City trekking toward sidewalk plan

SANDPOINT — The Public Works committee strolled its way toward a more cohesive and ADA-compliant sidewalk repair and maintenance plan Wednesday night.

What started as a request to determine a course of action for Sixth Avenue repairs transformed into a lengthy discussion about the state of Sandpoint sidewalks in general. In anticipation of sewer work on Sixth Avenue between Larch and Alder, the committee determined to discuss the matter further within the next two months.

“I know this will end up being a very volatile and emotional decision, so I want to make sure everyone’s on board with it,” Mayor Gretchen Hellar said.

Right-of-way enforcement officer Bruce Robertson brought the matter to the committee’s attention, seeking guidance on the best way to promote sidewalk repair. Based on Sandpoint Code, the city can request that a property owner repair their sidewalks if the condition presents a danger. Given that the sewer work required sidewalk replacement, Robertson pointed out that making such requests at that point would result in an improved pedestrian network and lowered costs for property owners. Former councilman Steve Lockwood agreed.

“There are too many in our community who are too young, too old or less able to get around without decent sidewalks,” he said.

Last year, the city drafted a Low Impact Development plan that identified problematic sidewalk areas along the street. Using established procedures, the city would deliver letters to property owners requesting that they finance the property repairs. Hellar also suggested that the city establish a multi-year payment plan to ease the fiscal burden.

The Sixth Avenue work provoked discussion on other problem areas in the city sidewalk network, like Pine Street or Division Avenue. The issue synchronized with an earlier matter on the committee agenda — ADA compliance. With the city planning to prioritize handicap-access to public buildings based on volume of use, the order of subsequent sidewalk improvements could follow suit.

  With city officials set to examine the matter in detail over the next couple months, Hellar said that promptness was the primary concern.

“We have a lot of options here,” she said. “But I think the most important thing is to get it done now and let people pay over a period of years.”