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Santa Monica, California, December 1, 1975
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^10: Mayor and City Council 8~~; ,J1~
FROM: City Staff ~~x~~~~~ a~ ~sg
G3T'd CSb~3S'~ ~r"fd<,'.~
SUBJECT: Sidevaalk Repair Policy ~~~:~~.ir}~
Introduction
This report is being submitted as requested by the City Council
at their November 18, 1975 meeting that the City Staff make a
study and report as to the status and effect of the recent
change in the Gity's sidewalk repair policy upon the citizenry.
Background
At the Council meeting of June 10, 1975, the Council adopted a
moticn to delete $40,000 for sidewalk repairs from Budget No.
421, Streets and Storm Drains (Activities and Programs . The
results of this .action were:
1. Beginning July 1, 1975, all .future sidewalk repairs
would be paid for by the property owners, in lieu
of the previous pol;cy of-the City paying for this
work.
2. The elimination of three employees from the Public
:?orks Department: namely, one Cement Crew Leadman;
one Cement Finisher, and one M~.intenance Man I.
These jobs have been deleted from the budget.
Previous Policy And Program
Prior to July 1, 1975, the City~s sidewalk repair policy vaas
as follows;
The City, at no cost to the property ot~rner, repaired all
To; Mayor and City Council -2- December 1, 1975
damaged or hazardous sidewalks vrithin the street right-of-way.
The property owner eras responsible for the repair of sidewalk
damaged by vehicles or from activities related to the property.
the property owner was, and still is, responsible for the re-
pair and replacement of all damaged and hazardous sidewalk
during the development of the property. The property ovrner was
responsible for the repair of driveway approaches, including
the sidewalk adjoining the approaches, regardless of how they
w*ere damaged, including tree root damage.
For many years prior to the change in sidewalk repair policy,
the City, at no direct charge to the property owner, was re-
placing-approximately 75,000_square feet of damagedand_
hazardous sidevralk each year: .The sidevralk repair crew that-
was deleted did approximately 50,000 square feet of replacement -
per year and the balance iaas done by private contract. The
costs for side*rralk repair, including all incidental costs,
during fiscal 1874-75 eras 115,000, which included $50,000 for
private contract work.
Status of Current Program--
A recent analysts of our sidevaalk repair program indicates that
approximately 650 of the sidewalks replaced have been damaged.
by tree roots, Much of the sidewalk replaced due to root damage
To: Mayor and City Council -3- :Dec®mber 1, 1975
must be repeated every 3 or 4 years. G9e estimate that at
least 100,000 square feet of sidewalk should be replaced
yearly.
Since the sidetivalk •repair policy caas changed, *rre have mailed
approximately 85 notices to repair, of which 13 have been
done by the City and one was done by the property ovmer.. Zde
have an additional 25 notices processed and ready to nail. Ite
have hired a private contractor to perform the work in the
balance ~~' tr~i-: notices that have been mailed including subse-
quent n~>`:ces. ~'r3e ^nntract has been awarded and the contractor
F D n
should r,u ~ t ~x•t:in~ pork about December 8, 1875. Stagy T - e:~ti-
mates a :.: W .e rr ~ ..a_-; funds required to repair the sidewalks
for the ~~ernainder o~° ttzis year by this contractor is X40,000.
The process of doing side~•ralk repair by notice is a very costly
and time consLUning process. 41e would conservatively estimate
the cost to be 25.00 for each notice.
Recommendation
1. It is recommended that the City Council revert to our
sidewalk repair policy that existed prior to July 1,
1975•
2. It is recommended that the 40,000 deleted from the
sidewalk repair budget be_reinstated by transferring
this amount from Unappropriated Reserves to Account
No. 421-535•
Prepared by: Doug McAteer
Efren Diaz
DM: f s
Attacr~nent