HomeMy WebLinkAboutTC Ord 1998-02-04
ORDINANCE NO. 432 N.S.
AN ORDINANCE REPEALING CHAPTER 9, ADDING NEW
CHAPTER 9, AND AMENDING CHAPTER 19 OF THE
TIBURON MUNICIPAL CODE, RELATING TO THE
ESTABLISHMENT OF THE MARIN TELECOMMUNICATIONS
AGENCY, DELEGATING AUTHORITY THERETO, AND
ASSIGNING EXISTING CONTRACTS OF TOWN OF TIBURON
WHEREAS, Town of Tiburon is the Franchisor of that certain cable television
franchise presently held jointly by Tele-Vue Systems, Inc., a Washington corporation,
Clear View Cable Systems, Inc., a California corporation, Marin Cable Television, Inc.,
a California corporation, and Cable 1V of Marin, Inc., a California corporation, as Fran-
chisee (hereinafter "TCI") which holds similar franchises from other public entities
within the boundaries of the County of Marin; and
WHEREAS, Town of Tiburon is a participant in that certain joint powers agency
known as the "Marin County Cable Rate Regulation Joint Powers Authority", a Califor-
nia joint powers agency, ("MCCRRJPA") created and existing pursuant to the
provisions of Title 1, Division 7, Chapter 5 of the Government Code (commencing with
Section 6500); and
WHEREAS, with the passage of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 and its on-
going implementation by the Federal Communications Commission, there is an increas-
ing reduction in distinctions between the various historical providers of telecommunica-
tions services; and
WHEREAS, the management of the local rights of way in terms of the demands
of the various and competing forms of telecommunications demands a regional
approach; and
WHEREAS, Town of Tiburon finds that such a regional approach to the
demands of telecommunications can best be handled within the boundaries of Marin
County by a joint powers agency having a broader mission and authority than that of
MCCRRJPA; and
WHEREAS, accordingly, Town of Tiburon finds it necessary and desirable to
revise and restate its delegation of authority to MCCRRJPA and to terminate
MCCRRJPA to reflect the broader mission and authority of the new joint powers
agency;
NOW THEREFORE THE TOWN COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF TIBURON,
STATE OF CALIFORNIA, DOES HEREBY ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:
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SECTION 1. Chapter 9, Sections 9-1 through 9-23 of the Tiburon Municipal
Code are hereby repealed. However, said chapter and sections shall continue to gov-
ern existing community antenna television systems franchises issed by the Town pursu-
ant to said chapter and sections prior to the effective date of this ordinance.
SECTION 2. Chapter 9, Sections 9.1 through 9.31 are hereby added to the
Town of Tiburon Code to read as follows:
CHAPTER 9
TELECOMMUNICATIONS ORDINANCE
ARTICLE I
GENERAL PROVISIONS
9-1 Purposes. The purposes of this Chapter include, but are not limited to, the pro-
motion of the general welfare of the citizens of Town of Tiburon and the citizens of the
Marin Community by:
Establishing a master-plan for the franchising of telecommunications providers within
the Marin Community;
Establishing a regulatory framework for the administration of franchises in order to in-
sure that the potential recreational, educational, social, economic, commercial and
other advantages of telecommunications will in fact inure to the benefit of the Marin
Community and the citizens thereof;
Recognizing the right of local jurisdictions to manage, maintain and control the public
rights-of-way with their jurisdictions;
Implementing the provisions of the Telecommunications Act of 1996; and
Regulating the operations of Franchisees for the purpose of protecting and promoting
the public health, peace, safety and welfare.
The provisions of this Section shall not be deemed to confer any right upon a
Franchisee which is not otherwise conferred by another express provision of this Chap-
ter.
9-2 Definitions. As used in this Chapter the following terms, phrases, and words shall
be ascribed the following meanings, unless the context indicate otherwise. The word
"shall" is mandatory, and the word "may" is permissive. Words not defined herein shall
be given their common and ordinary meanings, consistent with the context in which
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such words are used and the purposes of this Chapter.
"Agency" shall mean the MARIN TELECOMMUNICATIONS AGENCY as established
herein.
"Cable Television Services" shall mean "cable service" as that term is defined in Sec-
tion 602(6) of the Communications Act of 1934 As Amended [47 U.S.C. 522(6)].
"Cable Television System" shall mean a "cable system" as that term is defined in Sec-
tion 602(7) of the Communications Act of 1934 As Amended [47 U.S.C. 522(7)].
"Constituent Jurisdictions" shall mean the County of Marin and each of the Municipali-
ties of Belvedere, Corte Madera, Fairfax, Larkspur, Mill Valley, Novato, Ross, San
Anselmo, Sausalito, San Rafael, and Town of Tiburon which enacts this Chapter.
"County" shall mean the County of Marin. .
"Encroachment Permit" shall mean a permit issued to a Franchisee by one or more of
the County or the Municipalities.
"FCC" shall mean the Federal Communications Commission and any legally appointed,
designated or elected agent or successor thereof.
"Franchise" shall mean and include any franchise, license, permit or other form of au-
thorization, issued pursuant to the provisions of this Chapter or its predecessor pro-
visions by which Telecommunications Facilities are authorized to be placed within
or to occupy Streets.
"Franchise Documents" shall, with respect to a Franchise issued by the Agency pursu-
ant to the delegation of the provisions of this Chapter, mean the provisions of this
Chapter, the map defining any Service Area for the Franchise as may be adopted
by ordinance or resolution, the provisions of any request for proposals issued in
connection with that Franchise, the provisions of the application for the Franchise
submitted by the Franchisee (if accepted by the Agency), the provisions of any ordi-
nance or resolution offering the Franchise, and the provisions of any certificate of
acceptance by the Franchisee of the Franchise.
"Franchisee" shall mean the party to whom a Franchise to place Telecommunications
Facilities within the Streets is issued by the Agency pursuant to the delegation of
the provisions of this Chapter and its successors and assigns.
"Governing Body" shall mean, with respect to the County, the Board of Supervisors,
with respect to a City within the Marin Community, the City Council, and with respect
to a Town within the Marin Community, the Town Council.
