City staff on Nov. 19 described a new sidewalk pilot designed to build a robust inventory of sidewalk condition and inform future funding and program choices rather than to pay for large‑scale construction immediately. Kevin Picasso of Integrated Capital Management said the city allocated $500,000 to a pilot focused on data collection and policy analysis.

Picasso said crews and interns used a DeepWalk lidar tool tied to newer iPhones to survey sidewalks and that the city has received "around 150 miles, plus or minus" of processed data so far and expects the remainder by year‑end. "We own all the data," Picasso said, adding that the city will retain control of the processed dataset rather than relying on a vendor long term. Staff are using their GIS team to analyze the backlog and produce cost estimates once processing is complete.

City staff emphasized the pilot’s purpose is to identify total need and to test funding and program models. Picasso described alternative approaches used by other cities, including annual property fees for sidewalk repair, cost‑sharing programs that reimburse property owners for a portion of repairs, dedicated capital projects and general‑fund support. He said many cities combine approaches to reach scale.

The presentation also highlighted ADA ramp work tied to arterial maintenance. Staff said that because federal law requires ramps meet current standards, the city budgets roughly $900,000–$1,000,000 annually for design and contracted ramp replacement through the arterial grind‑and‑overlay program. Commissioners and liaisons asked that prioritization tools also weigh protected networks such as the Centennial Trail and raised the possibility of adding snow‑removal or maintenance components to future program proposals.

Colin Quinhurst of the planning department placed the pilot in the context of the comprehensive plan update, noting the climate element requires new transportation policies such as setting per‑person vehicle‑miles‑traveled (VMT) targets, improving resilience of street investments and adopting zero‑emission public‑fleet goals. Commissioners asked staff to return with cost estimates for different funding options and how much each mechanism could be expected to generate.

Next steps: staff expect to receive remaining processed lidar data by the end of the year, complete cost estimating and advance policy alternatives through the winter and spring with further opportunities for Transportation Commission input in upcoming months.