Resident asks city for help; staff says The Cottages roads are private, HOA responsible for repairs

A resident of The Cottages condo development told the council on Sept. 4 that the community lacks city maintenance for streets and sidewalks and is weighing raising HOA fees to pay for repairs.
"We don't understand why we say city taxes and we don't we don't get city city benefits," resident Jack Hendrickson said during the public-comment period. He described elderly residents and widows who would be affected if the HOA raises fees.
Marcus Mower, the city engineer, responded that the subdivision was originally platted as private and that private-roads remain the HOA’s responsibility "unless it were accepted by the city." He said the city previously pushed to meet city sidewalk and roadway standards during construction and that acceptance would require the right-of-way and infrastructure to meet city standards. "It would likely require replacement of a considerable amount of sidewalks to get to an accessible slope," Mower said, referencing accessibility standards in the city's acceptance criteria.
Council members and staff offered to inspect the subdivision and provide a list of work needed for possible future acceptance. Mower cautioned that the city generally accepts an entire right-of-way rather than partial sections, and that the HOA would need to decide whether to fund upgrades with the aim of turning the streets over to the city.
No formal action was taken at the meeting. The council invited the resident to provide contact information so staff can follow up and inspect the subdivision.