(A) No person shall, directly or indirectly, as principal, agent or employee, construct or attempt to construct any sidewalk or driveway or cut any curb without filing an application with the city and having obtained a permit to do so from the Code Enforcement Department or other designated city representative.
(B) The application shall contain:
(1) A statement or plan showing the location of the proposed sidewalk, driveway or curb cut, and a time-frame for the repairs to be completed;
(2) The exact number of linear feet and dimensions of sidewalk, driveway or curb involved;
(3) The name, address, email address and phone number of the owner of the property and the person or contractor who is to do the work; and
(4) Any other pertinent information which the Code Enforcement Director or other designated city representative may reasonably require.
(C) Separate applications and permits shall be required for each lot or parcel of real estate abutting upon the proposed improvement.
(D) All applicants for permits under the provisions of this subchapter shall pay a fee in the amount of $50.
(E) It shall be the duty of every person owning lots or real estate fronting and abutting on any sidewalk in the city to maintain, at his or her own expense and in a suitable state of repair, the sidewalk and road verge, so far as it fronts or abuts upon his or her lots or real estate.
(1) The city shall pay for ADA required components on city-owned sidewalks as determined by the City Engineer.
(2) While the sidewalks and road verges are the responsibility of the abutting property owner, the city is responsible for curbs and gutters not connected to sidewalks.
(F) Every property owner shall repair all holes, uneven surfaces and other defects in the sidewalk, and he or she shall reconstruct or replace all or any part of the sidewalk that is not capable of ordinary restoration or repair. The material used for the repair, replacement or reconstruction shall be of similar grade and texture as that used in the construction of the sidewalk. Every property owner shall be responsible for maintaining, mowing and repairing any hole, and removing any obstacles that may be a trip hazard in road verges.
(G) The grade of any sidewalk or driveway constructed in accordance with the specifications for the construction and repair of sidewalks and driveways shall conform to the curb grades of the street and slope regularly from the top of the curb to the property line at a rate of from one-fourth (1/4) to one-half (1/2) of an inch to each foot, as the Code Enforcement Department or other designated city staff may direct. At street intersections, the slope of the sidewalk or driveway shall be worked out under the direction of the City Administrator’s designee. If, in any particular case, the provisions of this section shall be found to be impracticable, the City Administrator’s designee is authorized to modify their strict application. Where the owner is dissatisfied with the modification proposed by the City Administrator’s designee, he or she may appeal to the City Administrator or designee, whose decision shall be final.
(H) If a City Code Enforcement Officer issues a notice of violation to a person or business entity or someone responsible for maintaining real property (hereafter "person") for violating the city's codes related to sidewalk maintenance and repair, that person shall have the following options:
(1) Repair the sidewalk using the person's own resources or own contractor; or
(2) Repair the sidewalk with the use of a city-approved contractor at rates established by the city and the person paying the contractor directly; or
(3) Repair the sidewalk and apply for a city match-grant in accordance with the following guidelines:
(a) The applicant must comply with the provisions of this chapter and all city ordinances and regulations;
(b) The applicant must be in good standing with the city pursuant to applicable city ordinances and regulations including but not limited to having paid taxes, liens, permit fees and any other obligations owed to the city;
(c) The applicant must pay the costs of repairs/replacement, and submit invoices and billing statements and proof that these costs have been paid;
(d) No in-kind costs will be eligible for reimbursement by the city;
(e) The applicant is eligible for an up to fifty percent (50%) reimbursement of costs up to a maximum of five hundred dollars ($500.00) to be paid by the city; and
(f) In consideration of accepting the reimbursement of costs, the applicant must indemnify and hold the city harmless from any claims or actions related to any claims of damages or injuries arising from the use of the sidewalk before, during and after construction.
(I) The Code Enforcement Director may issue written notices of violation and/or citations to owners of real property abutting defective sidewalks. After a notice of violation and/or a citation is issued, the owner shall have thirty (30) days to repair the sidewalk. If the owner does not make the repairs, then the city may make the repairs and file a lien for the cost of repairs against the property owner. The owner of the property shall be subject to the jurisdiction of the Code Enforcement Board for actions, appeals, fines and enforcement.
(Ord. 2022-02-02, passed 3-9-22; Am. Ord. 2023-10-01, passed 11-8-23)