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Council eases sidewalk enforcement deadlines and waives permit fees in updated ordinance (first reading)
Summary
An amendment to the city's sidewalk ordinance extends resident response windows, lengthens repair and permit periods, waives permit fees when the city orders repairs, and offers a longer assessment repayment option; council held first reading and members thanked staff for making the program more resident‑friendly.
Council members on April 6 reviewed ordinance 26‑20 intended to make the sidewalk repair program more resident‑friendly and administratively practical.
Staff said the proposed changes would allow notices to be posted on the city's website and social media when property owners cannot be reached by other means, extend the response period from 10 days to 30 days, lengthen the permit window from 30 to 60 days, and increase the time to complete required repairs from 60 to 90 days. The ordinance would also waive permit fees when the city requires the repair and give residents the option to spread an assessment over up to 10 years rather than the previous five‑year option. Staff also noted timing changes to start the program earlier in the year to avoid cold‑weather curing problems.
Council members praised the changes as more resident‑friendly and noted additional rules to manage street‑tree selection in the curb strip to prevent future sidewalk damage. The ordinance was brought forward for first reading; further action will follow at subsequent council meetings.
