[Ord. No. 2591 §§ 1 — 2, 8-23-2016[1]]
This Article shall be known and may be cited as the "Rights-of-Way Usage Code."
[1]
Editor's Note: Section 1 changed the title of this Chapter from "Excavations and Grading" to "Rights-of-Way Usage and Grading." Additionally, former Article I, Excavations, consisting of Sections 520.010 through 520.120, which derived from R.O. 2008 §§ 70.010 — 70.060; Ord. No. 585, 1-23-1962; Ord. No. 624, 11-13-1962; Ord. No. 1406, 1-11-198; Ord. No. 1819 § 1, 5-24-1994; Ord. No. 1858, 5-23-1995; Ord. No. 2167, 3-25-2003, was repealed by § 2 of Ord. No. 2591.
[Ord. No. 2591 §§ 1 — 2, 8-23-2016]
A. 
The purposes and intent of this Article are to:
1. 
Manage rights-of-way work in the City of Olivette to the extent permitted by State and Federal law to ensure the safe and aesthetic placement of facilities and the restoration of any ROW cuts or excavation and so protect the public health, safety, and welfare;
2. 
Establish procedures, standards, and requirements for, among other things: (a) the registration of persons having facilities within the rights-of-way, and persons desiring to do so, (b) work performed in the City's rights-of-way, (c) facilities placed within the ROW, and (d) security for such work and the removal of abandoned facilities; and
3. 
Comply with applicable State and Federal laws and regulations regarding facilities or services in public or private rights-of-way.
[Ord. No. 2591 §§ 1 — 2, 8-23-2016]
The following terms shall have the following meanings unless otherwise defined by context:
CITY FACILITIES
Any facilities located within the public rights-of-way and owned by the City.
CITY MANAGER
The manager or administrator of the City or such other person designated by the City to hear appeals as provided in Section 520.070 hereof.
DIRECTOR
The City's Public Works Director or Planning and Community Design Director, as context requires, or such other designated person.
EMERGENCY RIGHTS-OF-WAY (OR ROW) WORK
Includes but is not limited to ROW work made necessary by exigent circumstances to repair, control, stabilize, rectify, or correct an unexpected or unplanned outage, cut, rupture, leak, or any other failure of a facility when such failure results or could result in danger to the public or a material delay or hindrance to the provision of service.
FACILITIES
A network or system, or any part thereof, used for providing or delivering a service and consisting of one (1) or more lines, pipes, wires, cables, fibers, conduit facilities, cabinets, poles, vaults, pedestals, boxes, appliances, antennas, transmitters, radios, towers, gates, meters, appurtenances, shelters, or other equipment.
PERSON
An individual, partnership, limited liability corporation or partnership, association, joint stock company, trust, organization, corporation, or other entity, or any lawful successor thereto or transferee thereof.
PERSON(S) HAVING FACILITIES WITHIN THE RIGHTS-OF-WAY
Any person having ownership or control of facilities located within the rights-of-way.
PRIVATE STREET
A street, highway, lane, path, alley, sidewalk, boulevard, drive, bridge, tunnel, parkway, waterway, public easement, or sidewalk in which the City does not now or hereafter holds any interest.
RIGHTS-OF-WAY (OR ROW) PERMIT
A permit granted by the City to a ROW user for ROW work.
RIGHTS-OF-WAY (OR ROW) USER
A person performing ROW work within the rights-of-way. A ROW user shall not include ordinary vehicular or pedestrian use.
RIGHTS-OF-WAY (OR ROW) WORK
Action by a ROW user to: (i) install, change, replace, relocate, remove, maintain or repair facilities within the rights-of-way, or (ii) to conduct work of any kind within or adjacent to the rights-of-way that results in an excavation, obstruction, disruption, damage or physical invasion or impact of any kind to the rights-of-way or the use thereof. The routine inspection of facilities shall not be considered ROW work unless the inspection requires the conduct of any of the activities or actions noted herein.
RIGHTS-OF-WAY OR ROW
Unless otherwise restricted herein, the surface, the air space above the surface, and the area below the surface of any private street, for the purposes defined herein, and any public street, highway, lane, path, alley, sidewalk, boulevard, drive, bridge, tunnel, parkway, waterway, public easement, or sidewalk in which the City holds any interest, which, consistent with the purposes for which it was dedicated, may be used for the purpose of installing and maintaining facilities. "Rights-of-way" shall not include: (i) City facilities or the City's property other than ROW, such as City-owned or operated buildings, parks, or other similar property, (ii) airwaves used for cellular, non-wire telecommunications or broadcast services, (iii) easements obtained by ROW users on private property, (iv) railroad rights-of-way or ground used or acquired for railroads, (v) facilities owned and used by the City for the transmission of one (1) or more services, or (vi) streets owned or under the jurisdiction of St. Louis County or the Missouri Department of Transportation. No reference herein to "rights-of-way" shall be deemed to be a representation or guarantee by the City that its interest or other right to control the use of such property is sufficient to permit its use for the delivery of service.
SERVICE
Providing or delivering an economic good or an article of commerce, including, but not limited to gas, telephone, cable television, Internet, open video systems, video services, alarm systems, steam, electricity, water, telegraph, data transmission, petroleum pipelines, sanitary or storm water sewerage or any similar or related service, to one (1) or more persons located within or outside of the City by use of facilities located within the rights-of-way.
WITHIN
In, along, under, over, or across rights-of-way.
[Ord. No. 2591 §§ 1 — 2, 8-23-2016]
A. 
Registration Required. Any person desiring to become a person having facilities within the ROW and any person having facilities within the ROW must register with the City.
B. 
Effectiveness Of Registration. Registration hereunder by an eligible person shall remain effective for so long as that person remains eligible, unless terminated by the person or the City hereunder. Any registration of an ineligible person shall be void from the date of ineligibility.
C. 
Registration Characteristics.
1. 
A valid registration hereunder authorizes the issuance of ROW permits to the registered person in accordance with this Code. It does not expressly or implicitly authorize ROW work without a ROW permit or work on private property without owner consent through eminent domain or otherwise (except for use of compatible easements pursuant to law) or to use publicly or privately owned facilities without a separate agreement with the owners.
2. 
A valid registration hereunder shall not eliminate the need to obtain any franchise, license, permit, easement, lease, or other contract for the privilege of: (i) transacting and carrying on a business within the City as may be generally required by the ordinances and laws of the City, (ii) attaching devices to poles or other structures, whether owned by the City or other person, or (iii) performing ROW work within a private street.
3. 
A valid registration grants no exclusive or vested rights to occupancy within the rights-of-way other than those rights granted by this code or its administration.
D. 
Registered Person Subject To Other Laws.
1. 
A person required to register shall at all times be subject to and shall comply with all applicable Federal, State and local laws and shall at all times be subject to all lawful exercise of the police power of the City, including but not limited to all powers regarding planning, zoning, supervision of construction, assurance of equal employment opportunities, control of rights-of-way and consumer protection.
2. 
Registration hereunder shall not deprive any person of any rights or obligations imposed by any previously existing franchise, license or contract, nor shall it impose any obligations on any such person in addition to those included in any previously existing franchise, license or contract, except to the extent allowed by law.
