Department of Public Works
Citywide Sidewalk Management
Program Overview
Municipal Services Committee
February 24, 2026
Item #2
Department of Public Works
Presentation Overview
2 • Program Goals
• Background
• Current Sidewalk Management Program
• Prompts
• Assessment Tier
• Repair Method
• Approach
• Challenges
• Recommendations
• Modernized Sidewalk Management Program
Department of Public Works
Sidewalk Program Goals
3 Minimize City’s Liability
Maximize Pedestrian Access
Department of Public Works
Background
1989
• City established a sidewalk repair program to fund a one-time, citywide repair of all single-family and multi-family (4 or less units) residential sidewalks
1991
• PMC 12.04.031 (“Keep Up” Program) adopted to preserve sidewalk condition through shared responsibility when building permits are issued
2014/2015
• Citywide sidewalk assessment performed. Generated inventory of approximately 18,000 locations
4 Department of Public Works
Background
2015/2016
• Citywide Sidewalk Improvements CIP created
• $1M General Fund appropriation; $250k CDBG funding
2026/2027
• Modernize sidewalk management program
• Current Funding:
> ~$400k annually in private-funded repairs (permit-triggered) > $400k-$500k annually in CDBG funding for eligible benefit service areas > $1M General Fund annual appropriation
5 Department of Public Works
Current Sidewalk Management
Program
6 PROMPTS
THRESHOLD
(Vertical Deviation)
REPAIR
METHOD
APPROACH
SIDEWALK
PROGRAM
CSC/Special
Requests
Sidewalk
Inventory 2015
Building
Permits
Replacement
Owner
Contractor
Capital
Improvement
Program (CIP)
1.5” or
less
Temporary Patch
then
Grinding/Sawcut
City
Crews/Street
Maintenance
Monitoring
Greater
than
1.5”
Replacement
Capital
Improvement
Program (CIP)
Temporary Patch
Replacement
Department of Public Works
Prompts
7 PROMPTS
SIDEWALK
PROGRAM
CSC/Special
Requests
Sidewalk
Inventory 2015
Building
Permits
Replacement
Owner
Contractor
Capital
Improvement
Program (CIP)
1.5” or
less
Temporary Patch
then
Grinding/Sawcut
City
Crews/Street
Maintenance
Monitoring
Greater
than
1.5”
Replacement
Capital
Improvement
Program (CIP)
Temporary Patch
Replacement
Department of Public Works
Building Permits– Process / Threshold
Sidewalk replaced by City Contractor at adjacent
property owner’s expense
• Required per PMC 12.04.031 for building permit value exceeding $20,000, per policy (PMC threshold is $5,000)
> When triggered during plan review, an inspection is performed > Each permit is charged with a fixed sidewalk inspection fee per the City’s General Fee Schedule (GFS)
> Repair fee by square footage is calculated at a rate in GFS > Payment is included as part of the Building Permit fees at the time of issuance
> Paid locations are included in future City’s sidewalk repair projects; repair will take place approximately 9 to 12 months after payment > Alternatively, the applicant also has an option to hire a contractor to repair the damaged sidewalk under a Public Works Permit 8 Department of Public Works
Building Permits - Statistics
• Required per PMC 12.04.031 for residential permits only • Accessory Dwelling Units exempt per Government Code Section 65852.2
• Mostly applicable to small to mid-scale addition or remodeling, with valuations ranging from $20k to $1M
• Statistics in the past 12 months:
9 THRESHOLD TRIGGERING
SIDEWALK FEE -$20,000
THRESHOLD TRIGGERING
SIDEWALK FEE -$100,000
(theoretical)
NO. OF PAYMENTS
120 (250 INSPECTIONS
PERFORMED, APPROXIMATELY
HALF MOVE FORWARD WITH
CITY PERFORMING REPAIR)
60 REPAIR FEE ASSESSED $300 - $18,000 $300 - $18,000
TOTAL FEES GENERATED
ANNUALLY
$400,000 - $600,000 $240,000 - $360,000
Department of Public Works
Building Permits – Questions from
Public
• Most common questions:
> What is this sidewalk damage fee on my building permit? > Why do I have to pay for the sidewalk outside my property? > Do I have to pay now?
> Who is determining the damage?
> How is the fee calculated?
> Why do I need to pay when my neighbor’s sidewalk was replaced for free? > When will the sidewalk be fixed?
