Memorandum

City of Lawrence

Public Works

TO:	Tom Markus, City Manager
CC:	Charles F. Soules, Brandon McGuire
FROM:	Mark Thiel
DATE:	February 10, 2017
RE:	City Manager’s Report (2/21/2017): Sidewalk program status update

In October 2016, The City Commission directed the City Manager to develop a sidewalk hazard repair policy and program based on recommendations from the Pedestrian Bicycle Issues Task Force Report. The upcoming draft policy is being developed to address the following issues, at minimum:

1. The city’s responsibility and funding for federally required ADA improvements, including ramps and approaches to ramps to meet grading regulations.

2. Building on the foundation of a roughly 60 percent compliance rate experienced through the current complaint-driven process consistent with City Code Chapter 16 and State statute.

3. Developing protocol to assist financially challenged homeowners who meet common Federal criteria for income-based assistance programs. Or a waiver of the payment at the time the sidewalk repair work is performed and placement of a lien on the property which will be paid without interest at the time the property is sold in the future.

4. Developing protocol for the city to conduct a competitive bidding process and enable property owners to use a known bid amount from a contractor that meets the City’s requirements.

Staff developed a plan that divides the city into eight (8) geographic areas with approximately the same amount of sidewalks. Inspection of the first area was recently completed. City staff will now solicit bids to establish a contracted rate for the cost of repairs that are determined to be the city’s responsibility. A unit cost price for owners for the removal, replacement and restoration of the sidewalks will also be secured through the bid process. The bids received in response to this solicitation will be presented the Commission to inform its deliberation on the upcoming sidewalk policy. The policy is expected to be presented to the Commission on March 21, 2017.