Title
Sidewalk Repair Policy Discussion
Recommended Action
Committee Recommendation:
The Land Use and Environment Committee supported forwarding the staff recommendation to the City Council for discussion.
City Manager Recommendation:
Discuss a long-term policy for sidewalk repair.
Report
Issue:
Whether to discuss a long-term policy for sidewalk repair.
Staff Contact:
Michelle Swanson, AICP, Principal Planner, Public Works Transportations, 360.753.8575
Presenter(s):
Michelle Swanson, AICP, Principal Planner
Background and Analysis:
The issue
Current City code holds property owners responsible for repairing the sidewalks adjacent to their property, but the City has enforced that code minimally and unevenly.
Over time, the City developed an interim approach of addressing sidewalk repair by prioritizing streets where the City maintains street trees as resources allow (map attached).
Toward a long-term policy
In recent years, the City has been working toward creating a long-term policy for sidewalk repair. As part of that process, staff created a story map and survey to receive feedback from community members about some key points. A link to the story map is attached and includes the high-level results of the survey.
Recent City actions
In 2024, the City established a Sidewalk Repair Program in the Capital Facilities Plan (CFP), funded at $500,000 annually through Transportation Benefit District sales tax revenue. The City also completed a comprehensive inventory of sidewalk conditions, identifying nearly 28,000 unique defects requiring repair and providing a better understanding of the overall scope of needed improvements.
As part of the 2026 budget, the City Council funded a new four-person sidewalk repair crew within Public Works Transportation, supported by Transportation Benefit District sales tax revenue. The crew has recently begun work to address sidewalk repair needs throughout the community.
The recommended policy
On May 28, 2026, City staff briefed the Land Use and Environment Committee on a proposed policy approach, which the Committee supported forwarding to the full City Council for discussion. Staff will present the policy and explain it further during the meeting. Its four components include:
• Continuing the CFP sidewalk repair program and prioritizing the repairs near common pedestrian destinations, shown on the attached maps.
• Continuing the City’s sidewalk repair crew and focusing its work near common pedestrian destinations.
• Requiring owners of large parcels to fix their sidewalks.
• Developing a program that would require that sidewalks be repaired with the sale of a property.
Staff is recommending this policy approach primarily for two reasons:
• City resources alone will not make the progress on sidewalk repair that the public expects; some role for property owners is needed.
• This approach will ensure that repairs are made close to the places people are most likely to walk.
Advisory Committees
On May 4, 2026, City staff briefed the Planning Commission on the survey results and work completed to date on developing a long-term policy approach. Staff provided the same briefing to the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee on May 20, 2026. The Planning Commission subsequently submitted the attached comment letter.
Next steps
If the City Council is supportive of this policy approach, City staff plans to do the following:
• Shift the City-done sidewalk repairs, both those done by the crew and those done as part of the CFP program, to be near common pedestrian destinations.
• Define the steps needed to implement requiring large property owners to fix sidewalks. Staff will also define and the implications of this requirement. With this information, staff can return either to the full City Council or a Council Committee for further discussion.
• Research and outline what is needed to create a “fix upon sale” program. Once this is defined, we can also return to either the full Council or a Committee for further discussion.
Climate Analysis:
The City has a target of reaching net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040. The transportation sector is the second-greatest source of emissions in our region. To achieve the emissions reduction goal, the City needs to reduce vehicle miles traveled to 25% lower than 2021 levels by 2040. Making it easier for people to walk is a key part of this strategy.
Equity Analysis:
For people who rely on walking aids, like scooters, wheelchairs, or walkers, sidewalks in poor repair can be a barrier.
Any long-term approach in which responsibility is shared between property owners and the City means that some property owners benefit from the public fixing their sidewalks while others do not. The “fix upon sale” element of the proposed policy helps balance this, because it means that every property owner could potentially be required to ensure their sidewalk is brought up to standard as part of the process of a property sale.
Neighborhood/Community Interests (if known):
City staff often hear concerns about Olympia’s sidewalk conditions. During the recent outreach in the story map, a majority of people said they believed the City should be responsible for sidewalk repair.
Some additional comments we heard included:
• Concerns about the process of hiring a contractor and the cost for a property owner to repair a sidewalk
• Support for requiring owners of large parcels to fix sidewalks adjacent to their property
• Support for requiring that sidewalks be fixed when property is sold
Survey results are attached.
Financial Impact:
All funding for sidewalk repair comes from the Transportation Benefit District sales tax.
The Capital Facilities Plan program for sidewalk repair is funded at $500,000. In 2026, the City crew is funded at $681,000, plus a one-time cost of $149,000 for an excavator.
Options:
1. Discuss a long-term policy for sidewalk repair.
2. Not discuss a long-term policy for sidewalk repair.
3. Discuss a long-term policy for sidewalk repair at a later date.
Attachments:
Link to story map
Summary of survey results
Staff response to survey results
Survey demographics
Link to Engage Olympia sidewalk repair page
Map of street tree maintenance area
Maps of common pedestrian destinations
Planning Commission letter