AGENDA CAPTION:
Title
Receive a Staff presentation on the City’s Five-Year Sidewalk Maintenance Program for Fiscal Year 2026; and provide direction to the City Manager.
Body
Meeting date: June 3, 2025
Department: Public Works
Amount & Source of Funding
Funds Required: $231,000
Account Number: 10006150.52505
Funds Available: $231,000
Account Name: Sidewalks
Fiscal Note:
Prior Council Action: Click or tap here to enter text.
City Council Strategic Initiative: [Please select from the dropdown menu below]
Public Safety, Core Services & Fiscal Excellence
Mobility & Connectivity
Choose an item.
Comprehensive Plan Element (s): [Please select the Plan element(s) and Goal # from dropdown menu below]
☐ Economic Development - Choose an item.
☐ Environment & Resource Protection - Choose an item.
☐ Land Use - Choose an item.
☐ Neighborhoods & Housing - Choose an item.
☐ Parks, Public Spaces & Facilities - Choose an item.
☒ Transportation - Choose an item.
☒ Core Services
☐ Not Applicable
Master Plan: [Please select the corresponding Master Plan from the dropdown menu below (if applicable)]
Choose an item.
Background Information:
The Sidewalk Maintenance Program is an ongoing initiative to identify, inspect, prioritize, maintain, and repair existing sidewalks that are unsafe or non-compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). This program supports City Council’s strategic goal of creating a multimodal transportation system that enhances accessibility and mobility, reduces traffic congestion, and minimizes pollution.
Unlike Capital Improvement Program (CIP) projects, which involve large-scale new sidewalk construction, extensive design, and often require acquiring new right-of-way (ROW), the Sidewalk Maintenance Program is limited to work within existing ROW and requires minimal design. Maintenance projects are funded entirely through the Public Works Department’s operational budget, allowing for more flexible and timely response to maintenance needs. In addition to repairs, the program also includes small gap infill projects to connect missing links in the existing sidewalk network.
To develop the Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) Sidewalk Maintenance Plan, the Public Works Department conducted an inclusive planning process that incorporated both community input and data-driven analysis. Staff met with the City’s Equity Cabinet, held public meetings, and presented to the Historic Preservation Commission and the Neighborhood Commission. Feedback from these engagements was carefully reviewed and integrated into the project selection process.
The department also conducted a citywide inspection of all 202 miles of existing sidewalks, evaluating and rating each segment from excellent to poor condition. The FY26 plan prioritizes segments rated as fair or poor for maintenance. In addition to condition assessments, sidewalk selections were informed by U.S. Census data and GIS analytics, with particular focus on areas of high pedestrian use and vulnerable populations. Criteria included the Social Vulnerability Index, areas with low vehicle ownership, and proximity to key pedestrian destinations such as transit stops, grocery stores, schools, and hospitals.
The selected projects will be carried out by a combination of in-house crews and contracted services. All work will meet ADA standards, improving pedestrian safety, accessibility, and connectivity across the city.
Council Committee, Board/Commission Action:
Historical Preservation Commission- 5/1/2025
Neighborhood Commission -Approved 5/21/2025
Alternatives:
Click or tap here to enter text.
Recommendation:
Staff recommends council approval of FY26 5-Year Sidewalk Maintenance Plan