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HomeMy WebLinkAboutord1995-015WIIATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL AGENDA BILL NO. 95 -047 CLEARANCES Initial Date ^ Date Received in Council Office: Agenda date Assigned to: inator: Mary Scrimsher Division Head: �a �a� j/ f D E U/7 j s YH PrCOY COV N' i V COUN CIL 1/24/95: Council- Dept. Head:Jeffrey M. Monsen l�R q 5 Prosecutor:Randall J. Watts f� Purchasing/Budget: Executive: 1 J SUBJECT: Petition for 25 year Non- ExclusiveWater Franchise for the Hemmi Road Water Association. (Not a renewal). The Hemmi Road Water Association has approximately 14 years remaining on their existing Franchise Agreement. Due to a large and very expensive upgrade of their water system, their financial institution has required at least a twenty five. (25) year Franchise Agreement prior to granting the loan. Therefore, the only way to fulfill this request is to grant an entirely new 25 year franchise and eliminate the current franchise agreement. Whatcom County Council recently has only been granting this type of Franchise for fifteen (15) years. This would be an exception. ATTACHMENTS: Petition for Franchise, 25 year Franchise ( Not a renewal) ,.. IMARY STATEMENT: Please complete sections of box as appropriate & explain the item below. Related County contract #: Should Clerk schedule a hearing? NO /_/ YES /X—/ Requested date: January Amount budgeted for this item/project: Is it (or will it be) within budget? YES / / NO / / (Please explain below) Budget line item number(s): ORIGINATOR'S RECOMMENDED ACTION. To grant the Hemmi Road Water Association a 25 year Non - Exclusive. Franchise so that they may proceed to upgrade their water system. COMMITTEE ACTION TAKEN.• (_ JNCIL ACTION TAKEN: 1/24/95: Introduced 3/7/95: Adopted 7 -0 Related File Numbers: Ordinance or Resolution Number (this item only): Ord. 95 -015 14 WHEREAS, the Home Rule Charter for Whatcom County authorizes the County 15 Council to grant non - exclusive franchises for a fixed term not to exceed 25 years for the use 16 of any street, road or public place; and 17 WHEREAS, R.C.W. Chapter 36.55 and Section 36.55.010 provides that the County 18 Council may grant franchises to persons or private or municipal corporations to use that ' o right -of -way of County roads in their respective counties for the construction and maintenance of water works, gas pipes, telephones, telegraph and electrical light lines, 21 sewers and other such facilities and including cable television wires and other cable television 22 facilities; and 23 WHEREAS, the Hemmi Road Water Association has applied for a 25 -year 24 nonexclusive franchise for installation, operation, maintenance and repair of a domestic water 25 main in and along certain roads 'in Whatcom County, Washington, and notice of this hearing 26 having been duly published on the Jan. 28 and February 18 , 1995, in the Bellingham 27 Herald, the official newspaper for Whatcom County, and that it appearing to the County 28 Council that notice of said hearing having been given as required by law and that it is in the 29 public interest to grant the franchise for a period of 25 years; and 30 31 WHEREAS, the has agreed to the addition of certain administrative provisions to the 32 franchise as provided herein; 33 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED by the Council of Whatcom County, 34 Washington: HENMWTRORD Page 1 Drafted 12/20/94 SPONSORED BY: Consent PROPOSED BY: Public Works 3 INTRODUCTION DATE: 1 124 .1 95 4 ORDINANCE NO. 95-015. 5 AN ORDINANCE IN THE MATTER OF GRANTING A NON - 6 EXCLUSIVE FRANCHISE TO THE HEMMI ROAD WATER 7 ASSOCIATION FOR A PERIOD OF 25 YEARS PURSUANT TO 8 STATE LAW AND SECTION 9.30 OF THE WHATCOM 9 COUNTY HOME RULE CHARTER, TO OPERATE AND 10 MAINTAIN WATER MAINS AND WATER DISTRIBUTION 11 LINES ALONG CERTAIN ROADS WITHIN THE 12 UNINCORPORATED AREAS OF WHATCOM COUNTY 13 14 WHEREAS, the Home Rule Charter for Whatcom County authorizes the County 15 Council to grant non - exclusive franchises for a fixed term not to exceed 25 years for the use 16 of any street, road or public place; and 17 WHEREAS, R.C.W. Chapter 36.55 and Section 36.55.010 provides that the County 18 Council may grant franchises to persons or private or municipal corporations to use that ' o right -of -way of County roads in their respective counties for the construction and maintenance of water works, gas pipes, telephones, telegraph and electrical light lines, 21 sewers and other such facilities and including cable television wires and other cable television 22 facilities; and 23 WHEREAS, the Hemmi Road Water Association has applied for a 25 -year 24 nonexclusive franchise for installation, operation, maintenance and repair of a domestic water 25 main in and along certain roads 'in Whatcom County, Washington, and notice of this hearing 26 having been duly published on the Jan. 28 and February 18 , 1995, in the Bellingham 27 Herald, the official newspaper for Whatcom County, and that it appearing to the County 28 Council that notice of said hearing having been given as required by law and that it is in the 29 public interest to grant the franchise for a period of 25 years; and 30 31 WHEREAS, the has agreed to the addition of certain administrative provisions to the 32 franchise as provided herein; 33 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED by the Council of Whatcom County, 34 Washington: HENMWTRORD Page 1 Drafted 12/20/94 1 Section 1. Franchise Granted. 