The Keizer City Council debated sidewalk repair responsibility at its Dec. 9 work session after councilors described trip hazards and urged a clearer plan to address deteriorating sidewalks.

City staff reminded the council that, under current Keizer ordinance, property owners are responsible for sidewalks adjacent to their properties except where the city owns the property. Staff said the Public Works Department has historically helped property owners when tree roots caused damage — city crews will remove or grind tree stumps and prepare for replacement while the property owner pays for concrete work — but formally changing the ordinance to place repair responsibility on the city would require new budget priorities.

Councilors asked staff whether the city has an inventory identifying high-priority walkways. Staff said an inventory of where sidewalks do not exist exists on the city website (completed in coordination with the regional council of governments) but that there is no comprehensive, up-to-date inventory of sidewalks in poor repair. Staff suggested that an intern or similar staffing resource could produce an inventory, and cautioned that once the city is aware of a problem the ordinance requires follow-up and notification to property owners — a process staff said protects the city from liability when the ordinance is followed.

Councilors raised several policy options: a city-funded bond to repair sidewalks, a city loan program to front repair costs for property owners, maintaining the property-owner responsibility but increasing enforcement, or formally shifting responsibility to the city (which would require ongoing funding and could reduce street-resurfacing work). Several councilors said public safety is their top priority; staff noted each option carries budgetary and administrative trade-offs.

Why it matters: aging sidewalks and root damage create trip hazards, especially for older residents. Staff emphasized that identifying hazards creates a duty to follow the city’s ordinance and that resource choices will affect other street-maintenance priorities. The council asked staff to bring the issue into goal-setting discussions and to provide options for an onboarding work session or future work session; no ordinance changes were adopted at the meeting.