Title XV LAND USAGE
Chapter 163 CONSTRUCTION OF FACILITIES IN PUBLIC RIGHTS-OF-WAY
163.01 Purpose and scope.
163.02 Definitions.
163.03 Annual registration required.
163.04 Permit required—Applications and fees.
163.05 Action on permit applications.
163.06 Effect of permit.
163.07 Revised permit drawings.
163.08 Insurance.
163.09 Indemnification.
163.10 Security.
163.11 Permit suspension and revocation.
163.12 Change of ownership.
163.13 General construction standards.
163.14 Traffic control.
163.15 Location of facilities.
163.16 Construction methods and materials.
163.17 Vegetation control.
163.18 Removal, relocation or modification of facilities.
163.19 Cleanup and restoration.
163.20 Maintenance—Emergencies.
163.21 Variances.
163.22 Right to appeal.
163.23 Penalties.
163.24 Enforcement.
163.01 Purpose and scope.
(A) Purpose. The purpose of this chapter is to establish policies and
procedures for constructing facilities on rights-of-way within the city’s
jurisdiction, which will provide public benefit consistent with the preservation
of the integrity, safe usage and visual qualities of the city rights-of-way and
the city as a whole.
(B) Intent. In enacting this chapter, the city intends
to exercise its authority over the rights-of-way within the city and, in
particular, the use of the public ways and property by utilities by establishing
uniform standards and regulations to address issues presented by utility
facilities, including without limitation:
(1) Preventing interference with
the use of streets, sidewalks, alleys, parkways and any other public ways and
places;
(2) Preventing the creation of visual and physical obstructions and
other conditions that are hazardous to vehicular, pedestrian and other
traffic;
(3) Preventing interference with the facilities and operations of
the city’s utilities and of other utilities lawfully located in
rights-of-way or public property;
(4) Protecting against environmental
damage, including without limitation damage to trees, from the installation of
utility facilities;
(5) Protecting against increased storm water run-off due
to structures and materials that increase impermeable
surfaces;
(6) Preserving the character of the neighborhoods in which
facilities are installed;
(7) Preserving open space, particularly the
tree-lined parkways that characterize the city’s
neighborhoods;
(8) Preventing visual blight from the proliferation of
facilities in the rights-of-way; and
(9) Assuring the continued safe use and
enjoyment of private properties adjacent to utility facilities’
locations.
(C) Facilities Subject to This Chapter. This chapter applies to
all facilities on, over, above, along, upon, under, across or within the public
rights-of-way within the jurisdiction of the city. A facility lawfully
established prior to the effective date of the ordinance codified in this
chapter may continue to be maintained, repaired and operated by the utility as
presently constructed and located, except as may be otherwise provided in any
applicable franchise, license or similar agreement.
(D) Franchises, Licenses
or Similar Agreements. The city, in its discretion and as limited by law, may
require utilities to enter into a franchise, license or similar agreement for
the privilege of locating their facilities on, over, above, along, upon, under,
across or within the city rights-of-way. Utilities that are not required by law
to enter into such an agreement may request that the city enter into such an
agreement. In such an agreement, the city may provide for terms and conditions
inconsistent with this chapter.
(E) Effect of Franchises, Licenses, or
Similar Agreements. In the event of any conflict with, or inconsistency between,
the provisions of this chapter and the provisions of any franchise, license or
similar agreement between the city and any utility, the provisions of such
franchise, license or similar agreement shall govern and control during the term
of such agreement and any lawful renewal or extension thereof.
(F) Conflicts
with Other Chapters. This chapter supersedes all chapters or parts of chapters
adopted prior hereto that are in conflict herewith, to the extent of such
conflict.
(G) Conflicts with Federal and State Laws. In the event that
applicable federal or state laws or regulations conflict with the requirements
of this chapter, the utility shall comply with the requirements of this chapter
to the maximum extent possible without violating federal or state laws or
regulations.
(H) Sound Engineering Judgment. The city shall use sound
engineering judgment when administering this chapter and may vary the standards,
conditions and requirements expressed in this chapter when the city so
determines. Nothing herein shall be construed to limit the ability of the city
to regulate its rights-of-way for fire protection or the public health, safety
and welfare. (Ord. 08-03-18-01, passed 3-18-08)
163.02 Definitions.
As used in this chapter and unless the context clearly requires otherwise,
the words and terms listed shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this
section. Any term riot defined in this section shall have the meaning ascribed
to it in 92 Ill. Adm. Code 530.30, unless the context clearly requires
otherwise.
“AASHTO” means American Association of State Highway
and Transportation Officials.
“ANSI” means American National
Standards Institute.
“Applicant” means a person applying for a
permit under this chapter.
“ASTM” means American Society for
Testing and Materials.
“Backfill” means the methods or materials
for replacing excavated material in a trench or pit.
“Bore” or
“boring” means to excavate an underground cylindrical cavity for the
insertion of a pipe or electrical conductor.
“Carrier pipe”
means the pipe enclosing the liquid, gas or slurry to be
transported.
“Casing” means a structural protective enclosure
for transmittal devices such as carrier pipes, electrical conductors and fiber
optic devices.
“City” means the city of Wilmington, Will County,
Illinois.
“Clear zone” means the total roadside border area,
starting at the edge of the pavement, available for safe use by errant vehicles.
This area may consist of a shoulder, a recoverable slope, a non-recoverable
slope and a clear run-out area. The desired width is dependent upon the traffic
volumes and speeds and on the roadside geometry. Distances are specified in the
AASHTO Roadside Design Guide.
“Coating” means protective
wrapping or mastic cover applied to buried pipe for protection against external
corrosion.
“Code” means the code of ordinances of the city of
Wilmington.
“Conductor” means wire carrying electrical
current.
“Conduit” means a casing or encasement for wires or
cables.
“Construction” or “construct” means the
installation, repair, maintenance, placement, alteration, enlargement,
demolition, modification or abandonment in place of
facilities.
“Cover” means the depth of earth or backfill over
buried utility pipe or conductor.
“Crossing facility” means a
facility that crosses one or more right-of-way lines of a
right-of-way.
“Director of public works” means the city director
of public works or his/her designee.
“Disrupt the right-of-way”
for the purposes of this chapter, means any work that obstructs the right-of-way
or causes a material adverse effect on the use of the right-of-way for its
intended use. Such work may include, without limitation, the following:
excavating or other cutting; placement (whether temporary or permanent) of
materials, equipment, devices or structures; damage to vegetation; and
compaction or loosening of the soil but shall not include the parking of
vehicles or equipment in a manner that does not materially obstruct the flow of
traffic on a highway.
“Emergency” means any immediate
maintenance to the facility required for the safety of the public using or in
the vicinity of the right-of-way or immediate maintenance required for the
health and safety of the general public served by the
utility.
“Encasement” means provision of a protective
casing.
“Equipment” means materials, tools, implements, supplies
and/or other items used to facilitate construction of
facilities.
“Excavation” means the making of a hole or cavity by
removing material, or laying bare by digging.
“Extra heavy pipe”
means pipe meeting ASTM standards for this pipe
designation.
“Facility” means all structures, devices, objects
and materials (including track and rails, wires, ducts, fiber optic cable,
communications and video cables and wires, poles, conduits, grates, covers,
pipes, cables and appurtenances thereto) located on, over, above, along, upon,
under, across or within rights-of-way under this chapter, except those owned by
the city.
“Freestanding facility” means a facility that is not a
crossing facility or a parallel facility, such as an antenna, transformer, pump
or meter station.
“Frontage road” means roadway, usually
parallel, providing access to land adjacent to the highway where it is precluded
by control of access on highway.
“Hazardous materials” means any
substance or material which, due to its quantity, form, concentration, location
or other characteristics, is determined by the city director of public works to
pose an unreasonable and imminent risk to the life, health or safety of persons
or property or to the ecological balance of the environment, including without
limitation explosives, radioactive materials, petroleum or petroleum products or
gases, poisons, etiology (biological) agents, flammables, corrosives or any
substance determined to be hazardous or toxic under any federal or state law,
statute or regulation.
