2001-854
CITY OF HOPKINS
Hennepin County, Minnesota
ORDINANCE NO. 01- 854
AN ORDINANCE REPEALING SECTION 805 OF THE HOPKINS CODE
OF ORDINANCES AND ENACTING A NEW SECTION 805 OF THE HOPKINS
CODE OF ORDINANCES TO ADMINISTER AND REGULATE THE PUBLIC
RIGHTS-OF-WAY IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST, AND TO PROVIDE FOR THE
ISSUANCE AND REGULATION OF RIGHT-OF-WAY PERMITS
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF HOPKINS:
Section 805, titled "Street Excavations,"ofthe Hopkins Code of Ordinances (hereafter
"this Code") is hereby repealed in its entirety, and is replaced by the following new Section 805:
Section 805 - Right-of-Way Management
805.01. Findings, Purpose, and Intent.
To provide for the health, safety and welfare of its citizens, and to ensure the integrity of its
streets and the appropriate use of the rights-of-way, the city strives to keep its rights-of-way in a
state of good repair and free from unnecessary encumbrances.
Accordingly, the city hereby enacts this new section ofthis code relating to right-of-way permits
and administration. This section imposes reasonable regulation on the placement and
maintenance of facilities and equipment currently within its rights-of-way or to be placed therein
at some future time. It is intended to complement the regulatory roles of state and federal
agencies. Under this section, persons excavating and obstructing the rights-of-way will bear
financial responsibility for their work. Finally, this section provides for recovery of out-of-pocket
and projected costs from persons using the public rights-of-way.
This section shall be interpreted consistently with Minnesota Statutes Sections 237.16, 237.162,
237.163,237.79,237.81, and 238.086 (the "Act") and the other laws governing applicable rights
ofthe city and users ofthe right-of-way. This section shall also be interpreted consistent with
Minnesota Rules 7819.0050 - 7819.9950 where possible. To the extent any provision of this
section cannot be interpreted consistently with the Minnesota Rules, that interpretation most
consistent with the Act and other applicable statutory and case law is intended. This section shall
not be interpreted to limit the regulatory and police powers of the city to adopt and enforce
general ordinances necessary to protect the health, safety and welfare of the public.
805.02.
Election to Manage the Public Rights-of-Way
Pursuant to the authority granted to the city under state and federal statutory, administrative and.
common law, the city hereby elects pursuant Minn. Stat. 237.163 subd. 2(b), to manage
rights-of-way within its jurisdiction.
805.03. Definitions.
The following definitions apply in this section of this code. References hereafter to "paragraphs"
are unless otherwise specified references to paragraphs in this section. Defined terms remain
defined terms whether or not capitalized.
"Abandoned Facility," means a facility no longer in service or physically disconnected from a
portion of the operating facility, or from any other facility, that is in use or still carries service. A
facility is not abandoned unless declared so by the right-of-way user.
"Applicant means any person requesting permission to excavate or obstruct a right-of-way.
"Breach" means a breach of the terms and conditions of any statute, ordinance, rule or regulation,
or any material condition ofa permit, as provided in Paragraph 805.19 of this ordinance.
"City" means the city of Hopkins, Minnesota.
"Commission" means the State Public Utilities Commission.
"Congested Right-of-Way" means a crowded condition in the subsurface ofthe public
right-of-way that occurs when the maximum lateral spacing between existing underground
facilities does not allow for construction of new underground facilities without using hand
digging to expose the existing lateral facilities in conformance with Minnesota Statutes, section
216D.04. Subdivision 3, over a continuous length in excess of 500 feet.
"Construction Performance Bond" means any of the following forms of security provided at
permittee's option:
A. Individual project bond;
B. Cash deposit;
C. Security of a form listed or approved under Minn. Stat. Sec. 15.73, subd. 3;
D. Letter of Credit, in a form acceptable to the city
E. Self-insurance, in a form acceptable to the city
F. A blanket bond for projects within the city, or other form of construction bond, for a time
specified and in a form acceptable to the city.
"Degradation" means a decrease in the useful life of the right-of-way caused by excavation in or
disturbance ofthe right-of-way, resulting in the need to reconstruct such right-of-way earlier than
would be required if the excavation or disturbance did not occur.
"Degradation Cost" subject to Minnesota Rules 7819.1100 means the cost to achieve a level of
restoration as determined by the city at the time the permit is issued, not to exceed the maximum
restoration shown in plates 1 to 13, set forth in Minnesota Rules parts 7819.9900 to 7819.9950.
"Degradation Fee" means the estimated fee established at the time of permitting by the city to
recover costs associated with the decrease in the useful life of the right-of-way caused by the
excavation, and which equals the degradation cost.
"Department" means the department of public works of the city.
"Department Inspector" means any person authorized by the city to carry out inspections related
to the provisions of this section.
"Director" means the director of the department of public works ofthe city, or her or his
designee.
"Delay Penalty" is the penalty imposed as a result of unreasonable delays in right-of-way
excavation, obstruction, patching, or restoration as established by permit.
"Emergency" means a condition that (1) poses a danger to life or health, or of a significant loss of
property; or (2) requires immediate repair or replacement of facilities in order to restore service
to a customer.
"Equipment" means any tangible asset, property or equipment used to install, repair, or maintain
facilities in any right-of-way.
