§ 26-74. Placement or maintenance of a communications facility in public rights-of-way.

(a)

A registrant agrees at all times to comply with and abide by all applicable provisions of the State statutes and City ordinances, codes and regulations in placing or maintaining a communications facility in public rights-of-way.

(b)

A registrant shall not commence to place or maintain a communications facility in public rights-of-way until all applicable permits have been issued by the City or other appropriate authority, except in the case of an emergency. The term "emergency" shall mean a condition that affects the public's health, safety or welfare, which includes an unplanned out-of-service condition of a preexisting service. The registrant shall provide prompt notice to the City of the placement or maintenance of a communications facility in public rights-of-way in the event of an emergency. The registrant acknowledges that as a condition of granting such permits, the City may impose reasonable rules or regulations governing the placement or maintenance of a communications facility in public rights-of-way. Permits shall apply only to the areas of public rights-of-way specifically identified in the permit. The City may issue a blanket permit to cover certain activities, such as routine maintenance and repair activities, that may otherwise require individual permits or may impose lesser requirements.

(c)

As part of any permit application to place a new or replace an existing communications facility in public rights-of-way, the registrant shall provide a proposal for construction of the communications facility that sets forth at least the following:

(1)

An engineering plan signed and sealed by a Florida registered professional engineer, or prepared by a person who is exempt from such registration requirements as provided in Fla. Stat. § 471.003 identifying the location of the proposed facility, including a description of the facilities to be installed, where it is to be located, and the approximate size of facilities and equipment that will be located in public rights-of-way;

(2)

A description of the manner in which the facility will be installed (i.e. anticipated construction methods and/or techniques);

(3)

A traffic maintenance plan for any disruption of the public rights-of-way;

(4)

Information on the ability of the public rights-of-way to accommodate the proposed facility, if available (such information shall be provided without certification as to correctness, to the extent obtained from other persons with facilities in the public rights-of-way);

(5)

If appropriate given the facility proposed, an estimate of the cost of restoration to the public rights-of-way;

(6)

The timetable for construction of the project or each phase thereof, and the areas of the City which will be affected; and

(7)

Such additional information requested by the City that the City finds reasonably necessary to review the permit application.

(d)

The City shall have the power to prohibit or limit the placement of new or additional communications facilities within the public rights-of-way if there is insufficient space to accommodate all of the requests to place and maintain facilities in that area of the public rights-of-way, for the protection of existing facilities in the public rights-of-way or to accommodate City plans for public improvements or projects that the City determines are in the public interest.

(e)

All communications facilities shall be placed and maintained so as not to interfere with the use of the public rights-of-way by the public and so as not to cause interference with the rights and convenience of property owners who adjoin any of the public rights-of-way. The registrant shall endeavor to install all communications facilities underground. The City may require the use of trenchless technology (i.e., directional bore method) for the installation of facilities in the public rights-of-way as well as joint trenching or the collocation of facilities in existing conduit. In making such requests, the City shall take into consideration several factors including convenience to the public and other users of rights-of-way and the feasibility of such requests. The registrant shall be liable for the displacement, damage or destruction of any property, irrigation system or landscaping as a result of the placement or maintenance of its facility within the public rights-of-way. The appropriate City official may issue such rules and regulations concerning the placement or maintenance of a communications facility in public rights-of-way as may be consistent with this Article and other applicable law.

(f)

All safety practices required by applicable law or accepted industry practices and standards shall be used during the placement or maintenance of communications facilities.

(g)

A registrant shall, at its own expense, restore the public rights-of-way to at least its original condition before such work in public rights-of-way commenced, subject to the City's satisfaction upon inspection. The registrant shall warrant its restoration for a period of 12 months after completion of such restoration. If the registrant fails to make such restoration within 30 calendar days after completion of construction, or such other time as may be reasonably required by the City, the City may after written notice to the registrant, perform such restoration using City employees, agents or contractors, and charge all costs of the restoration against the registrant in accordance with Fla. Stat. § 337.402 and require reimbursement within 30 days after the submission of the bill by the City to the registrant.

(h)

Removal or relocation at the direction of the City of a registrant's communications facility in public rights-of-way shall be governed by the provisions of Fla. Stat. §§ 337.403 and 337.404.

(i)

A permit from the City constitutes authorization to undertake only certain activities on public rights-of-way in accordance with this Article, and does not create a property right or grant authority to impinge upon the rights of others who may have an interest in the public rights-of-way.

(j)

A registrant shall maintain its communications facility in public rights-of-way in a manner consistent with accepted industry practice and applicable law.

(k)

In connection with excavation in the public rights-of-way, a registrant shall, where applicable, comply with the Underground Facility Damage Prevention and Safety Act set forth in Fla. Stat. ch. 556.