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"Marin Community" shall mean the entire geographical territory of the constituent Juris-
dictions.
"Municipalities" shall mean each of the municipalities of Belvedere, Corte Madera,
Fairfax, Larkspur, Mill Valley, Novato, Ross, San Anselmo, Sausalito, San Rafael,
and Town of Tiburon which enacts this Chapter.
"Ross Valley Jurisdiction" shall mean the municipalities of Fairfax, Ross or San
Anselmo.
"South Marin Jurisdiction" shall mean the municipalities of Belvedere, Corte Madera,
Larkspur, Mill Valley, Sausalito or Town of Tiburon.
"Streets" shall mean the surface of and the space above and below any street, road,
highway, freeway, thoroughfare, parkway, sidewalk, bridge, court, lane, path, alley,
way, drive, circle, utility right-of-way -or any other easement which now or hereafter
exists for the provision of public or quasi-public services (including recreational
usages) to residential or other properties, and on which the Constituent
Jurisdictions are expressly or impliedly authorized or empowered to permit use for
the installation and operation of Telecommunications Facilities.
"Subscriber" shall mean a lawful recipient of Cable Television Services from a Cable
Television System.
"Telecommunications Facilities" shall mean any system of antennae, cables, wires,
lines, towers, waveguides, or other conductors, converters, amplifiers, headend
equipment, master controls, earth stations, equipment and facilities designed and
constructed for the purpose of producing, receiving, transmitting, amplifying and
distributing audio, video and other forms of electronic or electrical signals within the
Constituent Jurisdictions, some part or portion of which occupies the Streets as
defined herein and includes, but is not limited to, Telecommunications Facilities,
communications satellite systems and related terminal equipment, and other modes
of transmitting, emitting, or receiving images and sounds or intelligence by means of
wire, radio, optical, electromagnetic or other means.
"User" shall mean a lawful recipient of service which utilizes in whole or in part
Telecommunications Facilities located in whole or in part in Streets.
9-3 Franchise Required. Except (1) as otherwise provided by this Chapter or (2) as
otherwise expressly provided and authorized by the State of California or (3) as
otherwise expressly provided and authorized by the United States, Streets within the
Marin Community shall not be occupied by or used for Telecommunications Facilities
except under a Franchise issued by the Agency pursuant to the provisions of this
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Chapter. Moreover, the Agency shall be the recipient of all "in lieu" fees paid by any
operator of an "open video system" as that term is used in Section 653 of the
Communications Act of 1934 As Amended (47 U.S.C. 573). It is the intent of this
provision to give the broadest possible application to the requirement of a Franchise to
be issued by the Agency as is permissible under applicable State and federal law.
9-4 General Characteristics of Franchise. Any Franchise issued by the Agency
pursuant to the provisions of this Chapter, shall be deemed to:
Authorize utilization of the Streets for the public or quasi-public purpose of installing
Telecommunications Facilities;
Be nonexclusive, and neither expressly nor impliedly be deemed to preclude the
issuance of subsequent and additional franchises to place Telecommunications
Facilities within the Streets within the Marin Community;
Be for a term prescribed by the Agency as issuing authority (including any optional
renewal term or optional extension) which shall not extend beyond December 31,
2027; and
Include provisions for the payment of the maximum lawful level of franchise fees and, in
the case of "open video systems" as defined in Section 653 of the Communications
Act of 1934 As Amended (47 U.S.C. 573), the maximum lawful level of "in lieu" fees
pursuant to Section 653(c)(2)(B)).
Such a Franchise shall not be deemed to authorize or either expressly or
impliedly permit the Franchisee, except with the consent of the owners, to provide or
install Telecommunications Facilities upon private property, including, but not limited to
apartment complexes, condominiums, mobile home parks and residential subdivision
developments with private roads, provided that this paragraph shall not be construed to
prohibit a Franchisee from entering upon or utilizing private property as an incident to
its use of the Streets to the extent entry or use is expressly or impliedly authorized by
the right conferred by a Franchise issued by the Agency to occupy the Streets.
Such a Franchise shall not be deemed to either expressly or impliedly restrain,
restrict or delimit the authority of the Constituent Jurisdictions to exercise their police
power authority over cellular telephone antenna and transmitter siting.
Any Franchise for the provision of Cable Television Services by Cable
Television Systems shall require the Cable Television System to report the number of
Subscribers served thereby on a regular and periodic basis.
9-5 Franchise as Contract. A Franchise issued by the Agency pursuant to the
provisions of this Chapter shall be deemed to constitute a contract between the
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ORDINANCE NO. 432 N.S.
Franchisee and the Agency. Each Franchisee shall be deemed to have contractually
committed itself to comply with the terms, conditions and provisions of the Franchise
Documents, and with all rules, orders, regulations, and determinations applicable to the
Franchise which are issued, promulgated or made pursuant to the provisions of this
Chapter. The regulatory authority conferred by the provisions of this Chapter, including
the power to issue regulations and to amend the provisions of this Chapter as reserved
under Section 9-27 below, shall constitute a reserved authority to the Agency under
any Franchise issued by the Agency. No Franchisee under any Franchise issued by
the Agency shall have any right to restrain, restrict or delimit the right or power of the
Constituent Jurisdictions to amend the provisions of this Chapter.
9-6 Franchise Areas. The Franchise Area for any Franchise issued by the Agency
under the provisions of this Chapter shall be defined by the Board of Directors of the
Agency. No Franchisee shall be authorized by the provisions of this Chapter to
construct, install or operate Telecommunications Facilities within the Streets of the
Marin Community outside its designated Franchise Area.
9-7 Utility Poles and Structures. No Franchise issued by the Agency pursuant to the
provisions of this Chapter shall be deemed to expressly or impliedly authorize the
Franchisee to utilize poles or structures owned by any public or private utility which are
or hereafter located within Streets, without the express consent of the utility.
9-8 Authority. With respect to the County and Municipalities enacting this Chapter, it
is declared that this Chapter is enacted pursuant to the authority conferred by their
charters, as applicable, and pursuant to the police powers conferred by Article X,
Section 7 of the California Constitution for the promotion and protection of the peace,
health, safety and general welfare of the citizens within their respective Constituent
Jurisdictions.
