(1) Concrete. Sidewalks shall be of concrete with a compressive strength of not less than 3,000 pounds per square inch, using not less than 500 pounds of cement per cubic yard of concrete, and with a maximum slump of 4 inches. In cold weather, calcium chloride may be added by dissolving in the mixing water an amount not exceeding 2 percent of the weight of the cement in the concrete mix.

(2) Other material. Other materials such as bricks or flagstone may be used for aesthetic effects where approved by the Site Plan and Architectural Commission. Such material will have flat surfaces suitably finished for sidewalk use. Materials submitted shall be comparable in strength to concrete and shall be placed with suitable mortar to provide a permanent, low-maintenance sidewalk.

(3) Construction: Sidewalks shall be constructed according to specifications prescribed by the City Engineer.

(4) Size and location. Except as otherwise ordered by the council, the size and location of sidewalks shall be as follows: a sidewalk shall be three and one-half inches thick, except where a sidewalk crosses a driveway it shall be 5 1/2 inches thick. A sidewalk shall slope one-quarter inch per foot toward the curb. The edge of the sidewalk nearest the curb shall be at an elevation equal to the rate of one-quarter inch per foot above the curb and the sidewalk shall abut the street line, but if there are existing sidewalks upon the same side of the street in the same block, then the sidewalk shall be constructed to conform to the line of the existing sidewalks. Sidewalks shall be a minimum of five feet in width except in the business district of the city where sidewalks shall extend from the property line to the curb. Sidewalks along arterial and collector streets shall be at least seven feet in width unless there is a planter strip between the curb and edge of sidewalk; in which case the sidewalk shall be a minimum of five feet in width. Required sidewalks width does not include curb width.

(5) Alignment. All sidewalks shall be aligned in accordance with the City Engineer’s specifications. When Planning or Site Plan and Architectural Commission approval is not otherwise required, Public Works Department may approve curvelinear or meandering sidewalks to reduce negative impacts on established vegetation. Where approved, such sidewalks shall tie to adjacent property lines in such a manner as to allow standard sidewalk construction on adjacent properties.