Title 5 - Business Licenses and Regulations

 

Chapters:

5.04     Cable Television Franchise

5.08     Retail Beer and Wine Sales

5.12     Retail Liquor Sales

 

Chapter 5.04 Cable Television Franchise

Sections:

5.04.010          Definitions.

5.04.020          Grant of authority.

5.04.030          Non-exclusive grant.

5.04.040          Term of franchise.

5.04.050          Condition of street occupancy.

5.04.060          Safety requirements.

5.04.070          System construction and extension.

5.04.080          Operational standards; Force majeure.

5.04.090          Local office, complaint’s.

5.04.100          Rates.

5.04.110          Franchise payments.

5.04.120          Indemnification of city.

5.04.130          Procedures.

5.04.140          Procedure upon termination.

5.04.150          Approval of transfer.

5.04.160          Miscellaneous provisions.

5.04.170          Compliance with applicable laws and ordinances.

5.04.180          Violations:  Penalties.

5.04.190          Line severing.

5.04.200          Severability.

 

5.04.010  Definition  When used in this ordinance, unless the context otherwise requires, the following terms and their derivatives shall have the meaning herein given (and when not inconsistent with the context, words used in the present tense include the future, words in the plural number include the singular, and words in the singular number include the plural):

            A.        “City” means the Local Government of the City of Dillon, State of Montana.

            B.        “City Council” means the governing body of the City.

            C.        “Grantee” means T.C.I. Cablevision of Montana, Inc., Dillon, its successors and assigns, the grantee of rights under this ordinance.

            D.        “Persons” means any natural person, company or entity of any kind.

            E.         “Franchise area” means that area within the geographic limits of the City.

            F.         “Street” means the surface of and the space above and below any public street, way, place, right-of-way, road, highway, freeway, bridge, tunnel, lane, path, bike-path, alley, court, sidewalk, parkway, drive, communications or utility easement, by whatever named called, now or hereafter existing as such within the franchise area.

            G.        “Property of Grantee” mean all property owned, installed or used by the Grantee in the conduct of a CATV business in the City.

            H.        “CATV”: means a cable television system.

            I.          “Cable Television System” means a system composed of, without limitation, antenna, cables, wires, lines, towers, wave guides, or any other conductors, converters, equipment or facilities, designed, constructed or wired for the purpose of producing, receiving, amplifying and distributing by coaxial cable radio, television or other electronic or electrical signals to and from persons, subscribers and locations in the franchise area.

            J.          “Basic CATV Service” means the distribution of broadcast television signals by the Grantee.

            K.        “Subscriber” means any person or entity receiving and paying for basic CATV service.

            L.         “Gross Subscriber Revenue” include total revenues from basic CATV services, and total revenues from HBO, CINEMAX, SHOWTIME, DISNEY, and/or any other pay TV programming less program costs, but shall not include any taxes on services furnished by the Grantee imposed on any subscriber or user by any government, governmental unit, political subdivision, agency or instrumentality, and collected by the Grantee.

 

5.04.020  Grant of authority  There is hereby granted by the City to the Grantee the right and privilege to engage in the business of operating and providing a CATV system within the City and for the purpose to erect, install, construct, repair, replace, reconstruct, maintain and retain in, on, over, under, upon, across and along any street or streets laid out or dedicated and extensions thereof and additions thereto in the franchise area, such poles, wires, cable, conductors, ducts, conduit, vaults, manholes, pedestals, amplifiers, appliances, attachments, and other property as may be necessary and appurtenant to the CATV system; and in addition, so to use, operate, and provide similar facilities or properties rented or leased from other persons, including but not limited to any public utility or other grantee franchised or permitted to do business within the City.

 

5.04.030  Non-exclusive grant  The right to use and occupy said streets for the purpose herein set forth, shall not be exclusive in the Grantee.

 

5.04.040  Term of franchise  The franchise and rights herein granted shall commence thirty (30) days from the final passage hereof and shall continue in force and effect for twenty (20) years after said effective date.  Upon application by the Grantee to the City, the franchise may be renewed for subsequent twenty (20) year periods.