9-9 Future Incorporationsl Withdrawals. It is hereby declared that the unified
process for the administration of Franchises issued pursuant to the provisions of this
Chapter is necessary for protection and promotion of the convenience and welfare of all
of the citizens of the Marin Community, and that fragmentation in administration or right
to administer such franchises resulting from the future incorporation of municipalities
within the unincorporated area of the County or from the unilateral withdrawal of
Constituent Jurisdictions from membership in the Agency would be detrimental to the
convenience and welfare and the purposes of this Chapter.
Therefore, the incorporation of any municipality within the unincorporated area
of the County or the withdrawal of any Constituent Jurisdictions from membership in the
Agency (not resulting in the termination of the Agency) during the initial term of any
Franchise issued pursuant to the provisions of this Chapter shall not operate to either
divest the Franchisee of its authority to install or provide services through its
Telecommunications Facilities within the newly incorporated or withdrawing area or
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ORDINANCE NO. 432 N.S.
vest the newly-created municipality or the withdrawing Constituent Jurisdiction with any
administrative or other authority whatsoever respecting operations by the Franchisee
under the Franchise. During such initial term, the Agency shall continue to administer
the provisions of this Chapter for the benefit of the inhabitants of a newly incorporated
or withdrawing area in the same manner as if the area had not been incorporated or if
the Constituent Jurisdiction had not withdrawn except that the Net Franchise Fees
allocable to the newly incorporated area shall be paid to the newly incorporated
jurisdiction rather than to the Constituent Jurisdictions from which it was formed.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, a duly appointed member of the governing body of a
withdrawing jurisdiction may continue to participate and vote in actions coming before
the Agency after withdrawal which pertain solely and exclusively to a Franchise in
which a Franchisee has installed and is providing services through at least a portion of
its Telecommunications Facilities, which are located within the jurisdiction of the
withdrawing jurisdiction (such a Franchise hereinafter an "Affecting Franchise"),
provided that nothing in this sentence shall authorize the member appointed by the
withdrawing jurisdiction to participate or vote in any matters pertaining to or having an
effect upon more than a single Affecting Franchise. In the event that a Constituent
Jurisdiction should withdraw and that withdrawal should become effective before a
cable television franchise assigned to the Agency as a part of its initial entry shall have
been renewed, extended or otherwise materially amended, the Agency shall reassign
said franchise and the Franchise Fees derived therefrom shall continue to be paid to
the Constituent Jurisdiction which was the franchisor prior to the Effective Date.
Upon expiration of the initial term of a Franchise, the provisions of this Chapter
shall cease to be applicable to that portion of the Telecommunications Facilities and
the operations by the Franchisee thereof within the municipal limits of any municipality
which is incorporated subsequent to the commencement of the initial term or within the
territorial limits of any Constituent Jurisdiction which has unilaterally withdrawn from
membership in the Agency. The Marin Community shall not be deemed to include any
area within the limits of a municipality incorporated after the date this Chapter becomes
effective and prior to the filing of the certificate of acceptance of any Franchise.
9-10 Annexations. The annexation by a municipality which has either not enacted this
Chapter or is not a member of the Agency of unincorporated area of the County during
the initial term of any franchise issued pursuant to the provisions of this Chapter shall
not operate to either divest the Franchisee of its authority to install or provide services
through its Telecommunications Facilities within the annexed area or vest the
municipality with any administrative or other authority whatsoever respecting operations
by the Franchisee under the franchise. During the initial term, the Agency shall
continue to administer the provisions of this Chapter for the benefit of the inhabitants of
the annexed area in the same manner as if the area had not been annexed.
Upon expiration of the initial term of a franchise, the provisions of this Chapter
shall cease to be applicable to that portion of the Telecommunications Facilities and
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ORDINANCE NO. 432 N.S.
the operations by the Franchisee thereof within any area which has been annexed by
such a municipality. The Marin Community shall not be deemed to include any area
annexed by such a municipality subsequent to the date this Chapter becomes effective
and prior to the filing of the certificate of any franchise.
9-11 Ordinances - Police Power. All zoning and other land use ordinances, building,
electrical, plumbing and mechanical codes, business license ordinances and all other
ordinances of general application now in existence or hereafter enacted by the
Governing Bodies of the Constituent Jurisdictions (hereinafter "Ordinances") shall be
fully applicable to the exercise of any Franchise issued by the Agency pursuant to the
provisions of this Chapter, and the Franchisee shall comply therewith. In the event of a
conflict between the provisions of this Chapter or a Franchise issued by the Agency
pursuant hereto and those of any specific provision of the Ordinances of a Constituent
Jurisdiction, the specific provisions of such Ordinances shall prevail.
9-12 Operability - Amendments. The provisions of this Chapter shall not become
effective or operable unless said provisions are enacted in substantially identical form
by (a) the County of Marin, (b) the City of San Rafael, and (c) at least six (6) of the
remaining Constituent Jurisdictions and become fully effective therein on or before July
1, 1998. If the provisions of this Chapter are enacted in substantially identical form by
(a) the County of Marin, (b) the City of San Rafael, and (c) at least six (6) of the
remaining Constituent Jurisdictions and become fully effective therein on or before July
1, 1998, the provisions of this Chapter shall become effective and the Agency shall
come into existence on July 1, 1998 (hereinafter "the Effective Date"). As to those
Constituent Jurisdictions which enact the provisions of this Chapter after the Effective
Date hereof, the provisions of this Chapter shall become applicable within the
geographic boundaries of each of the Constituent Jurisdictions upon the enactment of
the Governing Body of each such Constituent Jurisdiction of the provisions of this
Chapter in substantially identical form.
From and after the Effective Date, no addition to, deletion from, alteration of the
provisions of, repeal or other amendment of this Chapter shall become effective unless
each amendment or repeal is enacted by the Governing Body of a majority of the
Constituent Jurisdictions who are then members of the Agency. After enactment of the
provisions of this Chapter by a Governing Body of a Constituent Jurisdiction, no
addition to, deletion from, alteration of the provisions of, repeal or other amendment of
this Chapter enacted by the Governing Bodies of the other Constituent Jurisdictions
shall become effective within the boundaries of any of said Constituent Jurisdictions
unless and until such amendment is enacted by the Governing Body of the particular
Constituent Jurisdiction.