(l)

A registrant shall place or maintain a communications facility in public rights-of-way in compliance with all applicable standards as established by all local, State or Federal law and in conformance with the City ordinances, codes and regulations. The registrant shall use and exercise due caution, care and skill in performing work in the public rights-of-way and shall take all reasonable steps to safeguard work site areas.

(m)

In the interest of the public's health, safety and welfare, upon request of the City, a registrant shall coordinate placement or maintenance activities under a permit with any other work, construction, installation or repairs that may be occurring or scheduled to occur within a reasonable timeframe in the subject public rights-of-way. The City may require a registrant to alter reasonably its placement or maintenance schedule for permitted work as necessary so as to minimize disruptions and disturbance in the public rights-of-way. The City may provide a more definite timeframe based on specific City construction or maintenance schedules.

(n)

A registrant shall not place or maintain its communications facilities so as to interfere, displace, damage or destroy any facilities, including but not limited to, sewers, gas or water mains, storm drains, pipes, cables or conduits of the City or any other person's facilities lawfully occupying the public rights-of-way of the City.

(o)

The City makes no warranties or representations regarding the fitness, suitability or availability of public rights-of-way for the registrant's communications facilities and any performance of work or costs incurred by the registrant or provision of services shall be at the registrant's sole risk. Nothing in this Article shall affect the City's authority to add, vacate or abandon public rights-of-way and the City makes no warranties or representations regarding the availability of any added, vacated or abandoned public rights-of-way for communications facilities.

(p)

The City shall have the right to make such inspections of facilities placed or maintained in public rights-of-way as it finds necessary to ensure compliance with this Article. In the event the City determines that a violation exists with respect to the registrant's placement or maintenance of facilities in the public rights-of-way that is not considered to be an emergency or danger to the public health, safety or welfare, the City will provide the registrant no fewer than three (3) days written notice setting forth the violation and requesting correction.

(q)

A permit application to place a new or replace an existing communications facility in public rights-of-way shall include plans showing the location of the proposed installation of facilities in the public rights-of-way. If the plans so provided require revision based upon actual installation, the registrant shall promptly provide revised as-built plans upon completion of any installation or construction. The plans shall be in a digitized format showing the two-dimensional location of the facilities based on the City's geographical database, or other format acceptable to the City. The registrant shall provide such plans at no cost to the City. The City shall maintain the confidentiality of such plans and any other information provided in accordance with Fla. Stat. § 202.195.

(r)

The City reserves the right to place and maintain, and permit to be placed or maintained, sewer, gas, water, electric, storm drainage, communications, and other facilities, cables or conduit, and to do, and to permit to be done, any underground and overhead installation or improvement that may be deemed necessary or proper by the City in public rights-of-way occupied by the registrant. The registrant may allow City facilities to be collocated within the City's public rights-of-way through the use of a joint trench during the registrant's construction project. Such joint trench projects shall be negotiated in good faith by separate agreement between the registrant and City and may be subjected to other City rights-of-way requirements. The City further reserves without limitation the right to alter, change, or cause to be changed, the grading, installation, relocation or width of the public rights-of-way within the limits of the City and within said limits as same may from time to time be altered.

(s)

A registrant shall, on the request of any person holding a permit issued by the City, temporarily support, protect, raise or lower its communications facilities to permit the work authorized by the permit. The expense of such temporary support, protection, raising or lowering of facilities shall be paid by the person requesting the same, and the registrant shall have the authority to require such payment in advance. The registrant shall be given not less than 30 days advance written notice to arrange for such temporary relocation. If the City requests the temporary support, protection, raising or lowering of a facility for a public purpose, the City shall not be charged for the temporary support, protection, raising or lowering of the facility.

(t)

A wireless facility that is a portion of a communications facility, such as an antenna (wireless facility) which is attached to a legally maintained vertical structure in the public rights-of-way, such as a light pole or utility pole (vertical structure), shall be subject to the following criteria:

(1)

Such wireless facilities may not extend above the highest point of the vertical structure;

(2)

Such wireless facilities that are attached to a vertical structure located in the public rights-of-way shall be flush mounted to the vertical structure;

(3)

Such wireless facilities shall not have any type of lighted signal, lights or illuminations, and if such illuminations are required by an applicable Federal, State or local rule, regulation or law, the wireless facility is not permitted at that location;

(4)

Such wireless facilities shall comply with any applicable Federal Communications Commission Emissions Standards;

(5)

The design, construction and installation of such wireless facilities shall comply with the Florida Building Code;

(6)

No advertising shall be allowed on such wireless facilities; and

(7)

No accessory equipment and related housing shall be permitted in the public rights-of-way that are used in conjunction with such a wireless facility.

(u)

Vertical structures, such as towers, whose purpose is to serve as a mounting device for antennas, are expressly prohibited from being placed in the public rights-of-way and this Article shall supercede all applicable zoning and land use laws or regulations inconsistent with this Article.

(Ord. No. 01-03-03, § 5, 3-13-2001)