(a) No new or additional overhead utility lines or facilities may be placed in any area of the city which is designated a “Historic Frederick” district pursuant to Chapter 5, Article III of this Code. This subsection shall not apply to the replacement or reduction of existing overhead utility lines or facilities provided written approval for same is received from the city engineer.
(b) The board of aldermen may, by resolution, require any utility company maintaining overhead lines or facilities within a defined part of a historic district to place such lines or facilities underground and may require the connection thereto to be placed underground by private owners receiving services from the overhead lines and facilities.
(c) The city shall make all reasonable efforts to minimize the cost to affected property owners for work to be performed on private property and shall make available to such owners an estimate of the cost for same. The city may enter into an agreement with individual property owners whereupon it will advance funds to cover the property owners’ costs involved in the conversion of the overhead lines and facilities.
(d) The city may appropriate funds, levy taxes or borrow funds to pay in advance the costs of such conversions. The city also may impose a benefit assessment against the property in the historic district for which the conversion is made in order to recapture such expended costs and make appropriate provisions for the collection thereof. (Ord. No. G-75-4, § 1)