5. Discussion on Right-of-way ordinanceECKBERG LAMMERS
MEMORANDUM
TO: Mayor Christine Maefsky
Scandia City Council
City Administrator Neil Soltis
FROM: Andy Pratt, City Attorney
Dan Burns, Assistant City Attorney
DATE: February 2, 2018
RE: Right-of-Way Management Ordinance
On the City Council work session agenda for the February 7, 2018 meeting is a draft of a new
ordinance regulating the City’s right-of-way property.
Background
In 2017, the Minnesota Legislature passed a law that gave significant rights to private parties to
place “small cell wireless facilities” and “micro wireless facilities” on public property with
minimal regulation. The Legislature did allow for municipalities to first establish a model lease
agreement, in which the municipality and the private entity would enter into an agreement
governing the location(s) of the wireless facility or facilities and other pertinent matters. Often
these facilities are “collocated” on utility poles or other structures located within the public
right-of-way. As a part of the discussions surrounding this right-of-way management
ordinance, our office will prepare a model collocation and lease agreement.1 This agreement
was referenced at the Council’s November 28, 2017 meeting, as staff is ready to meet with
private entities seeking to locate small cell wireless facilities within the right-of-way.
Need for Right-of-Way Ordinance
The City has old right-of-way ordinances in place, namely Ordinance No. 39 (adopted by the
Town of New Scandia on March 17, 1992) and Ordinance No. 113 (which amended Ordinance
No. 39). However, those ordinances are very brief and just generically refer to utilities, without
any discussion of new cellular technologies. Given that Ordinance No. 39 was adopted in
1992, it is obvious that the ordinance could not have envisioned the explosion in wireless
1 The new wireless facility law required the model collocation agreement to be drafted and available for use
by November 30, 2017, but that deadline is only relevant for small cell wireless facility applications that were
pending as of that date. The new collocation agreement will simply be deployed for any future small cell
wireless facility applications received by the City.
facilities in the last several years. Without a comprehensive right-of-way ordinance that both
regulates traditional utilities and new wireless facilities, a private entity could technically
approach the City to locate a structure within the right-of-way, or excavate an area within the
right-of-way, or obstruct an area for a project, without the City being able to regulate many
aspects of that activity.2 Our office has therefore set out to draft a comprehensive right-of-way
ordinance, to allow the City to undertake reasonable regulation of a private project within its
right-of-way. In today’s economy, many right-of-way projects occur with telecommunications
or cable companies, but this ordinance would also deal with private utility placements and other
right-of-way disturbances.
Here are some highlights of the ordinance:
The ordinance establishes permit requirements for any party who wishes to undertake
excavation, obstruct, or place a wireless facility within the City’s right-of-way. The
permit will specifically identify the private party doing the work, and will contain
important insurance requirements to protect the City against liability for the work (the
City will be named as an “additional insured” on the private party’s insurance policy).
The private party doing the work must file specific project plans and depictions of the
right-of-way, so the City is acutely aware of the work occurring at all times. If the
private party goes outside the boundaries of the project plans, the City can demand that
the project return to the original plans, with the private party liable for any payments to
restore the right-of-way.
We have accounted for the issue of small cell wireless facilities popping up in residential
and agricultural districts by requiring a conditional use permit (CUP) for all such
facilities seeking to locate in those districts. A CUP will also be required for any
facilities located in a future historical district, whether designated through the
Development Code or through other local, state or federal law. A CUP will give City
staff, the Planning Commission, and the City Council the ability to impose reasonable
conditions on a right-of-way facility, with the violation of any condition being grounds
for revocation of the CUP.
The City is able to impose reasonable fees for the issuance of a right-of-way excavation
permit, an obstruction permit, or a small cell wireless permit. We will work with City
staff to develop the necessary permit language and include the fees in the permit itself or
in a separate fee schedule.
If City staff denies a right-of-way permit application for whatever reason, the applicant
may appeal the denial to the City Council. In this case, we will work closely with City
2 It is not accurate to state the City is without any power to regulate its right-of-way. Separate ordinances
may require a permit for land disturbance, or may limit the time in which an area within the right-of-way is
obstructed, for example.
staff and the Council to develop a resolution of denial, if the Council chooses this
method. The resolution of denial will contain necessary findings for the Council to rely
on. This step is crucial to protect the City from later legal action taken by the applicant.
Of course, there are several rights-of-way within the City that are owned by the State of
Minnesota or by Washington County. The City has no property interest in these rights-of-way,
and therefore cannot regulate right-of-way applications in these areas. We have recommended
that City staff approach the County and MnDOT personnel to coordinate the right-of-way
application process, to protect against the proliferation of small cell wireless facilities and other
obstructions within popular and well-traveled rights-of-way within the City.
Please let me know if you have any questions related to this issue. Thank you.
Andy Pratt
651.351.2125 (direct)
apratt@eckberglammers.com
Dan Burns
651.351.2121 (direct)
dburns@eckberglammers.com
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ORDINANCE NO. _____
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF SCANDIA, WASHINGTON COUNTY,
MINNESOTA, ELECTING TO MANAGE ITS RIGHT OF WAYS, ESTABLISHING
THE PURPOSES AND ADMINISTRATION THEREOF, AND REPEALING CERTAIN
EXISTING ORDINANCES
Section 1. The City Council of the City of Scandia, Washington County, Minnesota
hereby ordains:
Right-of-Way Management
Sec. 1.01. Purpose and Intent.
To provide for the health, safety, and welfare of the citizens of the City of Scandia, and to
ensure the integrity of its streets and the appropriate use of its rights of way, the City strives to
keep its rights of way in a state of good repair and free from unnecessary encumbrances.
Accordingly, the City hereby enacts this new Ordinance relating to right-of-way permits
and administration. This Ordinance imposes reasonable regulations on the placement and
maintenance of facilities and equipment currently within the City’s rights of way or to be placed
therein at some future time. It is intended to complement the regulatory roles of governmental
agencies separate from the City. Under this Ordinance, persons excavating and obstructing the
City’s rights of way will bear financial responsibility for their work. Finally, this Ordinance
provides for recovery of out-of-pocket and projected costs from persons using the City’s rights of
way.
This Ordinance shall be interpreted consistently with 1997 Session Laws, Chapter 123,
substantially codified in Minn. Stat. §§ 237.16, 237.162, 237.163, 237.79, 237.81, and 238.086
(the “Act”) and 2017 Minn. Laws, ch. 94, art. 9, amending certain portions of the Act, and the
other laws governing applicable rights of the City and right-of-way users. This Ordinance shall
also be interpreted consistent with Minn. R. 7819.0050–7819.9950 and Minn. R., ch. 7560 where
possible. To the extent any provision of this Ordinance cannot be interpreted consistently with
the aforementioned Minnesota Rules, that interpretation most consistent with the Act and other
applicable statutory and case law is intended. This Ordinance shall not be interpreted to limit the
regulatory and police powers of the City to adopt and enforce general ordinances necessary to
protect the health, safety, and welfare of the public.
