Ordinance 336• FRANCHISE ORDINANCE FOR RELIANT ENERGY MINNEGASCO
ORDINANCE NO.336
CITY OF CHANHASSEN, CARVER COUNTY, MINNESOTA
AN ORDINANCE GRANTING TO RELIANT ENERGY MINNEGASCO, A NATURAL GAS
UTILITY, A DIVISION OF RELIANT ENERGY RESOURCES CORPORATION, A DELAWARE
CORPORATION, ITS SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS, A NONEXCLUSIVE FRANCHISE TO
CONSTRUCT, OPERATE, REPAIR AND MAINTAIN FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT FOR
THE TRANSPORTATION, DISTRIBUTION, MANUFACTURE AND SALE OF GAS ENERGY
FOR PUBLIC AND PRIVATE USE AND TO USE PUBLIC WAYS AND PUBLIC GROUNDS OF
THE CITY FOR SUCH PURPOSES; AND PRESCRIBING CERTAIN TERMS AND
CONDITIONS THEREOF.
THE CITY COUNCIL OF CHANHASSEN ORDAINS:
SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS. For purposes
1.5.
Effective Date. The date on which the
of this Ordinance, the following capitalized
ordinance becomes effective under
• terms shall have the following meanings:
Section 2.2.
1.1. City. The City of Chanhassen, County of
1.6.
Gas. Natural gas, manufactured gas,
Carver, State of Minnesota.
mixture of natural gas and manufactured
gas or other forms of gas energy.
1.2. City Utility System. Facilities used for
providing public utility service owned or
1.7.
Gas Facilities. Gas transmission and
operated by the City or agency thereof.
distribution pipes, mains, lines, ducts,
fixtures, and all necessary facilities,
1.3. Commission. The Minnesota Public
equipment and appurtenances owned,
Utilities Commission, or any successor
operated or otherwise used by the
agency or agencies, including an agency
Company for the purpose of providing
of the federal government that preempts
gas energy for public use.
all or part of the authority to regulate gas
retail rates now vested in the
1.8.
Non -Betterment Costs. Costs incurred
Commission.
by the Company from relocation, removal
or rearrangement of Gas Facilities that do
1.4. Company. Reliant Energy Minnegasco,
not result in an improvement to the
a Division of Reliant Energy Resources
Facilities.
Corporation, its successors and assigns,
including successors to assignees of those
1.9.
Notice. A writing served by a party or
portions of the Company that constitute
parties on another party or parties. Notice
• any part or parts of the Gas Facilities
to Company must be mailed to:
subject to this franchise.
Reliant Energy Minnegasco
ninety (90) days after publication of this
V.P., Regulatory & Supply Service
ordinance.
800 LaSalle Avenue
Minneapolis, MN 55402
2.3
Non exclusive Franchise. This ordinance
•
does not grant an exclusive franchise.
Notice to City must be mailed to:
City of Chanhassen
2.4
Legal Fees. Each party is responsible for
P. O. Box 147
its own legal fees incurred related to
Chanhassen, Minnesota 55317
granting of this franchise.
1.10.Public Way. Any street, alley or other
2.5
Publication Expense. The expense of
public right-of-way within the City.
publication of this ordinance must be paid
by the Company.
1.11. Public Ground. Land owned or
otherwise controlled by the City for
2.6
Default: Dispute Resolution. If the City
parks, open space or other public
or Company asserts that the other party is
purposes.
in default in the performance of any
obligation hereunder, the complaining
party must notify the other party in writing
SECTION 2. FRANCHISE.
of the default and the desired remedy.
Representatives of the parties must
2.1 Grant of Franchise. The City grants the
promptly meet and attempt in good faith
Company, for a period of twenty (20)
to negotiate a resolution of the dispute. If
years from the Effective Date, the right to
the dispute is not resolved within thirty
import, manufacture, transport, distribute
(30) days after service of the notice, the
•
and sell Gas for public and private use
within and through the limits of the City.