“Highway” means a specific type of
right-of-way used for vehicular traffic including without limitation rural or
urban roads or streets. “Highway” includes without limitation all
highway land and improvements, including roadways, ditches and embankments,
bridges, drainage structures, signs, guardrails, protective structures and
appurtenances necessary or convenient for vehicle traffic.
“Highway
Code” means The Illinois Highway Code, 605 ILCS 5/1-101 et seq., as
amended from time to time.
“Holder” means a person or entity
that has received authorization to offer or provide cable or video service from
the ICC pursuant to the Illinois Cable and Video Competition Law of 2007, 220
ILCS 5/21-401.
“ICC” means Illinois Commerce
Commission.
“IDOT” means Illinois Department of
Transportation.
“Jacking” means pushing a pipe horizontally
under a roadway by mechanical means, with or without
boring.
“Jetting” means pushing a pipe through the earth using
water under pressure to create a cavity ahead of the pipe.
“Joint
use” means the use of pole lines, trenches or other facilities by two or
more utilities.
“J.U.L.I.E.” means the joint utility locating
information for excavators utility notification program.
“Major
intersection” means the intersection of two or more major arterial
highways.
“Occupancy” means the presence of facilities on, over
or under right-of-way.
“Parallel facility” means a facility that
is generally parallel or longitudinal to the centerline of a
right-of-way.
“Parkway” means any portion of the right-of-way
not improved by street or sidewalk.
“Pavement cut” means the
removal of an area of pavement for access to a facility or for the construction
of a facility.
“Permittee” means that entity to which a permit
has been issued pursuant to Sections 163.04 and 163.05 of this
chapter.
“Petroleum products pipelines” means pipelines carrying
crude or refined liquid petroleum products, including without limitation
gasoline, distillates, propane, butane or
coal-slurry.
“Practicable” means that which is performable,
feasible or possible, rather than that which is simply
convenient.
“Pressure” means the internal force acting radially
against the walls of a carrier pipe expressed in pounds per square inch gauge
(psig).
“Prompt” means done within a period of time specified by
the city. If no time period is specified, the period shall be thirty (30)
days.
“Public entity” means a legal entity that constitutes or
is part of the government, whether at local, state or federal
level.
“Restoration” means the repair of a right-of-way,
highway, roadway or other area disrupted by the construction of a
facility.
“Right-of-way” or “rights-of-way” means
any street, alley, other land or waterway dedicated or commonly used for
pedestrian or vehicular traffic or other similar purposes, including without
limitation utility easements, in which the city has the right and authority to
authorize, regulate or permit the location of facilities other than those of the
city. “Right-of-way” or “rights-of-way” shall not
include any real or personal city property that is not specifically described in
the previous two sentences and shall not include city buildings, fixtures and
other structures or improvements, regardless of whether they are situated in the
right-of-way.
“Roadway” means that part of the highway that
includes the pavement and shoulders.
“Sale of telecommunications at
retail” means the transmitting, supplying or furnishing of
telecommunications and all services rendered in connection therewith for a
consideration, other than between a parent corporation and its wholly-owned
subsidiaries or between wholly-owned subsidiaries, when the gross charge made by
one such corporation to another such corporation is not greater than the gross
charge paid to the retailer for their use or consumption and not for
sale.
“Security fund” means that amount of security required
pursuant to Section 163.10.
“Shoulder” means a width of roadway,
adjacent to the pavement, providing lateral support to the pavement edge and
providing an area for emergency vehicular stops and storage of snow removed from
the pavement.
“Sound engineering judgment” means a decision(s)
consistent with generally accepted engineering principles, practices and
experience.
“Telecommunications” this term means and includes
without limitation messages or information transmitted through use of local,
toll and wide-area telephone service, channel services, telegraph services,
teletypewriter service, computer exchange service, private line services, mobile
radio services, cellular mobile telecommunications services, stationary two-way
radio, paging service and any other form of mobile or portable one-way or
two-way communications, and any other transmission of messages or information by
electronic or similar means between or among points by wire, cable, fiber
optics, laser, microwave, radio, satellite or similar facilities. “Private
line” means a dedicated nontraffic sensitive service for a single customer
that entitles the customer to exclusive or priority use of a communications
channel, or a group of such channels, from one or more specified locations to
one or more other specified locations. “Telecommunications” shall
not include value added services in which computer processing applications are
used to act on the form, content, code and protocol of the information for
purposes other than transmission. “Telecommunications” shall not
include purchase of telecommunications by a telecommunications service provider
for use as a component part of the service provided by him or her to the
ultimate retail consumer who originates or terminates the end-to-end
communications. “Telecommunications” shall not include the provision
of cable services through a cable system as defined in the Cable Communications
Act of 1984 (47 U.S.C. 521 et seq.) as now or hereafter amended or cable or
other programming services subject to an open video system fee payable to the
city through an open video system as defined in the Rules of the Federal
Communications Commission (47 C.D.F. 76.1550 et seq.), as now or hereafter
amended.
“Telecommunications provider” means any person that
installs, owns, operates or controls facilities in the public right-of-way used
or designed to be used to transmit telecommunications in any
form.
“Telecommunications retailer” means and includes every
person engaged in making sales of telecommunications at retail as defined
herein.
“Trench” means a relatively narrow open excavation for
the installation of an underground facility.
“Utility” means the
individual or entity owning or operating any facility as defined in this
chapter.
“Vent” means a pipe to allow the dissipation into the
atmosphere of gases or vapors from an underground casing.
“Video
service” that term as defined in Section 21-201(v) of the Illinois Cable
and Video Competition Act of 2007, 220 ILCS 5/21-201(v).
“Water
lines” means pipelines carrying raw or potable water.
“Wet
boring” means boring using water under pressure at the cuffing auger to
soften the earth and to provide a sluice for the excavated material. (Ord.
08-03-18-01, passed 3-18-08)
163.03 Annual registration required.
Every utility that occupies right-of-way within the city shall register on
January 1st of each year with the director of public works, providing the
utility’s name, address and regular business telephone and telecopy
numbers, the name of one or more contact persons who can act on behalf of the
utility in connection with emergencies involving the utility’s facilities
in the right-of-way, a twenty-four (24) hour telephone number for each such
person and evidence of insurance as required in Section 163.08 of this chapter,
in the form of a certificate of insurance. (Ord. 08-03-18-01, passed
3-18-08)
163.04 Permit required—Applications and fees.
(A) Permit Required. No person shall construct any facility on, over,
above, along, upon, under, across or within any city right-of-way which: (1)
changes the location of the facility, (2) adds a new facility, (3) disrupts the
right-of-way or (4) increases the amount of area or space occupied by the
facility on, over, above, along, under, across or within the right-of-way,
without first filing an application with the city director of public works and
obtaining a permit from the city therefore, except as otherwise provided in this
chapter. No permit shall be required for installation and maintenance of service
connections to customers’ premises where there will be no disruption of
the right-of-way.
(B) Permit Application. All applications for permits
pursuant to this chapter shall be filed on a form provided by the city and shall
be filed in such number of duplicate copies as the city may designate. The
applicant may designate those portions of its application materials that it
reasonably believes contain proprietary or confidential information as
“proprietary” or “confidential” by clearly marking each
page of such materials accordingly.
