Committee asks staff and city attorney to draft ordinance making property owners responsible for routine maintenance of adjacent right‑of‑way

The Administration & Public Works Committee directed staff, in coordination with the city attorney, to draft an ordinance clarifying that property owners are responsible for routine maintenance of the public right‑of‑way area between the sidewalk and the street (the tree lawn), together with provisions for disclosure of private infrastructure (irrigation systems, invisible fences), enforcement mechanisms, HOA exceptions, and public education.

Public works staff explained Wildwood currently relies on a mix of HOA arrangements and informal practice: sidewalks and trees are generally maintained by the city, visible lawns are often maintained by adjacent property owners, and older subdivisions have varied indentures. Staff noted damage to sprinkler systems and private in‑right‑of‑way infrastructure occurs during city repairs and snow events, and said clearer rules would help set expectations and reduce damage disputes.

Committee members suggested practical steps: require disclosure of nonvisible private infrastructure at installation, consult county permitting data for irrigation records, and include a planting guide to reduce conflicts with snowplows and maintenance operations. The motion directs staff to prepare draft ordinance language incorporating best practices from peer municipalities and legal input from the city attorney. Committee members voted in favor and asked staff to distribute draft language to homeowner associations for comment before the committee’s next review.