Sec. 1.02. Election to Manage the Public Rights of Way.
Pursuant to the authority granted to the City under state and federal statutory,
administrative and common law, the City hereby elects, pursuant to Section 237.163, subd. 2(b)
of the Act, to manage rights of way within its jurisdiction.
Sec. 1.03. Definitions.
The following definitions apply in this Ordinance. References hereafter to “sections” are,
unless otherwise specified, references to sections in this Ordinance. Defined terms remain
defined terms, whether or not capitalized.
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Subd. 1. Abandoned Facility. A facility no longer in service or physically disconnected
from another discrete portion of the facility, or from any other facility, that is in use or still
carries service. A facility is not abandoned unless declared so by the right -of-way user, unless 60
days pass after a written notice is delivered from the City to the right-of-way user, inquiring as to
whether the facility is abandoned, and no response is received from the right-of-way user.
Subd. 2. Act. Minnesota Statutes, Sections 237.16, 237.162, 237.163, 237.79, 237.81,
and 238.086, as amended.
Subd. 3. City. The City of Scandia, Minnesota, its elected officials, officers, employees,
or agents.
Subd. 4. Collocate or Collocation. To install, mount, maintain, modify, operate, or
replace a small wireless facility on, under, within, or adjacent to an existing wireless support
structure or utility pole that is owned privately or by the City or other governmental unit.
Subd. 5. Collocation Agreement. The Small Wireless Facility Collocation and Lease
Agreement, utilized by the City in compliance with Section 237.163, subd. 3a(f) of the Act.
Subd. 6. Commission. The State of Minnesota Public Utilities Commission.
Subd. 7. Construction Security. Any of the following forms of security provided at
permittee’s option:
(i) Cash deposit;
(ii) Security of a form listed or approved under Minn. Stat. § 15.73, subd. 3;
(iii) Irrevocable Letter of Credit, in a form acceptable to the City, with automatic
renewal provisions;
(iv) Self-insurance, in a form acceptable to the City; or
(v) A blanket bond for projects within the City, or other form of construction bond,
for a time specified and in a form acceptable to the City.
Subd. 8. Degradation. A decrease in the useful life of the right of way caused by
excavation in or disturbance of the right of way, resulting in the need to reconstruct such righ t of
way earlier than would be required if the excavation or disturbance did not occur.
Subd. 9. Degradation Cost. Subject to Minn. R. 7819.1100, means the cost to achieve a
level of restoration, as determined by the City at the time the permit is issued, not to exceed the
maximum restoration as set forth in Minn. R., parts 7819.9900 to 7819.9950.
Subd. 10. Degradation Fee. The estimated fee established at the time of permitting by
the City to recover costs associated with the decrease in the useful life of the right of way caused
by the excavation, and which equals the Degradation Cost.
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Subd. 11. Delay Penalty. The penalty imposed as a result of unreasonable delays in
right-of-way excavation, obstruction, patching, or restoration as established by permit.
Subd. 12. Department. The department of public works of the City.
Subd. 13. Director. The director of the department of public works of the City, or her or
his designee.
Subd. 14. Emergency. A condition that (1) poses a danger to life, health, or of a
significant loss of property; or (2) requires immediate repair or replacement of facilities in order
to restore service to a customer.
Subd. 15. Equipment. Any tangible asset used to install, repair, or maintain facilities in
any right of way.
Subd. 16. Excavate. To dig into or in any way remove or physically disturb or penetrate
any part of a right of way.
Subd. 17. Excavation Permit. The permit which, pursuant to this Ordinance, must be
obtained before a Person may excavate in a right of way. An Excavation Permit allows the
holder to excavate that part of the right of way described in such permit.
Subd. 18. Excavation Permit Fee. Money paid to the City by a registrant to cover the
costs as provided in Section 1.12 of this Ordinance.
Subd. 19. Facility or Facilities. Any tangible asset in the right of way required to
provide a service.
Subd. 20. Five-year Capital Improvement Plan. Shows projects adopted by the City for
construction within the next five years.
Subd. 21. Local Representative. A local person or persons, or designee of such person or
persons, authorized by a registrant to accept service and to make decisions for that registrant
regarding all matters within the scope of this Ordinance.
Subd. 22. Management Costs. The actual costs the City incurs in managing its rights of
way, including such costs as those associated with registering registrants; issuing, processing,
and verifying right-of-way or small-wireless-facility permit applications; inspecting job sites and
restoration projects; maintaining, supporting, protecting, or moving user facilities during right -
of-way work; determining the adequacy of right-of-way restoration; restoring work inadequately
performed after providing notice and the opportunity to correct the work; and revoking right-of-
way or small-wireless-facility permits. Management costs do not include payment by a
telecommunications right-of-way user for the use of the right-of-way, unreasonable fees of a
third-party contractor used by the City including fees tied to or based on customer counts, access
lines, or revenues generated by the right of way for the City, the fees and cost of litigation
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relating to the interpretation of the Act; or any ordinance enacted under those sections, or the
City fees and costs related to appeals taken pursuant to Section 1.30 of this Ordinance.
Subd. 23. Micro wireless facility. A small wireless facility that is no longer than 24
inches long, 15 inches wide, and 12 inches high, and whose exterior antenna, if any, is no longer
than 11 inches.
Subd. 24. Obstruct. To place any tangible object in a right of way so as to hinder free
and open passage over that or any part of the right of way.
Subd. 25. Obstruction Permit. The permit which, pursuant to this Ordinance, must be
obtained before a person may obstruct a right of way, allowing the holder to hinder free and open
passage over the specified portion of that right of way, for the duration specified therein.
Subd. 26. Obstruction Permit Fee. Money paid to the City by a permittee to cover the
costs as provided in Section 1.12 of this Ordinance.
Subd. 27. Patch or Patching. A method of pavement replacement that is temporary in
nature. A patch consists of (1) the compaction of the subbase and aggregate base, and (2) the
replacement, in kind, of the existing pavement for a minimum of two feet beyond the edges of
the excavation in all directions. A patch is considered full restoration only when the pavement is
included in the City’s capital improvement plan.
Subd. 28. Pavement. Any type of improved surface that is within the public right of way
and that is paved or otherwise constructed with bituminous, concrete, aggregate, or gravel.
