Soledad Municipal Code Ch. 12.04 Excavations

It is unlawful for any person to make any excavation in or under the surface of any street, alley, sidewalk, public way or public place in the city without first obtaining a permit to do so from the building inspector of the city and depositing with the building inspector upon receipt of such permit a cash deposit to defray the cost of restoring the surface of the street, alley, sidewalk, public way or public place, to its former condition as nearly as practicable; provided, however, that any public utility company need not make such deposit but shall be billed monthly for the cost of any such restoration.

(Prior code § 20-1)

The application for the permit required by Section 12.04.010 shall be in writing and addressed to and filed with the building inspector. It shall state clearly the nature, extent and location of the excavation proposed to be made and the purpose for which the excavation is to be made. When the applicant has complied with this chapter, the building inspector shall issue the permit applied for and deliver the permit to the applicant or his duly authorized agent.

(Prior code § 20-2)

The permit shall set forth the time for the completion of the work of refilling the same or the restoring of the surface of the excavation to its former condition. The time for commencement and completion may be extended by the city council only upon good cause shown for the extension.

(Prior code § 20-3)

The permittee shall forfeit to the city as liquidated damages the sum of ten dollars per day for each day such work of refilling remains uncompleted beyond the period for completion fixed by the building inspector, or as extended by the city council, and the city attorney shall institute the necessary legal proceedings in a court of competent jurisdiction for the collection of damages and prosecute the proceedings to completion.

(Prior code § 20-4)

All excavations, refilling and resurfacing shall be made under the supervision and to the satisfaction of the city engineer of the city and shall be conducted in such manner as to do the least possible damage to contiguous lands and improvements.

(Prior code § 20-5)

All applicants for a street opening permit shall pay to the city as provided in Section 12.04.010 sufficient moneys to defray the cost of resurfacing the excavations.

(Prior code § 20-6)

It is the duty of the building inspector to report all street opening permits to the city clerk and the city council monthly and to deposit with the city council all cash deposits made under this chapter.

(Prior code § 20-7)

All excavations shall be refilled by the applicant under the direction of the city engineer and resurfaced by the city; provided, however, that the applicant may, upon written approval of the city engineer and the city council, resurface excavations. The work shall be done to the satisfaction of the city engineer.

(Prior code § 20-8)

It is the duty of the applicant for an excavation permit in receipt of the permit to make the excavation in such manner as to provide free access to all fire hydrants and to provide safe and adequate crossings over the excavation for vehicular traffic and for pedestrians, should such crossings, in the judgment of the city engineer, be necessary. Suitable barriers shall be constructed about the excavation for the prevention of accidents, and adequate lights shall be continuously maintained on the excavation, from the period of sunset to sunrise.

(Prior code § 20-9)