2 (a) A non - exclusive franchise for the Hemmi Road Water Association, located in the 3 County of Whatcom, its successors and assignees, referred to as the grantee, is hereby 4 granted for a period of 25 years, the non - exclusive rights and privilege to construct, erect, 5 operate, maintain, and repair a domestic water main and all necessary appurtenances in, 6 along and across county roads or portions thereof as named herein. 7 (b) The rights and privileges granted herein shall apply to all roads and public ways 8 listed as follows: 9 1. East Laurel Road from its intersection with a point 115 mile east of the 10 Hannegan Road to its eastern end in Section 22, Township 39 North, Range 3 11 East of W.M. 12 2. Hemmi Road from its intersection with the Hannegan road to its intersection 13 with the Mission Road (along the north lines of Sections 21, 22, 23, and 24, 14 Township 39 North, Range 3 East of W.M.). 15 3. Central Road from its intersection with the Noon Road to its intersection with 16 the Everson - Goshen Road (between Section 14 and Section 11, Township 39 17 North, Range 3 East of W.M.). 3 4. Noon Road from its intersection with the Central Road to the south line of 19 Section 22, Township 39 North, Range 3 East of W.M. 20 5. Everson - Goshen Road from its intersection with the point common to the 21 southwest comer of the Northwest quarter of Section 12 and the southeast 22 comer of the Northeast quarter of Section 11, Township 39 North, Range 3 23 East of W.M. to its intersection with a point common to the southeast comer 24 of Section 23 and the southwest comer of Section 24, Township 39 North, 25 Range 3 East of W.M. 26 27 Section 2. Acceptance of Franchise. 28 (a) No franchise hereunder shall become effective for any purpose unless and until 29 written acceptance therefore shall have been filed with the Whatcom County Council and 30 County Director of Public Works and such written acceptance shall be in form and substance 31 as shall be prescribed and approved by the County Prosecuting Attorney and operate as an 32 acceptance of each and every term and condition and limitation contained in this ordinance, 33 and in such franchise; HEMMIWTR.ORD Page 2 Drafted 12/20/94 1 (b) Such written acceptance shall be filed by Grantee not later than the thirtieth day following the effective date of the ordinance granting such franchise; and in default of the 3 filing of such acceptance as herein required, Grantee shall be deemed to have rejected the 4 same. 5 Section 3. Entering Rights of Way,. 6 The Grantee, its successors and assignees, shall have the right and authority to enter 7 upon the above - mentioned county roads, rights -of -way and other county property as 8 designated hereinbefore, for the purposes of constructing, operating, maintaining and 9 repairing water mains and water distribution lines and facilities and operating and 10 maintaining such lines and facilities. 11 Section 4. Construction Standards. 12 All construction and installation work along and under county roads or rights -of -way 13 or other County property outside the corporate limits of any incorporated town shall be 14 subject to the approval and pass the inspection of the Director of Public Works or 15 designee and shall conform to all applicable County and State codes or regulations, and the 16 County expressly reserves the right to prescribe how and where water mains and water 17 distribution lines shall be installed and may from time to time, upon reasonable notice, 18 require the removal and replacement thereof in the public interest, at the expense of the 19 franchise holder. 20 Section 5. Construction Application. 21 (a) Prior to commencement of construction of said water mains and water distribution 22 .lines, Grantee shall first file with the Director of Public Works its application for permit to 23 do such work, together with plans and specifications in duplicate showing the position and 24 location of all such lines and facilities sought to be constructed, laid, installed or erected at 25 that time, showing their relative position to existing county roads, rights -of -way or other 26 county property upon plans drawn to scale, hereinafter collectively referred to as the "map of 27 definite location. " 28 (b) The water lines and appurtenant facilities shall be laid in exact conformity with 29 said map of definite location, except in instances in which deviation may be allowed 30 thereafter in writing by the Director of Public Works pursuant to application by Grantee. 