9-13 Right to Amend. Except as hereinafter provided, in the absence of an
emergency, and without the consent of the Franchisee, the provisions of this Chapter
shall not be altered or repealed as applied to a Franchise issued by the Agency for
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ORDINANCE NO. 432 N.S.
which a certificate of acceptance has been filed in compliance with the provisions of
thereof and in advance of the effective date of the alteration or repeal.
9-14 Franchisor. Any Franchise issued by the Agency pursuant to the provisions of
this Chapter shall be in the name of the Agency as the franchisor. Any Franchise
issued by any of the Constituent Jurisdictions prior to the Effective Date hereof shall be
deemed to merge into and devolve upon the Agency as of the Effective Date hereof
pursuant to the provisions of Section 9-26 of this Chapter and shall thereafter be
deemed to be in the name of the Agency as franchisor, provided that the cable
television franchise issued by Novato to Chambers Cable of Southern Cal., Inc., an
Oregon corporation, shall not be deemed to merge into and devolve upon the Agency
except upon (1) the option of Novato or (2) the date upon which it comes under
substantially common ownership with the TCI Franchises issued by the other
Constituent Jurisdictions and provided further that until such time as that Franchise
shall have been renewed, extended or otherwise materially amended, the Agency shall
direct the Franchisee to pay all franchise fees due thereunder directly to the
Constituent Jurisdiction.
9-15 Communications with Regulatory Agencies. Copies of all petitions,
applications, communications and reports submitted by a Franchisee to the FCC,
Securities and Exchange Commission, Public Utilities Commission or any other Federal
or State regulatory commission or agency having jurisdiction in respect to any matters
affecting construction or operation of Telecommunications Facilities within the Marin
Community, also shall be filed simultaneously with the Clerk of the Board of Directors
of the Agency. Copies of responses or any other communications from the regulatory
agencies to a Franchisee relating to such matters shall likewise be filed immediately on
receipt with said Clerk.
9-16 Right of Intervention. The Agency shall have the right of intervention in any suit
or proceedings touching upon Telecommunications Facilities within the Marin
Community to any degree whatsoever and to which a Franchisee is a party, and the
Franchisee shall not oppose such intervention by the Agency.
9-17 Limitation of Actions. Except as otherwise expressly provided by this Chapter,
any judicial proceeding, whether for the recovery of damages or otherwise, brought for
the purpose of adjudicating the validity of any provision of this Chapter or amendments
thereof shall be commenced not later than thirty (30) calendar days following the
Effective Date hereof. Any such judicial proceeding brought for the purpose of
adjudicating the validity of any ordinance, resolution, rule, order, regulation,
determination or arbitration award of the Agency which purports to have been made
pursuant to the delegation of the provisions of this Chapter or pursuant to the
provisions of any of the other Franchise Documents shall be commenced not later than
thirty (30) calendar days following date of enactment, adoption, issuance or making of
such ordinance, resolution, rule, regulation, determination or arbitration award. No
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judicial proceeding shall be commenced in violation of the limitations prescribed by this
Section.
The provisions of this Section shall not be applicable to any judicial proceeding,
whether for the recovery of damages or otherwise, commenced by the Agency, County
or Municipalities for breach or enforcement of the provisions of this Chapter or any
regulation, determination or arbitration award purporting to have been issued
thereunder.
9-18 Changes in Law. Should the State of California or any agency thereof, the
United States or any Federal agency or any State or Federal Court require either the
Agency, County, Municipalities or a Franchisee to act in a manner which is inconsistent
with any provisions of the Franchise Documents relating to any Franchise or withdraw
or otherwise impair the authority of the Agency to act in respect to the provisions of the
Franchise Documents relating to any Franchise, the Board of Directors of the Agency
shall be authorized to determine whether a material provision of the Franchise
Documents is affected in relation to the'rights and benefits conferred by the Franchise
Documents upon the Agency, County, Municipalities or the public. Upon such
determination, the Franchise Documents shall be subject to modification or amendment
to such extent as may be reasonably necessary to carry out the full intent and purposes
thereof in relation to the rights and benefits of the Agency, County, Municipalities or the
public and in relation to such State, Federal or judicial requirement. The Board of
Directors of the Agency may terminate a Franchise issued pursuant to the provisions of
this Chapter if it determines after consultation with the Franchisee that substantial and
material compliance with the Franchise Documents in relation to the rights or benefits
of the Agency, County, Municipalities or the public has been frustrated by such a State,
Federal of judicial requirement.
ARTICLE II
AGENCY
9-20 Establishment of Agency. Pursuant to the provisions of Title 1, Division 7,
Chapter 5 of the Government Code, (commencing with Section 6500), there shall be
established a separate and distinct public agency to be known as the MARIN
TELECOMMUNICATIONS AGENCY (herein referred to as the "Agency").
9-21 Membership. The Agency shall be formed by and consist of, as members, the
Constituent Jurisdictions to the extent that such Constituent Jurisdictions shall have
enacted the provisions hereof in identical form.
9-22 Board of Directors. All of the powers and authority of the Agency shall be vested
in a Board of Directors which consists of up to twelve (12) members, one (1) each
appointed by the Governing Body of each of the Constituent Jurisdictions in the Marin
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Community which shall have adopted the provisions hereof in identical form. The
members so appointed must be a member of the Governing Body of that Constituent
Jurisdiction at all times during his or her service as a member of the Board of Directors
of the Agency. The terms of the appointment of each member shall be as established
by the governing Body of that Constituent Jurisdiction.
Each Constituent Jurisdiction shall be authorized to appoint an alternate
representative to attend meetings of the Board in the absence of the member, and,
during such meetings, vote and exercise all other powers of the member. Such an
appointment shall be effective when the Constituent Jurisdiction files with the Clerk of
the Board of Directors a written notice which identifies by name and residential address
the alternate representative who has been appointed. Such alternate representatives
shall serve at the pleasure of the Constituent Jurisdictions who appoint them, and such
appointments may be revoked by the filing of a written notice of revocation with the
Clerk of the Board of Directors and reciting revocation of the appointment of a
designated alternate representative.
