CP070 (Sidewalk Construction, Maintenance and Assessment of Costs)CITY OF JANESVILLE Policy No. 70
Page 1 of 10
CITY COUNCIL POLICY STATEMENT Date Issued 7/28/92
Revised: 9/21/92, 3/10/97,
12/4/2000, 5/12/2003,
1/14/2008, 3/25/2008,
03/09/2010, 3/25/2013,
9/28/15, 1/11/16, 4/9/18,
5/29/18, 7/10/23
General Subject: Administration
Effective Date 7/11/23
Specific Subject: Sidewalk Construction,
Maintenance, and Cancellation Date
Assessment of Costs
Supersedes No. 18 & 48
Responsible Dept/Div: DPW/Engineering
PURPOSE
To establish objectives, criteria, and procedures for the construction and
maintenance of sidewalks, and assessment of costs.
STATEMENT OF POLICY
1. Objectives
A. To establish a system of sidewalks in Janesville that links pedestrian
generators to destinations and, thus, provides for pedestrian safety.
B. To establish criteria for the construction of sidewalks in existing
developed areas and future areas.
C. To provide a procedure for an orderly system of construction of
sidewalks in existing developed areas of the city based on established
criteria.
D. To provide for the equitable funding of sidewalk construction.
E. Maintain existing public sidewalks in a safe condition.
2. Criteria
A. Sidewalks should be constructed according to the adopted
“Pedestrian Transportation Corridor Plan” (PTCP).
B. The official PTCP will be maintained in the City Engineer’s Office.
C. The PTCP shall be updated for developments consistent with this
policy on an annual basis.
D. The PTCP is intended to be a comprehensive tool used to
communicate with residents about where the pedestrian corridors in
CITY OF JANESVILLE Policy No. 70
Page 2 of 10
CITY COUNCIL POLICY STATEMENT Date Issued 7/28/92
Revised: 9/21/92, 3/10/97,
12/4/2000, 5/12/2003,
1/14/2008, 3/25/2008,
03/09/2010, 3/25/2013,
9/28/15, 1/11/16, 4/9/18,
5/29/18, 7/10/23
General Subject: Administration
Effective Date 7/11/23
Specific Subject: Sidewalk Construction,
Maintenance, and Cancellation Date
Assessment of Costs
Supersedes No. 18 & 48
Responsible Dept/Div: DPW/Engineering
Janesville are located. It shall contain the following elements:
(1) Current city limits
(2) Adjacent trails/sidewalks not in City jurisdiction
(3) Layout of current street network
(4) Color coded lines representing the following:
a. Green shall represent existing sidewalks
b. Yellow shall represent planned unfunded sidewalks.
This is generally considered the minimal amount of
sidewalk system necessary to provide connectivity
throughout the community.
c. Purple shall represent planned City-funded sidewalks.
d. Orange shall represent unplanned unfunded sidewalks.
This category is included on the PTCP to communicate
with residents that a sidewalk may be constructed
adjacent to their property.
e. Blue shall represent planned non-City funded sidewalks.
f. Dashed Blue shall represent existing trails. This
category is shown to provide overall context for the
connectivity of the system.
3. Plats/Certified Survey Maps
A. For any new streets for which sidewalks are planned per a
Neighborhood Plan or designated by Plan Commission vote, before the
City Treasurer signs any plat or certified survey, the subdivider shall
list or show on the plat or certified survey the streets along which
sidewalks are to be constructed pursuant to City Ordinances and
these will be added to the PTCP upon subdivision approval.
4. Governing Ordinances
A. Effective June 13, 1977 through August 7, 1992, construction of
sidewalks in new developments are governed by Section 36-223 of the
Janesville Code of General Ordinances.
CITY OF JANESVILLE Policy No. 70
Page 3 of 10
CITY COUNCIL POLICY STATEMENT Date Issued 7/28/92
Revised: 9/21/92, 3/10/97,
12/4/2000, 5/12/2003,
1/14/2008, 3/25/2008,
03/09/2010, 3/25/2013,
9/28/15, 1/11/16, 4/9/18,
5/29/18, 7/10/23
General Subject: Administration
Effective Date 7/11/23
Specific Subject: Sidewalk Construction,
Maintenance, and Cancellation Date
Assessment of Costs
Supersedes No. 18 & 48
Responsible Dept/Div: DPW/Engineering
B. Effective August 8, 1992, construction of sidewalks in new
developments is governed by Section 36-336 – , of the Janesville Code
of General Ordinances.