parties may jointly select a mediator to
facilitate further discussion. The parties
This right includes the provision of Gas
will equally share the fees and expenses of
that is (i) manufactured by the Company
the mediator. If a mediator is not used or
or its affiliates and delivered by the
if the parties are unable to resolve the
Company, (ii) purchased and delivered by
dispute within thirty (30) days after first
the Company or (iii) purchased from
meeting with the mediator, either party
another source by the retail customer and
may commence an action in District Court
delivered by the Company. For these
to interpret and enforce this franchise or
purposes, the Company may construct,
for such other relief as may be permitted
operate, repair and maintain Gas Facilities
by law or equity.
in, on, over, under and across the Public
Way and Public Ground subject to the
2.7
Continuation of Franchise. If this
provisions of this ordinance. The
franchise expires and the City and the
Company may do all things reasonably
Company are unable to agree on the terms
necessary or customary to accomplish
of a new franchise, the existing franchise
these purposes, subject to other applicable
will remain in effect until a new franchise
ordinances, permit requirements and to
is agreed upon, or until ninety (90) days
further provisions of this ordinance.
after the City or the Company serves
written Notice to the other party of their
2.2 Effective Date. This franchise is
intention to allow the franchise agreement
effective from and after its acceptance by
to expire.
•
the Company. Written acceptance or
rejection of the franchise by the Company
must be filed with the City Clerk within
SECTION 3. CONDITIONS OF USE.
as promptly as weather permits. If the
Company does not promptly perform and
3.1 Location of Facilities. Gas Facilities
complete the work, remove all dirt,
• must be located, constructed, installed and
maintained so as not to interfere with the
rubbish, equipment and material, and
restore the Public Way or Public Ground,
City Utility System or the safety and
the City may, after demand to the
convenience of ordinary travel along and
Company to cure and the passage of a
over Public Ways. Gas Facilities may be
reasonable period of time not less than
located on Public Grounds as determined
five calendar days following the demand,
by the City. The Company's construction,
make the restoration at the expense of the
reconstruction, operation, repair,
Company. The Company must pay to the
maintenance and location of Gas Facilities
City the cost of such work done for or
is subject to other ordinances and
performed by the City, including
regulations of the City.
administrative expense and overhead, plus
ten percent of cost and administrative
3.2 Field Location. Upon request by the
expense. This remedy is in addition to
City, the Company must provide field
any other remedies available to the City
locations for any of its Gas Facilities
for noncompliance with this section.
within the period of time required by
Given the remedy outlined in this section
Minnesota State Statute 216D.
3.4 available to the City for
noncompliance by the Company, the City
3.3 Permit Required. The Company may not
hereby waives any requirement for the
open or disturb the surface of any Public
Company to post a construction
Way or Public Ground without first
performance bond, certificate of
having obtained a permit from the City,
insurance, letter of credit or any other
for which the City may impose a
form of security or assurance that may be
• reasonable fee. The permit conditions
required, under separate existing or future
imposed on the Company may not be
ordinance of the City.
more burdensome than those imposed on
other utilities for similar facilities or work.
3.5 Company Protection of Gas Facilities in
The Company may, however open and
Public Ways. The Company must take
disturb the surface of any Public Way or
reasonable measures to prevent the Gas
Public Ground without a permit if (i) an
Facilities from causing damage to persons
emergency exists requiring the immediate
or property. The Company must take
repair of Gas Facilities and (ii) the
reasonable measures to protect the Gas
Company gives notice to the City before,
Facilities from damage that could be
if possible, commencement of the
inflicted on the Facilities by persons,
emergency repair. Within two (2)
property or the elements. The Company
business days after commencing the
and the City will comply with all
repair, the Company must apply for any
applicable laws and codes when
required permits and pay the required fees.
performing work near the Gas Facilities.
3.4 Restoration. After completing work
3.6 Notice of Improvements. The City must
requiring the opening of a Public Way or
give the Company reasonable notice of
Public Ground, the Company must restore
plans for improvements to Public Ways or
the same, including paving and its
Public Ground. The notice must contain;
foundation, to the condition formerly
(i) the nature and character of the
existing and maintain the paved surfaces
improvements, (ii) the Public Ways or
in good condition for two (2) years
Public Grounds upon which the
thereafter. The work must be completed
improvements are to be made, (iii) the
extent of the improvements, (iv) the time
when the City will start the work, and, (v)
if more than one Public Way or Public
•
Ground is involved, the order in which the
work is to proceed. The notice must be
given to the Company a sufficient length
of time in advance of the actual
commencement of the work to permit the
Company to make any necessary
additions, alterations, or repairs to its Gas
Facilities. If streets are at final width and
grade and the City has installed
underground sewer and water mains and
service connections to the property line
abutting the streets prior to a permanent
paving or resurfacing of such streets, and
the Company's main is located under such
street, the City may require the Company
to install gas service connections prior to
such paving or resurfacing, if it is apparent
that gas service will be required during the
five years following the paving or
resurfacing.