Subd. 29. Permit. Has the meaning given “right-of-way permit” in Section 237.162,
subd. 7 of the Act.
Subd. 30. Permittee. Any person to whom a permit to excavate or obstruct a right of
way has been granted by the City under this Ordinance.
Subd. 31. Person. An individual or entity subject to the laws and rules of the State of
Minnesota, however organized, whether public or private, whether domestic or foreign, whether
for profit or nonprofit, and whether natural, corporate, or political.
Subd. 32. Probation. The status of a person that has not complied with the conditions of
this Ordinance.
Subd. 33. Probationary Period. One year from the date that a person has been notified in
writing that they have been put on probation.
Subd. 34. Registrant. Any person who (1) has or seeks to have its equipment or facilities
located in any right of way regulated by this Ordinance, or (2) in any way occupies or uses, or
seeks to occupy or use, the right of way or place its facilities or equipment in the right of way.
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Subd. 35. Restore or Restoration. The process by which an excavated right of way and
surrounding area, including pavement and foundation, is returned to the same condition and life
expectancy that existed before excavation.
Subd. 36. Restoration Cost. The amount of money paid to the City by a permittee to
achieve the level of restoration according to Commission rules.
Subd. 37. Right of way or Public Right of way. The area on, below, or above a public
roadway, highway, street, cartway, bicycle lane, or public sidewalk in which the City has an
interest, including other dedicated rights of way for travel purposes and utility easements of the
City. A right of way does not include the airwaves above a right of way with regard to cellular or
other non-wire telecommunications or broadcast service.
Subd. 38. Right-of-way Permit. Either the excavation permit, obstruction permit, or
small-wireless-facilities permit, or any combination thereof, depending on the context, required
by this Ordinance.
Subd. 39. Right-of-way User. (1) A “telecommunications right-of-way user,” as defined
in Section 237.162, subd. 4 of the Act, or (2) a person owning or controlling a facility in the right
of way that is used or intended to be used for providing a service, and who has a right under law,
franchise, contract, license, or ordinance to use the public right of way.
Subd. 40. Service. Includes: (1) those services provided by a public utility, as defined in
Minn. Stat. 216B.02, subds. 4 and 6; (2) services of a telecommunications right-of-way user,
including transporting of voice or data information; (3) services of a cable communications
system, as defined in Minn. Stat. ch. 238; (4) natural gas or electric energy or
telecommunications services provided by the City; (5) services provided by a cooperative
electric association organized under Minn. Stat., ch. 308A; and (6) water and sewer services,
including service laterals, steam, cooling, or heating services.
Subd. 41. Service Lateral. An underground facility that is used to transmit, distribute or
furnish ‘gas, electricity, communications, or water from a common source to an end-use
customer. A service lateral is also an underground facility that is used in the removal of
wastewater from a customer’s premises.
Subd. 42. Small Wireless Facility. A wireless facility that meets both of the following
qualifications:
(i) each antenna is located inside an enclosure of no more than six (6) cubic feet in
volume or could fit within such an enclosure; and
(ii) all other wireless equipment associated with the small wireless facility, provided
such equipment is, in aggregate, no more than twenty-eight (28) cubic feet in volume, not
including electric meters, concealment elements, telecommunications demarcation boxes, battery
backup power systems, grounding equipment, power transfer switches, cutoff switches, cable,
conduit, vertical cable runs for the connection of power and other services, and any equipment
concealed from public view within or behind an existing structure or concealment.
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Subd. 43. Small-Wireless-Facility Permit. The permit which, pursuant to this Ordinance,
must be obtained before a person may install, place, maintain, or operate a small wireless facility
in a public right of way to provide wireless service. A small-wireless-facility permit allows the
holder to conduct such activities in that part of the right-of-way described in such permit. A
small-wireless-facility permit does not authorize (1) providing any service other than a wireless
service, or (2) installation, placement, maintenance, or operation of a wireline backhaul facility
in the right of way.
Subd. 44. Small-Wireless-Facility Permit Fee. Money paid to the City by a permittee to
cover the costs as provided in Section 1.12 of this Ordinance.
Subd. 45. Supplementary Application. An application made to the City to excavate or
obstruct more of the right of way than allowed in, or to extend or supply additional information
to, a permit that has already been submitted or issued.
Subd. 46. Telecommunications Right-of-way User. A person owning or controlling a
facility in the right of way, or seeking to own or control a facility in the right of way that is used
or is intended to be used for providing wireless service, or transporting telecommunication or
other voice or data information. For purposes of this Ordinance, a cable communication system
defined and regulated under Minn. Stat. ch. 238, as amended, and telecommunication activities
related to providing natural gas or electric energy services, a public utility as defined in Minn.
Stat. § 216B.02, as amended, a municipality, a municipal gas or power agency organized under
Minn. Stat. chs. 453 and 453A, as amended, or a cooperative electric association organized under
Minn. Stat. ch. 308A, are not telecommunications right-of-way users for purposes of this
Ordinance except to the extent such entity is offering wireless service.
Subd. 47. Trench. An excavation in the pavement, with the excavation having a length
equal to or greater than the width of the pavement.
Subd. 48. Utility Pole. A pole that is used in whole or in part to facilitate
telecommunications or electric service.
Subd. 49. Wireless Facility. Equipment at a fixed location that enables the provision of
wireless services between user equipment and a wireless service network, including equipment
associated with wireless service, a radio transceiver, antenna, coaxial or fiber-optic cable, regular
and backup power supplies, and a small wireless facility, but not including wireless support
structures, wireline backhaul facilities, or cables between utility poles or wireless support
structures, that are not otherwise immediately adjacent to and directly associated with a specific
antenna.
Subd. 50. Wireless Service. Any service using licensed or unlicensed wireless spectrum,
including the use of Wi-Fi, whether at a fixed location or by means of a mobile device, that is
provided using wireless facilities. Wireless service does not include services regulated under
Title VI of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, including cable service.
Subd. 51. Wireless Support Structure. A new or existing structure in a right of way
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designed to support or capable of supporting small wireless facilities, as reasonably determined
by the City.
Subd. 52. Wireline Backhaul Facility. A facility used to transport communications data
by wire from a wireless facility to a communications network.
Sec. 1.04. Administration.
The City Administrator is the principal City official responsible for the administration of
the public right of way, its permits, and the ordinances related thereto. The City Administrator
may delegate any or all of the duties hereunder.
Sec. 1.05. Registration and Right-of-way Occupancy.