5. Implementation Procedures
Pedestrian Transportation Corridor Plan
Color Category Implementation Procedures
Yellow Planned Unfunded Walk
City Engineer can propose
sidewalk installation by
presenting a resolution to Council,
then follow Sections 5.C.5
through 5.C.8.
Purple Planned City Funded Walk
Construction will follow plat
approval. Section 6.A.4 of this
policy addresses this process
Orange Unplanned Unfunded
Walk
Construction follows a petition
process per Section 5.C
Blue Planned non-City Funded
Walk
Construction will follow plat
approval. Section 6.A.5 of this
policy addresses this process.
Blue (Dashed) Trails
These are generally considered a
city-wide concern. Initiation
should be undertaken through the
capital improvements and
budgeting process
A. This policy shall not restrict the decision of the Council or actions of
City Administration to address a public safety concern.
CITY OF JANESVILLE Policy No. 70
Page 4 of 10
CITY COUNCIL POLICY STATEMENT Date Issued 7/28/92
Revised: 9/21/92, 3/10/97,
12/4/2000, 5/12/2003,
1/14/2008, 3/25/2008,
03/09/2010, 3/25/2013,
9/28/15, 1/11/16, 4/9/18,
5/29/18, 7/10/23
General Subject: Administration
Effective Date 7/11/23
Specific Subject: Sidewalk Construction,
Maintenance, and Cancellation Date
Assessment of Costs
Supersedes No. 18 & 48
Responsible Dept/Div: DPW/Engineering
B. If a section of sidewalk is included on the resolution for the annual
sidewalk program and is not approved by the City Council, then the
sidewalk shall not be placed by the Administration on the resolution
in the following year.
C. Petition Procedures (Orange Sidewalk).
(1) All requests must be in writing and contain the name and
address of the persons initiating the request, the site of the
requested installation, and the reason(s) for the request.
(2) All requests must be submitted to the City Engineer by
September 1 of each year to be considered for implementation
the following construction season.
(3) The request will be placed on the annual sidewalk program for
consideration the following year provided it meets one of the
following criteria:
a. 30% of abutting property owners per block signing a
petition in favor. The limits of a block shall begin at one
street intersection and end at the next street intersection
for the requested side of the street;
b. or, 10 unrelated persons residing within one-quarter
(1/4) mile of the requested sidewalk signing a petition in
favor.
(4) The City Engineer shall report any sidewalk that meets the
implementation criteria as “Recommended”, unless there are
topographical concerns that make the sidewalk inappropriate
to construct, in which case the City Engineer shall report it as
“Not Recommended-Topographical Problem.”
CITY OF JANESVILLE Policy No. 70
Page 5 of 10
CITY COUNCIL POLICY STATEMENT Date Issued 7/28/92
Revised: 9/21/92, 3/10/97,
12/4/2000, 5/12/2003,
1/14/2008, 3/25/2008,
03/09/2010, 3/25/2013,
9/28/15, 1/11/16, 4/9/18,
5/29/18, 7/10/23
General Subject: Administration
Effective Date 7/11/23
Specific Subject: Sidewalk Construction,
Maintenance, and Cancellation Date
Assessment of Costs
Supersedes No. 18 & 48
Responsible Dept/Div: DPW/Engineering
(5) Prior to action by the City Council, written notice shall be sent
to abutting property owners and requestors stating:
a. The date of the City Council public hearing.
b. The City Engineer’s recommendation per this policy.
(6) The official public notice for proposed sidewalk installations
shall contain:
a. The site of proposed installation.
b. The date, time, and location of the City Council public
hearing.
(7) After the public hearing, the City Council may order any
sidewalk installation(s) it deems justified.
(8) This policy in no way restricts pedestrians’ use of the public
right-of-way.
6. Construction and Maintenance
A. Construction.
(1) Sidewalks may be constructed privately by owners of the
abutting property.
(2) Sidewalks may be constructed by the City and billed to the
owner of the abutting property.
(3) All public sidewalks whether constructed privately or publicly
shall meet the City of Janesville’s Standard Specifications for
Sidewalk Construction (as shown in Section 9 of this policy).