(C) Minimum General Application
Requirements. The application shall be made by the utility or its duly
authorized representative and shall contain, at a minimum, the
following:
(1) The utility’s name, address and telephone and fax
numbers;
(2) The applicant’s name and address, if different than the
utility, its telephone and fax numbers, e-mail address and its interest in the
work;
(3) The names, addresses, telephone and fax numbers and e-mail
addresses of all professional consultants, if any, advising the applicant with
respect to the application;
(4) A general description of the proposed work,
the purposes and intent of the facility and the uses to which the facility will
be put. The scope and detail of such description shall be appropriate to the
nature and character of the work to be performed, with special emphasis on those
matters likely to be affected or impacted by the work proposed;
(5) Evidence
that the utility has placed on file with the city:
(a) A written traffic
control plan demonstrating the protective measures and devices that will be
employed consistent with the Illinois Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices
to prevent injury or damage to persons or property and to minimize disruptions
to efficient pedestrian and vehicular traffic, and
(b) An emergency
contingency plan which shall specify the nature of potential emergencies,
including without limitation construction and hazardous materials emergencies,
and the intended response by the applicant. The intended response shall include
notification to the city and shall promote protection of the safety and
convenience of the public. Compliance with ICC regulations for emergency
contingency plans constitutes compliance with this section unless the city finds
that additional information or assurances are needed;
(6) Drawings, plans
and specifications showing the work proposed, including without limitation the
certification of an engineer that such drawings, plans, and specifications
comply with applicable codes, rules, and regulations;
(7) Evidence of
insurance as required in Section 163.08 of this chapter;
(8) Evidence of
posting of the security fund as required in Section 163.10 of this
chapter;
(9) Any request for a variance from one or more provisions of this
chapter (see Section 163.21); and
(10) Such additional information as may be
reasonably required by the city.
(D) Supplemental Application Requirements
for Specific Types of Utilities. In addition to the requirements of subsection
(C) of this section, the permit application shall include the following items as
applicable to the specific utility that is the subject of the permit
application:
(1) In the case of new electric power, communications,
telecommunications, cable television service, video service or natural gas
distribution system installation, evidence that any “Certificate of Public
Convenience and Necessity” or other regulatory authorization that the
applicant is required by law to obtain, or that the applicant has elected to
obtain, has been issued by the ICC or other jurisdictional authority;
(2) In
the case of natural gas systems, state the proposed pipe size, design,
construction class and operating pressures;
(3) In the ease of water lines,
indicate that all requirements of the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency,
Division of Public Water Supplies, have been satisfied;
(4) In the case of
sewer line installations, indicate that the land and water pollution
requirements of the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, Division of Water
Pollution Control, and any other local or state entities with jurisdiction, have
been satisfied; or
(5) In the case of petroleum products pipelines, state
the type or types of petroleum products, pipe size, maximum working pressure and
the design standard to be followed.
(E) Applicant’s Duty to Update
Information. Throughout the entire permit application review period and the
construction period authorized by the permit, any amendments to information
contained in a permit application shall be submitted by the utility in writing
to the city within thirty (30) days after the change necessitating the
amendment.
(F) Application Fees. Unless otherwise provided by franchise,
license or similar agreement, all applications for permits pursuant to this
chapter shall be accompanied by a fee in the amount of $100.00. No application
fee is required to be paid by any electricity utility that is paying the
municipal electricity infrastructure maintenance fee pursuant to the Electricity
Infrastructure Maintenance Fee Act. (Ord. 08-03-18-01, passed 3-18-08)
163.05 Action on permit applications.
(A) City Review of Permit Applications. Completed permit applications,
containing all required documentation, shall be examined by the city director of
public works within a reasonable time after filing. If the application does not
conform to the requirements of all applicable ordinances, codes, laws, rules and
regulations, the city director of public works shall reject such application in
writing, stating the reasons therefore. If the city director of public works is
satisfied that the proposed work conforms to the requirements of this chapter
and all applicable ordinances, codes, laws, rules and regulations, he or she
shall issue a permit therefore as soon as practicable. In all instances, it
shall be the duty of the applicant to demonstrate, to the satisfaction of the
city director of public works, that the construction proposed under the
application shall be in full compliance with the requirements of this
chapter.
(B) Additional City Review of Applications of Telecommunications
Retailers.
(1) Pursuant to Section 4 of the Telephone Company Act, 220 ILCS
65/4, a telecommunications retailer shall notify the city that it intends to
commence work governed by this chapter for facilities for the provision of
telecommunications services. Such notice shall consist of plans, specifications
and other documentation sufficient to demonstrate the purpose and intent of the
facilities and shall be provided by the telecommunications retailer to the city
not less than ten (10) days prior to the commencement of work requiring no
excavation and not less than thirty (30) days prior to the commencement of work
requiring excavation. The city director of public works shall specify the
portion of the right-of-way upon which the facility may be placed, used and
constructed.
(2) In the event that the city director of public works fails
to provide such specification of location to the telecommunications retailer
within either: (i) ten (10) days after service of notice to the city by the
telecommunications retailer in the case of work not involving excavation for new
construction, or (ii) twenty-five (25) days after service of notice by the
telecommunications retailer in the case of work involving excavation for new
construction, the telecommunications retailer may commence work without
obtaining a permit under this chapter.
(3) Upon the provision of such
specification by the city, where a permit is required for work pursuant to
Section 163.04 of this chapter, the telecommunications retailer shall submit to
the city an application for a permit and any and all plans, specifications and
documentation available regarding the facility to be constructed. Such
application shall be subject to the requirements of subsection (A) of this
section. (Ord. 08-03-18-01, passed 3-18-08)
163.06 Effect of permit.
(A) Authority Granted—No Property Right or Other Interest Created. A
permit from the city authorizes a permittee to undertake only certain activities
in accordance with this chapter on city rights-of-way and does not create a
property right or grant authority to the permittee to impinge upon the rights of
others who may have an interest in the public rights-of-way.
(B) Duration.
No permit issued under this chapter shall be valid for a period longer than one
hundred eighty (180) days unless construction is actually begun within that
period and is thereafter diligently pursued to
completion.
(C) Pre-construction Meeting Required. No construction shall
begin pursuant to a permit issued under this chapter prior to attendance at a
pre-construction meeting by the permittee and all major contractors and
subcontractors who will perform any work under the permit. The pre-construction
meeting shall be held at a date, time and place designated by the city, with
such city representatives in attendance as the city deems necessary. The meeting
shall be for the purpose of reviewing the work under the permit and reviewing
special considerations necessary in the areas where work will occur, including
without limitation the presence of other utility facilities in the area and
their locations, procedures to avoid disruption of other utilities, use of
rights-of-way by the public during construction and access and egress by
adjacent property owners.
(D) Compliance with All Laws Required. The
issuance of a permit by the city does not excuse the permittee from complying
with other requirements of the city and all applicable statutes, laws,
ordinances, rules and regulations. (Ord. 08-03-18-01, passed 3-18-08)
163.07 Revised permit drawings.
In the event that the actual locations of any facilities deviate in any
material respect from the locations identified in the plans, drawings and
specifications submitted with the permit application, the permittee shall submit
a revised set of drawings or plans to the city within ninety (90) days after the
completion of the permitted work. The revised drawings or plans shall
specifically identify where the locations of the actual facilities deviate from
the locations approved in the permit. If any deviation from the permit also
deviates from the requirements of this chapter, it shall be treated as a request
for variance in accordance with Section 163.21 of this chapter. If the city
denies the request for a variance, then the permittee shall either remove the
facility from the right-of-way or modify the facility so that it conforms to the
permit and submit revised drawings or plans therefore. (Ord. 08-03-18-01, passed
3-18-08)
163.08 Insurance.
(A) Required Coverages and Limits. Unless otherwise provided by franchise,
license or similar agreement, each utility occupying right-of-way or
constructing any facility in the right-of-way shall secure and maintain the
following liability insurance policies insuring the utility as named insured,
and naming the city and its elected and appointed officers, officials, agents,
representatives and employees as additional insureds, on the policies listed in
subsections (A)(1) and (A)(2) below:
(1) Commercial general liability
insurance, including premises-operations, explosion, collapse and underground
hazard (commonly referred to as “C,” and “U” coverages)
and products-completed operations coverage with limits not less
than:
(a) Five million dollars ($5,000,000.00) for bodily injury or death to
each person;
(b) Five million dollars ($5,000,000.00) for property damage
resulting from any one accident; and
(c) Five million dollars
($5,000,000.00) for all other types of liability;
(2) Automobile liability
for owned, nonowned and hired vehicles with a combined single limit of one
million dollars ($1,000,000.00) for personal injury and property damage for each
accident;
(3) Worker’s compensation with statutory limits;
and
(4) Employer’s liability insurance with limits of not less than
one million dollars ($1,000,000.00) per employee and per accident.