9-23 Resignation of Members of Board of Directors. Any member of the Board of
Directors may resign by giving written notice filed with the Clerk of the Board of
Directors. The successor to the resigning member shall be selected by and shall serve
at the pleasure of the Governing Body of the Constituent Jurisdiction which appointed
the resigning member.
9-24 Existence. The Agency shall not come into existence unless the provisions of this
Chapter are enacted by the number and composition of the Constituent Jurisdictions
specified in Section 9-12 above and become fully effective therein on or before July 1,
1998. If the provisions of this Chapter are enacted in substantially identical form by the
number and composition of the Constituent Jurisdictions specified in Section 9-12
above and become fully effective therein on or before July 1, 1998, the Agency shall
come into existence on July 1, 1998.
9-25 Purposes. The purposes of the Agency shall be as follows:
To implement by ordinance, resolution, rule, order, regulation, and determination, the
purposes of this Chapter as set forth in Section 9-1;
To administer pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Franchise Documents, any
Franchise issued by the County or Municipalities prior to the establishment of the
Agency as successor franchisor and irrevocable agent-in-fact for the Constituent
Jurisdiction which initially granted the Franchise;
To administer pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Franchise Documents, any
Franchise issued by the Agency pursuant to the provisions of this Chapter;
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To exercise any and all powers of the Constituent Jurisdictions which any of them could
have exercised independently in relation to Telecommunications Facilities;
To exercise any and all powers now or hereafter granted to joint powers agencies by
the general law of California, including without limitation those specified in Title 1,
Division 7, Chapter 5 of the Government Code, (commencing with Section 6500);
and
To exercise any and all other powers conferred by any Franchise Documents.
9-26 Assignment and Merger of Existing Franchises. The Constituent Jurisdictions
do, by the enactment hereof, merge, delegate, transfer, assign and grant, to the fullest
extent allowed by law, all rights, benefits, duties and obligations as franchisor in any
Franchise which was granted by the respective Constituent Jurisdiction prior to the
Effective Date hereof, including by way of example and not by way of limitation the
Franchise for cable television issued by Town of Tiburon on or about March 1, 1984
and presently held by TCI as Franchisee, provided that any such merger, delegation,
transfer, assignment and grant shall not affect to any degree whatever the duties and
obligations of the Franchisee thereunder and provided further that until such time as
that Franchise shall have been renewed, extended or otherwise materially amended,
the Agency shall direct the Franchisee to pay all franchise fees due thereunder directly
to the Constituent Jurisdiction. In the event that any such merger, delegation, transfer,
assignment and grant would be deemed to affect the duties and obligations of the
Franchisee, then in lieu of such specific merger, delegation, transfer, assignment and
grant, the Constituent Jurisdiction shall be deemed, by the enactment hereof, to have
irrevocably appointed the Agency as its exclusive agent and attorney-in-fact with
respect to the rights, benefits, duties and obligations of that Constituent Jurisdiction as
franchisor.
9-27 Delegation of Powers - Constituent Jurisdictions. The Constituent
Jurisdictions do, by the enactment hereof, authorize, delegate and grant the Agency, to
the fullest extent allowed by law any power common to the Constituent Jurisdictions,
including without limitation, the power to enact ordinances, the power to adopt
resolutions, the power to promulgate rules and regulations, even though such common
power may not be exercisable by each such contracting party in the geographical area
in which such power is to be jointly exercised, provided that nothing in the foregoing is
intended to delegate to the Agency the powers of the Constituent Jurisdictions to
regulate the siting of cellular telephone antennas and transmitters.
In exercising the power to enact ordinances, the Agency is jointly exercising a
power common to all of the Constituent Jurisdictions and is administratively
implementing a legislative determination of the Constituent Jurisdictions that the
management of the local rights of way in terms of the demands of the various and
competing forms of telecommunications demands a regional approach.
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9-28 Delegation of Powers - Agency. The Board of Directors of the Agency shall be
authorized to form and appoint advisory and other committees of citizens, officials or
representatives of concerned interests, and delegate to each committee such powers
and authority vested in it by the terms of this Chapter as it deems appropriate; provided
that the Board of Directors shall reserve the right and authority by means of appeal or
otherwise, to make the final decision upon any matter relating to issuance or
termination of a Franchise issued pursuant to the provisions of this Chapter or the
administration thereof upon which a discretionary determination is authorized or
required.
Nothing in the foregoing shall be deemed to prevent the Board of Directors from
delegating powers to an administrative committee of the Board for the purposes of
program development, policy formulation and program implementation (and such other
and further purposes as may be allowed by law) pursuant to the provisions of
government Code section 6508. In such.an instance, the committee shall be composed
of five (5) members of the Board as follows: (a) one (1) member representing the
County of Marin or the City of San Rafael, (b) two (2) members representing South
Marin Jurisdictions, (c) one (1) member representing a Ross Valley Jurisdiction and (d)
one (1) member representing any Constituent Jurisdiction not otherwise represented on
the committee.
9-29 Agreement of Formation. The Agency shall be deemed to be created upon
execution by each member thereof of an Agreement of Formation. Enactment of this
Chapter constitutes approval by the Governing Bodies of the Constituent Jurisdictions
of the terms of the Agreement of Formation.
The Chairperson of the Governing Body of the County and the Mayors of the
Municipalities, which shall have adopted this Chapter shall execute the following
Agreement of Formation on or before the Effective Date.
