Chapter 4.14
SIDEWALKS, CURBS AND GUTTERS
Sections:
4.14.020 General specifications.
4.14.040 Establishment of grades.
4.14.060 Construction details.
4.14.080 Reconstruction.
4.14.100 Acceptance by the city.
4.14.120 Maintenance of sidewalks and driveways.
4.14.140 Sidewalk cleaning.
4.14.160 Assessment.
4.14.170 Sidewalk use permit.
4.14.180 Violation.
4.14.020 General specifications.
All sidewalks, curbs and gutters hereafter constructed in the city of Ellensburg shall be constructed or reconstructed in accordance with Division 8 of the Standard Specifications provided for in ECC 4.04.020, except as modified herein. [Ord. 3066 § 3, 1975; Ord. 2920 § 3, 1972; Ord. 2844, 1970.]
4.14.040 Establishment of grades.
All curbs, gutters and/or sidewalks hereafter constructed or reconstructed shall be constructed to the approved lines, grades, and to accommodate the width of roadway established for the street. [Ord. 2920 § 4, 1972; Ord. 2844, 1970.]
4.14.060 Construction details.
Pedestrian pathways shall be a minimum of four feet in width. They may be of grass if properly maintained. Other surfaces may be permitted upon approval by the director of public works, except that dirt surfaces shall not be permitted. If any pedestrian pathway deteriorates so as to make pedestrian use difficult or unsafe, the director of public works may direct its replacement with permanent sidewalks. Pedestrian pathways shall be constructed entirely within the public right-of-way and shall be separated from the traveled way by landscaping, curbing, median, or other approved physical barrier. Pedestrian pathways shall be designed and located to be harmonious in alignment and connection with adjacent existing or planned pathways.
Temporary sidewalks shall be a minimum of four feet wide. Temporary sidewalks shall be constructed of either asphalt or concrete at the discretion of the director of public works. Temporary concrete walks shall be a minimum of three and one-half inches in depth, except that where they cross driveways they shall be a minimum of six inches in depth. Temporary asphalt sidewalks shall be a minimum of two inches of compacted asphalt placed over a sufficient crushed rock base compacted to provide a smooth, unyielding base as determined by the director of public works.
Permanent sidewalks shall be a minimum of five feet wide. They shall be wider when the director of public works orders them to be so for reasons relating to public need. Permanent sidewalks may be either concrete or asphalt at the discretion of the director of public works. Permanent concrete walks shall be a minimum of three and one-half inches in thickness placed over a minimum of two inches of well-graded and well-compacted gravel, except that where they cross driveways they shall be constructed a minimum of six inches in depth. Permanent asphalt sidewalks shall be a minimum of two inches of compacted asphalt placed over a minimum of two inches of crushed gravel which has been graded and well compacted to provide a smooth, unyielding base.
Sidewalks shall slope at a rate of two percent toward the curb, unless the director of public works approves a different slope.
Adjustment of the standards contained in this section required by adverse field conditions, high pedestrian volumes, heavy traffic or other unusual circumstances may be made by the director of public works to allow for such conditions. [Ord. 3066 § 4, 1975; Ord. 2920 § 5, 1972; Ord. 2844, 1970.]
4.14.080 Reconstruction.
Whenever possible, as determined by the director of public works/city engineer, reconstructed sidewalks, curbs and gutters shall be installed as described in ECC 4.14.060. In all cases, the scope and extent of the project for reconstruction of sidewalks, curbs and gutters shall be determined by the director of public works/city engineer. [Ord. 2920 § 6, 1972; Ord. 2844, 1970.]
4.14.100 Acceptance by the city.
No improvement will be accepted until the director of public works is satisfied that the work has been performed according to the requirements of this title and to the lines and grades as established and staked. [Ord. 2844, 1970.]
4.14.120 Maintenance of sidewalks and driveways.
A. Hazardous Sidewalks. It is unlawful for any person, persons, firm or corporation to keep or retain a public sidewalk or driveway area fronting his property which is in a state of disrepair and dangerous for use by the public.
B. Method of Repair. Repairs shall consist of removing complete slabs, sections or squares of sidewalk which are broken, spalled, raised and/or otherwise damaged, and replacing them with new cement, concrete or concrete paving stones. Removal of only portions of damaged sidewalk slabs, sections or squares shall not be permitted.
C. Cost Sharing. When sidewalks are ordered to be repaired or replaced or when property owners at their own initiative request repairs, the city shall participate with the property owner in the expense of repair or replacement as follows:
|
Area |
City Participation |
Property Owner Participation |
|
Residential Property |
100% |
0% |
|
Public Reserve Zone |
0% |
100% |
|
Commercial and Industrial Property |
0% |
100%4 |
|
Paver Stone District |
100%1 |
0%1 |
|
25%2 |
75%2 |
|
|
0%3 |
100%3 |
1Applies to areas with existing concrete paving stones or fired clay pavers which are repaired.
