HomeMy WebLinkAboutORD 4862Amends ORD. 4717
5450,
CITY OF RENTON, WASHINGTON
ORDINANCE NO. 4862
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF RENTON, WASHINGTON,
AMENDING SECTIONS 5-19-1, 5-19-2, AND 5-19-5 THROUGH 5-19-12,
OF CHAPTER 19, TELECOMMUNICATIONS LICENSES AND
FRANCHISES, OF TITLE V, BUSINESS, OF ORDINANCE NO. 4260
ENTITLED "CODE OF GENERAL ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF
RENTON, WASHINGTON" BY COMPLYING WITH RECENT STATE
LEGISLATION, SIMPLIFYING THE ORDINANCE STRUCTURE, AND
CONFORMING ORDINANCE LANGUAGE TO EXISTING FRANCHISE
PRACTICE.
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF RENTON, WASHINGTON, DO ORDAIN
AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION I. Section 5-19-1, Purpose and Intent, of Chapter 19,
Telecommunications Licenses and Franchises, of Title V, Business, of Ordinance No. 4260
entitled "Code of General Ordinances of the City of Renton, Washington" is hereby amended by
deleting subsection 5-19-1.1 and renumbering the remaining three subsections accordingly.
SECTION II. Subsections 5-19-2.A and B. of Chapter 19, Telecommunications
Licenses and Franchises, of Title V, Business, of Ordinance No. 4260 entitled "Code of General
Ordinances of the City of Renton, Washington" are hereby amended to read as follows:
A. Definitions.
CABLE ACT: The Cable Television Consumer Protection and Competition Act of 1992,
and the Telecommunications Reform Act of 1996 as now existing or hereafter adopted or
amended, and the Cable Communications Policy Act of 1984, as now existing or hereafter
adopted or amended.
1
ORDINANCE NO. 4862
CABLE OPERATOR: A telecommunications carrier providing or offering to provide
"cable service" within the City as that term is defined in the Cable Act.
CABLE SERVICE: For the purpose of this Chapter shall have the same meaning
provided by the Cable Act.
CITY: The City of Renton.
CITY PROPERTY: All real property owned by the City, other than public streets and
utility easements as those terms are defined herein, and all property held in a proprietary capacity
by the City, which is not subject to the right-of-way licensing and franchising as provided in this
Chapter.
DEPARTMENT: The City of Renton's Plannfng/Building/Public Works Department.
EXCESS CAPACITY: The volume or capacity in any existing or future duct, conduit,
manhole, handhold or other utility facility within the public way that is or will be available for
use for additional telecommunications facilities.
FACILITIES: All of the plant, equipment, fixtures, appurtenances, antennas, and other
facilities necessary to furnish and deliver telecommunications services, including but not limited
to poles with crossarms, poles without crossarms, wires, lines, conduits, cables, communication
and signal lines and equipment, braces, guys, anchors, vaults, and all attachments,
appurtenances, and appliances necessary or incidental to the distribution of telecommunications
services.
FCC or FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION: The Federal administrative
agency, or lawful successor, authorized to regulate and oversee telecommunications carriers,
services and providers on a national level.
2
ORDINANCE NO. 4862
OPEN VIDEO SYSTEM (OVS): A telecommunications system having two-thirds of its
capacity set aside for use by other providers, programmers or competitive businesses on a
subleasing basis. Because of its self-competitive nature, an OVS is subject to regulatory
restrictions.
OVERHEAD FACILITIES: Utility poles, utility facilities and telecommunications
facilities located above the surface of the ground, including the underground supports and
foundations for such facilities.
PUBLIC WAY: All public streets and utility easements, as those terms are defined
herein, now or hereafter owned by the City, but only to the extent of the City's right, title,
interest or authority to grant a license or franchise to occupy and use such streets and easements
for telecommunications facilities.
RIGHT OF WAY: Any highway, street, alley or other public right-of-way for motor
vehicle travel under the jurisdiction and control of the City which has been acquired, established,
dedicated or devoted to highway purposes not inconsistent with telecommunications facilities.
STATE: The State of Washington.
SURPLUS SPACE: That portion of the usable space on a utility pole which has the
necessary clearance from other pole users, as required by the orders and regulations of the
Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission, to allow its use by a telecommunications
carrier for a pole attachment.
TELECOMMUNICATIONS CARRIER: Every person that directly or indirectly owns,
controls, operates or manages plant, equipment or property within the City, used or to be used for
the purpose of offering telecommunications services.
3
ORDINANCE NO. 4862
TELECOMMUNICATIONS PROVIDER: Every person who provides
telecommunications service over telecommunications facilities without any ownership or
management control of the facilities.
TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICE: The providing or offering for rent, sale or
lease, or in exchange for other value received, of the transmittal of voice, data, image, graphic
and video programming information between or among points by wire, cable, fiber optics, laser,
microwave, radio, satellite or similar facilities, with or without benefit or any closed transmission
medium.
TELECOMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM: A system of conduits, fiber optics cable and
facilities designed and constructed for the purpose of producing, receiving, amplifying or
distributing by audio, video or other forms of electronic or electric signals to or from subscribers
or locations within the City.
UNDERGROUND FACILITIES: Utility and telecommunications facilities located
under the surface of the ground excluding the underground foundations or supports for overhead
facilities.
USABLE SPACE: The total distance between the top of a utility pole and the lowest
possible attachment point that provides the minimum allowable vertical clearance as specified in
the orders and regulations of the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission.
