HomeMy WebLinkAboutOrdinance 13869.~
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ORDINANCE NO~~
r AN ORDINANCE PERMITTING AND REGULATING THE USE OF
CERTAIN PUBLIC RIGHTS-OF-WAY WITHIN THE CITY OF FORT
WORTH FOR THE CONSTRUCTION, MAINTENANCE AND
OPERATION OF A TELECOMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM BY ENRON
COMMUNICATIONS, INC.; MAKING THIS ORDINANCE
CUMULATIVE OF ALL PROVISIONS OF ORDINANCES AND THE
CODE OF THE CITY OF FORT WORTH (1986), AS AMENDED, AND
REPEALING ALL PRIOR ORDINANCES IN CONFLICT HEREWITH;
PROVIDING FOR A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; PROVIDING FOR
ENGROSSMENT AND ENROLLMENT; AND PROVIDING AN
EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS, Enron Communications, Inc ("Enron"), an Oregon corporation, has
requested the City of Fort Worth ("City") to grant Enron the right to use certain public rights-of-
way within the Crty, as specifically set forth m this Ordinance, for the construction, maintenance
and operation of telecommunications system., and.
WHEREAS, the Fort Worth Crty Council has determined that rt is appropriate to grant
Enron a license to use such public rights-of--way for this purpose and in return for consideration
as set forth in this Ordinance;
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF FORT WORTH, TEXAS
SECTION 1
PURPOSE
The City hereby grants to Enron, for a term of twenty-five (25) years from the effective
date prescribed by Section 17 of this Ordinance, a license to use those particular public
rights-of--way m the Crty specifically set forth m Exhibit "A", attached hereto and hereby made a
part of this Ordinance for all purposes, for the construction, improvement, maintenance and
operation of a telecommunications system ("System") and all associated wires, cables, under-
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ground conduits, manholes, or other structures or appurtenances ("Facilities") that comprise
such System:
Approximately 21,375 linear feet of Public Right-of--Way comprising portions of Hicks
Road, Harmon Road, Golden Heights, Golden Triangle Blvd., Old Denton Road, Alta Vista, and
Katy Road., as further depicted in Exhibit "A", attached hereto and hereby made a part of this
Ordinance for all purposes.
These specific portions of the public rights-of--way that Enron may use as provided in
herein br subsequently in a valid amendment to this Ordinance shall be referred to in this
Ordinance as the "Public Rights-of--Way"
SECTION 2.
REGULATION OF CONSTRUCTION
All work performed in the erecting, constructing, replacing, reconstructing, mamtaimng,
or repairing of the System shall be subject to and governed by all laws, rules, and regulations of
the City and State of Texas. Enron shall ensure such work does not mconvemence the public in
the use of the Public Rights-of--Way, including, but not limited to, the following:
A. Prior to construction or work on or to the System that will require any digging,
cutting or other disruption of a Public Right-of--Way or other City property, Enron shall submit a
certificate of insurance to the City's Risk Manager for review and approval. Enron hereby agrees
to endorse its insurance policies to name the Crty as an additional insured and to obtain any
additional insurance coverage or to increase the limits of existing insurance coverage as
reasonably requested by the City's Risk Manager
B Prior to construction of any significant changes to the System which will require any
digging, cutting or any other such disruption of a Public Right-of--Way or Crty property after the
effective date of this ordinance, Enron shall submit engineering plans to the City for review and
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approval, pursuant to the standards generally applicable to requests for the privilege to use the
Public Right-of--Way, including the City's utility location and coordination policy Approval of
such plans will not be unreasonably delayed, unreasonably withheld or unreasonably denied by
the Crty
C All excavations and other construction in the streets shall be earned out so as to
interfere as little as practicable with the surface use of the Public Rights-of--Way and with the
surface use of private property, m accordance with any lawful and reasonable direction given by
or under the authority of the governing body of the Crty under the police and regulatory powers
of the City necessary to provide for public convenience. Enron shall promptly restore all public
right-of--way excavated by Enron to substantially the same condition as before such excavation
and to the reasonable satisfaction of the City Enron shall comply with all other construction
requirements of the City and its Transportation/Public Works Director with respect to hours of
construction operations mpeak-busy traffic hours, barncading requirements, and/or any other
reasonable construction rules which maybe lawfully promulgated.
D Except in an emergency, Enron shall not excavate any pavement m any Public
Right-of--Way or significant amounts of any unpaved Public Right-of--Way without first securing
the permission of the City, but such permission shall not be unreasonably delayed, unreasonably
withheld or unreasonably denied if the proposed excavation is m accordance with the terms of
this Ordinance. The City shall be notified as soon as practicable regarding work performed
under emergency conditions.
