Chapter 12.24
SIDEWALKS, CURBS AND GUTTERS
Sections:
12.24.060 Subgrade preparation.
12.24.090 Sidewalk and driveway construction.
12.24.100 Valley gutter and apron construction.
12.24.110 Compliance required.
12.24.130 Penalty for violation.
12.24.010 Standards adopted.
There is adopted as the official standard specifications for the construction of any concrete sidewalk, curb or gutter the specifications set forth in this chapter. (Ord. 180 § 1, 1962)
12.24.020 Definitions.
Reference to “Standard Specifications” shall be construed to mean those specifications entitled “State of California, Department of Public Works, Division of Highways, Standard Specifications, January, 1960.” Terms appearing in the Standard Specifications referred to in this chapter shall be understood to have the intent and meaning specified in Section 1, “Definitions and Terms,” of the Standard Specifications. Provisions of sections of the Standard Specifications referred to in this chapter shall apply for work done under those specifications except as modified in this chapter. (Ord. 180 Appendix A(A), 1962)
12.24.030 Materials.
Concrete for curbs, gutters, valley gutters, aprons, sidewalks, and driveway approaches shall be class A portland cement concrete conforming to the provisions of Section 90 of the Standard Specifications. Steel reinforcing for valley gutters and aprons, and where required in driveway approaches in heavy duty commercial or industrial areas, shall be welded steel wire fabric conforming to the Specifications of A.S.T.M. Designation A16, and shall be of Style 66-1010 unless otherwise designated by the city engineer. (Ord. 180 Appendix A(B), 1962)
12.24.040 Dimensions.
The work contemplated in this chapter shall be constructed to the form and dimensions shown on the drawings of the city entitled “Improvement Plans, Standard Details,” approved by the city council on June 12, 1961, on file in the offices of the city clerk and the city engineer. (Ord. 180 Appendix A(C), 1962)
12.24.050 General standards.
In general, construction shall conform to the applicable provisions of Section 73 of the Standard Specifications. (Ord. 180 Appendix A(D) (part), 1962)
12.24.060 Subgrade preparation.
A. The subgrade shall be constructed true to grade and cross-section, as shown on the details or plans, or as directed by the engineer. It shall be watered and thoroughly compacted until firm and solid before placing the concrete. All soft or spongy material shall be removed to a depth not less than 0.5 foot below subgrade elevation for curbs, gutters, valley gutters, aprons, and driveways, and 0.25 foot below subgrade elevation for sidewalks. The resulting space will be filled with earth, sand or gravel of a quality that when moistened and compacted will form a stable foundation.
B. The completed subgrade will be tested for grade and cross-section by means of a template supported on the side forms. The subgrade and forms shall be wet immediately prior to placing concrete. (Ord. 180 Appendix A(D)(1), 1962)
12.24.070 Forms.
A. Forms shall be true and have a straight, smooth upper edge. The depth of face forms for concrete curbs shall be equal to the full face height of the curb. The depth of forms for back of curbs, where used, shall be equal to the full depth of the curb section. Where sidewalk is to be poured monolithically with curb, no back of curb forms will be required.
B. Wood forms, if used, shall be surfaced on the side placed next to concrete, and shall have a thickness of not less than one and five-eighths inches after surfacing.
C. Benders or thin plank forms may be used on curves, grade changes, and curb returns. Back forms for curb returns may be made of one-half-inch thick benders cleated together for the full depth of the curb.
D. All forms shall be thoroughly cleaned, and coated with form oil to prevent the concrete from adhering to them.
E. Forms shall be carefully set to alignment and grade, and shall be held rigidly in place by iron stakes placed at intervals not exceeding four feet. Clamps, spreaders and braces shall be used as necessary to insure rigidity of the forms. Form clamps shall be so constructed as not to interfere with subsequent floating operations. (Ord. 180 Appendix A(D) (2), 1962)
12.24.080 Curb construction.
A. Expansion Joints. Expansion joints one-fourth inch wide shall be constructed in curbs at ends of curb returns, at each side of driveway approaches, and at intervals not exceeding thirty feet. Expansion joints shall be filled with a preformed nonextruding, resilient bituminous fiber joint filler conforming to the requirements of A.S.T.M. Designation 544 for Type V filler. Expansion joint filler shall be shaped to the cross section of the curb, and joints shall be constructed at right angles to the curb line.
B. Placing and Finishing Concrete. Concrete shall be placed and compacted in forms without segregation. Before forms are removed, the surface shall be finished true to grade by means of a straight edge float, not less than ten feet in length, operated longitudinally over the surface of the concrete.