If the
utility is not providing such insurance to protect the contractors and
subcontractors performing the work, then such contractors and subcontractors
shall comply with this section.
(B) Excess or Umbrella Policies. The
coverages required by this section may be in any combination of primary, excess
and umbrella policies. Any excess or umbrella policy must provide excess
coverage over underlying insurance on a following-form basis such that when any
loss covered by the primary policy exceeds the limits under the primary policy,
the excess or umbrella policy becomes effective to cover such
loss.
(C) Copies Required. The utility shall provide copies of any of the
policies required by this section to the city within ten (10) days following
receipt of a written request therefore from the city.
(D) Maintenance and
Renewal of Required Coverages. The insurance policies required by this section
shall contain the following endorsement:
“It is hereby understood and agreed that this policy may not be
canceled nor the intention not to renew be stated until thirty (30) days after
receipt by the City, by registered mail or certified mail, return receipt
requested, of a written notice addressed to the City Administrator of such
intent to cancel or not to renew.”
Within ten (10) days after
receipt by the city of said notice, and in no event later than ten (10) days
prior to said cancellation, the utility shall obtain and furnish to the city
evidence of replacement insurance policies meeting the requirements of this
section.
(E) Self-Insurance. A utility may self-insure all or a portion of
the insurance coverage and limit requirements required by subsection (A) of this
section. A utility that self-insures is not required, to the extent of such
self-insurance, to comply with the requirement for the naming of additional
insureds under subsection (A) of this section, or the requirements of
subsections (B), (C) and (D) of this section. A utility that elects to
self-insure shall provide to the city evidence sufficient to demonstrate its
financial ability to self-insure the insurance coverage and limit requirements
required under subsection (A) of this section, such as evidence that the utility
is a “private self insurer” under the Workers Compensation
Act.
(F) Effect of Insurance and Self-Insurance on Utility’s
Liability. The legal liability of the utility to the city and any person for any
of the matters that are the subject of the insurance policies or self-insurance
required by this section shall not be limited by such insurance policies or
self-insurance or by the recovery of any amounts thereunder.
(G) Insurance
Companies. All insurance provided pursuant to this section shall be effected
under valid and enforceable policies, issued by insurers legally able to conduct
business with the permittee in the state of Illinois. (Ord. 08-03-18-01, passed
3-18-08)
163.09 Indemnification.
By occupying or constructing facilities in the right-of-way, a utility
shall be deemed to agree to defend, indemnify and hold the city and its elected
and appointed officials and officers, employees, agents and representatives
harmless from and against any and all injuries, claims, demands, judgments,
damages, losses and expenses, including reasonable attorney’s fees and
costs of suit or defense, arising out of, resulting from or alleged to arise out
of or result from the negligent, careless or wrongful acts, omissions, failures
to act or misconduct of the utility or its affiliates, officers, employees,
agents, contractors or subcontractors in the construction of facilities or
occupancy of the rights-of-way, and in providing or offering service over the
facilities, whether such acts or omissions are authorized, allowed or prohibited
by this chapter or by a franchise, license or similar agreement, provided,
however, that the utility’s indemnity obligations hereunder shall not
apply to any injuries, claims, demands, judgments, damages, losses or expenses
arising out of or resulting from the negligence, misconduct or breach of this
chapter by the city, its officials, officers, employees, agents or
representatives. (Ord. 08-03-18-01, passed 3-18-08)
163.10 Security.
(A) Purpose. The permittee shall establish a security fund in a form and
in an amount as set forth in this section. The security fund shall be
continuously maintained in accordance with this section at the permittee’s
sole cost and expense until the completion of the work authorized under the
permit. The security fund shall serve as security for:
(1) The faithful
performance by the permittee of all the requirements of this
chapter;
(2) Any expenditure, damage or loss incurred by the city occasioned
by the permittee’s failure to comply with any codes, rules, regulations,
orders, permits and other directives of the city issued pursuant to this
chapter; and
(3) The payment by permittee of all liens and all damages,
claims, costs or expenses that the city may pay or incur by reason of any action
or nonperformance by permittee in violation of this chapter, including without
limitation any damage to public property or restoration work the permittee is
required by this chapter to perform that the city must perform itself or have
completed as a consequence solely of the permittee’s failure to perform or
complete, and all other payments due the city from the permittee pursuant to
this chapter or any other applicable law.
(B) Form. The permittee shall
provide the security fund to the city in the form, at the permittee’s
election, of cash or an unconditional letter of credit in a form acceptable to
the city. Any letter of credit provided pursuant to this subsection shall, at a
minimum:
(1) Provide that it will not be canceled without prior notice to
the city and the permittee;
(2) Not require the consent of the permittee
prior to the collection by the city of any amounts covered by it;
and
(3) Shall provide a location convenient to the city and within the state
of Illinois at which it can be drawn.
(C) Amount. The dollar amount of the
security fund shall be sufficient to provide for the reasonably estimated cost
to restore the right-of-way to at least as good a condition as that existing
prior to the construction under the permit, as determined by the director of
public works, and may also include reasonable directly-related costs that the
city estimates are likely to be incurred if the permittee fails to perform such
restoration. Where the construction of facilities proposed under the permit will
be performed in phases in multiple locations within the city, with each phase
consisting of construction of facilities in one location or a related group of
locations, and where construction in another phase will not be undertaken prior
to substantial completion of restoration in the previous phase or phases, the
director of public works may in the exercise of sound discretion allow the
permittee to post a single amount of security which shall be applicable to each
phase of the construction under the permit. The amount of the security fund for
phased construction shall be equal to the greatest amount that would have been
required under the provisions of this subsection for any single
phase.
(D) Withdrawals. The city, upon fourteen (14) days’ advance
written notice clearly stating the reason for and its intention to exercise
withdrawal rights under this subsection, may withdraw an amount from the
security fund, provided that the permittee has not reimbursed the city for such
amount within the fourteen (14) day notice period. Withdrawals may be made if
the permittee:
(1) Fails to make any payment required to be made by the
permittee hereunder;
(2) Fails to pay any liens relating to the facilities
that are due and unpaid;
(3) Fails to reimburse the city for any damages,
claims, costs or expenses which the city has been compelled to pay or incur by
reason of any action or nonperformance by the permittee; or
(4) Fails to
comply with any provision of this chapter that the city determines can be
remedied by an expenditure of an amount in the security
fund.
(E) Replenishment. Within fourteen (14) days after receipt of written
notice from the city that any amount has been withdrawn from the security fund,
the permittee shall restore the Security Fund to the amount specified in
subsection (C) of this section.
(F) Interest. The permittee may request that
any and all interest accrued on the amount in the security fund be returned to
the permittee by the city, upon written request for said withdrawal to the city,
provided that any such withdrawal does not reduce the security fund below the
minimum balance required in subsection (C) of this section.
(G) Closing and
Return of Security Fund. Upon completion of the work authorized under the
permit, the permittee shall be entitled to the return of the security fund, or
such portion thereof as remains on deposit, within a reasonable time after
account is taken for all offsets necessary to compensate the city for failure by
the permittee to comply with any provisions of this chapter or other applicable
law. In the event of any revocation of the permit, the security fund and any and
all accrued interest shall become the property of the city to the extent
necessary to cover any reasonable costs, losses or damages incurred by the city
as a result of said revocation, provided that any amounts in excess of said
costs, losses or damages shall be refunded to the permittee.
(H) Rights Not
Limited. The rights reserved to the city with respect to the security fund are
in addition to all other rights of the city, whether reserved by this chapter or
otherwise authorized by law, and no action, proceeding or exercise of right with
respect to said security fund shall affect any other right the city may have.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the city shall not be entitled to a double
monetary recovery with respect to any of its rights which may be infringed or
otherwise violated. (Ord. 08-03-18-01, passed 3-18-08)
163.11 Permit suspension and revocation.
(A) City Right to Revoke Permit. The city may revoke or suspend a permit
issued pursuant to this chapter for one or more of the following
reasons:
(1) Fraudulent, false, misrepresenting or materially incomplete
statements in the permit application;
(2) Noncompliance with this
chapter;
(3) Permittee’s physical presence or presence of
permittee’s facilities on, over, above, along, upon, under, across or
within the public rights-of-way presents a direct or imminent threat to the
public health, safety or welfare; or
(4) Permittee’s failure to
construct the facilities substantially in accordance with the permit and
approved plans.