Subd. 1. Registration Prior to Work. No person may construct, install, repair, remove,
relocate, or perform any other work on, or use any facilities or any part thereof, in any right of
way without first being registered with the City.
Subd. 2. Exceptions. Nothing herein shall be construed to repeal or amend the
provisions of a City ordinance permitting persons to plant or maintain boulevard plantings or
gardens in the area of the right of way between their property and the street curb. Persons
planting or maintaining boulevard plantings or gardens shall not be deemed to use or occupy the
right of way, and shall not be required to obtain any permits or satisfy any other requirements for
planting or maintaining such boulevard plantings or gardens under this Ordinance. However,
nothing herein relieves a person from complying with the provisions of the Minn. Stat. ch. 216D,
(Excavation Notice System).
Sec. 1.06. Registration Information.
Subd. 1. Information Required. The information provided to the City at the time of
registration shall include, but not be limited to:
(i) Each registrant’s name, Gopher One-Call registration certificate number, address
and email address, if applicable, and telephone and facsimile numbers.
(ii) The name, address, and email address, if applicable, and telephone and facsimile
numbers of a local representative. The local representative or designee shall be available at all
times. Current information regarding how to contact the local representative in an emergency
shall be provided at the time of registration.
(iii) A certificate of insurance or self-insurance:
(a) Verifying that an insurance policy has been issued to the registrant by an
insurance company licensed to do business in the state of Minnesota, or a form of self-
insurance acceptable to the City;
(b) Verifying that the registrant is insured against claims for personal injury,
including death, as well as claims for property damage arising out of the (1) use and
occupancy of the right of way by the registrant, its officers, agents, employees, and
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permittees, and (2) placement and use of facilities and equipment in the right of way by
the registrant, its officers, agents, employees, and permittees, including, but not limited
to, protection against liability arising from completed operations, damage of underground
facilities, and collapse of property;
(c) Naming the City as an additional insured as to whom the coverages
required herein are in force and applicable and for whom defense will be provided as to
all such coverages;
(d) Requiring that the City be notified thirty (30) days in advance of
cancellation of the policy or material modification of a coverage term; and
(e) Indicating comprehensive liability coverage, automobile liability
coverage, workers’ compensation and umbrella coverage established by the City in
amounts sufficient to protect the City and the public and to carry out the purposes and
policies of this Ordinance. Such amounts shall be no less than the current maximum tort
liability amounts applicable to municipalities in Minn. Stat. §466.04, as amended.
(f) The City requires a copy of the actual insurance policies.
(g) If the registrant is a corporation, a copy of the corporate certificate that has
been recorded and certified to by the Minnesota Secretary of State.
(h) A copy of the person’s order granting a certificate of authority from the
Commission or other authorization or approval from the applicable state or federal
agency to lawfully operate, where the person is lawfully required to have such
authorization or approval from said commission or other state or federal agency.
Subd. 2. Notice of Changes. The registrant shall keep all of the information listed above
current at all times by providing to the City information as to changes within fifteen (15) days
following the date on which the registrant has knowledge of any change.
Sec. 1.07. Reporting Obligations.
Subd. 1. Operations. Each registrant shall, at the time of registration and by December 1
of each year, file a construction and major maintenance plan for all facilities with the City. Such
plan shall be submitted using a format designated by the City and shall contain the information
determined by the City to be necessary to facilitate the coordination and reduction in the
frequency of excavations and obstructions of rights of way.
The plan shall include, but not be limited to, the following information:
(i) The locations and the estimated beginning and ending dates of all projects to be
commenced during the next calendar year (in this section, a “next-year project”); and
(ii) To the extent known, the tentative locations and estimated beginning and ending
dates for all projects contemplated for the five years following the next calendar year (in this
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section, a “five-year project”).
The term “project” in this section shall include both next-year projects and five -year projects.
By January 1 of each year, the City will have available for inspection a composite list of all
projects of which the City has been informed of the annual plans. All registrants are responsible
for keeping themselves informed of the current status of this list.
Thereafter, by February 1 of each year, each registrant may change any project in its list of next-
year projects, and must notify the City and all other registrants of all such changes in said list.
Subd. 2. Additional Next-Year Projects. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the City will
not deny an application for a right-of-way permit for failure to include a project in a plan
submitted to the City if the registrant has used commercially reasonable efforts to anticipate and
plan for the project.
Sec. 1.08. Permit Requirement.
Subd. 1. Permit Required. Except as otherwise provided in this Ordinance, no person
may obstruct or excavate any right of way, or install or place facilities in the right of way,
without first having obtained the appropriate right-of-way permit from the City to do so.
(i) Excavation Permit. An excavation permit is required by a registrant to excavate
that part of the right of way described in such permit and to hinder free and open passage over
the specified portion of the right of way by placing facilities described therein, to the extent and
for the duration specified therein.
(ii) Obstruction Permit. An obstruction permit is required by a registrant to hinder
free and open passage over the specified portion of right of way by placing equipment described
therein on the right of way, to the extent and for the duration specified therein. An obstruction
permit is not required if a person already possesses a valid excavation permit for the same
project.
(iii) Small-Wireless-Facility Permit. A small-wireless-facility permit is required by a
registrant to erect or install a wireless support structure, to collocate a small wireless facility, or
to otherwise install a small wireless facility in the specified portion or the right of way, to the
extent specified therein, provided that such permit shall remain in effect for the length of time
the facility is in use, unless lawfully revoked. No small-wireless-facility permit is required to
solely conduct: (1) routine maintenance of a small wireless facility; (2) replacement of a small
wireless facility with a new facility that is substantially similar or smaller in size, weight, height,
and wind or structural loading than the small wireless facility being replaced; or (3) installation,
placement, maintenance, operation, or replacement of micro wireless facilities that are suspended
on cables strung between existing utility poles in compliance with national safety codes,
however, a service provider is required to make written notice of such activities to the City if the
micro wireless facility work will obstruct a public right of way. A small-wireless-facility permit
is required for the work specified in this paragraph, in addition to the requirement that the
Registrant also possess an excavation permit or an obstruction permit.
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(iv) Conditional use permit. A conditional use permit is required to install a new
wireless support structure for the siting of a small wireless facility in a right of way in a district
that is zoned for single-family residential use or agricultural use (i.e., as of the effective date of
this Ordinance, AP, AG-C, GR, VN) or within a historic district established by federal or state
law or by this Ordinance as of the date of application for a small wireless facility permit.
Subd. 2. Permit Extensions. No person may excavate or obstruct the right of way
beyond the date or dates specified in the applicable permit unless (1) such person makes a
supplementary application for another right-of-way permit before the expiration of the initial
permit, and (2) a new permit or permit extension is granted.
