Council reviews Pecosin Avenue sidewalk survey, directs limited Little Florida design work

City officials on Monday reviewed a field survey and photo inventory for Pecosin Avenue and signaled support to begin limited design work on one segment pending further analysis.

City engineer Sean Crawford told the council the survey covered Pecosin Avenue from Wythe Creek Road to Cedar Road and showed a corridor with variable right-of-way widths, numerous overhead and underground utilities, mature trees and sections of open ditching that would require piping or regrading if sidewalks are installed. "Both sides of the roadway would require a substantial amount of clearing," Crawford said, noting that in several places the right-of-way falls in line with power poles and in others is closer to property lines.

Council members asked detailed questions about where stormwater flows, how much of the corridor could make use of existing paved segments, and whether buying additional right-of-way would be necessary. Crawford said most underground utilities run along the roadside and that the most challenging drainage sections are toward the Cedar Road bend and along the south side of the corridor, where open ditches are more common.

City Manager Randy Wheeler and staff told the council they had attempted repeated contacts with a second landowner on Little Florida and recommended proceeding with a design that stays within existing right-of-way unless private access is necessary. Staff estimated the initial design phase would take about six months. Wheeler said staff would return with a scope of services and cost and asked whether council had objections to beginning design; council indicated consensus to proceed.

Council members emphasized safety and connectivity, with one member noting the long-term goal of linking schools to sidewalks. Members asked staff to return with recommendations on which side(s) of the road to prioritize, how many segments to put under design at once, and an outreach plan to affected property owners.

Next steps: staff will prepare a task order and scope for design of the Little Florida segment, report back to council with costs and a proposed public-engagement timeline, and identify drain/utility constraints that could affect construction costs.