1. The curb face form shall be removed in not less than two hours nor more than six hours after placing of concrete, but in no event shall forms be removed while concrete is still plastic enough to slump.
2. Immediately after removing the curb face form, the face of the curb shall be troweled smooth to the flow line of the gutter, and then finished with a steel trowel. The top shall be finished, and the top edges rounded as shown on the details. After the curb face has been troweled smooth, it shall be given a final fine brush finish with brush strokes parallel to the line of the curb.
3. The top and face of the finished curb shall be true and straight, and the top surfaces of curbs and gutters shall be of uniform width, free from bumps, sags or other irregularities. When a straight edge ten feet long is laid on the top or face of the curb or on the surface of gutters, the surface shall not vary by more than 0.01 foot from the edge of the straight edge, except at grade changes and curves.
4. Exposed surfaces shall be cured by pigmented curing compound as provided in Section 40 – 1.11 of the Standard Specifications.
C. Protecting, Repairing and Cleaning. The contractor shall protect the completed curb from damage until acceptance by the city. Discolored concrete shall be cleaned by the contractor, and damaged areas shall be repaired by removing the entire unit between scoring lines or joints and replacing by construction as specified in this section. (Ord. 180 Appendix A(D) (3), 1962)
12.24.090 Sidewalk and driveway construction.
A. Forms. Side forms for sidewalks and driveways shall have a straight, smooth upper edge, and shall not be removed in less than twelve hours after finishing has been completed.
B. Monolithic Pour. Where the contractor elects to pour curb and sidewalks or driveways monolithically, the earth to be used as back of curb form shall be trimmed to a smooth, vertical surface about six inches high above the subgrade at the back of curb. The remaining earth above the six-inch height shall be rounded back to sidewalk subgrade elevation to provide a thickened section of concrete at the junction of the curb and sidewalks.
C. Placing and Finishing. Concrete for sidewalks and driveways shall be poured and compacted without segregation. Fresh concrete shall be struck off and compacted until a layer of mortar has been brought to the surface. The surface shall be finished to grade and cross-section with a float, troweled smooth, and finished with a broom. The float shall be not less than ten feet in length and not less than six inches in width. Brooming shall be transverse to the line of traffic and if water is necessary, it shall be applied immediately prior to brooming.
1. The surface of sidewalk and driveway sections shall be marked into rectangles of not more than twelve square feet with a scoring tool which will leave the edges of the scoring marks rounded. Where sidewalk has been poured monolithically with curb, a scoring tool shall be used to provide a score mark at the location of the back of curb of separately poured curb.
2. When a straight edge ten feet long is laid on the surface of the sidewalk, the surface shall not vary more than 0.02 foot from the edge of the straight edge except at grade changes, and the finished surface shall be free from blemishes.
D. Expansion Joints. Expansion joints shall be constructed at the locations and of materials specified for curb construction in Section 12.24.080, and the filler material shall be shaped to fit the cross section of the concrete being poured.
E. Protecting, Repairing and Cleaning. Protecting, repairing and cleaning of sidewalks and driveway approaches shall be as specified in subsection C of Section 12.24.080. (Ord. 180 Appendix A(D)(4), 1962)
12.24.100 Valley gutter and apron construction.
A. Reinforcement. Welded steel wire fabric as specified in Section 12.24.030 shall be placed in all valley gutters and aprons, and shall be continuous therein. Where splices are necessary, the fabric shall be lapped at least the dimension of one mesh.
B. Finishing. After floating and troweling as specified for sidewalks in subsection C of Section 12.24.090, the surface shall be textured with a drag strip of clean burlap, with the drag finish applied parallel to the flow line of the valley gutter and aprons.
C. Protecting, Repairing and Cleaning. Protecting, repairing and cleaning of valley gutters and aprons shall be as specified in subsection C of Section 12.24.080. (Ord. 180 Appendix A(D) (5), 1962)
12.24.110 Compliance required.
From and after the effective date of the ordinance codified in this chapter, all concrete sidewalks, curbs and gutters shall be constructed in compliance with this chapter. (Ord. 180 § 2, 1962)
12.24.120 Variance.
When the strict application or literal interpretation of any of the provisions of this chapter would impose practical difficulties or unnecessary hardship, application may be made to the city council for relief from the provisions of this chapter. (Ord. 180 § 3, 1962)
12.24.130 Penalty for violation.
Failure to comply with the terms of this chapter shall constitute a misdemeanor and be punishable by a fine of not more than five hundred dollars or imprisonment in the county jail for not more than six months, or both. (Ord. 180 § 4, 1962)