3. 
Nothing in this code shall be construed to prohibit the grant or renewal of any franchise by the City as may be allowed or required by State or Federal Law.
4. 
Nothing in this code shall be construed or deemed to supersede any applicable State or Federal law or any applicable regulation issued by a State or Federal agency, including, but not limited to, the Missouri Public Service Commission and the Federal Communications Commission. In the event of any conflict between such laws or regulations and this code, the applicable State or Federal law or regulation shall apply.
E. 
Failure To Register. Any person who has not registered within ninety (90) days of the effective date of this code shall nonetheless be subject to all requirements of this code, including, but not limited to, its provisions regarding ROW permits, construction and technical standards and fees, except as otherwise provided herein. In its discretion and to the extent allowed by law, the City at any time may:
1. 
Require such person to register within thirty (30) days of receipt of a written notice to such person from the City that registration is required;
2. 
Require such person to remove its facilities from the rights-of-way and restore the affected area to a condition satisfactory to the City within a specific time period;
3. 
Direct municipal personnel to remove the facilities from the rights-of-way and restore the affected area to a condition satisfactory to the City and charge the person the costs thereof, including by placing a lien on the person's property as provided in connection with abating nuisances; or
4. 
Take any other action it is entitled to take under applicable law.
F. 
Registration Exemption. Governmental entities having facilities within the ROW need not register hereunder, but such entities shall be subject to Sections 515.060 and 515.070 of this code and such other Sections or provisions as may be appropriate to their presence in the ROW.
[Ord. No. 2591 §§ 1 — 2, 8-23-2016]
A. 
Requirements And Processing.
1. 
Registration shall be accomplished in the form of a letter to the City filed with the Director.
2. 
To be valid, the registration letter must be signed by an authorized representative of the registering person and contain all required information and be accompanied by a filing fee established by the City.
3. 
At any time the Director determines a registration letter does not comply with this code, the Director may return it to a point of contact identified therein with a written explanation of the reason(s) for such return. Filing fees shall not be refunded. Failure to return a registration letter shall not validate an incomplete or otherwise invalid or void registration letter.
B. 
Contents Of Registration Letter. A registration letter shall contain or be accompanied by the information required herein. All such information received by the City shall be public, unless confidentiality is requested and permitted by the Missouri Open Meetings Law and other applicable State and Federal law. The information required shall include:
1. 
Name, address and legal status of the registering person;
2. 
Name, title, address, telephone number, e-mail address and fax number of individual(s) authorized to serve as the point of contact between the City and the registering person so as to make contact possible at any time (i.e., twenty-four (24) hours per day, seven (7) days per week);
3. 
Description of the general uses made or to be made of the facilities located within the rights-of-way by the registering person, e.g., provision of service(s), transfer or lease of facilities (or portion thereof, including bandwidth) to another person, use of the facilities to transverse the City, construction of facilities to be used at a later date, etc.;
4. 
Description of all services provided or to be provided by the registering person to any person located in the City through facilities located within the rights-of-way and an explanation of the registering person's legal qualifications to provide such services, including copies of supporting documentation such as relevant certificates or orders from the Federal Communications Commission, Missouri Secretary of State and/or Missouri Public Service Commission or pertinent rules or Statutes;
5. 
Name and address of any and all other persons providing service(s) to any person located in the City through the registering person's facilities located within the rights-of-way and a general description of such service(s); and
6. 
Current certificates of insurance in accordance with this code.
C. 
Notice Of Change. Within thirty (30) days of any changes in the information set forth in or accompanying its registration letter, a registered person shall notify the City of any such change. Such notices shall be submitted and processed in the same manner as an initial registration, except the filing fee shall not be required.
D. 
Registration Index. The Director shall maintain an index of all registered persons and their point(s) of contact.
E. 
Termination Of Registration.
1. 
The City shall have the right to terminate a registration for a substantial and ongoing failure to comply with this code or other applicable law or for defrauding or attempting to defraud the City. To invoke the provisions of this Section, the Director shall give the person written notice of such intent. If within thirty (30) calendar days following such written notice from the City, the person has not completed corrective action or corrective action is not being actively and expeditiously pursued to the satisfaction of the Director, the Director may commence a proceeding to consider terminating the person's registration, giving written notice of the reasons therefor.
2. 
Prior to terminating a registration, the Director shall hold a hearing, after giving at least ten (10) calendar days' notice to the person, at which time the person shall be given an opportunity to be heard. Following the hearing, the Director may determine whether to terminate the registration based on the information presented at the hearing and other information of record. If the Director determines to terminate a registration, the decision shall be in writing setting forth the reasons therefor. The Director may make such decision conditional on a person's failure to resolve outstanding problems or take appropriate steps to resolve such problems within a specific period of time. A copy of such decision shall be provided to the person.
3. 
Once a registration has been terminated by the Director, the person may not register again except upon express written approval by the City Manager, which approval shall be withheld absent clear and convincing evidence that the person has remedied all previous violations and is in full compliance with all laws and will not in the future violate this code or defraud the City.
4. 
Registration of a public utility that has been legally granted access to the right-of-way shall not be terminated.
[Ord. No. 2591 §§ 1 — 2, 8-23-2016]
A. 
Application Requirements.
1. 
Any person desiring to perform ROW work must first apply for and obtain a ROW permit, in addition to any other building permit, license, easement, franchise, or authorization that may be required by law. In the event of a need for emergency ROW work, the person conducting the work shall as soon as practicable notify the City of the location of the work and shall apply for the required ROW permit as soon as practicable following the commencement of the work, not to exceed the third business day thereafter. The Director may design and issue general permits for emergency ROW work for several different locations or throughout the City.
2. 
No person desiring to become a person having facilities within the ROW, and no person having facilities within the ROW, who has failed to register with the City shall be granted a ROW permit, except as otherwise provided or allowed by ordinance, franchise, license, or written contract with the City.
3. 
An application for a ROW permit shall be submitted to the Director. The Director may design and make available standard forms for such applications, requiring such information as allowed by law and as the Director determines in his or her discretion to be necessary and consistent with the provisions of this Chapter and to accomplish the purposes of this Chapter. Each application shall at minimum contain the following information for the proposed ROW work, unless otherwise waived by the Director:
a. 
The name, address and telephone number of a representative whom the City may notify or contact at any time (i.e., twenty-four (24) hours per day seven (7) days per week) concerning the work;
b. 
If different from the applicant, the name, address, and telephone number of the person on whose behalf the proposed work is to be performed;
c. 
A description of the proposed work, including a conceptual master plan and an engineering site plan or other technical drawing or depiction showing the nature, dimensions, location, and description of the applicant's proposed work or facilities, their proximity to other facilities that may be affected by the proposed work, and the number of street crossings and their locations and dimensions, if applicable;
d. 
Projected commencement and termination dates and anticipated duration of the work or, if such dates are unknown, a representation that the applicant shall provide the Director with reasonable advance notice of such dates once they are determined;
e. 
