(a) The Mayor of the District of Columbia shall amend from time to time the schedule of fees to be charged by the District of Columbia for the issuance of public space permits for underground excavations, constructing manholes, and connecting sewers, conduits and mains. The Mayor shall amend the schedule by rule to provide for fees in amounts as in his judgment will defray the approximate costs of issuing permits and of performing inspections as may be necessary in connection therewith.
(b) Until the schedule of fees is amended by the Mayor in accordance with subsection (a) of this section, the schedule of fees to be charged by the District of Columbia for the issuance of public space permits for underground excavations, constructing manholes, and connecting sewers, conduits and mains is as follows: