Council tackles sidewalks issues

SANDPOINT - In what has become an ongoing theme, sidewalk issues were once again front and center at Wednesday's City Council meeting.

After voting last month to offer refunds to 40 homeowners who built sidewalks on their property in advance of the now-defunct 2008 LID, the council reaffirmed its position Wednesday to make money available for the disgruntled homeowners.

Councilman Doug Hawkins, who led the charge to reimburse, was joined by Councilman Michael Boge and Councilwoman Carrie Logan in support of a plan to make claim forms available to affected property owners. Councilmen Steve Lockwood and Stephen Snedden dissented, and Councilwoman Helen Newton was not present at the meeting.

The decision went against the advice of City Attorney Will Herrington, who questioned the legality of the plan.

“I urge you to back away from this sidewalk reimbursement plan,” Herrington said.

Snedden agreed with Logan, Boge and Hawkins that the city made a mistake when, in May 2007, it sent letters to 260 homeowners suggesting they could save money by replacing their sidewalks prior to the passage of the LID, but he disagreed that the city should reimburse them and echoed Herrington's concern about the legality of the plan.

“I think this is legally questionable, and questionable might not be a term that's strong enough,” Snedden said.

The process in which homeowners will be reimbursed was not finalized, but will most likely involve individuals filing claim against the city, offering all relevant documents to the public works committee, and, if approved, having their claim heard before the full council.

The council asked Herrington to draft a letter to be distributed to homeowners explaining the claims process, which he will submit to the council for review and approval before any claim forms become available.