HomeMy WebLinkAboutord1988-051I
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1 INTRODUCED BY: Consent
2 PROPOSED BY: Public Works Dept.��
3 DATE INTRODUCED: May 19, 1988
4 ORDINANCE NO. 88 -51
5 AN ORDINANCE IN THE MATTER OF GRANTING A
NONEXCLUSIVE FRANCHISE TO SAN JUAN CABLE
6 AND CONSTRUCTION FOR A PERIOD OF 25 YEARS
PURSUANT TO STATE LAW AND SECTION 9.30 OF
7 THE WHATCOM COUNTY HOME RULE CHARTER, TO
OPERATE AND MAINTAIN A CABLE COMMUNICATION
8 SYSTEM WITHIN THE UNINCORPORATED AREAS OF
WHATCOM COUNTY.
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10 WHEREAS, the Home Rule Charter for Whatcom County, Section 9.30
11 authorizes the County Council to grant non - exclusive franchises for a fixed term
12 not to exceed 25 years for the use of any street, road or public place; and
13. WHEREAS, R.C.W. Chapter 36.55 provides that the County Council may
14 grant franchises to persons or private or municipal corporations to use that
15 right -of -way of County roads in their respective counties for the construction
16 and maintenance of water works, gas pipes, telephones, telegraph and electrical
17 light lines, sewers and other such facilities and including cable television
18 wires and other cable television facilities; and
19 WHEREAS, San Juan Cable and Construction has applied for a 25 -year non -
20 exclusive franchise to operate and maintain coaxial cable along certain roads in
21 Whatcom County, Washington, and notice of this hearing having been duly
22 published on May 25, 1988 and June 1, 1988 in the Westside
23 Record Journal, the official newspaper for Whatcom County, and that it appear -
24 ing to the County Council that notice of said hearing having been given as
25 required by law and that it is in the public interest to grant the franchise
26 for a period of 25 years; and
27 WHEREAS, in consideration of granting of the non - exclusive franchise,
28 Whatcom County shall receive a sum equivalent to four percent (4 %) of all gross
29 subscriber revenues from the operation and installation of cable facilities and
30 services and has agreed to the addition of certain administrative provisions to
31 the franchise as provided herein:
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ORDINANCE - 1.
Date drafted: 4/28/88
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NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED by the Council of Whatcom County,
Washington:
Section 1. Franchise Granted.
(a) A non - exclusive franchise for San Juan Cable and Construction,
located in the county of Whatcom, its successors and assignees, referred to as
the grantee, is hereby granted for a period of 25 years commencing on the date
this ordinance shall become effective, the non - exclusive rights and privileges
to construct, erect, operate and maintain coaxial cable in, upon, along, across,
above, over and under public County roads, highways, alleys and other public
ways and public properties of Whatcom County now laid out or dedicated, and
including all extensions thereof and additions thereto, the poles, wires,
cables, underground conduit, manholes, and other cable conductors and fixtures
necessary for the maintenance and operation of a cable communication system for
the distribution of cable service, including, but not limited to the carriage of
television and radio signals and the cable casting of programing.
(b) The rights and privileges granted herein shall apply to all roads
and public ways listed as follows, and upon the following express terms and
conditions, to wit:
Section 29 Township 38N Range 1E
Nugent Road
Section 32 Township 38N Range 1E
ORDINANCE - 2.
Date drafted: 4/28/88
West Shore Drive
Taft Drive
Melcher Avenue
Graler Place
Island View Drive
Blizzard Road
Nugent Road
Section 33
Township 38N
Range 1E
Nugent Road
Lane Spit Drive
Blizzard Road
Dorothy Way
Section 5
Township 37N
Range 1E
Blizzard Road
West Shore Drive
Section 4
Township 37N
Range 1E
Blizzard Road
Nugent Road
Neil Ave.
Centerview Road
Tuttle Lane
Hilltop Road
Section 8
Township 37N
Range 1E
Legoe Bay Drive
West Shore Drive
ORDINANCE - 2.
