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Council adopts sidewalk code changes and discusses citywide sidewalk assessment contract
Summary
Council approved an amendment to the city's sidewalk code (Ordinance 212-24) and debated a proposed contract to survey and prioritize sidewalk repairs using a commercial assessment tool; council members asked staff to provide a phased plan for financing repairs and hardship assistance before large-scale enforcement.
London City Council voted to amend the city's sidewalk code and spent substantial time discussing a proposed sidewalk-assessment contract and how the city will pay for repairs.
On third reading, the council adopted Ordinance 212-24, which amended Section 660 of the codified ordinances to add clearer standards and enforcement metrics for sidewalks in the city. The vote passed by a 6–1 margin; one council member voted no.
Council then debated a proposed contract with a vendor (StreetScan / StreetLogic) to perform a citywide sidewalk assessment and produce a prioritized list of panels or segments needing repair. The vendor's system would grade sidewalks, capture geotagged photos, estimate repair costs for each panel and produce selections based on a city budget and prioritization rules (for example, focusing first on the worst-rated panels). The contract under consideration would pay for a professional assessment and software tools to inform budgeting and enforcement.
Council members and staff discussed the policy choices that follow from knowing the size and cost of the problem: whether the city will pay up-front to fix some sidewalks and assess property owners later, set up multi-year assessments, establish hardship or grant programs for low-income homeowners, or require property owners to bring sidewalks up to code at sale. Several council members said they wanted a phased financing approach and agreed the city must decide a hardship policy before large-scale enforcement letters are mailed.
During the discussion, staff said the assessment would give the city specific, panel-level cost estimates and photographic records so enforcement and reimbursement decisions could be made from data rather than impression. Several council members and the mayor said they support gathering the data but emphasized that the city must plan how repairs will be funded and administered before mandatory enforcement starts.
Ending: Council adopted the code amendment and directed staff to return with a recommended enforcement and financing plan informed by the assessment data, including options for hardship assistance and program phasing.