If the applicant is, or is acting on behalf of, a person having facilities within the ROW or a person desiring to become a person having facilities within the ROW, verification that the applicant or such person has registered with the City and that the information included in that registration is accurate as of the date of the application;
f. 
Proof of security for the work and restoration of the ROW as provided in Section 520.080, below; and
g. 
For above-ground facilities:
(1) 
Technical information, including:
(a) 
A detailed description of the physical dimensions and appearance of the proposed facilities;
(b) 
The chemical composition of any battery contained within the proposed facilities;
(c) 
Any hazardous material contained within the proposed facilities;
(d) 
The potential for interference with the facilities of other wireless transmission providers;
(e) 
In the discretion of the Director, an engineering analysis of structural failure scenarios resulting from excess wind and seismic overloading, prepared by a licensed professional engineer;
(f) 
Such other information as may be reasonably required by the Director and consistent with Section 520.040 hereof;
(2) 
Certification, by a duly authorized representative of any person owning a facility, utility pole or other structure within the ROW upon which the applicant's facility is to be attached or secured, that:
(a) 
The applicant has permission from such person to install the facility;
(b) 
The person is not in default of any franchise, license or other agreement with the City; and
(c) 
The person is not in substantial violation of any provision of this code;
h. 
Proof that the ROW user has the legal authority to perform ROW work within said street and further that the City is authorized thereby to regulate same through this Code. In the absence of such proof, the ROW user shall provide for the assumption of all risk and the indemnification of the City for any resulting loss or damage, in a form acceptable to the City Attorney.
4. 
The information required by the application may be submitted in the form maintained by the applicant, provided it is responsive to the application's requirements, and the applicant shall be allowed a reasonable amount of time to complete the application based on the amount of data or information requested or required.
5. 
Each such application shall be accompanied by the following payments:
a. 
An application fee approved by the City to cover the cost of processing the application;
b. 
A deposit, if applicable, for any cut into or excavation of the ROW, as provided in Section 520.080 hereof; and
c. 
Any other amounts due to the City from the applicant, including but not limited to prior delinquent fees, costs, and any loss, damage, or expense suffered by the City because of the applicant's prior work in the rights-of-way or for any emergency actions taken by the City, but the Director may modify this requirement to the extent the Director determines any such fees to be in good-faith dispute or beyond the ability of the applicant to control.
6. 
Applications shall be reviewed and acted upon within the timeframes provided in this Article. The City acknowledges that Federal law or regulations may prescribe deadlines not consistent with those included in this Article, but the certainty of such Federal deadlines cannot be effectively ascertained and prescribed herein. It shall be incumbent upon the applicant to inform the City of any desire to utilize Federal deadlines and to explain the applicability of same at the time of application. The Director shall include a Federal deadline option on the City's form application.
B. 
Application Review And Determination.
1. 
The Director shall promptly review each application for a ROW permit that is complete and in compliance with all application requirements. The Director shall grant or deny all such applications within thirty-one (31) days of their receipt. Unless the application is denied, the Director shall issue a ROW permit upon determining that the applicant:
a. 
Has submitted all necessary information;
b. 
Has paid the appropriate fees; and
c. 
Is in full compliance with this Chapter and all other City ordinances.
In order to avoid excessive processing and accounting costs to either the City or the applicant, the Director may establish procedures for bulk processing of applications and periodic payment of fees to avoid excessive processing and accounting costs.
2. 
It is the intention of the City that interference with, damage to, excavation or disruption of, or the placement of facilities within, the City's rights-of-way should be minimized and limited in scope to the extent allowed by law to achieve the purposes of this Chapter. When reasonable and necessary to accomplish such purposes, the Director may require as alternatives to the proposed ROW work either less disruptive methods or different locations for facilities, provided that any required alternative:
a. 
Shall not increase expenses by more than ten percent (10%) of the applicant's costs for the work as proposed,
b. 
Shall not result in a decline of service quality, and
c. 
Shall be competitively neutral and non-discriminatory.
The Director shall provide to the applicant the reasons why the required alternative is reasonable and necessary.
3. 
Upon receipt of an application, the Director shall determine whether any portion of the rights-of-way will be affected by the proposed work and whether the interference, disruption, or placement of facilities will be more than minor in nature. In determining whether the proposed work is more than minor in nature the Director shall consider the nature and scope of the work, its location and duration, and its effect on the rights-of-way, the use thereof, and neighboring properties.
a. 
If the applicant can show to the Director's reasonable satisfaction that the work involves no interference, disruption, excavation, or damage to, or only minor interference, with, the rights-of-way, or that the work does not involve the placement of facilities or involves time-sensitive maintenance, then the Director shall promptly grant the ROW permit.
b. 
If the Director determines that the effect on the rights-of-way will be more than minor in nature and no exemption under the above paragraph (3)(a) or any other provision of this Chapter applies, the Director shall schedule and coordinate the work and grant the ROW permit accordingly. When reasonable and necessary to accomplish the purposes of this Chapter, the Director may postpone issuance of a ROW permit, and may give public notice of the application in an attempt to identify whether any other person intends to do work in the same area within a reasonable period of time, so that all ROW work in the area can be coordinated. Due regard shall be accorded applicants that are required by any law, rule, regulation, license, or franchise to provide service to the area defined in the application. The Director shall not impose any coordination or scheduling requirements that prevent or unreasonably delay an applicant's access to the ROW or that create a barrier to entry.
c. 
Applicants shall participate in any joint planning, construction and advance notification of such work, including coordination and consolidation of any excavation of or disturbance to the rights-of-way, as directed by the Director. Applicants shall cooperate with each other and other ROW users and the City for the best, most efficient, least intrusive, most aesthetic, and least obtrusive performance of ROW work and use of the ROW.
d. 
The Director shall provide contact information permitting applicants to ascertain whether existing capacity may be available from other persons utilizing the rights-of-way along the intended path of any proposed work. The Director shall also maintain indexes of all ROW permits issued, both by the ROW user and by the affected rights-of-way.
e. 
The grant of a ROW permit shall not eliminate the need of an applicant to obtain: (i) any other permit required by law for the construction or installation of facilities within the ROW, or (ii) any other authority necessary for the placement or attachment of facilities on property other than the ROW.
4. 
In addition, the following provisions shall apply to above-ground facilities:
a. 
The design, location, nature, and construction of above-ground facilities shall be subject to the review and approval of the Director as provided herein and as otherwise required by law. Such review shall be non-discriminatory and competitively neutral and approvals shall not be unreasonably withheld.
b. 
In considering the application the Director shall consider the requirements of towers and antennas as contained in Chapter 440 of the Municipal Code and shall apply those requirements to the extent practicable and consistent with the purposes and intent of this code, but no special antenna permit shall be required for the placement of such facilities in the ROW.
c. 
The Director may designate certain locations or facilities in the ROW to be excluded from use by the applicant for its facilities, including, but not limited to:
(1) 
Ornamental or similar specially designed street lights,
(2) 
Designated historic areas,
(3) 
Facilities, equipment, structures or locations that do not have electrical service adequate or appropriate for the proposed facilities or cannot safely bear the weight or wind loading thereof,
(4) 
Facilities, equipment, structures or locations that in the reasonable judgment of the Director, are incompatible with the proposed facilities or would be rendered unsafe or unstable by the installation, and
(5) 
Facilities, equipment, structures or locations that have been designated or planned for other use or are not otherwise available for use by the applicant due to engineering, technological, proprietary, legal or other limitations or restrictions.
d. 
