AGENDA TITLE:
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Review of the City's Curb, Gutter, & Sidewalk Maintenance Policy & Municipal Code Chapter 15.44 Requiring Off-Site Improvements (CM)
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MEETING DATE:
November 19, 2025
PREPARED BY:
James Lindsay, Interim City Manager
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RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Review the City's Curb, Gutter, & Sidewalk Maintenance Policy and Municipal Code Chapter 15.44 and provide direction to staff on any changes.
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BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
Mayor Pro Tempore Yepez and Councilmember Craig-Hensley requested a review of the City's Curb, Gutter, & Sidewalk Maintenance Policy, specifically the cost sharing provisions for sidewalk maintenance, and a review of the requirement on certain developments to bring frontage improvements up to current City standards.
Curb, Gutter, & Sidewalk Maintenance Policy
Public sidewalk maintenance for California cities has been guided by Section 5610 of the CA Streets & Highway Code since 1935:
5610. The owners of lots or portions of lots fronting on any portion of a public street or place when that street or place is improved or if and when the area between the property line of the adjacent property and the street line is maintained as a park or parking strip, shall maintain any sidewalk in such condition that the sidewalk will not endanger persons or property and maintain it in a condition which will not interfere with the public convenience in the use of those works or areas save and except as to those conditions created or maintained in, upon, along, or in connection with such sidewalk by any person other than the owner, under and by virtue of any permit or right granted to him by law or by the city authorities in charge thereof, and such persons shall be under a like duty in relation thereto.
The City Council's most recent policy regarding maintenance of curbs, gutters, & sidewalks was adopted in 2005 (Attachment A). The main points from the policy for sidewalk maintenance are summarized below:
* The City w...
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