"Excavate" means to dig into or in any way remove, physically disturb or penetrate any part of a
right-of-way.
"Excavation permit" means the permit which, pursuant to this section, must be obtained before a
person may excavate in a right-of-way. An Excavation permit allows the holder to excavate that
part of the right-of-way described in such permit.
"Excavation permit fee" means the excavation permit fees established pursuant to Subd. 1 of
Paragraph 805.11.
"Facility or Facilities" means any tangible asset, equipment, property or thing installed or to be
installed in the right-of-way to provide Utility Service.
"Five-year project plan" means the capital improvement plan or any similar plan adopted by the
city on an annual basis for construction projects to be performed in the right of way within the
five years following adoption of such a plan.
"High Density Corridor" means a designated portion of the public right-of-way within which
telecommunications right-of-way users having multiple facilities may be required to build and
install facilities in a common conduit system or other common structure.
"Hole" means an excavation in the pavement, with the excavation having a length less than the
width cifthe pavement.
"Local Representative" means a local person or persons, or designee of such person or persons, .
authorized by a registrant to accept service and to make decisions for that registrant regarding all
matters within the scope ofthis section.
"Management Costs" shall have the meaning stated in Minn. Stat. 237.162, Subd. 9.
"Minnesota Rules" or "Minnesota Rule" shall mean the Right-of-Way Rules adopted by the
Minnesota Public Utilities Commission.
"Obstruct" means to place any tangible object in a right-of-way so as to hinder free and open
passage over any part of the right-of-way.
"Obstruction Permit" means the permit, which, pursuant to this section, must be obtained before
a person may obstruct a right-of-way.
"Obstruction Permit Fee" means the obstruction permit fees established pursuant to Subd. 2 of
Paragraph 805.11.
"Patch or Patching" means a method of pavement replacement that is temporary in nature. A
patch consists of (1) the compaction ofthe subbase and aggregate base, and (2) the replacement,
in kind, ofthe existing pavement for a minimum of two feet beyond the edges of the excavation
in all directions.
"Pavement" means any type of improved or man made surface that is within the public
right-of-way and is paved or otherwise constructed with bituminous, concrete, aggregate, gravel
or other hard-surfaced material.
"Permit" shall mean an excavation permit or obstruction permit applied for or issued in
accordance with the proyisions of paragraphs 8D5.08-805.14 of this ordinance.
"Permittee" means any person to whom a permit to excavate or obstruct a right-of-way has been
granted by the city under this section.
"Person" means any natural person, individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability
company, trust, political subdivision or other legal entity subject to the laws and rules of this
state, however organized, whether public or private, domestic or foreign, for profit or nonprofit.
"Registrant" means any person who is required to register with the city by Paragraph 805.05 of
this ordinance.
"Restore or Restoration" means the process by which an excavated right-of-way and
surrounding area, including pavement and foundation, is returned to the same condition and life
expectancy that existed before excavation.
"Restoration Cost" means the amount of money paid to the city by a permittee to achieve the
level of restoration according to plates 1 to 13 of Minnesota public Utilities Commission rules.
"Public Right-of-Way" or "Right-of-Way" means the area on, below, or above any public
roadway, highway, alley, street, cartway, bicycle lane and public sidewalk in which the city has
an interest and includes all areas, owned, granted or established for public rights-of-way for
travel purposes or public utility easements. Public right-of-way includes areas that have not been
opened or improved for street use or other public purposes. A right-of-way does not include the
airwaves above a right-of-way with regard to cellular or other non-wire telecommunications or
broadcast service.
"Right-of-Way User" means (1) a telecommunications right-of-way user as defined by Minnesota
Statutes, section 237.162, subd. 4; or (2) a person owning or controlling facilities in the
right-of-way, or seeking to do so, that are used or intended to be used for providing utility
servIce.
"Service" or "Utility Service" means (1) those services provided by a public utility as defined in
Minn. Stat. 216B.02, subds. 4 and 6; (2) services of a telecommunications right-of-way user,
including transporting of voice or data information; (3) services of a cable communications
system as defined in Minn. Stat. Section. 238; (4) natural gas or electric energy or
telecommunications services; (5) services provided by a cooperative electric association
organized under Minn. Stat., Section 308A; and (6) water, sewer, steam, cooling or heating
services. "Service" or "Utility Service" includes all ofthe types of services and facilities
described in the preceding sentence, owned or operated by or leased to any person, whether
presently in use or intended to be used in the future for the purpose of providing utility service.
"Supplementary Application" means an application made to excavate or obstruct more of the
right-of-way than allowed in, or to extend, a permit that had already been issued.
"Telecommunication Right-of-way User" means a person owning or controlling a facility in the
right-of-way, or seeking to own or control a Facility in the right-of-way, that is used or is
intended to be used for transporting telecommunication or other voice or data information. For
purposes of this section, a cable communication system defined and regulated under Minn. Stat.
Sec. 238, and telecommunication activities related to providing natural gas or electric energy
services whether provided by a public utility as defmed in Minn. Stat. Sec. 216B.02, a
municipality, a municipal gas or power agency organized under Minn. Stat. Secs. 453 and 453A,
or a cooperative electric association organized under Minn. Stat. Sec. 308A, are not
telecommunications right-of-way users for purposes of this section.
