Council moves ADA transition plan toward adoption after staff detail $26 million estimate

Assistant Public Works Director Aaron Nix and staff presented the city’s ADA transition plan, an inventory identifying obstacles within the public right-of-way that impede access for people with disabilities. Nix said the inventory covers sidewalks and other right-of-way elements; a consultant estimated about $26 million to fully rectify all documented issues, though staff emphasized the plan is an inventory and a roadmap for phased work as budgets permit.

Staff noted the plan is required by Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act and is often an eligibility requirement for transportation-related grants. Nix described a 20/30/40-year phasing approach and said the recently passed transportation benefit will help fund prioritized work. He also warned standards change over time and said compliance is an evolving process. The council voted to place the resolution adopting the ADA transition plan on the Sept. 16 action agenda.

Council members praised the plan as aspirational and said it will support grant applications; they asked about reporting and timelines. Staff said there is no current mandatory reporting requirement but that the consultant will use GIS tools and the city intends to develop a tracking app to mark items as corrected. Nix noted the plan’s purpose is to identify deficiencies and position the city for future grant funding rather than to immediate full-scale construction.