•
SECTION 4. RELOCATIONS.
4.1 Relocation of Gas Facilities in Public
Ways. If the City determines by the
proper exercise of its police power to
vacate a Public Way for a City
improvement project, or to grade, regrade
or change the alignment of any Public
Way, or construct or reconstruct any City
Utility System in any Public Way, the City
may order the Company to relocate its Gas
Facilities at the Company's own expense.
The City must give the Company
sufficient notice of plans to vacate for a
City improvement project, or to grade, re -
grade, or change the alignment of any
Public Way or to construct or reconstruct
any City Utility System. If a relocation is
ordered within five (5) years of a prior
relocation of the same Gas Facilities,
which was made at Company expense, the
City will reimburse the Company on a
time and material basis for Non -
Betterment Costs. If any subsequent
relocation is required because of the
extension of a City Utility System to a
previously unserved area, the City may
require the Company to make the
subsequent relocation at the Company's
expense. Nothing in this ordinance
requires the Company to relocate, remove,
replace or reconnect its Facilities at the
Company's expense where such
relocation, removal, replacement or
reconstruction is solely for the
convenience of the City and is not
reasonably necessary for the construction
or reconstruction of a Public Way or City
Utility System or other City improvement.
The City will not require the removal of
abandoned natural gas facilities in any
case, unless these facilities are in direct
conflict with a Public Way grade change
or proposed City Utility System or City
improvement. The provisions of this
section 4.1 apply only to Gas Facilities
constructed in reliance on this franchise
and the Company does not waive its rights
under an easement or prescriptive right in
the Public Way.
4.2 Relocation of Gas Facilities in Public
Ground. The City may, by the proper
exercise of its police power, require the
Company to relocate the Gas Facilities
within or remove the Gas Facilities from
Public Ground, upon a finding by City that
the Gas Facilities have become or will
become a substantial impairment of the
public use or enjoyment to which the
Public Ground is or will be put. The
relocation or removal will be at the
Company's expense. The provisions of
this Section 4.2 apply only to Gas
Facilities constructed in reliance on this
franchise and the Company does not waive
its rights under an easement or prescriptive
right in the Public Ground. The City will
not require the removal of abandoned
natural Gas Facilities in Public Ground in
any case, unless these facilities have
become or will become a substantial
impairment of the public use or enjoyment
to which the Public Ground is or will be
put.
4
4.3 Vacation of Public Ways. The City must
give the Company at least two -weeks'
• Notice of the proposed vacation of a Public
Way. Except where required for a City
street or other improvement project or as
otherwise provided in Section 4.1, the
vacation of a Public Way, after the
installation of Gas Facilities, does not
deprive the Company of its rights to
operate and maintain the Gas Facilities
until the reasonable cost of relocating the
same and the loss and expense resulting
from such relocation are first paid to the
Company.
Upon request of the Company, and if the
City in its sole discretion determines that
the vacation of Public Way does not
require the relocation of existing Gas
Facilities, the City shall reserve a utility
easement to the Company, created by and
within the document establishing the
vacation.
In no case will the City be liable to
Company for failure to specifically
preserve a right-of-way under Minnesota
Statutes, Section 160.29.
4.4 Projects with Federal Funding.
Relocation, removal or rearrangement of
any Gas Facilities made necessary because
of the extension into or through the City of
a federally -aided highway project shall be
governed by the provisions of Minnesota
Statutes, Section 161.46, if funds for these
purposes are available.
SECTION 5. DEFENSE AND
INDEMNIFICATION.
