HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOUNCIL - AGENDA ITEM - 01/06/2009 - SECOND READING OF ORDINANCE NO. 161, 2008, AMENDIN ITEM NUMBER: 8
AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY DATE: January 6, 2009
FORT COLLINS CITY COUNCIL STAFF: Steve Catanach
Brian Janonis
SUBJECT
Second Reading of Ordinance No. 161, 2008, Amending the City Code to Establish Marking
Requirements.
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends adoption of this Ordinance on Second Reading.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
This Ordinance, unanimously adopted on First Reading on December 16, 2008 requires the use of
chalk-based paint in the Old Town Area and on decorative surfaces throughout the city,except under
certain conditions. Markings are defined in the proposed ordinance to include any mark to show the
location of underground facilities or to mark other design or construction-related specifications,
features or limits. Markings made with water-based paint must be properly removed within 45 days
of the request, except under certain conditions. In a situation that requires markings to be made
utilizing water-based paint, the person making the request through the Colorado Notification
Association will be responsible for their removal. If the person making the request is unknown,such
as when an engineering company contracts directly with a locate company instead of through the
Notification Association, then the person causing the marking to be made will be responsible for
removing the marking.
The Ordinance has been revised on Second Reading to clarify the distinction between the markings
requirements on decorative surfaces and in the Old Town Area,versus those made elsewhere in the
City. A few other changes were made to make the language more readable. Also,the definition of
"Old Town Area"has been changed to include a slightly broader geographic area than that included
in the definition on First Reading.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Copy of First Reading Agenda Item Summary - December 16, 2008.
(w/o original attachments)
ATTACHMENT
ITEM NUMBER: 14
AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY DATE: December 16, 2008
FORT COLLINS CITY COUNCIL SjAFF: Steve Catanach
Brian Janonis
_ ._
SUBJECT
First Reading of Ordinance No. 161, 2008, Amending the City Code to Establish Marking
Requirements.
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends adoption of the Ordinance on First Reading.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
City departments excavating i mpro areas b c st of removing water-based paint
locate marks. Approximate c will be 70 pe a oval.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Markings can have a negative and lasting(up to several months)impact on the aesthetics of a given
area especially on decorative surfaces. This Ordinance is proposed as an addition to Chapter 23,
Article V of the City Code requiring the use of chalk-based paint in the Old Town Area and on
decorative surfaces throughout the city, except under certain conditions. Markings are defined in
the proposed ordinance to include any mark to show the location of underground facilities or to mark
other design or construction-related specifications, features or limits. Markings made with water-
based paint must be properly removed within 45 days of the request,except under certain conditions.
In a situation that requires markings to be made utilizing water-based paint,the person making the
request through the Colorado Notification Association will be responsible for their removal. If the
person making the request is su sf
an 'n g company contracts directly
with a locate company instead thro e jAc.' tion,then the person causing the
marking to be made will be re onsible r re e g.
BACKGROUND
Anytime a person or entity plans on excavating, they are required to obtain utility locate markings
to insure safety and avoid disruption of utility services. Utility locate markings show the location
of existing underground utilities on the surface. Such markings are color-coded to indicate the type
of infrastructure below, preventing damage to underground infrastructure and protecting the
December 16, 2008 -2- Item No. 14
excavator. Utility locate marking requests are coordinated through the Colorado Notification
Association. Such requests made through the Colorado Notification Association are coordinated
with utility companies or their contractors to provide locate markings within 48 hours of the request.
In addition to the City Locate (tloca
nt locate companies that are contracted
by Xcel, Comcast and Qwes a eir it es A 'f nally, the City and the contract
companies will do locate mar for, inee g mpanie o identify construction conflicts.
Water-based paint and chalk-based paint are available for locate marking. Water-based paint is
more durable than chalk-based; both provide specific advantages under varying circumstances.
Chalk-based paint wears off of surfaces much quicker and easier preserving the aesthetics of the
area. However, because of the short-lived nature of the marks, there is a specific risk that locate
marks will disappear or fade while excavation is still going on. State statute declares locate marks
are considered usable so long as the markings are visible, but for no more than 30 calendar days.