"Temporary Surface" means the compaction of subbase and aggregate base and replacement, in
kind, of the existing pavement only to the edges of the excavation. It is temporary in nature
except when the replacement is of pavement included in the city's two-year project plan, in which
case it is considered full restoration.
"Trench" means an excavation in the pavement, with the excavation having a length equal to or
greater than the width of the pavement.
"Two Year proj ect plan" means the capital improvement plan or any similar plan adopted by the
city on an annual basis for construction projects to be performed in the right-of-way within the
next two years following adoption of such a plan.
805.04 Administration.
The director is the principal city official responsible for the administration ofthe rights-of-way,
right-of-way permits, and the ordinances related thereto. The director may delegate any or all of
the duties hereunder.
805.05. Registration and Right-of-Way Occupancy.
Subd. 1. Registration. Each right-of-way user who occupies, uses, or seeks to occupy or use,
the right-of-way or place any equipment or facilities in or on the right-of-way, including persons
with installation and maintenance responsibilities by lease, sublease or assignment, must register
with the city as provided in Paragraph 805.06 of this ordinance. This Paragraph 805.05 is not
intended to apply to or require the following persons to register with the City: a) property owners
maintaining service lines solely for the purpose of connecting to utility service facilities located
in the right-of-way; and b) agents, contractors or subcontractors of a right-of-way user who has
registered with the city as required by this Paragraph 805.05.
Subd.2. Registration Prior to Work. No right-of-way user may construct, install, repair,
remove, relocate, or perform any other work on, or use any facilities or any part thereof in any
right-of-way without first being registered with the city as provided in Paragraph 805.06 of this
ordinance.
Subd. 3. Exceptions. Nothing herein shall be construed to repeal or amend the provisions of a
city ordinance permitting persons to plant or maintain boulevard plantings or gardens in the area
of the right-of-way between their property and the street curb. Persons planting or maintaining
boulevard plantings or gardens shall not be required to obtain any permits or satisfy any other
requirements under this section, except: a) permits shall be required for planting trees in right-of-
way, and b) no provision of this ordinance shall relieve a person from complying with the
provisions ofthe Minn. Stat. Chap. 216D, Gopher One Call Law.
Subd.4. Failure to Register. Nuisance. One year after the passage of this section, any
facilities of a right-of-way user found in a right-of-way that have not been registered shall be
deemed to be a nuisance. The city may exercise any remedies or rights it has at law or in equity,
to abate or correct such nuisance, including, but not limited to, abating the nuisance or taking
possession of the facilities and restoring the right-of-way to a useable condition, and the right-of-
way user shall reimburse the city for all costs incurred in doing so. The city shall, in addition to
any other penalties specified in this ordinance, be entitled to obtain an injunction in Hennepin
County District Court enforcing the provisions of this subdivision.
805.06. Registration Information.
Subd.1. Information Required. The information provided to the city at the time of
registration shall include, but not be limited to:
(a) Each registrant's name, Gopher One-Call registration certificate number, address and e-mail
address if applicable, and telephone and facsimile numbers.
(b) The name, address and e-mail address, if applicable, and telephone and facsimile numbers of
a local representative. The local representative or designee shall be available at all times.
Current information regarding how to contact the local representative in an emergency shall be
provided at the time of registration.
(c) A certificate of insurance or self-insurance:
(1) Verifying that an insurance policy has been issued to the registrant by an insurance
company licensed to do business in the State of Minnesota, or a form of self insurance
acceptable to the city;
(2) Verifying that the registrant is insured against claims for personal injury, including
death, as well as claims for property damage arising out ofthe (i) use and occupancy of
the right-of-way by the registrant, its officers, agents, employees and permittees, and (ii)
placement and use of facilities and equipment in the right-of-way by the registrant, its
officers, agents, employees and permittees, including, but not limited to, protection
against liability arising from completed operations, damage of underground facilities and
collapse of property;
(3) Naming the city as an additional insured as to whom the coverages required herein are
in force and applicable and for whom defense will be provided as to all such coverages;
(4) Requiring that the city be notified thirty (30) days in advance of cancellation of the
policy or material modification of a coverage term;
(5) Indicating comprehensive liability coverage, automobile liability coverage, workers
compensation and umbrella coverage established by the city in amounts sufficient to
protect the city and the public and to carry out the purposes and policies of this section.
(d) The city may require a copy of the actual insurance policies.
(e) If the registrant is a corporation, a copy of the certificate required to be filed under Minn. Stat.
300.06 as recorded and certified to by the Secretary of State.
(1) A copy of the registrant's order granting a certificate of authority from the Minnesota Public
Utilities Commission or other applicable state or federal agency, where the person is lawfully
required to have such certificate from said commission or other state or federal agency.
Subd.2. Notice of Changes. The registrant shall keep all ofthe information listed above
current at all times by providing to the city information as to changes within fifteen (15) days
following the date on which the registrant has knowledge of any change.
805.07. Reporting Obligations.
Subd. 1. Operations. Each registrant shall, at the time of registration and by December I of
each year, file a construction and major maintenance plan for underground facilities with the city
(in this paragraph, a "plan"). Such plan shall be submitted using a format designated by the city
and shall contain the information determined by the city to be necessary to facilitate the
coordination and reduction in the frequency of excavations and obstructions of rights-of-way.