5.1 Terms. The Company shall indemnify,
keep and hold the City, its elected officials,
officers, employees, and agents free and
harmless from any and all claims and
actions on account of injury or death of
persons or damage to property occasioned
by the construction, maintenance, repair,
removal, on or across the Public Ways and
the Public Grounds. The City will not be
indemnified for losses or claims alleged to
be the result of negligence of the City, its
elected officials, employees, officers, or
agents, except for those arising out of the
issuance of permits for, or inspection of the
Company's plans or work. The City shall
not be entitled to reimbursement for its
costs incurred prior to notification to the
Company of claims or actions and a
reasonable opportunity for the Company to
accept and undertake the defense.
5.2 Litigation. If such a suit is brought
against the City under circumstances where
the agreement in this Section 5 to
indemnify applies, the Company at its sole
cost and expense will defend the City in
such suit if Notice thereof is promptly
given to the Company within a reasonable
period. If the Company is required to
indemnify and defend, it will thereafter
have control of such litigation, but the
Company may not settle such litigation
without the consent of the City, which
consent will not be unreasonably withheld.
This section is not as to third parties a
waiver of any defense or immunity
otherwise available to the City; and the
Company, in defending any action on
behalf of the City is entitled to assert in
any action every defense or immunity that
the City could assert in its own behalf.
SECTION 6. SUCCESSORS IN
INTEREST.
6.1 This ordinance and the rights and
obligations conferred hereby, is binding
on and inures to the benefit of the City and
its successors and on the Company and its
successors and permitted assigns.
SECTION 7. FRANCHISE FEE.
7.1 Separate Ordinance. The City reserves
all rights under Minnesota Statutes,
5
Section 21613.36 or other law to require a
franchise fee at any time during the term
of this franchise. In addition to the
• franchise fee, the Company shall be
required to pay only such other fees,
charges, costs or taxes which are generally
required to be paid by other businesses or
persons in the City. The franchise fee must
be imposed by a separate ordinance
adopted by the City Council, which
ordinance may not be adopted until at
least sixty (60) days after Notice enclosing
such proposed ordinance has been served
upon the Company by certified mail. A fee
imposed under this section does not
become effective until sixty (60) days
after Notice enclosing the adopted
ordinance has been served upon the
Company by certified mail.
SECTION 8. LIMITATION ON
APPLICABILITY.
8.1 Limitation on Applicability. This
Ordinance constitutes a franchise
agreement between the City and the
Company. No provision of this franchise
inures to the benefit of any third person,
including the public at large, so as to
constitute any such person as a third -party
beneficiary of the agreement or of any one
or more of the terms hereof, or otherwise
give rise to any cause of action for any
person not a party hereto.
SECTION 9. PREVIOUS FRANCHISES
SUPERSEDED.
9.1 Previous Franchises superseded. This
franchise supersedes and replaces previous
franchises granted to the Company or its
predecessors.
SECTION 10. AMENDMENTS.
• 10.1 Amendments. This ordinance maybe
amended at any time by the City. An
amendatory ordinance becomes effective
upon the filing of the Company's written
consent thereto.
SECTION 11. SEVERABILITY.
11.1 Severability. If any portion of this
franchise is found unenforceable for any
reason, the validity of the remaining
provisions will not be affected.
Passed and approved May 13, 2002
yor
ATTE LLL&
Clerk
FRANCHIS&.ORDJIANCE ,,FOR
RELIANT4.ENERGY, ,MD,JNEGASCO
O INANCE .N0: ;:3.3 6
CITY_ ` OI -C S CARVE_ R. -
P' d0�
SODA
-AN TO
RELIANT ENERGY=:IVIINNEGASCO,
A. NATURAL`9A ,VnLITY, A DIVI-
SION,',OFRELANT :.;ENERGY' ,RE-
SOURCES1CORPORAtION, A DELA-
WARE COLORATION, ITS SUCCES-
SORS AND ASSIGNS, ANONEXCT�U-
SIVE FRANCHISE TO CONSTRUCT,
OPERATE, REPAIR AND MAINTAIN
FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT FOR
THE TRANSPORTATION, DISTRI-
BUTION, MANUFACTURE AND
SALE OF GAS ENERGY FOR PUBLIC
AND PRIVATE USE . AND' TO USE
PUBLIC WAYS' AND , PUBLIC
GROUNDS OF THE CITY FOR SUCH
PURPOSES; AND PRESCRIBING
CERTAIN TERMS AND CONDI-
TIONS THEREOF.,
THE CITY COUNCIL OF
CHANHASSEN ORDAINS:
SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS. For
purposes of this Ordinance, the following
capitalized terms shall have the following
meanings:
City. The City of Chanhassen, County
of Carver, State of Minnesota.- '
City Utility System. Facilities used
for providing public utility service owned
or operated by the City or agency thereof.