(B) Notice of Revocation or Suspension. The city shall send
written notice of its intent to revoke or suspend a permit issued pursuant to
this chapter, stating the reason or reasons for the revocation or suspension and
the alternatives available to permittee under this section.
(C) Permittee
Alternatives Upon Receipt of Notice of Revocation or Suspension. Upon receipt of
a written notice of revocation or suspension from the city, the permittee shall
have the following options:
(1) Immediately provide the city with evidence
that no cause exists for the revocation or suspension;
(2) Immediately
correct, to the satisfaction of the city, the deficiencies stated in the notice,
providing written proof of such correction to the city within five (5) working
days after receipt of the notice; or
(3) Immediately remove the facilities
located on, over, above, along, upon, under, across or within the public
rights-of-way and restore the rights-of-way to the satisfaction of the city,
providing written proof of such removal to the city within ten (10) days after
receipt of the notice.
The city may, in its discretion and for good cause
shown, extend the time periods provided in this subsection.
(D) Stop Work
Order. In addition to the issuance of a notice of revocation or suspension, the
city may issue a stop work order immediately upon discovery of any of the
reasons for revocation set forth within subsection (A) of this
section.
(E) Failure or Refusal of the Permittee to Comply. If the permittee
fails to comply with the provisions of subsection (C) of this section, the city
or its designee may, at the option of the city: (1) correct the deficiencies;
(2) upon not less than twenty (20) days’ notice to the permittee, remove
the subject facilities or equipment; or (3) after not less than thirty (30)
days’ notice to the permittee of failure to cure the noncompliance, deem
them abandoned and property of the city. The permittee shall be liable in all
events to the city for all costs of removal. (Ord. 08-03-18-01, passed
3-18-08)
163.12 Change of ownership.
(A) Notification of Change. A utility shall notify the city no less than
thirty (30) days prior to the transfer of ownership of any facility in the
right-of-way or change in identity of the utility. The new owner of the utility
or the facility shall have all the obligations and privileges enjoyed by the
former owner under the permit, if any, and all applicable laws, ordinances,
rules and regulations, including this chapter, with respect to the work and
facilities in the right-of-way.
(B) Amended Permit. A new owner shall
request that any current permit be amended to show current ownership. If the new
owner fails to have a new or amended permit issued in its name, the new owner
shall be presumed to have accepted and agreed to be bound by the terms and
conditions of the permit if the new owner uses the facility or allows it to
remain on the city’s right-of-way.
(C) Insurance and Letters of
Credit. All required insurance coverage or letters of credit must be changed to
reflect the name of the new owner upon transfer. (Ord. 08-03-18-01, passed
3-18-08)
163.13 General construction standards.
(A) Standards and Principles. All construction in the right-of-way shall
be consistent with applicable ordinances, codes, laws, rules and regulations and
commonly recognized and accepted traffic control and construction principles,
sound engineering judgment and, where applicable, the principles and standards
set forth in the following IDOT publications:
(1) Standard Specifications
for Road and Bridge Construction;
(2) Supplemental Specifications and
Recurring Special Provisions;
(3) Highway Design Manual;
(4) Highway
Standards Manual;
(5) Standard Specifications for Traffic Control
Items;
(6) Illinois Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (92 Ill. Adm.
Code 545);
(7) Flagger’s Handbook; and
(8) Work Site Protection
Manual for Daylight Maintenance Operations.
(B) Interpretation of Municipal
Standards and Principles. If a discrepancy exists between or among differing
principles and standards required by this chapter, the city director of public
works shall determine, in the exercise of sound judgment, which principles
apply. Such decisions shall be final. If requested, the city director of public
works shall state which standard or principle will apply to the construction,
maintenance or operation of a facility in the future. (Ord. 08-03-18-01, passed
3-18-08)
163.14 Traffic control.
(A) Minimum Requirements. The city’s minimum requirements for
traffic protection are contained in IDOT’s Illinois Manual on Uniform
Traffic Control Devices and this code.
(B) Warning Signs, Protective
Devices, and Flaggers. The utility is responsible for providing and installing
warning signs, protective devices and flaggers, when necessary, meeting all
applicable federal, state and local requirements for protection of the public
and the utility’s workers when performing any work on the public
rights-of-way.
(C) Interference with Traffic. All work shall be phased so
that there is minimum interference with pedestrian and vehicular
traffic.
(D) Notice When Access is Blocked. At least forty-eight (48) hours
prior to beginning work that will partially or completely block access to any
residence, business or institution, the utility shall notify the resident,
business or institution of the approximate beginning time and duration of such
work, provided, however, that in cases involving emergency repairs pursuant to
Section 163.20 of this chapter, the utility shall provide such notice as is
practicable under the circumstances.
(E) Compliance. The utility shall take
immediate action to correct any deficiencies in traffic protection requirements
that are brought to the utility’s attention by the city. (Ord.
08-03-18-01, passed 3-18-08)
163.15 Location of facilities.
(A) General Requirements. In addition to location requirements applicable
to specific types of utility facilities, all utility facilities, regardless of
type, shall be subject to the general location requirements of this
subsection.
(1) No Interference with City Facilities. No utility facilities
shall be placed in any location if the city director of public works determines
that the proposed location will require the relocation or displacement of any of
the city’s utility facilities or will otherwise interfere with the
operation or maintenance of any of the city’s utility
facilities.
(2) Minimum Interference and Impact. The proposed location shall
cause only the minimum possible interference with the use of the right-of-way
and shall cause only the minimum possible impact upon and interference with the
rights and reasonable convenience of property owners who adjoin said
right-of-way.
(3) No Interference with Travel. No utility facility shall be
placed in any location that interferes with the usual travel on such
right-of-way.
(4) No Limitations on Visibility. No utility facility shall be
placed in any location so as to limit visibility of or by users of the
right-of-way.
(5) Size of Utility Facilities. The proposed installation
shall use the smallest suitable vaults, boxes, equipment enclosures, power
pedestals and/or cabinets then in use by the facility owner, regardless of
location, for the particular application.
(B) Parallel Facilities Located
Within Highways.
(1) Overhead Parallel Facilities. An overhead parallel
facility may be located within the right-of-way lines of a highway only
if:
(a) Lines are located as near as practicable to the right-of-way line
and as nearly parallel to the right-of-way line as reasonable pole alignment
will permit;
(b) Where pavement is curbed, poles are as remote as
practicable from the curb, with a minimum distance of two (2) feet behind the
face of the curb, where available;
(c) Where pavement is curbed, poles are
as remote from pavement edge as practicable, with minimum distance of four (4)
feet outside the outer shoulder line of the roadway, and are not within the
clear zone;
(d) No pole is located in the ditch line of a highway;
and
(e) Any ground-mounted appurtenance is located within one foot of the
right-of-way line or as near as possible to the right-of-way
line.
(2) Underground Parallel Facilities. An underground parallel facility
may be located within the right-of-way lines of a highway only if:
(a) The
facility is located as near the right-of-way line as practicable and not more
than eight (8) feet from and parallel to the right-of-way line;
(b) A new
facility may be located under the paved portion of a highway only if other
locations are impracticable or inconsistent with sound engineering judgment
(e.g., a new cable may be installed in existing conduit without disrupting the
pavement); and
(c) In the case of an underground power or communications
line, the facility shall be located as near the right-of-way line as practicable
and not more than five (5) feet from the right-of-way line, and any
above-grounded appurtenance shall be located within one foot of the right-of-way
line or as near as practicable.
(C) Facilities Crossing Highways.
(1) No
Future Disruption. The construction and design of crossing facilities installed
between the ditch lines or curb lines of city highways may require the
incorporation of materials and protections (such as encasement or additional
cover) to avoid settlement or future repairs to the roadbed resulting from the
installation of such crossing facilities.