Subd. 3. Delay Penalty. In accordance with Minn. Rule 7819.1000 subp. 3 and
notwithstanding subd. 2 of this Section, the City shall establish and impose a delay penalty for
unreasonable delays in right-of-way excavation, obstruction, patching, or restoration. The delay
penalty shall be established from time to time by City Council resolution. A delay penalty will
not be imposed if the delay in completion is due to circumstances beyond the control of the
registrant, including without limitation inclement weather, acts of God, or civil strife.
Subd. 4. Permit Display. Permits issued under this Ordinance shall be conspicuously
displayed or otherwise available at all times at the indicated work site and shall be available for
inspection by the City.
Sec. 1.09. Permit Applications.
Application for all permits described in this Ordinance must be made to the City. Right-
of-way permit applications shall contain, and will be considered complete only upon compliance
with the requirements of the following provisions:
(i) Registration with the City pursuant to this Ordinance.
(ii) Submission of a completed permit application form, including all required
attachments, and scaled drawings showing the location and area of the proposed work underlying
the permit and the location of all known existing and proposed facilities.
(iii) Payment of money due to the City for:
(a) permit fees, estimated restoration costs, and other management costs;
(b) prior obstructions or excavations, before issuance of the permit;
(c) any undisputed loss, damage, or expense suffered by the City because of
the registrant’s prior excavations or obstructions of the rights of way or any emergency
actions taken by the City; and
(d) franchise fees or other charges, if applicable.
(iv) Payment of disputed amounts due to the City by posting security or depositing in
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an escrow account an amount equal to at least 110 percent of the amount owing, which shall be
determined by the City.
(v) Posting an additional or larger construction security for additional facilities when
registrant requests an excavation permit to install additional facilities and the City deems the
existing construction security inadequate under applicable standards.
Sec. 1.10. Issuance of Permit; Conditions.
Subd. 1. Permit Issuance. If the registrant has satisfied the requirements of this
Ordinance, the City shall issue:
(i) a small-wireless-facility permit within ninety (90) days;
(ii) all other right-of-way permits within ten (10) business days.
Subd. 2. Conditions. The City may impose reasonable conditions upon the issuance of
the permit and the performance of the registrant thereunder to protect the health, safety, and
welfare or when necessary to protect the right of way and its current use. In addition, a permittee
shall comply with all requirements of local, state, and federal laws, including but not limited to
Minn. Stat. §§ 216D.01 - .09 (Excavation Notice System) and Minn. R., ch. 7560, each as
amended.
Subd. 3. Small Wireless Facility Conditions. In addition to subdivision 2, the erection or
installation of a wireless support structure, the collocation of a small wireless facility, or other
installation of a small wireless facility in the right of way, shall be subject to the following
conditions:
(i) A small wireless facility shall only be collocated on the particular wireless
support structure, under those attachment specifications, and at the height indicated in the
applicable permit application submitted by the registrant.
(ii) No new wireless support structure installed within the right of way shall exceed
50 feet in height without the City’s written authorization, provided that the City may impose a
lower height limit in the applicable permit to protect the public health, safety and welfare or to
protect the right of way and its current use, and further provided that a registrant may replace an
existing wireless support structure exceeding 50 feet in height with a structure of the same height
subject to such conditions or requirements as may be imposed in the applicable permit.
(iii) No wireless facility may extend more than 10 feet above its wireless support
structure.
(iv) Where a registrant proposes to install a new wireless support structure in the right
of way, the City may impose reasonable separation requirements between such structure and any
existing wireless support structure or other facilities in and around the right of way.
(v) Where a registrant proposes collocation on a decorative wireless support
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structure, sign or other structure not intended to support small wireless facilities, the City may
impose reasonable requirements to accommodate the particular design, appearance or intended
purpose of such structure.
(vi) Where a registrant proposes to replace a wireless support structure, the City may
impose reasonable restocking, replacement, or relocation requirements on the replacement of
such structure.
(vii) Where a registrant proposes to install a small wireless facility in a single-family
residential (i.e., as of the effective date of this Ordinance, AP, AG-C, GR, VN) or historic zoned
district (as may later be established by this Ordinance or by applicable state or federal law or
regulation), the City will require a conditional use permit.
Subd. 4. Small-Wireless-Facility Agreement. A small-wireless-facility permit shall only
be issued after the registrant has executed a Collocation Agreement with the City. The
Collocation Agreement may require payment of the following:
(i) Up to $150 per year for rent to collocate on a wireless support structure owned by
the City.
(ii) $25 per year for maintenance associated with the collocation.
(iii) If the registrant/permittee obtains electrical service through the City, a monthly
fee for electrical service as follows:
(a) $73 per radio node less than or equal to 100 maximum watts;
(b) $182 per radio node over 100 maximum watts; or
(c) The actual costs of electricity, if the actual costs exceed the foregoing.
The Collocation Agreement shall be in addition to, and not in lieu of, the required small-
wireless-facility permit, provided, however, that the registrant shall not be additionally required
to obtain a license or franchise in order to collocate. Issuance of a small-wireless-facility permit
does not supersede, alter or affect any existing agreement between the City and the registrant
established by the effective date of this Ordinance.
Sec. 1.11. Action on Small Wireless Facility Permit Applications.
Subd. 1. Deadline for Action. The City shall approve or deny a small-wireless-facility
permit application within 90 days after filing of such application. The small-wireless-facility
permit shall be deemed approved if the City fails to approve or deny the application within the
90-day review period.
Subd. 2. Consolidated Applications. A registrant may file a consolidated small-wireless-
facility permit application addressing the proposed collocation of up to 15 small wireless
facilities, or a greater number if agreed to by the City, provided that all small wireless facilities
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in the application:
(i) are located within a two-mile radius;
(ii) consist of substantially similar equipment; and
(iii) are to be placed on similar types of wireless support structures.
In rendering a decision on a consolidated permit application, the City may approve some small
wireless facilities and deny others, but may not use denial of one or more permits as a basis to
deny all small wireless facilities in the application.
Subd. 3. Tolling of Deadline. The 90-day deadline for action on a small-wireless-facility
permit application may be tolled if:
(i) The City receives applications from one or more registrants seeking approval of
permits for more than 30 small wireless facilities within a seven-day period. In such case, the
City may extend the deadline for all such applications by 30 days by informing the affected
registrants in writing of such extension.
(ii) The registrant fails to submit all required documents or information and the City
provides written notice of incompleteness, with specificity as to the missing information, to the
registrant within 30 days of receipt of the application. Upon submission of additional documents
or information, the City shall have ten days to notify the registrant in writing of any still missing
information.