31 The plans and specifications shall specify the class and type of material and equipment to be 32 used, manner of excavation, construction, installation, backfill, erection of temporary 33 structures, erection of permanent structures, traffic control, traffic turn -outs and road 34 obstruction, etc. No such construction shall be commenced without the Grantee first 35 securing a written permit from the Director of Public Works, including approval endorsed on 36 one set of plans and specifications returned to the Grantee. All such work shall be subject to 37 the approval of and shall pass the inspection of the Director of Public Works or designee. HEMMIWTR.ORD Page 3 Drafted 12/20/94 1 The Grantee shall pay all actual and necessary costs of and expenses incurred in the examination, inspection and approval of such work on account of granting said permits. 3 Section 6. Maintenance 4 The Grantee shall maintain all above ground improvements that it places on County 5 right -of -way pursuant to this franchise. In order to avoid interference with the County's 6 ability to maintain the right -of -way, the Grantee shall provide a clear zone of five feet on all 7 sides of such improvements. 8 If the Grantee fails to comply with this provision, and by its failure, property is 9 damaged, then the Grantee shall be responsible for all damages caused thereby. 10 Section 7. Construction on Roadways /Other County Property. 11 (a) In any work which requires breaking of soil of the county roads, rights -of -way or 12 other county property subject to this franchise for the purpose of laying, relaying, 13 connecting, disconnecting and repairing the said transmission lines and facilities, and making 14 connections between the same to structures and buildings of consumers or making 15 connections to other facilities of the Grantee now in existence or hereafter constructed, the 16 Grantee shall be governed by and conform to the general rules adopted by the officers 17 charged with the supervision and care .of such county roads, rights -of -way, and other county .9 property; and the Grantee at its own expense and with all convenient speed shall complete J the work for which the soil has been broken and forthwith replace the work and make good 20 the county road, rights -of -way or other county property and leave the same in as good 21 condition as before the work was commenced. 22 (b) Applications for permits referred to in Section 5 above shall be accompanied by 23 specifications for the restoration of the county road, rights -of -way or other county property 24 and to the same condition it was prior to such breaking, and such specifications must be 25 approved by the Director of Public Works before such breaking of the soil is commenced. 26 Provided, that the Director of Public Works may require a performance bond in the sum 27 sufficient to guarantee that such county roads, rights -of -way or other county property shall be 28 restored to the same condition as they were prior to the breaking of the soil. Said bond shall 29 be in addition to any other such requirements contained herein. 30 (c) The Director of Public Works may at any time order, or have done, any and all 31 work that it considers necessary to restore to a safe condition any such county road, rights - 32 of -way or other county property left by the Grantee or his agents in a condition dangerous to 33 life or property, and the Grantee upon demand shall pay the County all costs of such work. HEMMIWTR.ORD Page 4 Drafted 12/20/94 Section 8. Construction - Other Lines and Facilities. 2 (a) All construction or installation of such water lines or water distributing systems, 3 service, repair or relocation of same, performed above, along or within the county rights-:of- 4 way or other county property subject to this franchise shall be done in such a manner as not 5 to interfere with the construction and maintenance of other utilities' lines, public or private, 6 drains, drainage ditches and structure, irrigation ditches and structures located therein, nor 7 with the grading or improvement of such county roads, rights -of -way or other county 8 property. 9 (b) The owners of all utilities, public or private, installed prior in time to the line 10 and facilities of the Grantee shall have preference as to the positioning and location of such 11 utilities so installed with respect to the Grantee. Such preference shall continue in the event 12 of the necessity of relocating or changing the grade of any such county road or right -of -way. 13 Section 9. Construction - Public Safety and Inconvenience. 