City Council

(17) 26-0481 PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE REPORT relative to evaluating and updating the Sidewalk Repair Program, analyzing costs, improving program delivery, and related matters. Recommendations for Council action, pursuant to Motion (Hernandez – Yaroslavsky): 1. INSTRUCT the Bureau of Engineering (BOE), with assistance from the City Attorney, the Bureau of Street Services (BSS), and City Administrative Officer (CAO), to report on the following: a. Recommendations to update the Access Request Prioritization Matrix and the City Facilities and Program Access Improvement Prioritization, including the incorporation of an equity-based criteria, high pedestrian- traffic areas, and locations with increased liability exposure. b. A cost-benefit analysis of curb ramp construction and sidewalk repairs across neighboring cities and comparative jurisdictions, including their compliance efforts with accessibility standards, costs, design best practices, production rates, delivery models, and prioritization strategies, and recommendations for best practices that could be adapted and implemented in the City. c. An evaluation of whether the City's construction and accessibility standards for pedestrian facilities exceed federal and State Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements, and recommendations to align standards, where appropriate, to ensure compliance while maximizing the number of pedestrian facility repairs and improvements delivered citywide. d. An assessment on the status of the City's Sidewalks LA Rebate Program, including the total funding allocated, program participation and outcomes, the number of completed projects, and the current waitlist, and recommendations for expanding the program to meet the existing demand and future needs. 2. INSTRUCT the BOE, with assistance from the BSS, City Attorney, CAO and other departments as necessary, to report with the following: a. An evaluation of Los Angeles Municipal Code Section 62.104, and any other relevant ordinances related to sidewalk repair, including recommendations to update these provisions to align with the City's obligations under the ADA, while identifying opportunities for cost recovery. b. Recommendations to improve program delivery, including potential restructuring of City crews, contracting models, and interdepartmental coordination to increase efficiency and accelerate project delivery. c. Identify resources, technologies, and tools to streamline sidewalk and curb ramp repair work. 3. INSTRUCT the BSS, with assistance from the BOE, CAO, and other departments as necessary, to report with the following: a. A cost matrix of personnel, materials, and construction needed to complete one lane mile of street pavement resurfacing and repavement, including metrics on how many curb ramps are required per lane mile and the circumstances regarding their requirement. b. Cost efficiencies for both lane mile resurfacing and repavement and curb ramp construction based on any factors such as geography, time of year, bulk material ordering, contracting, and any other considerations as deemed appropriate by the BSS, BOE, and/or CAO. Fiscal Impact Statement: Neither the CAO nor the Chief Legislative Analyst has completed a financial analysis of this report.