Commission. The Minnesota Public
Utilities Commission, or any successor
agency or agencies, including an agency of
the federal government that preempts all
or part of the authority to regulate gas
retail rates now vested in the Commis-
sion.
Company. Reliant Energy
Minnegasco, a Division of Reliant Energy
Resources Corporation, its successors
and assigns, including successors to as-
signees of those portions of the Company
that constitute any part or parts of the
Gas Facilities subject to this franchise.
Effective Date. The date on which
. tie'. 'ordinance becomes effective under.
Section 2.2.
Gas. Natural gas, manufactured gas,
mixture of natural gas and manufactured
gas or other forms of gas energy.
Gas Facilities. Gas transmission and
distribution pipes, mains, lines, ducts,
fixtures, and all necessary facilities, equip-
ment and appurtenances owned, oper-
ated or otherwise used by the Company
for the purpose of providing gas energy
for public use.
Non -Betterment Costs. Costs in-
curred by the Company from relocation,
removal or rearrangement of Gas Facili-
ties that do not result in an improvement
to the Facilities.
Notice. A writing served by a party
or parties on another party or parties.
Notice to Company must be mailed to:
Reliant Energy Minnegasco ,
V.P., Regulatory & Supply Service
800 LaSalle Avenue
Minneapolis, MN 55402
Notice to City must be mailed to:
City of Chanhassen
P. O. Box 147
Chanhassen, Minnesota 55317
Public Way. Any street, alley or
other public right-of-way within the City.
Public Ground. Land owned or oth-
erwise controlled by the City for parks,
open space or other public purposes.
SECTION 2.FRANCHISE.
Ti %'rnn♦ cS rri1n A1;CP � 1 r�f7P ltv Qmnfir,'
Affidavit of Publication
Southwest Suburban Publishing
State of Minnesota)
)SS.
County of Carver )
Stan Rolfsrud, being duly sworn, on oath says that he is the publisher or the authorized agent of
the publisher of the newspapers known as the Chaska Herald and the Chanhassen Villager and
has full knowledge of the facts herein stated as follows:
(A) These newspapers have complied with the requirements constituting qualification as a legal
newspaper, as provided by Minnesota Statute 331 A.02, 331 A.07, and other applicable laws, as
amended.
(B) The printed public notice that is attached to this Affidavit and identified as No. 7
was published on the date or dates and in the newspaper stated in the attached Notice and said
Notice is hereby incorporated as part of this Affidavit. Said notice was cut from the columns of
the newspaper specified. Printed below is a copy of the lower case alphabet from A to Z, both
inclusive, and is hereby acknowledged as being the kind ann �of type used in the composition
publication ublication of the Notice:
abcdefghijklmnopgrstu
Subscribed and sworn before me on
this _day of �C-^�-�- , 2002
Notary Public
ktan Rolfsrud, General Manager
or his designated agent
sro�aa�
GW€N M. PADUENZ
NOTARY PUSLIC I�1INNESOTA
My Corrimi�ion Expires Jan. 31, M5
RATE INFORMATION
Lowest classified rate paid by commercial users for comparable space.... $20.00 per column inch
Maximum rate allowed by law for the above matter ................................ $20.00 per column inch
Rate actually charged for the above matter ................................................ $10.23 per column inch
SECHUlV Z. MA M rua�...
,E4
g- ' `i td of Vi=chlse_�The grants
''=the Company; for. aperiod oftwenty (20)
tive D gh
fromth�Ef�ec ate;then t to•
import; manufacture; transport; trib_.
"ute and sell_ Gas foi pulli�c�and private use
T.
'w thin'and through the lunits of the city:.