(2) Cattle Passes, Culverts or
Drainage Facilities. Crossing facilities shall not be located in cattle passes,
culverts or drainage facilities.
(3) 90 Degree Crossing Required. Crossing
facilities shall cross at or as near to a ninety (90) degree angle to the
centerline as practicable.
(4) Overhead Power or Communication Facility. An
overhead power or communication facility may cross a highway only if:
(a) It
has a minimum vertical line clearance as required by ICC’s rules entitled,
“Construction of Electric Power and Communication Lines” (83 Ill.
Adm. Code 305);
(b) Poles are located within one foot of the right-of-way
line of the highway and outside of the clear zone; and
(c) Overhead
crossings at major intersections are avoided.
(5) Underground Power or
Communication Facility. An underground power or communication facility may cross
a highway only if:
(a) The design materials and construction methods will
provide maximum maintenance-free service life; and
(b) Capacity for the
utility’s foreseeable future expansion needs is provided in the initial
installation.
(6) Markers. The city may require the utility to provide a
marker at each right-of-way line where an underground facility, other than a
power or communication facility, crosses a highway. Each marker shall identify
the type of facility, the utility and an emergency phone number. Markers may
also be eliminated as provided in 49 C.F.R. 192.707.
(D) Facilities to be
Located Within Particular Rights-of-Way. The city may require that facilities be
located within particular rights-of-way that are not highways, rather than
within particular highways.
(E) Freestanding Facilities.
(1) The city
may restrict the location and size of any freestanding facility located within a
right-of-way.
(2) The city may require any freestanding facility located
within a right-of-way to be screened from view.
(F) Aboveground Facilities.
Aboveground facilities may be installed only if:
(1) No other existing
facilities in the area are located underground;
(2) New underground
installation is not technically feasible; and
(3) The proposed installation
will be made at a location, and will employ suitable design and materials, to
provide the greatest protection of aesthetic qualities of the area being
traversed without adversely affecting safety. Suitable designs include without
limitation self-supporting armless, single-pole construction with vertical
configuration of conductors and cable. Existing utility poles and light
standards shall be used whenever practicable; the installation of additional
utility poles is strongly discouraged.
(G) Facility Attachments to Bridges
or Roadway Structures.
(1) Facilities may be installed as attachments to
bridges or roadway structures only where the utility has demonstrated that all
other means of accommodating the facility are not practicable. Other means shall
include without limitation underground, underwater, independent poles, cable
supports and tower supports, all of which are completely separated from the
bridge or roadway structure. Facilities transmitting commodities that are
volatile, flammable, corrosive or energized, especially those under significant
pressure or potential, present high degrees of risk, and such installations are
not permitted.
(2) A utility shall include in its request to accommodate a
facility installation on a bridge or roadway structure supporting data
demonstrating the impracticability of alternate routing. Approval or disapproval
of an application for facility attachment to a bridge or roadway structure will
be based upon the following considerations:
(a) The type, volume, pressure
or voltage of the commodity to be transmitted and an evaluation of the resulting
risk to persons and property in the event of damage to or failure of the
faculty;
(b) The type, length, value and relative importance of the highway
structure in the transportation system;
(c) The alternative routings
available to the utility and their comparative practicability;
(d) The
proposed method of attachment;
(e) The ability of the structure to bear the
increased load of the proposed facility;
(f) The degree of interference with
bridge maintenance and painting;
(g) The effect on the visual quality of the
structure; and
(h) The public benefit expected from the utility service as
compared to the risk involved.
(H) Appearance Standards.
(1) The city
may prohibit the installation of facilities in particular locations in order to
preserve visual quality.
(2) A facility may be constructed only if its
construction does not require extensive removal or alteration of trees or
terrain features visible to the right-of-way user or impair the aesthetic
quality of the lands being traversed. (Ord. 08-03-18-01, passed
3-18-08)
163.16 Construction methods and materials.
(A) Standards and Requirements for Particular Types of Construction
Methods.
(1) Boring or Jacking.
(a) Pits and Shoring. Boring or jacking
under rights-of-way shall be accomplished from pits located at a minimum
distance specified by the city director of public works from the edge of the
pavement. Pits for boring or jacking shall be excavated no more than forty-eight
(48) hours in advance of boring or jacking operations and backfilled within
forty-eight (48) hours after boring or jacking operations are completed. While
pits are open, they shall be clearly marked and protected by barricades. Shoring
shall be designed, erected, supported, braced and maintained so that it will
safely support all vertical and lateral loads that may be imposed upon it during
the boring or jacking operation.
(b) Wet Boring or Jetting. Wet boring or
jetting shall not be permitted under the roadway.
(c) Borings with Diameters
Greater Than 6 Inches. Borings over six (6) inches in diameter shall be
accomplished with an auger and following pipe, and the diameter of the anger
shall not exceed the outside diameter of the following pipe by more than one
inch.
(d) Borings with Diameters 6 Inches or Less. Borings of six (6) inches
or less in diameter may be accomplished by either jacking, guided with auger or
auger and following pipe method.
(e) Tree Preservation. Any facility located
within the drip line of any tree designated by the city to be preserved or
protected shall be bored under or around the root system.
(2) Trenching.
Trenching for facility installation, repair or maintenance on rights-of-way
shall be done in accord with the applicable portions of Section 603 of
IDOT’s “Standard Specifications for Road and Bridge
Construction.”
(a) Length. The length of open trench shall be kept to
the practicable minimum consistent with requirements for pipeline testing. Only
one-half of any intersection may have an open trench at any time unless special
permission is obtained from the city director of public works.
(b) Open
Trench and Excavated Material. Open trench and windrowed excavated material
shall be protected as required by Chapter 6 of the Illinois Manual on Uniform
Traffic Control Devices. Where practicable, the excavated material shall be
deposited between the roadway and the trench as added protection. Excavated
material shall not be allowed to remain on the paved portion of the roadway.
Where right-of-way width does not allow for windrowing excavated material off
the paved portion of the roadway, excavated material shall be hauled to an
off-road location.
(c) Drip Line of Trees. The utility shall not trench
within the drip line of any tree designated by the city to be
preserved.
(3) Backfilling.
(a) Any pit, trench or excavation created
during the installation of facilities shall be backfilled for its full width,
depth and length using methods and materials in accordance with IDOT’s
“Standard Specifications for Road and Bridge Construction.” When
excavated material is hauled away or is unsuitable for backfill, suitable
granular backfill shall be used.
(b) For a period of three (3) years from
the date construction of a facility is completed, the utility shall be
responsible to remove and restore any backfilled area that has settled due to
construction of the facility. If so ordered by the city director of public
works, the utility at its expense shall remove any pavement and backfill
material to the top of the installed facility, place and properly compact new
backfill material and restore new pavement, sidewalk, curbs and driveways to the
proper grades, as determined by the director of public works.
(4) Pavement
Cuts. Pavement cuts for facility installation or repair shall be permitted on a
highway only if that portion of the highway is closed to traffic. If a variance
to the limitation set forth in this subsection is permitted under Section
163.21, the following requirements shall apply:
(a) Any excavation under
pavements shall be backfilled as soon as practicable with granular material of
CA-6 or CA-10 gradation, as designated by the director of public
works.
(b) Restoration of pavement in kind shall be accomplished as soon as
practicable, and temporary repair with bituminous mixture shall be provided
immediately. Any subsequent failure of either the temporary repair or the
restoration shall be rebuilt upon notification by the city.
(c) All saw cuts
shall be full depth.
(d) For all rights-of-way which have been reconstructed
with a concrete surface/base in the last seven (7) years, or resurfaced in the
last three (3) years, permits shall not be issued unless such work is determined
to be an emergency repair or other work considered necessary and unforeseen
before the time of the reconstruction or unless a pavement cut is necessary for
a J.U.L.I.E. locate.
(5) Encasement.
(a) Casing pipe shall be designed
to withstand the load of the highway and any other superimposed loads. The
casing shall be continuous either by one-piece fabrication or by welding or
jointed installation approved by the city.