UTILITY EASEMENT: Any easement owned by the City and acquired, established,
dedicated or devoted for public utility purposes not inconsistent with telecommunications
facilities.
UTILITY FACILITIES: The plant, equipment and property, including but not limited to
the poles, pipes, mains, conduits, ducts, cables, wires, plant and equipment located under, on or
4
ORDINANCE NO. 4862
above the surface of the ground within the public ways of the City and used or to be used for the
purpose of providing utility or telecommunications services.
WTJTC or WASHINGTON UTILITIES AND TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION:
The State administrative agency, or lawful successor, authorized to regulate and oversee
telecommunications carriers, services and providers in the State of Washington.
B. Summary:
1. Telecommunications Franchise: Except as otherwise provided herein, any
telecommunications carriers who desire to construct, install, operate, maintain or otherwise
locate telecommunications facilities in, under, over or across any public way of the City, and to
also provide telecommunications service to persons or areas in the City, shall first obtain a
franchise granting the use of such public ways from the City pursuant to Section 5-19-3 of this
Chapter.
2. Cable Television Franchise: Except as otherwise provided herein, any
telecommunications carrier who desires to construct, install, operate, maintain or locate
telecommunications facilities in any public way of the City for the purpose of providing cable
television service to persons in the City shall first obtain a cable television franchise from the
City as provided in Chapter 17 of this Title.
3. Application to Existing Franchise Ordinances and Agreements: This chapter shall
have no effect on any existing franchise ordinance or franchise agreement until:
a. The expiration of said franchise ordinance or agreement; or
b. An amendment to an unexpired franchise ordinance or franchise agreement,
unless both parties agree to defer full compliance to a specific date not later than the
present expiration date.
5
ORDINANCE NO.
SECTION III. Subsection 5-19-5.B.18 of Chapter 19, Telecommunications
Licenses and Franchises, of Title V, Business, of Ordinance No. 4260 entitled "Code of General
Ordinances of the City of Renton, Washington" is hereby amended to read as follows:
18. All fees, deposits or charges required pursuant to Section 5-19-7 of this Chapter.
SECTION IV. Subsections 5-19-5.C through 5-19-5.P, of Chapter 19,
Telecommunications Licenses and Franchises, of Title V, Business, of Ordinance No. 4260
entitled "Code of General Ordinances of the City of Renton, Washington" are hereby amended,
to read as follows:
C. Determination by the City:
Within 120 days after receiving a complete application under subsection B of this
Section, the City shall issue a written determination granting or denying the application in whole
or in part, applying the following standards.
1. The financial and technical ability of the applicant.
2. The legal ability of the applicant.
3. The capacity of the public ways to accommodate the applicant's proposed facilities.
4. The capacity of the public ways to accommodate additional utility and
telecommunications facilities if the franchise is granted.
5. The damage or disruption, if any, of public or private facilities, improvements,
service, travel or landscaping if the franchise is granted.
6. The public interest in minimizing the cost and disruption of construction within the
public ways.
7. The service that applicant will provide to the community and region.
6
ORDINANCE NO. 4862
8. The effect, if any, on public health, safety and welfare if the franchise requested is
granted.
9. The availability of alternate routes and/or locations for the proposed facilities.
10. Applicable Federal and State telecommunications laws, regulations and policies.
11. Such other factors as may demonstrate that the grant to use the public ways will serve
the community interest.
D. Franchise Application Denial:
The reasons for a denial of a franchise application shall be supported by substantial
evidence contained in a written record. A service provider adversely affected by the final action
denying a franchise application may commence an action Within thirty days to seek relief, which
shall be limited to injunctive relief.
E. Agreement:
No franchise shall be granted hereunder unless the applicant and the City have executed a
written agreement setting forth the particular terms and provisions under which the franchise to
occupy and use public ways of the City will be granted.
F. Nonexclusive Grant:
No franchise granted under this Section shall confer any exclusive right, privilege, license
or franchise to occupy or use the public ways of the City for delivery of telecommunications
services or any other purposes.
G. Term of Grant:
Unless otherwise specified in a franchise agreement, a telecommunications franchise
granted hereunder shall be valid for a term of five (5) years.
H. Rights Granted:
7
ORDINANCE NO. 4862
No franchise granted under this Section shall convey any right, title or interest in the
public ways, but shall be deemed a franchise only to use and occupy the public ways for the
limited purposes and term stated in the grant. Further, no franchise shall be construed as any
warranty of title.
I. Location of Facilities:
Unless otherwise specified in a franchise agreement, all facilities shall be constructed,
installed and located in accordance with the following terms and conditions:
1. Telecommunications facilities shall be installed within an existing underground duct
or conduit whenever excess capacity exists within such utility facility, except as provided in
subsection 2 below.
2. A franchisee with permission to install overhead facilities shall install its
telecommunications facilities on pole attachments to existing utility poles only, and then only if
surplus space is available.
3. Whenever any existing electric utilities, cable facilities or telecommunications
facilities are located or relocated underground within a public way of the City, a grantee that
currently occupies the same public way shall relocate its facilities underground within a
reasonable period of time, which shall not be later than the end of the grant term. Absent
extraordinary circumstances or undue hardship as determined by the City, such relocation shall
be made concurrently to minimize the disruption of the public ways.
4. Whenever new telecommunications facilities will exhaust the capacity of a public
street or utility easement to reasonably accommodate future telecommunications carriers or
facilities, the grantee shall provide additional ducts, conduits, manholes and other facilities not
8
ORDINANCE NO. 4862
reserved for future use available to future telecommunications carriers for a nondiscriminatory
lease fee.
