[Ord. No. 19-4, 4-9-2019]
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.
DIRECTOR
The City's Code Enforcement Officer or such other person
designated to administer and enforce this Chapter.
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 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.
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:
1.
Install, change, replace, relocate, remove, maintain or repair
facilities within the rights-of-way, or
2.
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 public
street, highway, lane, path, alley, sidewalk, boulevard, drive, bridge,
tunnel, parkway, waterway, public easement or sidewalk in which the
City now or hereafter 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:
1.
City facilities or the City's property other than ROW,
such as City-owned or operated buildings, parks or other similar property,
2.
Airwaves used for cellular, non-wire telecommunications or broadcast
services,
3.
Easements obtained by ROW users on private property,
4.
Railroad rights-of-way or ground used or acquired for railroads,
or
5.
Facilities owned and used by the City for the transmission of
one (1) or more services. 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. 19-4, 4-9-2019]
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 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.
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.
Copies of any required certificates of insurance or performance
and maintenance bonds.
3.
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.
4.
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.
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.
5.
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. When deemed necessary to accomplish the
goals of this Section and to the extent permitted by law, the City
reserves the right, when feasible and reasonable, to require the sharing
of facilities by ROW users. 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 use of the rights-of-way.
6.
The Director shall establish procedures allowing 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.
B. Application Review And Determination.
1.
The Director shall promptly review each completed application
for a ROW permit and shall grant or deny all such applications as
provided herein within thirty-one (31) days of receipt thereof. 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.
The Director may establish procedures for bulk processing of
applications and periodic payment of fees to avoid excessive processing
and accounting costs.
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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 justify to the applicant that 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 Subsection
(B)(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 other person(s) intend 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.
4.
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 acknowledgment 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.
5.
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 Chapter;
c.
The applicant being in violation of the provisions of this Chapter
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.
C. Permit Revocation And Ordinance Violations.
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.
[Ord. No. 19-4, 4-9-2019]
A. Jurisdiction, Inspection And Stop Work Orders.
1.
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.
2.
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 work or substandard work as established in Subsection
(G) hereof. 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. Underground 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.
C. Above Ground Facilities.
1.
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:
a.
Ornamental or similar specially designed street lights,
b.
Designated historic areas,
c.
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,
d.
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
e.
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.
2.
Above ground facilities shall 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. Facilities
shall be located in such a manner as to reduce or eliminate their
visibility. A sightproof landscape screen may be required for any
authorized above ground facilities taller than three (3) feet in height
or covering in excess of four (4) square feet in size. Such screening
shall be sufficient to reasonably conceal the facility. A landscape
plan identifying the size and species of landscaping materials shall
be approved by the Director prior to installation of any facility
requiring landscape screening. The person having facilities within
the ROW shall be responsible for the installation, repair or replacement
of screening materials. Alternative screening or concealment may be
approved by the Director to the extent it meets or exceeds the purposes
of these requirements.
3.
Above ground 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.
4.
If the application of this Subsection excludes locations for above ground 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, but such alternatives may exceed the cost increase limitation established by Section
520.120(B)(2) and the City shall not be required to incur any financial cost or to acquire new locations for the applicant.
D. 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, 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.
At the City's direction, a person having facilities within
the ROW shall protect, support, disconnect, relocate or remove facilities,
at its own cost and expense, when necessary to accommodate the construction,
improvement, expansion, relocation or maintenance of streets or other
public works or to protect the ROW or the public health, safety or
welfare.
4.
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.
5.
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.
6.
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.
E. 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.
F. Removal, Abandonment, Transfer And Relocation Of Facilities.
1.
If a person having facilities within the ROW:
a.
Installs the facilities within the ROW without having complied
with the requirements of this Chapter, or
b.
Abandons the facilities, the City may require the removal of
the facilities, remove the facilities at the expense of the person
having facilities within the ROW or require the transfer of the facilities
as provided herein.
2.
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.
3.
If the person fails to remove the facilities after having been
directed to do so, the City may, to the extent permitted by law, have
the removal done at the person's expense. Alternatively, the
City may permit the abandonment, without removal, of the facilities
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.
4.
If the person fails to remove the facilities after having been
directed to do so, the City may, to the extent permitted by law, decide
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 the 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.
5.
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.
G. Standards For ROW Work.
1.
Except for emergency ROW work as provided in Section
520.120(A)(1), ROW work shall be performed only upon issuance and in accordance with the requirements 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.
