If grantee fails to perform in a timely manner any material obligation required by this chapter or a franchise granted hereunder, following notice from the grantor and an opportunity to cure such nonperformance in accordance with the provisions of Article
XIII of this chapter and the franchise, grantor may in its sole discretion:
A. Cure
the violation and recover the actual cost thereof from the security
fund established in this chapter if such violation is not cured or
a cure is not commenced within thirty days after written notice to
the grantee of grantor's intention to cure and draw upon the security
fund;
B. Assess
against grantee liquidated damages in an amount set forth in the franchise
agreement for any such violation(s) if such violation is not cured,
or if grantee has not commenced a cure, on a schedule acceptable to
grantor, within thirty days after written notice to the grantee of
grantor's intention to assess liquidated damages. Such assessment
may be withdrawn from the security fund, and shall not constitute
a waiver by grantor of any other right or remedy it may have under
the franchise or applicable law, including without limitation, its
right to recover from grantee such additional damages, losses, costs
and expenses, including actual attorney's fees, as may have been suffered
or incurred by grantor by reason of or arising out of such breach
of the franchise.
(Ord. 1354 § 15.1, 1997)
Prior to imposing any remedy or other sanction against grantee
specified in this chapter, grantor shall give grantee notice and opportunity
to be heard on the matter, in accordance with the following procedures:
A. Grantor
shall first notify grantee of the violation in writing by personal
delivery or registered or certified mail, and demand correction within
a reasonable time, which shall not be less than thirty days. If grantee
fails to correct the violation within the time prescribed or if grantee
fails to commence correction of the violation within the time prescribed
and diligently remedy such violation thereafter, the grantor shall
then give written notice of not less than twenty days of a public
hearing to be held before the city council. Such notice shall specify
the violations alleged to have occurred.
B. At the
public hearing, the council shall hear and consider all relevant evidence,
and thereafter render findings and its decision. The findings and
decision shall be provided in writing to grantee within ten days of
the council's decision.
C. In the
event the council finds that the grantee has corrected the violation
or has diligently commenced correction of such violation after notice
thereof from grantor and is diligently proceeding to fully remedy
such violation, or that no material violation has occurred, the proceedings
shall terminate and no penalty or other sanction shall be imposed.
D. In the
event the council finds that material violations exist and that grantee
has not corrected the same in a satisfactory manner or has not diligently
commenced correction of such violation after notice thereof from grantor
and is not diligently proceeding to fully remedy such violation, the
council may impose one or more of the remedies provided in this chapter
and the franchise agreement as it, in its discretion, deems appropriate
under the circumstances.
(Ord. 1354 § 15.2, 1997)
Subject to Section
5.20.390, grantor reserves the right to revoke any franchise granted pursuant to this chapter and rescind all rights and privileges associated with it in the following circumstances, each of which shall represent a default by grantee and a material breach of the franchise agreement:
A. If grantee
shall default in the performance of its material obligations under
this chapter or the franchise agreement and shall continue such default
after receipt of due notice and reasonable opportunity to cure the
default;
B. If grantee
shall fail to provide or maintain in full force and effect the insurance
coverage or security fund as required in the franchise agreement;
C. If grantee
shall violate any order or ruling of any regulatory body having jurisdiction
over the grantee relative to the grantee's franchise, unless such
order or ruling is being contested by grantee by appropriate proceedings
conducted in good faith;
D. If grantee
practices any fraud or deceit upon grantor;
E. If grantee
becomes insolvent, unable or unwilling to pay its debts, or is adjudged
a bankrupt.
The termination and forfeiture of the grantee's franchise shall
in no way affect any right of grantor to pursue any remedy under the
franchise or any provision of law.
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(Ord. 1354 § 15.3, 1997)
In the event of a finding of revocation pursuant to Section
5.20.400, the grantor and grantee shall engage in nonbinding mediation with respect to the alleged violation. No revocation shall be implemented until the mediation process has been concluded, or until the time for invoking such rights has expired.
Within ten days of written notification of a finding of revocation
by the grantor, the grantee shall notify the grantor in writing of
its intention to invoke mediation procedures. Within fifteen days
of such notification, the grantor and grantee shall select a mediator
to assist in the resolution of the dispute. If the dispute is not
resolved through the mediation process within sixty days, the grantee
may terminate the mediation process by providing the grantor with
ten days written notice. Upon termination of the mediation process,
grantee shall have the right to pursue all legal remedies.
(Ord. 1354 § 15.4, 1997)