E. The City shall have the power at any time to order and require Enron to remove or
abate any facility that is dangerous to life or property, and m the event Enron, after notice, fails
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or refuses to comply, the City shall have the power to remove or abate same at the expense of
Enron, all without compensation or liability for damages to Enron.
SECTION 3.
WORK BY OTHERS
The City reserves the nght, subject to further conditions described m this paragraph, to
lay and/or permit to be laid, sewer, gas, water, and other pipelines or cables and conduits, and to
do and permit to be done, any underground and overhead installation or improvement that may
be deemed necessary or proper by the City, m, across, along, over or under any Public Right-of-
Way used by Enron, and to change any curb or sidewalk or the grade of any street.
In performing such work or permitting such work to be done, the City shall not be liable
to Enron for any damages so caused, nor shall the City be liable to Enron for any damages ansmg
out of the performance of such work by the Crty, its licensees, mvrtees, contractors or
subcontractors except to the extent such damages are caused by the negligence or intentional
misconduct of the City, its employees, contractors or subcontractors. In addition, nothing herein
shall relieve any other person or corporation from liability for damage to the Facilities of the
System. If the Crty requires Enron to remove, alter, change, adapt, or conform its Facilities
because of changes in the grade of a street or m the location or manner of constructing a water
pipe, sewer pipe or other underground or aboveground structure owned by the City, Enron shall
make the alterations or changes as soon as practicable when ordered in wasting by the Crty,
without claim for reimbursement or damages against the City If these requirements impose a
financial hardship upon Enron, Enron shall have the nght to present alternative proposals for the
City's consideration.
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Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the City shall have the nght
to require Enron to remove, alter, change, adapt or conform its Facilities to enable (i) any
corporation, person or entity with a franchise, use agreement or permit m effect pnor to the
effective date of this Ordinance to have greater pnonty than Enron m the use of the Public
Rights-of--Way m accordance with a respective franchise, use agreement or permit and (ii) any
corporation, person or entity other than the City to use the Public Rights-of--Way (~~Non-
permitted User") after the Non-permitted User has obtained a bond or otherwise to fully
reimburse Enron for any such loss and expense which will be caused by or will apse out of such
removal, alteration, change, adaptation or conformance of Enron's facilities, provided, however,
that the City shall not be liable m any event whatsoever for any reimbursement, loss or expense
which will be caused by or apse out of such removal, alteration, change, adaptation or
conformance of Enron's Facilities.
It is expressly understood that, save and except the provisions contained in Section 2,
Section 3 and Section 9 herein, no other provision of this ordinance creates an unconditional
obligation on the part of Enron to remove, alter, change, adapt or conform its Facilities.
SECTION 4.
CONSTRUCTION BY ABUTTING OWNERS
In the event that the City authorizes landowners whose property abuts a Public Right-of-
Way to occupy space under the surface of any such Public Right-of--Way after the adoption of
this Ordinance, such grant to abutting landowners shall be subject to the pnor rights of Enron
that are granted under this Ordinance.
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SECTION 5.
RIGHTS IN THE EVENT OF ABANDONMENT
In the event that the City closes or abandons any Public Right-of--Way used by Enron,
any conveyance of land contained in such closed or abandoned Public Right-of--Way shall be
subject to the nghts of Enron that are granted under this Ordinance. In the event that any portion
of the Public Right-of--Way that includes Facilities of the System becomes the subject of
condemnation proceedings, it is agreed that Enron's property nghts and interest m such Pubhc
Right-of--Way shall be severed from the Crty's interest in such proceedings and any such
condemnation awards shall be specifically allocated between Enron's interest and the City's
interest. The City shall use its best efforts to notify Enron within a reasonable time of any
actual or threatened condemnation action against the Public Right-of--Way that affects any
Facility of the System, or any proposed sale in lieu of condemnation.
SECTION 6.