J. Construction Permits:
All franchisees are required to obtain construction permits for telecommunications
facilities as required in Section 5-19-11 of this Chapter; provided, however, that nothing in this
Section shall prohibit the City and a franchisee from agreeing to alternative plan review, permit
and construction procedures in a franchise agreement, provided such alternative procedures
provide substantially equivalent safeguards for responsible construction practices.
K. Service to the City:
A franchisee shall make its telecommunications services available to the City at its most
favorable rate for similarly situated users, unless otherwise provided in a license or franchise
agreement.
L. Renewal Applications:
A grantee that desires to renew its franchise under this Section shall, not more than 240
days nor less than 120 days before exphation of the current franchise, file an application with the
City for renewal of its franchise which shall include the following information:
1. The information required pursuant to subsection B of this Section.
2. Any information required pursuant to the franchise agreement between the City and
the grantee.
M. Renewal Determinations:
Within 120 days after receiving a complete application under subsection N of this
section, the City Council shall issue a written determination granting or denying the renewal
9
ORDINANCE NO. 4862
application in whole or in part, applying the following standards. If the renewal application is
denied, the written determination shall include the reasons for nonrenewal.
1. The financial and technical ability of the applicant.
2. The legal ability of the applicant.
3. The continuing capacity of the public ways to accommodate the applicant's existing
facilities.
4. The applicant's compliance with the requirements of this Chapter and the franchise
agreement.
5. Applicable Federal, State and local telecommunications laws, rules and policies.
6. Such other factors as may demonstrate that the continued grant to use the public ways
will serve the community interest.
N. Obligation to Cure as a Condition of Renewal:
No franchise shall be renewed until any ongoing violations or defaults in the grantee's
performance of the franchise agreement, or of the requirements of this Chapter, have been cured,
or a plan detailing the corrective action to be taken by the grantee has been approved by the City.
SECTION V. Section 5-19-7, Fees and Compensation, of Chapter 19,
Telecommunications Licenses and Franchises, of Title V, Business, of Ordinance No. 4260
entitled "Code of General Ordinances of the City of Renton, Washington" is hereby amended to
read as follows:
FEES AND COMPENSATION:
A. Purpose:
10
ORDINANCE NO. 4862
It is the purpose of this Section to provide for the payment and recovery of all direct and
indirect costs and expenses of the City related to the enforcement and administration of this
Chapter.
B. Application and Review Fee:
1. Any applicant for a license or franchise pursuant to Section 5-19-3 of this Chapter
shall pay a fee pursuant to Chapter 5-1, Fee Schedule, of this Title.
2. The application and nonrefundable review fee shall be deposited with the City as part
of the application filed pursuant to Section 5-19-3 of this Chapter.
C. Other City Costs:
All license or franchise grantees shall, within thirty (30) days after written demand
therefor, reimburse the City for all direct and indirect costs and expenses incurred by the City in
connection with any modification, amendment, renewal or transfer of the franchise agreement.
D. Compensation for City Property:
If the right is granted, by lease, license, franchise or other manner, to use and occupy City
property for the installation of telecommunications facilities, the compensation to be paid shall
be fixed by the City.
E. Construction Permit Fee:
Prior to issuance of a construction permit, the permittee shall pay a nonrefundable permit
fee of $50.00. In addition, the permittee shall reimburse the City for all direct and indirect costs
and expenses incurred by the City in connection with the review and inspection of the
telecommunication facilities.
F. Cable Fees:
11
ORDINANCE NO. 4862
Cable television franchises shall be subject to the franchise fees, payments and costs
provided in Chapter 17 of this Title.
G. Regulatory Fees and Compensation Not a Tax:
The regulatory fees and costs provided for in this Section are separate from, and
additional to, any and all Federal, State, local and City taxes as may be levied, imposed or due
from a telecommunications carrier or provider, its customers or subscribers, or on account of the
lease, sale, delivery or transmission of telecommunications services.
SECTION VI. Section 5-19-8, Conditions of Grant, of Chapter 19,
Telecommunications Licenses and Franchises, of Title V, Business, of Ordinance No. 4260
entitled "Code of General Ordinances of the City of Renton, Washington" is hereby amended to
read as follows:
CONDITIONS OF GRANT:
A. Location of Facilities:
All facilities shall be constructed, installed and located in accordance with the following
terms and conditions, unless otherwise specified in a franchise agreement:
1. A grantee shall install its telecommunications facilities within an existing
underground duct or conduit whenever excess capacity exists within such utility facility.
2. A grantee with permission to install overhead facilities shall install its
telecommunications facilities on pole attachments to existing utility poles only, and then only if
surplus space is available.
3. Whenever any existing electric utilities, cable facilities or telecommunications
facilities are located underground within a public way of the City, a grantee with permission to
occupy the same public way must also locate its telecommunications facilities underground
12
ORDINANCE NO. 4862
unless the telecommunications provider has obtained a waiver from the Planning/Building/Public
Works Administrator.
4. Whenever any new or existing electric utilities, cable facilities or telecommunications
facilities are located or relocated underground within a public way of the City, a grantee that
currently occupies the same public way shall relocate its facilities underground within a
reasonable period of time, which shall not be later than the end of the grant term. Absent
extraordinary circumstances or undue hardship as reasonably determined by the City, such
relocation shall be made concurrently to minimize the disruption of the public ways.