.Y ' right includes the; provisi iA of Gas
#fiat is by the Conpainy_
Y i#a and l liv66d. by the Com-
hveredb the
.,patijr"(u)iurchas and de y
based from another
,.-C`ompao�orC�u�pearc
Iy; thy' ret:ci�ston%er: acid cieliv-
e,pur-
ses the t oinp`a iiiay cgnstruct , op-
te,:repairtand i tainta4, Facilities
. °iiti;; orii over�unctea`daacross t1ieP-ub1iC
,= n � . '°'� ;ids Y�:�.::: •,,;.,,.,
r?G'aaii# P`uihcruinu$ject to'the
provisgnsottns'ordinaice ;T1ie:Com-
pang may do tilt things reasonably neces-
nary or; csforriary to, accomplish these
purposes,,`subleq tq,,6 , er'applicable or-
dinances ermit r`e _„ • ev eats and to fur-
` ther provisions of this ordinanee.
Effective"Date. This franchise is ef-
fective from and after its acceptance by
the Company. Written acceptance, or re -
ejection of of the franchise by, the Company
must be filed with the City Clerk within
ninety (90) days after publication of this
ordinance.,
Non exclusive Franchise. This ordi-
nance does not grant" an exclusive. fran-
Le ual Fee " w 4� ;,; ,+
g s: Each arty is responsible
for- its own, legat fees incurred related to
-granting of this franchise. -
Publication Expense. The expense of
publication ofthis ordinance must be paid
by the Company.
Default: Dispute Resolution." If the
City or Company asserts that the 'other
party is in default in the performance of
any obligation hereunder, the complain-
ing party must notify the other party in
writing of the default and the desired
remedy. Representatives of the parties
must promptly meet and attempt in good
faith to negotiate a restitution of the dis-,
ute. If the' f<
p , dispute is not resolved within
thu-ty (0) days after service of ttie notice,
the partiesxnay jointly seleci a mediator
6 facilitate further discision, :The par-
-shire1 Ae� fees and. ex-'-
%famedatorisnot
0 ° A after
. , 4 q , .�vnth"the;, mediator .;either
Cy ycommeNtanaetionimDistrict
chile interpret and `enforce this` fran-
or for such" other relief as may be
�ernutted" by l vv: or" e4uity
Mc
OW14tiattft of;�1*'rancliise ifthis
hise," e7 vk ' and. the ; Ci e
a? ?.. r C 1 . and, th
Ta�, ,cable to e'on tiie terms
Oil
a
erustingfiratcluse
Comp sery s
1`o c .. Xr
, , tx e to the oilier part of ttfeii
intention'to alloi the fi atichise agreetrient
to expire: _ r
i., SECTION', 3. ' - CONDITIONS' OF
tna
txolii.of'acihties`.Gasacilities
kip.S
�tysteiri or; the safes and
�ys+a'}e�apib-y 7
f �o FTC f.. t:�'ft 1'+Y._
'difi n'avetalong'and
ct t? ays a, lwaq be4J nay,,N
Fohtre'asne
?auceand ovationofGasfi6ifi
x ..on! re&a-
4 en
nedyis in iadition o any
available 6"the'City for
*i6tilii s6ction. Given,
in
this �`s'6ction'3.4`
'City fornoncompliance'
V�Afie city h6jeb Y waives,
t:fQr`.tithe ompanyto' post,
e bond)
C ceftifi-
1 01 ofib-'redit-or any
y10 assurance that t
le
r
�IX
-Pm TO oz
n 00-y' ti T GasFa6lities in,�'ub�ic -
-'Vtasie!-,-qmpanyniust
take `reasonable "fiablO, measures to pr'evefifthe
Gas' Fa6lities'11'r-oln"causing damage to
persons or property, " The C
qmpany
musttakereas- 6nablem�'
asures to protect
the Gas
facilities otai Lai**atpo,tild.