14 All work done under this franchise shall be done in a thorough and workmanlike 15 manner. In the laying of transmission lines and the construction of rights -of -way or other 16 county property, the Grantee shall leave such trenches, ditches and tunnels in such a way as 17 to interfere as little as possible with public travel and shall take all due and necessary 18 precautions to guard the same, so that damage or injury shall not occur or arise by reason of such work; and where any of such trenches, ditches, or tunnels are left open at night, the Grantee shall place warning .lights and barricades at such a position as to give adequate 21 warning of such work. The Grantee shall be liable for any injury to person or persons or 22 damage to property sustained through its carelessness or neglect, or through any failure or 23 neglect to properly guard or give warning of any trenches, ditches or tunnels dug or 24 maintained by the Grantee. 25 Section 10. County Rights Reserved. 26 The County of Whatcom in granting this franchise, does not waive any rights which it 27 has now or may hereafter acquire with respect to county roads, rights -of -way or other county 28 property and this franchise shall not be construed to deprive the County of any powers, 29 rights or privileges which it now has or may hereafter acquire to regulate the use of and to 30 control the county roads, rights -of -way or other County property covered by this franchise. 31 This franchise shall be subject to the power of eminent domain, and in any proceeding under 32 eminent domain, the franchise itself shall have no value. 33 Section 11. Relocation of Lines and Facilities. 34 (a) If at any time the County of Whatcom shall improve or change any county road, 35 right -of -way or other county property subject to this franchise by grading or regrading, 36 planking or paving the same, changing the grade,. altering, changing, repairing or relocating HEMMIWTR.ORD Page 5 Drafted 12/20/94 1 the same or by constructing drainage facilities, or in the event that such county road, right- 2 of -of way or other county property subject to this franchise shall become a Primary State 3 Highway as provided by law, the Grantee upon written notice from the Director of Public 4 Works or Director of Highways, shall at its sole expense, immediately change the location or 5 readjust the elevation of its transmission lines and other facilities so that the same shall not 6 interfere with such County work and so that such lines and facilities shall conform to such 7 new grades or routes as may,be established. The County of Whatcom shall in no wise be 8 held liable for any damage to said Grantee that may occur by reason of any of the County's 9 improvements, changes or works above enumerated. 10 (b) All work to be performed by the Grantee under this section shall be under the 11 direction and approval, and shall pass the inspection of the Director of Public Works or 12 designee. The Grantee shall pay all actual and necessary costs and expenses incurred in the 13 examination, inspection and approval of such work. 14 Section 12. County Road Work Permitted. 15 The laying, construction, operation and maintenance of the Grantee's transmission 16 lines and facilities. authorized by this franchise shall not preclude the County of Whatcom, its 17 agents or its contractors from blasting, grading, excavating or doing other necessary road 18 work contiguous to the said lines and facilities of the Grantee provided that the Grantee shall 19 be given forty-eight (48) hours notice of said blasting or other work in order that the Grantee 10 may protect its lines and facilities. 21 Section 13. Monuments and Survey Markers. 22 (a) Before any work is performed under this franchise which may affect any existing 23 monuments or markers of any nature relating to subdivisions, plats, roads and all other 24 surveys, the Grantee shall reference all such monuments and markers. The reference points 25 shall be so located that they will not be disturbed during the Grantee's operations under this 26 franchise. The method of referencing these monuments or other points to be referenced shall 27 be approved by the Director of Public Works. The replacement of all such monuments or 28 other points to be referenced shall be approved by the Director of Public Works. The 29 replacement of all such monuments or markers disturbed during construction shall be made 30 as expeditiously as conditions permit, and as directed by the Director of Public Works. The 31 cost of monuments or other markers lost, destroyed or disturbed, and the expense of 32 replacement by approved monuments shall be borne by the Grantee. 