If an excavation has not been completed within the 30-day period, or if the marks are no longer
visible,the excavator is required to call the Notification Association and ask for a re-locate. A re-
locate must be made before excavation can continue. Chalk-based marking in areas subject to
vehicular traffic are erased very quickly by the friction of the tires. To prevent excessive calls for
re-locates and to insure that marks are visible enough to ensure the safety of the public,water-based
paint will be allowed in all drive lanes, parking lots or other areas subject to traffic.
Marking removal will be the res .41 e
Ypwithin
quest through the Notification
Association. If the locates w e not c rdinaPents
fication Association, the last
person causing the marks to b ade wi be re . Removal of markings made
with water-based paint must me f the City's water quality
requirements as detailed in Section 26-498 of the City Code. It is anticipated that the cost of
removal of water-based marks will have a financial impact on both contractors and those City
departments that excavate. Current bids indicate that it will cost approximately $70 to properly
remove water-based paint marks from an area. The Utilities Locate Department will work with
contractors and other City departments to minimize the area that is marked and to minimize the use
of water-based paint.
ORDINANCE NO . 161 , 2008
OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS
AMENDING THE CODE OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS
TO ESTABLISH MARKING REQUIREMENTS
WHEREAS , markings are often made on City right-of-way and on other public
improvements to show the location of underground facilities or to mark other design or construction-
related specifications, features or limits ; and
WHEREAS , markings made with water-based paint tend to remain visible for a longer period
of time than is necessary for the intended purpose ; and
WHEREAS , excessive markings and markings that do not disappear within a reasonable
period of time unless emain visible for an extended period of time detract from the
aesthetic appearance of public areas in the city; and
WHEREAS , markings are particularly noticeable in the Old Town Area and on decorative
surfaces ; and
WHEREAS , markings made on surfaces in drive lanes, parking lots or other areas designed
for vehicular traffic tend to disappear as a result of the vehicular traffic on such surfaces ; and
WHEREAS , chalk-based paint makes less permanent markings and is a viable alternative
to water-based paint for making such markings; and
WHEREAS , proper removal of certain markings made with water-based
markings that have served their intended purpose should be promptly and properly removed; and
WHEREAS , the City Council wishes to adopt a local ordinance establishing marking
requirements in order to dirninishdiminish the lasting impact of such markings on the appearance
of-public areas in the ity.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT
COLLINS that a new Article XIV of Chapter 23 of the Code of the City of Fort Collins entitled
"Location Markings on Public Property" is hereby added and reads in its entirety as follows :
Article XIV.
LOCATION MARKINGS ON PUBLIC PROPERTY
Sec . 23 -380 . Definitions.
The following words and phrases, when used in this Article, shall have the
meanings respectively ascribed to them unless the context otherwise clearly
indicates :
City right-of- way shall mean an area dedicated to public use or impressed with
an easement for public use which is owned or maintained by the City and is primarily
used for pedestrian or vehicular travel or for public utilities or other infrastructure .
City right-of-way shall include but not be limited to the street, gutter, curb, shoulder,
sidewalk, sidewalk area, parking area and any other public way.
Decorative surfaces shall mean those surfaces that are composed of ornamental
materials or embellished for decorative purposes, such as those found on pavers,
exposed aggregate, and stamped or stained concrete .
Marking or mark shall mean any mark, or the process of making such mark, on
City right-of-way or public improvements in the City to show the location of
underground facilities, or to mark other design or construction-related specifications,
features or limits .
Notification association shall mean the statewide notification association of
owners and operators of underground facilities created in Colorado Revised Statutes
§ 9- 1 . 5 - 105 .
Old Town Area shall mean all public property and public improvements within
the area bordered on to the north by the northern boundary of eherry Street right-of-
way,
south by the southern boundary of the Eflive Street right-of-way,
the castern boundary of the Peterson Street righf-of-way,
north to the point at whict
Peterson Street intersects with jefferson, and from that point, the eastern boundary
of the jefferson Street right-of-w southern boundary of the Poudre River; on the
west by the western boundary of the Meldrum Street right-of-way, extended to the
Poudre River; on the south by the southern boundary of the Mulberry Street right-of-
way; and on the east by the western boundary of the Poudre River.
