Findlay may take carrot-and-stick approach to sidewalks

FINDLAY — It may take both carrot and stick to convince Findlay homeowners to replace broken sidewalks. Carrot, as in a city program that could help with the cost. Stick, as in a city policy that could force the repair. Findlay City Council's Streets, Sidewalks & Parking Committee began new talks about the state of the city's sidewalks at a meeting held Thursday. Much of the discussion focused on cost, how to best assist homeowners in getting the work done, and the consequences if they don't. Sidewalk repair and maintenance are the responsibility of homeowners in the city. In April, council's Strategic Planning Committee voted to pursue a cost-sharing program with residents to replace broken sidewalks. A "connected city" is the seventh goal identified the the city's strategic plan: "A connected city where people are linked to destinations and each other in a variety of ways." Council voted in August 2023 to adopt the seven-point plan. Planning NEXT, Columbus, a consulting firm, was hired by the city to develop the plan. The plan is based on a canvas of nearly 1,000 people, asking where Findlay's government should focus. The firm was paid about $130,000 for the work. "We've talked about this off and on over the last couple of years, even potentially going so far as to doing bond funding to generate money to pay for it," said Councilman Grant Russel, R-at-large. "... I don't believe the city is in a position to take total ownership and financial responsibility over all our sidewalks. It would be too big a burden. So, there has to be a cost share at some point in time, knowing the ultimate responsibility is the property owner's. They have to have some skin in the game." Russel, who is a member of both committees, said he's familiar with a city that would split the cost of replacing a sidewalk 50/50 with homeowners, if they approached the city asking for help. Those who had to be notified by the city to replace the walks paid the full amount. Past attempts by the city to encourage sidewalk repairs, some dating back 20 years, have failed. About $40,000 from the city's American Rescue Plan Act Funds (ARPA) had been set aside but was left unused. Most of the money was then reappropriated in 2024 to purchase a $35,000 emergency generator for The Cube, 3430 N. Main St. The sidewalk fund was meant to improve sidewalk access for areas of the city that currently do not have a sidewalk connected to existing sidewalks and to improve street crossings in highly traveled areas. No specific areas were identified. On Thursday, committee member Josh Palmer, R-7, said something needs to be done to "spur some action." Palmer is also a member of the Strategic Planning Committee. He favors cost sharing or city-negotiated discounts on concrete or labor to motivate homeowners, and enforcement measures for inaction: "a fallback policy to say 'Hey, look, you've got to do it.'" "I've seen a number of sidewalks around town that are in terrible shape. They're essentially gravel," he said. On Thursday, the committee tasked city administrators with developing ideas for a new city sidewalk program and possible changes to city policy to further the discussions.