33 (b) A complete set of reference notes. for monuments and other ties shall be filed 34 with the Whatcom County Director of Public Works. HEMMIWTR.ORD Page 6 Drafted 12/20/94 Section 14. Vacations. 2 If at any time the County of Whatcom shall vacate any county road, right -of -way or 3 other county property which is subject to the rights granted by this franchise and said 4 vacation shall be for the purpose of acquiring the fee of other property interest in said road, 5 rights -of -way or other county property for the use of Whatcom County, in either its propriety 6 or governmental capacity, then the Council of Whatcom County may at its option and by 7 giving thirty (30) days written notice to the Grantee, terminate this franchise with reference 8 to such county road, right -of -way or other county property so vacated, and the County of 9 Whatcom shall not be liable for any damages or loss to the Grantee by reason of such 10 termination. 11 Section 15. Indemnification. 12 (a) The Grantee by acceptance of the privileges granted hereunder, does hereby agree 13 and covenant to indemnify, defend, and save harmless Whatcom County and those persons 14 who were, are now, or shall be duly elected or appointed officials or members or employees 15 thereof, against and from any loss, damage, costs, charges, expenses, liability, claims, 16 demands or judgments whatsoever kind or nature whether to persons or property, arising 17 wholly or partially out of any act, action, neglect, omissions or default on the part of the 18 Grantee, his sub - contractors and /or employees which may occur by reason of construction, 49 operation and maintenance of the Grantee's said transmission lines and facilities. In case that J suit or action is brought against the County of Whatcom for damages arising out of or by 21 reason of the above - mentioned causes, the Grantee will upon notice of the filing of a claim 22 or the commencement of said action, appear and defend the same at its sole cost and 23 expense, and in case judgment shall be rendered against the County of Whatcom in suit or 24 action, the Grantee will fully satisfy said judgment within ninety (90) days after said suit or 25 action shall have finally been determined, if determined adversely to Whatcom County. 26 Upon the Grantee's failure to satisfy said judgment within a ninety (90) day period, this 27 franchise shall at once cease and terminate and the County of Whatcom shall have a lien 28 upon the transmission lines and all other facilities used in its construction, operation and 29 maintenance of the Grantee's transmission system which may be enforced against the 30 property for the full amount of any such judgment so taken against Whatcom County. 31 (b) Acceptance by the County of any work performed by the Grantee at the time of 32 completion shall not be grounds for avoidance of this covenant. 33 Section 16. Non- Exclusive Franchise. 34 This franchise shall not be deemed to be an exclusive franchise. It shall in no manner 35 prohibit the County of Whatcom from granting other franchises of a like nature or franchises 36 for other public or private utilities under, along, across, over and upon any of the county 37 roads, rights -of -way, or other County property subject to franchise, and shall in no wise HEMMIWTR.ORD Page 7 Drafted 12/20/94 t prevent or prohibit the County of Whatcom from construction, altering, maintaining, using or r vacating any of said roads, rights -of -way, drainage structures or facilities, irrigation structure 3 or facilities, or any other County property or affect its jurisdiction over them with full power 4 to make all necessary changes, relocations, repairs, maintenance as the County may deem fit. 5 Section 17. Successors and Assignees. 6 All the provisions, conditions, regulations and requirements herein contained shall be 7 binding upon the successors and assignees of the Grantee, and all privileges, as well as all 8 obligations and liabilities of the Grantee shall inure to its successors and assignees equally as 9 if they were specifically mentioned wherever the Grantee is mentioned herein. 10 Section 18. Transferability. 11 - Neither this franchise nor any interest therein shall be sold, transferred or assigned 12 without the previous consent in writing of the Council of Whatcom County, such consent not 13 be unreasonably withheld. 14 Section 19. Incorporation. 15 Whenever any of the county roads, rights -of -way or other county property as 16 . designated in this franchise, by reason of the subsequent incorporation of any town or city, 7 or extension of the limits of any town or city shall fall within the city or town limits this 3 franchise shall continue in force and affect as to all county roads, rights -of -way or other 19 county property not so included in city or town limits. 