Agenda - Council - 07/14/2009 - Laserfiche WebLink

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I I I I I I I I I "I I I I I I I I I I CASE # I CUL VERT REPAIR POLICY By: Engineer Steven Jankowski Background; ThrouShout IpOSt of the City 1 draina,e is facilitated through a system of culverts. The majority of these eulvetU are placed beneath individual driveways, but culverts also cross public roadways. When dralnaJe problems arise, the City is often asked to repair, replace or install culverts. There is a questioq pfllsponsibiUty at issue since individuall;lff""" . culverts are required to be placed by the ho~wners on City right-of-ways. City Code,fJl(d:) only briefly addresses the requirement 6f culverts as follows: r "When J1~essary, the lot owner shall install a culvert of adequate size, as determined by the Buildina ptficial. All culvertS shall be ~ minimum of IS inches in diameter." Staff believe. it would be helpful to develop a written policy to address the responsibilities that arise concemlnl this issue. We are suggesting the following provisions be incorporated in such a policy. " . . The City :shall be responsible: for the: maintenance and cleanins of culverts which cross City streets. . The ~ owner shall be responsible for the cost of installing and auuntaining an. y culvert whic~ ptqvt~s access to his property. Rationale: There are approximately 5,000 culverts in the city.and the sheer number makes it unreasonable to expect that the Public Works Departmont can clean and repair this number. Also the culvert., although it is on public nrOnertY,brovides its primary benefit to the property owner and should be considered similarly to Dudl&Okes and sprinIder heads. Finally I tho method of cloanins p8J.1ially filled culverts by the Public Works Department is the same as the homeowner, by hand. This policy might be reconsidefed if a power vacuum or mechanical piece of equipment could be obtained by the City in the fucure. . The Oty lYill accept the responsibility for cleaning ditches between culverts. Rationale: The City doosiOwn .h~avy equipment to facilitate ditch cleaning, whereas, the homeowner could not reasonably be. expected to undertake this type of work. Also, the filling of ditches is primarily caused by'~acti.vitiCs which are not a direct result of homeowner activities. . ThePubl~ Works Supervisor should be given the authorized to require any homeowner to install, mpait or maintain their culvert. Failure to comply with a proper order within a reasonabl. amount of time, or in case an emergency should be cause for having tho work performed by Public Works and the cost assessed to the property owner. . Committee Action: Based on dt~ua.ion, direct the City Engineer to prepare a policy for considcntion by City ~d ' " . Reviewed by: City Engineer RB:CY1127/93 1 31