As of today, the proposal to switch the responsibility to the individual homeowner is still on the table. While “Point-of-Sale” (a property with a broken sidewalk cannot be sold until the sidewalk is repaired) appears to be off the books, the following options are now being considered by the City:
- “Point-of-Service” – meaning when a new tenant or property owner moves into a property with a sidewalk in need of repair, their utilities will not be turned on until the sidewalk has been repaired.
- “Point-of-Permit” – meaning when a homeowner with a broken sidewalk applies for a permit to do home updates of $20,000 or more, the permit will be denied until the sidewalk is repaired.
- Citywide bond measures, which is where property owners would approve to increase their property taxes to fund sidewalk repairs.
- Assessment district(s), which is where property owners within the City can form an assessment district to repair their sidewalks using the procedures in the State Streets and Highways Code.
Click here for a copy of the latest City Council report on the sidewalk issue.