2Applies to areas with existing concrete sidewalks which, because of their condition, are extensively reconstructed with concrete paving stones.
3Applies to areas with existing concrete sidewalks which, because of their condition, are extensively reconstructed with concrete.
4Commercial/industrial property owners wishing to complete repairs may petition the public works director to participate in the city’s annual repair contract at their own expense in order to access the project unit bid prices and secure removal of damaged sidewalk by city forces and roadway patching at no additional cost.
D. The property owner shall not be required to repair or replace those slabs, sections or squares damaged by the city in the course of installation of utilities, plantings or signs.
E. For purposes of subsection (C) of this section, the references to zones are those zones contained in the city of Ellensburg’s zoning ordinance, except for the paver stone district, which refers to properties fronting the following specific streets:
|
Street |
From |
To |
|
Pearl |
Second |
Sixth |
|
Pine |
Second |
Sixth |
|
Main |
Second |
Sixth |
|
Ruby |
Second |
Sixth |
|
Third |
Depot |
Ruby |
|
Fourth |
Water |
Ruby |
|
Fifth |
Water |
Ruby |
|
Sixth |
Water |
Ruby |
F. Sidewalk repairs within the paver stone district as defined in this section shall be made with concrete paving stones wherever concrete paving stones or clay paver bricks exist. In areas of existing concrete sidewalk, the director of public works shall first review the work and then report to the city council on the recommended method of repairs. Whenever possible, concrete paving stones should be used. The city council, after review, shall determine the method and extent of repairs to be undertaken.
G. The director of public works shall prioritize the repairs to ensure that the most needed repairs are accomplished first. The director of public works shall take into consideration the following when prioritizing the city’s repairs:
1. The volume of pedestrian traffic; and
2. The usage of the sidewalk by senior citizens.
H. Repair work in excess of budgeted funds may, at the option of the property owner, be completed at the property owner’s sole expense or the property owner may elect to have the work carried over until the next year, at which time it will again be prioritized against all available funds and projects. The property owner’s responsibility for the repair of sidewalks shall not in any way be diminished by reason of said sidewalk not attaining priority under the city’s prioritization.
I. To qualify for city participation, the work shall be under the control and supervision of the director of public works. The director of public works shall work with the property owner to ensure that the best product is achieved at the most economical price. [Ord. 4605 § 1, 2011; Ord. 3618 § 1, 1988.]
4.14.140 Sidewalk cleaning.
It is unlawful for any person, firm, or corporation owning, occupying or having charge of real property within the city to permit the accumulation of trash, garbage, refuse, debris or any other objects upon a public sidewalk to such an extent as to be considered hazardous to pedestrian traffic or to impede the normal flow of pedestrian traffic within such time as such removal can be reasonably accomplished. Any person, firm or corporation who violates this section shall be assessed the penalty and default amount for a Class 3 civil infraction, in an amount not to exceed $50.00, not including statutory assessments. Each day in which any violation shall continue or occur shall constitute a separate offense. [Ord. 4346, 2002; Ord. 2844, 1970.]
4.14.160 Assessment.
Where construction and/or reconstruction of sidewalks is accomplished by local improvement district or by council resolution, the entire expense of the improvement shall be assessed to the abutting property owners, except that the city may contribute a percentage of the expense of construction and reconstruction of sidewalks as determined by resolution. In computing the cost of a sidewalk project, it shall be assumed that all properties affected already have a 10-foot-wide concrete driveway. If there is no concrete driveway, sidewalks across such driveway space shall be paid for entirely by the property owner. The city shall not contribute to this expense. If an existing concrete driveway is wider than 10 feet, the property owner shall receive a credit for that amount of driveway in excess of 10 feet. Such credit shall be computed on the basis of the contract unit price per lineal foot of standard sidewalk. [Ord. 2844, 1970.]
4.14.170 Sidewalk use permit.
The community development director is authorized to issue sidewalk use permits for the purpose of allowing the use of city sidewalk areas for the service of food and beverage, including alcoholic beverages when authorized by applicable state liquor laws, as an extension of a permittee’s adjacent business fronting directly upon the sidewalk, and the city council shall establish the terms and conditions upon which such permits may be issued. [Ord. 4574 § 1, 2010.]
4.14.180 Violation.
Each day any sidewalk or driveway is permitted to remain in a condition contrary to the terms of this title shall be considered and shall constitute a separate and distinct violation thereof. [Ord. 2844, 1970.]