 

5.04.050  Condition of street occupancy

A.        All transmission and distribution structures, poles, lines and equipment installed or erected by the grantee within the franchise area shall be so located as to cause minimum interference with the proper use of streets and with the rights and reasonable convenience of property owners who adjoin any of the said streets.  The CATV system shall be constructed and operated in compliance with applicable governmental construction and electrical codes.

B.        In case of disturbance of any street or paved area the Grantee shall, at its expense and in a manner approved by the City, replace and restore such street or paved area in as good condition as theretofore.

C.        The Grantee shall, at its expense, protect, support, temporarily disconnect, relocate in the same street or other public place, or remove from the street or other public place any property of the Grantee when lawfully required by the City by reason of traffic conditions, public safety, street vacating, freeway and street construction, change or established or street grade, installation of sewers, drains, gas or water pipes, or any other type of structures or improvements by the City; but, the Grantee shall in all cases have their right of abandonment of its property, subject to City Ordinances, and if public funds are available to any utility company for the purpose of defraying the cost of any of the foregoing, such funds shall also by made available to the Grantee.

D.        The Grantee shall, on the request of any person holding a building moving permit issued by the City, temporarily raise or lower its wires to permit the moving of buildings, provided: (i) the expense of such temporary raising or lowering of wires is paid by said person, including if required by the Grantee, making such payment in advance; and (ii) the Grantee is given not less than three business days advance notice to arrange for such temporary wire changes.

E.         The Grantee shall have the authority to trim trees overhanging any streets in the franchise area so as to prevent branches from coming in contact with the Grantee’s wires and cables, except that at the option of the City such trimming may be done by it or under its supervision and direction at the Grantee’s expense.

F.         Subject to any applicable state or federal regulations or tariffs, the City shall have the right to make additional use, for any public purpose, of any poles or conduits controlled or maintained exclusively by or for the Grantee in any street, provided: (i) such use by the City does not interfere with the use by the Grantee; and (ii) the City holds the Grantee harmless against and from all claims, demands, causes of actions, suits, action, proceedings, damages, costs or liabilities of every kind and nature whatsoever arising out such use said poles or conduits.

 

5.04.060  Safety requirements

A.        The Grantee shall at all times employ ordinary care and shall install and maintain in use commonly accepted methods and devices for preventing failure and accidents which are likely to cause damage, injuries or nuisances to the public.

B.        All structures and all lines, equipment and connections in, over, under and upon all streets of the franchise area shall be kept and maintained in a safe and suitable condition and in good order and repair.

 

5.04.070  System construction and extension

A.        The Grantee is hereby authorized to extend the system within the franchise area to the extent that such extension is or may become technically and economically feasible.

B.        Whenever the Grantee shall have received written requests for service from at least fifteen (15) subscribers within 400 cable meters (1300 cable feet) of its aerial truck cable, or from at least twenty-five (25) subscribers within 400 cable meters (1300 cable feet) of its underground trunk cable, it shall extend its system to such subscribers solely for the usual connection and service fees for all subscribers, provided that such extension is technically and economically feasible.  The 400 meters shall be measured in extension length of Grantee’s cable required for service located within the public way or easement and shall not include length of necessary drop to the subscriber’s home or premises.

C.        No person in the Grantee’s service area shall be arbitrarily refused service; but in recognition of the capital costs involved in unusual circumstances, including, without limitation, instances when the distance from distribution cable to connection of service to subscribers is more that 45 meters (150 cable feet) or when a subscriber density exists less than the density specified hereinabove, services may by made available on the basis of costs of materials, labor and easements, in order to prevent inequitable burdens on cable subscribers in more densely populated areas.

D.        For all residential structures hereinafter erected which are to be served by underground utilities, the developer of the subdivision or development may require CATV service for this development under the following conditions:  but otherwise the Grantee shall not be obligated to construct CATV system in such new development:  Developer shall perform all trenching and back filling necessary for the provisions of cable television service, in compliance with the provision of the ordinance of the City of Dillon, including furnishing of any imported back fill material required, and will furnish and install for the Grantee any necessary distribution conduit and substructures, including pedestals, required in accordance with the Grantee’s plans and specifications.  Developer may enter into a written agreement with the Grantee whereby such costs may be reimbursed to the developer by Grantee at the rate of fifty percent (50%) of basic subscriber revenues generated from CATV service supplied within the development over a period not to exceed three (3) years.