The design and placement of above-ground facilities shall:
(1) 
Maximize use of structures on which such facilities already exist;
(2) 
Avoid interference with existing driveways, sidewalks, or other pedestrian or vehicle paths (antennas shall not be located less than eight (8) feet above grade);
(3) 
Be located no closer to similar facilities as may be necessary for service delivery, so as to minimize adverse visual impacts and preserve property values;
(4) 
Not inhibit the current or future use of the ROW;
(5) 
Be a neutral color and shall not be bright, reflective or metallic (black, gray and tan shall be considered neutral colors, as shall any color that blends with the surrounding dominant color and helps to camouflage the facilities);
(6) 
Be screened sufficiently to reasonably conceal the facility, if the facility is taller than three (3) feet in height or exceeds four (4) square feet in size, with the person having facilities within the ROW being responsible for the installation, repair, or replacement of screening materials;
(7) 
Not emit any unnecessary or intrusive noise and shall comply with all other applicable regulations and standards established by the State, Federal, or local law; and
(8) 
Meet such additional physical criteria as reasonably determined by the Director.
5. 
If the application of any provision of this Code excludes locations for facilities to the extent that the exclusion conflicts with the reasonable requirements of the applicant, the Director shall cooperate in good faith with the applicant to attempt to find suitable alternatives.
6. 
The grant of a ROW permit shall not eliminate the need to have obtained a license, permit or other agreement for attaching facilities to other facilities, poles or other structures, whether owned by the City or another person.
7. 
Nothing in this Code shall be construed to require that the City any person access to any City facilities or the City's proprietary property, but the City may enter into separate agreements to allow such access. Such agreements may include the payment of rent or reasonable attachment fees for use of City facilities or other City property. All such agreements shall be non-discriminatory and competitively neutral among wireless transmission providers.
C. 
Permit Issuance And Denial.
1. 
Each ROW permit issued by the Director shall include:
a. 
Projected commencement and termination dates or, if such dates are unknown at the time the permit is issued, a provision requiring the ROW user to provide the Director with reasonable advance notice of such dates once they are determined;
b. 
Length of affected rights-of-way, number of road crossings, and identification and description of any pavement or curb cuts included in the work;
c. 
Information regarding scheduling and coordination of work, if necessary;
d. 
The location of any of the applicant's facilities, both those proposed and existing, and the location of any known facilities owned by another person that may be affected by the proposed work;
e. 
An acknowledgement and representation by the applicant to comply with the terms and conditions of the ROW permit and this Chapter; and
f. 
Such conditions and requirements as are deemed reasonably necessary by the Director to protect structures and other facilities in the rights-of-way from damage, to restore such rights-of-way, and any structures or facilities, to ensure the reasonable continuity and sight-lines of pedestrian and vehicular traffic, and to protect property values, the aesthetics of adjoining properties and neighborhoods, and the public health, safety and welfare.
2. 
An applicant receiving a ROW permit shall promptly notify the Director of any material changes in the information submitted in the application. The Director may issue a revised ROW permit or require that the ROW user reapply for a ROW permit in accordance with all requirements of this code.
3. 
ROW permits inure to the benefit of the applicant and the rights granted thereunder may not be assigned or transferred to any other person without the written consent of the Director.
4. 
The Director may deny an application, if denial is deemed to be in the public interest, for the following reasons:
a. 
Delinquent fees, costs or expenses owed by the applicant;
b. 
Failure to provide information required by the application or this code;
c. 
The applicant being in violation of the provisions of this code or other pertinent and applicable City ordinances;
d. 
Failure to return the ROW to its previous condition under previously issued ROW permits or after prior excavations by the applicant;
e. 
For reasons of environmental, historic or cultural sensitivity, as defined by applicable Federal, State or local law;
f. 
For the applicant's refusal to comply with alternative ROW work methods, locations, or other reasonable conditions required by the Director; and
g. 
For any other reason to protect the public health, safety and welfare, provided that such denial does not fall within the exclusive authority of the Missouri Public Service Commission or interfere with a ROW user's right of eminent domain of private property, and provided further that such denial is imposed on a competitively neutral and non-discriminatory basis.
D. 
Permit Revocation And Ordinance Violation.
1. 
The Director may revoke a ROW permit without fee refund after notice and an opportunity to cure, but only in the event of a substantial breach of the terms and conditions of the permit or this Chapter. Prior to revocation the Director shall provide written notice to the ROW user identifying any substantial breach and allowing a reasonable period of time not longer than thirty (30) days to cure the problem, which cure period may be immediate if certain activities must be stopped to protect the public safety. The cure period shall be extended by the Director on good cause shown by the ROW user. A substantial breach, includes, but is not limited to, the following:
a. 
A material violation of a provision of the ROW permit or this Chapter;
b. 
An evasion or attempt to evade any material provision of the ROW permit or this Chapter, or the perpetration or attempt to perpetrate any fraud or deceit upon the City or its residents;
c. 
A material misrepresentation of fact in the ROW permit application;
d. 
A failure to complete ROW work by the date specified in the ROW permit, unless an extension is obtained or unless the failure to complete the work is due to reasons beyond the ROW user's control; and
e. 
A failure to correct, upon reasonable notice and opportunity to cure as specified by the Director, work that does not conform to applicable national safety ordinances, industry construction standards, this Chapter or any other applicable ordinances, provided that City standards are no more stringent than those of a national safety ordinance.
2. 
Any breach of the terms and conditions of a ROW permit shall also be deemed a violation of this Chapter, and in lieu of revocation the Director may initiate prosecution of the ROW user for such violation.
E. 
Private Streets. Notwithstanding anything in this Code to the contrary, the City has no authority to grant a ROW user the right to install or maintain facilities or to perform work in any private street; provided, however, the City shall regulate any ROW work in any private street under its inherent police power and as provided in this Code for purposes of public health and safety. Doing so is not intended and may not be considered as an exercise of jurisdiction over such private street for the purposes of public use or maintenance.
[Ord. No. 2591 §§ 1 — 2, 8-23-2016]
A. 
Jurisdiction, Inspection, Permit Deadlines, Stop Work Orders, And Liability.
1. 
No person shall perform any excavation in the ROW without providing proof of security for such work or for the restoration and maintenance of the ROW as provided in Section 520.080, below. In the event of a need for emergency ROW work, the person conducting the work shall provide the required proof as soon as practicable following the commencement of the work, not to exceed the third business day thereafter.
2. 
All facilities and ROW work shall be subject to inspection by the City and the supervision of all Federal, State and local authorities having jurisdiction in such matters to ensure compliance with all applicable laws, ordinances, departmental rules and regulations, and the ROW permit. The City shall charge an inspection fee in an amount determined by the Director.
3. 
