Council rejects effort to change program in which Naperville residents foot 40% of sidewalk replacement cost
Naperville residents will continue to pay 40% of the cost of replacing sidewalks in front of their homes and commercial property owners will still pay 50%.
Naperville City Council members Jennifer Bruzan Taylor, Ian Holzhauer and Allison Longenbaugh presented a proposal June 6 that would have the city pick up the entire tab for any sidewalks in which a tripping hazard exists because it would benefit all the neighbors who use the walk.
The council rejected the idea with 6-3 vote, meaning the cost-sharing program will remain in place.
Sidewalks needing replacement in Naperville are identified either by employees who observe problems while inspecting streets or through a call from a property owner.
City inspectors then verify if a sidewalk meets eligibility requirements before it’s added to the replacement list, officials said.
This year there are 2,529 properties eligible for replacement, according to the city. More than half need repairs because one or more pavement squares is askew.
To reduce costs, the city in the fall started shaving sidewalks in those cases where the pathway could be made level, eliminating the need to dig up sections and replace them. The shaving work is being done for free and will continue this construction season.
Staff is to report back to the council in three years about how the process worked and if there were any cost savings.
Conflict of interest amendment on hold till workshop
Councilman Josh McBroom’s request June 6 to have staff amend the city’s conflicts of interest ordinance to include union donation disclosures was put off until discussions can be held at an October council workshop. He had asked that it be considered sooner than fall.
McBroom said he thinks elected Naperville leaders who receive campaign donations from the firefighter unions should disclose the contribution before voting on issues related to the fire department.
“Of course there’s a conflict,” he said. “We have public sector unions whose purpose is to protect the interests of the city employees they represent, not the taxpayers.”
Councilwoman Jennifer Bruzan Taylor said McBroom’s amendment should be addressed when the council discusses possible ordinance changes in the fall. “That was the whole reason we set up a workshop,” Taylor said.
Council to formalize liaison roles in the municipal code
Council members have voted to add a council representative to the Transportation Advisory Board.
Under city ordinances, a council liaison is assigned to Naperville advisory groups that deal with revenue and expense items within the city’s budget. Those include the Naper Settlement Museum Board, Board of Library Trustees, Financial Advisory Board, Public Utilities Advisory Board, Sister Cities Commission and Riverwalk Commission.
Over time the council has added ex officio liaisons to other groups, including the Advisory Commission on Disabilities, Human Rights and Fair Housing Commission, Special Events and Community Arts Commission, Historic Preservation Commission and Emergency Telephone System Board.
City staff proposed updating the ordinance to include those five boards and commissions in order to codify the practice.
At the June 6 meeting, Councilwoman Allison Longenbaugh asked that the Transportation Advisory Board be added to the list.
Thomas Craighead, a former transportation board member, said meetings are designed to give residents a chance to voice their opinions on transportation issues. Having a council member present would be appropriate since traffic is a top concern for residents, he said.
Council members agreed and postponed approving the list of what council members are assigned to which boards and commissions until the ordinance can be amended and the transportation board added.
