By Dee Longfellow
“The benefits of public sidewalks are many. The most important benefit [is] the safety of our citizens. Sidewalks also improve aesthetics, curb appeal and walkability.”
This is a quote from a report by the Public Works and Buildings (PWB) Committee to the Elmhurst City Council covering its review of Elmhurst’s Sidewalk Installation Policy. The measure passed at a Council meeting on Monday, July 15.
PWB Committee Chair Emily Bastedo (6th Ward) explained the changes in a recent City Council meeting, giving an overview of the previous policy and the proposed recommendations. She thanked the members of her committee—Aldermen Karen Sienko (2nd), Michael Bram (3rd) and Brian Cahill (4th)—for working hard on the project over the course of 11 meetings. She also praised the City staff for its input.
The previous policy required a 50/50 cost share between property owners and the City for installation of sidewalks on full blocks where none currently exist. The policy further required 60 percent or more of the property owners on that block to sign a petition for the City to consider a sidewalk project.
At that point, the City begins preliminary plans and gathers cost estimates in order to offer property owners an idea of their individualized share of the project. Then a survey is sent to all property owners and, again, at least 60 percent must reply “yes” to the survey. It is noteworthy to add that non-responses were considered “no” votes, and the previous policy has resulted in no successful projects.
Bastedo noted the last successful sidewalk petition passed in 2009.
“Since 2004, petitions have been initiated 41 times and yet, construction was approved only five times,” she said. “The last successful sidewalk petition was on Willow between Gladys and Crestview and it passed in 2009.”
The Committee’s first recommendation was to change the 50/50 cost split to a 75/25, with the City covering 75 percent. As an example, the sidewalk petition for Glade Avenue between 2nd and 3rd streets had a construction cost estimate of $285,000. Under the 50/50 cost split, the amount would be $142,000. Under the 75/25 split, the City would pay $213,750, a difference of $71,250 to distribute among property owners.
After reviewing the voting procedure, it was determined that the actual “yes” and “no” votes should be counted, and unreturned surveys would not be counted. Further, the number of names on the petition and the number of “yes” votes should be at least 50 percent of the property owners, rather than 60 percent.
The Committee recommended considering alternative financing options on a case-by-case basis for property owners. The final change was to keep with the City’s “Complete Streets” policy, which covers sidewalks for short streets at the end of blocks that dead end, as well as sidewalk gaps.
Following Bastedo’s presentation, Alderman Marti Deuter (1st Ward) offered her comments, saying she was very pleased with the idea of more sidewalks to encourage more walking and biking. She mentioned a “Walk and Rollers” working group that she had been meeting with over the past several months.
“[The group has] updated our bike and pedestrian plan,” she said. “We have included community fun activities and safety improvements in our strategic plan and we’ve taken a comprehensive approach to neighborhood traffic studies that incorporate walking and biking.”
Deuter said she agreed with, and supported, most of the changes presented in the policy, but she knows there is a set of priority sidewalks currently awaiting funding and she also knows the Public Affairs and Safety Committee is creating a comprehensive sidewalk Master Plan for the entire City. Deuter wanted to see more emphasis placed on priority sidewalks that needed the most improvements to enhance walking and biking.
She fears that the change in cost split would be a distraction from the City working on the highest priority sidewalks, which the City would fund completely.
“I’d prefer to have the City spend its energy and resources on those highest priority sidewalks,” she said.
Other aldermen made comments about the measure before the vote was called. The measure passed 11-0 with three absent.
Editor’s note: The Sidewalk Installation Policy can be viewed on the City’s web site. To view the entire meeting with all comments from the aldermen, visit ElmhurstTV.com.
