The City Council may, by ordinance, grant, amend, renew, cancel for cause, and extend franchises of all public utilities, including cable television, operating in the City. No franchise may be granted for an indefinite term.
(Charter adopted by election of 11/4/97)
All extensions of public utilities within the City limits shall become a part of the aggregate property of the public utility, shall be operated as such, and shall be subject to all the obligations and reserved rights contained in this Charter and in any original grant hereafter made. The right to use and maintain any extension shall terminate with the original grant.
(Charter adopted by election of 11/4/97)
No public utility franchise may be transferred or assigned by the holder except with the approval of the City Council.
(Charter adopted by election of 11/4/97)
All grants, renewals, extensions, or amendments of public-utility franchises whether it be so provided in the ordinance or not, shall be subject to the right of the City to:
(A) 
repeal the same by ordinance at any time for failure to begin construction or operation within the time prescribed or for failure otherwise to comply with the terms of the franchise, such power to be exercised only after due notice and hearing;
(B) 
require an adequate and reasonable extension of plant and service, and the maintenance of plant and fixtures at the standard necessary to render the highest reasonable quality of utility service to the public;
(C) 
establish reasonable standards of service and quality of products and prevent unjust discrimination in service or rates;
(D) 
prescribe, for each franchised utility, the form of accounts to be kept, or that the system of accounts conform to those prescribed by the appropriate State and/or federal utility-regulatory agencies;
(E) 
impose such reasonable regulations and restrictions as may be deemed desirable or conducive to the safety, welfare, and accommodation of the public.
(F) 
require franchise holders to furnish the City, without cost to the City, full information regarding the location and precise description of all facilities of the franchise holder in, over, or under the City, and to regulate and control the location, relocation, and removal of the facilities;
(G) 
examine and audit at any time during normal business hours the accounts and records of the franchise holder; and
(H) 
require, at any time, such compensation and rental as may be permitted by the laws of the State of Texas.
(Charter adopted by election of 11/4/97)
The City shall compile and maintain a public record of all franchises granted by the City, including any extensions or amendments to such franchise grants.
(Charter adopted by election of 11/4/97)
The City Council may, at its discretion, create a Commission to review the performance of any and every franchise holder and/or public utility conducting business within the territorial and extra-territorial jurisdiction of the City.
(A) 
The membership of any such commission will be constituted by appointment.
(1) 
Each Council Member shall appoint one Commissioner and the Mayor shall appoint two Commissioners.
(2) 
Each Commission Member must be a resident of Horizon City or the area designated as extra-territorial jurisdiction.
(B) 
Every Commission shall oversee the day to day operations of the franchise with respect to fulfillment of the terms of the contract.
(C) 
Every Commission shall seek input from the residents of the City and its environs concerning access to and the level and quality of service.
(D) 
The Chief Executive Officer of each franchise or his/her designee will be permitted to attend every session of the Commission. Participation of said attendee shall be at the request and sole discretion of the Commission.
(E) 
Said Commission shall compile reports of the operation of the franchise and the quality of service to the residents and present these reports to the City Council, monthly.
(F) 
The Commission may also make recommendations based upon its information.
(Charter adopted by election of 11/4/97)