Date drafted: 4/28/88
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Section
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Township 37N
Range 1E
Legoe Bay Drive
Hilltop Road
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Legoe Bay Place
Nugent Road
Constitution Street
Joans Lane
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Antionettes Lane
Tuttle Lane
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Section
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Township 37N
Range 1E
Nugent Road
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Section
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Township 37N
Range 1E
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Nugent Road
McLean Avenue
Kildonan Avenue
Seacrest Drive
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Maple Street
Wildwood Terrace
Bay View Avenue
Milton Avenue
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Cedar Street
Private Lane (Constitution
Street)
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Section
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Township 37N
Range 1E
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Nugent Road
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Section
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Township 37N
Range 1E
Nugent Road
Walnut Street
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Sunrise Road
Cedar Street
Seacrest Drive
Sunrise Cove Road
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Section
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Township 37N
Range 1E
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Sunrise Cove Road
Seacrest Drive
Cove Avenue
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Section
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Township 37N
Range 1E
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Baker Avenue
Beach Avenue
Cedar Avenue
Island Drive
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Jamison Street
Mt. Vista Drive
Scenic Drive
Scenic Avenue
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Hales Passage Drive
Carol Avenue
Dogwood Terrace
Rosewood Terrace
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Section
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Township 37N
Range 1E
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Beach Avenue
Cedar Avenue
Clark
Berry Way
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Aiston Cr. W.
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Section
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Township 38N
Range IE
Haxton Way
Lummi Shore Road
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Section
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Township 38N
Range 1E
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Tustin Road
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Section
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Township 38N
Range 1E
Kwina Road
Tustin Road
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Lummi Shore Road
Haxton Way
Chief Martin Road
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Section
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Township 38N
Range 1E
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Haxton Road
Harnden Road
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Section
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Township 38N
Range 1E
Scott Road
Haxton Road
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Chief Martin Road
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Section
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Township 38N
Range 1E
Harnden Road
Haxton Way
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Boynton Road
Robertson Road
ORDINANCE - 3.
Date drafted: 4/28/88
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Section
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Township 38N
Range lE
Robertson Road
Haxton Way
Cagey Road
Sunset Way
Balch Road
Kimley Road
Smokehouse Road
Section
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Township 38N
Range 1E
Smokehouse Road
Section
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Township 38N
Range 1E
Haxton Road
Leeward Way
Section
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Township 38N
Range 1E
Leeward Way
Haxton Road
Michael Road
MacKenzie Road
Velma Road
Emma Road
Ruth Road
Grove Road
Lena Road
Finkbonner Road
Lummi View Drive
Section
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Township 37N
Range lE
Lummi View Drive
Lena Road
MacKenzie Road
Section
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Township 37N
Range 1E
Lummi View Drive
Bay Lane
Lummi Shore Road
Postal Avenue
Section
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Township 37N
Range 1E
Lummi View Drive
Lummi Shore Road
Section
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Township 37N
Range 1E
Lummi Shore Road
Section
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Township 37N
Range 1E
Lummi Shore Road
Section
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Township 38N
Range 1E
Lummi Shore Road
Smokehouse Road
Section
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Township 38N
Range 1E
Smokehouse Road
Cagey Road
Lummi Shore Road
Chief Martin Road
Section
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Township 38N
Range 2E
Lummi Shore Road
Cagey Road
Lightning Bird Lane
Section
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Township 38N
Range 2E
Lummi Shore Road
Section
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Township 38N
Range 2E
Lummi Shore Road
Scott Road
Section
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Township 38N
Range 2E
Lummi Shore Road
Kwina Road
All of
above
will be all aerial construction
of coaxial cable. Chief
Martin Road was
included in this list even
though there are no residences.
Inclusion of the
road
may be appropriate at
this time in order to include the
area for future development.
ORDINANCE - 4
Date drafted: 4/28/88
1 Section 2. Acceptance of Franchise.
2 (a) No franchise hereunder shall become effective for any purpose
3 unless and until written acceptance therefore shall have been filed with the
4 Whatcom County Council and County Director of Public Works and such written
5 acceptance shall be in form and substance as shall be prescribed and approved by
6 the County Prosecuting Attorney and operate as an acceptance of each and every
7 term and condition and limitation contained in this ordinance, and in such
8 franchise;
9 (b) Such written acceptance shall be filed by Grantee not later than
10 the thirtieth day following the effective date of the ordinance granting such
11 franchise; and in default of the filing of such written acceptance as herein
12 required. Q w.too shall 4a deemed to havo rajoctad the same.
13. Section 3. Entering Rights of Way.
14 The Grantee, its successors and assignees, shall have the right and
15 authority to enter upon the above - mentioned County roads, rights -of -way and
16 other County property as designated hereinbefore, for the purposes of construct -
17 ing its transmission lines and all necessary facilities connected therewith, and
18 for repairing all such lines and facilities, and for operating and maintaining
19 said lines and facilities.
