(a) No owner, agent or occupant of any premises shall maintain or permit to be maintained, at or on the exterior property areas of such premises, any condition which deteriorates or debases the appearance of the neighborhood, reduces property values in the neighborhood, creates a fire, safety or health hazard or is a public nuisance, including, but not limited to, the following:
(1) Broken or dilapidated fences, walls or other structures;
(2) Improperly installed or maintained public sidewalks and driveway aprons which are in a defective condition in any of the following listed particulars:
A. Any block with a single crack more than one-fourth of an inch wide, provided, however, that the block must be replaced if it is uneven, regardless of crack size;
B. Any block with multiple cracks more than one-fourth of an inch wide, provided, however, that the block must be replaced if it is uneven, regardless of crack size;
C. Adjoining sections of block, or a portion thereof, the edges of which differ vertically by three-fourths of an inch or more;
D. Blocks having a transverse slope in excess of three-eighths of an inch per horizontal foot, converted to inches per five-foot block, toward the street;
E. Blocks having a reverse slope (toward the property) that impound water to a depth of one-half of an inch or more;
F. Blocks having depressions that impound water to a depth of one-half of an inch or more; and/or
G. Blocks having a spalled or scaled surface over fifty percent or more of their surface area.
(b) Every public sidewalk shall be made of concrete.
(c) The responsibility to repair or replace any sidewalk or portion thereof lies with the owner of the premises. If the owner of the premises fails, neglects or refuses to comply with any notice of the Director of Buildings or his or her agent to repair or replace the sidewalk or a portion or block(s) thereof, the Director of Buildings or his or her agent is authorized to direct the repair or replacement of the sidewalk or a portion or block(s) thereof by the City or its designees.
(d) Any expenses incurred in connection with the repair or replacement of the sidewalk or a portion or block(s) thereof shall be the responsibility of and shall be paid by the owner of the premises. If the expenses are not paid by the owner of the premises within thirty days after written notice from the City to do so, the expenses may be recovered in an action at law or may be assessed against the lands of the owner of the premises to become a lien thereon and to be collected in a manner provided by law for the collection of assessments.
(e) The City's sidewalk repair inspection program is an ongoing, cyclical program whereby different areas of the City are inspected on an annual basis with the goal that the inspection cycle be completed in five years. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the City does not thereby insure, warrant or guarantee the condition of any portion of the sidewalks or driveway aprons.
(f) The condition of private walks and driveways, excluding driveway aprons, shall be inspected at point-of-sale inspections, pursuant to Chapter 1339 of the Building and Housing Code.
(Ord. 1995-30. Passed 8-28-95.)