During their policy and planning session this week, the Pella City Council set out to address sidewalk replacement in the community.

A recent assessment by city staff of all sidewalks in the city limits identified approximately 5000 sidewalk panels that require repair or replacement. City Administrator Mike Nardini tells KNIA/KRLS News Pella City Code places sidewalk maintenance in the hands of property owners adjacent to the segments.

Nardini says the council aims to keep the cost low for those needing to make repairs or replacements, and explored options to expedite the process. This spring, city staff will complete another comprehensive survey of sidewalks and to give property owners impacted 90 days notice, with the hope that all of the necessary panels are fixed by the end of next summer.

At the meeting, council discussed the possibility of soliciting bids from contractors to weigh options on how to help lower the cost of replacement, and what methods by property owners would be allowable.

City Code Section:
“The Pella City Code section 136.01 defines a defective sidewalk as any public sidewalk exhibiting one more of the following characteristics: A. Any crack extending the full width of the sidewalk with an open gap of ½ inch or larger. B. Any crack running parallel with the sidewalk with a gap of ½ inch or larger. C. Any two pieces of sidewalk section with a difference in elevation of ½ inch or larger. D. Any sidewalk that has an unreasonable uneven surface such as: 1) cracked with part of walk missing forming holes; 2) cracked into more than three pieces per 4′ by 4′ square.”