Sidewalk Proposal Returns to Council

A proposal that would move responsibility for sidewalk repairs to the city as returned to the full City Council, potentially for final approval.

The proposal, introduced by Ald. Aram Ayalon (D-3), would remove the provision of the city ordinances (local laws) that require that homeowners and other property owners, for sidewalks in front of their properties, “Repair all defects in the sidewalk which in any way endanger or hamper the movement of public traffic.”

Instead, the new ordinance would say that, “Whenever any sidewalk is determined by the director of public works to be in need of repair or replacement, the City shall bear the cost of such repairs or replacement,” with certain exceptions.

The proposal was considered by the Council’s Consolidated Committee, which voted on June 20, 2019 to refer the proposal back to the full Council with a neutral recommendation.

The proposal is on the agenda of the June 26th Council meeting.

The exceptions when the owner would still be responsible for sidewalk repair would include damage caused by trees on the sidewalk owner’s land or water runoff from the owner’s property deemed the responsibility of the property owner. Damage caused by delivery trucks or similar damage would also be the responsibility of the property owner rather than the city.

Under the proposal, repairs to sidewalks over driveway aprons would still also be the owner’s responsibility.

In committee discussion on the proposal, Council members discussed that the city does, when money is available, replace some people’s sidewalks. Public Works Director Mark Moriarty said, for example, that the city had prioritized available funds on replacing sidewalks in neighborhoods surrounding elementary schools.

Ayalon said that, with many people left with responsibility for repairing their own sidewalks and others not, the new proposed ordinance would settle that difference by making it the city’s responsibility for everyone.

The Council meeting is Wednesday, June 26, 2019 at 7:00pm in City Hall.