(b) The venting, if any, of any
encasement shall extend within one foot of the right-of-way line. No aboveground
vent pipes shall be located in the area established as clear zone for that
particular section of the highway.
(c) In the case of water main or service
crossing, encasement shall be furnished between bore pits unless continuous pipe
or city-approved jointed pipe is used under the roadway. Casing may be omitted
only if pipe is installed prior to highway construction and carrier pipe is
continuous or mechanical joints are of a type approved by the city. Bell and
spigot type pipe shall be encased regardless of installation method.
(d) In
the case of gas pipelines of sixty (60) psig or less, encasement may be
eliminated.
(e) In the case of gas pipelines or petroleum products pipelines
with installations of more than sixty (60) psig, encasement may be eliminated
only if: (1) extra heavy pipe is used that precludes future maintenance or
repair, and (2) cathodic protection of the pipe is provided.
(f) If
encasement is eliminated for a gas or petroleum products pipeline, the facility
shall be located so as to provide that construction does not disrupt the
right-of-way.
(6) Minimum Cover of Underground Facilities. Cover shall be
provided and maintained at least in the amount specified in the following table
for minimum cover for the type of facility:
|
Type of Facility
|
Minimum Cover
|
|
Electric lines
|
30 inches
|
|
Communication, cable or video service lines
|
18—24 inches (determined by city)
|
|
Gas or petroleum products
|
30 inches
|
|
Water line
|
Sufficient cover to provide freeze protection
|
|
Sanitary sewer, storm sewer, or drainage line
|
Sufficient cover to provide freeze protection
|
(B) Standards and Requirements for Particular Types of
Facilities.
(1) Electric Power or Communication Lines.
(a) Code
Compliance. Electric power or communications facilities within city
rights-of-way shall be constructed, operated and maintained in conformity with
the provisions of 83 Ill. Adm. Code 305 and the National Electrical Safety
Code.
(b) Overhead Facilities. Overhead power or communication facilities
shall use single pole construction and, where practicable, joint use of poles
shall be used. Utilities shall make every reasonable effort to design the
installation so guys and braces will not be needed. Variances may be allowed if
there is no feasible alternative and if guy wires are equipped with guy guards
for maximum visibility.
(c) Underground Facilities. Cable may be installed
by trenching or plowing, provided that special consideration is given to boring
in order to minimize damage when crossing improved entrances and side roads. If
a crossing is installed by boring or jacking, encasement shall be provided
between jacking or bore pits. Encasement may be eliminated only if: (a) the
crossing is installed by the use of “moles,” “whip
augers” or other approved method which compress the earth to make the
opening for cable installation, or (b) the installation is by the open trench
method which is only permitted prior to roadway construction. Cable shall be
grounded in accordance with the National Electrical Safety Code.
(d) Burial
of Drops. All temporary service drops placed between November 1st of a given
year and March 15th of the following year, also known as snowdrops, shall be
buried by May 31st of such following year, weather permitting, unless otherwise
permitted by the city. Weather permitting, utilities shall bury all temporary
drops, excluding snowdrops, within ten (10) business days after
placement.
(2) Underground Facilities Other than Electric Power or
Communication Lines. Underground facilities other than electric power or
communication lines may be installed by:
(a) The use of “moles,”
“whip augers” or other approved methods which compress the earth to
move the opening for the pipe;
(b) Jacking or boring with vented encasement
provided between the ditch lines or toes of slopes of the highway;
(c) Open
trench with vented encasement between ultimate ditch lines or toes of slopes,
but only if prior to roadway construction; or
(d) Tunneling with vented
encasement, but only if installation is not possible by other means.
(3) Gas
Transmission, Distribution and Service. Gas pipelines within rights-of-way shall
be constructed, maintained and operated in a city-approved manner and in
conformance with 49 C.F.R. 192, IDOT’s “Standard Specifications for
Road and Bridge Construction” and all other applicable laws, rules and
regulations.
(4) Petroleum Products Pipelines. Petroleum products pipelines
within rights-of-way shall conform to the applicable sections of ANSI Standard
Code for Pressure Piping. (Liquid Petroleum Transportation Piping Systems ANSI-B
31.4).
(5) Waterlines, Sanitary Sewer Lines, Storm Water Sewer Lines or
Drainage Lines. Water lines, sanitary sewer lines, storm sewer lines and
drainage lines within rights-of-way shall meet or exceed the recommendations of
the current “Standard Specifications for Water and Sewer Main Construction
in Illinois.”
(6) Ground-Mounted Appurtenances. Ground-mounted
appurtenances to overhead or underground facilities, when permitted within a
right-of-way, shall be provided with a vegetation-free area extending one foot
in width beyond the appurtenance in all directions. The vegetation-free area may
be provided by an extension of the mounting pad or by heavy duty plastic or
similar material approved by the city director of public works. With the
approval of the director of public works, shrubbery surrounding the appurtenance
may be used in place of vegetation-free area. The housing for ground-mounted
appurtenances shall be painted a neutral color to blend with the
surroundings.
(C) Materials.
(1) General Standards. The materials used
in constructing facilities within rights-of-way shall be those meeting the
accepted standards of the appropriate industry, the applicable portions of
IDOT’s “Standards Specifications for Road and Bridge
Construction,” the requirements of the Illinois Commerce Commission or the
standards established by other official regulatory agencies for the appropriate
industry.
(2) Material Storage on Right-of-Way. No material shall be stored
on the right-of-way without the prior written approval of the director of public
works. When such storage is permitted, all pipe, conduit, wire, poles, cross
arms or other materials shall be distributed along the right-of-way prior to and
during installation in a manner to minimize hazards to the public, obstacles to
right-of-way maintenance and damage to the right-of-way and other
property.
(3) Hazardous Materials. The plans submitted by the utility to the
city shall identify any hazardous materials that may be involved in the
construction of the new facilities or removal of any existing
facilities.
(D) Operational Restrictions.
(1) Construction operations on
rights-of-way may, at the discretion of the city, be required to be discontinued
when such operations would create hazards to traffic or the public health,
safety and welfare. Such operations may also be required to be discontinued or
restricted when conditions are such that construction would result in extensive
damage to the right-of-way or other property.
(2) These restrictions may be
waived by the director of public works when emergency work is required to
restore vital utility services.
(3) Unless otherwise permitted by the city,
the hours of construction are those set forth in Section 8-1-9 of this
code.
(E) Location of Existing Facilities. Any utility proposing to
construct facilities within the city shall contact J.U.L.I.E. and ascertain the
presence and location of existing aboveground and underground facilities within
the rights-of-way to be occupied by its proposed facilities. The city will make
its permit records available to a utility for the purpose of identifying
possible facilities. When notified of an excavation or when requested by the
city or by J.U.L.I.E., a utility shall locate and physically mark its
underground facilities within forty-eight (48) hours, excluding weekends and
holidays, in accordance with the Illinois Underground Facilities Damage
Prevention Act (220 ILCS 50/1 et seq.). (Ord. 08-03-18-01, passed
3-18-08)
163.17 Vegetation control.
(A) Electric Utilities—Compliance with State Laws and Regulations.
An electric utility shall conduct all tree trimming and vegetation control
activities in the right-of-way in accordance with applicable Illinois laws and
regulations and with such local franchise or other agreement with the city as
permitted by law.
(B) Other Utilities—Tree Trimming Permit Required.
Tree trimming that is done by any other utility with facilities in the
right-of-way, and that is not performed pursuant to applicable Illinois laws and
regulations specifically governing same, shall not be considered a normal
maintenance operation, but shall require the application for and the issuance of
a permit, in addition to any other permit required under this
chapter.
(1) Application for Tree Trimming Permit. Applications for tree
trimming permits shall include assurance that the work will be accomplished by
competent workers with supervision who are experienced in accepted tree pruning
practices. Tree trimming permits shall designate an expiration date in the
interest of assuring that the work will be expeditiously
accomplished.