ROW work shall commence within thirty (30) calendar days after the issuance of the permit and if not so commenced, such permit shall be deemed terminated. Permits so terminated may be renewed upon the payment of an additional permit fee as originally required. Every permit shall expire at the end of the period of time set out in the permit. If the ROW user is unable to commence or to complete the work within the specified time, the ROW user shall, prior to the expiration date, present in writing to the Director a request for an extension of time setting forth the reasons for the requested extension. If the Director determines that such an extension is necessary and not contrary to the public interest, the ROW user may be granted additional time for the completion of the work.
4. 
The Director shall have full access to all portions of the ROW work and may issue stop work orders and corrective orders to prevent unauthorized or substandard work. Such orders:
a. 
May be delivered personally or by certified mail to the address(es) listed on the application for the ROW permit or the person in charge of the construction site at the time of delivery;
b. 
Shall state that substandard work or work not authorized by the ROW permit is being carried out, summarize the substandard or unauthorized work and provide a period of not longer than thirty (30) days to cure the problem, which cure period may be immediate if certain activities must be stopped to protect the public safety; and
c. 
May be enforced by equitable action in the Circuit Court of St. Louis County, Missouri, and in such case the person responsible for the substandard or unauthorized work shall be liable for all costs and expenses incurred by the City in enforcing such orders, including reasonable attorney's fees, in addition to any and all penalties established in this Chapter.
B. 
Installation Of Facilities.
1. 
In conjunction with the City's long-standing policy favoring underground construction, no person may erect, construct or install new poles or other facilities above the surface of the rights-of-way without the written permission of the City, unless the City's authority has been preempted by State or Federal law. Such permission may be granted through a ROW permit when other similar facilities exist above-ground or when conditions are such that underground construction is impossible, impractical or economically unfeasible, as determined by the City, and when in the City's judgment the above-ground construction has minimal aesthetic impact on the area where the construction is proposed.
2. 
During installation of facilities and to the extent authorized by law, existing underground conduits shall be used whenever feasible and permitted by the owner thereof.
3. 
In the case of new construction or property development, the developer or property owner shall give reasonable written notice, to other potential ROW users as directed by the City, of the particular date on which open trenching will be available for installation of facilities. Costs of trenching and easements required to bring facilities within the development shall be borne by the developer or property owner; except that if the facilities are not installed within five (5) working days of the date the trenches are available, as designated in the notice given by the developer or property owner, then once the trenches are thereafter closed, the cost of new trenching shall be borne by the person installing the facilities.
4. 
Facilities shall be constructed and maintained in such a manner so as not to emit any unnecessary or intrusive noise and shall comply with all other applicable regulations and standards established by the City or State or Federal law.
C. 
Relocation Of Equipment And Facilities.
1. 
In the event of an emergency, or where construction equipment or facilities create or are contributing to an imminent danger to health, safety, or property, the City may, to the extent allowed by law, remove, re-lay, or relocate such construction equipment, or the pertinent parts of such facilities, without charge to the City for such action or for restoration or repair. The City shall attempt to notify the person having facilities within the ROW prior to taking such action, but the inability to do so shall not prevent same. Thereafter, the City shall notify the person having facilities within the ROW as soon as practicable.
2. 
At the City's direction and as may be permitted by law, all facilities shall be moved underground and the cost shall be solely the obligation of the person having facilities within the ROW (or as otherwise allowed or required by law).
3. 
Any person having facilities within the ROW shall, within a reasonable time specified by the City, protect, support, disconnect, relocate or remove, at its own expense, construction equipment or discrete portions of its facilities when required by the City by reason of traffic conditions; public safety; rights-of-way construction, maintenance or repair (including resurfacing or widening); change of rights-of-way grade or boundaries; construction, installation or repair of sewers, drains, water pipes, power lines, signal lines, tracks or any type of government-owned communications system, public work or improvement or any government-owned utility; rights-of-way vacation; or for any other purpose where the convenience of the City would be reasonably served thereby. This requirement shall not apply when the person having facilities within the ROW holds a valid easement that existed prior to the date when the area in question became rights-of-way. The person having facilities within the ROW shall bear the burden of establishing to the City's satisfaction the fact of the pre-existing easement.
4. 
Any person having facilities within the ROW shall, on the request of the City or any person authorized by the City, temporarily relocate facilities to permit the moving of buildings or oversized vehicles.
5. 
A person having facilities within the ROW shall, on the reasonable request of any person and after reasonable advance written notice, protect, support, disconnect, relocate, or remove facilities to accommodate such person, and the actual cost, reasonably incurred, of such actions shall be paid by the person requesting such action. The person having facilities within the ROW taking such action may require such payment in advance.
6. 
Rather than relocate facilities as requested or directed, a ROW user may abandon the facilities if approved by the City as provided in Subsection (F) of this Section.
7. 
No action hereunder shall be deemed a taking of property, and no person shall be entitled to any compensation therefor. No location of any facilities within the rights-of-way shall be a vested interest.
D. 
Property Repair And Alterations.
1. 
During any ROW work, the person doing the work shall protect from damage any and all existing structures and property belonging to the City and any other person. Any and all rights-of-way, public property, or private property disturbed or damaged during the work shall be repaired or replaced by the person doing the work or the person on whose behalf the work is being done, and such person shall immediately notify the owner of the fact of any damaged property. Such repair or replacement shall be completed within a reasonable time specified by the Director and to the Director's satisfaction.
2. 
Any alteration to the existing water mains, sewerage or drainage system or to any City, State or other public structures or facilities in the rights-of-way required on account of the construction, installation, repair or maintenance of facilities within the rights-of-way shall be made at the sole cost and expense of the owner of such facilities.
E. 
Removal, Abandonment, Transfer, And Relocation Of Facilities.
1. 
If a registration is terminated, the City may require that the person having facilities within the ROW remove its facilities from the rights-of-way at the person's expense. In removing its facilities the person shall obtain a ROW permit and restore any excavation that shall be made by it as required by this code. The liability, indemnity, insurance and bonding requirements as provided herein shall continue in full force and effect during and after the period of removal and restoration and until full compliance by the person with the terms and conditions of this paragraph and the requirements of this code.
2. 
If a person having facilities within the ROW installs the facilities without having complied with the requirements of this code, the City may:
a. 
Require the removal of the facilities,
b. 
Remove the facilities at the expense of the person having facilities within the ROW, or
c. 
Require the transfer of the facilities as provided herein.
3. 
If a person having facilities within the ROW:
a. 
Discontinues use of any facility for a continuous period of twelve (12) months;
b. 
Has installed the facilities without complying with the requirements of this code; or
c. 
Declares the facilities abandoned or if such facilities are:
(1) 
No longer in active use;
(2) 
No longer capable of being used for the same or similar purpose for which the facilities were installed; or
(3) 
Are physically disconnected from any other facility that is in use or in service;
Then the facilities may be deemed abandoned. If such abandonment occurs, the City may require the removal of the facilities, remove the facilities at the expense of the person having facilities within the ROW, allow the abandonment of the facilities without removal or require the transfer of the facilities, all as provided in this Subsection (6).
4. 
