Board approves amendments to DPW sidewalk assessment list after residents raise notification, billing and workmanship concerns

The Board of Supervisors convened a committee hearing Tuesday to consider objections to a Department of Public Works (DPW) report on sidewalk and curb repair assessments for work carried out from April 2013 through April 2014. After a period of public comment in which property owners raised problems with notice, invoices, administrative fees and perceived poor workmanship, DPW staff agreed to meet claimants and submitted a revised assessment list that the board approved.

DPW’s Robert Kwan told the board the annual sidewalk inspection and repair program inspected city blocks across neighborhoods including the Marina, Cow Hollow, Potrero Hill, Hayes Valley, Telegraph Hill, and the Outer Sunset. He reported 3,792 notices to repair and invoiced work that totaled roughly $3.21 million; 1,801 invoices were issued and 1,528 property owners had paid, allowing the city to recover about $1.29 million. DPW said 217 properties had outstanding invoices totaling roughly $227,575.

At the board hearing dozens of property owners described inconsistent outreach, missing invoices, contractors leaving debris or causing sewer backups, and unexpected 12% administrative fees. Speakers — including tenants and owners from Filbert Street, Linden Street, Twelfth Avenue, Manchester Street and others — said some had paid partial amounts under pressure from contractors, that some repairs appeared unnecessary, and that follow‑up inspections either did not occur or did not resolve disputes.

Robert Kwan and DPW staff met with several residents after the public hearing and provided a revised assessment list to the board. The board approved the staff amendments and then adopted the resolution to move the amended assessment list forward; the roll‑call vote recorded 11 ayes.

What residents should know: DPW asked property owners who testified to meet staff after the hearing; staff committed to follow up and to revise assessment details where appropriate. The board’s vote accepted the departmental revisions and signaled that staff will continue to work with disputing property owners to resolve billing and scope concerns; the assessment process (including placing unpaid charges on property tax bills) remains available as a collection mechanism until disputes are resolved.

Provenance: See transcript segments where the DPW presentation begins and where the board adopted the amended resolution.