Department of Public WorksDepartment of Public Works

Bureau of Street ServicesBureau of Street Services

Cynthia M. Ruiz President

Department of Public Works

PROFESSOR POTHOLE

PRESENTS

Point of Sale Sidewalk Repair Program

William A. Robertson Director

Bureau of Street Services

HOW BIG IS LOS ANGELES?

SIDEWALK REPAIR PROGRAM

Historical Look At The City’s Sidewalk Policy

The State of California Improvement Act of 1911 provides cities the authority to require property owners to effect repairs to sidewalks abutting their property (California Streets and Highways Code). Should the property owner fail to effect such repairs, city forces are authorized to make the repairs and the property owner is assessed for the cost. However the Los Angeles Municipal Code (Section 62.104, Ordinance No. 146,040 effective July 3, 1974) exempts homeowners from the responsibility for sidewalk repairs caused by tree root growth and places responsibility for these repairs with the City. The Bureau encourages property owners to effect voluntary repairs through the issuance of a no-fee “Class A” permit.

Historical • Between 1978 to 2000, no full scale permanent sidewalk

repair program existed in the City. In the interest of public safety, the Bureau made repairs with asphalt at no direct cost to the property owner.

• For the first time in 25 years, a budget was approved in the 2000-2001 budget for approximately $9 million to permanently repair 46 miles of the most damaged sidewalks.

• In 2001-2002, the Sidewalk Repair Program was again funded and increased to repair an additional 98 miles of sidewalks

• Fiscal Year 2002-2003, the Mayor and City Council increased the program by 20 miles to a total of 118 miles.

Criteria For Sidewalk Repair

• Areas where slip, trip and fall accidents have occurred.

• Where tree roots have raised the sidewalks within American with Disabilities Act “transition areas”, as determined by the Department of Disability.

• Where paths of travel issues exist in conjunction with access ramp construction.

• In low and moderate income census tract areas.

Sidewalk Repair Options

• Grind Sidewalks

• Meander Sidewalks

• Enlarged Tree Well

• Reduce Sidewalk Width

• Rubberized Pavers

• Pour-in-Place Rubberized Sidewalk

• Sidewalk Ramping

Sidewalk Grinding

Meandering Sidewalk

Enlarged Tree Well

Reduced Sidewalk

Ramped Sidewalk

Ramped Sidewalk

Poured-in-Place Rubberized Sidewalk

Rubberized Pavers

WHY ARE WE HERE?

Sub-Committees

• Program Structure

• Legal Issues/Ordinance Change

• Workforce Development/Training

• Community/Business Outreach

Program Structure

• Residential Program/Commercial Program

• Enforcement – Public/Private

• Inside/Outside Escrow

• Issuing Safe Sidewalk Certificates

• Inspection Costs and Procedures

• Review current policies for existing programs

Legal Issues/Ordinance Change

• Drafting of New Ordinance• Rescinding “City Responsible” Amendment• Inclusion of Permitting over $5,000• Exemptions – Condos, Transfers between family

members, etc.• Issuing Safe Sidewalk Certificate• Residential Property only?• Commerical Property issues• Review of current requirements for gas shut-off,

etc.

Workforce Development/Training

• Eligibility/Target Group/Qualifications

• Start-up Funding Sources

• Training Structure (Classifications)

• Length of Training/Classification

• Payscale

Community/Business Outreach

• Input from Neighborhood Councils

• Presentation of final program

Timeline

• 120 days submit a draft report to Council Committees

• 60 days from the draft report, submit the final report to full Council.

WHAT DO WE DO NEXT?

• Establish sub-committee meeting schedules

• Submit monthly progress reports to the Bureau of Street Services

DISCUSSION