20 Section 4. Construction Standards.
21 All construction and installation work along, under or over County
22 roads or rights -of -way or other County property outside the corporate limits of
23 any incorporated town shall be subject to the approval and pass the inspection
24 of the Director of Public Works and shall conform to all applicable County,
25 State and Federal minimum standards, codes or regulations, and the County
26 expressly reserves the right to prescribe how and where mains, poles, lines, and
27 wires shall be installed and may from time to time upon reasonable notice,
28 require the removal and replacement thereof in the public interest.
29 Section 5. Construction Application.
30 (a) Prior to commencement of construction of said transmission lines
31 or facilities, Grantee shall first file with the Director of Public Works its
32 application for permit to do such work, together with plans and specifications
ORDINANCE - 5.
Date drafted: 4/28/88
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in duplicate showing the position and location of all such lines and facilities
sought to be constructed, laid, installed or erected at that time, showing their
relative position to existing County roads, rights -of -way or other County pro-
perty upon plans drawn to scale, hereinafter collectively referred to as the
"map of definite location."
(b) The lines and appurtenant facilities shall be laid in substantial
compliance with said map of definite location, except in instances in which
deviation may be allowed thereafter in writing by the Director of Public Works
pursuant to application by Grantee. The plans and specifications shall specify
the class and type of material and equipment to be used, manner of excavation,
construction, installation, backfill, erection of temporary structures, erection
of permanent structures, traffic control, traffic turnouts and road obstruction,
etc. No such construction shall be commenced without the Grantee first securing
a written permit from the Director of Public Works, including approval endorsed
on one set of plans and specifications returned to the Grantee. All such work
shall be subject to the approval of and shall pass the inspection of the
Director of Public Works. Any and all approvals required of the Director of
Public Works, pursuant to this section, shall not be unreasonably withheld. The
Grantee shall, In compliance with Whatcom County Ordinance No. 79 -70 (an ordi-
nance providing for the issuance of revocable encroachment permits for work in
County roads and rights -of -way), pay all permit fees as required, and
Resolution No. 79 -21, (a resolution adopting standard specifications for utility
construction within County roads and rights -of -way). The Grantee shall pay all
actual and necessary costs of and expenses incurred in the examination, inspec-
tion and approval of such work on account of granting the said permits.
Section 6. Construction on Roadways /Other County Property.
(a) In any work which requires breaking of soil of the County roads,
rights -of -way or other County property subject to this Franchise for the purpose
of laying, relaying, connecting, disconnecting and repairing the said
transmission lines and facilities, and making connections between the same to
structures and buildings of consumers or making connections to other facilities
ORDINANCE - 6.
Date drafted: 4/28/88
1 of the Grantee now in existence or hereafter constructed, the Grantee shall be
2 governed by and conform to the general rules adopted by the officers charged
3 with the supervision and care of such County roads, rights -of -way, and other
4 County property; and the Grantee at its own expense and with all convenient
5 speed shall complete the work for which the soil has been broken and forthwith
6 replace the work and make good the County road, rights -of -way or other County
7 property and leave the same in as good condition as before the work was com-
b menced.
9 (b) Applications for permits referred to in Section 5 above shall be
10 accompanied by specifications for the restoration of the County road, rights -of-
11 way or other County property and to the same or better condition as it was prior
12 to such breaking, and such specifications must be approved by the Director of
13. Public Works before such breaking of the soil is commenced. Provided, that the
14 Director of Public Works shall require compliance with Whatcom County Ordinance
15 No. 79 -70 to insure that such County roads, rights -of -way or other County pro -
16 perty shall be restored to the same or better condition as it was prior to the
17 breaking of the soil. The Grantee, in addition to any other such requirements
18 contained herein, shall be subject to the conditions and penalties as provided
19 in Whatcom County Ordinance No. 79 -70, existing or hereafter revised.
20 (c) The Director of Public Works may at any time, order, or have
21 done, any and all work that is considered necessary to restore to a safe con -
22 dition any such County road, rights -of -way or other County property left by the
23 Grantee or its agents in a condition dangerous to life or property, and the
24 Grantee upon demand shall pay to the County all actual costs of such work.
25 Section 7. Construction - Other Lines and Facilities.
26 (a) All construction or installation of such lines and facilities,
27 service repair or relocation of same, performed over, above, along or under the
28 County roads, rights -of -way or other County property subject to this Franchise
29 shall be done in such a manner as not to interfere with the construction and
30 maintenance of other utilities lines, public or private, drains, drainage
31 ditches and structures, irrigation ditches and structures located therein, nor
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ORDINANCE - 7.
Date drafted: 4/28/88
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with the grading or improvement of such County roads, rights -of -way or other
County property.
(b) The owners of all utilities, public or private, installed prior in
time to the line and facilities of the Grantee shall have preference as to the
positioning and location of such utilities so installed with respect to the
Grantee. Such preference shall continue in the event of the necessity of relo-
cating or changing the grade of any such County road or right -of -way.
Section 8. Construction - Public Safety and Inconvenience.
All work done under this Franchise shall be done in a thorough and
workmanlike manner. In the laying of transmission lines and the construction of
other facilities and the opening of trenches, the tunneling under County roads,
rights -of -way or other County property, the Grantee shall leave such trenches,
ditches and tunnels in such a way as to interfere as little as possible with
public travel and shall take all due and necessary 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 warning of such work. The Grantee shall be liable for any injury to
person or persons or damage to property sustained through its carelessness or
neglect, or through any failure or neglect to properly guard or give warning of
any trenches, ditches or tunnels dug or maintained by the Grantee.
Section 9. County Rights Reserved.
The County of Whatcom in granting this Franchise, does not waive any
rights which it has now or may hereafter acquire with respect to County roads,
rights -of -way or other County property and this Franchise shall not be construed
to deprive the County of any powers, rights or privileges which it now has or
may hereafter acquire to regulate the use of and to control the County roads,
rights -of -way or other County property covered by this Franchise.
ORDINANCE - 8.
Date drafted: 4/28/88
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Section 10. Relocation of Lines and Facilities.
(a) If at any time, the County of Whatcom shall improve or change any
County road, right -of -way or other County property subject to this Franchise by
grading or regrading, planking or paving the same, changing the grade, altering,
changing, repairing or relocating the same or by constructing drainage facili-
ties, or in the event that such County road, right -of -way or other County pro-
perty subject to this Franchise shall become a Primary State Highway as provided
by law, the Grantee upon written notice from the Director of Public Works or the
Director of Highways, shall at its sole expense, within thirty (30) working days
change the location or readjust the elevation of its transmission lines and
other facilities so that the same shall not interfere with such County work and
so that such lines and facilities shall conform to such new grades or routes as
may be established. The County of Whatcom shall in no wise be held liable for
any damages to said Grantee that may occur by reason of any of the County's
improvements, changes or works above enumerated.
(b) All work to be performed by the Grantee under this section shall
be under the direction and approval, and shall pass the inspection of the
Director of Public Works. The Grantee shall pay all actual and necessary costs
and expenses incurred in the examination, inspection and approval of such work.
Section 11. County Road Work Permitted.
The laying, construction, operation and maintenance of the Grantee's
transmission lines and facilities authorized by this Franchise shall not pre-
clude the County of Whatcom, its agents or its contractors from blasting,
grading, excavating or doing other necessary road work contiguous to the said
lines and facilities of the Grantee provided that the Grantee shall be given
forty -eight (48) hours notice of said blasting or other work in order that the
Grantee may protect its lines and facilities.
Section 12. Monuments and Survey Markers.
(a) Before any work is performed under this Franchise which may affect
any existing monuments or markers of any nature relating to subdivisions, plats,.
roads and all other surveys, the Grantee shall reference all such monuments and
ORDINANCE - 9.
Date drafted: 4/28/88
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markers. The reference points shall be so located that they will not be
disturbed during the Grantee's operations under this Franchise. The method of
referencing these monuments or other points to be referenced shall be approved
by the Director of Public Works. The replacement of all such monuments or other
points to be referenced shall be approved by the Director of Public Works. The
replacement of all such monuments or markers disturbed during construction shall
be made as expeditiously as conditions permit, and as directed by the Director
of Public Works. The cost of monuments or other markers lost, destroyed or
disturbed, and the expense of replacement by approved monuments shall be borne
by the Grantee.
(b) A complete set of reference notes for monuments and other ties
shall be filed with the Whatcom County Director of Public Works.
If at any time the County of Whatcom shall vacate any County road,
right -of -way or other County property which is subject to the rights granted by
this Franchise and said vacation shall be for the purpose of acquiring the fee
of other property interest in said road, rights -of -way or other County property
for the use of Whatcom County, in either its proprietary or governmental capa-
city, then the Council of Whatcom County may at its option and by giving sixty
(60) days written notice to the Grantee, terminate this Franchise with reference
to such County road, rights -of -way or other County property so vacated, and the
County of Whatcom shall not be liable for any damages or loss to the Grantee by
reason of such termination.
