The procedure, plans and specifications for the construction of concrete sidewalks shall be as follows: (1973 Code § 12.04.030)
A. Notification Of Building Inspector: The property owner or contractor shall notify the building inspector at least ten (10) days before work on the sidewalk is started, in order that grades, etc., may be established. (1973 Code § 12.04.040)
B. Inspection And Acceptance Of Sidewalk Forms: The contractor shall notify the city when sidewalk forms are set and no concrete shall be placed therein until after the forms have been inspected and accepted. (1973 Code § 12.04.050)
C. Notification Of City Prior To Pouring Concrete: The contractor shall notify the city beforehand when he is to pour the concrete so that provisions may be made for inspections, and any sidewalk placed without the notice shall be condemned, and the contractor cannot hold the owner to the payment of such condemned work. (1973 Code § 12.04.060)
D. Barriers Required To Protect Freshly Poured Sidewalk: Proper barriers shall be provided by the contractor to keep all traffic off the freshly poured sidewalk, and he is responsible for any damage done to the freshly poured walk. (1973 Code § 12.04.070; amd. 1996 Code)
E. General Requirements: Sidewalks shall be constructed in accordance with the plans included in the approved permit(s). Sidewalks shall have a minimum width of four feet (4'). The street side of the sidewalk shall be four feet (4') from the property line on streets fifty feet (50') or less in width. The street side of the sidewalk shall be five feet (5') from the property line on streets over fifty feet (50') in width unless a sidewalk has already been established on the side of the street and in the block that the proposed sidewalk is to be constructed. If there is an existing sidewalk, then the proposed sidewalk shall be in alignment, on the street side with the existing sidewalk, assuming the existing sidewalk was engineered correctly. If the existing sidewalk was located incorrectly at the time of its construction, then the street side of the proposed sidewalk shall be located at the discretion of the city. The street side of the walk will be alignment control and the property side of the walk will be grade control. There shall be a right of way strip one foot (1') from the property line on the homeowner's side of the walk. (1973 Code § 12.04.080; amd. 1996 Code)
F. Material Requirements: All materials shall be secured from approved sources. Aggregate shall be of a standardized grade acceptable for sidewalk construction. Concrete shall contain five and one-half (51/2) bags of cement per cubic yard proportioned as follows: six (6) gallons of clean water to one hundred eighty eight (188) pounds of fine aggregate to three hundred forty five (345) pounds of coarse aggregate per bag of cement (approximately 1:2:4 mix). Weight of the aggregate based on a specific gravity of 2.65. (1973 Code § 12.04.090)
G. Construction Methods; Subgrade: All boulders, organic materials, soft clay, spongy material and any objectionable materials shall be removed and replaced with approved material. When considered necessary by the inspecting authority, the subgrade shall be constructed of pit run gravel, or its equivalent, thickness to depend on existing conditions and determined by the inspector and shall be properly shaped and uniformly compacted. All fills under a subgrade shall be made of suitable material, spread in layers not to exceed one foot (1') in thickness and each layer shall be firmly compacted by an approved method. Shoulders of these fills shall be such that they will amply protect the subgrade from settling and will allow for proper backfilling of the completed sidewalk. (1973 Code § 12.04.100)
H. Concrete Forms: The forms for the concrete shall be of wood or metal, straight and free from warps or kinks and of sufficient strength. They shall be stacked securely enough to resist the pressure of the concrete without spring. When ready for the concrete to be deposited, they shall not vary from the approved line and grade and shall be kept so until the concrete has set. The grade control will be for the side of the walk towards the property. The walk will have a slope of one-fourth inch (1/4") per foot (1') toward the street. (1973 Code § 12.04.110)
I. Placing And Finishing Concrete: Just prior to placing the concrete the subgrade shall be moistened. The concrete mixed to the proper consistency shall be placed in the forms and thoroughly tamped in place so that all honeycombs will be eliminated and sufficient mortar will be brought to the surface. After this the surface shall be brought to an even finish by means of a wooden float. All faces adjacent to the forms shall be spaced so that after the forms are stripped, the surfaces of the faces will be smooth, even and free of honeycombs. All edges shall be tool rounded. (1973 Code § 12.04.120)
J. Expansion Joints And Scoring Concrete: One-half inch (1/2") transverse expansion joints shall be placed at intervals not exceeding twenty five feet (25') and at intersections with walks, driveways, and all curb points. Sidewalks shall be scored to a depth of one inch (1") every four feet (4') for walks four feet (4') in width, five feet (5') for walks five feet (5') in width and six feet (6') for walks six feet (6') in width. (1973 Code § 12.04.130)
K. Curing Concrete: When completed, the concrete shall be kept moist for a period of not less than three (3) days and longer if necessary, and shall be protected from the elements in a satisfactory manner. (1973 Code § 12.04.140)
L. Backfilling: Backfills shall be of suitable selected material and shall be placed and tamped until firm and solid. Backfilling shall follow immediately after the concrete forms have been removed. (1973 Code § 12.04.150)
M. Seasonal Limits: No concrete shall be poured on a frozen or thawing subgrade, or during unfavorable weather conditions or during such time that the temperature is thirty eight degrees Fahrenheit (38°F) and falling. (1973 Code § 12.04.160)
N. Grade And Alignment Specifications: Sidewalks shall be constructed to the grade and alignment as specified and approved by the city.
O. It is unlawful for any person to tear up, break or remove any sidewalk, gutter, or curb, or part thereof, except for the purpose of repairing or replacing the same; or to place, maintain or permit any obstruction on, under, over or across any sidewalk, which restricts or impairs the full and free use thereof by the public unless said obstruction is expressly permitted by the city in accord with the municipal code; or to create, cause, maintain or permit any condition to exist which renders any sidewalk curb, parking strip or driveway across any sidewalk unfit or unsafe for the use by the general public.
P. It shall be the duty of the owner or occupant of abutting property to keep the sidewalk, curb, gutter, parking strip and any driveway access the same in good repair at the owner’s own expense, and to remove or correct any condition which renders any such sidewalk, curb, gutter, parking strip or driveway unsafe or unfit for use, including snow, ice, or obstruction of any kind, natural or artificial. (1973 Code § 12.04.170) (Ord. 2019-1057, 1-8-2020; amd. Ord. 2021-1084, 1-26-2022)