ITEM TITLE:
Title
Consider approving an Ordinance amending Section 6-1-1-118, Division 6-1-1, Article 6-1, Chapter 6, Buildings, Construction and Housing, Lawton City Code, 2015; by adding language regarding the utilities disconnection that will allow the City to cap the water and sewer mains and charge the property owner for those services, requiring the removal of all driveways on the property except for the final four feet of the approach that connects to the street and removing the requirement for sod or grassing to be installed on the lots for stabilization, providing for severability, establishing an effective date and allowing for floor amendments.
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INITIATOR: Charlotte Brown, Community Services Director
STAFF INFORMATION SOURCE: Charlotte Brown, Community Services Director
Rusty Whisenhunt, Public Utilities Director
BACKGROUND: Staff has received several complaints about the time frame to issue demolition permits. The current requirements are that the utility companies send in clearances once the meters have been pulled and that a plumber goes in and caps the water service line at the corporation stop and also caps the sewer main. City inspectors then go out and do the inspection to verify that the lines have been capped accordingly. Some of the contractors have damaged city mains in their attempt to cap them properly. If the water main is under the street, then the contractor has to call the Public Utility Department for Water Distribution to assist them in closing it at the corporation stop. Depending on the workload for Water Distribution, this can cause some delays in getting the demolition permit.
The proposed ordinance will allow for the demolition contractors to get the demo permits faster, by just receiving the electric, gas and the water meter disconnect clearances. Staff will notify Public Utilities of a needed water and sewer main cap and Public Utilities will send out a crew to do the work. The demolition contractor will no longer have to wait on this main capping in order to demolish the house. If a property owner has applied for the demolition permit, the fee for this work will be charged to the demolition permit. If the City has hired a contractor, then the fee for this work will be charged to the property as part of the demolition lien. The proposed ordinance will also require the removal of driveways from the property except for the final 4 feet of the approach that connects to the street. The ordinance will also remove the requirement for sodding or grassing of the property. This requirement has not been enforced in the past.
This ordinance is in accordance with the True North Culture Statement in that we are building a safe community for the citizens, and we do everything for the citizens.
EXHIBIT: Ordinance No. 24-______
KEY ISSUES: N/A
FUNDING SOURCE: N/A
STAFF RECOMMENDED COUNCIL ACTION: Approve Ordinance No. 24-____, waive the reading of the ordinance and read the title only.