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Commission reviews draft right-of-way ordinance; includes work-hours, permit limits and repair fees
Summary
City staff presented a draft right-of-way management ordinance that would limit working hours (Mon–Fri, 8 a.m.–4 p.m.), restrict permit lengths, require preconstruction meetings, and add a 25% surcharge on city repair costs if permit holders fail to repair damages; staff said no public hearing is required and the ordinance will return at the next meeting.
City staff presented a draft right-of-way management ordinance intended to standardize private utility, contractor and construction activity in public right-of-way areas.
The staff presentation, led by Zach, described proposed restrictions including permitted working hours (Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.), limits on the linear feet allowed per permit with a prohibition on obtaining a subsequent permit until the prior one is closed, required inspection timing before permit completion, and mandatory preconstruction meetings for utilities to review vault locations and overhead/underground decisions.
The draft also includes financial consequences for unreported or unrepaired damages: if a permit holder fails to fix damage within a required timeframe, the city may perform repairs and add a 25% surcharge to the billed repair cost. Zach framed the permit-length limits as a measure to reduce repeated daily locate requests and reduce staff workload.
A commissioner relayed a resident complaint about early Sunday digging; staff noted noise-ordinance enforcement by the police is available for those instances. Commissioners asked whether a public hearing was required; staff said because the right-of-way is not a zoning change, a public hearing is not required and the ordinance will return for consideration at the next meeting.
No vote was taken; staff will return the ordinance at the next meeting for further action.
