California Municipal Law Blog
category:
Public Works

KEY GENERAL LEGISLATIVE UPDATES 2025

by on December 31, 2024

posted in Administrative Regulations, Code Enforcement, Employment Law, Public Records Act, Public Utilities, Public Works, Uncategorised,

All bills are effective January 1, 2025 unless otherwise provided. PUBLIC RECORDS ACT Voluntary Disclosure of a Police Officer Termination – SB 400: Amends Penal Code 832.7 by adding (b)(13) which provides for voluntary disclosure by a public agency of the reason for termination for cause for the type of incident which must be disclosed.             13) Notwithstanding subdivision (a) or any other law, an agency that formerly employed a peace officer or custodial officer may, without receiving a request for disclosure, disclose to the public the termination for cause ... Continue Reading

tags: New laws, Public Records Act,

State Supreme Court Expands Government Liability for Dangerous Condition of Public Property

by on August 17, 2015

posted in Damages, Public Works, Recent Court Decisions, Streets and Sidewalks,

A car driving along a road is sideswiped by another car, causing it to veer into a median and hit a tree.  Tragically, all but one of the car’s occupants is killed; the sole survivor is seriously injured.  Although the driver of the other car was clearly at fault, the city that maintained the tree is sued under the theory that the tree’s placement in the median was a “dangerous condition of public property.”  Can the city be held liable? Yes, says the State Supreme Court.  In Cordova v. City of Los Angeles, the Court held that local agencies may be liable for a dangerous condition of ... Continue Reading

tags: automobile accident, causation, city trees, medians, negligence, Public Beautification Programs,

Not All Bidders’ Errors Are Fatal Flaws

by on November 4, 2014

posted in Public Works, Uncategorised,

It happens all too frequently: your city or county receives a good bid on a public works project, and then discovers that the low bidder has made a mistake on the bid or omitted a necessary page of information.  An appellate case decided earlier this year, Bay Cities Paving & Grading, Inc. v. City of San Leandro holds that seemingly important bid flaws are not always fatal.    ... Continue Reading

tags: bid bond, construction, low bidder, public works projects,

Inverse Condemnation Liability Found When City-Owned Tree Falls on Private Property

by on August 20, 2014

posted in Inverse Condemnation, Public Works, Streets and Sidewalks,

If a tree falls in the middle of a forest when no one is around, one can debate whether it makes a sound.  But if a city-owned tree falls on private property and causes damage, the city’s liability cannot be debated.  So ruled a court on August 14, 2014.  ... Continue Reading

tags: Inverse Condemnation, Public Beautification Programs, Streets, Trees,