The plan shall include, but not be limited to, the following information:
(a) The locations and the estimated beginning and ending dates of all projects for facilities to be
constructed in right-of-way to be commenced during the next calendar year (in this paragraph, a
"next-year project"); and
(b) To the extent known, the tentative locations and estimated beginning and ending dates for all
projects for facilities to be constructed in right-of-way contemplated for the five years following
the next calendar year (in this paragraph, a "five-year project").
The term "project" in this paragraph shall include both next-year projects and five-year projects.
The city will have available for inspection in the city's office a list of all plans submitted by
registrants. All registrants are responsible for keeping themselves informed of the current status
of this list and the plans filed with the city.
Thereafter, by February 1, each registrant may change any project in its list of next-year projects,
and must notify the city and all other registrants of all such changes in said list. A registrant may
at any time join in a Next-year project of another registrant listed by the other registrant, subject
to the prior consent of such other registrant.
Subd. 2. Additional Next-Year Projects. Failure by a registrant to include a project in a plan
submitted to the city shall not, in and of itself, constitute grounds for denial of a permit if the
registrant has used commercially reasonable efforts to anticipate and plan for the project.
805.08. Permit Requirement.
Subd. 1. Permit Required. Except as may otherwise be provided in this code, no person may
obstruct or excavate any right-of-way without first having obtained a permit.
(a) Excavation Permit. An excavation permit must be obtained by any person to excavate any
part of a public right-of-way.
(b) Obstruction Permit. An obstruction permit must be obtained by any person to obstruct any
part of a public right-of-way. An obstruction permit is not required if a person already possesses
a valid excavation permit for the same project.
Subd. 2. Permit Extensions. No person may excavate or obstruct the right-of-way beyond the
date or dates specified in the permit unless, prior to expiration ofthe permit: (i) such person
makes a supplementary application for a permit extension, and (ii) a new permit or permit
extension is granted.
Subd. 3. Delay Penalty. The city council may establish and impose a delay penalty for
unreasonable delays in right-of-way excavation, obstruction, patching, or restoration, as
permitted by Minnesota Rule 7819.1000, subd. 3. The delay penalty shall be established from
time to time by city council resolution.
Subd. 4. Emergency Situations. Each registrant shall immediately notify the director of any
emergency event regarding its facilities. The registrant may proceed to take whatever actions are
necessary to respond to the emergency. Within two (2) business days after the occurrence of the
emergency the registrant shall apply for the necessary permits, pay the fees associated therewith
and fulfill the rest of the requirements necessary to bring itself into compliance with this section
for the actions it took in response to the emergency.
rfthe city becomes aware of an emergency regarding a registrant's facilities, the city will attempt
to contact the local representative of each registrant affected, or potentially affected, by the
emergency. In any event, the city may take whatever action it deems necessary to respond to the
emergency, the cost ofwhich shall be borne by the registrant whose facilities occasioned the
emergency.
Subd. 5. Permit Display. Permits issued under this section shall be conspicuously displayed or
otherwise available at all times at the indicated work site and shall be available for inspection by
the city.
805.09. Permit Applications.
Applications for permits shall be made to the city. Permit applications shall contain, and will be
considered complete only upon compliance with the following requirements:
(a) In the case of right-of-way users, registration with the city pursuant to Paragraph 805.06;
(b) Submission of a completed permit application form, including all required attachments, and
scaled drawings showing the location and area of the proposed project facilities or obstruction
and the location of all known existing and proposed facilities or obstructions.
(c) Submission to the city of detailed plans for all facilities to be installed and work to be
performed in the right-of-way. If determined necessary by the city, such plans shall be prepared
by a registered professional engineer.
(d) Payment of money due the city for:
(1) permit fees, estimated restoration costs and other management costs;
(2) prior obstructions or excavations caused or performed by the applicant, including
delay penalties;
(3) any loss, damage, or expense suffered by the city because of applicant's prior
excavations or obstructions ofthe rights-of-way or any emergency actions taken by the
city;
(4) franchise fees or other charges, if applicable.
(e) Except in instances when the city elects to restore the right-of-way as provided in Paragraph
805.12 of this ordinance, delivery to the city of a construction performance bond in an amount
determined by the director to be sufficient to restore the right-of-way to the condition that existed
before the excavation by the applicant, including restoration of all street improvements,
sidewalks, utilities and other public improvements that may be damaged as a result of excavation
and construction and other reasonable, directly-related costs that the city may incur ifthe
applicant fails to complete work within the right-of-way and restore the right-of-way. The
amount of the construction performance bond delivered at the time of permit application may be
reduced to take into account the amount of any construction performance bond then in effect and
previously delivered to the city by the permittee that provides coverage for such right-of-way
restoration. In no event shall the construction performance bond be in an amount of less than
$10,000.00. The construction performance bond shall remain in force and effect until sixty (60)
days after full completion of all construction activities for which the permit has been issued,
including restoration of right-of-way.
805.10. Issuance of Permit; Conditions.
Subd. 1. Permit Issuance. If the Applicant has satisfied the requirements ofthis section, the
city shall issue a permit.
