Coeur d'Alene council tables sidewalk ordinance amid concerns about homeowner burden and priority corridors

At its April 1 meeting, the Coeur d'Alene City Council voted to table a proposed amendment to the city's sidewalk requirements — identified in the meeting as “Council Bill 20 five-ten-eight” — after council members and members of the public debated whether the change would unfairly place the cost of new sidewalks on homeowners.

The proposal would raise the permit-value threshold that triggers a sidewalk requirement from $30,000 to $45,000 and make certain maintenance activities exempt; it would also exempt new sidewalks from that exception when the property sits on one of the city's designated priority pedestrian corridors. Proponents said the change would reduce disproportionate costs for routine maintenance; opponents said it would delay construction of connected sidewalks in high-traffic corridors.

David Passaro, who identified himself as a member of the city's Pedestrian Bicycle Advisory Committee, told council…