5. Whenever new telecommunications facilities will exhaust the capacity of a public
street or utihty easement to reasonably accommodate future telecommunications carriers or
facilities, the grantee shall provide additional ducts, conduits, manholes and other facilities not
reserved for future use available to future telecommunications carriers for a nondiscriminatory
lease fee.
B. Compliance with Washington State Law:
All franchise grantees shall, before commencing any construction in the public ways,
comply with all regulations of Washington State Law contained in RCW 19.122, Underground
Facilities, and with all regulations adopted thereunder.
C. Construction Permits:
All franchise grantees are required to obtain construction permits for telecommunications
facilities as required in Section 5-19-9 of this Chapter. However, nothing in this Section shall
prohibit the City and a grantee from agreeing to alternative plan review, permit and construction
procedures in a franchise agreement, provided such alternative procedures provide substantially
equivalent safeguards for responsible construction practices.
13
ORDINANCE NO. 4862
D. Interference with the Public Ways:
No franchise grantee may locate or maintain its telecommunications facilities so as to
unreasonably interfere with the use of the public ways by the City, by the general public or by
other persons authorized to use or be present in or upon the pubhc ways. All such facilities shall
be moved by the grantee, temporarily or permanently, as determined by the City.
E. Damage to Property:
No franchise grantee nor any person acting on a grantee's behalf shall take any action or
permit any action to be done which may impair or damage any City property, public ways of the
City, other ways or other property located in, on or adjacent thereto.
F. Repair and Emergency Work:
In the event of an unexpected repair or emergency, a grantee may commence such repair
and emergency response work as required under the circumstances, provided the grantee shall
notify the City as promptly as possible, before such repair or emergency work or as soon
thereafter as possible if advance notice is not practicable.
G. Maintenance of Facilities:
Each franchise grantee shall maintain its facilities in good and safe condition and in a
manner that complies with all applicable Federal, State and local requirements.
H. Relocation or Removal of Facilities:
1. The City may require service providers to relocate authorized facilities within the right
of way when reasonably necessary for construction, alteration, repair, or improvement of the
right of way for purposes of public welfare, health or safety.
2. The City shall notify service providers as soon as practicable of the need for relocation
and shall specify the date by which relocation shall be completed. In calculating the date that
14
ORDINANCE NO. 4862
relocation must be completed, the City shall consult with affected service providers and consider
the extent of facilities to be relocated, the service requirements, and the construction sequence
for the relocation, within the City's overall project construction sequence and constraints, to
safely complete the relocation. Service providers shall complete the relocation by the date
specified, unless the City, or a reviewing court, establishes a later date for completion, after a
showing by the service provider that the relocation cannot be completed by the date specified
using best efforts and meeting safety and service requirements.
3. Service providers may not seek reimbursement for their relocation expenses from the
City under subsection 1 of this section except:
a. Where the service provider had paid for the relocation cost of the same
facilities at the request of the City within the past five years, the service provider's share
of the cost of reloction will be paid by the City;
b. Where aerial to underground relocation of authorized facilities is required by
the City under subsection (1) of this section, for service providers with an ownership
share of the aerial supporting structures, the additional incremental cost of underground
compared to aerial relocation, or as provide for in the approved tariff if less, will be paid
by the City; and
c. Where the City requests relocation under subsection (1) of this section solely
for aesthetic purposes, unless otherwise agreed to by the parties.
4. Where a project in subsection (1) of this section is primarily for private benefit, the
private party or parties shall reimburse the cost of relocation in the same propostion to their
contribution to the costs of the project.
15
ORDINANCE NO. 4862
5. The City may require the relocation of facilities at the service provider's expense in
the event of an unforeseen emergency that creates an immediate threat to the public safety,
health, or welfare.
I. Removal of Unauthorized Facilities:
Within thirty (30) days following written notice from the City, any grantee,
telecommunications carrier, or other person that owns, controls or maintains any unauthorized
telecommunications system, facility or related appurtenances within the public ways of the City
shall, at its own expense, remove such facilities or appurtenances from the public ways of the
City. A telecommunications system or facility is unauthorized and subject to removal in the
following circumstances:
1. Upon expiration or termination of the grantee's telecommunications franchise.
2. Upon abandonment of a facility within the public ways of the City.
3. If the system or facility was constructed or installed without the prior grant of a
telecommunications franchise.
4. If the system or facility was constructed or installed without the prior issuance of a
required construction permit.
5. If the system or facility was constructed or installed at a location not permitted by the
grantee's telecommunications franchise.
J. Emergency Removal or Relocation of Facilities:
The City retains the right and privilege to cut or move any telecommunications facilities
located within the public ways of the City, as the City may determine to be necessary,
appropriate or useful in response to any public health or safety emergency.
K. Damage to Grantee's Facilities:
16
ORDINANCE NO. 4362
Unless directly and proximately caused by the willful, intentional or malicious acts by the
City, the City shall not be liable for any damage to or loss of any telecommunications facility
within the public ways of the City as a result of or in connection with any public works, public
improvements, construction, excavation, grading, filling, or work of any kind in the public ways
by or on behalf of the City.
L. Restoration of Public Ways, Other Ways and City Property:
1. When a franchise grantee, or any person acting on its behalf, does any work in or
affecting any public ways, other ways or City property, it shall, at its own expense, promptly
remove any obstructions therefrom and restore such ways or property to as good a condition as
existed before the work was undertaken, unless otherwise directed by the City. All pavement
restoration shall be per City of Renton Trench Restoration Policies.