be inflicted;q b
%y persons
property 0r-Ad,ij6jjj"-f
J ompag
r
i and the Ckty,--"'
cable la t,� 4PP es,w
-Qrnun
9
work neafl,
No,
mtiaie C
tyMdAgve Mi
hi r%
tutu we �X-j — -----r-J -—--
cable laws and codes when performing
work near the Gas Facilities. ' ,
Notice. of Impiovetnents: The City
must give tiie Company reasonable notice
ofplans forimpiovementstoPublic Ways
or Public. Grou>Kl: The notice must con-
tain; (i) the aa'tut`e `and dharacter of the
improvements; (ii)_the Public Ways or
Public Groundsupon which the improve-
ments are to.beinade, (iii)the extentofthe
improvements, (iv) the time when the
City will start the work, and, (v) if more
than one Public Way or Public Ground is
involved, the order inwhich the work is to
proceed. The notice must be given to the
Company a sufficient length of time in
advance of the actual commencement of
the work to permit the Company to make
any necessary additions, alterations, or
repairs to its Gas Facilities. If streets are
at final width and grade and the City has
installed underground sewer and water
mains and service connections to the prop-
erty line abutting the streets prior to a
permanent paving or resurfacing of such
streets, and the Company's main is lo-
cated under such street, the City may
require the Company to install gas service
connections prior to such paving or resur-
facing, if it is apparent that gas service will
be required during the five years following
the paving or resurfacing.
SECTION 4. RELOCATIONS.
Relocation ofGas Facilities in Public
Ways. if the City determines by the
proper exercise of its police power to
vacate a Public Way for a City improve-
ment proj ect, or to grade, regrade or change
the alignment of any Public Way, or con-
struct or reconstruct any City Utility
System in any Public Way, the City may
order the Company to relocate its Gas
Facilities atthe Company's own expense.
The City must give the Company suffi-
cient notice of plans to vacate for a City
improvement project, or to grade, re -
grade, or change the alignment of any
Public Way or to construct or reconstruct
any City Utility System. If a relocation
is ordered within five (5) years of a prior
relocation ofthe same Gas Facilities, which
was made at Company expense, the City
w ill reimburse the Company on a tune and
material basis forNon-Betterment Costs.
If any subsequent relocation is required
because of the extension of a City Utility
System to a previously unserved area, the
City may require the Company
to make
the subsequent relocation at the
Company's expense. Nothing in this
ordinance requires the Company to relo-
cate, remove, replace or reconnect its
Facilities atthe Company's expensewhere
such relocation, removal, replacement or
reconstruction is solely for the conve-
nience of the City and is not reasonably
necessary for the construction or recon-
struction of a Public Way or City Utility
System or other City improvement. The
City will not require the removal of aban-
doned natural gas facilities in any case,
unless these facilities are in direct conflict
with a Public Way grade change or pro-
posed City Utility System or City im-
provement. The provisions of this sec-
tion 4.1 apply only to Gas Facilities
constructed in reliance on this franchise
and the Company does not waive its
rights under an easement or prescriptive
right in the Public Way.
4.2 Relocation of Gas Facilities in
Public Ground. The City may, by the
proper exercise of its police power, re-
quire the Company to relocate the Gas
Facilities w ithin or remove the Gas Facili-
quire the Company to relocate the vas
Facilities within or remove the Gas Facili-
ties from Public Ground, upon a finding
by City that the Gas Facilities have be-
come orwilibecome a substantial impair-
ment of the public use or enjoyment to
whichthe Public Ground is or will be put.
The relocation or removal will be at the
Company's expense. The provisions of
this Section 4.2 apply only to Gas Facili-
ties constructed in reliance on this fran-
chise andthe Company does not waive its
rights under an easement or prescriptive
right in the Public Ground. The City will
not require the removal of abandoned
natural Gas Facilities in Public Ground in
any case, unless these facilities have be-
come or will become a substantial impair-
ment of the public use or enjoyment to
which the public Ground is or will be put.
- 4.3 Vacation of Public Ways. The
City must give the Company at least two -
weeks' Notice of the proposed vacation
of a Public Way. Except where required
for a City street or other improvement
project or as otherwise provided in Sec-
tion 4.1, the vacation of a Public Way,
after the installation of Gas Facilities,
does not deprive the Company of its
rights to operate and maintain the Gas
Facilities until the reasonable cost of relo-
cating the same and the loss and expense
resulting from such relocation are first
paid to the Company.
Upon request of the Company, and if
the City in its sole discretion determines
that the vacation of Public Way does not
require the relocation of existing Gas Fa-
cilities, the City shall reserve a utility
easement to the Company, created by and
within the document establishing the va-
cation.