20 Section 20. Enforcement /Remedies. 21 If the Grantee shall willfully violate, or fail to comply with any of the provisions of 22 this franchise through willful or unreasonable neglect, or fail to heed or comply with any 23 notice given the Grantee under the provisions of this franchise, then the said Grantee shall 24 forfeit all rights conferred hereunder, and this franchise may be revoked or annulled by the 25 Council of Whatcom County. In addition to any rights implied or set out elsewhere in this 26 ordinance, the Council reserves the right to require the Grantee to specifically comply with 27 the terms and conditions of the franchise ordinance, and this franchise may be terminated at 28 any time if the Grantee's lines and facilities are not operated or maintained in accordance 29 with such statute, order or regulation. 30 Section 21. Reservation of Home Rule Charter Rights. 31 This franchise is subject to the provisions of the Home Rule Charter for Whatcom 32 County and, in particular, Section 9.30 thereof which provides as follows: All franchises 33 granted by the County Council shall be for a fixed term not to exceed twenty -five (25) years 34 and no exclusive franchise shall be granted for the use of any street, road, or public place. HEMWWTRORD Page 8 Drafted 12/20/94 1 All franchises shall be subject to the power of eminent domain and. the right of the Council 2 or the people acting for themselves through the initiative or referendum to repeal, amend or 3 modify the franchise in the interest of the public; and every ordinance granting a franchise 4 shall contain a reservation of these rights. In any proceeding under eminent domain the 5 franchise itself shall have no value. 6 Section 22. Compliance with Laws and Regulations. 7 This franchise is subject to, and the Grantee shall comply with all applicable Federal, 8 State, County or municipal laws, regulations and policies affecting performance under this 9 franchise. 10 Section 23. Insurance. 11 (a) Upon acceptance of such franchise, the Grantee shall file with the Whatcom 12 County Council, and shall thereafter, during the entire term of such franchise, maintain in 13 full force and effect, a corporate insurance policy or other adequate surety agreement in the 14 amount of FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS ($500,000.00) for the property 15 damage coverage, and THREE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS ($300,000.00) for 16 public liability coverage, so as to protect the County against damages or costs as set forth in 17 Section 14 above, and there shall be recoverable, jointly and separately from the principal 18 and surety, any such damages or costs suffered or incurred by the County, including 9 attorneys' fees and costs of any action, or proceedings, and including the full amount of any J compensation, indemnification, cost of removal of any property or other costs which may be 21 incurred up to the full principal amount of such insurance policy; and said condition shall be 22 a continuing obligation during the entire term of such franchise and thereafter until Grantee 23 shall have satisfied in full any and all obligations to the County and any user which arise out 24 of or pertain to said franchise.. Neither the provisions of this section, nor any insurance 25 policy accepted by the County pursuant hereto, nor any damages recovered by the County 26 thereunder, shall be construed to excuse faithful performance by the Grantee, or limit the 27 liability of the Grantee under any franchise issued pursuant to this ordinance. 28 (b) The County reserves the right to have its legislative body review the dollar 29 amount of said insurance policy and adjust the amount of coverage as deemed appropriate 30 upon an annual basis. 31 Section 24. License, Tax and Other Charges. 32 No privileges or rights granted hereunder shall exempt Grantee from any future . 33 uniform rent, license, tax charge or impost which may hereafter be required by the Grantor, 34 for revenue or as reimbursement for use and occupancy of public ways, and failure to timely 35 remit any sums properly due thereby, shall be cause for forfeiture of rights hereunder. HEMMIWTRORD Page 9 Drafted 12/20/94 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Section 25. Severability. If any portion of the ordinance is deemed invalid the remainder will remain in effect. Section 26. Titles. The section titles used herein are for reference only and should not be used for the purpose of interpreting this ordinance. ADOPTED this 7th day of March , 1995. ATTEST: JL amona eeves, ouncil Clerk APPROVED AS TO FORM: M A • '& - • HEMMIWTR -ORD Page 10 Drafted 12/20/94 WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON Ro rt finhof, Council (►Approved ( ) Denied J Shirley Van 21anten.. E a tive Date: