HomeMy WebLinkAboutD-2405-17 Excavations in the ROWSponsors: Councilors Carter and Worrell
ORDINANCE NO. D-2405-17
AN ORDINANCE OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF
THE CITY OF CARMEL, INDIANA AMENDING CHAPTER 8, ARTICLE 7. SECTION 8-65
OF THE CARMEL CITY CODE
Synopsis: This ordinance revises the requirements for persons performing excavations within
City of Carmel Right -of -Way.
WHEREAS, the City of Carmel, Indiana ("City"), pursuant to Indiana Code § 36-9-2-7, may
regulate the use of right-of-way; and
WHEREAS, it is in the interest of public health and safety to update the requirements necessary
for excavations within City right-of-way.
NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS AGREED AND ORDAINED, by the Common Council of the
City of Carmel, Indiana, as follows:
Section 1. The foregoing recitals are incorporated herein by this reference.
Section 2. Chapter 8, Article 7, Section 8-65 of the Carmel City Code should be and the same is
hereby amended and shall read as follows:
"§ 8-65 Excavations within Public Right -of -Way - Permits and Regulations.
(a) Permit.
(1) Any person wishing to make any cut into the pavement or into any other portion of any street,
sidewalk, curb or public place, or to excavate therein, or to excavate beneath the surface for
the construction, alteration or repair of any driveway, sewer, sidewalk, or water line or other
buried facility, or for the installation of any such work, shall obtain a permit from the City
prior to beginning any such work ("Right -of -Way Permit").
(2) Any person seeking a Right -of -Way Permit shall provide the following information at the
request of the Engineering Department:
a. Proof of licensure (when applicable);
b. Proof of insurance;
c. Proof of participation in Gold Shovel Standard or similar program;
d. Proof of training for executives, management, and crews;
e. Indiana Proactive training (or approved equivalent) for executives, managers and Sub-
contracting principals; and
f. Indiana 811 Online excavation training for all supervisors, subcontractors and crews.
(3) Right -of -Way Permit applicants must pay a fifty dollars ($50) Right -of -Way Permit fee to the
Engineering Department prior to the issuance of said Permit. The City reserves the right to
Ordinance D-2405-17
Page One of Four Pages
This Ordinance was prepared by Jon A. Oberlander, Senior Assistant City Attorney, on 12/11/17 at 4:45 p.m. No subsequent revision to
this Ordinance has been reviewed by Mr. Oberlander for legal sufficiency or otherwise.
Sponsors: Councilors Carter and Worrell
revoke a Right -of -Way Permit for any violation of this section. Right -of -Way Permit
revocations may be appealed to the Board of Public Works and Safety upon written request
within seven days of the revocation.
(b) Indemnity. Any person performing any work described in this section and pursuant to a permit
from the City, shall agree to indemnify the City and any other party interested in such work or its
performance against all claims, demands, actions, judgments, losses and expenses which may arise from
any injuries to any person or damage to any property resulting from such work, or from any conditions
created by such work in the street or any public place.
(c) Bond.
(1) Every applicant for a permit shall post a bond in an amount specified by the Engineering
Department, which shall remain with the City until the completion and acceptance of the work
performed.
(2) In the event that a cut runs lengthwise along right-of-way, the applicant wishing to proceed with
such work shall be required to post a bond on the basis of $20 per lineal foot; provided however that said
bond shall be in an amount of not less than $2,000.
(d) Notice. Prior to commencing excavation activities, a Right -of -Way Permit holder shall provide
notice to adjacent property owners via letter, signs, or other means within 14 days of the project start
date, as well as provide a representative to answer questions about the project. The notice issued by the
Right -of -Way Permit holder must also identify the utility or entity that hired the Right -of -Way Permit
holder to perform the work done under the Right -of -Way Permit.
(e) Inspection. The City reserves the right to actively monitor and inspect excavation activities
located within public right-of-way. Such inspection may include, but is not limited to: spot inspections,
regular documentation review, random verification with vacuum excavation of projects, and all such
other investigations as are appropriate for the project
(f) Underground Utility Location. All underground utility locates must be examined and crossings
confirmed (pursuant to Indiana Code § 8-1-26), via hand digging or vacuum excavation. Right -of -Way
Permit holders excavating in developed areas shall spot existing underground utility facilities with hand
digging, vacuum excavation, or similar means to confirm drill -head location for boring at a regular
interval no more than every fifty (50) feet.
(g) Restoration of surface. Said bond shall be cancelled only after the completion of the work and
inspection and approval by the City Engineer. Such approval shall be based on the requirement that the
public property disturbed be replaced in as good or better condition that was its condition prior to the
beginning of said work, and upon the further requirement that the work shall be in conformance with the
stated conditions of the work permit. In the event that the public property has not been restored to a
condition as good or better than it had existed prior to the beginning of the work, the City may call upon
the bonding company to perform such work or perform the restoration work itself and bill the Right -of -
Way Permit Holder for the work performed.
Ordinance D-2405-17
Page Two of Four Pages
This Ordinance was prepared by Jon A. Oberlander, Senior Assistant City Attorney, on 12/11/17 at 4:45 p.m. No subsequent revision to
this Ordinance has been reviewed by Mr. Oberlander for legal sufficiency or otherwise.
Sponsors: Councilors Carter and Worrell
(h) Public utilities. Utilities owned and operated by the City of Carmel shall not be required to post
bond or other surety pursuant to this section. But are required to comply with all other requirements of
this section. The City may require public utilities performing excavation within the public right-of-way
to provide active supervision of such excavation or construction if it is located within densely populated
or urban environments, or near transmission facilities for the involved utility.
(i) Street damage addressed. Section 6-51 of this Code addresses damage to streets.
0) Penalties. Any person found to be in violation of this section shall be subject to a fine of not less
than $100 per day first the first such violation; to a fine of not less than $500 per day for the second
violation; and subject to a fine of not less than $1,000 per day for the third and all subsequent violations.
Each day constitutes a separate violation.
Section 3. If any portion of this Ordinance is for any reason declared to be unconstitutional or
invalid, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this Ordinance so long as
enforcement of the same can be given the same effect.
Section 4. This Ordinance shall be in full force and effect from and after its passage and signing
by the Mayor and such publication as required by law.
[signature page follows]
Ordinance D-2405-17
Page Three of Four Pages
This Ordinance was prepared by Jon A. Oberlander, Senior Assistant City Attorney, on 12/11/17 at 4:45 p.m. No subsequent revision to
this Ordinance has been reviewed by Mr. Oberlander for legal sufficiency or otherwise.
Sponsors: Councilors Carter and Worrell
PASSED bythe Common Council of the City of Carmel, Indiana, this day of �fM bT '
2017, by a vote of ayes and nays.
CO ON COUNCIL FOR THE CITY OF CARMEL
5 � A- 0+ Ar C'Iery
Sue F4=,_resid t Anthony Green
D. Rider, Vice -President
Laura D. Campbell
nald E. Carter
ATTEST:
Christine S. Pauley, Cl rk-Treasurer
Presented by me to the Mayor of the Cityo Carme , -a this ay
CCtM 2017, at K .M.
Christine S. Paule , Clerk-Treasu
h
Approved by me Mayor of the City of Carmel, Indiana, this � day of
%,rW aL,/ 2017, at _-a M.
Oil�n
es Brainard, Mayor
Ordinance D-2405-17
Page Four of Four Pages
This Ordinance was prepared by Jon A. Oberlander, Senior Assistant City Attorney, on 12/11/17 at 4:45 p.m. No subsequent revision to
this Ordinance has been reviewed by Mr. Oberlander for legal sufficiency or otherwise.