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Driveway Replacement Program Admin Code Amendment 2 July 18, 2011 In 2000, during the reconstruction of Huff Avenue, it was revealed that driveway approaches constructed in the 1940's were buried under several inches of asphalt. When the driveway approaches were returned to their original condition, the slope of the approaches made it extremely difficult for residents to access their property. To assist property owners in this situation, Title 8, Section 5 was added to the Administrative Code creating a voluntary program for non - standard residential driveway replacement. Under this procedure, if property owners on a reconstructed street wish to upgrade their driveway to current standards, they would be eligible to receive City financial support amounting to 50% the cost of the replacement. In addition, a loan program was established to assist property owners with the remaining costs. This program was funded by general fund allocations. Analysis The existing program allows any property owner with a non - standard driveway on a reconstructed street to request financial assistance. The open nature of the program does not differentiate between those properties that have access difficulties caused by street reconstruction and those seeking the opportunity to receive a new driveway at a greatly reduced cost. In the past several years, general funds have not been available to pay for this program, placing the burden of funding it on other sources; primarily Measure B Streets and Roads funds. While the access conditions found on streets like Huff Avenue and now on Begier Avenue, which is part of the 2010 -11 Annual Street Overlay/Rehabilitation project, must continue to be addressed, the funding of other driveways diverts funds away from pavement repair. To address this issue, two modifications are proposed to the existing Administrative Code Title 8 Chapter 5: 1) Restrict program eligibility only to those properties where street reconstruction lowers the pavement elevation at the gutter thereby making a non - standard driveway more difficult to access, and; 2) Provide the ability for the City Manager to suspend the program in its entirety when there are insufficient funds to implement the process. Current City Council Policy Title 8, Chapter 5 of the Administrative Code currently provides 50% cost sharing and loan programs to all residential property owners when non - standard driveways are within the limits of a street reconstruction project. It additionally states that reimbursement is based either on 50% of the amount that it would cost the City to make the repair or 50% of the cost based on what the homeowner has paid their own contractor whichever is less. The current cost are typically established by the award of the Annual Sidewalk Program which always occurs prior to notifying the residents of upcoming street work and always includes a driveway repair item. Previous City Council Action(s) On February 20, 2001, by Resolution No. 2001 -34, the City Council adopted Administrative Code Title 12, Chapter 13, which was editorially renumbered to be Title 8, Chapter 5 during the 2005 -06 republication of the Administrative Code..