AGREEMENT OF FORMATION
MARIN TELECOMMUNICATIONS AGENCY
THIS AGREEMENT is made and entered into pursuant to the prOVISions of
Section 6500 et seq. Of the Government Code of the State of California by and
between the County of Marin (herein referred to as "County") and the Cities of
Belvedere, Larkspur, Mill Valley, Novato, Sausalito and San Rafael, and the Towns of
Corte Madera, Fairfax, Ross, San Anselmo and Town of Tiburon, (the foregoing Cities
and Towns are herein collectively referred to as "Municipalities" and the Constituent
Jurisdictions are sometimes herein collectively referred to as the "Constituent
Jurisdictions") who do hereby mutually agree as follows:
1. Establishment. There is hereby created an organization known and denominated as
Rev. 02/12/98 Page13of21
ORDINANCE NO. 432 N.S.
the MARIN TELECOMMUNICATIONS AGENCY, which shall be a public entity,
separate and apart from the Constituent Jurisdictions. The Marin Telecommunications
Agency (hereinafter referred to as "Agency") shall be governed by the terms of this
Agreement, the terms of an ordinance enacted by each Jurisdiction which enters into
this Agreement which is entitled "Telecommunications Ordinance", and is hereinafter
referred to as the "Ordinance", and by such rules as are duly passed and adopted by
the Board of Directors of the Agency.
Notwithstanding the provisions of the introductory paragraph of this Agreement,
it is specifically contemplated that some of the Municipalities may not execute this
Agreement and participate in the formation of and become members of the Agency.
Therefore, the Agency shall be formed by, as members, the Constituent Jurisdictions,
provided that all of such Constituent Jurisdictions do so.
2. Board of Directors. The Agency shall be governed by and the powers of the Agency
vested in a Board of Directors, subject to jts delegatory powers as set out in section 9-
28 of the Ordinance. The number of members of the Board of Directors, composition
thereof, and tenure of Directors shall be prescribed by section 9-22 of the Ordinance.
Meetings of the Board of Directors and of such advisory or other committees as the
Board may appoint, shall be governed by the provisions of the Ralph N. Brown
Act (Government Code Section 54950 et seq.). The Board of Directors shall
establish a time and a place for its regular meetings, which shall be held not less
frequently than every six (6) months.
A meeting composed of at least six (6) members of the Board shall constitute a
quorum for the purpose of transacting business, and a majority of the quorum
shall be necessary to approve any action of the Board provided that
notwithstanding the foregoing the following actions shall require the approval of
not less than six (6) members of the Board in recorded vote: (1) the enactment of
an ordinance, (2) the approval of a final budget, (3) the initiation of litigation (not
including the authorization of defense brought against the Agency and the
initiation of a cross-complaint), and (4) the creation or assumption of
indebtedness.
No action taken by the Board of Directors shall be effective except by duly adopted
motion receiving the votes of a majority of the Directors of the Board then
present.
The Board of Directors shall annually elect its Chairperson.
The Clerk of the Board of Supervisors of the County shall serve as Secretary to the
Board of Directors, unless the Board by resolution shall designate the Clerk of
another Constituent Jurisdiction to so serve, shall be responsible for recordation
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ORDINANCE NO. 432 N.S.
of the official actions by the Board, and shall be the official custodian of all
records of the Board of Directors.
3. Powers. The Board of Directors of the Agency shall be vested with the following
powers:
To employ in the name of the Agency such staff as the Board of Directors deems
appropriate. Such staff shall be appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the
Board of Directors.
To make and enter into contracts in the name of the Agency as authorized by or in
order to carry out the objects or purposes of this Agreement or the Ordinance,
including, but not limited to, contracts with any Constituent Jurisdiction providing
for provision by personnel of that Constituent Jurisdiction of services for the
Agency and reimbursement of that Constituent Jurisdiction by the Agency of the
costs thereof;
To acquire in the name of the Agency, take title to, hold and dispose of real and
personal property;
To incur in the name of the Agency debts, liabilities and obligations, which shall not
constitute debts, obligations or liabilities of any of the member agencies;
To accept in the name of the Agency grants, gifts and donations in the public
interest to carry out the purposes and functions of the Agency; and
To exercise such other powers as are expressly conferred by the provisions of this
Agreement or the Ordinance.
The Board of Directors shall also be authorized to sue in the name of the
Agency. The Agency shall be subject to suit in its name.
4. Limitations. Pursuant to the provisions of Government Code Section 6509, the
powers of the Agency are subject to the restrictions upon the manner of exercising such
powers of one (1) of the designated member agencies. For such purposes, the County
of Marin is hereby designated.
5. Budqet. Prior to July 1 st of each fiscal year, the Board of Directors shall adopt a
final budget.
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ORDINANCE NO. 432 N.S.
6. Pavments.
(a) Existinq Franchises. As to Franchises in existence prior to the Effective Date of the
Ordinance which have been devolved upon the Agency pursuant to Sections 9-14 and
9-26 above, and which have not theretofore been renewed, extended or otherwise
materially amended, the Franchise Fees derived therefrom shall, notwithstanding the
assignment to the Agency, be paid to the Constituent Jurisdiction which was the
franchisor prior to the Effective Date and the Constituent Jurisdiction shall thereupon
be billed by the Agency for that Constituent Jurisdiction's allocable share of the
Agency's budget for the applicable period. The Agency's budget shall be allocated
among the Constituent Jurisdictions who are members of the Agency in the same
proportion as the ratios which the total number of Subscribers in each of the
Constituent Jurisdictions bear to the total number of Subscribers in the Constituent
Jurisdictions which are then members of the Agency, as disclosed by reports as to
numbers of Subscribers filed by said Cable Television Systems with the Agency. Such
amounts billed to the Constituent Jurisdiction shall be due and payable within thirty (30)
days of the billing date and shall be -an enforceable contractual obligation of the
Constituent Jurisdiction to the Agency.
(b) Aqencv Cable Franchises. As to Franchises for the provision of Cable Television
Services by Cable Television Systems which were granted by the Agency or renewed,
extended or otherwise materially amended by the Agency, the Net Franchise Fees (the
total franchise fees received by the Agency less the Agency's budget for the applicable
period and reasonable reserves) shall be paid to each of the Constituent Jurisdictions
who are members of the Agency in the same proportion as the ratios which the total
number of Subscribers in each of the Constituent Jurisdictions bear to the total number
of Subscribers in the Constituent Jurisdictions who are members of the Agency, as
disclosed by reports as to numbers of Subscribers filed by said Cable Television
Systems with the Agency.
