Yes, you can prune them but I would wait until the plant has gone dormant to prune that much. Most of the time though, people prune them in thirds (1/3 per year). However, with the plants being a safety issue on your pathway, I would cut them low whenever it starts snoring away. It will be less stressful for the plant that way. If your winter is dry and the soil has not frozen, water it some once every 2 weeks or so as pruning & coastal weather can wake it up (but hopefully not for long periods). Do not fertilize again it until Spring 2014.

If the problem is severe enough where you CANNOT WAIT and HAVE TO prune now then go ahead but (a) try to keep the soil evenly moist, (b) maintain 3-4" of mulch up to the current drip line and (3) monitor the plant until cooler tmeps arrive and (4) do not be surprised if new stems generated now die over the winter.

Thank you for your input luis_pr. FYI- I never fertilize them. I have been reading some posts on the internet that say they will just come back next year just as big as before I cut them back. I hope that doesn't happen.

I would move them if they don't have enough room where they're at without severely pruning them. It's not that hard, and I have found that they take to moving quite well. Just do it when they're dormant.
Mike