2. If weather or other conditions do not permit the complete restoration required by this
Section, the grantee shall temporarily restore the affected ways or property. Such temporary
restoration shall be at the grantee's sole expense and the grantee shall promptly undertake and
complete the required permanent restoration when the weather or other conditions no longer
prevent such permanent restoration.
3. A grantee or other person acting in its behalf shall use suitable barricades, flags,
flagmen, lights, flares and other measures as required for the safety of all members of the general
public and to prevent injury or damage to any person, vehicle or property by reason of such work
in or affecting such ways or property.
4. A grantee shall be responsible for all work by their contractor meeting the
requirements of the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) for all work within
the public right-of-ways.
17
ORDINANCE NO. 4862
M. Facilities Maps:
Each franchise grantee shall provide the City with an accurate map or maps certifying the
location of all telecommunications facilities within the public ways. Each grantee shall provide
updated maps annually if any changes have been made to grantee's facilities.
N. Duty to Provide Information:
Within ten (10) days of a written request from the City, each franchise grantee shall
furnish the City with information sufficient to demonstrate:
1. That grantee has complied with all requirements of this Chapter.
2. That all municipal sales, message and/or telecommunications taxes due the City in
connection with the telecommunications services and facilities provided by the grantee have
been properly collected and paid by the grantee.
3. All books, records, maps and other documents, maintained by the grantee with
respect to its facilities within the public ways, shall be made available for inspection by the City
at reasonable times and intervals.
O. Grantee Insurance:
Unless otherwise provided in a franchise agreement, each grantee shall, as a condition of
the grant, secure and maintain the following liability insurance policies insuring both the grantee
and the City, and its elected and appointed officers, officials, agents and employees as co-
insureds:
1. Comprehensive general liability insurance with limits not less than:
a. Five million dollars ($5,000,000) for bodily injury or death to each person;
b. Five million dollars ($5,000,000) for property damage resulting from any one
accident; and
18
ORDINANCE NO. 4862
c. Five million dollars ($5,000,000) for all other types of liability.
2. Automobile liability for owned, non-owned and hired vehicles with a limit of three
million dollars ($3,000,000) for each person and three million dollars ($3,000,000) for each
accident.
3. Worker's compensation within statutory limits and employer's liability insurance
with limits of not less than one million dollars ($1,000,000).
4. Comprehensive form premises-operations, explosions and collapse hazard,
underground hazard and products completed hazard with limits of not less than three million
dollars ($3,000,000).
5. The liability insurance policies required by this Section shall be maintained by the
grantee throughout the term of the telecommunications franchise, and such other period of time
during which the grantee is operating without a franchise hereunder, or is engaged in the removal
of its telecommunications facilities. Each such insurance policy shall contain the following
endorsement:
"It is hereby understood and agreed that this policy may not be canceled nor the intention
not to renew be stated under 45 days after receipt by the City, by registered mail, of a written
notice addressed to the City Clerk of such intent to cancel or not to renew."
6. After receipt by the City of said notice, and in no event later than ten days prior to
said cancellation, the grantee shall obtain and furnish to the City replacement insurance policies
meeting the requirements of this Section.
P. General Indemnification:
Each franchise agreement shall include, to the extent permitted by law, grantee's express
undertaking to defend, indemnify and hold the City and its officers, employees, agents and
19
ORDINANCE NO. 4862
representative harmless from and against any and all damages, losses and expenses, including
reasonable attorney's fees and costs of suit or defense, arising out of, resulting from or alleged to
arise out of operation of grantee's facilities or result from the negligent, careless or wrongful
acts, omissions, failures to act or misconduct of the grantee or its affiliates, officers, employees,
agents, contractors or subcontractors in the construction, operation, maintenance, repair or
removal of its telecommunications facilities, and in providing or offering telecommunications
services over the facilities or network, whether such acts or omissions are authorized, allowed or
prohibited by this Chapter or by a grant agreement made or entered into pursuant to this Chapter.
Q. Performance and Construction Surety:
Before a franchise granted pursuant to this Chapter is effective, and as necessary
thereafter, the grantee shall provide and deposit such monies, bonds, letters of credit or other
instruments in form and substance acceptable to the City as may be required by this Chapter or
by an applicable franchise agreement.
R. Construction and Completion Bond:
Unless otherwise provided in a franchise agreement, a performance bond written by a
corporate surety acceptable to the City equal to at least 100% of the estimated cost of
constructing grantee's telecommunications facilities within the public ways of the City shall be
deposited before construction is commenced.
1. The construction bond shall remain in force until sixty (60) days after substantial
completion of the work, as determined by the City, including restoration of public ways and
other property affected by the construction.
2. The construction bond shall guarantee, to the satisfaction of the City:
a. Timely completion of construction;
20
ORDINANCE NO. 4862
b. Construction in compliance with applicable plans, permits, technical codes
and standards;
c. Proper location of the facilities as specified by the City;
d. Restoration of the public ways and other property affected by the
construction;
e. The submission of "as-built" drawings after completion of the work as
required by this Chapter; and
f. Timely payment and satisfaction of all claims, demands or liens for labor,
material or services provided in connection with the work.
S. Coordination of Construction Activities:
All grantees are required to cooperate with the City and with each other.
1. By February 1 of each year, grantees shall provide the City with a detailed schedule
of their proposed construction activities in, around or that may affect the public ways.