In no case will the City be liable to
Company for failure to specifically pre-
serve a right-of-way under Minnesota
Statutes, Section 160.29.
4.4 Projects with Federal Funding.
Relocation, removal or rearrangement of
any Gas Facilities made necessary be-
cause of the extension into or through the
City of a federally -aided highway project_
shall be governed by the provisions of
Minnesota Statutes, Section 161.46, if
funds for these purposes are available.
SECTION 5. DEFENSE AND IN-
DEMNIFICATION.
5.1 Terms. The Company shall
indemnify, keep and hold the City, its
elected officials, officers, employees, and
agents free and harmless from any and all
claims and actions on accountofinjury or
death of persons or damage to property
occasioned by the construction, mainte-
nance, repair, removal, on or across the
Public Ways and the Public Grounds. The
City will not be indemnified for losses or
claims all eged to be the result of negligence
of the City, its elected officials, employ-
ees, officers, or agents, except for those
arising out of the issuance of permits for,
or inspection of the Company's plans or
work. The City shall not be entitled to
reimbursement for its costs incurred prior
to notification to the Company of claims
or actions and a reasonable opportunity
for the Company to accept and undertake
the defense.
5.2 Litigation. If such a suit is
brought against the City under circum-
stances where the agreement in this Sec-
tion 5 to indemnify applies, the Company
at its sole cost and expense will defend the
City in such suit if Notice thereof is
promptly given to the Company within.a
Pen reasonable period. If_ the Company is
not opei required to indemnify and defend, it will
tlonJtomoemmiyaFFAl ,..... at As sole cost and expense will defendthe
City in such suit if Notice thereof is
promptly given to the Company within a
reasonable period. If the Company is
required to indemnify and defend, it will
thereafter have control of such litigation,
but the Company may not settle such
litigation withoutthe consent of the City,
which consent will not be unreasonably
withheld. This section is not as to third
parties a waiver of any defense or immu-
nity otherwise available to the City; and
the Company, in defending any action on
behalf of the City is entitled to assert in
any action every defense or immunity
that the City could assert in its own
behalf.
SECTION 6. SUCCESSORS IN
INTEREST.
This ordinance and the rights and
obligations conferred hereby, is binding
on and inures to the benefit ofthe City and
its successors and on the Company and its
successors and permitted assigns.
SECTION 7. FRANCHISE FEE.
Separate Ordinance. The City re-
serves all rights under Minnesota Stat-
utes, Section 21613.36 or other law to
require a franchise fee at any time during
the term of this franchise. In addition to
the franchise fee, the Company shall be
required to pay only such other fees,
charges, costs or taxes which are generally
required to be paid by other businesses or
persons in the City. The franchise fee
must be imposed by a separate ordinance
adopted by the City Council, which ordi-
nance may not be adopted until at least
sixty (60) days after Notice enclosing
such proposed ordinance has been served
upon the Company by certified mail. A
fee imposed under this section does not
become effective until sixty (60) days
after Notice enclosing the adopted ordi-
nance has been servedupon the Company
by certified mail.
SECTION 8. LIMITATION ON
APPLICABILITY.
Limitation on Applicability. This
Ordinance constitutes a franchise agree-
ment between the City and the Company.
No provision of this franchise inures to
the benefit of any third person, including
the public at large, so as to constitute
any
such person as a third -party beneficiary
of the agreement or of any one or more of
the terms hereof, or otherwise give rise to
any cause of action for any person not a
party hereto.
SECTION 9. PREVIOUS FRAN-
CHISES SUPERSEDED.
Previous Franchises superseded. This
franchise supersedes and replaces previ-
ous franchises granted to the Company or
its predecessors.
SECTION 10. AMENDMENTS.
Amendments. This ordinancemay be
amended at any time by the City. An
amendatory ordinance becomes effective
upon the filing of the Company's written
consent thereto.
SECTION 11. SEVERABILITY.
Severability. If any portion of this
franchise is found unenforceable for any
reason, the validity of the remaining pro-
visions will not be affected.
Passed and approved May 13, 2002
Mayor
ATTEST:
Clerk
(Published in the Chanhassen Villager on
Thursday, June 6, 2002; No. 4727)