Kleiber v. City of Idaho Falls

716 P.2d 1273, 110 Idaho 501, 1986 Ida. LEXIS 416
CourtIdaho Supreme Court
DecidedFebruary 19, 1986
Docket15758
StatusPublished
Cited by12 cases

This text of 716 P.2d 1273 (Kleiber v. City of Idaho Falls) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Idaho Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Kleiber v. City of Idaho Falls, 716 P.2d 1273, 110 Idaho 501, 1986 Ida. LEXIS 416 (Idaho 1986).

Opinions

SHEPARD, Justice.

This is an appeal from a summary judgment dismissing the complaint of appellant Kleiber who sought damages under the theories of common law tort and a violation of his constitutional rights under 42 U.S.C. Section 1983 which allegedly resulted from the city’s refusal to allow Kleiber to operate a mobile hot dog stand on the sidewalks of downtown Idaho Falls. We affirm.

In May 1982 Kleiber applied to the city of Idaho Falls for a business license to operate a'mobile hot dog stand in downtown Idaho Falls. Kleiber indicated that he was unsure where his stand would be located but that he intended to operate at various locations throughout the city. It is asserted by the city that Kleiber was told he would be in violation of City Ordinance No. 9-9-1 if he attempted to operate his business on a public sidewalk.1 Kleiber denies that he received any such warning. A license was issued and Kleiber began operating his business on public sidewalks. Shortly thereafter the police warned Kleiber he was violating Ordinance No. 9-9-1, and thereafter began issuing citations to him for obstructing the sidewalk in violation of the ordinance. Kleiber nevertheless continued to operate the stand and receive citations. Thereafter, at a regular meeting of the Idaho Falls City Council, over the protests of Kleiber, the council voted to revoke his license. The council also informed Kleiber that if he would agree to conduct the business on private property it would reinstate his license. Subsequently Kleiber acquired a location for his business on private property and his license was reinstated.

Thereafter, Kleiber filed this action against the city alleging both common law tort and 42 U.S.C. Section 1983 causes of actions, to which the city filed a motion for summary judgment. The district court granted summary judgment as to the tort claims, but denied summary judgment as to the Section 1983 claim holding that the ordinance was unconstitutionally vague. Upon a motion to reconsider, the court adhered to its ruling that the ordinance was unconstitutionally vague, but held that the city was also entitled to summary judgment as to the Section 1983 cause of action since neither a fundamental first amendment right nor a property right was implicated.

Kleiber filed a motion asking for reconsideration of the court’s summary judgment relating to the 1983 causes of action, [503]*503to which the city filed a motion to strike on the basis that the motion to reconsider was not filed within ten days as required by I.R.C.P. 59(e). That motion to strike was denied and the court issued a decision on the merits. Since we decide the case on its merits, we do not address the issue of the timeliness of Kleiber’s motion to reconsider.

We note initially that Kleiber’s sole issue on appeal is the granting of summary judgment on the Section 1983 claim. No contention is made upon appeal as to the granting of summary judgment in favor of the city on Kleiber’s common law tort claim, and Kleiber has cited neither authority nor made argument upon that question. See V-1 Oil Company v. Lacy, 97 Idaho 468, 546 P.2d 1176 (1976); Oregon Shortline Railroad Co. v. City of Chubbuck, 93 Idaho 815, 474 P.2d 244 (1970).

As stated in Stewart v. Hood Corporation, 95 Idaho 198, 506 P.2d 95 (1973):

“In ruling on an appeal from a summary judgment we will only determine:
1. Whether there is a genuine issue as to any material fact; and
2. Whether the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.” (Citations omitted.)

We hold that here the trial court correctly ruled that no genuine issue of material fact remained to be resolved. The only dispute of fact is whether Kleiber was notified of Ordinance No. 9-9-1 and that he could not operate his business on a sidewalk. However, that dispute of fact is not material since the city is not estopped from enforcing its ordinance, albeit the license may have been issued by mistake or in contravention of the ordinance.

The application of estoppel against a municipality in the exercise of its police power is prohibited. Boise City v. Sinsel, 72 Idaho 329, 241 P.2d 173 (1952); Yellow Cab Taxi Service v. City of Twin Falls, 68 Idaho 145, 190 P.2d 681 (1948). We stated in Harrell v. City of Lewiston, 95 Idaho 243, 247, 506 P.2d 470, 474 (1973), “although a municipality may be estopped in limited circumstances, the enactment of zoning regulations is a governmental function which is not usually subject to estop-pel.” In Harrell the facts were much more egregious than in the instant case. There the plaintiff had deeded property for a frontage road to the city in reliance on its proposal that if he did so he would be granted a zone change and a building permit for a restaurant. In Harrell, clearly the plaintiff had changed his position to his substantial detriment in reliance upon the city’s assurances, yet no right to a building permit was held to exist when a valid zoning regulation prohibited such use. Although in the instant case Kleiber may have been issued a business license, such license did not confer upon him any property right to use the public sidewalks for the conduct of his business. Therefore, the city was entitled to judgment as a matter of law.

In Idaho the streets from side to side and end to end belong to the public and are held by the municipality in trust for the use of the public. Keyser v. City of Boise, 30 Idaho 440, 165 P. 1121 (1917). A city has exclusive control by virtue of its police power over its streets, highways and sidewalks within the municipal boundaries. Tyrolean Associates v. City of Ketchum, 100 Idaho 703, 604 P.2d 717 (1979); City of Nampa v. Swayne, 97 Idaho 530, 547 P.2d 1135 (1976); Snyder v. State, 92 Idaho 175, 438 P.2d 920 (1968); Yellow Cab Taxi Service v. City of Twin Falls, 68 Idaho 145, 190 P.2d 681 (1948). In Boise City v. Sinsel, supra, the Court held that the holder of a permit to install an obstruction on the public street acquires no vested property right because the city has no right or authority to grant a private right to permanent use of the public streets.

Likewise, in Yellow Cab Taxi Service v. City of Twin Falls, supra, the Court held:

“A city, in the exercise of its police power, can revoke a license if the particular thing permitted is or becomes a public nuisance, or such revocation is necessary and in the interests of the public welfare or public safety, and is not arbitrary, [504]*504unreasonable, discriminatory, oppressive or capricious, and the conditions existing at the time justify such action.” 68 Idaho at 151. (Citations omitted.)

Here there is no showing by Kleiber that the action of the city is unreasonable, arbitrary or discriminatory. The evidence reveals that no licenses are issued for the operation of pushcarts on the sidewalks of the city of Idaho Falls.

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Kleiber v. City of Idaho Falls
716 P.2d 1273 (Idaho Supreme Court, 1986)

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Bluebook (online)
716 P.2d 1273, 110 Idaho 501, 1986 Ida. LEXIS 416, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/kleiber-v-city-of-idaho-falls-idaho-1986.