Revocation of a franchise shall
be accomplished by passage of an ordinance. An ordinance revoking
a franchise shall include the reason for the revocation, and a listing
of facts found, and conclusions made, by the Board to justify revocation.
The effective date of the revocation shall be stated in the Cable
Communications Code. An ordinance revoking a franchise shall not be
passed without thirty (30) days' written notice to the operator that
an ordinance to revoke its franchise will be considered by the Board.
An operator shall retain the privilege to be heard by the Board or
any Board committee regarding the proposed revocation ordinance. An
operator may request a review of the revocation findings and conclusions
pursuant to any applicable law.
C. Continuance Of Service After Revocation. The City may require
an operator to continue operating its system after revocation until
such time as operation of the system can be transferred to a new owner
or the City exercises its rights under the Cable Communications Code.
D. Removal After Revocation.
1. Procedure. Upon revocation of a franchise and after
a review of the revocation findings and conclusions by a court of
competent jurisdiction, if such review is sought by an operator, the
City may require the operator to remove, at the operator's expense,
any above-ground portion of its system from any street or other public
property. In removing its system, an operator shall refill and compact,
at its own expense, any excavation that shall be made, and shall leave
all streets and other public property, and private property, in as
good a condition as that prevailing prior to the operator's removal
of its system, and without affecting, altering or disturbing in any
way electric, telephone, gas, steam, or water utilities or other operator's
cables, wires or attachments. The insurance, indemnity and damage
provisions of the Cable Communications Code or separate franchise
agreement shall remain in full force and effect during the entire
term of removal.
2. Failure to remove system. If an operator fails to
commence removal of its system, or such part as was designated, in
accordance with the Cable Communications Code, within one hundred
eighty (180) days after written notice of the City's demand for removal
is given, or if the operator fails to complete such removal within
one (1) year after removal has begun, the City shall have the right
to exercise one (1) of the following options:
a. Assumption of ownership. Declare all right, title
and interest to the system to be in the City or its designee with
all right of ownership including, but not limited to, the right to
operate the system or transfer the system to another for operation.
b. Abandonment of system. Declare the system abandoned
and cause the above-ground portion of the system, or such part as
the City may designate, to be removed at no cost to City. The cost
of the removal shall be recoverable pursuant to the insurance and
indemnity provisions of the Cable Communications Code or a separate
franchise agreement, or from the operator directly.