If the City requires removal of the facilities, the person shall obtain a ROW permit and shall abide by all requirements of this Chapter. The liability, indemnity, insurance and bonding requirements required herein shall continue in full force and effect during and after the period of removal and restoration and until full compliance by the person with the terms and conditions of the ROW permit and the requirements of this Chapter.
5. 
If the person fails to remove the facilities after having been directed to do so, the City may, to the extent permitted by law:
a. 
Have the removal done at the person's expense.
b. 
Deem the facilities abandoned, without removal, if the Director determines that abandonment is not likely to prevent or significantly impair the future use, repair, excavation, maintenance, or construction of the ROW.
c. 
Determine that the ownership of the facilities should be transferred to the City, or to such person as directed by the City. In either case the owner of the facilities shall submit a written instrument, satisfactory in form to City, transferring to the City, or to such person as directed by the City, ownership of the facilities. The City may sell, assign, or transfer all or part of the facilities so transferred.
6. 
The City shall not remove any facilities unless the existence of such facilities prevents or significantly impairs the use, repair, excavation or construction of the ROW. The City shall not remove or seek to possess or transfer the facilities until thirty (30) days have passed following written notice by the Director to the person having facilities within The ROW of the City's intent to so act. The Director may choose not to act on good cause shown by the person having facilities within the ROW.
F. 
Standards For ROW Work.
1. 
Except for emergency ROW work as provided in Section 520.060(A)(1), ROW work shall be performed only upon issuance and in accordance with the requirements and scope of a ROW permit. At all times during the work, ROW permits shall be conspicuously displayed at the work site and shall be available for inspection by the Director. No ROW user shall perform any ROW work not authorized by a permit.
2. 
If at any time it appears that the duration or scope of the ROW work is or will become materially different from that allowed by the ROW permit, the ROW user shall inform the Director. The Director may issue a waiver, an extension or a revised ROW permit, or require that the ROW user reapply for a ROW permit in accordance with all requirements of this code.
3. 
ROW users shall not open or encumber more of the rights-of-way than is reasonably necessary to complete the ROW work in the most expeditious manner or allow excavations to remain open longer than is necessary to complete the work.
a. 
No ROW work shall extend beyond the centerline of the street before being backfilled or the surface of the street temporarily restored in a manner satisfactory to the Director.
b. 
No ROW work shall prevent the reasonable use of such street by the public or cause substantial hazards.
c. 
All ROW work that affects vehicular or pedestrian traffic shall be properly signed, barricaded, and otherwise protected at the ROW user's expense. The ROW user shall be responsible for providing adequate traffic control to the area surrounding the work as determined by the Director.
d. 
The ROW user shall perform the ROW work at such times that will allow the least interference with the normal flow of traffic and the peace and quiet of the neighborhood, as permitted by the Director. Unless otherwise provided by the Director in the permit, non-emergency ROW work on arterial and collector streets may not be accomplished during the hours of 7:00 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. in order to minimize disruption of traffic flow.
4. 
Excavations.
a. 
No ROW user shall make or cause to be made any excavation in any ROW without adequately protecting the same by erecting such fencing or other barriers as the Director deems adequate to prevent persons, animals or vehicles from falling into said excavation. Said barriers may include warning signs by day and red torches or their equivalent by night, which shall be placed and maintained around any such excavation as to give reasonable notice and warning to any person approaching such excavation from any direction. The Director may require additional safety regulations a may be in conformity with the requirements of Federal or State law or regulation.
b. 
Excavated materials shall be laid compactly along the side of the trench and kept trimmed up so as to cause as little inconvenience as possible to public travel. In order to expedite the flow of traffic or to abate a dirt or dust nuisance, the Director may require the ROW user to provide toe boards or bins; and if the excavated area is muddy and causes inconvenience to pedestrians, temporary wooden plank walks, footbridges, or coverings shall be installed as required by the Director. If the street is not wide enough to hold the excavated material without using part of the adjacent sidewalk, the ROW user shall keep a passageway at least one-half (1/2) the sidewalk width open along such sidewalk line.
c. 
When any earth, gravel or other excavated material is caused to roll, flow or wash upon any street, the ROW user shall cause the same to be removed from the street within four (4) hours after deposit.
5. 
Notice.
a. 
The ROW user shall notify the City no less than three (3) working days in advance of any ROW work that would require any street closure or would reduce traffic flow to less than two (2) lanes of moving traffic for more than four (4) hours. Except in the event of emergency ROW work, no such closure shall take place without notice and prior authorization from the City.
b. 
The ROW user shall provide written notice to all property owners within one hundred and eighty-five (185) feet of the site at least forty-eight (48) hours prior to performing the ROW work. Notice shall include a reasonably detailed description of work to be done, the location of work, and the time and duration of the work.
6. 
All ROW work shall be in accordance with all applicable sections of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, the National Electrical Safety Code, and other Federal, State, or local laws and regulations that may apply, including, without limitation, local health, safety, construction and zoning ordinances, and laws and accepted industry practices, all as hereafter may be amended or adopted. In the event of a conflict among ordinances and standards, the most stringent ordinance or standard shall apply (except insofar as that ordinance or standard, if followed, would result in facilities that could not meet requirements of Federal, State or local law).
7. 
All facilities shall be installed and located to cause minimum interference with the rights and convenience of property owners, other ROW users and the City. Facilities shall not be placed where they will disrupt or interfere with other facilities or public improvements, or obstruct or hinder in any manner the various utilities serving the residents and businesses in the City or public improvements.
a. 
All existing facilities shall be exposed sufficiently ahead of trench excavation work to avoid damage to those facilities and to permit their relocation, if necessary.
b. 
Pipe drains, pipe culverts or other facilities encountered shall be protected by the ROW user.
c. 
Monuments of concrete, iron or other lasting material set for the purpose of locating or preserving the lines of any street or property subdivision or a precise survey reference point or a permanent survey bench mark within the City shall not be removed or disturbed or caused to be removed or disturbed unless permission to do so is first obtained in writing from the Director. Permission shall be granted only upon condition that the ROW user shall pay all expenses incident to the proper replacement of the monument.
8. 
All ROW work shall be conducted in accordance with good engineering practices, performed by experienced and properly trained personnel so as not to endanger any person or property or to unreasonably interfere in any manner with the rights-of-ways or legal rights of any property owner, including the City, or unnecessarily hinder or obstruct pedestrian or vehicular traffic.
9. 
All safety practices required by law shall be used during ROW work, including commonly accepted methods and devices to prevent failures and accidents that are likely to cause damage, injury, or nuisance to the public.
10. 
Any contractor or subcontractor of a ROW user must be properly licensed under laws of the State and all applicable local ordinances, and each contractor or subcontractor shall have the same obligations with respect to its work as a ROW user would have pursuant to this Chapter. A ROW user:
a. 
Must ensure that contractors, subcontractors and all employees performing ROW work are trained and experienced,
b. 
Shall be responsible for ensuring that all work is performed consistent with the ROW permit and applicable law,
c. 
Shall be fully responsible for all acts or omissions of contractors or subcontractors,
d. 
Shall be responsible for promptly correcting acts or omissions by any contractor or subcontractor, and
e. 