(c) Aqencv Non-Cable Franchises (All Constituent Jurisdictions) As to Franchises
which were granted by the Agency or renewed, extended or otherwise materially
amended by the Agency, the Net Franchise Fees (the total franchise fees received by
the Agency less the Agency's budget for the applicable period and reasonable
reserves) shall be paid to the Constituent Jurisdictions who are members of the Agency
in the same proportion as the ratios which the population of the unincorporated area of
the County and incorporated area of the Municipalities bear to the total population of
the Constituent Jurisdictions who are members of the Agency, as disclosed by the
Federal Decennial Census for 1990 for the period ending June 30,2001, the Federal
Decennial Census for 2000 during the period commencing July 1, 2001 and ending
June 30, 2011, the Federal Decennial Census for 2010 during the period commencing
July 1, 2011 and ending June 30, 2021, the Federal Decennial Census for 2020 during
any period after July 1, 2021.
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ORDINANCE NO. 432 N.S.
(d) Aqencv Non-Cable Franchises (Less than All Constituent Jurisdictions) As to
Franchises which were granted by the Agency and which substantially and directly
affect less than all of the Constituent Jurisdictions, the Net Franchise Fees (the total
franchise fees received by the Agency less the Agency's budget for the applicable
period and reasonable reserves) shall be paid to the affected Constituent Jurisdictions
who are members of the Agency in the same proportion as the ratios which the
population of each affected Constituent Jurisdiction bears to the total population of the
affected Constituent Jurisdictions who are members of the Agency, as disclosed by the
Federal Decennial Census for 1990 for the period ending June 30, 2001, the Federal
Decennial Census for 2000 during the period commencing July 1, 2001 and ending
June 30, 2011, the Federal Decennial Census for 2010 during the period commencing
July 1, 2011 and ending June 30, 2021, the Federal Decennial Census for 2020 during
any period after July 1, 2021.
(e) Allocation of Aqencv Budqet. For purposes of the foregoing calculations, the
Agency's budget for the applicable period and reasonable reserves shall be allocated
as between various types of Franchises in the relative proportions of the Franchise
Fees derived therefrom.
Each distribution shall be accompanied by a statement by the Auditor of the
Agency stating the amounts of all Franchise Fees received by the Agency for the
distribution period, the dates of receipt, the amount of revenue required to finance the
Agency Budget, and the population and/or subscriber ratios upon which apportionment
of the distribution is being made.
7. Treasurer. The Treasurer of the County shall be the depository of funds of the
Agency, and said Treasurer shall be the ex officio Treasurer of the Agency, unless the
Board of Directors shall act by resolution to appoint the Treasurer of another
Constituent Jurisdiction or, to the extent provided by law, a certified public accountant,
to that position.
The Treasurer shall receive and have custody of and disburse Agency funds on
the warrant of the Auditor and shall make disbursements authorized by this Agreement.
The Treasurer shall invest Agency funds in accordance with the general law. All
interest collected on Agency funds shall be accounted for and posted to the account of
said funds.
The County (or other Constituent Jurisdiction as applicable) may determine
reasonable charges to be made against the Agency for the services of the Treasurer,
and the Agency shall include such costs in its annual budget.
8. Auditinq. The Auditor of the County shall be the ex officio Auditor of the Agency,
and shall draw warrants against the funds of the Agency when the demands are
approved by the Executive Director or other designee of the Board, unless the Board of
Rev. 02/12/98 Page 17 0121
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ORDINANCE NO. 432 N.S.
Directors shall act by resolution to appoint some other person, as allowed by law, to
that position. At the close of each fiscal year, as provided in Government Code Section
6505, the Auditor shall make an audit. In the alternative, the Board of Directors may
contract with a certified public accountant to make an audit of the accounts and reports
of the Agency.
The Auditor shall establish and maintain such funds and accounts as are
deemed necessary to account for and report on receipts and disbursements. The
Agency shall keep such additional records and accounts which are deemed necessary
to account for and report on sources of funds, expenditures, grants and programs as
may be required by good accounting practices. The books and records of the Agency
shall be open to inspection at all reasonable times by representatives of the member
agencies.
The County (or other Constituent Jurisdiction as applicable) may determine
reasonable charges to be made against the Agency for the services of the Auditor, and
the Agency shall include such costs in its' annual budget.
9. Term. Except as otherwise provided herein, this Agreement shall terminate and the
Agency shall be deemed dissolved on December 31,2027.
In the event that, at any time, the Board of Directors reasonably determines that
it will no longer receive Franchise Fees under any Franchise then existing or
reasonably expected to provide sufficient revenues to pay its costs of administration
and yet make the required payments to the Constituent Jurisdictions, this Agreement
shall be deemed terminated and the Agency shall be deemed dissolved on the date of
that determination.
10. Disposition of Assets. Upon dissolution of the Agency, its assets shall be
distributed to member agencies in the same proportion as distributions to member
agencies have most recently been made pursuant to the provisions of Paragraph 6,
above. Any real property owned by the Agency shall, in advance of dissolution, be
conveyed by the Board of Directors to member agencies as tenants in common with
proportional interests equal to the proportion of distributions most recently made
pursuant to the provisions of said Paragraph 6.
11. Debts. The debts, liabilities and obligations of the Agency shall not constitute any
debts, liabilities or obligations either jointly or severally of the County or the
Municipalities.
12. Amendment. This Agreement may be amended by written contract approved by
and executed in behalf of the Governing Bodies of each member agency. No
Franchisee shall be deemed to either expressly or impliedly be a party to this
Agreement, a third party beneficiary thereof, or to have any interest which precludes
Rev. 02/12/98 Page 18 0121
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ORDINANCE NO. 432 N.S.
amendment of the terms of this Agreement in any manner in which the Governing
Bodies of the member agencies, in their discretion, may mutually agree.
13. Termination. Except as otherwise provided herein, this Agreement may only be
terminated by the enactment of an ordinance in identical form by a majority of the of the
Constituent Jurisdictions which are then members of the Agency specifying such
termination, each such ordinance adopted within no more than ninety (90) days of each
other. Upon such action, the Agency shall be deemed terminated and its assets
disposed of pursuant to Paragraph 10 hereof.