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 Chapter.
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.
4.
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.
5.
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.
6.
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.
7.
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).
8.
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.
9.
All facilities shall be of good and durable quality.
10.
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-way or legal rights of any property
owner, including the City, or unnecessarily hinder or obstruct pedestrian
or vehicular traffic.
11.
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.
12.
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.
13.
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.
14.
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.
15.
Street crossings will be bored at the direction of the Director.
H. 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
or the following standards, as determined by the Director.
a.
If the excavations are made in the improved portion of the ROW,
twelve (12) inches of granular backfill will be placed over exposed
facilities and controlled low strength material (CLSM) will fill the
hole within eight (8) inches of the finished surface for concrete
pavements. There will be a plastic membrane placed between the rock
base and the CLSM to prevent the material from bleeding into the rock
base. The remaining eight (8) inches will be restored by placing a
twenty-eight (28) day minimum strength, four thousand five hundred
(4,500) psi concrete mix.
b.
If the excavations are made in the improved portion of an asphalt
or combination street, twelve (12) inches of granular backfill will
be placed over exposed facilities and CLSM will fill the hole within
nine (9) inches of the finished surface. There will be a plastic membrane
placed between the rock base and the CLSM to prevent the material
from bleeding into the rock base. The remaining nine (9) inches will
be restored by placing a six (6) inch thick, twenty-eight (28) day
minimum strength, four thousand five hundred (4,500) psi concrete
mix under a three (3) inch asphalt concrete lift of type C mix to
meet existing grades.
c.
Construction of asphalt driveway entrances in residential ROW
will be constructed of six (6) inches of compacted rock base and three
(3) inches of type C asphalt concrete mix. Construction of asphalt
driveway entrances in commercial ROW will be constructed of four (4)
inches of compacted rock base, seven and one-half (7.5) inches of
type X and three (3) inches of type C asphalt concrete mix. Concrete
driveway approaches will consist of a four (4) inch compacted rock
base and be a minimum of six (6) inches thick in residential ROW and
eight (8) inches thick in commercial ROW.
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.
I. Any person performing ROW work shall provide written notice to all
property owners within one hundred eighty-five (185) feet of the site
at least forty-eight (48) hours prior to any installation, replacement
or expansion of its facilities. Notice shall include a reasonably
detailed description of work to be done, the location of work and
the time and duration of the work.
[Ord. No. 19-4, 4-9-2019]
A. Performance And Maintenance Bonds.
1.
Prior to any ROW work a ROW user shall establish in the City's
favor a performance and maintenance bond in an amount to be determined
by the Director to ensure the restoration of the rights-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. The Director may waive this requirement when
the work involves no or only minor disruption or damage to the rights-of-way.
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 State and local regulations.
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 canceled 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 the 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).
B. 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:
Workers' 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.
Two million dollars ($2,000,000.00) for property damage resulting
from any one (1) accident;
b.
Five million dollars ($5,000,000.00) for personal bodily injury
or death resulting from any one (1) accident; and
c.
Two million dollars ($2,000,000.00) 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.
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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.
C. 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:
a.
Any ROW work, including, but not limited to, the construction,
maintenance, repair or replacement of the facilities,
b.
The operation of its facilities,
c.
Failure to secure consents from landowners, or
d.
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:
a.
The City's own negligence, willful misconduct, intentional
or criminal acts, or
b.
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.
D. Penalties. Any person violating any provision of this Chapter shall,
upon conviction by the City's Municipal Court, 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.
[Ord. No. 19-4, 4-9-2019]
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 Mayor within five (5) business days thereof.
The appeal shall assert specific grounds for review and the Mayor
shall render a decision on the appeal within fifteen (15) business
days of receipt affirming, reversing or modifying the determination
of the Director. The Mayor 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 Mayor may
file a petition for review pursuant to Chapter 536, RSMo., as amended,
in the Circuit Court of the County of St. Louis. Such petition shall
be filed within thirty (30) days after the Mayor'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 Mayor may be submitted to mediation or binding
arbitration.
2.
In the event of mediation, the Mayor 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 Mayor 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 Mayor, 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. 19-4, 4-9-2019]
A. 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 that are compatible with City systems
as determined by the Director or in hard copy otherwise.
B. 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.
C. 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 Subsection shall authorize
the trimming of trees on private property without permission of the
property owner. All cut materials shall be properly disposed.
D. 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.
E. 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.