Sidewalks constructed, repaired, or replaced under the provisions of this subchapter shall be of the following construction and meet the following standards.
(A) Portland cement concrete shall be the only material used in the construction and repair of sidewalks unless otherwise authorized by the City Council.
(B) Sidewalks shall be on one-course construction.
(C) Concrete may be placed directly on compact and well-drained soil. Where soil is not well drained, a four inch sub-base of compact, clean, coarse gravel, sand, or cinders shall be laid. The adequacy of the soil drainage is to be determined by the Superintendent of Public Works.
(D) The sidewalk bed shall be graded to the established grade.
(E) Residential sidewalks shall be at least four feet wide, or match existing sidewalks, and four inches thick, and each section shall be no more than four feet in length. In the Central Business District, sidewalks shall extend from the property line to the curb unless the Council shall establish a different distance due to the circumstances. Each section shall be four inches thick and no more than six feet in length and width. All driveway areas shall not be less than six inches in thickness.
(F) Residential sidewalks shall be located with the inner edge (edge nearest the abutting private property) on the property line, unless the Council shall establish a different distance due to the circumstances.
(G) All elevations of sidewalks are to be established by the City Council with assistance from the Superintendent of Public Works on a case-by-case basis.
(H) All sidewalks shall slope at least one-quarter inch per foot toward the curb, but in no event more than one-half inch per foot toward the curb.
(I) All sidewalks shall have a steel trowel finish followed by a “broom” or a “wood float” finish.
(J) There shall not be less than two curb cuts or ramps per lineal block which shall be located on or near the cross-walks at intersections. Each curb cut or ramp shall be at last 30 inches wide, shall be sloped at not greater than one inch of rise per 12 inches lineal distance, except that a slope no greater than one inch of rise per eight inches lineal distance may be used where necessary, shall have a nonskid surface, and shall otherwise be so constructed as to allow reasonable access to the crosswalk for physically disabled persons using the sidewalk. All new sidewalks shall comply with the Americans With Disabilities Act, being 42 U.S.C. §§ 12101 et seq. (per Iowa Code § 216C.9).
(K) All sidewalk improvements on public property, whether performed by the owner of the abutting property or by the city, shall be performed under the supervision and inspection of the City Superintendent of Public Works, and in accordance with the standard sidewalk specifications set forth in this subchapter.
(Prior Code, § 6-8-9) (Ord. 03-04, passed 9-9-2003)