2. Each grantee shall meet with the City, other grantees and users of the public ways
annually or as determined by the City to schedule and coordinate construction in the public ways.
3. All construction locations, activities and schedules shall be coordinated, as reasonably
ordered by the City, to minimize public inconvenience, disruption or damages.
4. The City of Renton conducts both an annual pavement overlay program and a 6-year
transportation improvement program for the repair and improvement of city streets. The city
publishes updates to these programs annually. It is the City's intent that newly paved streets not
be excavated or damaged within five years of pavement installation. It is therefore the Grantee's
responsibility to obtain the city's annual publications regarding the pavement overlay program
and the 6-year transportation improvement program, and to schedule any system expansions or
21
ORDINANCE NO. 4862
programmed maintenance operations in such a way as to avoid disturbing pavement within five
years of installation. The City of Renton reserves the right to withhold issuance of permits for
planned expansion or maintenance activities that will damage pavement within five years of its
installation.
T. Assignments or Transfers of Grant:
Ownership or control of a telecommunications system, license or franchise may not,
directly or indirectly, be transferred, assigned or disposed of by sale, lease, merger, consolidation
or other act of the grantee, by operation of law or otherwise, without the prior written consent of
the City, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed, as expressed by
ordinance and then only on such reasonable conditions as may be prescribed therein.
1. No grant shall be assigned or transferred in any manner within twelve (12) months
after the initial grant of the franchise, unless otherwise provided in a franchise agreement.
2. Absent extraordinary and unforeseeable circumstances, or an emergency declared by
the City, no grant, system or integral part of a system shall be assigned or transferred before
construction of the telecommunications system has been completed.
3. Grantee and the proposed assignee or transferee of the grant or system shall provide
and certify the following information to the City not less than ninety (90) days prior to the
proposed date of transfer:
a. Complete information setting forth the nature, terms and condition of the
proposed transfer or assignment;
b. All information required of a telecommunications hcense or franchise
applicant pursuant to Sections 5-19-3 of this Chapter with respect to the proposed
transferee or assignee; and
22
ORDINANCE NO. 4862
c. Any other information reasonably required by the City.
4. No transfer shall be approved unless the assignee or transferee has the legal,
technical, financial and other requisite qualifications to own, hold and operate the
telecommunications system pursuant to this Chapter.
5. Unless otherwise provided in a franchise agreement, the grantee shall reimburse the
City for all direct and indirect fees, costs, and expenses reasonably incurred by the City in
considering a request to transfer or assign a telecommunications license or franchise.
6. Any transfer or assignment of a telecommunications grant, system or integral part of a
system without prior approval of the City under this Section or pursuant to a franchise agreement
shall be void and is cause for revocation of the grant.
U. Revocation or Termination of Grant:
A franchise granted by the City to use or occupy public ways of the City may be revoked
for the following reasons:
1. Construction or operation in the City or in the public ways of the City without a
franchise grant of authorization.
2. Construction or operation at an unauthorized location.
3. Unauthorized substantial transfer of control of the grantee.
4. Unauthorized assignment of a franchise.
5. Unauthorized sale, assignment or transfer of grantee's franchise assets, or a
substantial interest therein.
6. Misrepresentation or lack of candor by or on behalf of a grantee in any application to
the City.
7. Abandonment of telecommunications facilities in the public ways.
23
ORDINANCE NO. 48fi?
8. Failure to relocate or remove facilities as required in this Chapter.
9. Failure to pay taxes, compensation, fees or costs when and as due the City.
10. Violation of material provisions of this Chapter.
11. Violation of the material terms of a franchise agreement.
V. Notice and Duty to Cure:
In the event that the City believes that grounds exist for revocation of a franchise, it shall
give the grantee written notice of the apparent violation or noncompliance, providing a short and
concise statement of the nature and general facts of the violation or noncompliance, and
providing the grantee a reasonable period of time not exceeding thirty (30) days to furnish
evidence:
1. That corrective action has been or is being actively and expeditiously pursued to
remedy the violation or noncompliance.
2. That rebuts the alleged violation or noncompliance.
3. That it would be in the public interest to impose some penalty or sanction less than
revocation.
W. Hearing:
In the event that a grantee fails to provide evidence reasonably satisfactory to the City as
provided in subsection V of this section, the City shall refer the apparent violation or
noncompliance to the City Council. The City Council shall provide the grantee with written
notice and a reasonable opportunity to be heard concerning the matter.
X. Standards for Revocation or Lesser Sanctions:
If persuaded that the grantee has violated or failed to comply with material provisions of
this Chapter, or of a franchise agreement, the City Council shall determine whether to revoke the
24
ORDINANCE NO. 4862
license or franchise, or to establish some lesser sanctions and cure, considering the nature,
circumstances, extent and gravity of the violation as reflected by one or more of the following
factors:
1. Whether the misconduct was egregious.
2. Whether substantial harm resulted.
3. Whether the violation was intentional.
4. Whether there is a history of prior violations of the same or other requirements.
5. Whether there is a history of overall compliance.
6. Whether the violation was voluntarily disclosed, admitted or cured.
SECTION VII. Section 5-19-9, Construction Standards, of Chapter 19,
Telecommunications Licenses and Franchises, of Title V, Business, of Ordinance No. 4260
entitled "Code of General Ordinances of the City of Renton, Washington" is hereby amended to
read as follows:
CONSTRUCTION STANDARDS:
A. General:
No person shall commence or continue with the construction, installation or operation of
telecommunications facilities within the City except as provided in this Section.
