Los Angeles considering making property owners pay for sidewalk repairs

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Los Angeles city leaders are considering a plan that would shift the burden for sidewalk repairs from the city to businesses and homeowners.

In the first public hearing on the issue on Tuesday, City Administrative Officer Miguel Santana outlined the results of a months-long study on Los Angeles' broken sidewalks and submitted his committee's proposal for repairs.

"For private property owners, we recommend that we fix it initially and then we guarantee that work for five years. Then after the property is sold, then that becomes the responsibility of the property owner," Santana said.

The city is setting aside $1.4 billion dollars over the next 30 years to make the repairs, as part of a settlement tied to the Americans with Disabilities Act. Another $27 million is already funding current repairs. Both, however, are not enough to cover the cost of the more than 4,000 miles of cracked sidewalks.

"It's important for us that we use those dollars in the most effective way to fix our sidewalks across the city," said Los Angeles City Councilman Joe Buscaino, who also chairs the public works committee.

Another recommendation calls for a 50/50 arrangement, where homeowners would share the responsibility of the repairs.

Studio City resident Rachel Furman finds that idea appalling. She's been trying to get the city to fix a broken sidewalk outside her home since 1989.

"We are paying plenty of taxes. We are paying, really, a lot of money," Furman said.

The city could also end up taking on the cost of all the repairs.

City leaders will decide on a sidewalk repair plan after holding several more public hearings.