Public improvements shall mean any improvement, fixture or addition to real
property or publicly owned facilities, whether permanent or not, made by a public
entity.
Sec . 23 -381 . Marking standardsProhibited markings ; limitations.
(a) No person shall mark any City right-of-way or public improvements in the City
with a marking that is more extensive than necessary to reasonably identify the
location intended to be marked.
(eb) No person shall mark City-owned property without the City ' s permission,
which permission may be obtained by utilizing either the notification association or
calling the City Utilities locates section mid such markings must be in accordmice
All such markings shall be made in accordance with
the requirements of this Section and shall also comply with any applicable
administrative standards .
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(bc) Markings on decorative surffices or within the Old Town7krea trmst be mad
water-basedwith chalk-based paint, except that All markings
on any decorative surfaces in the City and all markings on any right-of-way or public
improvement in the Old Town Area must be made with chalk-based paint except for
markings that are made :
( 1 ) -23 --28-2 or the marked sttrfficc
is madc invisible or cxeavatcd within forty-fivc (45 ) days of the on
drive lanes, parking lots or other areas designed for vehicular traffic ; or
(2) the marked surface is ina drive ianc, parking lot or other area dcsigt1cd f6r
vehicular on areas that will be excavated or obscured from view by the
placement of permanent fixtures or by the installation of landscaping within
forty-five (45 ) days of the marking.
(d) All markings made with water-based paint must be removed within forty-five
(45 ) days after the markings were made unless such markings were made on either
of the areas specified in subparagraphs (c)( 1 ) or (c)(2) of this Section. The removal
method used for removing markings must not destroy or materially alter the rights-
of-way or other improvements, and must fully comply with applicable water quality
requirements, as set forth in § 26-498 . Such markin s must be removed within forty-
fiveAny party that requests thea marking through the
notification association isshall be responsible for removal of the marking . If a
marking is not made through the notification association, the last person causing the
marking to be made is solely responsible for removal of the marking .
Alf markings that arc madc with watcr-based paint on eity rights-of-way or Other
public improvements Trmst be fully and compictely rcmoved unless : stich markings
are made on areas designed for vehicular traffic .-
Sec. 23 -382 Removal of Maikings .
All markings that are madc with watcr-bascd paint on eity rights-of-way or othcr
public improvements must be fully and completely removed unless Such markings
are made on areas designed for vehicular traffic . The removal inethod used must not
rights--wayrights-kif-way or otf i I ictits ,
comply with applicabic water quality teclunemnits , as set forth in § -26-498 . Sue
markings inust be removed within forty-five (45 ) days after being made . Any part!
that requests the marking through the notification associati sible for
association, the last person causing the marking to be madc is solcly responsible fo
removal of the marking .
Sec. 23 -3823. Penalty.
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(a) Any person who violates any provision of this Article commits a misdemeanor
criminal offense and upon conviction, shall be subject to the provisions of § 1 - 15 .
Each day such violation is committed or permitted to continue shall constitute a
separate offense.
(b) As an additional means of enforcement, and not as an alternative to or substitute
for prosecution for violation of the provisions of this Article, the City may remove
or eradicate any markings which are not removed pursuant to the provisions of this
Article and charge the party responsible for such removal the full cost incurred by
the City to effect such removal. Any such costs incurred shall be immediately due
and payable, and interest on such amounts due shall accrue at the statutory rate
applicable to judgment awards . The City Manager may collect such amounts using
any methods legally available, including conditioning of future licenses, permits or
other grants or approvals, or renewals of the same, upon payment of any unpaid
balance due hereunder.
Introduced, considered favorably on first reading, and ordered published this 16th day of
December, A.D . 2008 , and to be presented for final passage on the 6th day of January, A.D . 2009 ,
Mayor
ATTEST :
City Clerk
Passed and adopted on final reading on the 6th day of January, A.D . 2009 .
Mayor
ATTEST :
City Clerk
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