(iii) The City and a small wireless facility registrant agree in writing to toll the review
period.
Sec. 1.12. Permit Fees.
Subd. 1. Excavation Permit Fee. The City shall impose an excavation permit fee, as may
be set forth in the City’s annual fee schedule, in an amount sufficient to recover the following
costs:
(i) City management costs;
(ii) degradation costs, if applicable.
Subd. 2. Obstruction Permit Fee. The City shall impose an obstruction permit fee, as
may be set forth in the City’s annual fee schedule, in an amount sufficient to recover the City
management costs.
Subd 3. Small Wireless Facility Permit Fee. The City shall impose a small wireless
facility permit fee, as may be set forth in the City’s annual fee schedule, in an amount sufficient
to recover:
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(i) City management costs; and;
(ii) City engineering and construction costs (if any) associated with collocation of
small wireless facilities.
Subd. 4. Conditional Use Permit Fee. The City shall impose a conditional use permit fee,
as may be set forth in the City’s annual fee schedule, in an amount sufficient to recover the City
management costs.
Subd. 5. Payment of Permit Fees. No excavation permit, obstruction permit, or small-
wireless-facility permit shall be issued without payment of the corresponding permit fees.
Subd. 6. Non Refundable. Permit fees that were paid for a permit that the City has
revoked for a breach as stated in Section 1.22 are not refundable.
Subd. 7. Application to Franchises. Unless otherwise agreed to in a franchise agreement,
management costs may be charged separately from and in addition to the franchise fees imposed
on a right-of-way user in the franchise agreement.
Sec. 1.13. Right-of-way Patching and Restoration.
Subd. 1. Timing. The work to be done under an excavation permit, and the patching and
restoration of the right of way as required herein, must be completed within the dates specified in
the permit, increased by as many days as work could not be done because of circumstances
beyond the control of the permittee or when work was prohibited as unseasonable or
unreasonable under Section 1.16.
Subd. 2. Patch and Restoration. A Permittee shall patch its own work. The City may
choose either to have the permittee restore the right of way or to restore the right of way itself
after the work is completed.
(i) City Restoration. If the City restores the right of way, the permittee shall pay the
costs thereof within thirty (30) days of billing. If, following such restoration, the pavement
settles due to permittee’s improper backfilling, the permittee shall pay to the City, within thirty
(30) days of billing, all costs associated with correcting the defective work.
(ii) Permittee Restoration. If the permittee restores the right of way, it shall at the
time of application for an excavation permit post construction security in accordance with the
provisions of this Ordinance.
(iii) Degradation Fee in Lieu of Restoration. In lieu of right-of-way restoration, a
right-of-way user may elect to pay a degradation fee. However, the right-of-way user shall
remain responsible for patching and the degradation fee shall not include the cost to accomplish
these responsibilities.
Subd. 3. Standards. The permittee shall perform excavation, backfilling, patching, and
restoration according to the standards and with the materials specified by the City and shall
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comply with Minn. Rule 7819.1100.
Subd. 4. Duty to Correct Defects. The permittee shall correct defects in patching or
restoration performed by the permittee or its agents. The permittee upon notification from the
City, shall correct all restoration work to the extent necessary, using the method required by the
City. Said work shall be completed within five (5) calendar days of the receipt of the notice from
the City, not including days during which work cannot be done because of circumstances
constituting force majeure or days when work is prohibited as unseasonable or unreasonable
under Section 1.16.
Subd. 5. Failure to Restore. If the permittee fails to restore the right of way in the
manner and to the condition required by the City, or fails to satisfactorily and timely complete all
restoration required by the City, the City at its option may do such work. In that event the
permittee shall pay to the City, within thirty (30) days of billing, the actual cost of restoring the
right of way. If the permittee fails to pay as required, the City may exercise its rights under the
construction security.
Sec. 1.14. Joint Applications.
Subd. 1. No joint application. Registrants may not jointly apply for any kind of right-of-
way permits.
Subd. 2. Shared fees. Registrants who apply for permits for the same obstruction or
excavation, which the City does not perform, may share in the payment of the obstruction or
excavation permit fee. In order to obtain a joint permit, registrants must agree among themselves
as to the portion each will pay and indicate the same on their applications.
Subd. 3. With City projects. Registrants who join in a scheduled obstruction or
excavation performed by the City, whether or not it is a joint application by two or more
registrants or a single application, are not required to pay the excavation or obstruction and
degradation portions of the permit fee, but a permit is still required to provide the City with
details regarding the project.
Sec. 1.15. Supplementary Applications.
Subd. 1. Limitation on Area. A right-of-way permit is valid only for the area of the right
of way specified in the permit. No permittee may do any work outside the area specified in the
permit, except as provided herein. Any permittee which determines that an area greater than that
specified in the permit must be obstructed or excavated must before working in that greater area
must (1) apply for a supplementary application and pay any additional fees required thereby, and
(2) be granted a new or amended permit or permit extension.
Subd. 2. Limitation on Dates. A right-of-way permit is valid only for the dates specified
in the permit. No permittee may begin its work before the permit start date or, except as provided
herein, continue working after the end date. If a permittee does not finish the work by the permit
end date, it must apply for a new permit for the additional time it needs, and receive the new or
amended permit or an extension of the old permit before working after the end date of the
previous permit.
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Sec. 1.16. Other Obligations.
Subd. 1. Compliance with Other Laws. Obtaining a right-of-way permit does not relieve
a permittee of its duty to obtain all other necessary permits, licenses, and authority and to pay all
fees required by the City pursuant to its current fee schedule, or other applicable rule, law or
regulation. A permittee shall comply with all requirements of local, state and federal laws,
including but not limited to Minn. Stat. §§ 216D.01-.09 (Excavation Notice System) and Minn.
R., ch. 7560. A permittee shall perform all work in conformance with all applicable ordinances,
codes, and established rules and regulations, and is responsible for all work done in the right of
way pursuant to its permit, regardless of who does the work.
Subd. 2. Prohibited Work. Except in an emergency, and with the approval of the City,
no right-of-way obstruction or excavation may be done when seasonally prohibited or when
conditions are unreasonable for such work.
Subd. 3. Interference with Right of way. A permittee shall not so obstruct a right of way
that the natural free and clear passage of water through the gutters, ditches or other waterways
shall be interfered with. Private vehicles of those doing work in the right of way may not be
parked within or next to anarea covered by a permit, unless parked in conformance with City
parking regulations. The loading or unloading of trucks must be done solely within the defined
permit area unless specifically authorized by the permit.