Subd. 2. Conditions. The city may impose reasonable conditions upon the issuance ofthe
permit and the performance of the work for which it is issued to protect the health, safety and
welfare or when necessary to protect the right-of-way and its current use. Such conditions may
include but are not limited to:
a) a date or dates by which the work for which the permit is issued and all restoration
of right-of-way must be completed;
b) in instances in which the scope or complexity ofthe work or facilities for which
the permit is to be issued requires, in the judgment of the director, that the right-
of-way user enter into an encroachment agreement, right-of-way user may be
required to enter into encroachment agreements with the city specifying additional
reasonable terms and conditions to be imposed upon the right-of-way users use of
right-of-way;
c) in instances in which the scope or complexity of the work or facilities for which
the permit is to be issued requires, in the judgment of the director, the retention of
an inspecting engineer, the permittee may be required to retain a qualified
inspecting engineer approved by the city to perform regular inspections of the
work or facilities during the course of construction.
805.11. Permit Fees.
Subd. 1. Excavation Permit Fee. The city shall establish excavation permit fees in amounts
sufficient to recover the following costs:
(a) the city's management costs;
(b) degradation costs, if applicable.
Subd. 2. Obstruction Permit Fee. The city shall establish obstruction permit fees in amounts
sufficient to recover the city's management costs.
Subd. 3. Payment of Permit Fees. No excavation permit or obstruction permit shall be issued
without payment of excavation or obstruction permit fees. At the option ofthe city, a right-of-
way user that performs or is likely to perform a number of separate construction proj ects in the
right-of-way for which permits will be required during the course of any calendar year may be
charged retroactively for the permit fees for all such construction projects at the end of each
calendar year, and all permits issued to such a right-of-way user shall include an
acknowledgment of the permittee's obligation to pay the retroactive permit fees.
Subd.4. Non Refundable. Permit fees that were paid for a permit that the city has revoked for
a breach as stated in Paragraph 805.19 are not refundable.
Subd. 5. Application to Franchises. Unless otherwise agreed to in a franchise, permit fees
shall be charged separately from and in addition to the franchise fees imposed on a right-of-way
user in the franchise.
805.12. Right-of-Way Patching and Restoration.
Subd. 1. Timing. The work to be done under the excavation permit, and the patching and
restoration of the right-of-way as required herein, must be completed within the dates specified in
the permit, increased by as many days as work could not be performed because of circumstances
beyond the control ofthe permittee.
Subd. 2. Patch and Restoration. When patching has been determined by the city to be an
appropriate method of pavement replacement, the permittee shall patch its own work. The city
may elect either to have the permittee restore the right-of-way or to restore the right-of-way itself.
If the city elects to restore the right-of-way, the city shall advise the permittee of its election at
the time of permit issuance. Ifthe city fails to so advise the permittee, the city shall be deemed to
have elected to have the permittee restore the right-of-way.
(a) City Restoration. If the city restores the right-of-way, permittee shall pay the costs thereof
within thirty (30) days of billing. If, following such restoration, the pavement settles due to
permittee's improper backfilling, the permittee shall pay to the city, within thirty (30) days of
billing, all costs associated with correcting such settlement and restoring the right-of-way.
(b) Permittee Restoration. If the permittee restores the right-of-way itself, it shall at the time of
issuance ofthe permit post a construction performance bond as provided in Paragraph 805.09 of
this ordinance.
(c) Degradation fee in Lieu of Restoration. If allowed by the city at the time of permit issuance,
a right-of-way user may elect to pay a degradation fee. In instances where the city will allow
payment of a degradation fee in lieu of restoration, the city shall advise the right-of-way user of
the amount of the degradation fee prior to permit issuance, and the right-of-way user shall elect,
at the time of permit issuance, to restore the right-of-way or pay the degradation fee. If the right-
of-way user elects to pay a degradation fee, the right-of-way user shall remain responsible for
patching and the degradation fee shall not include the cost to accomplish patching.
Subd. 3. Standards. The permittee shall perform excavation, backfilling, patching and
restoration according to the standards and with the materials specified by the city and shall
comply with Minnesota Rule 7819.1100.
Subd. 4. Duty to Correct Defects. The permittee shall correct defects in patching, or
restoration performed by permittee or its agents. Permittee upon notification from the city, shall
correct all restoration work to the extent necessary, using the method required by the city. Said
work shall be completed within five (5) calendar days of the receipt of the notice from the city,
not including days during which work cannot be done because of circumstances constituting
force majeure ordays when work is prohibited as unseasonal or umeasonable under Paragraph
805.15.
Subd. 5. Failure to Restore. If the permittee fails to restore the right-of-way in the manner and
to the condition required by the city, or fails to satisfactorily and timely complete all restoration
required by the city, the city at its option may do such work. In that event the permittee shall pay
to the city, within thirty (30) days of billing, the cost of restoring the right-of-way. Ifpermittee
fails to pay as required, the city may exercise its rights under the construction performance bond.
805.13. Joint Applications.
Subd. 1. Joint application. Permit applicants may jointly apply for permits to excavate or
obstruct the right-of-way at the same place and time.
Subd. 2. Shared fees. Applicants who jointly apply for permits may share in the payment of the
obstruction or excavation permit fee. In order to obtain a joint permit, applicants must agree as
to the portion each will pay and indicate the same on their applications.
Subd. 3. With city projects. Registrants who join in a scheduled project or work performed by
the city within the right-of-way are not required to pay the excavation or obstruction permit fees
specified in subds. I and 2 of par. 805.11, but a permit and compliance with the other terms and
conditions of this ordinance will still be required.