(4) For sidewalks in new developments as defined by plats and
certified surveys approved after August 7, 1992 and before
October 1, 2015 that are not covered by a Memorandum of
CITY OF JANESVILLE Policy No. 70
Page 6 of 10
CITY COUNCIL POLICY STATEMENT Date Issued 7/28/92
Revised: 9/21/92, 3/10/97,
12/4/2000, 5/12/2003,
1/14/2008, 3/25/2008,
03/09/2010, 3/25/2013,
9/28/15, 1/11/16, 4/9/18,
5/29/18, 7/10/23
General Subject: Administration
Effective Date 7/11/23
Specific Subject: Sidewalk Construction,
Maintenance, and Cancellation Date
Assessment of Costs
Supersedes No. 18 & 48
Responsible Dept/Div: DPW/Engineering
Understanding (MOU), the City Engineer shall direct the
construction of the sidewalks at a time they deem appropriate
without further action by the City Council, and the cost shall
be charged to the sidewalk construction account unless the
City never fully collected the sidewalk assessments, in which
case the abutting property owner will be billed for the portion
not previously collected. (See Section 36-336, of the Janesville
Code of General Ordinances).
(5) For sidewalks in new developments as defined by plats,
certified surveys and MOUs approved after October 1, 2015,
the property owner will be responsible to construct the
sidewalk privately on each individual lot as homes are
constructed and prior to receiving occupancy of the property,
when occupancy permits are issued May 15 through November
15. For homes when occupancy permits are issued November
16 through May 14, the property owner agrees to privately
construct and pay for sidewalk prior to July 15 or the City
shall install sidewalk and assess the property owner for all
costs. This provides more than 60 days for the property owner
to coordinate sidewalk installation following a winter season.
The Developer shall record sidewalk waiver of special
assessment with the Rock County Register of Deeds for each
lot within the plat and shall pay all required recording fees.
Developer shall provide the City copies of the recorded sidewalk
waiver of special assessment for each lot prior to the City
accepting privately constructed improvements to support said
subdivision plat. At the time of initial street installation, the
Developer shall be solely responsible for the cost and
installation of any curb ramps, cast iron truncated dome
panels, and ADA ramps, if necessary, and all sidewalk abutting
public property or undevelopable property in accordance with
CITY OF JANESVILLE Policy No. 70
Page 7 of 10
CITY COUNCIL POLICY STATEMENT Date Issued 7/28/92
Revised: 9/21/92, 3/10/97,
12/4/2000, 5/12/2003,
1/14/2008, 3/25/2008,
03/09/2010, 3/25/2013,
9/28/15, 1/11/16, 4/9/18,
5/29/18, 7/10/23
General Subject: Administration
Effective Date 7/11/23
Specific Subject: Sidewalk Construction,
Maintenance, and Cancellation Date
Assessment of Costs
Supersedes No. 18 & 48
Responsible Dept/Div: DPW/Engineering
City standards.
B. Maintenance/Repairs.
(1) Sidewalks shall be maintained by owners of abutting property.
(2) The Engineering Division shall establish a system of inspection
of existing sidewalks, including standards for replacement (as
detailed in Section 7 of this policy); shall notify abutting
property owners of necessary repairs; and shall have the
authority to order the repair of any sidewalk. If the abutting
property owner(s) fail to undertake the necessary repairs within
the notification period, the City Engineer may arrange for a
contractor to undertake the repairs; may bill the abutting
property owner; and if unpaid, a lien may be placed on the
property in accordance with Wisconsin Statute (66.615).
(3) The abutting property owner(s) shall pay the construction
related cost but the General Fund will pay for administrative
fees.
7. Standards for Construction of New Sidewalk and Sidewalk Repair
A. New Sidewalks shall meet the following standards:
(1) Minimum width shall be five feet (5’).
(2) Minimum thickness shall be four inches (4”) for terrace walk,
six inches (6”) for residential driveway walk & curb ramps, and
eight inches (8”) for commercial driveway walk.
(3) Cross-slopes shall be one eighth inch (1/8”) per foot minimum
(1%) and one quarter inch (1/4”) per foot maximum (2%).
(4) Running and ramp design slopes of ADA shall govern.
(5) Grading shall provide positive drainage to prevent ponding of
water.
(6) Horizontal alignment of the back of sidewalk shall generally be
CITY OF JANESVILLE Policy No. 70
Page 8 of 10
CITY COUNCIL POLICY STATEMENT Date Issued 7/28/92
Revised: 9/21/92, 3/10/97,
12/4/2000, 5/12/2003,
1/14/2008, 3/25/2008,
03/09/2010, 3/25/2013,
9/28/15, 1/11/16, 4/9/18,
5/29/18, 7/10/23
General Subject: Administration
Effective Date 7/11/23
Specific Subject: Sidewalk Construction,
Maintenance, and Cancellation Date
Assessment of Costs
Supersedes No. 18 & 48
Responsible Dept/Div: DPW/Engineering
one foot (1’) on the right-of-way side of the property line.
Exceptions to this may be granted by the City Engineer.
