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Council reviews draft right-of-way ordinance to tighten utility coordination and permit rules
Summary
Staff presented a draft right-of-way/excavation ordinance to standardize permitting, require utility relocations within 30 days of notice, increase fees, add inspections and penalties and reduce project delays tied to utility coordination; council asked about inspection fees and enforcement mechanisms.
City staff introduced a proposed right-of-way management ordinance intended to replace the current excavation permit process, standardize applications, require utility relocations within a set timeline, and provide penalties for noncompliance. Staff said the ordinance increases the standard excavation fee from about $30 to $150 (emergency work up to $300), includes inspection fees and reinspections, and adds municipal citation authority (first offense example $250 per day) for utilities that fail to relocate or respond in a timely manner.
Council members questioned how many permits are issued annually (staff said roughly 32 permits plus about 16 emergency requests), how often reinspections are required, and whether inspection/reinspection charges should be simplified with a flat fee. Staff noted the ordinance would help avoid delays on major corridor projects by giving the city more predictable timelines and enforcement tools versus the current practice.