Shall implement a quality control program to ensure that the work is properly performed.
11. 
A ROW user shall not place or cause to be placed any sort of signs, advertisements or other extraneous markings on the facilities or in the ROW, whether relating to the ROW user or any other person, except such necessary minimal markings approved by the City as necessary to identify the facilities for service, repair, maintenance or emergency purposes or as may be otherwise required to be affixed by applicable law or regulation.
12. 
Unless otherwise approved in writing by the City, a ROW user shall not remove, cut, or damage any trees, or their roots, within the ROW.
13. 
Street crossings will be bored at the direction of the Director.
G. 
Restoring And Maintaining The Rights-Of-Way.
1. 
To complete any ROW work, the ROW user shall restore the ROW and surrounding areas, including but not limited to any pavement, foundation, concrete slabs or curbs, screening, landscaping, or vegetation and shall comply with other reasonable conditions of the Director. Restoration of the ROW shall be completed within the dates specified in the ROW permit unless the Director issues a waiver, extension or a new or revised ROW permit.
2. 
It shall be the duty of any person making an excavation in the ROW to backfill such excavations and restore the surface in accordance with the City's minimum prescribed standards for such surfaces, as may be determined and published by the Director.
3. 
If a ROW user fails to restore the ROW within the date specified either by the ROW permit, or any extension thereof as granted by the Director, the City may perform its own restoration. The City may also opt to perform its own restoration regardless of any failure by the ROW user, in which case the ROW permit, or any amendment or revision thereto, shall note such option. In either event, if the City performs the restoration the ROW user shall be responsible for reimbursing the City's reasonable actual restoration costs within thirty (30) days of invoice.
4. 
Every ROW user to whom a ROW permit has been granted shall guarantee for a period of four (4) years the restoration of the ROW in the area where the ROW user conducted excavation. During this period the ROW user shall, upon notification from the Director, correct all restoration work to the extent necessary as required by the Director. Said work shall be completed within a reasonable time, not to exceed thirty (30) calendar days from receipt of the Director's notice unless otherwise permitted by the Director. If a ROW user fails to restore the ROW within the time specified, the City may perform the work and the ROW user shall be responsible for reimbursing the City's reasonable actual restoration costs within thirty (30) days of invoice. The Director may extend the cure period on good cause shown.
5. 
A ROW user shall not be relieved of the obligation to complete the necessary right-of-way restoration and maintenance because of the existence of any performance bond required by this Chapter.
H. 
After the completion of ROW work the ROW user shall provide to the City as-built drawings, maps or other comparable records as determined by the Director, drawn to scale and certified to the City as reasonably depicting the location of all facilities constructed pursuant to the ROW permit. Such records may be provided to the Director in the form maintained by the ROW user, but when available to the ROW user, shall be submitted in automated formats compatible with the City's systems, such as AUTOCAD.DXF, AUTOCAD.DWG, MICROSTATION.DGN (or comparable as allowed by the Director), or in hard copy otherwise.
[Ord. No. 2591 §§ 1 — 2, 8-23-2016]
A. 
Security Required. A ROW user shall not perform any ROW work without complying with the security requirements of this Section.
B. 
Security Deposit.
1. 
A ROW user shall submit a cash deposit in the sum of two thousand dollars ($2,000.00), or other such amount as may be determined by the Director, for any cut to or excavation of the ROW. The deposit shall be to secure the proper restoration of the ROW by the ROW user after completion of the work. Whenever a ROW user applies for more than one (1) cut or excavation, the ROW user may post a single deposit in an amount determined by the Director to cover the anticipated costs of restoration.
2. 
The Director shall inspect the ROW user's restoration of the ROW for compliance with the City's standards. Upon the ROW user's timely and successful restoration as evidenced by the Director's issuance of a certificate of final inspection, the City shall refund to the ROW user the security deposit.
3. 
If the ROW user fails to restore the cut or excavation to required standards within a reasonable amount of time, then after notice and a reasonable opportunity to cure the Director may effect the proper restoration of the ROW and the use of the security deposit for such purposes. In this event the City shall be entitled to any damages or loss suffered by the City as a result.
4. 
If any deposit is less than sufficient to pay the City's costs and damages, the ROW user shall pay to the City an amount equal to the deficiency. If the ROW user fails or refuses to pay such deficiency, the City may institute an action to recover the same in any court of competent jurisdiction and shall be entitled to a reasonable allowance for attorneys' fees. Until such deficiency is paid in full, no additional permits shall be issued to the ROW user.
C. 
Performance And Maintenance Bonds.
1. 
For any ROW user having less than twenty-five million dollars ($25,000,000.00) in net assets and a history of non-compliance with State and local regulations, the Director may, in addition to, in combination, with, or in lieu of the security deposit required, permit a ROW user to establish in the City's favor a performance and maintenance bond in an amount to be determined by the Director to ensure the ROW work and the restoration of the right-of-way. The bond shall continue in full force and effect for a period of twenty-four (24) months following completion of the work. The Director shall have the authority to extend the maintenance bond period for up to an additional twenty-four (24) months.
2. 
If a ROW user fails to complete the ROW work in a safe, timely, and competent manner, or if the completed restorative work fails without remediation within the time period for the bond (as determined by the Director), then after notice and a reasonable opportunity to cure there shall be recoverable, jointly and severally from the principal and surety of the bond any damages or loss suffered by the City as a result, including the full amount of any compensation, indemnification, or cost of removal or abandonment of any property of the ROW user and the cost of completing work within or restoring the rights-of-way, plus a reasonable allowance for attorneys' fees, up to the full amount of the bond. The City may also recover against the bond any amount recoverable against a security fund or letter of credit where such amount exceeds that available under a security fund or letter of credit.
3. 
Upon completion of ROW work to the satisfaction of the Director and upon lapse of the bond period, including any extension by the Director, the City shall release the bond.
4. 
The bond shall be issued by a surety with an "A" or better rating of insurance in Best's Key Rating Guide, Property/Casualty Edition, shall be subject to the approval of the City's attorney and shall contain the following endorsement:
 
"This bond may not be cancelled, or allowed to lapse, until sixty (60) days after receipt by the City, by certified mail, return receipt requested, of a written notice from the issuer of the bond of intent to cancel or not to renew."
5. 
In lieu of any bond required herein, the ROW user may establish in the City's favor such other security as the Director may determine to be commensurate with the noted bonding requirements, including but not limited to an annual bond to be maintained in the minimum amount of twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000.00).
D. 
Insurance.
1. 
All ROW users shall maintain, for the duration of any ROW work and, when applicable, for as long as the ROW user has facilities within the rights-of-way, at least the following liability insurance coverage: worker's compensation and employer liability insurance to meet all requirements of Missouri law and commercial general liability insurance with respect to the construction, operation, and maintenance of the facilities, and the conduct of the ROW user's business in the City, in the minimum amounts of:
a. 
Three millions dollars ($3,000,000.00) for property damage resulting from any one (1) accident;
b. 
Five millions dollars ($5,000,000.00) for personal bodily injury or death resulting from any one (1) accident; and
c. 
Three millions dollars ($3,000,000.00) for all other types of liability.
