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Sidewalk Pilot Program
Purpose
The Town’s maintained street network consists of 34.7 centerline miles of roadway and the majority of those streets have sidewalk present on one or both sides of the street. As sidewalks age, they are susceptible to developing “tripping hazards” (also known as “vertical offsets”) as the earth settles and tree roots raise concrete panels over time. These tripping hazards are a significant source of health related injuries to the general public.
The Corte Madera Municipal Code, Section 12.56.010 states that any sidewalk or driveway items on parcels not owned by the Town are assigned 3rd party responsibility, along with vegetation and trees on private property that impede on the path of travel. Similarly, the maintenance of trees are also the responsibility of the fronting property owner as stated in the Town Municipal Code, Section 12.40.030.
As a result, the Town developed the Sidewalk Pilot Program. This program will contribute Town grant funds and resources to assist homeowners with their responsibility to maintain sidewalk areas and trees in a safe condition. The Town will award the grant funds as defined in each strategy below. (Please note that this program went into effect on November 1, 2020. Reimbursements for work completed prior to that date are not authorized under this program.)
Strategy #1: Sidewalk Grinding (or "Shaving")
The sidewalk grinding locations will be determined by Town staff and will be limited to work within the Town right-of-way. In addition, an emphasis will be made toward implementing these repairs on entire street segments and/or neighborhoods to improve the overall cost effectiveness of the program.
How much funding is available?
In each fiscal year staff will target a budget of $50,000 to be designated to grinding (or “shaving”) tripping hazards (or “vertical offsets”)in the sidewalk areas.
What are the grant amounts available to me?
These repairs will be 100% funded by the Program as part of a one-time repair, where Town staff will contract directly with a contractor to facilitate the work.
Is a permit required?
Since these repairs will occur within Town right-of-way and the work will be performed by a licensed contractor that is in contract with the Town, no permit will be required.
Can I opt-out from Strategy #1?
Prior to conducting this repair work, the property owners will be notified of the work in advance of the construction and will have the ability to “opt-out” in writing within 15 days of the mailing of the Notice pursuant to this section.
Strategy #2: Capital Improvement Program (CIP) Sidewalk Replacement and Repairs
The sidewalk replacement and repair locations will be determined by Town staff and will be limited to work within the Town right-of-way. In addition, this work shall be within the limits and scope of the CIP project.
How much funding is available?
In each fiscal year staff will target a budget of $75,000 to be designated to replacing and/or repairing deficient sidewalk as part of the Town’s CIP projects such as road rehabilitation, safe routes to schools and/or complete streets projects.
What are the grant amounts available to me?
These repairs will be 100% funded by the Program as part of a one-time repair, where Town staff will contract directly with a contractor to facilitate the work.
Is a permit required?
Since these repairs will occur within Town right-of-way and the work will be performed by a licensed contractor that is in contract with the Town, no permit will be required.
Can I opt-out from Strategy #2?
Prior to conducting this repair work, the property owners will be notified of the work in advance of the construction and will have the ability to “opt-out” in writing within 15 days of the mailing of the Notice pursuant to this section.
Strategy #3: Individual Sidewalk Replacements
To qualify for the individual sidewalk replacement grant, Town Staff must determine that the existing sidewalk is unsafe; such that the sidewalk areas have severe vertical offsets or the sidewalk panels have severe running or cross slopes. This one-time grant will be funded by the Town on a first-come basis until the funds have been exhausted. The property owner shall be required to complete an application that includes at least two quotes from qualified and licensed contractors.
How much funding is available?
In each fiscal year staff will target a budget of $25,000 to be designated to replacing deficient sidewalk as part of work performed by individual property owners.
What are the grant amounts available to me?
This work shall be performed by a qualified and licensed contractor that is directly hired by the property owner. The Town will reimburse the property owner as follows, where the maximum contribution from the Town is $5,000 per residential property and $2,000 per commercial property, over a cumulative 10 year period.
- Split the cost of sidewalk replacement 50-50 with property owners (up to a maximum of $1,000 in Town contribution)
- Split the cost of cost of street tree work removal and replacement (including root trimming, stump grinding, removal/replacement)50-50 with property owners (up to $2,500 in Town contribution)
- Fully incur the cost of curb and gutter replacement (up to a maximum of $4,000 Town contribution)
Since these repairs will occur within Town right-of-way and the work will be performed by a licensed contractor that is not in contract with the Town, an Encroachment Permit (and potentially a Tree Permit)will be required.
What are the permit fees?
Encroachment Permit fees that are triggered by Section 12.04.040 and Tree Permit fees that are triggered by Section 15.50.040 shall be “waived” or issued at no cost to the permittee; except when these permits are triggered by, or included in, a Building Permit review process.
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Strategy #4: Sidewalk Replacement Projects (10-Zone Cycle)
Qualification for the Program?
The Town funds will be granted for replacing sidewalk where Town staff determines that the existing sidewalk is unsafe; such that the sidewalk areas have severe vertical offsets or the sidewalk panels have severe running or cross slopes. This one-time grant will be funded by the Town on a first-come basis until the funds have been exhausted. This work shall be performed by a qualified and licensed contractor that is directly hired by the Town. To qualify for the grant, the property owner must enter into an agreement with the Town to ensure that the property owner(s) will reimburse the Town for the property owner’s portion of the improvements and resume maintenance responsibility of the newly-installed sidewalk once the work is completed.
How much funding is available?
In each fiscal year (starting in FY2021-2022) staff will target a budget of $100,000 to be designated to replacing deficient sidewalk as part of work performed within an identified zone within Town.
What are the grant amounts available to me?
The funding contributions shall be as follows, where the maximum contribution from the Town is $5,000 per residential property and $2,000 per commercial property, over a cumulative 10 year period.
- Split the cost of sidewalk replacement 50-50 with property owners (up to a maximum of $1,000 in Town contribution)
- Split the cost of cost of street tree work removal and replacement (including root trimming, stump grinding, removal/ replacement)50-50 with property owners (up to $2,500 in Town contribution)
- Fully incur the cost of curb and gutter replacement (up to a maximum of $4,000 Town contribution)
How is priority determined?
Assuming this Sidewalk Pilot Program continues to be funded, the intent is that each of the established zones will receive a “project” before the 10-ZoneCycle is repeated. However, due to limited staffing resources, priority will be given to zones where neighborhood have already established a preliminary list of interested property owners and have volunteers that are willing to streamline the process and assist with public outreach and coordination.
Since these repairs will occur within Town right-of-way and the work will be performed by a licensed contractor that is in contract with the Town, a permit will not be required.
What are the permit fees?
Encroachment Permit fees that are triggered by Section 12.04.040 and Tree Permit fees that are triggered by Section 15.50.040 shall be “waived” or issued at no cost to the permittee.