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Council adopts new sidewalks code and will ask voters to allow 108 fund use for sidewalks
Summary
Medina City Council passed a new sidewalks, curbs and gutters ordinance that shifts sidewalk repair responsibility to the city and approved placing a November ballot question to permit using the 0.25% restricted income-tax (108) fund for sidewalks; both measures passed with emergency clauses (114-26 and 116-26 passed 6-1).
Medina City Council on July 13 approved Ordinance 114-26, creating a new Chapter 905 that assigns city responsibility for repair and replacement of sidewalks, curbs and gutters and establishes a program of annual investments to address about 200 miles of sidewalks within the city.
Councilmembers debated the policy’s scope and cost. One councilmember said the change recognizes sidewalks as a public asset used by schoolchildren, the elderly and pedestrians citywide and argued it should be a municipal responsibility. Another councilmember countered that routine maintenance and occasional replacement historically have been homeowner responsibilities and warned against the city assuming indefinite ongoing costs.
Council adopted the emergency clause (6 ayes, 1 nay) and then passed the ordinance 6–1. The ordinance directs the administration to proceed with implementation steps such as grinding trip hazards, removing and replacing panels caused by tree roots or utilities, and prioritizing problem areas for annual work.
Separately, council approved Ordinance 116-26 to place a question on the November 3, 2026 ballot asking electors to permit the 0.25 percentage-point portion of the city’s 1.25% income tax (commonly called the 108 fund) to be used for sidewalks in addition to streets, utilities and stormwater. Staff and council members discussed the history: the 0.25 restriction dates to an earlier electorate action, the 108 account has been used for road and stormwater projects and sometimes to cover debt service; the proposed ballot language would not raise the tax rate but would broaden eligible uses of existing revenue.
Officials noted practical budgeting constraints: public works staff capacity limits how much the city can spend annually, and the city often pairs 108-funded projects with grants. Council members discussed balances and past borrowing (a $10 million roads loan referenced in the discussion) and emphasized that use of the 108 fund for sidewalks would be subject to ongoing council oversight and annual budgeting decisions.
Council adopted the emergency clause for the ballot ordinance and then passed it 6–1. A council member requested the law director review and adjust language in the draft ordinance before final filing.
The council recorded votes on both measures; implementation steps, timeline and budget allocations will be detailed through subsequent administrative and budgeting processes.