B. Construction Codes:
Telecommunications facilities shall be constructed, installed, operated and maintained in
accordance with all applicable Federal, State and local codes, rules and regulations including the
National Electrical Safety Code.
C. Construction Permits:
25
ORDINANCE NO. 4862
No person shall construct or install any telecommunications facilities within the City
without first obtaining a construction permit therefor, provided, however:
1. No permit shall be issued for the construction or installation of telecommunications
facilities in the public ways unless the telecommunications carrier has applied for and received a
franchise pursuant to Section 5-19-3 of this Chapter.
2. No permit shall be issued for the construction or installation of telecommunications
facilities without payment of the construction permit fee established in Section 5-19-7 of this
Chapter.
D. Applications:
Applications for permits to construct telecommunications facilities shall be submitted
upon forms to be provided by the City and shall be accompanied by drawings, plans and
specifications in sufficient detail to demonstrate:
1. That the facilities will be constructed in accordance with all applicable codes, rules
and regulations.
2. The location and route of all facilities to be installed on existing utility poles.
3. The location and route of all facilities to be located under the surface of the ground,
including the line and grade proposed for the burial at all points along the route which are within
the public ways.
4. The location of all existing underground utilities, conduits, ducts, pipes, mains and
installations which are within the public ways along the underground route proposed by the
applicant.
5. The location of all other facilities to be constructed in the City, but not within the
public ways.
26
ORDINANCE NO. 4862
6. The construction methods to be employed for protection of existing structures,
fixtures, and facilities within or adjacent to the public ways.
7. The location, dimension and types of all trees within or adjacent to the public ways
along the route proposed by the applicant, together with a landscape plan for protecting,
trimming, removing, replacing and restoring any trees or areas to be disturbed during
construction.
8. Work with City streets shall be accomplished through boring rather than open
trenching whenever reasonably feasible.
E. Engineer's Certification:
All permit applications shall be accompanied by the certification of a registered
professional engineer that the drawings, plans and specifications submitted with the application
comply with applicable technical codes, rules and regulations.
F. Traffic Control Plan:
1. All permit applications which involve work on, in, under, across or along any public
ways shall be accompanied by a traffic control plan demonstrating the protective measures and
devices that will be employed, consistent with Uniform Manual of Traffic Control Devices, to
prevent injury or damage to persons or property and to minimize disruptions to efficient
pedestrian and vehicular traffic.
2. The grantee shall be responsible for notifying the Valley Communication Center for
any street closures, a minimum of 24 hours prior to said closure.
G. Issuance of Permit:
Within thirty (30) days after submission of all plans and documents required of the
applicant and payment of the permit fees required by this Chapter, the City, if satisfied that the
27
ORDINANCE NO. 4862
application, plans and documents comply with all requirements of this Chapter, shall issue a
permit authorizing construction of the facilities, subject to such further conditions, restrictions or
regulations affecting the time, place and manner of performing the work as may be deemed
necessary or appropriate.
H. Construction Schedule:
The permittee shall submit a written construction schedule to the City ten (10) working
days before commencing any work in or about the public ways. The permittee shall further notify
the City not less than two working days in advance of any excavation or work in the public ways.
I. Compliance with Permit:
All construction practices and activities shall be in accordance with the permit and
approved final plans and specifications for the facilities. City representatives shall be provided
reasonable access to the work and such further reasonable information as they may require to
ensure compliance with such requirements.
J. Display of Permit:
The permittee shall maintain a copy of the construction permit and approved plans at the
construction site, which shall be displayed and made available for inspection by the City at all
times when construction work is occurring.
K. Survey of Underground Facilities:
If the construction permit specifies the location of facilities by depth, line, grade,
proximity to other facilities or other standard, the permittee shall cause the location of such
facilities to be verified by a registered Washington land surveyor. The permittee shall relocate
any facilities which are not located in compliance with permit requirements.
L. Noncomplying Work:
28
ORDINANCE NO. 4862
Upon order of the City, all work which does not comply with the permit, the approved
plans and specifications for the work, or the requirements of this Chapter shall be removed.
M. Completion of Construction:
The permittee shall promptly complete all construction activities so as to minimize
disruption of the City ways and other public and private property. All construction work
authorized by a permit within City ways, including restoration, must be completed within 180
days of the date of issuance.
N. As-Built Drawings:
Within sixty (60) days after completion of construction and restoration, the permittee
shall furnish the City with two complete sets of plans, drawn to scale and certified to the City as
accurately depicting the location of all telecommunications facilities constructed pursuant to the
permit.
O. Restoration of Improvements:
Upon completion of any construction work, the permittee shall promptly repair any and
all public ways and provide property improvements, fixtures, structures and facilities in the
public ways or otherwise damaged during the course of construction, restoring the same as
nearly as practicable to its condition before the start of construction. All pavement restoration
shall be in compliance with City of Renton Trench Restoration Policies.
P. Landscape Restoration:
1. All trees, landscaping and grounds removed, damaged or disturbed as a result of the
construction, installation, maintenance, repair or replacement of telecommunications facilities,
whether such work is done pursuant to a franchise, license or permit, shall be replaced or
restored as nearly as may be practicable to the condition existing prior to performance of work.
29
ORDINANCE NO. 4862
2. All restoration work within the public ways shall be done in accordance with
landscape plans approved by the City.
Q. Construction Surety:
Prior to issuance of a construction permit, the permittee shall provide a performance
bond, as provided in Section 5-19-8 of this Chapter.