805.14. Supplementary Applications.
Subd. 1. Limitation on Area. A permit is valid only for the area of the right-of-way designated
in the permit. No permittee may do any work outside the area designated in the permit without
first obtaining a new permit or permit extension. Any permittee who determines that an area
greater than that designated in the permit must be obstructed or excavated shall, before working
in that greater area: (i) make application for a permit extension and pay any additional fees
required for such extension, and (ii) obtain a new permit or permit extension.
Subd. 2. Limitation on Dates. A permit is valid only for the dates specified in the permit. No
permittee may begin its work before the permit start date or continue working after the end date
without first obtaining a new permit or permit extension. If a permittee does not finish the work
by the permit end date, it must apply for a new permit for the additional time it needs, and
receive the new permit or an extension of the old permit before working after the end date of the
previous permit.
805.15. Other Obligations.
Subd. 1. Compliance With Other Laws. Obtaining a permit or registering with the city does
not relieve a permittee of its obligation to obtain all other necessary permits, licenses, franchises
and authority and to pay all other fees required by the city, the State of Minnesota or other
govemmental agencies. A permittee shall comply with all requirements of local, state and
federal laws, including Minn. Stat. 216D.01-.09 (Gopher One Call Excavation Notice System). A
permittee shall perform all work in conformance with all applicable statutes, codes and
established rules and regulations, and is responsible for all work done in the right-of-way
pursuant to its permit, regardless of who does the work.
Subd.2. Prohibited Work. Except in an emergency, and with the approval ofthe city, no
right-of-way obstruction or excavation maybe done when adverse weather conditions or other
conditions are unsuitable for the performance of such work, as determined by the city.
Subd.3. Interference with Right-of-Way. A permittee shall not interfere with the passage of
water through the gutters, storm sewer system or other drainageways. Vehicles of those doing
work in the right-of-way may not be parked within or next to a permit area, unless parked in
conformance with city parking regulations. The loading or unloading of trucks must be done
solely within the defined permit area unless otherwise specifically authorized by the permit.
Subd.4. Construction Requirements. The excavation, backfilling, patching and restoration,
and all other work performed in the right-of-way shall be done in conformance with Minnesota
Rules 7819.1100 and 7819.5000 and other applicable state and local laws and regulations.
805.16. Denial of Permit.
The city may deny a permit for failure to meet the requirements and conditions ofthis section or
if the city determines that the denial is necessary to protect the health, safety, and welfare or
when necessary to protect the right-of-way and its current use.
805.17. Inspection.
Subd.l. Notice of Completion. If required by the city at the time of permit issuance, the
permittee shall deliver a Completion Certificate to the city in accordance Minnesota Rule
7819.1300 when the work under any permit is completed.
Subd.2. Site Inspection. Permittee shall make the work-site available to the city and to all
others as authorized by law for inspection at all reasonable times during the execution of and
upon completion of the work.
Subd 3. Authority of Director.
(a) At the time of inspection the director may order the immediate cessation of any work
which poses a serious threat to the life, health, safety or well-being ofthe public.
(b) The director may issue an order to the permittee for any work which does not
conform to the terms of the permit or other applicable standards, conditions, or codes.
The order shall state that failure to correct the violation will be cause for revocation of the
permit. Within ten (10) days after issuance ofthe order, the permittee shall present proof
to the director that the violation has been corrected. If such proof has not been presented
within the required time, the director may revoke the permit pursuant to Paragraph
805.19.
805.18. Work Done Without a Permit.. Violations.
Any person who, without first having obtained a permit, obstructs or excavates a right-of-way
must apply for and obtain a permit, and as a penalty pay double the normal fee for said permit,
double all the other fees required by the city code, deposit with the city the fees necessary to
correct any damage to the right-of-way and comply with all of the requirements of this section,
including reconstruction of any work that is not in compliance with city requirements or the
requirements of Minnesota Rules. In addition, any person violating the provisions of this section
is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, may be punished by fine and imprisonment as
specified in Minnesota Statutes Chapter 609.
805.19. Revocation of Permits.
Subd. 1. Breach. The city may, as provided herein, revoke any permit, without a fee refund, if
there is a breach of the terms and conditions of any statute, ordinance, rule or regulation, or any
material condition of the permit. A breach by permittee shall include, but shall not be limited to,
the following:
(a) The violation of any material provision ofthe permit;
(b) An evasion or attempt to evade any material provision of the permit;
(c) Any material misrepresentation in the application for a permit or in any document or
other submission supporting the application;
(d) The failure to complete the work within the time specified in the permit; unless a
permit extension is obtained or unless the failure to complete work is due to reasons
beyond the permittee's control; or
(e) The failure to correct, in a timely manner, work that does not conform to a condition
indicated on an order issued pursuant to paragraph 805.17.
Subd.2. Written Notice of Breach. If the city determines that the permittee has committed a
breach, the city shall serve a written notice upon the permittee to remedy such breach. The notice
shall state that failure to correct the breach shall be cause for revocation ofthe permit and shall
specify the time and manner for responding to the notice and correcting the breach. In addition, a
breach will entitle the city, at its discretion, to place additional or revised conditions on the
permit to mitigate and remedy the breach. Written notice of breach shall be duly delivered to a
permittee when personally delivered to a local representative of the permittee designated in the
permit application or registrant information provided to the city under Paragraph 805.06 or one
business day after mailing to a local representative of the permittee by first class mail at the
address stated in the permit application or registrant information provided to the city under
Paragraph 805.06.
