Chapter 136 – Sidewalk Regulations

6. “Portland cement” means any type of cement except bituminous cement. 7. “Sidewalk” means all permanent public walks in business, residential or suburban areas. 8. “Sidewalk improvements” means the construction, reconstruction, repair, replacement, or removal, of a public sidewalk and/or the excavating, filling or depositing of material in the public right-of-way in connection therewith. 9. “Wood float finish” means a sidewalk finish that is made by smoothing the surface of the sidewalk with a wooden trowel. 136.03 REMOVAL OF SNOW, ICE, AND ACCUMULATIONS. It is the responsibility of the abutting property owners to remove snow, ice, and accumulations promptly from sidewalks. If a property owner does not remove snow, ice, or accumulations within a reasonable time, the City may do so and assess the costs against the property owner for collection in the same manner as a property tax. (Code of Iowa, Sec. 364.12[2b & e]) 136.04 RESPONSIBILITY FOR MAINTENANCE. It is the responsibility of the abutting property owners to repair, replace or reconstruct, or cause to be repaired, replaced or reconstructed, all broken or defective sidewalks and to maintain in a safe and hazard-free condition any sidewalk outside the lot and property lines and inside the curb lines or traveled portion of the public street. (Code of Iowa, Sec. 364.12[2c]) 136.05 CITY MAY ORDER REPAIRS. If the abutting property owner does not maintain sidewalks as required, the Council may serve notice on such owner, by certified mail, requiring the owner to repair, replace or reconstruct sidewalks within a reasonable time and if such action is not completed within the time stated in the notice, the Council may require the work to be done and assess the costs against the abutting property for collection in the same manner as a property tax. (Code of Iowa, Sec. 364.12[2d & e]) 136.06 SIDEWALK CONSTRUCTION ORDERED. The Council may order the construction of permanent sidewalks upon any right-of-way in the City and may specially assess the cost of such improvement to abutting property owners in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 384 of the Code of Iowa. However, when pertaining to subdivision sidewalk improvement installations, the following shall apply: The City shall not order any owner or subdivider to construct permanent sidewalks upon any right-of-way for a period of up to one year from the approval of the final subdivision plat or not before such time as the owner or subdivider has sold 75 percent of the lots in the subdivision, whichever may occur first. This shall not exempt the subdivider or owner from any requirements of the Subdivision Ordinance, including (but not limited to) any requirement of a surety bond or escrow agreement or requirements involved with the transference of a lot without constructing improvements. (Code of Iowa, Sec. 384.38) 136.07 PERMIT REQUIRED. No person shall remove, reconstruct, or install a sidewalk unless such person has obtained a permit from the City and has agreed in writing that said removal, reconstruction, or installation will comply with all ordinances and requirements of the City for such work. 136.08 SIDEWALK STANDARDS. Sidewalks repaired, replaced, or constructed under the provisions of this chapter shall be constructed in accordance with the City Design Standards. 136.09 BARRICADES AND WARNING LIGHTS. Whenever any material of any kind is deposited on any street, avenue, highway, passageway or alley when sidewalk improvements are being made or when any sidewalk is in a dangerous condition, it shall be the duty of all persons having an interest therein, either as the contractor or the owner, agent, or lessee of the property in front of or along which