Parks Maintenance
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Sidewalk / Trail Inspections And Maintenance Policy
A. Introduction
The City of Watertown has miles of public sidewalks and asphalt trails. Public sidewalks and trails may vary in age and in
quality of condition. Not every mere inequality or irregularity in the surface of the way rises to the level of a defect. The city recognizes
that some sidewalk and trail conditions can create unreasonable hazards for pedestrians and other sidewalk/trail users.
The city does not have unlimited employee or financial resources and cannot reasonably replace all sidewalks needing replacement
or repair within the same year the sidewalk is identified as needing replacement and repair. Sidewalk replacement and repair can be costly.
Comprehensive sidewalk surveys are expensive and require the use of limited city personnel and other resources. Under appropriate circumstances,
some or all of the cost of sidewalk replacement may be passed to the adjacent property owner.
Accordingly, the City and its Public Works Department must exercise both discretion and professional judgement in determining
whether and when sideways need to be replaced or repaired. The city expects that its agents, employees, and city officials will exercise discretion
in identifying conditions requiring replacement and repair, and in establishing priorities for replacement and repair.
B. Sidewalk / Trail Inspection Procedures
The Public Works Director shall establish procedures for regular sidewalk/trail inspection. Those procedures will include:
- An initial city wide sidewalk survey to be completed by June 1st.
- A schedule for routine sidewalk/trail inspections on a regular basis.
- Establishing criteria for determining whether a particular sidewalk/trail condition is in need of replacement or repair. Those
criteria will include, but not necessarily be limited to, a deviation or difference in elevation greater than one(1) inch, as determined
at the time of inspection.
C. Sidewalk / Trail Replacement and Repair Policy
Upon completion of the initial sidewalk/trail survey, the Director of Public Works shall establish a replacement and repair
schedule. This schedule is subject to modifacation based both on sidewalk/trail conditions and the availability of resources for
sidewalk/trail replacement and repair. The sidewalk/trail replacement and repair schedule will:
- Divide the city into sections or otherwise prioritize replacement of the sidewalks/trails identified as needing replacement or repair so
all sidewalks/trails identified in the initial sidewalk/trail survey as needing replacement or repair are replaced or repaired by August 15th.
- Take into consideration and weigh in the following factors:
* Sidewalk location and amount of pedestrian traffic.
* Proximity of sidewalk/trail identified as needing replacement or repair to other sidewalks also needing replacement or repair.
* The nature and severity of the condition needing replacement or repair.
* The City's budget for replacement or repair of sidewalks and trails.
* Whether or to what extent the cost of repair can be recovered from adjacent property owners.
* Availability of employees, contractors, equipment and other resources for sidewalk/trial replacement or repair.
* Public Safety
* History of prior accidents or complaints.
* Schedules of indepent contractors and work necessary to prepare bids and bid specifications if work is to be performed by independent contractors.
D. Sidewalk / Trail Maintenance Policy
City Employees will be responsible for removing snow from sidewalks that abut city-owned buildings or parking lots.
Adjacent property owners, including other public entities, are responsible for removing snow and ice from sidewalks that abut their property.
The city may, as a public service and for reasons of public safety, remove snow and ice from sidewalks. The Public Works Director will
identify sidewalks/trails from which the city will remove snow and ice.
E. Review and Modification of Policy
The City Council may modify or clarify this policy at any time. Where the city council has delegated responsibility or
authority to any city employee or official for development or implementation of any portion of this policy, that employee or official shall
have full authority to modify that portion of the policy at any time.
F. Review of Policy
The Public Works Director will keep on file, comments and complaints received regarding this policy. The policy will be
reviewed periodically. Any review will consider comments and complaints since the last review and any other factors affecting the policy or
its implementation.
G. Effective Date of Policy
This policy shall be effective as of __________. Modifications of this policy shall be effective on the date said
modifications are approved by city council resolution or the date city employee or official (with authority granted by the city council)
has approved the policy modification or change.
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