Watertown City Council Considers Amendments to Public Right-of-Way Ordinance
- Steve Jurrens
- Sep 15
- 2 min read
Northeast Radio SD News - Watertown, SD - The Watertown City Council held the first reading of a revised ordinance on September 15, 2025, aimed at clarifying and updating regulations related to the city's public right-of-way. The proposed ordinance would amend Chapter 5.03 and Title 18 of the City's code.
City Engineer Justin Petersen introduced the ordinance, stating that most of the changes are clarifications and updates. The proposal seeks to move certain sections from Chapter 5, which deals with building codes, to Title 18, which is being renamed to "Right-of-Way Management." This change is intended to make the code more logical and easier to understand.
During the discussion, council members raised questions about the specific changes. Councilman Brent Mohrmann asked Petersen to expound on the summary of the amendments, noting that the council's internet was down. Petersen explained that regulations on utility cuts and materials on streets would be moved to the right-of-way management section. Additionally, the duties of the Superintendent of Streets are being removed from the ordinance, as HR policies already cover them.
Councilman Michael Heuer inquired about the new three-year renewal requirement for sidewalk cafes. Petersen confirmed that while a new fee is not being proposed, the renewal would ensure that businesses are actively using the spaces.
City Manager Alan Stager explained that the proposed changes are intended to provide clarity on what is permitted within the public right-of-way and what actions require a permit. The council will have a second reading of the ordinance at a future meeting. No action was needed for this meeting since it was a first reading.
Key changes proposed in the ordinance include:
· New Sidewalk Requirements: A new chapter will be introduced to require sidewalks for all new construction and any project that increases a building's footprint. The ordinance also proposes a new permit requirement for any work on sidewalks, curbs, or driveways to ensure ADA compliance.
· Clarified Snow Removal Rules: The revised ordinance will remove wording that previously allowed residents without a curb to place snow in the boulevard, citing safety concerns. The city wants to prevent the public from putting snow from private property into the right-of-way.
· Permit and Renewal Updates: Permits for sidewalk cafes will now need to be renewed every three years, and the authority to approve these permits will be shifted to the City Engineer. The ordinance will also formalize requirements for community events, requiring organizers to list vendors under their insurance to streamline the permitting process.
· Removal of Redundant Information: A section on the duties of the Superintendent of Streets will be removed from the ordinance because that information is already part of employee job descriptions and HR policies.
Full PDF below:
