PW09-056 Ai 2 sc PIS
CITY
FRIDLEY
FRIDLEY MUNICIPAL CENTER • 6431 UNIVERSITY AVE.N.E.FRIDLEY,MN 55432
(763)571-3450 • FAX(763)571-1287 • 1TD/TTY(763)572-3534
December 11, 2009 PW09-056
Pablo Arias
333 Rice Creek Terrace
Fridley, MN 55432
RE: Code Violation/Need for Action
Right of Way Encroachment at 333 Rice Creek Terrace
Mr. Arias:
It has been observed by City personnel that a set of light posts have been installed adjacent to Rice Creek
Terrace within the public right of way. This is a violation of City Code.
Violation(s):
OBSTRUCTIONS (LIGHT POLES) INSTALLED IN CITY RIGHT OF WAY WITHOUT A PERMIT
Code Section (s):
Fridley City Code Chapter 407 prohibits non-permitted obstructions within the City rights of way. An
excerpt of Chapter 407 is attached.
The full chapter is available online at: http://www.ci.fridley.mn.us/citycode
Obstructions such as these indicated above hamper the Public Works Department's ability to control snow
and ice, and are therefore are not permitted.
Action Needed to Correct:
You must correct the condition or contact the City Public Works Department immediately, or the City
will take action to abate the condition(s)outlined in this letter starting on 1/6/2010. The following actions
are required to avoid abatement of the condition(s)outlined in this letter:
1 Correct the violation(s) identified in this letter by removal of the obstruction(s), including
underground power connections and footings.
2 Contact the Public Works Department at(763) 572-3552 and make arrangements to correct
the violation(s) in accordance with a schedule that is agreeable to the City.
Reinspection and Abatement:
City staff will reinspect this property on or shortly after 1/6/2010. If the violation(s)remain,the City will
abate this nuisance in accordance with City Code. The City may exercise any remedies or rights it has at
law or in equity, including,but not limited to, abating the nuisance or taking possession of the Equipment
or Facilities and restoring the right-of-way to a usable condition. Should this occur,you will be charged
for the costs associated with the abatement, including up to 25 %for administrative expenses incurred.
Please contact the Public Works Department at(763) 572-3552 if you have questions or wish to discuss
this further. Thank you for your cooperation.
Regards,
I
J.mes Kosluchar
ity of Fridley
Public Works Director
cc: Street Department
Address File
JPK/jpk
FRIDLEY CITY CODE
CHAPTER 407. RIGHTS-OF-WAY MANAGEMENT
(Reference Ordinance No.945, 1116 and 1139)
407.01. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE
1. To provide for the health, safety and well-being of its citizens, and to ensure the structural
integrity of its streets and the appropriate use of the public rights-of-way, the City strives to
keep its public rights-of-way in a state of good repair and free from unnecessary
encumbrances. Although the general population bears the financial burden for the upkeep of
the public rights-of-way, a primary cause for the early and excessive deterioration of its
public rights-of-way is frequent excavation by persons whose equipment or facilities are
located therein.
Public right-of-way obstruction is a source of frustration for merchants, business owners and
the general population which must avoid these obstructions or change travel or shopping
plans because of them and has a detrimental effect on commerce. Persons whose equipment
or facilities is located within the public right-of-way are the primary cause of these frequent
obstructions.
The City holds the public rights-of-way within its geographical boundaries as an asset in
trust for its citizens. The City and other public entities have invested millions of dollars in
public funds to build and maintain the public rights-of-way. It also recognizes that some
persons, by placing their equipment or facilities in the public right-of-way and charging the
citizens of the City for goods and services delivered thereby, are using this property held for
the public good. Although such services are often necessary or convenient for the citizens,
such persons receive revenue and/or profit through their use of public property.
As a result of all these intrusions in the public right-of-way, it is appropriate for the City to
establish a system of documenting what is placed in the public rights-of-way within its
municipal boundaries to inform its citizens and the other public entities of the equipment or
facilities that have been placed in the right-of-way that is held in trust for them.
2. In response to the foregoing facts, the City hereby enacts this Chapter of the City Code
relating to right-of-way permits and administration, together with making necessary revisions
to other Code provisions. This Chapter imposes reasonable regulations on the placement and
maintenance of facilities and equipment currently within the City's public rights-of-way or to
be placed therein at some future time. It is intended to complement the regulatory roles of
state and federal agencies. Under this Chapter, persons disturbing and obstructing the public
rights-of-way will bear the financial responsibility for their work. Finally, this Chapter
provides for recovery of out-of-pocket and projected costs from persons using the public
rights-of-way.
Fridley City Code Chapter 407 Section 407.07.1.A.
B. To the extent known, the tentative locations and estimated beginning and ending dates
for all Projects contemplated for the five years following the next calendar year (in this
section, a"Five-year Project").
The term "project" in this section shall include both Next-year Projects and Five-year
Projects.
By January 1 of each year the City will have available for inspection a composite list of all
Projects of which the City has been informed in the annual plans. All Registrants are
responsible for keeping themselves informed of the current status of this list.
Thereafter, by February 1, each Registrant may change any Project in its list of Next-year
Projects, and must notify the City and all other Registrants of all such changes in said list.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Registrant may at any time join in a Next-year Project of
another Registrant listed by the other Registrant.
2. Additional Next-year Projects.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the City will not deny an application for a Right-of-Way
Permit for failure to include a project in a plan submitted to the City if the Registrant has
used commercially reasonable efforts to anticipate and plan for the project.
3. Applicants obtaining Anoka County Highway or Minnesota Department of Transportation
excavation permits for facilities in their rights-of-way within the corporate limits of the City
must provide a copy to the City and submit a copy of the plans with mapping data for
recording su loses ger Section 407.21.
407.07. PERMIT REQUIREMENT
1. Permit Required.
Except as otherwise provided in this Code, no Person may Obstruct or Excavate any Right-
of-Way without first having registered and obtained the appropriate Right-of-Way Permit
from the City to do so.
A. Excavation Permit.
An Excavation Permit is required to excavate that part of the Right-of-Way described in
such permit and to hinder free and open passage over the specified portion of the Right-
of-Way by placing equipment or facilities described therein, to the extent and for the
duration specified therein.