LIABILITY AND INDEMNIFICATION
ENRON SHALL BE LIABLE AND RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY AND ALL
PROPERTY LOSS, PROPERTY DAMAGE AND/OR PERSONAL INJURY, INCLUDING
DEATH, TO ANY AND ALL PERSONS, OF ANY KIND OR CHARACTER, WHETHER
REAL OR ASSERTED, THAT ARISE OUT OF OR ARE IN CONNECTION WITH THE
RIGHTS GRANTED TO ENRON UNDER THIS ORDINANCE, INCLUDING, BUT NOT
LIMITED TO, THE ERECTION, CONSTRUCTION, LOCATION, REPLACEMENT,
RECONSTRUCTION, MAINTENANCE, REPAIR OR OPERATION OF THE SYSTEM OR
ANY OF ITS FACILITIES, EXCEPT TO THE EXTENT CAUSED BY THE NEGLIGENCE
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OR INTENTIONAL MISCONDUCT OF THE CITY, ITS EMPLOYEES, CONTRACTORS
OR SUBCONTRACTORS. IN ADDITION, ENRON, AT ENRON'S OWN EXPENSE,
SHALL INDEMNIFY, DEFEND AND SAVE AND HOLD HARMLESS THE CITY, ITS
OFFICERS, AGENTS, SERVANTS AND/OR EMPLOYEES FROM AND AGAINST ANY
CLAIM, LAWSUIT OR ACTION OF ANY CHARACTER, STYLE OR DESCRIPTION,
THAT ARE BASED ON OR RELATED TO THE RIGHTS GRANTED TO ENRON UNDER
THIS ORDINANCE, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE ERECTION,
CONSTRUCTION, LOCATION, REPLACEMENT, RECONSTRUCTION,
MAINTENANCE, REPAIR OR OPERATION OF THE SYSTEM OR ANY OF ITS
FACILITIES, EXCEPT TO THE EXTENT CAUSED BY THE NEGLIGENCE OR
INTENTIONAL MISCONDUCT OF THE CITY, ITS EMPLOYEES, CONTRACTORS OR
SUBCONTRACTORS, AND ENRON SHALL PAY ANY JUDGMENT, WITH COSTS,
WHICH MAY BE OBTAINED AGAINST THE CITY UNDER ANY SUCH CLAIM,
LAWSUIT OR ACTION.
SECTION 7.
RECORDS
The Crty and its Public Utilities Supervisor shall have the nght to be kept fully informed
as to matters pertaimng m any way to Enron's exercise of its nghts under this Ordinance,
including, but not limited to, the erection, construction, location, replacement, reconstruction,
maintenance, repair or operation of the Facilities of the System. Enron shall keep complete and
accurate maps, construction drawings and specifications describing the location of Facilities of
the System in Fort Worth and shall notify the City's Director of Information Systems and
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Services or authorized representative as to the location of the Facilities and shall fully cooperate
with such officials in order to ensure that the Facilities are accurately reflected on the City's
mapping system. Maps, construction drawings and specifications kept by Enron in accordance
with this Ordinance shall provide for separate and specific identification of those Facilities of the
System that are located in the Public Rights-of--Way Any and all maps, construction drawings,
and specifications required by this Ordinance shall be kept and maintained within the City's
~unsdictional limits. The City shall have the right, at reasonable times and for municipal
purposes, to inspect and/or copy such maps, construction drawings and specification, provided,
however, that copes of such maps, construction drawings and specifications taken by the City
shall be returned to Enron immediately upon completion of City's use of same. Enron shall fully
cooperate with the Crty m its making available maps, construction drawings and specifications
for inspection by the City Maps, construction drawings and specifications required by this
ordinance and maintained by Enron shall not leave the possession of Enron, subject to the above.
SECTION 8.
NOTICES
Any notice or communication required m the administration of this Ordinance shall be
considered delivered (i) when hand-delivered to the other party or (ii) three (3) days after
deposited in the United States Postal Service mail, certified, return receipt requested, and sent as
follows
To the City:
Crty Secretary
City of Fort Worth
1000 Throckmorton Street
Fort Worth, Texas 76102
s
with a copy to
Public Utilities Supervisor
City of Fort Worth
1000 Throckmorton Street
Fort Worth, Texas 76102
To Enron:
Wilson Dietrich
Director, Right-of--Way
Enron Communications, Inc
210 S W Morrison, Suite 400
Portland, OR 97204
or to such other address as Enron may designate from time to time by written notice.
SECTION 9.
