Cash-strapped and under staffed, the city finds it difficult to
repair hundreds of sections of damaged sidewalk, and may shift some
responsibility for maintenance to homeowners
Hollister – An abundance of damaged sidewalks throughout the city and a dearth of municipal resources to repair them has city officials interested in shifting some of the responsibility for sidewalk maintenance to homeowners.
How this shift would be achieved – be it by city ordinance or some other means – and when it might happen is yet to be determined. But the city has wanted to look into making homeowners responsible for upkeep costs of city sidewalks for some time, according to City Manager Clint Quilter.
“It’s something we’ve planned on exploring for a couple of years, but it’s been difficult to get to,” he said.
Though sidewalks do get repaired, “When time permits,” according to Quilter the city lacks the money and employees to keep on top of the sidewalk repairs.
“We don’t have the resources to go out and spend money on contractors, and we’ve had to cut back on staff,” he said.
There are at least 200 sections of lifted sidewalk throughout Hollister that are on the city’s repair list, according to Community Services Director Clay Lee.
“Tree roots are the primary causes of lifted sidewalks,” Lee stated in an e-mail. “Another cause is the expansive soil that we have in many sections of Hollister.”
Repairs for damaged sidewalks vary from grinding the lifted portion of the sidewalk to make it level, using concrete to form a “ramp” and fill in the gap between sidewalks or replacing the section of sidewalk, which is the most expensive fix, according to Lee.
If Hollister does eventually shift some of the responsibility for sidewalk maintenance to homeowners, it will not be an unheard of move. Homeowners in many cities bear some responsibility for the sidewalks in front of their homes.
Gilroy, for instance, has a 50/50 program, through which homeowners pay half of the maintenance costs for sidewalks in front of their homes. Also, officials in that city are looking into shifting more of the liability for “trip and fall” accidents caused by damaged sidewalks to homeowners.
Being liable for trip and fall accidents are a concern in Hollister too.
Though, according to City Attorney Elaine Cass, there have been no trip and fall claims this year, and in 2004 there were just two claims which the city’s insurance carrier rejected, the damaged sidewalks create the potential for liability claims against the city.
“We have an outstanding liability,” Lee told the city council earlier in the summer.
All claims against the city are denied and sent to the city’s insurance carrier, which then handles the claim as it sees fit. If the insurer pays a settlement on the claim the city’s insurance rates could rise, according to Quilter.
“Many cities have this problem,” he said.
Councilwoman Monica Johnson said that she hadn’t given much thought to the issue, but that following the lead of other cities and making homeowners at least partially responsible for sidewalk maintenance might be a good move.
“I think if other cities are doing it, it might be a good idea,” she said.
Luke Roney covers politics and the environment for the Free Lance. Reach him at 831-637-5566 ext. 335 or at [email protected].
