The Engineering Division manages the City’s Capital Improvement Program (CIP) projects that impact the City’s public infrastructure, right-of-way, and stormwater management system. The division also installs, operates and maintains all City streetlights and a majority of the traffic signals. Engineering supports other City operations, overseeing the City’s street maintenance program, and providing inspection and engineering design assistance for City projects and new commercial or residential developments.
The City’s Geographic Information System—or GIS mapping—is developed and maintained by Engineering, providing departments, residents, developers and utility companies easy online access to the location of property lines, easements, utilities, zoning and more.
A stormwater management plan ensures the City’s compliance with state and national requirements designed to protect our natural waterways from pollutants. A Sustainable Sewer Solutions Program is being implemented as part of the CIP to repair the City’s sanitary sewer lines.
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The 10-year Capital Improvement Program—begun in 2014—reflects the City’s commitment to reinvesting in its public infrastructure. This includes the City’s roads, waterlines, storm drainage, sanitary sewer lines, bridges, sidewalks, streetlights, parks and other public facilities. Much of the funding for this program is provided through a .5% dedicated portion of the City’s income tax, approved by voters in November 2014 (increasing the rate from 2% to 2.5%). The CIP is updated every year, with new “Year” added as each “Year” is completed. As part of this update process, some projects are re-prioritized based on an assessment of changing infrastructure conditions.
Past year CIP documents can be accessed via Archives Portal – City Plans search.
In addition to the City’s plans to address public infrastructure improvements, residents may initiate certain neighborhood improvements, such as the installation of sidewalks or curbs & gutters. This can be accomplished through a petition process which, if successful, is completed by the City with property owners assessed for the cost of the work. The petition process is addressed by Ohio Revised Code 727.
A petition is a resident-initiated action. A “community organizer” or “block captain” should conduct an unofficial survey to see if there is enough interest among neighbors to represent 60% or more of the property front footage for what would become the project area. Subsequent to completing a series of steps associated with the proposed improvement, once a design and pricing estimates have been obtained, if the project still has signatures representing the 60% it will be recommended for implementation.
Sidewalks (7)
Sidewalks are inspected according to criteria outlined in City Code 901.03.
Access to your residence includes the driveway, sidewalk within the driveway, driveway apron and driveway gutter. The property owner is responsible for maintenance and repairs of all parts of the driveway access per City Code 901.06. It is the City’s policy not to replace defective or deteriorated driveway entrances at the City’s expense unless the curb and gutter in the entire block is being replaced by the City as part of a street reconstruction project.
The City charges the property owner a per-panel price based on the winning bid received for the project. It is not possible to know the exact price per panel until the bid has been awarded. As a frame of reference, costs for the 2020 Sidewalk Maintenance Program were $160 per four-inch panel and $175 per six-inch panel. Please note: the costs for the 2021 Sidewalk Maintenance Program may be higher or lower.
The City will only be replacing the sidewalk panels identified in the notification that you received and is unable to facilitate additional repairs. The scope and quantity of repairs is the predetermined amount on which the contractor has based their price. If you would like to have additional concrete work or repairs performed at your property, we encourage you to seek a private contractor.
Yes. You may hire a contractor or do the actual work yourself. Please make sure that you follow the approved methods of repair/correction, as outlined in the sidewalk notification letter. Any repair that is not approved will be repaired directly by the City and the cost will be billed or assessed back to you.
The City will choose the lowest bid contractor to perform the repairs. The contractor chosen will decide the method of repair to be performed. For the 2020 Sidewalk Maintenance Program, the only method of repair utilized was panel replacement. The City anticipates a similar approach for the 2021 Sidewalk Maintenance Program Contract.
Typically a permit is required from the Engineering Division when sidewalks are replaced in the public right-of-way. However, the February 2021 sidewalk repair notices mailed to non-compliant properties also function as the permit for purposes of the Sidewalk Maintenance Program. A free permit from the Parks & Forestry Division is required when excavation is performed within 10 feet of a street tree. Permits are not required for leveling or grinding of existing concrete sidewalks.
Consistent with most communities, the maintenance and repair for sidewalks is the responsibility of the adjacent property owner. The City will make repairs when damage has been caused by the roots of City-owned trees in the public right-of-way, defects caused by utility valves or manhole covers, as well as repairs to any curb ramps.
The City’s Sidewalk Maintenance Program provides for periodic inspections of existing sidewalks to determine if repairs or replacement work is necessary. The City has been divided into five management districts for inspections and repairs over a period of several years. Once a district has been inspected, property owners may receive a letter from the City early in the year notifying them if sidewalks adjacent to their property are in need of repair or replacement. An aerial view of their property is included, indicating the location of the damage and identifying which sections are the responsibility of the homeowner and which fall to the City.
When repairs are the property owner’s responsibility, the City asks for the situation to be rectified with in an approximate six-month period. If the work has not been performed by the deadline provided, the City undertakes the repair work as part of its summer improvement plans, with costs billed or assessed back to the property owner.
See resource link below for Sidewalk Maintenance Program information.
Our Electrical Division oversees and maintains various electrical and traffic management functions, including:
- 1,810 streetlights, 52 community traffic signals, 6 rectangular rapid flashing beacons, 14 school flashers and 2 hazardous intersection flashers
- Electrical systems for City facilities that include parks and pools, Senior Center, Municipal Services Center, Public Service Center, Northam Park Tennis and the Mallway
- The phase-in of energy efficient, longer-lasting, cost efficient lighting systems (LEDs)
- The community’s neighborhood lights. See the Resource & Links section below for details on this program.
The City’s Stormwater Management Plan is in place to help protect our natural waterways and ensure clean water for everyone. This is accomplished through a combination of regulation, reinvesting in our aging storm drainage facilities and community education to eliminate the presence of pollutants in rainwater and snow melt runoff.
Please visit our Stormwater Management section for full details of the program, tips and resources for becoming part of the solution.
The City has needs for specialized technical expertise on various projects, and seeks assistance from professional service providers when appropriate. The City employs a fair and open process when selecting consultants, in compliance with the rules, regulations and laws of the State of Ohio relative to the Qualifications Based Selection (QBS) of Professional Services, Ethics, and all other areas that might be applicable, as well as the City’s Codified Ordinances for Procurement.
The Professional Services Pre-qualification & Quality Based Selection Process document sets forth the policies adhered for establishing a list of pre-qualified consultants—a process conducted every two years—and detailing the quality-based selection process.
See our News notices for any current professional services opportunities. If you have questions, complete the contact form below, or call 614-583-5360.