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Council discusses sidewalks, MAPPA-funded active mobility plan and possible sidewalk districts
Summary
Councilman Preister asked city staff on Oct. 7 what ‘priority’ means for sidewalks and how the city will pay to close gaps in the network; staff said a MAPPA-funded active mobility plan will guide prioritization and public engagement will begin after the New Year.
Councilman Preister raised concerns about missing sidewalks and asked what the city plans to do to prioritize sidewalk construction and funding.
“Is that safe routes to school grants? Is that CDBG grants? Is that budget money?” Councilman Preister asked, pressing staff for specifics on how ‘priority’ would translate into funding or projects.
City staff said the city was awarded federal grant funding through MAPPA for an active mobility plan. “That plan is actually twofold. It'll be, a master trails plan, but it will also look at connectivity and Complete Streets guidelines and principles,” Staff member Tammy said. Tammy said the plan will provide a guidebook to identify greatest needs and inform where the city should focus funding; public input will be part of the process and the city expects to kick off engagement shortly after the New Year.
Mayor and councilmembers discussed funding options at length. The mayor noted sidewalk districts — assessments that tax individual lots to fund sidewalk construction — could address gaps but are politically difficult. “We can solve that with sidewalk districts, if we wanna go out and tax our citizens more on each individual lot,” the Mayor said, adding the city could explore the approach if the council is willing to accept potential political pushback.
Councilman Preister emphasized prioritizing areas around schools and senior centers and said he is willing to explore sidewalk districts despite potential opposition: “I think it has to be on the table. I think we have to at least explore what we can do with that and particularly with prioritized areas especially around schools and senior centers or where there are difficult places to cross. I, I think that has to be a consideration And I'm willing to explore it, and I'm willing to take the heat for it.”
There was no formal council action taken on new funding or the creation of sidewalk districts during the meeting. The administration filed the September report attached to the council packet and staff committed to proceed with the active mobility plan and public engagement.