Subd. 4. Trenchless excavation. As a condition of all applicable permits, permittees
employing trenchless excavation methods, including but not limited to Horizontal Directional
Drilling, shall follow all requirements set forth in Minn. Stat. ch. 216D and Minn. R., ch. 7560
and shall require potholing or open cutting over existing underground utilities before excavating,
as determined by the Director.
Sec. 1.17. Denial of Permit.
Subd. 1. Reasons for Denial. The City may deny a permit for failure to meet the
requirements and conditions of this Ordinance or if the City determines that the denial is
necessary to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the public or when necessary to protect the
right of way and its current use.
Subd. 2. Procedural Requirements. The denial of a permit must be made in writing and
must document the basis for the denial. The City must notify the registrant in writing within ten
(10) business days of the decision to deny a permit. If an application is denied, the registrant may
cure the deficiencies identified by the City and resubmit its application. If the application is
resubmitted within 30 days of receipt of the notice of denial, no additional application fee shall
be imposed. The City must approve or deny the resubmitted application within 30 days after
submission.
Sec. 1.18. Installation Requirements.
The excavation, backfilling, patching and restoration, and all other work performed in the
right of way shall be done in conformance with Minn. R. 7819.1100 and 7819.5000 (for
telecommunications) and other applicable local requirements, in so far as they are not
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inconsistent with Sections 237.162 and 237.163 of the Act. Installation of service laterals shall
be performed in accordance with Minn. R., ch 7560 and this Ordinance. Service lateral
installation is further subject to those requirements and conditions set forth by the City in the
applicable permits and agreements referenced in Section 1.23, subd. 2, of this Ordinance.
Sec. 1.19. Inspection.
Subd. 1. Notice of Completion. When the work under any permit hereunder is
completed, the permittee shall furnish a completion certificate in accordance with Minn. Rule
7819.1300. “As built” drawings are required to be completed by the permittee and distributed to
the City within six (6) months of completion of the work.
Subd. 2. Site Inspection. The Permittee shall make the work site available to the City
and to all others as authorized by law for inspection at all reasonable times during the
construction of and upon completion of the work.
Subd 3. Authority of Department Inspector.
(i) At the time of inspection, the Department Inspector may order the immediate
cessation of any work which poses a serious threat to the life, health, safety, or well-being of the
public.
(ii) The Department Inspector may issue an order to the permittee for any work that
does not conform to the terms of the permit or other applicable standards, conditions, ordinances
or codes. The order shall state that failure to correct the violation will be cause for revocation of
the permit. Within ten (10) days after issuance of the order, the permittee shall present proof to
the Director or the City Engineer, as the case may be, that the violation has been corrected. If
such proof has not been presented within the required time, the Director or the City Engineer, as
the case may be, may revoke the permit pursuant to Sec. 1.22 of this Ordinance.
Sec. 1.20. Work Done Without a Permit.
Subd. 1. Emergency Situations. Each registrant shall immediately notify the Director of
any event regarding its facilities that it considers to be an emergency. The registrant may proceed
to take whatever actions are necessary to respond to the emergency. Excavators’ notification to
Gopher State One Call regarding an emergency situation does not fulfill this requirement. Within
two (2) business days after the occurrence of the emergency, the registrant shall apply for the
necessary permits, pay the fees associated therewith, and fulfill the rest of the requirements
necessary to bring itself into compliance with this Ordinance for the actions it took in response to
the emergency.
If the City becomes aware of an emergency regarding a registrant’s facilities, the City
will attempt to contact the local representative of each registrant affected, or potentially affected,
by the emergency. In any event, the City may take whatever action it deems necessary to respond
to the emergency, the cost of which shall be borne by the registrant whose faci lities occasioned
the emergency. The City shall not be liable for any action or inaction taken under this paragraph.
Subd. 2. Non-Emergency Situations. Except in an emergency, any person who, without
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first having obtained the necessary permit, obstructs or excavates a right of way must
subsequently obtain a permit and, as a penalty, pay double the normal fee for said permit, pay
double all the other fees required by this Ordinance, deposit with the City the fees necessary to
correct any damage to the right of way, and comply with all of the requirements of this
Ordinance.
Sec. 1.21. Supplementary Notification.
If the obstruction or excavation of the right of way begins later or ends sooner than the
date given on the permit, the permittee shall notify the City of the most accurate and up-to-date
information as soon as this information is known.
Sec. 1.22. Revocation of Permits.
Subd. 1. Substantial Breach. The City reserves its right, as provided herein, to revoke
any right-of-way permit without a fee refund, if there is a substantial breach of the terms and
conditions of any statute, ordinance, rule or regulation, or any material condition of the permit or
relevant agreement. A substantial breach by a permittee shall include, but shall not be limited to,
the following:
(i) The violation of any material provision of the right-of-way permit.
(ii) An evasion or attempt to evade any material provision of the right-of-way permit,
or the perpetration or attempt to perpetrate any fraud or deceit upon the City or its citizens.
(iii) Any material misrepresentation of fact in the application for a right-of-way
permit.
(iv) The failure to complete the work in a timely manner, unless a permit extension is
obtained or unless the failure to complete work is due to reasons beyond the permittee’s control.
(v) The failure to correct, in a timely manner, work that does not conform to a
condition indicated on an order issued pursuant to Section 1.19 of this Ordinance.
Subd. 2. Written Notice of Breach. If the City determines that a permittee has
committed a substantial breach of a term or condition of any statute, ordinance, rule, regulation,
or any condition of the permit, the City shall follow the procedural requirements of Section 1.17,
subd. 2, of this Ordinance. In addition, the demand shall state that continued violations may be
cause for revocation of the permit. A substantial breach, as stated above, will allow the City, at
its discretion, to place additional or revised conditions on the permit to mitigate and remedy the
breach.
Subd. 3. Response to Notice of Breach. Within two (2) calendar days of receiving
notification of the breach, the permittee shall provide the City with a plan, acceptable to the City,
that will cure the breach. The permittee’s failure to so contact the City, or the permittee’s failure
to timely submit an acceptable plan, or the permittee’s failure to reasonably implement the
approved plan, shall be cause for immediate revocation of the permit.
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Subd. 4. Reimbursement of City costs. If a permit is revoked, the permittee shall also
reimburse the City for the City’s reasonable costs, including restoration costs and the costs of
collection and reasonable attorneys’ fees incurred in connection with such revocation.
Sec. 1.23. Mapping Data.