(2) Damage to Trees. Poor pruning practices resulting in
damaged or misshapen trees will not be tolerated and shall be grounds for
cancellation of the tree trimming permit and for assessment of damages. The city
will require compensation for trees extensively damaged and for trees removed
without authorization. The formula developed by the International Society of
Arboriculture will be used as a basis for determining the compensation for
damaged trees or unauthorized removal of trees. The city may require the removal
and replacement of trees if trimming or radical pruning would leave them in an
unacceptable condition.
(C) Specimen Trees or Trees of Special Significance.
The city may require that special measures be taken to preserve specimen trees
or trees of special significance. The required measures may consist of higher
poles, side arm extensions, covered wire or other means.
(D) Chemical
Use.
(1) Except as provided in the following subsection, no utility shall
spray, inject or pour any chemicals on or near any trees, shrubs or vegetation
in the city for any purpose, including without limitation the control of growth,
insects or disease.
(2) Spraying of any type of brush-killing chemicals will
not be permitted on rights-of-way unless the utility demonstrates to the
satisfaction of the city director of public works that such spraying is the only
practicable method of vegetation control. (Ord. 08-03-18-01, passed
3-18-08)
163.18 Removal, relocation or modification of facilities.
(A) Notice. Within ninety (90) days following written notice from the
city, a utility shall, at its own expense, temporarily or permanently remove,
relocate, change or alter the position of any utility facilities within the
rights-of-way whenever the corporate authorities have determined that such
removal, relocation, change or alteration is reasonably necessary for the
construction, repair, maintenance or installation of any city improvement, or
the operations of the city, in or upon the rights-of-way.
(B) Removal of
Unauthorized Facilities. Within thirty (30) days following written notice from
the city, any utility that owns, controls or maintains any unauthorized facility
or related appurtenances within the public rights-of-way shall, at its own
expense, remove all or any part of such facilities or appurtenances from the
public rights-of-way. A facility is unauthorized and subject to removal in the
following circumstances:
(1) Upon expiration or termination of the
permittee’s license or franchise, unless otherwise permitted by applicable
law;
(2) If the facility was constructed or installed without the prior
grant of a license or franchise, if required;
(3) If the facility was
constructed or installed without prior issuance of a required permit in
violation of this chapter; or
(4) If the facility was constructed or
installed at a location not permitted by the permittee’s license or
franchise.
(C) Emergency Removal or Relocation of Facilities. The city
retains the right and privilege to cut or move any facilities located within the
rights-of-way of the city, as the city may determine to be necessary,
appropriate or useful in response to any public health or safety emergency. If
circumstances permit, the municipality shall attempt to notify the utility, if
known, prior to cutting or removing a facility and shall notify the utility, if
known, after cutting or removing a facility.
(D) Abandonment of Facilities.
Upon abandonment of a facility within the public rights-of-way of the city, the
utility shall notify the city within ninety (90) days. Following receipt of such
notice, the city may direct the utility to remove all or any portion of the
facility if the city director of public works determines that such removal will
be in the best interest of the public health, safety and welfare. In the event
that the city does not direct the utility that abandoned the facility to remove
it, the abandoning utility shall be deemed by giving notice of abandonment to
the city to consent to the alteration or removal of all or any portion of the
facility by another utility or person. (Ord. 08-03-18-01, passed
3-18-08)
163.19 Cleanup and restoration.
The utility shall remove all excess material and restore all turf, terrain
and other property, all to the satisfaction of the city, within ten (10) days
after any portion of the right-of-way is disturbed, damaged or destroyed due to
construction or maintenance by the utility. This includes restoration of
entrances and side roads. Restoration of roadway surfaces shall be made using
materials and methods approved by the city director of public works. Such
cleanup and repair may be required to consist of backfilling, regrading,
reseeding, resodding or any other requirement to restore the right-of-way to a
condition substantially equivalent to that which existed prior to the
commencement of the project. The time period provided in this section may be
extended by the city director of public works for good cause shown. (Ord.
08-03-18-01, passed 3-18-08)
163.20 Maintenance—Emergencies.
(A) General. Facilities on, over, above, along, upon, under, across or
within rights-of-way are to be maintained by or for the utility in a manner
satisfactory to the city and at the utility’s expense.
(B) Emergency
Maintenance Procedures. Emergencies may justify noncompliance with normal
procedures for securing a permit.
(1) If an emergency creates a hazard on
the traveled portion of the right-of-way, the utility shall take immediate steps
to provide all necessary protection for traffic on the highway or the public on
the right-of-way, including the use of signs, lights, barricades or flaggers. If
a hazard does not exist on the traveled way, but the nature of the emergency is
such as to require the parking on the shoulder of equipment required in repair
operations, adequate signs and lights shall be provided. Parking on the shoulder
in such an emergency will only be permitted when no other means of access to the
facility are available.
(2) The utility shall notify the city director of
public works or his or her duly authorized agent of the emergency as soon as
possible, informing him or her as to what steps have been taken for protection
of the traveling public and what will be required to make the necessary repairs.
If the nature of the emergency is such as to interfere with the free movement of
traffic, the city police shall be notified immediately.
(3) In an emergency,
the utility shall use all means at hand to complete repairs as rapidly as
practicable and with the least inconvenience to the traveling
public.
(C) Emergency Repairs. The utility must file in writing with the
city of a description of the repairs undertaken in the right-of-way within
forty-eight (48) hours after an emergency repair. (Ord. 08-03-18-01, passed
3-18-08)
163.21 Variances.
(A) Request for Variance. A utility requesting a variance from one or more
of the provisions of this chapter must do so in writing to the director of
public works as a part of the permit application. The request shall identify
each provision of this chapter from which a variance is requested and the
reasons why a variance should be granted.
(B) Authority to Grant Variances.
The director of public works shall decide whether a variance is authorized for
each provision of this chapter identified in the variance request on an
individual basis.
(C) Conditions for Granting of Variance. The director of
public works may authorize a variance only if the utility requesting the
variance has demonstrated that:
(1) One or more conditions not under the
control of the utility (such as terrain features or an irregular right-of-way
line) create a special hardship that would make enforcement of the provision
unreasonable, given the public purposes to be achieved by the provision;
and
(2) All other designs, methods, materials, locations or facilities that
would conform with the provision from which a variance is requested are
impracticable in relation to the requested approach.
(D) Additional
Conditions for Granting of a Variance. As a condition for authorizing a
variance, the director of public works may require the utility requesting the
variance to meet reasonable standards and conditions that may or may not be
expressly contained within this chapter but which carry out the purposes of this
chapter. (Ord. 08-03-18-01, passed 3-18-08)
163.22 Right to appeal.
Any utility aggrieved by any order, requirement, decision or
determination, including without limitation the denial of any variance, made by
the director of public works under the provisions of this chapter shall have the
right to appeal to the city council, or such other board or commission as the
council may designate. The application for appeal shall be submitted in writing
to the city clerk within thirty (30) days after the date of such order,
requirement, decision or determination. The city council shall commence its
consideration of the appeal at the board’s next regularly scheduled
meeting occurring not less than seven (7) days after the filing of the appeal.
The city council shall decide the appeal in a timely manner. (Ord. 08-03-18-01,
passed 3-18-08)
163.23 Penalties.
Any person who violates, disobeys, omits, neglects or refuses to comply
with any of the provisions of this chapter shall be subject to a fine in
accordance with the penalty provisions of this code. There may be times when the
city will incur delay or other costs, including third party claims, because the
utility will not or cannot perform its duties under its permit and this chapter.
Unless the utility shows that another allocation of the cost of undertaking the
requested action is appropriate, the utility shall bear the city’s damages
and its costs of installing, maintaining, modifying, relocating or removing the
facility that is the subject of the permit. No other administrative agency or
commission may review or overrule a permit-related cost apportionment of the
city. Sanctions may be imposed upon a utility which does not pay the costs
apportioned to it. (Ord. 08-03-18-01, passed 3-18-08)
163.24 Enforcement.
Nothing in this chapter shall be construed as limiting any additional or
further remedies that the city may have for enforcement of this chapter. (Ord.
08-03-18-01, passed 3-18-08)
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