Report to City Council
ID: 26-0238 Page 1
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: Melissa Walker, Public Works Director/City Engineer
AGENDA DATE: June 16, 2026
TITLE: DISCUSSION OF THE POTENTIAL INCORPORATION
OF VARIOUS ALLEYWAYS INTO THE CITY’S
MAINTAINED ROAD SYSTEM (REPORT OF: PUBLIC
WORKS) (DISTRICTS 1 AND 4)
TITLE SUMMARY: Discussion Of The Potential Impacts, Liability, And Maintenance Costs Associated With The Incorporation Of 21 Alleyways Located Throughout The City Into The City’s
Maintained Road System
DISTRICT: District 1 and 4
Recommendation(s)
That the City Council:
1. Discuss the potential impacts, liability, and maintenance costs associated with the incorporation of 21 alleyways located throughout the City into the City’s maintained road system; and
2. Provide direction to staff following a motion, second, and vote by the City Council.
SUMMARY
This staff report is presented to facilitate discussion regarding potential impacts, liability, and maintenance costs associated with incorporating a series of 21 alleyways located throughout the City into the City’s maintained road system . The alleyways were considered private property and were not accepted as a public right-of-way by the County of Riverside before the City’s incorporation. As such, these alleyways were not grandfathered into the City’s maintained road system upon incorporation.
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DISCUSSION
There are several alleyways throughout the City that were developed prior to the City’s incorporation. These alleyways were never accepted for maintenance by the County of Riverside (County) at the time of development . Consequently, the alleyways were not grandfathered into the City’s maintained road system upon the City’s incorporation. These alleyways were mapped by the developers as separate legal lettered lots when the developments were buil t, an d they legally remain under the ownership of the original developers. They are therefore considered private property.
Staff was tasked with investigating maintenance responsibility for the alleyways parallel to Postal Avenue, as well as other alleyways throughout the City. The City evaluated the steps necessary to maintain these alleyways, including associated costs and liability. The investigation identified a total of 21 alleyways, including tho se off Postal Avenue, that were not grandfathered into the City’s maintained road system.
Unlike typical public right-of-way dedications, these alleyway areas appear to have been created as “fee -owned or fee simple parcels”, rather than standard street dedications.
Fee-owned or fee simple ownership represents th e highest form of property ownership, granting the owner absolute, unconditional, and perpetual ownership of both land and structures. No evidence has been identified indicating that the City , or the County, prior to incorporation, formally accepted these lots as public right -of-way. Additionally, these alleyways were often not constructed to City standards.
Regarding the ownership of the lettered lots, in the absence of formal dedication acceptance, these lots remain private property, likely vested in the original subdivider or successors' interest. If the original owners have lapsed in practice (e.g., defunct entity), the title remains valid until transferred through tax sale or legal transfer. The original owners do not appear to be in practice, and no successor companies were found.
Because these lots were not accepted as public right-of-way, maintenance responsibility rests with the property owner(s) . T he City has no maintenance obligation for the alleyways. However, it retains authority to enforce Municipal Code nuisance provisions , undertake abatement actions when necessary, and record liens for cost recovery.
The options to address this issue are the following:
The City does not accept the alleyways for maintenance. The alleyways would remain private and should be maintained by the private owners. The City does not accept the alleyways for maintenance , but does a one-time pothole repair project estimated at $10, 000. The one-time project could be construed as accepting the maintenance responsibility and liability, placing the City at risk. The alleyways would remain private , and any additional or annual maintenance would be by the private owners.
The City could incorporate the alleyways into the City’s maintained road system .
The cost to bring the m up to City standards is estimated at $6.4 million . There is also an estimated annual maintenance cost of $36,000.
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The City could incorporate the alleyways for maintenance but not bring them up to City standards. The maintenance costs would be significantly higher, estimated at $335,000 annually.
ALTERNATIVES
1. Do not incorporate the alleyways into the City’s maintained road system. This option would maintain ownership of the alleyways as private and keep maintenance responsibility with the private property owners . This alternative is recommended as it is the least fiscally impactful option and would avoid burdening the City with construction and mainten ance costs, while also reducing the City’s exposure to liability.
2. Do not incorporate the alleyways into the City’s maintained road system, but do a one-time pothole maintenance project at a cost of approximately $10,000. This option would maintain ownership of the alleyways as private and keep annual maintenance responsibility with the private property owners . However, this would potentially place the City at risk of liability. This alternative is not recommended, as it burdens the City with potential exposure to liability.
3. Direct staff to prepare an item for City Council consideration to accept the alleyways into the City’s maintained road system and approve funding in the amount of $6.4 million to bring the alleyways up to City standards, as well as approximately $36,000 annually for ongoing maintenance. This alternative is not recommended, as it would result in significant cost and increased liability for the City.
4. Direct staff to prepare an item for City Council consideration to accept the alleyways into the City’s maintained road system, without bringing the alleyways up to City standards, and approve approximately $335,000 in annual funding for ongoing maintenance. This alternative is not recommended, as it would result in high annual costs and increased liability for the City.
FISCAL IMPACT
There are no associated costs with this discussion item. However, significant future costs could be incurred by the City if it moves forward with the options to accept the alleyways into the City’s maintained road system.
NOTIFICATION
Publishing of the agenda.
PREPARATION OF STAFF REPORT
Prepared By: Department Head Approval:
Melissa Walker, P.E Melissa Walker, P.E
Public Works Director/City Engineer Public Works Director/City Engineer
CITY COUNCIL GOALS
ID: 26-0238 Page 4
CITY COUNCIL STRATEGIC PRIORITIES
1. Economic Development
2. Public Safety
3. Library
4. Infrastructure
5. Beautification, Community Engagement, and Quality of Life
6. Youth Programs
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Report Approval Details
Document
Title:
STAFFREPORT_PWADMIN_CITYWIDEALLIEWAYS.docx
Attachments: - Citywide Alleyways Location Map.pdf
Final Approval
Date:
Jun 10, 2026
This report and all of its attachments were approved and signed as outlined below:
Melissa Walker
Sean Kelleher
Natalia Medina
Felicia London, MPA
Launa Jimenez
Brian Mohan
Patty Rodriguez