 

In addition to providing plans and specifications to the developer, the Grantee shall inspect the facilities required hereunder, and certify to the City prior to final approval of the subdivision or development that the facilities required herein are property installed.  The City shall have the right to review and require its approval of the maps and specifications provided by the Grantee.  The cost of that portion of an extension to a subdivision or development shall be borne by the developer.  Facilities installed hereunder shall be owned, operated, and maintained by Grantee.

 

5.04.080  Operational standards; force majeure

A.        The Grantee shall operate and maintain its cable television system in full compliance with the standards set forth by the Federal Communications Commission.

B.        The Grantee shall have no obligation to construct or extend the system, nor to provide, repair, replace, maintain or operate CATV service, for any cause beyond Grantee’s control, including, without limitation, acts of God, fire, flood, earthquakes, hurricane, unavoidable casualty, extraordinary delays in transportation, strikes, lockouts, picketing, boycotts, embargoes, government orders or other requirements, acts of civil commotion, energy shortages, acts or omissions of carriers, or activities or other emergency conditions including weather conditions incompatible with good quality workmanship.

 

5.04.090  Local office, complaints  The Grantee shall maintain a local business office or agent which subscribers may telephone during regular hours without incurring added message or toll charges, so that complaints regarding cable television operations may by promptly reported to the Grantee.

 

5.04.100  Rates  The Grantee shall maintain on file with the Clerk of the City of Dillon a schedule setting forth all rates and charges to be made to subscribers for basic CATV service, including connection and service charges.

 

5.04.110  Franchise payments  The Grantee shall pay the City, on or before each February 1st, a franchise fee of up to five percent (5%) of gross subscriber revenues received for cable television operations within the City for the preceding calendar year, and no other fee, charge or consideration.  The Grantee shall provide an annual summary report showing annual gross subscriber revenues received during the preceding year.

 

5.04.120  Indemnification of city

A.        The Grantee shall at all times protect and hold the City harmless from all claims, actions, suits, liability, loss, expense or damages of every kind and description, including investigation costs, court costs, and reasonable attorney’s fees, which may accrue to or be suffered or claimed by any person or persons arising out of negligence of the Grantee in the ownership construction, repair, replacement, maintenance and operation of said cable television system and by reason of any license, copyright, property right or patent of any article or system used in the construction or use of said system, provided the City gives the Grantee prompt notice of any such claims, actions, and suits, without limitation, in writing.  The Grantee shall maintain in full force and effect during the life of any franchise, public liability and property damage insurance for an amount of at least Three Hundred Thousand Dollars ($300,000.00) single-limit liability from the time of commencement of construction of the CATV system.

All such insurance may contain reasonable deductible provisions not to exceed One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) for any type of coverage.  The City may require that any and all investigation of claims made by any person against the City arising out any use or misuse of privileges granted to the Grantee hereunder shall be made by, or at the expense of the Grantee or its insurer.  The Grantee may bring its obligations to carry any insurance required hereby within the coverage of any so-called blanket policy or policies of insurance on or hereafter carried, by appropriate amendment, endorsement or otherwise, provided, however, the interests of the City shall be as fully protected thereby as if the Grantee had obtained individual policies of insurance.

 

5.04.130  Procedures

A.        Any inquiry, proceeding, investigation, or other action to be taken or proposed to be taken by the City in regard to the operations of the Grantee’s cable television system, shall be taken only after thirty (30) days written notice to the Grantee of such action or proposed action, and the Grantee has been given an opportunity to respond in writing and at any hearing which may be specified by the City.

B.        The notice required by this section, shall state clearly the action or proposed action to be taken, the time provided for response and the person in authority to whom such responses should be addressed, and such other procedures as may be specified by the City.  If a hearing is to be held, the notice shall give the date and the time of such hearing, whether public participation will be allowed and the procedures by which such participation may by obtained.  The Grantee shall be necessary party to any hearing conducted in regard to its operation.