> What are the criteria for damaged sidewalk?
> Where is the damage? I don’t see any damage; do you have pictures? > I don’t want to pay; I want to fix it myself?
> Don’t my taxes already pay for this?
> The sidewalk is lifted by a City street tree, why should I be responsible for fixing it?
• Case by case inquiries:
> I paid for the sidewalk damage fee XX years ago when I got a permit for the same property, why do I have to pay again now?
> Where or whom can I appeal my case to?
10 Department of Public Works
CSC/Special Requests
Types of requests:
• City Service Center (CSC) – the public submits an observation and requests repair via phone call, app, or online.
• Claims – when a claim is submitted to the City, it is logged as a CSC
> Trip & Fall
> Vehicular Incident (Police Reports)
• Emergency Events – events such as the windstorm resulted in downed trees that uplifted the sidewalk, damaged driveways & curb and gutter
> Number of Locations: 22 ea
> Total SF: 2,972
• Council Notification – constituents may also submit requests directly to Councilmembers instead of CSC
11 Department of Public Works
CSC/Special Requests
City Crews/Engineering staff perform field condition
assessments
• City yard crews will grind or install temporary asphalt patch > After patching, adjacent property owner receives a courtesy letter required under City Code 12.04.030 since CSC Notice becomes a liability for both the property owner and the City.
> not a mandate or a bill
> Some owners (4%) voluntarily follow up and pay for the repair • All locations will be reviewed by staff and addressed as appropriate based on established evaluation criteria and available resources.
• City receives an average of 500 sidewalk repair requests each year.
12 Department of Public Works
Sidewalk Inventory Background
City performed citywide survey of sidewalks, driveways, and curb & gutter to determine level of damage in 2015
Sidewalk conditions are ever-changing
> Approx.18,000 locations are a snapshot in time
> Demand greater than budget
13 SIDEWALK FINDINGS
No. of Locations
identified
17,854 (1,089,055 SF)
Repaired to-date 794,096 SF
Remaining 294,959 SF
Department of Public Works
Threshold & Repair Method
14 THRESHOLD
(Vertical Deviation)
REPAIR
METHOD
SIDEWALK
PROGRAM
CSC/Special
Requests
Sidewalk
Inventory 2015
Building
Permits
Replacement
Owner
Contractor
Capital
Improvement
Program (CIP)
1.5” or
less
Temporary Patch
then
Grinding/Sawcut
City
Crews/Street
Maintenance
Monitoring
Greater
than
1.5”
Replacement
Capital
Improvement
Program (CIP)
Temporary Patch
Replacement
Department of Public Works
Repair – Grinding/Sawcutting
15 Sidewalk Grinding
Sidewalk Horizontal Sawcutting
Recommended for locations with uplift 1.5” or less
Department of Public Works
Repair – Temporary Patch &
Replacement
16 Temporary Patching Replacement
• Allows for quick response
• Color contrast further reduces liability
• Work funded by PW operating budget
• Contractor will remove all damaged
sidewalk and replace with new concrete
• Prescribed for locations with greater than 1.5” uplift Department of Public Works
Approach
17 APPROACH
SIDEWALK
PROGRAM
CSC/Special
Requests
Sidewalk
Inventory 2015
Building
Permits
Replacement
Owner
Contractor
Capital
Improvement
Program (CIP)
1.5” or
less
Temporary Patch
then
Grinding/Sawcut
City
Crews/Street
Maintenance
Monitoring
Greater
than
1.5”
Replacement
Capital
Improvement
Program (CIP)
Temporary Patch
Replacement
Department of Public Works
Approach – Owner / City
Owner
• The abutting proper owner may choose to hire their own Contractor to perform the sidewalk repair or pay in-lieu fees for the City to add to future sidewalk improvements projects City
• Street Maintenance crews perform
> Grinding/sawcutting
> Asphalt ramp/beveling
• Public Works Engineering - Annual Capital Improvement Program Projects
> Annual ADA Citywide Sidewalk Improvements Program
> Miscellaneous Sidewalk Repair Program
18 Department of Public Works
Approach – Annual Citywide
Sidewalk Improvements CIP
Program Framework
• ADA-related citizen complaints
• Claims-related sites
• High traffic volume streets
• High pedestrian routes
• Highest vertical deviation of sidewalk
• CDBG Benefit Service Areas
19 Department of Public Works
Approach – Annual Citywide
Sidewalk Improvements CIP
• Funded through the General Fund, the Annual Capital