(7) Vertical alignment shall be in accordance with City of
Janesville Standard Specifications Exceptions to this may be
granted by the City Engineer.
(8) Material shall be portland cement concrete. Exceptions may be
granted by the City Engineer for driveway crossing if existing
drive materials provide a smooth, hard surface meeting ADA
requirements.
B. Repair Sidewalks
(1) Repair any sidewalk which:
a. Has adjacent sections with a three quarter inch (3/4”) or
greater vertical displacement.
b. May exhibit other hazardous conditions.
c. In lieu of repairing sidewalk, any existing sidewalks
along corridors identified as Unplanned, Unfunded
(Orange) sidewalk routes on the PTCP where there are
properties with and without sidewalks creating gaps
within the same block, these property owners may elect
to remove all sidewalk abutting their property except
that portion through the driveway, rather than only
replace defect sidewalk. If subject sidewalk has not been
removed in its entirety or defect sidewalk has not been
repaired by the date directed by staff, City contractors
will repair the defect sidewalk and the property owner
will be billed, similar to all other cases. This policy
recognizes a future City Council may change the
designation on the PTCP from Unplanned, Unfunded
(Orange) to Planned, Unfunded (Yellow) and order in
sidewalk at the property owner’s expense.
CITY OF JANESVILLE Policy No. 70
Page 9 of 10
CITY COUNCIL POLICY STATEMENT Date Issued 7/28/92
Revised: 9/21/92, 3/10/97,
12/4/2000, 5/12/2003,
1/14/2008, 3/25/2008,
03/09/2010, 3/25/2013,
9/28/15, 1/11/16, 4/9/18,
5/29/18, 7/10/23
General Subject: Administration
Effective Date 7/11/23
Specific Subject: Sidewalk Construction,
Maintenance, and Cancellation Date
Assessment of Costs
Supersedes No. 18 & 48
Responsible Dept/Div: DPW/Engineering
(2) The appeal process for the implementation of repair sidewalk
standards for the Sidewalk Program shall move from the
Sidewalk Inspector to Assistant City Engineer to City Engineer
to Director of Public Works to Deputy City Manager to City
Manager.
(3) The grievance procedure for a property owner who was ordered
to repair their sidewalk within 5 years prior to a street
reconstruction project should first contact the City Engineer.
Any property owner seeking consideration of a reimbursement
of a part of previously levied sidewalk replacement, repair(s) or
installation shall provide a written statement of the
circumstance and proof that the owner paid for such sidewalk
replacement, repair, or new installation costs within 5 years of
the City opening bids for the reconstruction, repair, and/or
installation of a new sidewalk, and may be eligible for not more
than a 25% reimbursement of the assessment amount
previously paid to the City or a private contractor for such
previous sidewalk repair, restructuring, or new installation.
The City Engineer will evaluate the circumstances as well as
the proof of previous payment for the sidewalk work provided
by the property owner. The City Engineer shall consider that,
often times, street reconstruction changes the geometry of a
street corridor/terrace, cross slope of the terrace, profile of the
roadway, etc., which most likely would require sidewalk
replacement to match the project design regardless if defective
or other sidewalk repair was ordered and/or paid for by the
abutting property owner prior to the current street and/or
sidewalk reconstruction, repair, and/or installation by the City
or a private contractor. All reimbursements may only occur
under this Policy subsection, as from time to time amended or
renumbered, and requires administrative approval. The City
Engineer shall provide a written explanation to the property
CITY OF JANESVILLE Policy No. 70
Page 10 of 10
CITY COUNCIL POLICY STATEMENT Date Issued 7/28/92
Revised: 9/21/92, 3/10/97,
12/4/2000, 5/12/2003,
1/14/2008, 3/25/2008,
03/09/2010, 3/25/2013,
9/28/15, 1/11/16, 4/9/18,
5/29/18, 7/10/23
General Subject: Administration
Effective Date 7/11/23
Specific Subject: Sidewalk Construction,
Maintenance, and Cancellation Date
Assessment of Costs
Supersedes No. 18 & 48
Responsible Dept/Div: DPW/Engineering
owner of the final administrative decision which may include
reimbursing to the requesting, abutting, property owner up to
25% of the costs previously paid, if the same meets the criteria
stated above or the City Engineer may deny the written
reimbursement request. In the event that the submitted
written reimbursement request is denied, the property owner
may appeal that denial to the Common Council. Any
reimbursement request received that does not fall within the 5
year time limit will automatically be denied as not eligible for
reimbursement or consideration by the City Engineer or appeal
to the Common Council.
# # # # #