Section 14. Indemnification.
(a) ;The Grantee by acceptance of the privileges granted hereunder,
does hereby agree and covenant to indemnify, defend, and save harmless Whatcom
County and those persons who were, are now, or shall be duly elected or
appointed officials or members or employees thereof, against and from any loss,
damage, costs, charges, expenses, liability, claims, demands or judgments what-
soever kind or nature whether to persons or property, arising wholly or par-
tially out of any act, action, neglect, omissions or default on the part of the
ORDINANCE - 10.
Date drafted: 4/28/88
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Grantee, his sub - contractors and /or employees which may occur by reason of
construction, operation and maintenance of the Grantee's said transmission lines
and facilities. In case that suit or action is brought against the County of
Whatcom for damages arising out of or by reason of the above - mentioned causes,
the Grantee will upon notice to him of the filing of a claim or the commencement
of said action, appear and defend the same at its sole cost and expense, and in
case judgment shall be rendered against the County of Whatcom in suit or action,
the Grantee will fully satisfy said judgment within ninety (90) days after said
suit or action shall have finally been determined, if determined adversely to
Whatcom County. Upon the Grantee's failure to satisfy said judgment within a
ninety (90) day period, this Franchise shall at once cease and terminate and the
County of Whatcom shall have a lion upon the trsmsission lines and all other
facilities used in its construction, operation and maintenance of the Grantee's
transmission system which may be enforced against the property for the full
amount of any such judgment so taken against Whatcom County.
(b) Acceptance by the County of any work performed by the Grantee at
the time of completion shall not be grounds for avoidance of this covenant.
Section 15. Non - Exclusive Franchise
This'Franchise shall not be deemed to be an exclusive franchise. It
shall in no manner prohibit the County of Whatcom from granting other franchises
of a like nature or franchises for other public or private utilities, under,
along, across, over and upon any of the County roads, rights -of -way, or other
County property subject to franchise, and shall in no wise prevent or prohibit
the County of Whatcom from construction, altering, maintaining, using or vacat-
ing any of said roads, rights -of -way, drainage structures or facilities, irriga-
tion structures or facilities, or any other County property or affect its
jurisdiction over them with full power to make all necessary changes, reloca-
tions, repairs, maintenance, as the County may deem fit.
Section 16. Successors and Assignees.
All the provisions, conditions, regulations and requirements herein
contained shall be binding upon the successors and assignees of the Grantee, and
ORDINANCE - 11.
Date drafted: 4/28/88
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all privileges, as well as all obligations and liabilities of the Grantee shall
inure to its successors and assignees equally as if they were specifically men-
tioned wherever the Grantee is mentioned herein.
Section 17. Transferability.
Neither this,Franchise nor any interest therein shall be sold, trans-
ferred or assigned without the previous consent in writing of the Council of
Whatcom County, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld.
Section 18. Incorporation.
Whenever any of the County roads, rights -of -way or other County pro-
perty as designated in this Franchise, by reason of the subsequent incorporation
of any town or city, or extension of the limits of any town or city, shall fall
within the city or town limits this Franchise shall continue in force and effect
as to all County roads, rights -of -way or other County property not so included
in city or town limits.
Section 19. Construction /Extension Plan.
Five (5) years from the date of this Franchise, the rights conferred
hereby to the Grantee may, at the election of the Council of Whatcom County and
pursuant to notice, be terminated with respect to those County roads, rights -of-
way and other County property or portions thereof upon which the Grantee has not
laid, constructed and placed in operation its lines and facilities. The Grantee
shall extend its facilities and offer its services to all areas within the
franchise area which are contiguous to existing service areas, but which are not
currently served, provided there are 30 assured subscribers per mile of aerial
distribution cable (60 potential subscribers per mile of underground distribu-
tion cable) of new construction required. Such construction and services ren-
dered in new building areas will be subject to and governed by the provisions of
this franchise ordinance. If Grantee does not so extend its facilities and ser-
vices within a reasonable time, upon request made by subscribers, the County's
sole remedy shall be to terminate Grantee's rights as to such area not served as
set forth in the first sentence of this section.
ORDINANCE - 12.
