Council approves red-line amendments to Rocky Mountain Power franchise agreement

The Perry City Council voted Feb. 12 to approve red-line amendments to its franchise agreement with Rocky Mountain Power after the utility's regional manager described modest clarifications requested by the company.

Russ Fox, regional business manager for Rocky Mountain Power, told council members the largest requested change removed language that would have used the franchise agreement to govern police security cameras on poles; the utility said such devices require a separate approval process and contract. Fox also described minor clarifications to vegetation-management language, an address correction, and a clarification to a jury-trial waiver clause. "We had a couple of clarifying items...one of the biggest ones for us is...security cameras...we have a completely different approval process," Fox said.

City staff explained the red lines had been negotiated with the city attorney and reflected language carried from prior templates and from recent local updates. Council members probed the term length (the agreement covers a 10- to 20-year term in practice) and whether future technology changes could be incorporated before expiration; staff said amendments or future returns to council remain possible.

After discussion, Councilmember Walker moved and the council approved the red-line amendments by roll call. Fox said Rocky Mountain Power was "pleased" with the outcome and that the company and city attorney had worked cooperatively to finalize the language.

The council recorded the action as an approval of the red-line changes; the staff packet attached the amended draft and the earlier ordinance that incorporated certain prior changes.