FEE
A. For and m consideration of all the rights and privileges granted hereunder, Enron
shall pay the City an annual Public Right-of--Way use fee calculated in accordance with the linear
feet of Public Right-of--Way in the City used by Enron as provided by this Ordinance ("Public
Right-of--Way Use Fee" or "Fee") From the effective date of this Ordinance, as established by
Section 17, Enron's Fee shall equal four percent (4%) of the initial construction cost of the
Facilities as approved by the City plus $1 46 per linear foot of Public Right-of--Way m the Crty
used by Enron, for a total sum of Thirty Five Thousand Two Hundred Fifty-five Dollars
($35,255 00) On the first anniversary and each subsequent anniversary of the effective date of
this Ordinance, Enron's annual Fee shall be adjusted to reflect a per linear foot charge equal to (i)
the per linear foot charge paid by Enron for the previous twelve month period plus (ii) the
upward percentage change, if any, in the Implicit Price Deflator for the Gross Domestic Product
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dunng such twelve-month penod, as determined by the United States Department of Commerce
("GDP Change"), multiplied by the number of linear feet of Public Right-of--Way in the City
used by Enron at the time In the event that in any given year there is no GDP Change or the
GDP Change is downward, the Fee shall remain constant until the following anniversary date. In
no event shall the Fee ever be decreased.
B Enron `s Fee for the first year shall be due in full not later than thirty (30) days
following the date this Ordinance is adopted by the Fort Worth City Council. In the event Enron
fails to deliver this Fee wrthm thirty (30) days following the date this Ordinance is adopted by
the Fort Worth City Council shall render this Ordinance null and void for all purposes.
Subsequent Fees shall be due on or before the anniversary date of this Ordinance pnor to the
commencement of the twelve-month penod for which such Fees are due. All Fees shall be
payable to the City of Fort Worth and delivered to the Public Utilities Supervisor as provided by
Section 8, unless otherwise directed m wntmg by the City
C The Fee shall be exclusive of and in addition to any general municipal taxes of
whatever nature, including but not limited to ad valorem taxes and special taxes and assessments
for public improvements, except as otherwise specifically provided by this Ordinance.
D This Ordinance is intended to grant to Enron the use of the described Public Right-of-
Way only in connection with the uses and routes prescribed hereunder Any other uses of Public
Right-of--Way are not authorized by this Ordinance. Enron understands and agrees that this
Ordinance does not grant Enron, any assignee or successor m interest of Enron or any other party
the nght to use the Public Rights-of--Way or Enron's Facilities m the Public Rights-of--Way for
the construction of facihhes for the provision of any telecommunications services to any entity
or person at an address located wrthm the corporate limits of the Crty If Enron or any assignee
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or successor m mterest of Enron (i) desires or obtains legal authority to provide any kind of
telecommunications services to any entity or person at an address located within the corporate
limits of the City through any facilities m, above or across any of the City's public rights-of--way;
(ii) wishes to construct and/or install additional facilities m any of the City's public rights-of--way
or (iii) wishes or is obligated to allow any other party to use Enron's Facilities for the provision
of any kind of telecommunications services to any entity or person at an address located within
the corporate limits of the City, including, but not limited to, local exchange telephone, cable or
open video system services, Enron, such assignee or successor m mterest of Enron or such other
party, as the case may be, shall first obtain a franchise, public right-of--way use agreement or
other consent by the Crty
E. The Fee is exclusive of and shall not in any way be affected by any relocation of
Enron's Facilities required by the City pursuant to Section 3 of this Ordinance.
SECTION 10.
ASSIGNMENT OF RIGHTS
The rights granted by this Ordinance inure to the benefit of Enron and any parent,
subsidiary, affiliate or successor entity now or hereafter existing. The rights shall not be
assignable without the express written consent of the governing body of the Crty of Fort Worth,
except that Enron may assign its rights under this ordinance to a parent, subsidiary, affiliate or
successor entity without such consent, so long as (i) such parent, subsidiary, affiliate or successor
assumes in a written agreement acceptable to the City all responsibilities, obligations and
liabilities of Enron hereunder, and (ii) is bound to the same extent as Enron hereunder Such
consent shall not be capaciously or unreasonably withheld, unreasonably delayed or
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unreasonably conditioned. Any required consent is to be evidenced by an ordinance or resolution
of the governing body of the City that fully recites the terms and conditions, if any, upon which
consent is given.
SECTION 11
LEASING OR DEDICATION OF FACILITIES
Enron shall not lease or allow the use of all or any portion of its Facilities m the Public
Rights-of--Way to any other person, corporation or entity and shall not allow any other person,
corporation or entity to alter the Facilities or attach to or construct on the Facilities additional
facilities for the provision of telecommunications services unless Enron first (i) notifies the City
in wasting; (ii) provides the City with name of the lessee or user, a manner in which to contact
the lessee or user, and the type of telecommunications services that the lessee or user intends to
offer as well as the lessee's or user's anticipated market for such telecommunications services,
(iii) obtains the City's written consent to such lease or use arrangement, which consent shall not
be unreasonably withheld.