 

5.04.140  Procedure upon termination  Upon expiration of the franchise, if the Grantee shall not have acquired an extension renewal thereof and accepted the same, it may have and it is hereby granted, the right to enter upon the streets or other property of the City, for the purposed of removing therefrom any or all of its property or otherwise in so removing said property, the Grantee shall refill, at its expense, and excavation that it shall make and shall leave said streets is as good condition as that prevailing prior to the Grantee’s removal of its property.

 

5.04.150  Approval of transfer  The Grantee shall not sell or transfer its plant or system nor transfer any rights under this franchise to another without the City Council’s approval.  No sale or transfer shall be effective until the vendee, assignee or lessee has filed in the office of the Clerk an instrument duly executed reciting the fact of such sale, assignment or lease, accepting the terms of the franchise and agreeing to perform all the conditions thereof.  Such Council approval shall not be unreasonably withheld and neither the Section nor other Sections of this franchise shall prelude the mortgaging, hypothecating, or assigning of rights in the system or THE PLEDGE OF STOCK BY THE Grantee for the purpose of financing.

 

5.04.160  Miscellaneous provisions

A.        When not otherwise prescribed herein, all matters herein required to be filed with the City shall be filed with the Clerk.

B.        In the case of any emergency or disaster, the Grantee shall, upon request of the City make available its facilities to the City for emergency use during the emergency or disaster period.

 

5.04.170  Compliance with applicable laws and ordinances The Grantee shall at all times during the life of this franchise be subject to all lawful exercise of the police power by the City.  The City reserves the right to adopt from time to time in addition to the provisions herein contained such ordinances as may be necessary to the exercise of police power.  Such regulation shall be reasonable and not in derogation of the rights herein granted, nor in conflict with the laws of the State or other local of Federal laws or regulations.

 

5.04.180  Violations:  Penalties

A.        From and after the effective date of this Ordinance, it shall be unlawful for any person to construct, install or maintain within any public street within the City, or within any other public property of the City, or within any privately-owned area within the City which has not yet become a public street but is designated or delineated as a proposed public street on any tentative subdivision may approved by the City, any equipment or facilities for distributing any television signals or radio signals through a CATV system, unless a franchise authorizing such use of such street or property or area has first been obtained, and unless such franchise is in full force and effect.

B.        It shall be unlawful for any person to many any unauthorized connection, whether physically, electrically, acoustically, inductive, or otherwise, with any part of the franchised CATV system within the City for the purpose of enabling anyone to receive any television signal, radio signal, picture, sound, or other transmission without payment to Grantee.

C.        It shall be unlawful for any person, without the consent of the owner, willfully to tamper with, remove or injure any cables, wires or equipment used for distribution of television signals, radio signals, pictures, sound or other transmission.

D.        Any person violating or failing to comply with any of the provisions of this Section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and for each day of violation of failure to comply may be punished by a fine not to exceed five hundred ($500.00) dollars, imprisonment for a term not to exceed six (6) months, or both.  Jurisdiction for such violation shall be in the Police Court of Dillon.

 

5.04.190  Line severing  If any time the Grantee’s cable and/or other equipment is disturbed, damaged, or severed the cost of repair shall be paid by the party responsible for said damage.  The Grantee may charge the responsible party for the time and materials expended for repair of said damage.  The City will cooperate with the Grantee to assist in enforcing any charge or penalty arising from cable severing or other damage to Grantee’s property.

 

5.04.200  Severability  If any part of this Ordinance is for any reason held invalid by the decision of any court or regulation body of competent jurisdiction, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions.  The invalidity of any portion of this Ordinance shall not abate, reduce or otherwise affect any consideration or other obligation required of the Grantee.  All Ordinances and Parts of Ordinances in conflict with the provisions of this Ordinance are hereby repealed.

 

Chapter 5.08 Retail Beer and Wine Sales

Sections:

5.08.010          Definitions.

5.08.020          License—Required.

5.08.030          License—Required by state.

5.08.040          License—Application - Fee.

5.08.050          License—Expiration.

5.08.060          Application of state regulations.

5.08.070          Violation - Penalty.

 

5.08.010  Definitions  Unless otherwise required by the context, the term “beer” and “wine” in this chapter shall be construed to mean any beverage regulated as such by the State of Montana; and the term “person” in this chapter shall be construed to mean every individual, partnership, corporation or association.