R. Exceptions:
Unless otherwise provided in a franchise agreement, all telecommunications carriers are
subject to the requirements of this Section.
S. Responsibility of Owner:
The owner of the facilities to be constructed and, if different, the license or franchise
grantee are responsible for performance of and compliance with all provisions of this Section.
SECTION VIII. Section 5-19-10, Miscellaneous, of Chapter 19, Chapter 19,
Telecommunications Licenses and Franchises, of Title V, Business, of Ordinance No. 4260
entitled "Code of General Ordinances of the City of Renton, Washington" is hereby amended to
read as follows:
MISCELLANEOUS:
A. Limitations on Time of Work:
Whenever construction, installation or repair of any facilities installed, maintained or
repaired under this Chapter occurs adjacent to or within 200 feet of any residential structure, then
such construction installation or repair must be done between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 10:00
p.m. Monday to Friday, or 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Saturday. No work shall be done on Sunday.
These hours may be extended by the Administrator of the Department of Planning/
Building/Public Works upon a showing of an emergency satisfactory to the Administrator.
30
ORDINANCE NO. 4862
B. Siting of Above-Ground Enclosures:
Any above-ground enclosure constructed or installed or any such enclosure replaced or
substantially rebuilt (installed) during the term of any franchise, when adjacent to a single family
residence, and such enclosure on any one face is greater than four feet shall be installed only
after notice and siting of such enclosure pursuant to this Section.
Prior to installation, grantee shall give two notices to the resident(s) of the single family
residence and, if the resident(s) is not the owner, to the owner. The first notice shall be not more
than 30 days or less than ten days prior to installation. The notice shall identify where the
installation is planned in relationship to the single family residence and identifying relationship
and distance to any distinguishing landmarks and any screening devices installed or intended to
be installed. The notice shall offer the resident(s) and/or owner the opportunity to negotiate with
the grantee concerning location of the enclosure and include the name and telephone number of
an agent or employee of grantee that will be available to undertake such negotiations during
regular business hours. The second notice shall be given not more than ten days or less than five
days prior to the installation, but no sooner than five days after the first notice. The second notice
shall contain the same information as the first notice. The Administrator of the Department of
Planning/Building/Public Works or his or her designee may modify these timeframes upon a
showing by the grantee of need unless such modification would work a substantial hardship on
the notice procedure.
The grantee will locate the installation where requested by the resident(s) and/or owner
unless such location would be impracticable or substantially more expensive than the planned
location. If the resident(s) and owner request different locations, the grantee shall give
precedence to the location requested by the owner.
31
ORDINANCE NO. 4862
C. Advance Notice By City of Rights-of-Way Openings:
In order to facilitate the scheduling and coordination of work in the right of way, the City
shall provide as much advance notice as reasonable of plans to open the right of way to those
service providers who are current users of the right of way or who have filed notice with the City
within the past twelve months of their intent to place facilities in the City. The City is not liable
for damages for failure to provide this notice. Where the City has failed to provide notice of
plans to open the right of way consistent with this subsection, the City may not deny a
construction permit to a service provider on the basis that the service provider failed to
coordinate with another project.
D. Police Powers:
In accepting any franchise, a grantee acknowledges that its rights hereunder are subject to
the legitimate rights of the police power of the City to adopt and enforce general ordinances
necessary to protect the safety and welfare of the public, and it agrees to comply with all
applicable general laws enacted by the City pursuant to such power, so long as such regulations
do not materially increase the burden or impair the rights of the franchise hereunder.
E. Rights-of-Way Vacation:
If the City vacates a right-of-way which contains the equipment of a grantee, the City
shall reserve to and for itself and all grantees having equipment in the vacated right-of-way the
right to install, maintain and operate any equipment in the vacated right-of-way and to enter upon
such right-of-way at any time for the purpose of operating, reconstructing, inspecting,
maintaining or repairing the same.
If the vacation requires the relocation of grantee or permittee equipment, and (a) if the
vacation proceedings are initiated by the grantee or permittee, the grantee or permittee must pay
32
ORDINANCE NO. 4862
the relocation costs; or (b) if the vacation proceedings are initiated by the City or other person or
persons, the grantee or permittee must pay the relocation costs unless otherwise agreed to by the
City, the grantee or permittee, and such other person or persons.
G. Penalties:
Any person found guilty of violating, disobeying, omitting, neglecting or refusing to
comply with any of the provisions of this Chapter shall be fined not less than five hundred
dollars ($500.00) nor more than one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) for each offense. A separate
and distinct offense shall be deemed committed each day on which a violation occurs or
continues.
H. Other Remedies:
Nothing in this Chapter shall be construed as limiting any judicial remedies that the City
may have, at law or in equity, for enforcement of this Chapter.
I. Severability:
If any section, subsection, sentence, clause, phrase, or other portion of this Chapter, or its
application to any person, is, for any reason, declared invalid, in whole or in part by any court or
agency of competent jurisdiction, said decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining
portions hereof.
SECTION IX. This ordinance shall be effective upon its passage, approval, and
30 days after publication.
33
ORDINANCE NO.
PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL this 18thday of September , 2000.
Marilyn J. Petersen, City Clerk
APPROVED BY THE MAYOR this 18th day of September , 2000.
Jess&Tanner, Mayor
Approved as to form:
M.y9Hi. ...ill it.
Lawrence J. Warren, City Attorney
Date of Publication: September 22, 2000
ORD.865.7/18/00:ma
34