Subd. 3. Response to Notice of Breach. Within the time period stated in the notice of the
breach, permittee shall provide the city with a plan that will cure the breach, which plan must be
acceptable to the city. Permittee's failure to provide such a plan to the city or to reasonably
implement the approved plan and remedy the breach within the time period stated in the notice of
breach, shall be cause for immediate revocation ofthe permit and the city shall notify the
permittee of such revocation.
Subd. 5 Revocation and Enforcement. Upon revocation of a permit, a permittee shall
discontinue the construction, use or operation ofthe facilities for which the permit was issued
until such time as the breach has been cured and a new permit for such facilities has been
obtained in conformity with the requirements of this ordinance. The city shall, in addition to any
other penalty specified in this ordinance, be entitled to obtain an injunction in Hennepin County
District Court enforcing the provisions ofthis ordinance.
Subd. 6. Reimbursement of city costs. If a permit is revoked, the permittee shall also
reimburse the city for the city's reasonable costs, including restoration costs, costs of collection
and reasonable attorneys' fees incurred in connection with such revocation.
805.20. Mapping Data.
Subd. 1 Information Required. Each registrant and permittee shall provide "as built"
drawings in digital format and mapping information to the city in accordance with Minnesota
Rules 7819.1300, Subd. 2, 7819.4000 and 7819.4100. Such as-built drawings shall show
vertical and horizontal placement of facilities and shall be formatted to comply with the city's
current mapping standards.
805.21. Location and Relocation of Facilities.
Subd. 1. Location and Relocation. Right-of-way users shall comply with the facilities
placement, location, and relocation requirements and provisions ofthe Act, other applicable law,
and with Minnesota Rules 7819.3100, 7819.5000 and 7819.5100. In addition, right-of-way users
shall place all facilities underground in locations where the city requires all other right-of-way
users providing the same type of service to do the same. In those areas of the city where right-of-
way users facilities are located on above-ground transmission or distribution facilities of a public
utility or other telecommunications provider, right-of-way users shall relocate or reinstall their
facilities underground, at such user's own cost, within 120 days of written request from the city
when:
(a) the utility on whose above-ground transmission facilities the right-of-way user has
attached its facilities is required to relocate such utilities facilities underground; or
(b) the city requires all right-of-way users to relocate above-ground facilities underground
within a designated right-of-way area.
Unless excavation or disturbance is unavoidable, permittees shall not excavate or disturb public
streets, roads or sidewalks that have been constructed by the city within five (5) years prior to
installation of any facilities but shall, instead, use installation and construction techniques, such
as directional boring, that require the least possible excavation or disturbance of public streets,
roads or sidewalks.
Subd. 2. Corridors. The city may assign specific areas within the right-of-way, or any
particular segment thereof for locating each type of facilities. If applicable, all permits issued by
the city involving the installation or replacement of facilities shall designate the proper corridor
for the facilities at issue.
Any registrant who has facilities in the right-of-way in a position at variance with the corridors
established by the city shall, no later than at the time of the next reconstruction or excavation of
the area where the facilities are located, move the facilities to the assigned position within the
right-of-way, unless this requirement is waived by the city for good cause shown, upon
consideration of such factors as the remaining economic life of the facilities, public safety,
customer service needs and hardship to the registrant.
Subd. 3. Limitation of Space. To protect health, safety, and welfare or when necessary to
protect the right-of-way and its current use, the city shall have the power to prohibit or limit the
placement of new or additional facilities within the right-of-way. In making such decisions, the
city shall strive to the extent possible to accommodate all existing and potential right-of-way
users, but shall be guided primarily by considerations of the public interest, the public's needs for
the particular Utility Service, the condition ofthe right-of-way, the time of year with respect to
essential utilities, the protection of existing facilities in the right-of-way, and future city plans for
public improvements and development projects which have been determined to be in the public
interest.
805.22 Pre-excavation Facilities Location.
In addition to complying with the requirements of Minn. Stat. 216D.01-.09 ("One Call
Excavation Notice System") before the start date of any right-of-way excavation, each registrant
who has facilities in the area to be excavated shall mark the horizontal and vertical placement of
all said facilities. Any registrant whose facilities are less than twenty (20) inches below a
concrete or asphalt surface shall notify and work closely with the excavation contractor to
establish the exact location of its facilities and the best procedure for excavation.
805.23. Damage to other facilities.
When the city does work in the right-of-way and finds it necessary to maintain, support, or move
a registrant's facilities, the city shall notify the local representative as early as is reasonably
possible. The costs associated with supporting or moving a registrant's facilities will be the
responsibility ofthat registrant and must be paid within thirty (30) days from the date of billing.
Right-of-way users shall not damage or interfere in any manner with the existence, condition or
operation of any public or private roads, streets, curbs, sidewalks, sanitary sewers, water mains,
storm drains, gas mains, overhead and underground electric and telephone wires or other utility
service facilities without having first obtained the approval of the owner(s) of the affected
property or facilities. Each right-of-way user shall be responsible for the cost of repairing any
facilities in the right-of-way which it or its facilities damages. Each right-of-way user shall be
responsible for the cost of repairing any damage to the facilities of another right-of-way user
caused during the city's response to an Emergency occasioned by that registrant's facilities.