 

5.08.020  License - Required  No person shall on or after May 1, 1934, sell or dispose of beer or wine in the City of Dillon, or possess beer or wine for sale within, without first obtaining a license to do so from the City of Dillon as provided in this chapter.

 

5.08.030  License - Required by state  All persons duly licensed by the state of Montana to sell or dispose of beer or wine in the City of Dillon or possess beer or wine for sale therein, and none other, shall obtain a license pursuant to the provisions of this chapter.

 

5.08.040  License – Application - Fee  Every person desiring to sell or dispose of beer or wine in the City of Dillon, or possess beer or wine for sale therein, on or after May 1, 1934, must first apply to the treasurer of the City of Dillon for a license to do so.  On satisfactory evidence that any applicant is duly licensed to sell or dispose of beer or wine in the City of Dillon by the state of Montana, and the payment of a sum equal to one-half of the sum paid by the applicant for such license issued by the state of Montana, said treasurer shall issue a license of the City of Dillon to the applicant to sell or dispose or beer or wine in the City of Dillon.

 

5.08.050  License - Expiration  All licenses pursuant to this chapter shall expire at midnight on the 31st day of December of the year in which issued. 

 

5.08.060  Application of state regulations  Any person licensed to sell or dispose of beer or wine in the City of Dillon pursuant to the provisions of this chapter, shall thereby be entitled to sell or dispose of beer or wine in the City of Dillon only to the extent and in the manner authorized by the state of Montana.

 

5.08.070  Violation - Penalty  Every person who sells or disposes of beer or wine in the City of Dillon, or who possesses beer or wine for sale therein, on or after May 1, 1934, without first obtaining a license from the City of Dillon to do so, as required by this chapter, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and punishable by a fine not to exceed three hundred dollars, or by imprisonment not exceeding ninety days, or by both such fine and imprisonment.

 

Chapter 5.12 Retail Liquor Sales

Sections:

5.12.010          Purpose.

5.12.020          Definitions.

5.12.030          License—Exceptions.

5.12.040          License—Annual fee.

5.12.050          License—Application.

5.12.060          License—Issuance.

5.12.070          License—Contents.

5.12.080          License—Qualifications.

5.12.090          License—Disposal of fees.

5.12.100          Examination of premises by city officials.

5.12.110          Renewal after revocation.

5.12.120          Violation—Penalty.

 

5.12.010  Purpose  In order to better insure the control of the sale of liquor in the City of Dillon, it is declared necessary to further regulate the sale of liquor at retail establishments in the City of Dillon, and to that end require all persons, except clubs, to apply for and procure from the City of Dillon licenses to sell liquor purchased by them at state liquor stores in accordance with this chapter, and to provide penalties for violation thereof.  (Prior code §142)

 

5.12.020  Definitions

            A.        “Act” means Chapter 84 of the Laws of the Twenty-fifth Legislative Assembly of the state of Montana, in regular session.

            B.        “Club” means a national fraternal organization, except college fraternities, or an association of individuals organized for social purposes and not for profit, with a permanent membership and existence of not less than two years, and permanent quarters or rooms.

            C.        “Council” means the council of the City of Dillon.

            D.        “Interdicted person” means a person to whom the sale of liquor is prohibited under the laws of the state of Montana.

            E.         “License” means a license issued by the City of Dillon to a qualified person, under which it shall be lawful for the licensee to sell and dispose liquor at retail as provided in this chapter.

            F.         “Licensee” means the person to whom a license is issued.

            G.        “Liquor” means all kinds of liquor sold by and or in a state liquor store.

            H.        “Person” means every individual, co-partnership, corporation, hotel, restaurant and club, and all licensed retailers of liquor, whether conducting the business singularly or collectively.

