Construction Projects

1.   There is a construction project underway adjacent to my property that is generating noise and dust.  What can I do?

Concerns regarding noise and dust associated with construction on public property should be referred to the Public Works Construction Manager at (714) 536-5431.  If the construction appears to be taking place on private property, you should call the Building and Safety Department at (714) 536-5241.

Tree Removal & Replacement

2.  How can I get the tree in front of my residence removed?

A request from a citizen to remove a City tree will be considered for approval when one, or a combination, of the following occurs:

• The tree is determined to be dead, diseased, or beyond cure;
• The tree is determined to be causing damage to public or private property, and improvements to the property cannot be made without the removal of the tree;
• The tree is determined to be damaging, or that it will cause damage to, public improvements or private property, and maintenance procedures, such as root pruning, will either cause the tree to fall or will not halt future damage for a substantial period of time;
• The tree is found to be a public hazard making its removal necessary for the health, safety and welfare of the community.

Removals will also be considered when property owners have demonstrated that a tree in the right-of-way has caused damage to a private sewer line or other public substructures that may not be repaired without removal of the tree.

Questions regarding the City’s tree program and policies should be referred to the Park, Tree and Landscape Division at (714) 536-5480.

3.  Tree roots are causing damage to my sewer line.  Will the City pay for the repair of my lateral?

Sewer Lateral Program
Policy and Procedure

Effective January 3, 2008, the City instituted a new policy regarding the repair and maintenance of sewer lateral lines.  From this date forward, the City will be responsible for the portion of all sewer laterals from the City-owned sewer main through the public right-of-way to the private property line. The property owner will remain responsible for all costs of repair and maintenance of that portion of the sewer lateral on private property.

Sewer Lateral Program Procedure:

1. A property owner experiencing problems* with their sewer lateral files a Liability Claim Form with the City Clerk.  These can be found at the Office of the City Clerk on the second floor of City Hall, 2000 Main Street, 92648, (714) 536-5227 or on the City’s website at:
   http://www.surfcity-hb.org/business/forms/liability_Claim_Form.pdf
2. Per standard procedure the claim form is forwarded to the City’s Risk Management Division.  Risk Management reviews and forwards the claim information to the City’s Public Works Utilities Division.
3. The Utilities Division contacts the property owner informing them that the sewer lateral must be videoed by a qualified contractor.  The property owner will be responsible for the initial cost of the video.
4. Utilities Division staff reviews the video to determine if a repair is needed and whether the needed repairs are within the City-owned right-of-way.
5. If a repair is needed and it falls within the City’s responsibility, the City will initiate repairs at the City’s cost and reimburse the cost of the video to the property owner.

Questions regarding the Sewer Lateral Program should be directed to the Public Works Utilities Division at 714-536-5921.

*Please note – the first course of action for a blocked or clogged sewer line is a call to a qualified plumber or sewer contractor.  Usually, cleaning of the line is needed immediately and residents should not wait for the claim process to be completed.  The need for frequent cleaning/rooting of the line is an indication of a possible sewer lateral break or tree root intrusion.

Sidewalk, Curb & Gutter Repair

4.  How can I get damaged sidewalk, curb or gutter in front of my house repaired?

If a sidewalk is broken or raised, a temporary asphalt patch will be applied.  That location will then be prioritized into the concrete crew’s list for future sidewalk removal and replacement.  Due to funding constraints, the City does not currently have a program for the permanent repair of individual curbs and gutters; but, concrete repairs are performed on a programmed basis throughout the city as funding is available.

Questions regarding repair to the City’s sidewalks, curbs or gutters should be referred to the City Corporation Yard at (714) 960-8861.

5.   The City trees are damaging the curbs, gutters, and sidewalks on my street.  What do I have to do to get this fixed?

Public Works has developed a Tree Removal Petition process whereby all trees, sidewalks, curbs and gutters for an entire street could be repaired/replaced at one time.  In order to qualify, the petition must have consent from at least 75% of the homeowners.  Following submission of the petition, Public Works staff will perform a field inspection.  A letter will be sent to the residents informing them of the outcome of that inspection and whether their specific street qualified to be included on the city’s Tree Petition List.  This list prioritizes repairs based on the date of petition and the degree of damage.

Removal priority is based on the health, safety, and welfare of the community, as well as the availability of city funds, or funds provided by residents, for the purchase of replacement trees.  When funds become available, the street will be scheduled for repair.

Various amounts of funding are received each year, so a repair date cannot be predicted.   Interested parties may call the Street Division at (714) 960-8861 after the first of each year to learn which streets are scheduled for that year.

Standing Water

6.  There is standing water in my gutter.  How can I get the gutter fixed so the water will flow?

Due to funding constraints, the City does not currently have a program for the repair of individual curbs and gutters aside from the programmed repairs explained in #4 above.

Street Sweeping

7.  I received a parking ticket for a violation of the street sweeping ordinance that I feel I don’t deserve.   What can I do?

To contest a parking citation, a “Request for Hearing” form, which can be obtained from the Police Department, must be completed.   When received, an officer will review the validity of the citation and, when the investigation is complete, a notice will be sent to you through the mail informing you of the findings.  If you are dissatisfied with the results of this administrative review, there are additional options available to you.

To get complete information, call the Police Department’s Traffic Division at (714) 536-5663.

8.  Why can’t the City make arrangements for alternate-side street sweeping to allow people to park near their homes and not receive tickets?

Due to the high number of cul-de-sac streets in the city, designing efficient street sweeping routes is quite difficult.  The alternate-side street sweeping schedule is employed in high-density areas where parking studies taken prior to the start of the twice-a-month program indicated it would be necessary.

Undertaking alternate-side sweeping for the entire city would be extremely costly.  The current number of four sweepers would have to increase to at least six, possibly eight sweepers, and additional parking control officers would have to be added, raising the cost of the program tremendously.