Sidewalk Ordinance Near.

The Public Works Committee reviewed an outline of the proposed changes to the City’s sidewalk ordinance at Tuesday afternoon’s meeting. The subject of sidewalks has been under serious discussion since last September, with the City opting to repair its own sidewalks before requiring private citizens to repair theirs.

After researching the policies of other cities, the Engineering Department has put together the proposed changes which will include a reimbursement policy if funds are made available in the budget. Joe Butler, Engineering Department Head, plans to have the policy in place for the new budget year beginning in July.

Under the proposed ordinance, sidewalk repairs will be handled in a manner similar to property maintenance cases. After a complaint or a request by an owner, an inspection of the sidewalk will be done. If repair is required, the owner will be notified and given the necessary information regarding specifications which must be met and payment options.

If the repair is not completed in the specified time, which will vary depending on the size of the job, the owner may be issued a summons and the case could go to City court.

Butler suggests that the City enter into an annual sidewalk repair contract. Owners needing to make repairs may then use the City’s contractor or choose their own.

If the owner voluntarily complies with the repair notice, he or she will be eligible for a reimbursement of $1.50 per square foot from the City after repairs are complete and have been inspected.

The plan presented by Butler also allowed reimbursement if the City forced the repairs and paid the contractor. The owner then paid the City through a tax assessment--the owner would pay the total cost minus $1.50 per square foot.

"I think the incentive ought to be only applied to those who voluntarily repair," said Committee Member Larry Ross. "If you have to force it, I think they give up their right to the incentive."

After some discussion, it was suggested that the reimbursement be allowed only if the owner paid the City within 30 days of billing. If owners opt to spread the payments over a longer period, they would not be eligible for the City reimbursement program.

The City would also have the option of requiring a large stretch of sidewalk, such as an entire block involving several landowners, to be repaired by going through the Committee, City Council and bid process. If this happens, the owners would not be eligible for the per foot reimbursement, but would be able to pay through a tax assessment. If the owners involved chose to repair their sidewalks voluntarily before the City went through the bid process, they would be eligible for reimbursement.

Included in the sidewalk ordinance will be the authority to include curb and gutter repairs in sidewalk repair orders if related to the sidewalk repair. Also included is the authority to have trees, stumps and tree roots removed if they are in the right of way and causing sidewalk problems. Only the sidewalk work, however, is eligible for reimbursement.

"We’re not going out to pick on anybody," said Butler, "but if the sidewalk needs to be fixed and there’s a tree there or a tree root in the walk or curb, then it needs to come out. And we want somebody to have the authority to do that without going through Council."

"I can see that’s going to be a major problem," said Committee Chair Bill Fortune. "We’re going to have people complaining if someone goes out and says you’ve got to remove your tree."

Fortune suggested giving the inspector the authority to say that, but allowing owners the recourse of appealing to an appeals board. Fortune said using the appeals board rather than the Council would keep the process from becoming the "political football it used to be."

Butler and City Attorney David Mouton will continue to work on the sidewalk ordinance, and the Committee will review it in more detail at their next meeting.

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Just Jake Talkin'
Mornin',

If ya happened to be in the area just south and west of the old Eugene Fields school buildin’ late Monday night, ya might have seen someone sneakin’ around with a sharp implement of destruction. The result of someone or ones’ rage was about twenty cars with multiple tires punctured. It took several hours for the police ta get all the reports. It’s not often that there is such a large number of crimes committed involvin’ so many people in such a short time.

Unfortunately for the good guys, most folks were gettin’ some sleep durin’ the free-for-all and didn’t see anything. Most had ta miss some work to get their vehicles movin’ again. No apparent reason, just some fun lovin’ folks seein’ how many tires they could destroy. If ya happened to see anything, let the police know.

This is some fact but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

by

Metcalf Auto Supply

Click and Clack Talk Cars.

Dear Tom and Ray:

I am involved in bird research during the spring and summer in western Oregon that has several times left me in the middle of nowhere with a car problem (usually a flat tire). I drive over extremely crummy roads and am often 20-plus miles away from the nearest town (or two people as the case may be). What would you guys suggest as the catch-all tool-kit/emergency-repair stuff that I need to take with me? A first-aid kit for the car, you might say. I don't want to carry 6 tons of equipment, but I want the stuff to fix small problems on my own. What should I have and know how to use in case of a breakdown? -Jenny

RAY: A cellular phone.

TOM: But in case you're really out in the boondocks where a cell phone doesn't work (or you run your battery down by spending six hours talking to the Psychic Friends Network), I'd also pack the following:

RAY: An inflated spare tire. And make sure your lug nuts aren't rusted tight by loosening and tightening them back up every six months or so.

TOM: I'd also carry a can of that "Fix-a-Flat" type of stuff. That's the goop in a can that will fix a small puncture hole in your tire and inflate it, at least temporarily.

RAY: I'd also bring a roll of duct tape. It's good for lots of things, like when parts fall off, when a hose breaks and you need to temporarily patch it up, or when you're tired of listening to a particularly verbose in-law.

TOM: I'd also carry one of those plastic, temporary replacement belts that can be adjusted to any size by adding or removing links. That'll help if a belt breaks. Then I'd throw in two screwdrivers (one of each kind), and a pair of Vise Grips,and call it a day.

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