Nick McBdiscoff, a Kenmore resident, told the Kenmore City Council that the city has “over 1,000” locations listed in its ADA transition plan that violate federal Americans with Disabilities Act standards and urged immediate action to reduce safety hazards and potential legal liabilities.

McBdiscoff said the ADA standard for vertical change is a quarter-inch and argued the city faces exposure if hazards remain unaddressed. He cited a 2020 settlement involving a 57-year-old that he said cost $260,000 and said typical settlements range from $10,000 to $50,000. He warned the city faces mounting costs if multiple claims occur and asked the council to act now.

“Direct staff to develop an emergency sidewalk repair program with adequate funding,” McBdiscoff told the council, asking the city to prioritize repairs in the next budget cycle.

Why it matters: McBdiscoff framed the issue as both a public-safety and legal-liability concern that affects elderly residents, parents with strollers and people who use wheelchairs. He said once a hazard is documented the city “can no longer claim ignorance,” and urged the council to prioritize repairs over other new positions.

Supporting details: McBdiscoff said engineering staff confirmed the scale of documented hazards in the ADA transition plan; he asked the council to direct staff to prepare a funded emergency repair program. He noted potential insurance, legal, and settlement costs but did not report that the council took any formal action on the request during the meeting.

Discussion versus decision: The transcript records McBdiscoff’s public comment and his request to the council. The council did not vote or direct staff on the record during the meeting on an emergency sidewalk repair program, and no formal motion or outcome related to his request appears in the transcript.

Context and next steps: McBdiscoff asked the council to include sidewalk repair funding in the next budget cycle and to treat documented hazards as high priority. The meeting proceeded to other agenda items; no formal follow-up commitment was recorded in the transcript.