These insurance requirements shall not be construed to limit the liability of any person or to impose any liability on the City or to waive any sovereign immunity.
2. 
All insurance policies shall be with sureties qualified to do business in the State of Missouri, with an "A" or better rating of insurance by Best's Key Rating Guide, Property/Casualty Edition, and in a form approved by the City.
3. 
All insurance policies shall be available for review by the City, and a ROW user having facilities within the rights-of-way shall keep on file with the City current certificates of insurance.
4. 
All general liability insurance policies shall name the City, its officers, boards, board members, commissions, commissioners, agents, and employees as additional insureds and shall further provide that any cancellation or reduction in coverage shall not be effective unless thirty (30) days' prior written notice thereof has been given to the Director. A ROW user shall not cancel any required insurance policy without submission of proof that it has obtained alternative insurance that complies with this Chapter.
5. 
The Director may exempt in writing from these insurance requirements any self-insured ROW user, provided that the ROW user demonstrates to the Director's satisfaction that the ROW user's self-insurance plan is commensurate with said requirements and that the ROW user has sufficient resources to meet all potential risks, liabilities and obligations contemplated by the requirements of this Chapter. The Director may require a security fund or letter of credit as a condition to a self-insured's exemption. The Director shall waive this requirement when the ROW user has twenty-five million dollars ($25,000,000.00) in net assets and does not have a history of non-compliance with applicable regulatory law.
E. 
Indemnification.
1. 
Any ROW user granted a ROW permit, and any person having facilities within the rights-of-way, as partial consideration for the privilege granted, shall, at its sole cost and expense, indemnify, hold harmless, and defend the City, its officials, boards, board members, commissions, commissioners, agents, and employees, against any and all claims, suits, causes of action, proceedings, and judgments for damages or equitable relief arising out of: (i) any ROW work, including but not limited to the construction, maintenance, repair, or replacement of the of facilities, (ii) the operation of its facilities, (iii) failure to secure consents from landowners, or (iv) any actions taken or omissions made by the person pursuant to the authority of this Chapter.
2. 
The foregoing indemnity provisions, include, but are not limited to, the City's reasonable attorneys' fees incurred in defending against any such claim, suit, or proceeding prior to the person assuming such defense. The City shall notify a person of claims and suits within seven (7) business days of its actual knowledge of the existence of such claim, suit, or proceeding. Once a person assumes such defense, the City may at its option continue to participate in the defense at its own expense.
3. 
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Chapter, the City shall not be so indemnified or reimbursed in relation to any amounts attributable to: (i) the City's own negligence, willful misconduct, intentional or criminal acts, or (ii) the City acting in a proprietary capacity to deliver service(s) within the City.
4. 
Recovery by the City of any amounts under insurance, a performance bond, or otherwise does not limit a person's duty to indemnify the City in any way; nor shall such recovery relieve a person of amounts owed to the City, or in any respect prevent the City from exercising any other right or remedy it may have.
F. 
Principal's Responsibility. Notwithstanding anything in this Code to the contrary, a person having facilities within the ROW shall be responsible for ensuring the work of any contracted ROW user, including the prompt correction of any contractor error or deficiency, ROW restoration if the contractor is unable or unwilling to perform same to the City's standards, and liability for damages caused by the contractor.
[Ord. No. 2591 §§ 1 — 2, 8-23-2016]
A. 
The Director shall make a final determination as to any matter concerning the grant, denial or revocation of a ROW permit as provided in this Chapter. On the request of an applicant or a ROW user and within a reasonable period of time, the Director also shall make a final determination as to any other issue relating to the use of the ROW, the imposition of any fee or the application of any provision of this Chapter, provided, however, that this review shall not apply to matters being prosecuted in the municipal court. Any final determination of the Director shall be subject to review as provided herein.
B. 
Any person aggrieved by a final determination of the Director may appeal in writing to the City Manager within five (5) business days thereof. The appeal shall assert specific grounds for review, and the City Manager shall render a decision on the appeal within fifteen (15) business days of receipt affirming, reversing, or modifying the determination of the Director. The City Manager may extend this time period for the purpose of any investigation or hearing deemed necessary. A decision affirming the Director's determination shall be in writing and supported by findings establishing the reasonableness of the decision.
C. 
Any person aggrieved by the final determination of the City Manager may file a petition for review pursuant to Chapter 536 of the Revised Statutes of Missouri, as amended, in the Circuit Court of the County of St. Louis. Such petition shall be filed within thirty (30) days after the City Manager's final determination.
D. 
Arbitration And Mediation.
1. 
On agreement of the parties and in addition to any other remedies, any final decision of the City Manager may be submitted to mediation or binding arbitration.
2. 
In the event of mediation, the City Manager and the applicant or ROW user shall agree to a mediator. The costs and fees of the mediator shall be borne equally by the parties, and each party shall pay its own costs, disbursements and attorney fees.
3. 
In the event of arbitration, the City Manager and the applicant or ROW user shall agree to a single arbitrator. The costs and fees of the arbitrator shall be borne equally by the parties. If the parties cannot agree on an arbitrator, the matter shall be resolved by a three (3) person arbitration panel consisting of one (1) arbitrator selected by the City Manager, one (1) arbitrator selected by the applicant or ROW user, and one (1) person selected by the other two (2) arbitrators, in which case each party shall bear the expense of its own arbitrator and shall jointly and equally bear with the other party the expense of the third arbitrator and of the arbitration. Each party shall also pay its own costs, disbursements and attorney fees.
[Ord. No. 2591 §§ 1 — 2, 8-23-2016]
A. 
Upon failure of a ROW user to commence, pursue or complete any ROW work required by law or by the provisions of this Chapter to be done in any street, within the time prescribed and to the reasonable satisfaction of the City, the City may, at its option, after thirty (30) days notice, cause such work to be done and the ROW user shall pay to the City the cost thereof in the itemized amounts reported by the City to the ROW user within thirty (30) days after receipt of such itemized report.
B. 
Upon ten (10) days written notice and with the supervision of the City, or as otherwise provided by law, a ROW user shall have the authority to trim trees that overhang rights-of-way of the City so as to prevent the branches of such trees from coming in contact with its facilities, at its own expense subject to the supervision and direction of the City. Nothing in this paragraph shall authorize the trimming of trees on private property without permission of the property owner. All cut materials shall be properly disposed.
C. 
During ROW work by a ROW user the City shall have the right to install, and to thereafter maintain, at its own cost in any excavation to or other applicable disturbance of the ROW any parallel facilities of its own that do not unreasonably interfere with the operations of other facilities.
D. 
Nothing in this Chapter shall be in preference or hindrance to the right of the City and any board, authority, commission or public service corporation of the City to use or occupy the rights-of-way or to perform or carry on any public works or public improvements of any description.
[Ord. No. 2591 §§ 1 — 2, 8-23-2016]
Any person convicted of violating any provision of this code shall be punished by a fine not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) or by imprisonment not to exceed ninety (90) days, or by both such fine and imprisonment. Each day the violation continues may be charged as a separate offense.
[1]
See editor's Note at Section 520.010.