SECTION 12.
MISCELLANEOUS
The Public Utilities Supervisor, or his duly authorized representative, is the principal
City official responsible for the administration of this Ordinance, and Enron recognizes that
questions regarding the interpretation or application of this Ordinance shall be raised initially
with that designated official.
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SECTION 13.
ACCEPTANCE
Pursuant to Section 2 of Chapter XXV of the Charter of the City of Fort Worth, and as a
condition precedent to the effectiveness of this license, Enron acknowledges, by the signature
hereunder of its duly authorized representative, that it accepts and agrees to the terms, conditions
and provisions of this Ordinance, thus constituting a contract and agreement between the City
and Enron. This Ordinance will not become effective unless accepted and agreed to m wntmg
by Enron, as herein prescribed.
SECTION 14.
CUMULATIVE PROVISIONS
This Ordinance shall be cumulative of all provisions of other ordinances and of the Code
of the City of Fort Worth, Texas (1986), as amended, except where the provisions of this
Ordinance are in direct conflict with the provisions of such other ordinances and Code, in which
event conflicting provisions of such ordinances and Code are hereby repealed.
SECTION 15.
SEVERABILITY
It is hereby declared to be the intention of the City Council that the sections, paragraphs,
sentences, clauses and phrases of this Ordinance are severable, and if any phrase, clause,
sentence, paragraph or section of this Ordinance shall be declared invalid, illegal or
unenforceable by final judgment or decree of any court of competent ~unsdiction, the validity,
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legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Ordinance shall not in any way be
affected or impaired.
SECTION 16.
That the City Secretary of the City of Fort Worth is hereby directed to publish this
Ordinance in its entirety once a week for four (4) consecutive weeks within a penod of thirty (30)
days after its passage in the official newspaper of the City, as required by Section 2 of Chapter
XXV of the City Charter of the City of Fort Worth.
SECTION 17.
This Ordinance shall be in fall force and effect from and after its passage, publication,
wntten acceptance and payment of the first Fee Installment as prescribed herein, and it is so
ordained.
APPROVED AS TO FORM AND LEGALITY•
Assistant City Att ey
Date: 7~ 2~' ~ ~
M&c .~ - laC~ I~
ADOPTED ~ - 02 ~ ' q C~i
EFFECTIVE _ r~ ~~
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;~{ ~" _ " City of Fort Worth, Texas
M'Ayar and L'ouncil CammunicAt~on
DATE REFERENCE NUMBER LOG NAME PAGE
7/27/99 **G-12615 02ENRON-2 1 of 1
SUBJECT ORDINANCE GRANTING ENRON COMMUNICATIONS, INC LICENSE TO USE
CERTAIN PUBLIC RIGHTS-OF-WAY FOR A FIBER OPTIC TELECOMMUNICATIONS
SYSTEM
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council adopt the attached ordinance which grants Enron
Communications, Inc. a license to use certain streets and public rights-of-way bf the City of Fort Worth
for the maintenance and operation of a fiber optic telecommunications system
DISCUSSION
Enron Communications, Inc. (Enron) is seeking to install a fiber optic cable through the City of Fort
Worth for the provision of telecommunications service The line will occupy portions of the public rights-
of-way shown. in Exhibit "A" of the attached ordinance None of Enron's telecommunications services
will be provided to citizens of Fort Worth
In consideration for the license to use the prescribed City streets over the twenty-five year term of the
ordinance, Enron has agreed to pay the City aone-time payment equal to 4% of the estimated
construction costs of that portion of the cable installed in the rights-of-way, plus an annual amount of
not less than $1 46 per linear foot of City-owned right-of-way granted under the ordinance The annual
amount is adjusted each year .proportionally to the percentage change in the Implicit Price Deflator for
the Gross Domestic Product as determined by the United States Department of Commerce The first
payment will be in the amount of $35,255
FISCAL INFORMATION/CERTIFICATION
The Public Utilities Supervisor will be responsible for the collection of funds due the City under this
agreement.
CBj
Submitted for City Manager's
~ FUND ACCOUNT CENTER AMOUNT CITY SECRE`J('ATtY
Office by• (to)
GG01 431342 0134010 APPROVED
Charles Boswell 8511 ` ,
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Originating Department Head: ~I~
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Y N
Charles Boswell 8511 (from) ~UL 27 X999
Additional Information Contact: ,, ~iGQ,~..-~~
City Secretary of the
Danny Reed 6145
City of Fort Worth, Texas
Adopted Ordman~e No. /~~'~~