Improvement Program (CIP) project has received a consistent appropriation of $1,000,000 each fiscal year since its inception in 2016. While this reflects stable support, the funding level has remained unchanged despite increases in construction and material costs over time
• Fiscal Year 2026:
20 Annual Citywide CDBG Total
Budget $1,000,000 $500,000 $1,500,00
No. of
Locations
561 ea (includes
additional 100 committed
to CDBG locations)
286 ea (includes
additional 80
committed to CDBG
locations)
847 ea
Square
Footage
67,000 34,600 101,600
Department of Public Works
Approach – Miscellaneous Sidewalk
Repair
Funded through Private Capital. Abutting property
owners can elect to pay in-lieu fees to the City to
repair the sidewalks as part of:
• Building Permit Fees
• Claims
• Notice to Abutting Property Owner (typically triggered by CSC request)
21 FY26
Budget ~$400,000
No. of Locations 175 ea
Square Footage 19,885
Department of Public Works
Challenges
• Construction costs and permit valuations have increased significantly since adoption
• In some cases, required sidewalk repairs may exceed the value of smaller-scale home improvements
22 Fiscal Year 2017 2025 2026
Contract Cost
(scope includes
sidewalk, curb ramps,
curb & gutter,
driveways)
$1,127,884.46 $1,099,845 $1,000,000
Unit Cost $6-$7 $14-25 (colored
concrete $25/SF)
$11.50
Square
Footage
154,854 52,500 67,000
Department of Public Works
Challenges
23 “Natural” Color Concrete Color Matched Concrete
• Color Matching
> Cost for remove & replace standard, non-colored concrete $12-16/SF > Cost for remove & replace colored concrete $15-25/SF (FY25/26 unit price) > Color matching difficulties
Existing sidewalk is already a variety of colors
Within a concrete pour, each concrete truck must match colors as well > Extra cost of “color matching” reduces quantity of overall sidewalk that can be repaired that Fiscal Year.
Department of Public Works
Looking Forward – Modernized
Sidewalk Management Program
24 • Program Framework
• Inspection Program
• Work Plan
• Summary
Department of Public Works
Looking Forward – Modernized
Sidewalk Management Program
25 Public Works is updating the Sidewalk Management
Program to:
• Formalize policies and procedures
• Standardize goals and decision criteria
• Leverage technology for improved data accuracy, tracking, programming, and reporting
Goals:
• Implement phased inspections to manage risk and workload • Organize the City into manageable repair and CIP planning areas
Department of Public Works
Inspection Program
26 Priority Criteria
• High-use Corridors
> Schools
> Senior Centers
> Bus routes
> Parks with heavy foot traffic
> Civic buildings
> Commercial districts
• Claims Locations
• Equity across the city
Department of Public Works
Inspection Program
27 Phased Inspection
• City crew mitigation rate sets the pace
> Inspection will identify an amount of locations that can be patched and/or grinded within one week of notification
> These locations consist of vertical deviations less than 1.5 inches • Inspection will resume once the crews have addressed the aforementioned locations
• This approach aligns with our goal of managing risk and workload
Department of Public Works
Inspection Program – Mobile App
28 Staff developed a mobile app to collect data in the
field
Department of Public Works
Inspection Program – ArcGIS map
29 Data is uploaded and reflected instantaneously in a
ArcGIS map
Live Demonstration
Department of Public Works
Work Plan
30 The ArcGIS Map is tied to Enterprise Asset Management (EAM) Central Square
• EAM will generate work orders to City crew based on
vertical deviation identified
> ORANGE - City crews asphalt patch, Engineering will program for replacement in future CIP
> YELLOW – City crews cut or grind to mitigate deviation Engineering will develop annual projects to address
sidewalk to be replaced from the manageable
inventory
> RED – Once crews mitigate, the location will turn red for Engineering to program for replacement
Department of Public Works
Summary
31 • Transition from 2015 static inventory to dynamic, phased inspection model
• Leverage ArcGIS for accurate data collection and storage • Use data-driven reporting to track performance, targets, and goals
Department of Public Works
Potential Policy Considerations
32 a. Maintain current threshold structure for permit valuation b. Adjust permit valuation trigger (e.g., $75,000 or $100,000) c. Consider indexing the threshold value over time
d. Direct staff to return to MSC with additional analysis and fiscal impact