14. Withdrawal. Any Constituent Jurisdiction may withdraw from membership in the
Agency upon notice in writing to the Agency and the other members of the Agency by
the enactment of an ordinance on or before May 1 of any year specifying that such
withdrawal shall become effective not earlier than the end of the next successive fiscal
year, provided that the withdrawal of any Constituent Jurisdictions from membership in
the Agency (not resulting in the termination of the Agency pursuant to Paragraph 13
above) during the initial term of any Franchise issued pursuant to the provisions of this
Chapter shall not operate to either divest the Franchisee of its authority to install or
provide services through its Telecommunications Facilities within the area of the
withdrawing Constituent Jurisdiction(s) or vest the withdrawing Constituent Jurisdiction
with any administrative or other authority whatsoever respecting operations by the
Franchisee under the Franchise. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a duly appointed
member of the governing body of a withdrawing jurisdiction may continue to participate
and vote in actions coming before the Agency after withdrawal which pertain solely and
exclusively to a Franchise in which a Franchisee has installed and is providing services
through at least a portion of its Telecommunications Facilities, which are located within
the jurisdiction of the withdrawing jurisdiction (such a Franchise hereinafter an
"Affecting Franchise"), provided that nothing in this sentence shall authorize the
member appointed by the withdrawing jurisdiction to participate or vote in any matters
pertaining to or having an effect upon more than a single Affecting Franchise. During
such initial term, the Agency shall continue to administer the provisions of this Chapter
for the benefit of the inhabitants of a Constituent Jurisdiction in the same manner as if
the Constituent Jurisdiction had not withdrawn. In the event that a Constituent
Jurisdiction should give timely notice of withdrawal and that withdrawal should become
effective before a cable television franchise assigned to the Agency as a part of its
initial entry shall have been renewed, extended or otherwise materially amended, the
Agency shall reassign said franchise to the withdrawing entity, said entity shall resume
administration of said franchise and the Franchise Fees derived therefrom shall
continue to be paid to the Constituent Jurisdiction which was the franchisor prior to the
Effective Date.
15. Reservation of Riohts. The provisions of this Agreement shall not be so construed
as to in any manner restrict or impair the power or authority of the Constituent
Jurisdictions to independently manage the sale, leasing, management, transfer and/or
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ORDINANCE NO. 432 N.S.
other disposition of Telecommunications Facilities owned by the Constituent
Jurisdiction within their own jurisdictional boundaries. Nothing in the foregoing
sentence shall be construed to obviate the necessity of a Franchise issued by the
Agency in connection with the use of such Telecommunications Facilities,
16. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in counterpart.
IN WITNESS HEREOF the parties have approved and executed this Agreement
as follows.
ARTICLE III
MISCELLANEOUS
9-30 Repeal of Conflicting Ordinances and Actions. To the extent that any prior
ordinance, resolution, rule, order, reguH3tion, and determination of Town of Tiburon
may be deemed to conflict with any provision of this Chapter, it is hereby repealed pro
tanto, provided that no person or entity shall be relieved by reason of such repeal of
any regulation, supervision or restraint by Town of Tiburon unless such regulation,
supervision or restraint under said prior ordinance, resolution, rule, order, regulation,
and determination of Town of Tiburon shall have been theretofore transferred to
Agency by reason of the enactment of this Chapter or otherwise.
9-31 Severability. If any part, section, subsection, or other portion of this Chapter or
any application thereof to any person or circumstance is declared void, unconstitutional
or otherwise invalid for any reason, such part, section, subsection, or other portion, or
the proscribed application thereof, shall be severable, and the remaining provisions of
this Chapter and all applications thereof not having been declared void,
unconstitutional or otherwise invalid, shall remain in full force and effect.
9-32 Termination of MCCRRJPA. Pursuant to the provisions of section 21.1 of the
MCCRRJPA Agreement of Formation, Town of Tiburon hereby consents, as of the
Effective Date of this Chapter, to the termination of MCCRRJPA.
This ordinance was introduced and the title thereof read at the regular meeting
of the Town Council of the Town of Tiburon on January 21, 1998 and on February 4,
1998.
This ordinance shall take effect and be in full force thirty (30) days from the date
of its passage. It is further directed that, before the expiration of fifteen (15) days from
the date of its passage, it shall be published once with the names of the members of
the Tiburon Town Council voting for and against the same, said publication to be made
in a newspaper of general circulation published in the County of Marin.
Rev. 02/12/98 Page 20 of 21
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ORDINANCE NO. 432 N.S.
SECTION 3. Chapter 19, Section 19-1 is hereby amended to read as follows:
Section 19-1. Definitions.
"Encroachment Permit" means a permit issued by the Town to aprove work
within, upon, or beneath Town streets, street right-of-ways, or on Town-owned land.
"Town Council" means the Town Council of the Town of Tiburon.
"Town Engineer" means the Town Engineer of the Town of Tiburon or his
designee.
"Town-owned land" means land in which the Town holds a real property
interest, but which is not a Town street or street right-of-way.
"Work" means, without limitatiol], the erection of any structure; placement of
any improvement; filling; excavation; installation or removal of utility lines or pipes;
installation or removal of Telecommunications Facilities (as defined in Section 9-2 of
the Code); installation or construction of curb cuts, curbs or gutters; installation or
construction of sidewalks or driveways; installation of roadway approaches; or removal
or planting of trees or shrubs. The term "work" shall also include installation or
construction of sidewalks or driveways; installation of roadway approaches; or removal
or planting of trees or shrubs. The term "work" shall also include, without limitation, the
business or trade of selling, vending, hawking or peddling any merchandises, article or
item whatever.
The foregoing ordinance was passed at a regular meeting thereof this 4th day of
February, 1998, by the following vote:
AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS: Bach, Gram, Hennessy, Matthews, Thompson
NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS: None
ABSTAIN: COUNCILMEMBERS: None
ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: None
;q~ S. 71!~
HARRY S. ATTHEWS
Mayor, Town of Tiburon
(SEAL)
Attest:
Diane L. Crane, Town Clerk
Rev. 02/12/98 Page 21 of 21
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