Broken Sidewalks
The Press Telegram did a multi-part series on the problems of broken sidewalks in the City — most particularly in the suburbs. It was a good series because it highlighted the on-going problem created by former City Councils — infrastructure was not attended to and now the costs to repair not only sidewalks but streets and other infrastructure is a whopping $93 million.
The series did not point out, however, that
the California Streets and Highway Code states that property owners shall be responsible for maintaining adjacent sidewalks in such conditions that they will not endanger persons or property and not interfere with the public convenience for its intended use. Due to budget constraints, many cities in California have been requiring the property owners to pay for sidewalk repairs.
The City of Long Beach enacted an ordinance some time back that shifted the responsibility for sidewalk repairs to the City — however, there have never been sufficient funds to meet that responsibility.
I am trying to get a voluntary 50-50 program put in place where the City can partner with homeowners to get their sidewalks fixed faster than being on the City’s “to do list.” The program has been adopted throughout California and the United States and let’s the homeowner get a contractor, get it fixed and then the City pays 50% of the cost (up to a set amount).
If you want to read more about sidewalk repairs here are a number of weblinks for your reading pleasure:
http://www.cdaid.org/index.php?module=pagemaster&PAGE_user_op=view_page&PAGE_id=175
http://209.247.187.57/home/index.asp?page=972
https://www.grantspassoregon.gov/Index.aspx?page=955
http://www.redwoodcity.org/publicworks/trees/tree_sidewalk.htm
http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/sidewalks/repair.asp
http://www.portlandonline.com/transportation/index.cfm?c=35717
http://www.burlingame.org/Index.aspx?page=970
Also for those inquiring minds…the sidewalk in front of my home on Studebaker is raised quite a bit and a “temporary patch” was put on it 22 years ago. It is unlikely that it will be repaired while I am in office.
