Council adopts changes to excavation and pavement‑disturbance rules; clarifies security and permit timing

The Rochester City Council on July 1 adopted a first reading of an amendment to the city’s general ordinances covering excavation on highways, rights‑of‑way and pavement‑disturbance moratoriums.

Councilor Dijabois presented the amendment as largely a housekeeping update “to bring the language in the ordinance up to kind of standard practice.” He said the revised ordinance clarifies some procedural items and aligns terminology with current practice.

Director Norris of Public Works answered a council question about the change in wording from “surety bond” to “security.” “The current practice would remain, which is posting a security, which is typically a check. Sometimes it's a letter of credit for an excavation permit. That remains. That doesn't change,” Norris said. The ordinance also sets a minimum security for certain pavement moratorium excavations at $5,000.

The amendment includes a provision requiring a new permit if work is not completed by December of the year the permit was issued; councilors said that is intended to encourage permittees to complete work before winter.

After brief discussion and clarification from Director Norris, the council voted by roll call to approve the amendment on first reading.

The ordinance change is intended to standardize terminology and clarify public‑works permit practice; additional administrative details will be handled by the Public Works Department under the updated rule language.