Subd. 1. Information Required. Each registrant and permittee shall provide mapping
information required by the City in accordance with Minn. R. 7819.4000 and 7819.4100. Within
ninety (90) days following completion of any work pursuant to a permit, the permittee shall
provide the Director accurate maps and drawings certifying the “as-built” location of all
equipment installed, owned, and maintained by the permittee. Such maps and drawings shall
include the horizontal and vertical location of all facilities and equipment and shall be provided
consistent with the City’s electronic mapping system, when practical or as a condition imposed
by the Director. Failure to provide maps and drawings pursuant to this subsection shall be
grounds for revoking the permit.
Subd. 2. Service Laterals. All permits issued for the installation or repair of service
laterals, other than “minor repairs” as defined in Minn. R. 7560.0150, subp. 2, shall require the
permittee’s use of appropriate means of establishing the horizontal locations of installed service
laterals and the service lateral vertical locations in those cases where the Director reasonably
requires it. Permittees or their subcontractors shall submit to the Director evidence satisfactory of
the installed service lateral locations. Compliance with this subdivision 2 and with applicable
Gopher State One Call law and Minnesota Rules governing service laterals installed after
December 31, 2005, shall be a condition of any City approval necessary for:
(i) payments to contractors working on a public improvement project, including
those under Minn. Stat. ch. 429; and
(ii) City approval under development agreements or other subdivision or site plan
approvals under Minn. Stat. ch. 462. The Director shall reasonably determine the appropriate
method of providing such information to the City. Failure to provide prompt and accurate
information on the service laterals installed may result in the revocation of the permit issued for
the work or future permits to the offending permittee or its subcontractors.
Sec. 1.24. Location and Relocation of Facilities.
Subd. 1. Location. Placement, location, and relocation of facilities must comply with the
Act, with other applicable law, and with Minn. R. 7819.3100, 7819.5000, and 7819.5100, to the
extent the rules do not limit authority otherwise available to cities.
Subd. 2. Undergrounding. As required by the City’s Development Code, Chapter 3, Section
13.14 (Utilities), all facilities in the right of way must be located or relocated and maintained
underground. This regulation does not apply to small wireless facilities or micro wireless facilities.
Subd. 3. Limitation of Space. To protect the health, safety, and welfare of the public, or
when necessary to protect the right of way and its current use, the City shall have the power to
prohibit or limit the placement of new or additional facilities within the right of way. In making
such decisions, the City shall strive to the extent possible to accommodate all existing and
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potential users of the right of way, but shall be guided primarily by considerations of the public
interest, the public’s needs for the particular utility service, the condition of the right of way, the
time of year with respect to essential utilities, the protection of existing facilities in the right of
way, and future City plans for public improvements and development projects which have been
determined to be in the public interest. The City shall provide written findings to a registrant in
connection with the prohibition of new or additional facilities within the right of way.
Sec. 1.25. Pre-Excavation Facilities Location.
In addition to complying with the requirements of Minn. Stat. §§ 216D.01-.09
(Excavation Notice System) before the start date of any right-of-way excavation, each registrant
who has facilities or equipment in the area to be excavated shall mark the horizontal and vertical
placement of all said facilities. Any registrant whose facilities are less than twenty (20) inches
below a concrete or asphalt surface shall notify and work closely with the excavation contractor
to establish the exact location of its facilities and the best procedure for excavation.
Sec. 1.26. Damage to Other Facilities.
When the City does work in the right of way and finds it necessary to maintain, support,
or move a registrant’s facilities to protect it, the City shall notify the local representative as early
as is reasonably possible. The costs associated therewith will be billed to that registrant and must
be paid within thirty (30) days from the date of billing. Each registrant shall be responsible for
the cost of repairing any facilities in the right of way which it or its facilities damage. Each
registrant shall be responsible for the cost of repairing any damage to the facilities of another
registrant caused during the City’s response to an emergency occasioned by that registrant’s
facilities.
Sec. 1.27. Right-of-way Vacation.
If the City vacates a right of way that contains the facilities of a registrant, the registrant’s
rights in the vacated right of way are governed by Minn. R. 7819.3200.
Sec. 1.28. Indemnification and Liability.
By registering with the City, or by accepting a permit under this Ordinance, a registrant
or permittee agrees to defend and indemnify the City in accordance with the provisions of Minn.
Rule 7819.1250.
Sec. 1.29. Abandoned and Unusable Facilities.
Subd. 1. Discontinued Operations. A registrant who has determined to discontinue all or
a portion of its operations in the City must provide information satisfactory to the City that the
registrant’s obligations for its facilities in the right of way under this Ordinance have been
lawfully assumed by another registrant.
Subd. 2. Removal. Any registrant who has abandoned facilities in any right of way shall
remove it from that right of way, and must remove the facilities immediately if required in
conjunction with other right-of-way repair, excavation, or construction, unless this requirement is
waived by the City.
Sec. 1.30. Appeal.
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A registrant or a right-of-way user, as the case may be, that: (1) has been denied a permit;
(2) has had a permit revoked; (3) believes that the fees imposed by the City are not in conformity
with Section 237.163, subd. 6 of the Act; or (4) disputes a determination of the Director
regarding Section 1.23, subd. 2, of this Ordinance may have the denial, revocation, fee
imposition, or decision reviewed, upon written request, by the City Council. The City Council
shall act on a timely written request at its next regularly scheduled meeting, provided the
registrant or right-of-way user, as the case may be, has submitted its appeal with sufficient time
to include the appeal as a regular agenda item. A decision by the City Council affirming the
denial, revocation, or fee imposition will be in writing and supported by written findings
establishing the reasonableness of the decision.
Sec. 1.31. Reservation of Regulatory and Police Powers.
A permittee’s rights are subject to the regulatory and police powers of the City to adopt
and enforce general ordinances as necessary to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the
public.
Sec. 1.32. Severability.
If any portion of this Ordinance is for any reason held invalid by any court of competent
jurisdiction, such portion shall be deemed a separate, distinct, and independent provision and
such holding shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions thereof. Nothing in this
Ordinance precludes the City from requiring a franchise agreement with a registrant or right-of-
way user, as allowed by law, in addition to requirements set forth herein.
Section 2. The following Ordinances are hereby repealed:
Ordinance No. 113, adopted by the City Council of the City of Scandia on
December 16, 2008, which amended Section 1.1 of Ordinance No. 39 and repealed Ordinance
No. 42; and,
Ordinance No. 39, adopted by the Town Board of the Town of New Scandia on
December 16, 2008.
Section 3. This Ordinance shall be in full force and effect from and after its passage and
publication according to law.
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Adopted by the City Council of the City of Scandia, Minnesota, this __th day of
_____________, 2018.
______________________________
Christine Maefsky, Mayor
ATTEST:
___________________________________
Neil Soltis, City Administrator