Date drafted: 4/28/88
1 Section 20. Installation Specifications.
2 In preparing plans and specifications for the installation of trans -
3 mission lines along or across County roads and rights -of -way, the Grantee shall
4 use as a guide the standards and specifications contained in the National
5 Electrical Safety Code (National Bureau of Standards); National Electrical Code
6 (National Bureau of Fire Underwriters); Bell System Code of Pole Line Construc-
7 tion; applicable FCC or other Federal, State or local codes and regulations;
8 State and municipal construction standards.
9 Section 21. Enforcement /Remedies.
10 (a) If the Grantee shall willfully violate, or fail to comply with any
11 of the provisions of this franchise through willful or unreasonable neglect, or
12 fail to hood or comply with any notice given the Grantee under the provisions of
13. this franchise, then the said Grantee shall forfeit all rights conferred here -
14 under, and this Franchise may be revoked or annulled by the Council of Whatcom
15 County. In addition to any rights implied or set out elsewhere in this ordi-
16 nance, the Council reserves the right to apply, at its sole option, any one or
17 combination of the following in the event the company violates any provisions of
18 the franchise:
19 (1) Levy an assessment of actual damages.
20 (2) Reduce the duration of the franchise on such basis as the
21 arbitrator may deem reasonable and justified.
22 (3) Require a reduction in the company's rates by such amount or
23 amounts as may be necessary to remedy the violation.
24 (4) Require the company to make payments or refunds to its custo-
25 mers or classes of customers in such amount as may be necessary to remedy the
26 violation.
27 (5) Require the company to correct or otherwise remedy the viola -
28 tion prior to any consideration of implementation of rate increase if the viola -
29 tion relates to rates.
30 (6) Require the company to specifically comply with the terms and
31 onditions of the franchise ordinance.
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RDINANCE - 13.
ate drafted: 4/28/88
1 (b) In the event of a dispute over a violation of the provisions of
2 this franchise either party may submit resolution of the violation to arbitra-
3 tion. The matter shall be determined by a board of three (3) arbitrators, all of
4 dhom shall be citizens and taxpayers of the State of Washington, and shall be
5 selected as follows: One by the County Council, one by the Grantee, and one by
6 the two so appointed. Should the two arbitrators be unable to name a third,
7 such third arbitrator shall be named by a judge of the Superior Court for
g dhatcom County. Said board shall make its decision in writing and file its
g Jecision with the parties within sixty (60) days from the date of the appoint -
10 nent of the final arbitrator. The decision of the board shall be by a majority
11 iote and signed by at least two arbitrators. The written decision shall be
12 final and binding upon the parties.
13. Section 22. Eminent Domain /Reservation of Home Rule Charter Rights.
14 This franchise shall be subject to the power of eminent domain and the
15 right of the Council or the people acting for themselves through the initiative
16 r referendum to repeal, amend or modify the franchise in the interest of the
17 ublic. In any proceeding under eminent domain the franchise itself shall have
18 io value. This section sets forth the requirements of Section 9.30 of the
19 hatcom County'Home Rule Charter and shall remain in affect so long as the
20 Aarter provision is valid.
21 Section 23. Compliance with Laws and Regulations.
22 This franchise is subject to, and the Grantee shall comply with all
23 applicable Federal, State, County or municipal laws, regulations and policies
24 affecting performance under this franchise.
25 Section 24. Franchise Payments to County.
26 (a) In consideration of the granting of this Franchise and to compen-
27 ate Whatcom County for the Grantee's occupancy of County roads, rights -of -way
28 nd other County property, as well as the expenses incurred in processing this
29 Irant and to be incurred in connection with pedriodic inspections and control as
30 rovided herein, the Grantee shall pay to Whatcom County, annually a sum
31 quivalent to four percent (4 %) of the gross subscriber revenues received from
32
DINANCE - 14.
to drafted: 4/28/88
1 the installation and operation of its facilities and /or services to patrons
2 served from lines, wires, cables or other devices installed along, under or over
3 public rights -of -way or across County property as herein granted. Said sum
4 shall be due and payable in United States dollars. The term "gross subscriber
5 revenues" is meant to include only those revenues derived from the supplying of
6 basic subscriber service; that is, the installation fees, disconnect and recon-
7 nect fees, and fees for regular cable benefits including the transmission of
8 broadcast signals and access and origination channels if any. It does not
9 include revenues derived from per - program or per - channel charges, leased channel
10 revenues, advertising revenues, or any other income derived from the system nor
11 shall such term include any taxes on services furnished by the Grantee which are
12 imposed directly on any subscriber or user by the State, County or any other
13. governmental unit and collected by the Grantee on behalf of such governmental
14 unit.
