Resolved Updated

sidewalk program

Plans for building, repairing, and maintaining neighborhood sidewalks.

What to Watch
Whether the city follows through on a code change that would let DPW replace sidewalks in-house and bill adjacent property owners, and how the pilot results are reported.
Coming Up

Typically discussed at Public Works Committee. Check back when the next agenda is published.

The Story

City Council voted 9-0 to hire SafeStep for a $40,000 pilot to grind down the raised edges that cause sidewalk trip hazards. Public Works had already approved the pilot after staff argued small fixes can cost far less than full panel replacement. Residents are already asking what this means for their own bills, so the city’s next move is making the rules easy to understand.

Key Decisions
  1. passed 9-0 City Council · Apr 6, 2026

    26-060 Professional Services Agreement with SafeStep LLC for Sidewalk Safety Services in the Amount Not-to-Exceed $40,000

    Motion to waive reading and adopt the Safe Step Sidewalk agreement in the amount not-to-exceed $40,000 (26-060 Professional Services Agreement with SafeStep LLC for Sidewalk Safety Services)

    Mark Bittner Yes
    Adam Wachowski Yes
    Darla LeClair Yes
    Shannon Derby Yes
    Bill LeClair Yes
    Doug Brandt Yes
    Tim Petri Yes
    Bonnie Shimulunas Yes
    Scott Stechmesser Yes
  2. passed Public Works Committee · Apr 1, 2026

    Sidewalk Replacement Program

    Motion to enter into a professional services agreement with Safe Step LLC to expand the City’s sidewalk repair program as a pilot for 2026

  3. passed Public Works Committee · Feb 4, 2026

    Sidewalk Snow Clearing Invoice Consideration - 2203 12th Street

    Motion to do a one-time reduction of the cost of the sidewalk snow clearing invoice to $200.00

Record

  1. Staff scheduled a March 18 follow-up meeting to discuss whether parts of the 2026 sidewalk program could be outsourced.

    Public Works Committee

  2. The committee approved a 2026 pilot professional-services agreement with SafeStep LLC to inspect about 8.65 miles of sidewalks (starting in the northeast), maintain condition data, and do lower-cost fixes such as grinding down the raised edges where feasible.

    Public Works Committee

  3. Staff said they would explore changing city code so DPW could do sidewalk replacements in-house and then bill adjacent property owners.

    Public Works Committee

  4. City Council approved a not-to-exceed $40,000 professional services agreement with SafeStep LLC for a sidewalk safety pilot to grind down minor sidewalk trip hazards.

    City Council

  5. The council vote on the SafeStep agreement was 9-0.

    City Council

  6. Council communications during the same meeting reflected that residents were asking what the new sidewalk approach would cost them personally.

    City Council
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