(A) City to construct. Sidewalks shall be constructed only on curb and guttered streets within the limits of the City unless otherwise specifically directed by the Common Council. The Common Council shall by resolution determine that sidewalk or block of sidewalk be laid, rebuilt, raised or lowered on any piece of property within the City. The cost of the project shall be assumed by the City. The City shall establish a 5-year sidewalk replacement program. At the end of each year, another project shall be added to replace the project that has been completed.
(B) Repair and maintenance. It shall be the responsibility of the City to repair, replace if damaged beyond repair, and perpetually maintain sidewalks located within the City, and to pay the entire cost thereof, except as provided below:
(1) If the damage to a sidewalk in need of repair or replacement was caused as a result of activities conducted by or on behalf of the owner of the property upon which the damaged sidewalk fronts or abuts, the sidewalk shall be repaired or replaced by the City, at its discretion, and the affected property owner shall be responsible for the entire cost thereof.
(2) If the damage to the sidewalk in need of repair or replacement was caused by repairs to public utilities, the sidewalk shall be repaired or replaced by the City, at its discretion, and the responsible public utility shall be responsible for the entire cost thereof.
(C) Sidewalk construction.
(1) Specifications. Sidewalks in the City shall, unless otherwise specifically indicated in writing, be 4 inches thick, except for driveway area sidewalks, which shall be 6 inches thick, and 5 feet in width, constructed of concrete, which must be 7 bag mix, no fly ash, or locking concrete blocks, and in accordance with the specifications adopted by the Common Council, copies of which are on file with the City Coordinator and/or Street and Water Superinten-dent.
(2) Location. Sidewalks shall be constructed within public street rights-of-way, and unless otherwise specifically indicated in writing, the back line of the sidewalk shall be the front property line. Sidewalks located within business districts shall be from the curb to the building in all instances. All sidewalks shall slope from the property line, or building front in business districts, at the rate of ¼ inch per foot per width.
(D) Curb ramping. The standard construction of curbs and sidewalks on each side of any City street shall include curb ramping, providing access to crosswalks at intersections and other designated locations. Curb ramping includes the curb opening, the ramp and that part of the sidewalk or apron leading to and adjacent to the curb opening.
(1) Curb ramps shall conform to the following requirements:
(a) Curb ramping shall be of permanent construction. The ramp shall be at least 40 inches wide. The sides of the ramp shall slope from the sidewalk or apron elevations to the ramp elevation, with the widest portion of the side slope not less than 18 inches nor more than 24 inches wide at the curb. The ramp slope may not exceed 1 inch vertical to 12 inches horizontal from the flow line elevation of the curb. The curb opening shall not be less than 40 inches nor more than 80 inches wide at the flow line of the curb.
(b) The taper of the curb from the tip of the curb to the flow line of the curb at the curb opening shall be 24 inches wide. The ramp shall be bordered on both sides and on the curb line with a 4-inch-wide yellow strip or with brick of a contrasting color.
(2) Curb ramping shall be in the following locations to provide access to each end of each crosswalk affected:
(a) At the center of the curve of the street corner to accommodate crossing for either direction at the intersection. The entire curb corner may not be made a ramp, but shall provide for standard sidewalk apron and curb on both sides of a ramp.
(b) If subdivision (1) is not feasible, centered on line with the crosswalk and pedestrian traffic and containing surface texturing to indicate clearly to the sense of touch that the surface differs from the sidewalk or street. The surface texturing shall consist of DOT-approved truncated domes.
(Ord. 1078, passed 2-7-23) Penalty, see § 1.1.99