15 (b) The Grantee's annual payments shall be remitted no later than the
16 30th day following the end of the annual period covered by the payment. The
17 Grantee shall be subject to a penalty of ten percent (10 %) per annum of the sum
18 delinquent, during the term delinquent; and further provided that this franchise
19 and all rights'and privileges granted hereunder shall terminate and be forfeited
20 if Grantee should exceed three months delinquent in the submission of the annual
21 payments hereunder required, after receiving written notice from Whatcom County
22 of the delinquency to the local systems office by certified mail.
23 Section 25. Franchise Payments to County Not In Lieu of Other Taxes.
24 Any franchise payments to the County by Grantee shall not be in lieu of
25 any occupation, income, license, or property tax or similar levy, assessment,
26 fee, or charge which would otherwise apply to and be payable by Grantee. No
27 privileges or rights granted hereunder shall exempt Grantee from any future uni-
28 form rent, license, tax charge, or impost which may hereafter be required by the
29 Grantor, for revenue or as reimbursement for use and occupancy of public ways,
30 and failure to timely remit any sums properly due thereby, shall be cause for
31 forfeiture of rights hereunder.
32
ORDINANCE - 15.
Date drafted: 4/28/88
1 Section 26. Inspection and Information.
2 (a) Grantee shall at all reasonable times, and to the extent neces-
3 sary to carry out the provisions of this ordinance, permit any duly- authorized
4 agent or representative of the County to examine all franchise property of
5 Grantee, together with any appurtenant property of Grantee situated within or
6 without the County, and to examine and transcribe all maps and other records
7 kept or maintained by Grantee, or under the control or direction, or at the
8 request of Grantee, which treat of the franchise operations, affairs, transac-
9 tions, or property of the Grantee.
10 (b) Any of such maps or such other records which are not situated
11 within the County and which are not made available in the County within a reaso-
i2 nable time after written request therefor by the Council or the Prosecuting
13. Attorney, shall be produced for examination wherever the same shall be situated
14 and Grantee shall pay all travel and other expenses necessary or reasonably
15 incurred by the County, its agents, and representatives in making such examina-
16 tion.
17 (c) Grantee shall prepare and furnish to the Director of Public Works,
18 at such times and in such form as prescribed by the Director, references and
19 materials with respect to the operations, affairs, transactions or property of
20 Grantee, as may be reasonably necessary or appropriate to the performance of any
21 of the duties of the County of Whatcom.
22 Section 27. Services to Consumers /Public.
23 (a) The Grantee shall:
24 (1) Correct malfunctions promptly, but in no event later than
25 twenty -four (24) hours after occurrence except for Acts of God and other con -
26 ditions beyond the control of the Grantee, in which cases the Grantee shall
27 correct the malfunctions with all deliberate speed.
28 (2) Promptly answer complaints by users.
29 (3) Give 24 -hour notice to users of planned interruptions of
30 service, insofar as is possible, and attempt to have such interruptions occur
31 during periods of minimum use of the system.
32
ORDINANCE - 16.
Date drafted: 4/28/88
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122.
13.
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(4) Maintain an office within Whatcom County, which office shall
be open during all usual business hours, with its telephone listed in direc-
tories of the telephone company serving the County, which office shall be so
operated that complaints and requests for repairs or adjustments may be received
at any time, day or night, seven days a week; and provide notice of such office
and the Grantee's complaint procedure to each user at the time of initial
subscription to the system.
(5) Maintain a written record, or log, listing date of customer
complaints identifying the user and describing the nature of the complaint, and
when and what action was taken by Grantee in response thereto. Said record
shall be kept at Grantee's local office, for a period of five (5) years, and
shall be e.vailable for inspection during regular business hours, without further
notice or demand, by the manager.
(6) Provide services to consumers as delineated in the rate
schedule as provided herein.
(b) County Complaint Procedures. The Director of Public Works shall
have the primary responsibility for the administration of complaints regarding
franchises and the County Executive shall approve procedures to be followed by
the Director i'n resolving and processing such complaints. In the event that the
parties cannot resolve the subscriber complaint to their mutual satisfaction,
the subscriber is free to pursue all remedies available to him.
(c) To promote the health, safety and welfare of the citizens of
Whatcom County, the County Council may request, and the Company shall provide,
the following:
:(1) At least one special designated non - commercial local origi-
nation channel available on a first come, non - discriminatory basis for the pur-
pose of public service programming and for use by local educational, govern-
mental and emergency authorities.
