Council OKs Ballot Measure on Tax to Repair Sidewalks

The Los Angeles City Council agreed Wednesday to ask voters for a $729.4-million special tax to repair 4,620 miles of sidewalks and to add other pavement improvements required under federal law.

The sidewalk tax, which would amount to nearly $20 a year for the average homeowner, still must be sent to the mayor for his approval.

“We need to let the voters make this decision,” said Councilman Mike Hernandez.

Council members who voted for the proposed ballot measure said broken sidewalks are among the matters that city residents most frequently complain about. Four lawmakers--Laura Chick, Nate Holden, Rudy Svorinich and Joel Wachs--voted against seeking the tax.

The council also put off until next week voting on the ordinances required to put three other proposed bonds on the ballot, for the zoo, the library and Exposition Park. Those bonds, totaling $272.4 million, would have returned to the council for approval next week anyway because it was widely expected that at least two council members--Chick and Mike Feuer--would oppose the zoo and Exposition Park bonds. Ordinances that do not receive a unanimous vote the first time routinely return the following week.

Mayor Richard Riordan, who has said he would support the $178.3-million library bond because it has been studied for nearly two years, has been undecided on the others. Mayoral aides have said he would be less likely to support the sidewalk tax when streets also are in need of repair.

The sidewalk tax includes $165.2 million for all pavement improvements required by the Americans With Disabilities Act and would repair all 4,620 miles of damaged sidewalks in the city at a cost of $533.5 million.

Another reason for the council’s support was the fact that the city often must pay settlements to people who sue after falling on broken sidewalks. Those suits cost the city $2 million to $4 million a year.

Several council members said they feel duty-bound to have the pavement repaired to cut down on the city’s liability.

But Chick and others said that, while sidewalk repair is important, the city needs to more fully review its needs before asking voters to shell out their money.