            I.          “State liquor store” means a liquor store established and operated by the State of Montana under the laws of Montana.  (Prior code §143)

 

5.12.030  License - Exceptions  It is unlawful for any person who has not been issued a license under this chapter to sell or keep for sale any alcoholic liquor on or after May 1, 1937; provided, however, that nothing in this chapter shall be deemed to apply to those engaged in the sale of liquor:

            A.        At the various state liquor stores;

            B.        In the quarters or rooms of a club, or at a social function of a club wherever held.  (Prior code §144)

 

5.12.040  License - Annual fee  Every licensee under the provisions of this chapter shall pay an annual fee of one hundred fifty dollars; provided, however, that where a license is issued hereunder for a period commencing subsequent to the first day of the year for which such license is issued, a pro rate fee only shall be charged for the balance of such year, but in no event shall the fee charged be less than one hundred dollars.  Nothing in this section shall be construed to entitle any licensee under this chapter to a refund of any portion of the license fee paid by him in the event of his discontinuing his business, or the revocation of his license prior to the expiration of the year for which such license is issued.

The license fee provided under this section shall be exclusive of and in addition to other license fees chargeable by the City of Dillon for the sale of liquor or beer.

 

5.12.050  License - Application  Prior to the issuance of a license as provided in this chapter, the applicant shall file with the city treasurer an application in writing, signed by the applicant and directed to the City of Dillon, which application shall specify the location and number of the premises where the business is to be carried on under the license applied for, and the respective names of all persons conducting the business.  The application must be accompanied by satisfactory evidence that the applicant has the licenses required by Section 5.48.080.  Such application must by accompanied by the license fee specified in Section 5.48.040.  (Prior code §146)

 

5.12.060  License - Issuance  Upon the filing of the application prescribed in Section 5.48.050 accompanied by the evidence thereby required, and upon payment of the required license fee, the city treasurer shall immediately deliver such application and accompanying documents to the city clerk who thereupon shall issue and deliver to the applicant a license.  The city clerk, in his discretion, may hold the application for license so delivered to him by the city treasurer until the next regular meeting of the city council following his receipt of such application and accompanying documents, if any, when he shall submit such application and accompanying documents to the council, which may, in its discretion, decline to authorize such license, if in the judgment of the council it will be for the best interest of this city to refuse such license.  Upon such refusal, the license fee paid by the applicant and all documents filed by him, other than such application, shall be returned to the applicant.  (Prior code §147)

 

5.12.070  License - Contents  Every license issued under this chapter shall set forth the respective names of all persons to whom issued and the location by street and number of the premises where the business is to be carried in under such license.  If issued to a partnership, the license shall set forth the partnership name and the respective names of the individual partners.  Such license shall be posted in a conspicuous place on the premises in respect to which it is issued and shall be exhibited to any member of the police department of the city whenever the same is requested.  Every license issued under the provisions of this chapter is separate and distinct, and no person, except the licensee therein named, shall exercise any of the privileges granted thereunder, and all licenses are applicable only to the respect to which they are issued.  All licenses shall expire on January first of each year.  (Prior code §148)

 

5.12.080  License - Qualifications  No person shall be entitled to a license under this chapter unless such person has in respect to the same premises for which a license under this chapter is sought:

            A.        A subsisting beer or wine license issued under the laws of the state of Montana; and

            B.        A subsisting beer or wine license issued under the ordinances of this city.  (Prior code §149)

 

5.12.090  License - Disposal of fees  All receipts from license fees and fines collected under the provisions of this chapter shall be deposited to the credit of the general fund of the city, out of which said fund the cost of administering this chapter shall be paid.  (Prior code §155)

 

5.12.100  Examination of premises by city officials  The council, or any duly authorized representative thereof, or the mayor, chief of police or any member of the police department of this city shall have the right at any time to make an examination of the premises of the licensee for the purpose of ascertaining whether or not this chapter is being complied with.  (Prior code §154)

 

5.12.110  Renewal after revocation  After the revocation of a license, the council shall have the power to renew the same, if in its discretion a proper showing therefore has been made.  (Prior code §159)

 

5.12.120  Violation - Penalty  Any person violating any of the provisions of this chapter shall, upon conviction thereof, be punishable by a fine of not exceeding three hundred dollars, or imprisonment in the city jail for not more than ninety days, or both.  If a licensee, or any of his employees, is convicted of any offense under this chapter, the license of such licensee shall thereupon be, and become, immediately and automatically revoked.  (Prior code §158)