805.24. Right-of-Way Vacation.
Reservation of right. Ifthe city vacates a right-of-way which contains the facilities of a right-
of-way user, the right-of-way user's rights and obligations regarding such vacation and its
facilities shall be as stated in Minnesota Rules 7819.3200.
805.25. Indemnification, Liability and Abandonment.
By registering with the city, or by accepting a permit under this section, a right-of-way user or
permittee agrees and is required to defend, indemnify and hold harmless the city and its elected
officials, employees, agents and representatives to the full extent provided in Minnesota Rule
7819.1250, which indemnification provisions are incorporated in this ordinance. It shall be a
condition of every permit, whether or not stated therein, that the permittee is required to defend,
indemnify and hold the city harmless as provided in this paragraph and in Minnesota Rule
7819.0250.
805.26. Transfer of Facilities; Abandoned and Unusable Facilities.
Subd. 1. Transferred operations. A right-of-way user who has determined to transfer or
assign all or a portion of its operations in the city must provide information satisfactory to the
city that the right-of-way user's obligations for its facilities in the right-of-way under this section
have been lawfully assumed by another registrant.
Subd. 2. Abandonment and removal. Right-of-way user shall notify the city ofthe
discontinuance of use or abandonment of any facilities. Abandoned facilities shall be removed
from the right-of-way at the right-of-way user's expense or abandoned in place to the extent
permitted by the Act, Minnesota Rules or other applicable law. Any right-of-way user who has
discontinued the use of or abandoned facilities in any right-of-way shall remove such facilities
from that right-of-way if required in conjunction with other right-of-way repair, excavation, or
construction.
805.27. Appeal.
A right-of-way user that: (1) has been denied registration; (2) has been denied a permit; (3) has
had a permit revoked; or (4) otherwise seeks to contest any fee or condition imposed by this
ordinance, may have the denial, revocation, fee, condition or imposition reviewed by the city
council, upon written request for such review delivered to the director within 180 days after the
date of the denial or revocation or imposition of the fee, condition or imposition sought to be
contested. A request for review by the city council shall specify the denial, revocation, fee,
condition or imposition that is contested by the right-of-way user and shall contain a detailed
description of the grounds for contesting the denial, revocation, fee, condition or imposition. The
city council shall act upon a timely written request for review at the next regularly scheduled
meeting following delivery of a request for review to the director. At such meeting, the city
council may postpone its decision on the right-of-way user's request for review for a period not
to exceed 30 days, as necessary for the purpose of obtaining additional information to support its
decision on the appeal. A decision by the city council affIrming the denial, revocation, fee,
condition or imposition will be in writing and supported by written fmdings.
805.28. Severability and franchises.
If any part or provision section of this section is for any reason held invalid by any court of
competent jurisdiction, such portion shall be deemed a separate, distinct, and independent
provision and such holding shall not affect the validity of the remaining provisions of this
section. Nothing in this section precludes the city from requiring a franchise agreement with the
right-of-way user, as allowed by law, or an encroachment agreement, in addition to compliance
with the requirements of this section.
805.29. City exemption.
The city shall be exempt from the permitting requirements and provisions of Paragraphs 805.08
through 805.14 this section, except that persons performing work or constructing facilities under
contract with the city shall be required to comply with all of the provisions ofthis section.
First Reading:
Second Reading:
Date of Publication:
Effective Date of Ordinance:
March 6, 2001
August 8, 2001
August 29, 2001
September 18,2001
ATTEST:
~
g..- /J,B ~O /
Date
CITY OF HOPKINS
Hennepin County, Minnesota
SUMMARY OF
ORDINANCE NO. 2001- 854
AN ORDINANCE REPEALING SECTION 805 OF THE HOPKINS CODE OF
ORDINANCES AND ENACTING A NEW SECTION 805 OF THE HOPKINS CODE OF
ORDINANCES TO ADMINISTER AND REGULATE THE PUBLIC RIGHTS"OF-W AY
IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST, AND TO PROVIDE FOR THE ISSUANCE AND
REGULATION OF RIGHT-OF-WAY PERMITS
The following is a summary of the major provisions of the new ordinance:
. Right-of-way users must register with the city (exception for property owners
maintaining/repairing utility service lines)
. Establishes obligations for registrant
. Registrants must submit a plan ofprojected construction or major maintenance for
underground facilities
. Designates city responsibility for management, administration, and protection of the
right-of-way
. Requires excavation or obstruction permit and conditions of issuance
. Allows city recovery of management costs through permit fees
. Establishes standard levels of street repair based on type of excavation and age of road
A printed copy of the entire ordinance is available by request at the Hopkins City Hall located at
1010 First Street South, Hopkins, MN 55343 or at the Hopkins Public Library. Anyone desiring
to work within the right-of-way at any time in the future will be required to abide by the
complete non-summary right-of-way ordinance and should obtain a complete copy of the
ordinance for their reference and use.
First Reading of Ordinance 2001-854:
Second Reading of Ordinance 2001-854:
Approval of Summary Ordinance 2001-854:
Publication of Summary Ordinance 2001-854:
Effective Date of Ordinance of Ordinance 2001-854:
March 6, 2001
August 8, 2001
August 21,2001
August 29, 2001
September 29, 2001