(2) The company shall provide, without charge, one service drop
(line) at each public facility designated by the County, that is passed by
existing cable up to a maximum of five (5) drops.
ORDINANCE - 17.
Date drafted: 4/28/88
1 Section 28. Insurance.
2 (a) Upon acceptance of such franchise, the Grantee shall file with
3 the Whatcom County Council, and shall thereafter, during the entire term of such
4 franchise, maintain in full force and effect, a corporate insurance policy or
5 other adequate surety agreement in the amount of FIVE HUNDRED THOUSDAND DOLLARS
6 ($500,000.00) for property damage coverage, and THREE HUNDRED THOUSDAND DOLLARS
7 ($300,000.00) for public liability coverage, so as to protect the County against
8 damages or costs as set forth in Section 14 above, and there shall be reco-
9 verable, jointly and severally from the principal and surety, any such damages
10 or costs suffered or incurred by the County, including attorneys' fees and costs
11 of any action, or proceedings, and including the full amount of any compen-
12 sation, indemnificatlon, cost of romoval of any property or other costs which
13 may be incurred up to the full principal amount of such insurance policy; and
14 said condition shall be a continuing obligation during the entire term of such
15 franchise and thereafter until Grantee shall have satisfied in full any and all
16 obligations to the County and any user which arise out of or pertain to said
17 franchise. Neither the provisions of this section, nor any insurance policy
18 accepted by the County pursuant hereto, nor any damages recovered by the County
19 thereunder, shall be construed to excuse faithful performance by the Grantee, or
20 limit the liability of the Grantee under any franchise issued pursuant to this
21 ordinance.
22 (b) The Prosecuting Attorney, at the request of the County Council,
23 may review the dollar amount of said insurance policy and adjust the amount of
24 overage as deemed appropriate within each five years of the length of the
25 franchise.
26 Section 29. Repealers.
27 All other prior existing franchises granted to San Juan Cable and
28 Construction shall be repealed, and the terms of the franchise granted hereunder
29 shall become effective at such time as an acceptance of franchise is filed by
30 he Grantee with the County in accordance with Section 2 herein.
31
32
DINANCE - 18.
to drafted: 4/28/88
11 2
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Section 30. Severability.
If any portion of the ordinance is deemed invalid, the remainder will
remain in effect.
Section 31. Titles.
The section titles used herein are for reference only and should not be
used for the purpose of interpreting this ordinance.
Section 32. Force Majeure Clause.
The Grantee shall not be deemed in default of any provisions of this
franchise or subjected to any penalties hereunder where performance or
compliance is prevented by Acts of God, civil emergencies, national disasters or
acts of third parties that are neither agents, employees, nor affiliates of the
Grantee which are beyond the Grantee's reasonable abilities to control,
APPROVED this 16th day of June 1988
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON
William P. Roehl
Chairperson
ATTEST: APPROVED ( ) VETOED
Clerk of the Council SHIRLEY VAN Z NTEN
County Executive
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
js , tamer ii v
y Prosecuting Attorney
Published on May 25, 1988 and
This ordinance becomes effective on
DINANCE - 19
to drafted: 4/28/88
Date: June 17, 1988
June 1, 1988 and June 22, 1988
June 27, 1988
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APPENDIX "A"
IN THE MATTER OF FRANCHISE )
SAN JUAN CABLE AND CONSTRUCTION )
ACCEPTANCE OF FRANCHISE
SAN JUAN CABLE AND CONSTRUCTION hereby accepts, subject to all the con-
ditions therein contained, that certain Franchise to lay, construct, erect,
install, operate, maintain, repair and /or replace telephone, telegraph and other
telecommunications lines, equipment, facilities and apparatus, and all necessary
appurtenances thereto, along, in, over, under and across all public roads,
streets, highways and rights -of -way, now existing or hereafter established,
within Sections 1, 11, 12, 13, 14, 23, 27, 28, 29, 329 33, 34, 35, 36, of
Township 38 North, Range 1 East, W.M., Sections 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 10, 11, 14,
15, 16, 23, 24, 36 of Township 37 North, Range 1 East, W.M., and Sections 7, 18,
19 and 30 of Township 38 North, Range 2 East, W.M., Whatcom County, Washington.
FRANCHISE granted on the day of 19 ,
Is for a peri ®d of tw @nty -five (26 yearn,
ORDINANCE - 20.
Date drafted: 4/28/88
SAN JUAN CABLE AND CONSTRUCTION
By: